2011 Holiday Gift Guide
Let’s be real here. I publish these gift guides every year (here’s last year’s and last year’s for the dudes), but we all know that I don’t actually start Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve. I love the rush 😉
(I love wrapping, too!)
That being said, I do love to plan out what I’m going to get in advance, or at least have a little idea of gifts for loved ones. Here are some things I think would make awesome gifts for your fitness-minded, yoga-loving, domestic diva and girly-girl friends. Maybe you’ll find some ideas for your own wishlist as well! I tried to include a variety of price ranges + some Cyber Monday deals in there. I’m not affiliated with any of these companies unless clearly indicated, just enjoy their products.
Happy shopping <3
-Mat bag- oGorgeous bags are made by my friend Cassey and are pretty much incredible. (Free mat bag keychain if you order today, and order is over $50)
-Mat towel. I use these ones by Manduka, and absolutely love them, especially for power yoga.
-Yoga book (Autobiography of a Yogi and Darren Rhodes’ Yoga Resource book)
I’ve taken Darren’s class many times, and he’s amazing. I’m also convinced he has no ribs.
–Lotus bracelet or Tiny Devotions
Tiny Devotions sent me a mala bead bracelet stack a few months ago- I love it and wear it often. I gave one to my mom to wear, too 🙂
-lululemon tank. The Power Y’s and Cool Racerbacks are pretty much all I wear, and I love the ruffle detail on this one:
–Yoga Journal subscription
They have so many adorable ones, in fun patterns and colors
This is a great gadget for those who seem to have everything when it comes to kitchen tools, and they’re very inexpensive.
-Unique serving ware or bakeware – you can even mix and match a few different pieces, and include one of your favorite recipes using the dish.
I have a deep love for that Buddha butter dish and with the Le Creuset ramekins, you could include your favorite molten chocolate cakes recipe or something similar.
-lululemon headband
The satin pirouette and slipless are my faves- everything else slides off my head.
–oGorgeous bag (also made by my friend Cassey!)
Beautiful and extremely functional. I’m asking Pilot Santa for the one above…
–key cuff – perfect for those who like to run or workout outdoors. There are more gifts for runners in last year’s guide, too.
-Gymboss interval timer and jump rope (this is a great gift if they’ve been curious about the Bodyrock workouts)
Every active lady needs a foam roller in her life. It’s a free massage, and helps to prevent injury.
-new headphones
–Tarte eyeliner gift set. This is my all-time favorite eyeliner –more about it here- but you get 6 full-sized ones for a little more than the price of one. Amazing. I actually ordered this for myself a couple of weeks ago, and love using the purple or green eyeliner on my top lid to change things up a little
-Cute wristlet. You can go with a wear-with-everything classic, or something sparkly for upcoming holiday parties. This MARC by Marc Jacobs one is $88, and you can find a cute clutch for as low as $30.
–Circle scarf. Cozy and beautiful, and also make a great transition piece into spring- I love how they look with a tank and fun earrings. This one is from Nordstrom, but Forever 21 and HM also have a great selection of circle scarves.
-Sephora makeup motherload. They have a few different options with tons of makeup for around $50- I’m partial to Tarte and love this one
-Pretty Kindle cover or iPhone case
I have this Kate Spade iPhone case (in pink/black), and have dropped my phone at least 40 times. It’s still alive! So it looks pretty and it works. Winner, winner.
There are a ton of amazing Kindle and e-reader covers available online. I love this one on Etsy:
More Cyber Monday deals:
-Sephora: Free shipping over $50, free mystery gift for orders over $25 (Code: MYSTERY)
-Gap, Banana, Athleta: 30% off everything, Piperlime 20% off (Code: HUGECYBER)
-World Market- 20% off everything + free shipping on orders over $150 (you know where you can find me….
–OpenSky (<— affiliate alert): Today is a great day to stock up on some of my faves, including my beloved Sun Warrior protein powder ($35) and an amazing raw gift basket from my twinnie friends ($30)
And remember, the best type of gifts are the ones that can’t be wrapped. Enjoy spending time with friends and family this holiday season <3
xoxo
Gina
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
Mine:
A Valentine’s gift from the Pilot almost 6 years ago <3
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Your friends are going to be very very lucky gift recipients! Thanks for the ideas…I’m self-admittedly a terrible gift-giver (especially when it comes to guys!)
My favorite gift ever was this year’s (early) Christmas present from my grandparents – diamond earrings! I’ve never owned non-cheapazz jewelry, so it’s nice to have a “real” pair.
Anddd this is why I wish my family celebrated Christmas 😉
Love the apron and the bag! Thanks for the ideas 🙂 I got a Kindle last year and I absolutely love it! We also bought our family an iPad last year and that was the best gift EVER!
