By Jessica Tomes, Social Media Director

I love everything about Christmas. I love bundling up for the cooler temperatures, spending quality time with family and friends, the cheesy movies and holiday specials on television every day in December. I love baking (and then eating) way too many Christmas cookies, drinking hot chocolate by the fire, while listening to new and old favorites on the radio. But one of my favorite things about Christmas, besides celebrating our Savior’s birth, is selecting gifts for all of my loved ones. I especially love shopping for my husband.

However, I know perfectly well not everyone feels this way. Some of us dread every birthday, anniversary, and special occasion for just this reason. For some of us, gift giving does not come naturally—it is not a talent we possess. And that is okay.

Personally, I get a thrill from seeking out and painstakingly selecting gifts for everyone on my shopping list. I can spend hours scouring the Internet and my handful of favorite stores, searching out the perfect present. I don’t want to lead you astray; this is a skill I have honed from many, many years of practice. So just in case you have procrastinated in the gift giving department this year (no judgment), here are a few tips and suggestions for selecting a stocking stuffer or two your special someone is sure to love. Because after all, even though the sentiment behind the gift is more important than the gift itself, no one wants to be known as a terrible gift giver.

Tip Number One: Don’t just select the easiest or most practical gift. Try to find something unique and special, keeping the personality and interests of the person you are shopping for in mind. Pay attention to items he or she comments on throughout the year—you could even keep a running “wish list”.

Tip Number Two: Despite what the commercials and advertisements would have you to believe, you do not have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to make a big impact. Sometimes the most simple (or even the handmade) gift is the best gift to give. Just make sure you are not giving this gift purely out of convenience, or because you forgot to do anything until the last possible moment.

Tip Number Three: When in doubt, don’t be afraid to purchase a gift card from his or her favorite store. Sometimes it is best to go with what you know the gift recipient will love no matter what, especially if he or she tends to be very particular.

Stocking Stuffers for Her

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Dana’s Bakery Classic Macaron Collection from Williams-Sonoma ($35 for a set of 12). Colorful and bright, these macarons look good enough to eat! How pretty will they look poking out of the top of your favorite gal’s stocking? Treats and sweets are always excellent stocking stuffer options. Ahem, especially when she is expecting…

Landmark Ring Dish from Anthropologie ($12). How cute is this petite ceramic beauty? Funky and unique, this ring dish is anything but practical, but oh so fun. I am a huge fan of anything Parisian, but if the Eiffel Tower is not quite her style, designer Molly Hatch has several different landmark options to choose from. Little treasures like this one make fantastic stocking stuffers.

Butter London Whistle and Flute Collection from Anthropologie ($36). Luxury beauty items like fancy nail polish (or lotions, perfumes, and makeup) make lovely stocking stuffers. Especially for the girl who loves to be pampered. Butter London’s non-toxic, “three-free” formula ensures a long-lasting manicure, full of shine. This collection includes three nail lacquers:  Fiver (a minty green color), La Moss (a deep vampy red), and The 444 (a glittering champagne).

Fuzzy Ascot from Anthropologie ($48). The epitome of chic glamour, this gorgeous faux fur and knit scarf is sure to bring a smile to any fashionista’s face. Fur is very in this season, and this scarf makes the trend easy and accessible. Small fashion items always make nice stocking stuffers, granted you can fit them into her stocking! I think I might have to add this ascot to my own Christmas wish list…

“Danielle” Earrings from Kendra Scott ($60). Jewelry is always a good idea when it comes to selecting stocking stuffers or even gifts for under the tree. An affordable luxury, these Kendra Scott earrings have been all the rage in 2013. Appropriately I chose a jade shade (technically green onyx), Pantone’s color of the year, for this gift guide. What red blooded American girl wouldn’t love to find a trinket like these in her stocking on Christmas morning? These earrings are available in several different colors and styles at www.kendrascott.com.

The Remodelista from Anthropologie ($37.50). This beautiful coffee table book from popular blog site Remodelista.com is not only beautiful to look at, but also offers tips and DIY projects for the budding designer from some of today’s hottest bloggers. Beautiful, little books make great stocking stuffers. Like fabulous jewelry or handbags, you can never have too many.

Library of Flowers Bubble Bath available from Neiman Marcus and www.libraryofflowers.com  ($36). I am such a sucker for pretty packaging, and Library of Flowers does not disappoint. Another luxury beauty item, this ultra-feminine bubble bath is like a little celebration in a bottle, making it the perfect stocking stuffer selection. Pictured here are scents Arboretum and Wildflower & Fern.

Petunia Picklebottom “Flowering Firenze” iPad Sleeve from www.laylagrayce.com (on sale for $33). The perfect gift for the techie on your gift list, she is sure to love this practical yet stylish iPad case! Petunia Picklebottom makes some of the most durable and recognizable items on the luggage and handbag market, and you can even clean it with a wet wipe! Pretty cool, huh? Definite stocking stuffer material.

