light-on-in-chicago asked you:

hi jaclyn! any suggestions for buying a hosue-warming gift for my sister-in-law? she just moved to the dc area. thanks!!

My favorite items for house-warming gifts are things that are completely practical, but are items that you rarely buy for yourself. (Necessary luxuries, I guess you could say.)

Here are a few ideas:

• Williams-Sonoma Apron, $25: If your sister-in-law cooks, an apron is an incredibly useful gift. I can’t tell you how many shirts and sweaters I’ve saved because of my apron collection. 
• L’Occitane Lavender Scented Candle, $25: Lavender is a pretty safe scent to buy for someone else (almost everyone loves lavender), and the tin looks chic and pretty on a shelf. 
• Paper-Source Return Address Labels, 20 for $7: Return address labels may not be the first thing that comes to your mind, but if you know their new address, it’s a thoughtful, practical gift. (And the options from Paper-Source are really great.)
• Williams-Sonoma Glass Mug, $19: I swear by these glass mugs from Williams-Sonoma. They’re perfect for morning coffee and are even microwavable/dishwasher-safe.
• Nest Fragrances Moss and Mint Liquid Soap, $22: Fancy liquid soaps or the like are things that are wonderful to receive as gifts as we rarely tend to seek them out on our own. I love this bottle design too!

Hunting for stocking stuffers is one of the best parts of holiday shopping, I think. I love finding inexpensive goodies! Stocking stuffer-type gifts are also great for people you feel compelled to buy a gift for, but don’t want to break the bank on—coworkers, casual friends/acquaintances, etc.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s gift guide installments! I’ll keep posting answers to your specific questions about gifts over the next several weeks as well, so keep an eye out for those.

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1. Fred Flare Candy Cane Eco Cup, $15
2. Leather Kindle Case, $80
3. DL & Co Naughty and Nice Journal, $40
4. Merona Polka Dot Clutch, $13
5. Anthropologie Mason Jar Snow Globes, from $25
6. Old Navy Zigzag Sweaterknit Mittens, $12.94
7. Smith’s Rosebud Salve, $6
8. Thomas Paul Laptop Sleeve, $56
9. Jonathan Adler 2012 Planner, $24
10. ModCloth Portable Patisserie Ring, $16
11. Bath & Body Works Wallflowers Home Fragrance Starter, $8.50
12. e.l.f. Cosmetics Essential Little Black Beauty Book, $5
13. Rebecca Minkoff Pyramid Ear Buds, $48
14. J.Crew Glitter iPhone Case, $25
15. Belkin Kindle Fire Case, $30
16. Echo Touch Side Bow Gloves, $32
17. Charlotte Russe Leopard Trapper Hat, $14.50
18. Urban Outfitters Nesting Owl Measuring Cup Set, $24

See the rest of the 2011 Holiday Gift Guides here.

I realize it’s a little ridiculous for me to be posting about holiday shopping anxiety when I’ve been blatantly shoving gift guides at you for the past week, but there’s something I’ve got to get off my chest.

For the past few years, I’ve noticed that I tend to get fairly anxious or stressed around the holidays—something that I don’t think is too uncommon. Whether it’s splitting up our time with our families or trying to round up Christmas presents, I always feel some degree of stress and anxiety coupled with consumer pressure to buy, buy, BUY. Honestly, there is nothing that disgusts me more than the IDEA of Black Friday—let alone the execution of the event. It’s abhorrent. It’s ridiculous. It’s people lining up to buying TVs at 10 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Yet, despite the fact that I hate the entire idea of the whole thing, there is certainly some part of me that is susceptible to this massive shopping competition that holiday shopping has turned into. It’s not just Black Friday. There are a million sales to keep track of, stores to check off a list, “flash sales” that are happening. It’s a total cluster and I hate the fact that I even feel the little bit of compulsion I do to get out in the thick of it to try and score 45% off a sweater I didn’t even need.

