Posted on December 4, 2009 - by Cate

Gift Ideas for the Girls

My daughters are 18 and 20 respectively and I thought I’d pass along some inexpensive gift ideas I’m mulling over for them this Christmas (no they don’t read my blogs, unless they’re mentioned in a story and I feel compelled to inform them for the sake of full disclosure so they can’t come back at me later in life and withhold grandchildren or something.)

Stocking Stuffers:

• EcoTools Bamboo Brushes: I love these brushes! They’re bamboo and natural bristle, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. I found these at Target, and they feel GREAT on the skin. If you or someone special you’re buying for is into mineral makeup, EcoTools has a set of kabuki brushes as well!

• Makeup sets are always a hit especially when they’re pinching pennies, going to school and working. There’s something a little decadent about getting a set at Christmas and some of their favorite brands (MAC and Clinique) always come out with something fun (last year they got false eyelash kits!)

• Roll-on perfume: growing up in the ’70s I remember roll-on fragrance and now it’s back and sooo convenient to keep in your purse. How about something like… Juicy Couture’s Couture Couture available at Sephora?

• Rosebud salve, their lips are always, always, always chapped and I can’t keep them in lip balm. Smith’s Rosebud Salve has been a staple for pretty much every stocking and Easter basket since they were little.

• Earrings, studs and hoops are always needed and I stock up on the basics especially in silver.

• Inkjet cartridges: I know this doesn’t sound glamorous but inkjet cartridges are expensive and one of my daughters is a design student so, she just might get cartridges in her stocking.

• Phone covers, fun and something they wouldn’t treat themselves to and practical. Check out these funky covers from SwitchEasy

• Knitted laptop sleeves, like the ones I saw on Etsy! Awesome, and I thought, OMG, how cool, and then I wondered if with a beginning skill set in knitting I could pull these off — stay tuned,

• Gift Card’s from Starbucks, Target, Anthropology, iTunes: all of these come in handy throughout the year and give them the feeling they can shop without dipping into their savings. My husband feels these are impersonal, but the girls LOVE getting them.

• Magazine subscriptions: these are relatively inexpensive and offer up a nice break once a month, a little treat that once again they wouldn’t purchase for themselves.

• Eyebrow and lip wax, a perennial favorite from their preferred salon.

• And a specific request this year, fleece: jackets/vests. I’d like to investigate good quality jackets at a reasonable price point. Will look at Lands End, but are there others I should consider? GAP?