Marzipan Leather Gloves from Anthropologie ($98). Yes, these gloves are pricy, but sometimes the lady in your life deserves a real treat, don’t you think? These sumptuous leather gloves are absolutely stunning, and I just cannot get over the sparkling crystal detail on the wrists. So pretty and decadent, these fashionable yet classic gloves are another wonderful gifting option this Christmas season.

A Travel Set from Pottery Barn (on sale for $59). This is the perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite jet-setter. The classic, pinstriped drawstring bag comes equipped with all the necessities: an eye mask, a pillow, and a small travel throw. This is a good example of keeping the gift receiver’s unique interests in mind while shopping.

Stocking Stuffers for Him

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10-in-1 Adventurer Tool from Restoration Hardware (on sale for $17.49). This compact adventurer tool features a knife, pliers, compass, LED flashlight, a corkscrew, a bottle opener, a wire stripper, an extension bar, and a mini flathead screwdriver. For the rugged man with everything, this handy little gadget is the perfect stocking stuffer.

A Letter to My Dog: Notes to Our Best Friends from Anthropologie ($24.95). Really this would be a fantastic stocking stuffer for any dog lover, male or female. Written from owner to pup, this collection features both every day and celebrity dogs and their humans (like Oprah Winfrey). Too adorable for words, this coffee table book is sure to make you look like gift giver of the year.

Horned Beauty Bottle Opener from Anthropologie ($28). Rustic and charming just like your man, this bottle opener is handcrafted from a shed reindeer antler. Don’t you think your stylish beau would love to find this in his stocking? I know mine would! Make sure he knows this bottle opener is much too pretty to live in a drawer.

A gift card to Home Depot or his favorite hardware store. Let’s face it, men love tools. Chances are, if he has asked you for something from a hardware store, unless you wrote it down at that exact moment, you are not going to remember what it was he said he wanted. Trust me, I know from experience that a gift card is just as good as the real thing.

Monogrammed Cigar Cutter from Pottery Barn ($19.50). Does your guy enjoy a stogie every now and then? Is he a serious connoisseur when it comes to his cigars and smoking paraphernalia? If so, I think this monogrammed cigar cutter is probably the perfect stocking stuffer. Besides, what southern gentleman doesn’t love a good monogram?

Whiskey Stones from Restoration Hardware (on sale for $17.49). Reusable soapstone cubes to keep his liquor perfectly chilled, without diluting the flavor. He can freeze the stones and use them like ice cubes. Originally conceived in Scandinavia, these whiskey stones are available from www.restorationhardware.com. The perfect stocking stuffer for the liquor loving mister in your life!

Survival Kit in a Sardine Can from Restoration Hardware (on sale for $10.99). This compact survival kit features acetaminophen, one adhesive bandage, an alcohol prep wipe, antibiotic ointment, a book of matches, a tea bag, chewing gum, a compass, sugar, a whistle, a salt packet, an energy nugget, duct tape, a fire starter cube, a wire clip, first aid instructions, a fish hook and line, note paper, a pencil, a razor blade, a safety pin, a signal mirror, and a waterproof bag. Wow! That little sardine can packs a mighty punch. The perfect present for hikers, campers, and travelers.

Saddle Leather Phone Case from Pottery Barn ($19). Rugged and handsome just like your honey, this case will stylishly protect his iPhone 5. Little tech treasures like this one always make fantastic stocking stuffers. Monogramming is only available when you purchase the case online.

Vintage Book iDock from Anthropologie ($68-90). The perfect stocking stuffer for the bibliophile (book lover) on your gift list. The vintage books hold a hidden iPhone or iPad charger. How cool is that? Style and function, my favorite kind of gift for him.  

Valerie Confections Scotch and Stout Truffles from Williams-Sonoma ($49.95). Not your typical box of chocolates, these ganache filled truffles are flavored with either 10 year old Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whiskey or Rogue Chocolate Stout from Portland, Orgeon. Molded in either milk or bittersweet chocolate, these truffles are the perfect stocking stuffer for the man with a sophisticated sweet tooth. The gift set comes with 20 pieces.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. We would love to hear some of your favorite stocking stuffers of all time. Feel free to share with us below. Merry Christmas TMD readers! We hope you all have a joyous holiday season! Don’t forget to shower your loved ones with gifts AND Christ’s love!

 

Born and raised in Southeast Texas, Jessica currently lives in Billings, Montana with her husband Tyler, and her one year old daughter Savannah. Jessica graduated from Texas Christian University where she studied Broadcast Journalism. (Go Frogs!) A writer, blogger, and fashion enthusiast, Jessica also owns her own business: Jessica Morgan Photography and Events. She loves everything about weddings, and is so excited to have joined the team at Tamara Menges Designs! She is expecting her second baby girl, Emma Kate, in March of 2014.