Checking off that holiday shopping list can be a real challenge when you shop for the same people year after year. It can feel like a burden and take the joy out of the holiday season when you feel overwhelmed by thinking you need to outdo what you did last year. Not sure if you can relate but this year I tried to avoid feeling like that and instead focused on gifts that were a little more thoughtful and meaningful. I found so many great gifts this year that I felt good about giving and hope you find some ideas here to check off that holiday shopping list. It was hard to narrow down this list into a manageable blog post but here are my top 20 gifts that I am wrapping up and giving out to my favorite people this year. Wishing you the happiest, healthiest, and merriest everything!
I am a huge advocate for aromatherapy and have been using essential oils and diffusers in my home and business for many years. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for therapeutic benefit; a tool that has been used for many centuries for healing and wellness. When inhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain. Aromatherapy and essential oil use helps to relieve stress, energize your mind, boost your mood, and helps you sleep better. I have a diffuser in every room of my house; I am obsessed with the smell and the relaxing and welcoming environment it creates. I have diffusers in all my BODYROK locations and people always comment about how good it smells in the studios. The one downside to a traditional diffuser is having to fill them with water and oil several times a day because most only have enough capacity to last a few hours. That is what makes the Canopy diffuser one of my favorite gifts and tops my list this year. The Canopy is a waterless, mist less, aroma diffuser that makes elevating your space clean and easy. Since it is totally waterless and mist-free, the Canopy won’t spew harmful particles into the air like some traditional diffusers. Not only is the Canopy super chic and cute, but it’s also easy to use. It comes in a bunch of fun colors and costs about $90. Although Canopy sells oils for the diffuser, you can use any of your favorite brands. Some of my favorites include Saje Wellness and Young Living.
Who doesn’t love a cozy faux fur blanket to cuddle up with on the couch during the cold, dark winter months. I know I am being a bit dramatic given I reside in Southern California and not the Arctic, but it does get cold enough at night in San Diego to warrant this luxuriously delicious blanket. I fell in love with this brand when I bought the cutest dark green, faux fur hooded jacket that I am obsessed with and wear all the time. I looked at their website after buying the jacket in a local boutique only to realize they have a lot more than just jackets. The blankets caught my attention because they looked every bit as yummy as my jacket and came in the most beautiful colors. The Shiloh blanket comes in 11 colors (I have the Latte color) and a choice of two sizes…50×60 or 60×80. It is a little bit of a splurge at $295, but it is a beautiful quality and something that will last a long time.
I love a cozy, fuzzy slide for wearing around the house and BODYROK studios! This is the perfect winter slide in more ways than one! While traditional UGG products are made of real fur from sheep or lamb, UGG has rolled out a new line of products that are made of “responsible” plant-based materials. I love the Fuzz Sugar Slide because it adapts the iconic look and feel of UGG but with materials responsibly harvested from trees and renewable sugarcane. This standout slip-on helps you feel good in more ways than one! They are cute, cozy, cruelty free & vegan for $100. Yes please!
Drinking tea is part of a daily ritual for me and I use this chic and highly efficient electric kettle every day. It comes in several colors (I had a hard time deciding between the white or the pink one) and is so quick to heat. I love the simple aesthetic of this kettle with a sleek LCD screen that indicates the desired set temp and real time temp for the perfect pour over/manual cup of coffee. This electric kettle makes the perfect gift for $165 for any tea and coffee lover!
Any pajama set from Lunya would make a wonderful gift for any guy or girl on your holiday shopping list. I personally love this t-shirt and short set because I like to sleep in an over-sized top and prefer to sleep in shorts; but they have long pants, shorter tops, and all sorts of options for both men and women! All pajama sets are made from washable silk and have a variety of beautiful colors. The quality and designs are outstanding and anything from this brand would make for a very special gift. This Silk Tee Set costs $198 but they have a variety of options if you want to buy something that is luxurious and yet practical to sleep in!
Next on my holiday gift guide is this waffle robe from Brooklinen. I purchased this robe during their Black Friday sale at 30 percent off, thereby justifying my pre-holiday purchase for myself. I was never so happy to throw out my old, ratty bathrobe and replace it with this beautiful white and cozy robe on my bathroom hook. I like that this robe isn’t overly bulky. Sometimes it is hard to navigate blow drying and styling longer hair when you have a bulky thick robe on. This robe is the perfect thickness and is cozy without being too bulky. I especially like that it is made from 100 percent Turkish cotton. The price is right at $99 and if you buy it now, they are doing 15 percent off everything on the website. At $84, this robe is great quality for the price!