On the other hand, with every passing holiday, the reason that I celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas becomes more and more apparent—and totally separate from the commercialism that is threatening to engulf more and more of the last two to three months of our calendar years. This is not to say that I don’t buy presents for friends and family—I do. But, I’m trying to stick to a little plan that I’ve tentatively entitled Jackie’s Holiday Sanity Plan.

• S - Spend time with loved ones and friends and value that above all else.
• A - Avoid anxiety about which family gets more or less of our time around the holidays. We can never please everyone perfectly, so we need to make plans that make sense for us and let everything else fall into place accordingly.
• N - Never, ever “seriously” shop on Black Friday or engage in a holiday shopping competition. After a leisurely breakfast, if we want to go wander through the remnants of Target’s bargain bins, so be it. But shopping before 5 am, 6 am—hell, 10 am—is just asking for panic attacks and misery.
• I - Indulge myself in ways that don’t revolve around shopping. I like watching marathons of our favorite holiday movies with favorite snacks or driving around the neighborhood and looking at Christmas decorations.
• T - Try to remember that gift giving should be about doing something thoughtful, not what is expected or what is popular.
• Y - You are the only one that determines whether or not you have a fulfilling holiday season. You can choose to give in to the stress and competitiveness, or choose to ignore it as best you can. This is incredibly hard for me to do. I want everything to be perfect…and I don’t even have a child yet! Imagine me next year. But, I’m going to try…and trying is half the battle, right?

So, as we enter one of the most crazy, over-hyped and over-wrought weeks of the year, join me in my attempt to keep a level head and a (mostly) closed wallet until we’ve had a successful close to Thanksgiving. There’s plenty of goods to go around and plenty of shopping time left. This week is all about the two “Fs” for me: family and food. Friday doesn’t even factor in.

How are you coping with holiday anxiety so far?

This was one of my favorite gift guides to create. I hope you enjoy it too!

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1. Red Flower Icelandic Moonflower Candle, $34
2. Kate Spade Ticker Tape Plates, $50
3. West Elm Deco Sequin Pillow, $34
4. Letters Lubell Recipe Card Set, $12
5. Seletti Candelabra, $58
6. Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney, $35
7. Patch NYC Stag Candle, $32
8. Z Gallerie Bling Tealight Lamps, $40
9. Urban Outfitters Zigzag Printed Rug, $39 
10. Sur La Table Vintage Glasses, $8 each 
11. Jonathan Adler Serving Platter, $68
12. Anthropologie Curious Deciduous Salad Plates, $16
13. SusyJack Pencil Cup, $9.50
14. Nordstrom Faux Fur Throw, $98
15. Williams-Sonoma Stag Mugs, $40 for set of 4
16. CB2 Bowl, $30
17. The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well by Deborah Needleman, $30

See the rest of the 2011 Holiday Gift Guides here.

giantsrainbowsanddaisies asked you:

HI!!!! I am LOVING your gift guides, but I have a more specific gift request that I think you’d be perfect to help me out with. My best friend will be about 5+ months pregnant this Christmas so I’m trying to think of some ideal gifts for her! I already got her some cute PJs for her birthday (Thanksgiving day) and a few other snuggly goodies, so I’m trying to decide what else would be nice for Christmas. Any ideas?

Since I’m not sure what other snuggly goodies you got, I just compiled a few things I’d personally love to get myself!

• mimedesign Chalkboard Candle, $25 - So cute and great for a bubble bath, etc. You can also write a little personalized message on it.
• Target Plush Robe, $20 - I like that this one has a hood, and frankly, you can’t have enough plushy robes.
• Anthropologie Fleece-Lined Leggings, $18 - These may seem risky to buy for a friend because of sizing, but they only come in two sizes: S/M and M/L. (When in doubt, go for M/L.) 
• Essie Winter Collection Nail Polish in Size Matters and Cocktail Bling, $8 each 
• Target Fringe Moccasin Slippers, $20 - The best thing about these is that they are substantial enough for quick errands too. 
• Manicure/Pedicure Gift Certificate - A mani/pedi gift certificate is the absolute best gift I can think of for a pregnant woman. It makes her feel pretty and pampered at a time when she might not necessarily feel either of those things very often. If you go with her, it’ll be even more fun! :)

I hope this helped!

