The Good-For-You Holiday Gift Guide!

I can’t be the only one in complete denial that another year has blown right on by and the holidays are pretty much knocking at the front door, right?!

I honestly feel that this past October came and went in record speed which caught me completely off guard because I really like to have all of my holiday shopping done and dusted by the first week of November. This year? Not happening.

I’m gonna aim for the end of November and in the meantime, I want to share some of the awesome self-care themed gift ideas that I know will be hits for you and your loved ones….because we can all use a little gifting inspiration (and after the past couple of years we can all use some serious self-care).

I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the harder it is to find gifts that I know will stand out, be thoughtful, useful, and beneficial to the person I’m giving them to. I don’t want to give trinkets or items that I know won’t be used or end up in next year’s office gift (re-gift…ahem) exchange. So, I’ve taken some time to think about some of the presents I’ve received that I’ve truly loved and put them all together in one place for you!

Now, before I begin, I want to explain what I mean by self-care because this list of goodies deviates from what we typically consider holistic and completely “good for you” on a surface level. Sure, some of these gifts are truly good for you…but some are just pure fun, decadent, and aimed at giving the recipient a moment of “OMG I LOVE THIS”.

Why?

Because sometimes self-care is all about having a moment that makes you smile with abandon….and nothing else….and can you imagine how great it feels to give someone a moment like that! 🙂

Ok, so let’s get right down to it….here is a list of gift ideas I love, that are thoughtful, unique, and all about self-care on every level!

ZIGGURAT CONCRETE DIY CANDLE KIT: When you find a candle that not only adds beauty to your home, but lets you be creative and take a moment to be mindful while making it…then it becomes something more than just a gift. Patrick Cain Designs has created a stunning DIY candle kit made from recycled materials that comes with everything you need to create the perfect, personally curated candle and statement piece for the home. I love the esthetics, fragrances, and the fact that putting together my perfect candle with this kit gives me a moment to reflect, create, and self-express. Truly thoughtful and impressive…this will be a fast favorite for that someone special in your life (if you can bear to part with it….you might need to get two!). Available at: PATRICK CAIN DESIGNS

RAISED ON THE 80s (30+ Unexpected Life Lessons from the Movies and Music that Defined Pop Culture’s Most Excellent Decade): I can’t even begin to tell you what a perfect gift this is for the Gel Xer in your life! The minute I opened it, I was obsessed and couldn’t put it down! This book by Chris Clews will make you laugh, reminisce, and maybe even shed a tear or two…because man did we get to grow up during some of the best decades and the 80s were unrivaled! Total self-care and good-for-you vibes with this one….because powering off your screens and sitting down with this book in hand is basically therapy! Find it at: RAISED ON THE 80s

BACKPOD: Honestly, everyone needs one of these and I can’t imagine a more practical gift…because adulthood is hard and lord knows we all end up with tense muscles and tight backs. So…what do you do when you can’t get a massage or have an extra set of hands to help work all of those kinks out of your back? I know this struggle is real for me! Thankfully, Backed makes it easy to release tension and tightness in your back and reaches spots that regular stretching can’t. Developed by a professional physiotherapist, Backpod is super effective and incredibly easy to use. This is one self-care gift any would would appreciate! Find it at: ORIGINAL BACKPOD

ARTISTSCENT CANDLES: These are quite possibly some of the most beautiful candles I’ve ever seen, and they make the perfect gift this holiday season. It’s hard to choose which scent is my favorite, but the Evergreen Shore really stands out. This candle will take you on a mind-escape to a serene wilderness cottage with notes of cedarwood, mountain cypress, and fir balsam and it’s simply gorgeous to look at! This is the perfect self-care gift to give which will inspire the recipient to draw a hot, relaxing candlelit bath, take a moment to meditate, or just take in the glow while writing in a journal or enjoying a glass of wine. ArtistScent makes pure candle love! Find them at: ARTISTSCENT EVERGREEN SHORE

BRAND FACTORY SUGA AND MOKA DRINK CONTAINERS: Where do I begin with how cool these are? Well, for one, not only as these drink containers good-for-you, but they’re also good for the earth! Brand Factory knocks it out of the ballpark with these sustainably made containers which make perfect gifts for this holiday season. SUGA is a lightweight and convenient water/drink bottle made out of renewable sugarcane. You already know how much I talk about the importance of hydration…and this bottle makes it super easy to make sure you stay hydrated and healthy! MOKA is a travel coffee cup made out of repurposed coffee grounds and husks….how cool is that?! Perfect gift for the coffee (or tea) lover in your life. Both are lightweight, durable, and the perfect sizes for on-the-go. Since the price point on these is so affordable they make a super thoughtful gift set! Find them at BRAND FACTORY

