*That song was in fact, Belinda tells us, written by Nick Lowe. Elvis got me through the rocky parts of my 20s, so gotta keep him on the card.
My friends, we have come to the final installment of the gift guides you requested for this Christmas season. I hope that if you celebrate the holiday your preparations are going smoothly, accompanied by humor and grace from your comrades in crime.
Here are some affordable presents I myself would like – now that we’re talking me we’ll use the High WASP term, “presents” – ranging from reasonable-ish, to full-on, can’t-do-much-better frugality. I hope you find some ideas for your dear ones.
Unless you’re finished shopping already, in which case you’ll find me in the corner, bowing deeply in your direction.
For Someone Who Wants To Spruce Up, Update, Or Otherwise “Up” Their House
Details
We don’t often think to give foundational home furnishings, but if you know your recipient well, voilà use as well as delight.
- Embroidered Dots Shade • PBteen • $39.00 (New lampshades, in an unexpected color, change everything)
- Anthropologie Darby Lampshade • Anthropologie • $39.95–49.95
- 100% Natural Cotton Reversible Blanket & Throw – Soft as Cashmere, Imported, Camel/Ivory Twin size • $92.50 (My old throw has holes in it, the cashmere one my daughter bought sheds, but who doesn’t want a blanket on their sofa for blog writing and a general snuggle?)
- Marquis Greenland Home Barcelona Accessory Throw Blanket • Marquis • $52.99
- Office Star Mesh Task Chair – Pink • $52.99 (As part of my house update, one of the kids’ rooms is getting made into an office. I just might want to work in a bright pink chair. You never know.)
- Deluxe Armless Wood Banker’s Desk Chair with Wood Seat in Fruitwood • Bed Bath & Beyond • $124.99
- Willow and Seagrass Baskets • Cost Plus World Market • $4.99–7.99 (Right now my beloved garden tools sit by the front door in a white plastic painter’s bucket. Surely they deserve better. Baskets are such simple art.)
- Beachcomber Extra-Large Round Basket • Pottery Barn • $129.00
A Few Simple Ways To Polish The Tomboy Wardrobe
Details
(And don’t forget the joys of meaningful jewelry)
- “Vintage” cotton tee in multiple colors via J. Crew
- Sheep slippers via Zappos
- Blue star belt via L.L.Bean
- Uggs slippers via Nordstrom
- Embroidered belt via the Sundance Catalogue
- Crystal earrings via Kohls
- Little pearls via Steven Alan
- Striped tee via Jigsaw
- Pale scarf via Nordstrom
- Vivid scarf via Nordstrom
Books I Have Liked Or Expect I Will
(And, don’t forget, The Widening
I’ve read and enjoyed all of these, except the Madhur Jaffrey cookbook. That one is highly recommended for someone who wants to start learning Indian cooking. Which I do.
And, In Closing, Gifts Of Experiences
My first choice of experience presents would always be an airplane ticket. But those show up in the “budget” category once in a blue moon. So here are a couple of alternatives.
- A joint project. For example, I’m fixated on finding a planter with gold embellishment for the purple Feng Shui garden in my back yard. Hard to come by, but easy to make. One terracotta pot plus some gold leaf
from a craft store plus, let’s say, a fuchsia, along with an offer to spend an hour laughing over handyman incompetency together? Perfect.
- New skills. If you want to give someone a present of experience, teach. If you have a skill, share, along with a few tools. Or, how about an online course? The field is booming. I’m trying to learn simple coding of HTML and CSS, and am enjoying courses at Udemy. They offer all kinds of subjects for extremely reasonable prices. I’m also trying to teach myself graphic design, over at the Canva site. That’s where I made the (navy blue) Christmas card up top, using one of their templates. Canva supports design-your-own from the ground up, and sells little graphic components for $1.00 apiece. I bet you could set up an account and populate it with $10 towards backgrounds.
Commence the ringing of bells, from high steeples, to doorbell ding-dongs, to the Salvation Army chorus on cold city streets.
Affiliate links may produce commissions. Planters image via The Hunted Interior.
21 Responses
A few years ago, I gave my niece private knitting lessons at a local yarn store. It was for five or six consecutive Saturdays, and I picked her up at her house, took her to the lesson, then to lunch or another adventure, and then took her back home. She’s the youngest of four, and was often overlooked.
I got a skein of yarn and used little pieces of paper along the way, with some clues. When she finally unwound the whole ball of yarn, a certificate was at the end.
This happened soon after I’d moved back to the States, and gave us a good chance to bond again.
@pigtown*design, That is an outstanding example of type. Time, materials, skill, memories, intellect. I bet her parents were thrilled.
I loved this guide, especially the gifts of experiences. Last year, my daughter gave me a gift card for a cooking class that we took together – so much fun and it gave us a chance to get together just the two of us (so difficult with her busy work schedule). I am hoping we do it again. Thank you for sharing the guide.
Thank you, @Jane. I like the idea of picking something that by its nature commits to time that’s otherwise hard to do.
I like getting tickets for the theatre or a concert especially when the person giving them accompanies me.
Your white plastic bucket could easily stand to be upgraded to a basket….I have a vintage one with a handle that I carry outdoors and move around the garden as I go.
Great quote by Elvis Costello….now tickets to one of his wife’s concerts would be a real treat. She is on her new tour but the Vancouver concert happens when I plan to be in Paris….
Those gold leaf pots look great and don’t overlook “aging” terra cotta pots by coating them with a thin film of yogurt…they get all green and mossy which look wonderful in the garden.
@Bungalow Hostess, I knew you’d have the garden answers! I never heard about yogurt – I’m guess it can’t be blueberry:).
Love so many of these items – classic but fun to receive!
Thank you, Twitter D!
Lots of great ideas in this post!
My wish list includes an online subscription to The New Yorker.
@Susan, Oh that’s a good idea! And if it’s online, you won’t have the stacks of issues lying next to your sofa, whispering, “But you didn’t read all of me:).”
Nick Lowe wrote that song, not Elvis Costello. Costello sang it, but he’s not the creator of it.
@Belinda G., Ah, OK, thanks. I will star the reference and include Mr. Lowe’s name below. I have to leave Elvis up there, he kept me going in my early 20s, when I lived alone in New York.
Love your previous comment about Elvis – he also kept be going during some dark days after a bad breakup in my early 20s. Let the Great World Spin is at the top of my list too. It received very favorable reviews from my sister…my favorite book critic.
@Janey Ann, It’s a wonderful book. And have you seen Elvis in concert? I have, several times, and he was awesome:).
Wonderful, Lisa, absolutely wonderful.
I didn’t see my finished lampshades before I left so they will be lovely Christmas presents when I return home. We were quite bold so I’m excited.
I hope you have a perfect Christmas in every way, filled with joy and good cheer.
xo,
Tish
@Tish Jett, Ah, Tish, so nice to hear from you! Yes, I am very excited about your lamp shades!
My Mom had a Madhur Jaffrey cookbook! I think she got it in the 1970’s. I remember her cooking some delicious recipes from that cookbook!
I almost can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get on board!
Yes, Lisa! I saw Elvis in concert right before the aforementioned bad breakup. LOL. He was wonderful :)!
@Janey Ann, Because, of course, clown time WAS over. :).
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