When I began thinking about the holiday season a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to do something a little different this year. I’ve always felt lukewarm about holiday gift guides since I feel as if gifting is relatively personal, and that you know the person you’re purchasing for best. Yet at the same time I’ve always loved sharing some of our favorite, go-to, items that could serve as an idea if you’re looking for one…

So this season I decided that I would only be doing a couple of full gift guides, focused on our favorite items, but that there needed to be a giving back component as well. I believe that 2020 has been a struggle for so many people, for various reasons. Many have lost their jobs, dealt with mental health issues, have had major strains placed on their marriages or relationships, have dealt with health issues (either themselves or loved ones) + deaths, and so many other struggles I know I am missing.

I have always believed that more can be done as a collective whole than alone, so I thought that it would be amazing if readers submitted families that they know of, who might be struggling this holiday season, and I could share them here, along with an amazon wishlist, and those who are able could help contribute and sprinkle a little joy to them (of course, no pressure if people are not able to). I was hoping to be able to feature these families starting next week, and would love to be able to share as many as possible….

To nominate a family, I would just need you to e-mail me a paragraph about the family and their story by Monday 11/16. So, if you know of a family in need this holiday season please don’t hesitate to share so we can hopefully sprinkle them with a little joy and love this holiday season!

And as I mentioned above, I’ll still be sharing a couple of gift guides and below I’ve included my favorite 15 items from the past several months that I love and think would make wonderful gifts (many I’ve already gifted). Hope it’s helpful in some way.
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TOP 15 ITEMS I OWN, LOVE, + WILL GIFT THIS SEASON

BATYA SLIPPERS: I got these slippers about a month ago and absolutely love them. They’re super plush and keep my feet nice and warm. Very well made, come in several color options, and I always think slippers are such a great gift idea… especially when we’re spending so much time at home.

PLUSH THROW BLANKET: So soft and well made… at an under $50 price point. I bought mine at the Nordstrom sale and we use it nightly. We’ve also had several spills on it, so it’s been through a delicate wash cycle a couple of times and is still good as new. I own it in a white color, but there are so many gorgeous options. I also love this plush throw blanket, but colors are limited.

MAISON DU SOIR PALERMO ROBE: I was never a big fan of robes until I got this one last year… it’s the perfect weight for getting ready in the morning (I wear it every single morning), washes well, and feels really luxurious. It’s small business and made locally in Los Angeles.

LETT IVORY RIBBED JOGGERS: If you know someone who loves to look pulled together, yet stay comfortable at the same time, then these are a great gift (especially for anyone who is WFH). I’ve had mine since August and literally wear them several times a week. They run true to size for reference.

BAREFOOT DREAMS CARDIGAN: I have already purchased this for someone in my family (I won’t name names here) and it’s such a soft and comfortable pieces to wear around the house (or out and about as well… no need to discriminate here). I’ve had mine since last July (2019) and it’s still in excellent condition.

HERRINGBONE NECKLACE: I gave this as a gift to my sister for her birthday this summer and she loves it…. it makes a statement while still being dainty and it layers so nicely with other pieces. I also want to note that Gorjana has a lifetime guarantee policy, so if a piece begins to tarnish, you can contact them and they will either fix it or send a replacement… my mom had a bracelet that broke and she contacted them and she sent her a new one… and then one time my sister was in their store and they noticed her necklace wasn’t as shiny as a new one and they gave her a replacement on the spot, without her saying anything…. I say all this because I know I like to gift with confidence, so hopefully that helps!

CROSSROPE JUMPROPE: If you know someone who is a fitness buff then this is a great gift option! It’s a weighted jumprope so it gives you an awesome workout. There are two options to choose from, and I have the “get lean” set. There is also an app that comes with a lot of great guided workouts to use with it. (20% off with code ITSYBITSY20)

BALA BANGLES: Another gift for the fitness buff… these super chic ankle + wrist weights. I had a super old, and outdated, set of ankle weights and I found that they always cut into my skin… these are super comfortable and wrap nicely around either the ankle or wrist. They also come in a nice storage bag, so it’s easy to keep track of them. (15% off with code YAYDAY)

ELEMIS CLEANSING BALM: I included this in last year’s gift guide, and it’s still my favorite luxurious facial cleanser. I gifted it to my mom last year and she’s hooked on it as well. It does such a phenomenal job of cleansing and moisturizing the skin!

TOMMY JOHN SECOND SKIN SLEEP PANTS: I’ve gifted Tommy John items to both my sister and my dad, specifically the second skin sleep collection. These pants are super comfortable, soft + silky on the body, and keep me nice and cool at night. They come in a lot of great colors as well. Starting on 11/21 you can take 25% off for 72 hours with code Shannon25.

THE ALWAYS PAN: If you know someone who loves to cook (and who isn’t doing more cooking these days) then I can’t recommend this pan more… it’s non-toxic and can cook so many different dishes (we love using it for one pot meals). I gifted my sister + brother in law a set of the bowls as a house warming gift, so they make a great gift option as well (they’re sustainably made, and can be used in the dishwasher and microwave).

GOLD HOOP EARRINGS: These under $50, lightweight gold hoop earrings, are a great option for a friend or female family members… I love the tubular shape and that they aren’t too big or too small.

AT HOME SPA WITH CBD BATH BOMBS + NECESSAIRE BODY CARE: We could all use a little spa experience right about now… and these CBD bath-bombs and the necessaire body care products bring that experience home. I plan on gifting the bath bombs this holiday season, in conjunction with the luxuriously soft body lotion and exfoliator (I’m a fan of the eucalyptus scent). The CBD bath bombs give a great relaxed feeling, and I even have TJ hooked on them as well. (15% off bath bombs with code Shannon)