MAYNE & CO. MODERN MIMOSAS: Now that you have the perfect drink containers on your gift giving list…who’s to say they can’t be filled with something other than coffee or water, right? Like, maybe, a mimosa or two? Mayne & Co. makes utterly delicious and conveniently canned mimosas that I have on my list of fun gifts for my best girlfriends. Made with natural ingredients and organic juice, these don’t just taste good…they’re actually all around VERY good! Perfect for a spontaneous picnic brunch, back patio girl-time therapy session or simply enjoyed alone in that candlelit hot bath I was talking about earlier. Perfect gift for anyone who needs a reason to take a breather and relax…I’ll cheers to that kind of self-care! Find your mimosas here: MAYNE & CO.

NANOR CANDLES: I told you I loved candles, right? Well I do, and you can never give or receive too many of them in my book…which is why I have to share these candles as well! Gorgeously packaged and appointed, Nanor candles are chic, perfectly scented, and will transform any home into a luxurious spa-like retreat which is exactly what those of us with busy schedules need. Just one hour in your favorite room with a good book, a cup of hot tea, fuzzy socks and the soft glow of these beautiful candles. Perfection. Bonus is that these candles have a 50 hour burn time, so they’re kind of like the gift that keeps on giving! Find them at: NANOR SCENTED CANDLES

….and what gift guide is complete without a few good stocking stuffer ideas!! Stocking stuffers can be tricky. It is so hard to find little gifts that are truly different and can be put to some real good-for-you use. Candies, socks, and lip balms are all great…but you can only give and receive so many of them, right? Try some of these instead!

CLEAN BEAUTY BY AnaK: Clean, natural, effective skincare is always makes for a great gift, and tucking in Clean Beauty By AnaK’s Ultra Calming Face Wash and Blemish Be Gone Spot Remover into someone’s stocking (and I’m doing this for my teens this year!) is a great way to give the gift of healthy, glowing skin! Made with non-toxic, vegan, all natural ingredients that are organically harvested…you can feel good about giving these…and maybe putting some in your own stocking! Available at: ANAK SKINCARE PRODUCTS

MAYA J JEWELRY: These jewelry inspired ponytail holders are easily one of the cutest and coolest stocking stuffer ideas ever! I also want to know where these have been all my life!! I mean….I always have just a plain ponytail holder on my wrist…boring! Maya J’s ponytail holders actually look like pretty bracelets and allow you to accessorize while having that emergency back up right on your wrist in case you need to whip your hair up into a pony or messy bun! With a perfectly affordable price tag, grab a few sets because you’ll want to keep some for yourself too! Find them at: MAYA J PONYTAIL HOLDERS

STICKTITE LENSES: I’m still coming to terms with the fact that we in the Gen X crew are all at a point where we need to wear glasses! That’s why I love the idea of placing some StickTite Instant Stick-On Reading Lenses in all of my friends’ stockings this holiday. They make it super easy to turn your favorite sunglasses into reading glasses at a fraction of the cost of getting all new “reader” sunnies. Out poolside and you get an important text? StickTite has you covered! Heading for the slopes but your boss just sent you an email? StickTite has you covered there too! These super thin, flexible stick on lenses are everything for those of us who begrudgingly have moved into the no-longer-20/20 crowd. The perfect gift that no one will know to expect, but everyone will love getting! Get them at: STICKTITE

So, there you have it! My favorite self-care, good-for-you, me-time inspired gift ideas! I have loved receiving these items and appreciate using them…..I know whoever you gift them too will feel the same way. Even if you’re gifting them to yourself….because that too is a form of self-care, is it not? 🙂

Now get to shopping! Beat the crowds and get it all done as early as possible…because lord knows if November flies by as quickly as October did, we’ll be in trouble! 😉

(I am not affiliated with any of these products, by the way. Any purchases you make outside of Amazon links do not benefit me in any way. I’m just happy to share things I personally love.)

Happy Holidays!

**As an affiliate, I may make a small portion of some of the sales made via some of the links in my blog.

**header photo by D.E. Stricter @unsplash