Anyone else have any other suggestions?

Do you have a female coworker who seems to have everything? An in-law that has you stumped because they’re never pleased with their gifts? Beauty gifts can help! They’re one of the easiest things to get someone who is hard to shop for.

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1. Birchbox Subscription, $30-$110
2. Sephora by OPI Glitter & Sparkle Set, $28
3. LUSH Snow Fairy Gift Set, $23
4. Philosophy The Gingerbread Man Bath & Shower Gel, $16
5. Pacifica Magic Carpet Ride Body Butters Gift Set, $28
6. Fresh Sake Bath & Candle Set, $80
7. Deborah Lippmann Holiday Mini Trio Set, $29
8. Stila Dream In Full Color Palette, $39
9. Bliss Snow Wonder Set, $29
10. Lancome Golden Hat Holiday Rouge in Caprice, $29
11. Apothecary Soap Set, $20
12. Kate Spade Twirl Gift Set, $85
13. Ann Taylor Makeup Bag, $28
14. Dior Holiday Deluxe Palette, $77

See the rest of the 2011 Holiday Gift Guides here.

The gifts below would be perfect for a sister, mom, friend or any other female you may have to purchase a present for. Don’t forget to add a few things to your own wish list too. :)

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1. Melody Ehsani Ring, $50
2. ban.do Gift Bow Hair Clip, $35
3. Forever21 Knit Gloves with Fur Trim, $10.80
4. ModCloth Tote, $50
5. Tom Binns “Sexy” Pendant, $79
6. American Eagle Fair Isle Sweater, $69.50
7. Urban Outfitters Critter Slippers, $16 each
8. H&M Envelope Clutch, $24
9. Topshop Glam COURT Shoes, $92
10. Juicy Couture Pave Bow Studs, $48
11. Roots Chalet Mukluk, $40
12. Old Navy Faux Fur Vest, $26.50
13. Forever21 Leopard Hat, $8.90
14. Forever21 Interlocking Metal Cuff, $7.80
15. Graham Leather Studded Triple Wrap Bracelet, $55
16. Kate Spade Bow Scarf, $95
17. Target Double-Breasted Wool Coat with Removable Hood, $60
18. Together Again Canvas Tote, $65

See the rest of the 2011 Holiday Gift Guides here.

Every year I always get dozens of requests about ideas for what to buy a dad, brother, husband, boyfriend, etc. To be honest, it is a hard category to make recommendations for. With that in mind, I’ve tried to make this gift guide as varied as possible to give you some ideas to work with. Oh, and just for fun—I’ve noted which items were specifically recommended by Brandon with an asterisk!

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1. Roots Cabin Flip Mitt, $40 
2. Field Notes Memo Books, $10 for 3 
3. Anthony Logistics for Men Grooming Kit, $50*
4. Barneys New York Vintage Typewriter Cufflinks, $95
5. Sperry Top-Sider Slippers, $70*
6. Rocksmith for PS3, $80*
7. ASOS Satchel Bag, $98
8. J.Crew Flannel Robe, $69.50
9. Zuriick “Dakota” Sneakers, $79
10. Esquire’s Eat Like A Man Cookbook, $26
11. J.Crew Red Tartan Tie, $69.50*
12. Topman Striped Snood, $32
13. H&M Sweater, $40*
14. Jack Spade iPhone 4/4S Hard Case, $40
15. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, $17.88
16. Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray, $89.99*

See the rest of the 2011 Holiday Gift Guides here.

Father’s Day is a hard holiday for me to do my traditional little gift guide for a few reasons. First, men can be frustrating to shop for. Second, men that are your FATHER are even harder to shop for, especially if they aren’t into the typical, easy-to-find Father’s Day gifts of grilling tools and golf accessories.

With Brandon’s help, we came up with a few ideas of gifts that we thought most dads would love.

