Gift Guide: The Person Who’s Impossible To Buy For

My fashionista  and Cbus gal pal Emily of Champagne in the Rain is taking over the blog today for some holiday gift guide lovin’. Be sure to check out my Healthy and Delicious Holiday Desserts round-up on her blog today, too!

P.S. Alexis here to tell you that winter accessories are 25% off at Target right now! I just bought these adorable gloves and this cozy blanket scarf. Obsessed!

There is at least one person on your holiday shopping list who is impossible to buy gifts for.

And it is probably because they fall into one of four categories: 1. You don’t know them well enough to know what they are interested in, 2. They have expensive taste/can afford to buy themselves anything, 3. Always tell you they don’t want more “stuff,” 4. They have obscure* or strange* tastes or hobbies, (*as compared to yours – things you are unfamiliar with). So have you figured out who that person is on your list? Great. Now what do you get them?

In the past I have just forgone gifting these people anything. BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF FAILURE! Melodramatic…I know. But why am I going to spend my money on something they don’t want?!

So this year – I really put some thought into these impossible people. I thought about why they are impossible. I put them into manageable groups, figured out the underlying reasons my inability to know exactly what to get them. And I asked some of the more impossible people on my list what their favorite gifts have been. This list has been researched and curated with great attention to detail. (You can take the girl out of law school…..)

ONE: A gold-plated wine key. $15. For this gift, you have to generally know that the person likes wine. You don’t have to know what kind. You can also get them a gift card to a local wine shop, or a membership to a wine-of-the-month subscription, OR (my favorite) you can gift them this wine key and then take them on a date to a local wine shop/winery to pick out a bottle together and then drink it together! Works for romantic dates or friend dates or mom dates or basically whomever you love drinking wine with. Because, wine.

TWO: Wide-angle lens and macro-lens kit for your smart phone. $19. Everyone wants to take better pictures. Whether you’re taking selfies or pictures of your food or your cat or your baby..doesn’t matter. This gift works for anyone in your impossible category because it’s cool, it’s inexpensive, it’s easy to use and it doesn’t take up much space.

THREE: Cards Against Humanity. $25. Warning…this game will not work for everyone on your list. You have probably played this game before, but if you haven’t it is a freaking blast. But it is raunchy and foul and full of language that you aren’t allowed to use in front of your grandmother. But for that person who gets a kick out of stuff like that…this game is the perfect gift.

FOUR: A diptyque candle. $32. For that person who has very expensive taste or for the person who doesn’t want more “stuff.” Diptyque candles are coveted by those with expensive taste and the “Baies” scent is probably their most popular. This gift says – hey..I pay attention to what you’re interested in…even if you don’t.

FIVE: Rustic Italian Recipes cookbook. $25. This gift is designed for the person who already has everything or who doesn’t need more stuff. Ok I know…a cookbook is “stuff.” But there is a second part to this gift, and you can always buy this for their iPad or Kindle. When you gift someone a cookbook, have the email confirmation for a cooking class you signed yourself and that person up for, printed and tucked behind the cover. That way, you are gifting them something they can hopefully use, but you’re also gifting them an experience, the fun memory and your time together! Williams Sonoma and Sur la Table often offer cooking classes.

SIX: Moleskin Notebook. $20. I think this works for anyone on that list. You may disagree with me, but I have always loved these. I used them as sketchbooks when I was younger, as planners during law school and I use them now to organize my blogging ideas and activities. Pick out one of these and leave a little note or a drawing on the very first page for the person you are gifting it to. It’s personal and thoughtful and beautiful.

SEVEN: LED Word Clock. $80. It displays the time as text!! If that isn’t cool I don’t know what is. Your boss would like this. Your college-bound niece would like this. Your high-school bestie would like this. I wanna put this in my office immediately.

EIGHT. Monogrammed Kraft Paper Notepad. $18 – $32. This is certainly something that can be used up. Everyone can use a quick notepad at their office or in their kitchen. And you can monogram it with their initials or their name, or you could be hilarious and inscribe an inside joke or a dirty word. Just an idea.

NINE. $55. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera. This is a great gift idea for anyone on your list and for nearly any age. It is easy to use and the picture quality is actually pretty good as well. I also think this would be a really funny way to label your gifts – rather than including a tag with someone’s name, you can sneak a hilarious photo of them and attach it to the gift!

TEN. $23. Cake Stand. While the cake stand itself is very pretty, the real thought behind this gift is baking something to include inside. Your time and effort goes into it which is always appreciated. Maybe try your hand at this fancy cake or maybe these babies.

ELEVEN. $60. Indoor Smart Herb Garden. Many people are trying to eat healthier, be more conscious about where their food comes from, and leave a smaller footprint. This is just one very small step in that direction, but it is a step nonetheless. Plus, plants in your home help to purify the air and reduce airborne toxins – a win even for the impossible people on your list.

XOXO – Em

Emily Brunotte