Christmas Favorites

Gift giving, while always rewarding, can definitely be a tricky business – what do you get for the person who has everything? The one who wants nothing? Even with the help of wish lists, my mom has still had to exchange almost every item of clothing I’ve purchased for her in the last five years. As a result of this, we’ve developed a new practice. Whenever we see something we want, we pick it out right then and there. So this year, I purchased my mom a top for Christmas that she picked out and tried on in J.Crew while we were shopping together. Does it take the surprise out of gift giving? A little, but for the first time in a long time, my mom received a gift that she loved, that fit her perfectly, and that she didn’t have to exchange post-christmas, ultimately saving a lot of hassle .

So with said, here are a few of my own favorite gifts from this christmas: this adorable oversized sweater that I spotted in T.J Maxx and promptly stowed away in my mom’s shopping cart, and a vintage coach bag from my sister, who, upon finding a selection of options, sent me pictures of each and asked which one I liked most, knowing I wanted one. Although I knew I’d be receiving the gifts, I still treasured every moment of opening, and trying them out, items that were thoughtfully purchased for me by those who I love.

Finding that one perfect gift to surprise someone with is always a wonderful feat, but for every other occasion, I’ve come to realize that it’s okay to take the less creative approach knowing that you can’t go wrong.