Necessaire Holiday Essentials Kit
Necessaire has some of the most amazing body products and is a favorite in my bathroom and shower. They have an awesome holiday kit with all their best products for an incredible price & savings. The limited-edition holiday set comes with 5 body care essentials that are packed with clinically proven ingredients that are normally reserved for the face…giving you better skin from the neck down. The set includes FULL sizes of the Body Exfoliator, The Body Wash, The Body Serum, The Body Lotion, and the Body Oil. The set costs $100 and saves you $68 if you were to purchase each separately. The set comes in four different fragrance options. My personal favorite is the Eucalyptus scent! This makes a great gift for all sorts of friends and family on your list that would love to nurture the skin on their body without any toxic chemicals or additives.
Saje Wellness is one of my favorite sources for essential oils and is my go-to store for buying gifts for my friends! They have a holiday gift set that I purchased for some of my favorite friends called the Holiday Pocket Farmacy. It is a premium collection of their most-loved essential oil roll-ons to support overall physical wellness. The kit contains natural blends to soothe head, pain, cough, stomach, and stress.. All the things that ail you during the holiday season. The kits include the Peppermint Halo roll-on, Fortify roll-on, Gutzy roll-on, Stress Release roll-on and the Pain Release roll-on. This is their best-selling kit and comes with a cute carrying case. This makes a great gift that your friends will love and appreciate for $65.
101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think
There is always a book under the tree for each of my kids that is meaningful, thought provoking and impactful. A special book is a great gift for friends and business associates too. This year, I chose 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think. It’s a global bestseller and social media phenomenon; a collection of author Brianna Wiest’s most beloved pieces of writing. Her meditations include why you should pursue purpose over passion, finding the wisdom in daily routine, and becoming aware of the cognitive biases that are creating the way you see your life. Many of the essays will leave you thinking: this idea changed my life.
1 by One Vinyl Record Player with Built-in Speakers
I think most people would agree that there is something romantic about records, something satisfying about opening the album jacket, looking at the artwork and listening to an entire album. Digital music just can’t compare. Vinyl records have had a comeback in recent years; partly from baby boomer nostalgia but also from this romanticized notion from younger generations that didn’t grow up listening to records. This record player makes a great gift for music lovers of all ages, delivering a great sound through its built-in speaker system. If you want to take it up a notch, you can connect this stereo to external speakers through an easy blue tooth connection. I love the sleek retro design of this one and the quality is great for less than $200. There is nothing better than listening to all the old Christmas albums from Barbara Streisand, Herb Alpert, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra on a record player this time of year.
Ok..this custom vinyl record is the coolest gift ever!! It might be a little late to order this in time for the holidays, but I wanted to include it here so that if you are a vinyl record enthusiast or know someone that is, you keep it on your radar because it would make a very thoughtful gift!! Vinylify is an online service that allows you to create your own unique 10” vinyl record. You pick your favorite songs and simply upload your tracks and completely customize your cover and record labels. Chase found this and got me a record filled with my favorite songs. It is beyond cute with personalized pictures and labels on the record and record cover. This custom record makes for such a creative and unique gift that will surprise and delight whoever is the lucky recipient of this gift! Honestly one of my all-time favorite gifts ever!!
This fleece version of the Everywhere Belt Bag by Lululemon is a hot commodity and is finally back in stock! This is such a versatile and cute accessory. Every time I wear mine, people comment how they want one so badly, but how they can’t find one in stock anywhere. This bag was selling on Poshmark at a huge premium the past few months because Lululemon was out of stock. But I have good news….now is your chance to get your hands on this bag because it is back in stock online! You might be able to find one in some stores now too. This bag is available in white, black and this burnt caramel. The Lululemon Everywhere Fleece Belt Bag is made from a winter-ready textured fabric and designed to be taken on the move. There’s also a velour option which is super cute for the colder months too. I love this bag and it would make an amazing gift for only $58. Get them before they fly off the shelves again. I may or may not have one in every color…
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are a must-have for tuning out the world when meditating, getting in your zone during a workout, or tuning out the crying baby sitting next to you on the airplane. These headphones are so comfortable and have the best sound quality. Although these headphones can be wireless with a Bluetooth connection, I personally prefer using the cord to connect mine to my phone. I will save this topic for another blogpost, but using wireless headphones is bad for you. I like the white color, but someone on my Christmas list is getting a pair of the black ones this year! They are on sale right now for $249 and worth every penny!
