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.

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.

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.

This year, we’re going to be doing a huge holiday gift guide both here on my blog and on Bon Marche. Like the past gift guides I’ve done, everything will be as affordable as I can find (under $100 in most cases)!

But, to make sure that these gift guides are actually helpful to you, I’d like to know what kind of gift guides you’d like to see.

Here are a few I’ve already thought of:

1. Gifts for mom

2. Gifts for dad

3. Gifts for your best friend(s)

4. Gifts for husband/significant other

5. Gifts for yourself!

6. Gifts for kids

I know there’s a million other combinations I could do, or I could simply break down gifts by category and/or price.

For example:

1. Beauty Products Under $25

2. Tech Gadgets Under $100

3. Home Goods Under $50

You get the idea.

Also, feel free to suggest something totally different—there may be a great way to do the gift guide that I haven’t thought of yet!

So, which would you rather see and which style would be more helpful for you?

If your tastes run more to the expensive side, but you are on a tight budget, consider sending this post to your significant other/family/etc for Christmas present ideas. (Or, just buy all your own Christmas presents and call it a day!) Just because you like more high-end retailers doesn’t mean that there aren’t affordable gems to be found if you do some hunting.

For example, all the Anthropologie items above (any of which would make an awesome Christmas present/stocking stuffer) are under $50!

1. Illusionist’s Gloves, $38 - I spotted these gloves in my Anthro catalog that came yesterday and fell in love. They are really, really pretty and fun.

2. Ladies-in-Waiting Dinner Plate, $24 - Do you know anyone starting to collect nice items for their kitchen?

3. Samba Ring, $48 - I love the brushed gold on this ring.

4. Illume Monogrammed Votive Candle, $10 - These would make a great hostess gift, stocking stuffer, friend gift, etc.

5. Fleece-Lined Leggings, $18 - Warm AND under $20? I’ll take two.

6. Verdure Rapids Scarf, $38 - Everyone likes a pretty scarf!

7. Wardrobe Staple Cardigan, $50 - This cardigan comes in four colors, but my favorite is this Christmas-y red.

8. Bountiful Bubbles Apron, $32 - It is SO much more fun to cook when you have a nice apron to wear. (It’ll also save your clothes if you happen to be clumsy like me.)

What do you want to see under the tree on Christmas morning?

A fellow Jaclyn (yay!) wrote me:

I’ve got a 15 year old sister and I’m having trouble shopping for her christmas gift.  At 15, she’s not only way more stylish than I was at her age, but way more stylish than I am now (I’m 28). I guess I’m looking for clothes and/or accessories.. She tends to wear a lot of anthropologie and urban outfitters, if that helps!

First let me preface this by saying that these gifts are very. grown-up. gifts. I would gladly welcome any or all of these lovely accessories under the tree Christmas morning, and I’m sure your sister will love them too!

P.S. Those gloves especially—so adorable!

1. Forever 21 Rosette Fingerless Gloves - $7
2. UO Destroyed Eternity Scarf - $34
3. Forever 21 Sunglasses - $6
4. UO Set of 2 Initial Earring Studs - $16

Like Jessica said, the commercialism/consumerism at Christmas can cause a lot of bitterness and anxiety. I feel sick when I see people buying gifts way above their means for people they don’t really care about it in the hopes of impressing their elegance or appreciation for luxury. In the midst of all these $500 spending sprees, you lose a little bit of what makes gift giving so special in the first place—the fact that someone is so important to you that you want to express it with a token of affection.

Tokens don’t have to be $500 TVs or $200 pashminas that will be worn once and thrown in the back of a closet somewhere.

In fact, homemade gifts are sometimes the most cherished because of the time and thoughtfulness that goes into each and every aspect.

Martha Stewart (god of crafts and decorating) has a great collection of homemade Christmas gifts on her website and I’d like to share a couple of my favorites with you.

Decorative Pillar Candles

Match it to your family or friend’s home decor for extra brownie points.

Bath Fizzies

(Note: Martha recommends making your own bath fizzies. If you’re not up to the task like me, simply visit your local T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or ROSS and pick up a few pretty soaps, bath salts, etc. and place them in customized holders like the ones seen above. You can find jars like this at your local craft store or Michael’s.)

Dyed Wooden Beads Necklaces

With a few different shades of Rit Dye, cheap wooden beads and some cord, you can make a bunch of necklaces in a friend’s favorite color.

Flower Barrettes

A pack of hair pins costs less than $1 at a local pharmacy or Target. Add a faux flower or two, maybe some pearls or even feathers. You’ll get tons of ideas walking through your local Michael’s. Trust me!

P.S. If you don’t have a hot glue gun, ask around! I guarantee you know somebody that has one you can borrow.

And for my favorite idea (this one’s from Real Simple, sorry Martha):

Family Recipe Book

I received a family recipe book as a wedding gift from my family and—oh my. It was by far my favorite gift. It had my great grandma’s recipes in there—my grandma’s chili, even stuff from my mom! It was so special!

Make one of your own with materials from a craft store (and it doesn’t have to be this fancy, trust me) and you will definitely hit the jackpot Christmas morning.

This is the kind of gift that you’ll cherish forever and pass on to your children!

Do you have any favorite homemade gifts to give/receive?