1. Esquire’s Eat Like a Man Cookbook, $18 
2. Skagen Mesh Watch, $59 (from $120)
3. Jack Spade Vertical Metro Wallet, $85
4. Topman Hat, $32
5. Kodak Playsport HD Pocket Video Camera, $170
6. Clinique Essentials of Shaving Set, $47.50
7. Car and Driver 1-Year Subscription, $12
8. J.Crew Canvas Messenger Bag, $98
9. GameStop Gift Card

Do you have any Father’s Day gift recommendations to share?

Buying a book for someone is one of the most personal gifts you can give. It says a lot about you AND about the person you bought it for. When someone reads a book that’s been given to them as a gift, they think about the person who bought it for them often. “Did so-and-so like this chapter as much as I did?”

I sometimes get book buying anxiety. It’s a high-pressure gift! There’s the possibility the person has already read the book you chose for them (not a complete disaster, but close) or the possibility that they read into your book selection a little too much and they’re suddenly offended by some formerly insignificant passage about mental health. Scary territory indeed.

I don’t know everything about every book, but I’ve bought and received many books over the years and hope that these tips can help you sort out the book buying process a bit. At the very least, remember this: there is no bad time to give someone a book. It’s a gift appropriate for nearly all occasions…including the non-occasion.

Pick Your Poison

There’s an easy way out of this whole thing, and it’s called a gift card. Instead of you choosing a book and suffering the angst that comes with that decision, you can simply pick up a gift card, tuck it into a nice greeting card and be done with the whole thing. You can even buy gift cards to major book retailers at your local grocery store now. It’s incredibly easy and convenient, and you’re guaranteeing that the recipient of your gift will absolutely love whatever they choose because THEY get to choose it. Pressure’s off! Right?

Not entirely. Although gift cards are fabulous for lots of reasons, they will always lack the personal touch that the gift of a real book has. So, your first question needs to be: am I willing to go the extra mile and find an actual book (or books) that this person will enjoy? Or should I pick up an Amazon gift card when I run out to get the eggs and milk? Each works for different occasions and each has the possibility of pleasing someone beyond measure. So decide already!

How Do You Decide Which Book?

If you’ve decided to buy someone an actual book (or books), the first thing you must do is a bit of research.

• What is the occasion? If someone has just announced their engagement, it’s best to NOT show up with a book like this. Don’t be an ass about things either. If you’ve had problems with your family, don’t show up bearing this book and a big smile. That’s an ass move and you’ll suffer the consequences accordingly. 
• Check Goodreads and Amazon. Does the gift recipient have a Goodreads account? Anything good in their “To Read” list? Do they have a public Amazon wish list? Do you know someone that can access their private wish list and give you the skinny, like a significant other? (Don’t go crazy and hacker-like here. You know what I mean.) 
• If all else fails, surreptitiously scan the recipient’s bookshelves. If they don’t own any actual, physical books, ask to see their e-reader. Memorize what kind of genre they seem interested in, what authors he or she likes to read. Look for coffee table books and see what subjects he or she likes to display. Use Amazon’s recommendations feature or What Should I Read Next? to find similar books that the recipient may enjoy. 

Safe Bets

• Oprah’s Book Club picks. 
• New York Times Bestsellers. 
• Art & Photography selections. 
• Books that have great nostalgic or personal meaning to you (or you AND the recipient) are no-brainers. If there’s a book in common that both of you used to love, find a first edition or signed copy of it. If there’s a book that changed your life or helped you, that’s a perfect one to give to the right person. Include a note that explains why you love it and why you think they’ll love it too.
• For a really safe bet, buy a great book accessory like a book journal, bookmark, book light, e-book cover/case, etc. Click here to see a few of my picks. 

And Finally…

• Don’t stress too much! Gift receipts exist for a reason!
• Used bookstores are often a great source for elusive, interesting and affordable books that make perfect casual gifts. Wrap one up and deliver with a set of coffee/teas or flowers. 
• Don’t try and buy someone a book that YOU love. Someone who reads lots of nonfiction is not likely to be thrilled with a sci-fi set. Don’t try and change someone’s reading preferences: use it to your advantage! 

Do you have any tips on buying someone a book? Have you ever received a really great book as a gift? What was it?