There has been a lot of hype around the Hatch Rest and let me tell you, it is a life changing product. What is so great about the Hatch you might ask? It helps you to sleep better by personalizing a sleep-wake routine designed to help you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up refreshed. You wake up naturally by gently waking to a custom Sunrise Alarm Clock that supports healthy cortisol levels. The Hatch also has a library of soothing sounds, white noise, and lights that I love. The Hatch comes with a free trial of Hatch Sleep Membership with is an optional subscription that gives you unlimited access to an ever-growing library of new content such as meditations, sleep stories, soundscapes and more that you can access off your phone when traveling. The Hatch makes a great gift for $129 and one that is a major life upgrade!! They also have a Hatch specifically for babies – complete with white noise to help them stay asleep, as well as features for young children to know when it is time to wake up and when it is time to stay in their rooms! This would make a great gift for any new parents on your shopping list. Someone on my holiday shopping list is getting the Hatch Rest because I am tired of waking up to the sound of someone’s phone alarm sounding like 5 alarm fire emergency.
I am obsessed with these fluffy Alo Yoga plush socks, and I think they make a great gift for friends, gift exchanges, stocking stuffers, etc. They are so cozy, and I love all three colors – white, pink, and caramel! I stocked up on a bunch of these during Alo Yoga’s Black Friday Sale and a bunch of people on my list will be getting these dreamy socks. The Alo Yoga Black Friday sale should be on your radar for next year because they mark down everything on their website and in store 30 percent and there are a lot of great gifts for men and women! Even without the sale, these plush socks make a great gift for $20.
The Theragun Mini is the smallest, lightest Theragun and makes a great gift to promote health and well-being. The mini has all the Theragun power packed into an ultra-portable package to keep you moving wherever you go. It’s now 20 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter which I love, because anytime I traveled and took my regular Theragun with me, it was a major commitment. The Theragun mini is proven to relieve aches and pains and improve recovery. Plus, it’s Bluetooth-enabled so you can access a whole library of personalized wellness routines in the Therabody app. to help you to feel your best when you are on the go. This makes an amazing thoughtful gift for $199.
Baublebar Customizable Phone Case
The Talk To The Sand IPhone Case is on my wish list this year and I think it would make a cute personalized gift for someone special on your list too!! The case combines chic neutral tones with an elegant script font. It has a glossy beige finish and white cursive cutout letters that will go with every single outfit. The case fits up to 12 characters and you can personalize it however you like..choosing meaningful initials, a name, or a favorite phrase. I love how the letters are raised for a fun 3D effect. The personalized case is $68 and they are doing 20 percent off right now..for $54, I think this makes for a fun and thoughtful gift!!
The Stanley Adventure Tumbler comes with a straw, leak resistant lid, and maintains cold, heat and ice for hours! The cup comes in 4 different sizes from 14 to 40 ounces and comes in SO many cute colors. This makes a cute gift that encourages more hydration in a very chic way!! Depending on the size you choose the price ranges from $20 for the 14-ounce tumbler to $40 for the 40-ounce! I like how the base of the tumbler is small enough to fit in a standard cup holder. That is a game changer for me because some of my larger water bottles don’t fit in my cup holder and it is less than ideal when you are on the road!!
The Align tank from Lululemon is so flattering and one of their best sellers! Any fitness enthusiast on your list would love to get their hands on this workout essential! The tank runs size 0 to 20 and comes in 19 different colors. The black one is my go-to favorite. I love how it hits right above a high waisted legging – so a little cropped but nothing major. The tank costs $68 and is a good basic for anyone on your shopping list with an active lifestyle.
Hoka has become one of the most popular running shoe brands with its thick midsoles that create a major cushioning that is better for your joints and muscles. It is not only highly cushioned, but is also lightweight and breathable, making it a comfortable option for long-distance runs and hikes. This shoe features a compression-molded midsole, inner heel support and the Hoka Meta-Rocker technology which is designed to propel you forward and encourage a more natural stride. I personally like the Clifton 8 – it is a little more stylish than some of the other designs and I like that it comes in over 20 different color options. At a price tag of $140, this makes a very nice gift for anyone on your list with an active lifestyle.
Last but certainly not least is the game changing Five-Minute Journal. I ordered a bunch of these journals to give to some of my favorite people to help them make positive changes in their lives for 2023. This is the simplest thing you can do to start and end your day happier in just 5 minutes a day. The Five-Minute journal uses proven principals of positive psychology in a guided gratitude journaling format. Cultivating gratitude can positively impact all areas of your life. This journal, with 264 pages is enough space for 6 months of daily journaling to stay in the habit of practicing gratitude. The journal has 5 daily prompts focused on gratitude and self-growth and weekly challenges to build confidence and leave the comfort zone. This is a very thoughtful gift that I think most people would love and appreciate and only costs $29.