Great timing with the cyber Monday deals. I was thinking about that eyeliner and now I’m going to purchase it for sure!
$39 for 6 is an amazing deal- i think you’ll love them!
So glad you bought them, Gina, I did too! I LOVE them!!
Also bought the lip crayon set from Tarte, too, and they’re equally glorious!
i’m just so glad you told me that they had the gift set! the colored ones are CUTE 🙂
great gift ideas!! Too bad i want most of them for myself…
I love the gifts that you picked. I think the best that I received was my snowboard. I’ve put that baby to good use!
Great gifts Gina!! I love the Lululemon products you highlighted, especially the new ruffle tank! I can’t really think of a single gift that was absolutely extraordinary, but it’s more the entire Christmas experience that makes it all exciting for me. Happy Cyber Monday!
Aw I had no idea she was a gift! The best gift I ever got may have been the bike I got when I was about 10. I don’t remember ever being happier about any gift!
You don’t start till Christmas Eve? I don’t shop very far in advance, but even just hearing that gives me a little wave of anxiety!
i work better under pressure 😉
Wow, this guide is amazing! I want almost all of them for myself, haha. I’m jewish, so the family doesn’t really exchange gifts for the holidays – only the little ones get presents. But a girl can dream 🙂
When Nintendo first came out, my cousins got it. My sisters and I wanted a game system of our own. that Christmas, Santa hid the system in the hall closet. We screamed in hysterics over Duck Hunt, Mario Bros, and that Olympic race thing where you had to run on the pad. We learned how to cheat the system on that. 😉 But that was one of the best memories from my childhood on gifts.
Another one was more recent from my Hubby (before marriage. He gave me a big box with smaller wrapped boxes inside one of another until it came to a jewelry box. I opened it and it was empty except for a note: “hahahaha! wasn’t that fun??!!” I turned to give him a look and he had another jewelry box in his hand and inside was a small diamond necklace. 😀 he is so crafty. sadly, I lost the necklace a few years later, god knows where. I still have the box with the not inside. . . .
and I have NO idea what to get Hubby this year since 1. his mom starts shopping in August for everyone which makes it impossible to get him DVDs he would love and 2. he is not a fitness/foodie/stylish type of guy. le sigh.
I love shopping on the 24th lol Such a great time to people watch! That apron is amazing! Too bad I live in Canada… very far away from anthropologie! These are great ideas though! Thanks 😀
It’s never “too bad” to live in Canada! Represent 🙂
I’ve been looking for a new eyeliner and I think I’ll give tarte a try. Thanks for all of the recommendations!
One of the best gifts I’ve received is my kitchenaid stand mixer. I felt guilty about spending so much $$ on a mixer, but my husband surprised me with it last Valentine’s Day. I love receiving gifts that I wouldn’t normally buy myself. 🙂
our kitchen aid was a wedding gift, and by far, my favorite. love that thing 🙂
well, I already know what the cop got me for Christmas this year as he bought it with my paypal account! (silly cop!) Yay for watches! The best gift I ever got though, was my first year with my husband, he got me a rottweiler. He was the best.
Um…I need that Buddha butter dish. That is all.
Word Gina!!! Love the ideas – I’ve never used tarte eyeliner before – but it looks fab on you…I must try! And that Buddah Butter dish is to die for! love it! I would probably use it for some other concoction as we don’t use butter…maybe goat butter (even though I secretly LURVE cow butter as you would say 😉 – after going to Paris and eating butter from the little bistro’s that served it…j’miss)
Last night my friend came over to keep me company while Rob went to go play Hockey – we had Martini’s (one each) – she a pomtini, and for moi a good old fashioned dirty 4 olive vodka martini – we watched of all things “Sister Wives”…OMG Gina – you need to see the episode – this woman delivered that 9 pound 10 oz. baby au naturel at home like a freakin’ rockstar!!!!!!! –
I see this being you!!!! When are you due? You look lovely and your madre and nana are adorable btw…
-Natasha
that is crazy!!
due jan 6th 🙂
xoxo
You should have the Pilot compile a list that the girls can get for the guys :)!!!!
i’ll post a guy’s guide next monday 🙂
Ohh I love your gift guide post!! I really enjoy buying gifts for people but sometimes it’s hard to think of unique, creative ones, so this definitely helps! I love the bag and yoga bag your friend makes! Those are gorgeous! And awww, Bella was a gift from the Pilot?? How sweet!! I think my best gift was my college graduation- my mom gave me the diamond earrings that her parents gave her on her college graduation but had them re-set so they were more my style. I love them!
Lahhhhve! Your friend makes a gorgeous gym bag! I’m really into the silver sparkly stuff. Ya know. 😉
I love this list! I’d like all it of for myself . . . maybe Santa has the internet? ;0
haha! send him a link 🙂
If you’re a Kate Spade fan and like any of her “baby” bags, today is the day to get them!!! Down to $159-179!! I ordered myself an early Christmas present, the Delancy Street Spade Camden 🙂
ahhhh! shopping there now 🙂
I love that yoga bag and the key cuff! What awesome gifts!
I love this gift guide! Thanks so much! And what a perfect Valentines Day present! I can’t believe bella is almost six!
Your ideas are always fantastic – how you find the deals is beyond me – those eyeliners! I have a confession to make – I am going to end up purchasing some of these things for me! I seem to do pretty good buying gifts for others. The best gift I ever got was a cowboy outfit I got when I was 6 . . . I wore it to bed that night!
Take care,
Mo
sounds like a plan to me!
happy shopping, friend <3
xoxo
Etsy has so many amazing cases for phones, Kindles, and iPads! I definitely think that you could find something for everyone on your list 🙂
Loving this post and your friend Cassie’s bags. She is so talented!
My manduka mat has lasted me 10 years and has been around the world with me and logged (tens of) thousands of hours of yoga on it, and it’s still going strong! I love their towels too.
All the items you picked are great…can’t go wrong with stuff from Anthro or for the kitchen!
love manduka, too! my manduka mat has been amazing 🙂
Thanks Gina for featuring my bags!!!!
thanks for making amazing bags 🙂
Yay, I’m pretty much out of protein powder and jumped on the deal… the only holiday gift I’ve bought for myself (…so far).
i’m going to stock up, too 🙂
Hi Gina, do you have any recommendations for Christmas gifts for a pregnant woman? My sister is 6 weeks pregnant right now, and I usually get her clothes for Christmas. I would love some ideas to keep her happy and make her feel good. So far I’m thinking a Lululemon workout outfit, and maybe a body pillow. Thanks!
they’re on the family page 🙂 just posted it!
and yes, lulu and a body pillow are excellent choices!
I love my Garmin 405, it wasn’t a gift per se, but my husband MADE me buy it. I don’t know how many times I “visited” it at REI before he finally put his foot down and said “buy it already!” We’re terrible about doing gift-gifts, since neither of us can keep them a secret!
great list of gift ideas! i need this, trying to finalize all my holiday shopping
love that key cuff idea
love the kindle covers!
My best gift ever was my dachshund Reeses. He is a gift that can never be topped!
My wish list just got much bigger after reading this post. 😀 I’d really like to get a spiralizer, but I’ve only ever seen it used for zucchini. What else can you use it for?
I LOVE that Tarte eyeliner set and it stays on great! I’m trying to move out of my comfort zone when it comes to playing up my eyes so these work great! And they go on like butta!
Great list!
Hey Gina, any reccomendations for a gym bag for the man-friend? My hubby (also a pilot) carries around his issued backpack as a gym bag and it drives me nuts! I’d like to get him something a little more practical…
Thanks! 🙂
lulu makes an amazing backpack: http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/men-bags/The-Wet-Coast-Backpack-80074?cc=8955&skuId=3428045&catId=men-bags
the pilot just uses a nike duffle bag 🙂
I love your list. I have some of this stuff, need some of this stuff, and just want some of this stuff!
Just love this time of year.
Thanks for putting the time into the post for all of us.
Hey Gina! This post is super helpful, thank you! Do you have any good gift ideas for men?
it will be up next monday 🙂
Did you see this article about Lululemon!!??? Must read! Not even about the headline but the stuff at the end is Crazyyy! Thought you might be interested (I just bought my first lulu gear a week or so ago then a friend sent me this!)…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stewart-j-lawrence/when-yogis-kill-the-grisl_b_1077457.html
WHOA! i knew about the murder, and the fact that they hire type a’s (i worked there, and i’m super type a, as were all of my colleagues) but had no idea about the rest. intense.
I LOVE the Buddha butter dish and always have to resist when I see it in stores. It is just as awesome in person.
The oGorgeous bag looks so functional with the built-in yoga mat holder. I like the purplish one. At the same time I love the blue bow one.
And you’ve convinced me to buy Tarte next time I get to the store. I’ve needed an upgrade for awhile.
Awesome list!
Awesome ideas Gina! You have beautiful taste!!! (I have a wee problem with shopping for Christmas…I always want one of each for myself. Reading your guide may have added to this…lol.)
I don’t know if anything could top Bella-cakes…but my favorite best gift ever was on Valentine’s Day, 2004. My engagement ring. 🙂
Oh MAN! I LOVE that Buddha butter dish! Amazing! Nice work girl!
LOVE that sparkly gym bag!!!! Too bad I just bought one from lulu :-/ I got some great gift ideas to tell my hubs from this so thank you!