Aside from my dad I've never bought a guy a Christmas gift. As much as I hate being single, it was always glorious this time of year when I didn't have that extra stubborn gift to buy. I think buying men gifts is one of life's least pleasurable things. As easy as it might be because there are only so many things you can get a guy, there are only so many things you can get a guy until it becomes generic.

I feel like it's very difficult to get a guy something unique and memorable, that you can't easily get someone else. Like I could probably get the same thing for a boyfriend that I would get for my uncles, my grandpa, and my cousins. It wouldn't even matter!

That's why I've always appreciated the gift guide for men every year and now I can finally write my own -- because I actually have a guy to buy a gift for. *I don't want to go into too much detail but I've been seeing someone since June so...*

I know what I'm getting him because he told me a few things he wanted (I'm a BIG believer in getting someone something they actually want AND then maybe a little something you think they might like). I love picking things out for someone, especially my mom and sister but with someone new, I think it's good to get an idea of the type of things they like!

Below are a few of my picks for the guys this year!

Clothes & Shoes

Accessories

Fun, Kitchy Items

It's mid-November so you know what that means?!

ban.do Blah Blah Blah Travel Mug Secret Garden Studs Decorative Notebook C.Wonder Pouch Kate Spade Candle

This is a very specific type of gift guide but I thought it was so fun! Disney is having a major moment for adults. There are more Disney bloggers and Instagram accounts than ever; so many Disney collections being released by various brands from Besame to Colourpop and Disney clothing is present in every major retailer from Coach to ASOS and Zara. Plus, don't get me started on Disney+.

I've always been a Disney fan and ever since going to the parks two years ago for the first time as an adult, my love has been turned up a notch. When I discovered an entire online community of Disney lovers, I was over the moon. Some people take their Disney seriously and I'm obsessed.

With the launch of Disney + I think more people are getting in touch with their inner child and appreciating the art that went into our favorite movies. I think it's a great time to be a Disney fan; with everything going on in the world we could just a little comfort and nostalgia.

That being said, if you know someone in your life who went to see Frozen 2 in theaters, took off the day Disney+ went live, and has a trip planned to the parks, this is the gift guide for them.

Danielle Nicole Cinderella Clocktower Handbag | Besame Cosmetics Sleeping Beauty Royal Vanity Mirror Mickey Mouse Initial Necklace | Le Creuset Disney Ramekins | Disney Princess Floral Sweatshirt Colourpop Midnight Masquerade Palette | Cinderella Sweatshirt

Ah, the beauty queen gift guide, my favorite gift guide to put together because I am the resident beauty queen between my friends and family.

During the holidays there are so many incredible gift sets for the beauty lover or even the person who isn't so sure about makeup and skincare yet. There is something for everyone and that's what I love most.

It's also a great time to stock up on the items you love, try something new from your favorite brand, or gift yourself (or a friend) a very luxurious item. When it comes to beauty at the holidays, the possibilities are truly endless.

I searched all the websites for the items I think would make a great gift for any beauty guru in your life... or even yourself!

Laneige Kiss Me All Day Set | Slip Silk Scrunchies | Cooling Eye Pads | NARS Mini Blush + Lip Balm Set | MAC Brush With the Stars Set| Gucci Lip Balm| Deborah Lippmann Treasure Chest Set

Shop more gift ideas below!

PS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway! 


xoxo
B

I never got the hang of gift guides and usually only do 2-3 per year but I like rounding up my favorite items to give different people in your life. I also like categorizing these guides because everyone in your life has their 'thing'.

My thing is the homebody and hygge.

I have always been a homebody. I'm someone who likes to stay home, relax, watch TV and just be chill. It's not even that I want to be alone because I like staying in with friends as well. After 4 years of continuously going out Thursday-Saturday (sometimes even Wednesdays), I'm exhausted from the bar scene. I've accepted that this is who I am and I'm done apologizing for it. I'm 25 years old and too old to care what people say about me and my homebody habits!

Also, hygge has been such a huge trend in the past few years and it's a lifestyle I love to live by! I wrote a post about it earlier this year but it's still something I practice and believe it. Everyone should hygge once in a while.

These are the things that I would love to be gifted as a fellow homebody and someone who loves to be cozy, chic, and at peace.

Barefoot Dreams Blanket

This is every blogger's favorite blanket and with very good reason. It's so incredibly comfortable, soft, and embodies everything I have ever wanted out of a blanket. After drooling over this blanket for years I finally purchased it via QVC (thank you, easy payments!) and have fallen in love with it. It's super cozy and just unlike anything you've ever touched before. All of Barefoot Dreams products are chic and cozy so your homebody would love anything by the brand!

J.Crew Factory Marbled Joggers

I stumbled upon these pants by accident; I was looking for a new pair of sweatpants and these looked like a good pick so I scooped them up. Well, I had no idea what I was in for! These are the most comfortable, delicious pants I've ever worn in my life. They feel like a mix between fleece and silk -- it's such a unique material and just very, very soft. I want to buy them in other colors too but one thing to be aware of is that they shed! Whenever I wear them, black fuzz appears all over my bedroom carpet. It's strange and I thought it would get better after washing but no such luck!

Candle Set

A candle set is a safe gift for anyone really, but it's an essential part to be cozy at home. I stock up on candles throughout the year but Christmas and winter are really my favorite times to burn! I think picking up a candle or two for your homebody is a great idea but what would be even more special is splurging a little on a luxe candle set, one that you know they wouldn't pick up for themselves!

Monq

Essential oils have become a huge part of the home and part of people's wellness routine. There is nothing I love more than cozying up in a blanket and diffusing some of my favorite essential oils to really set the mood. Now, we have personal essential oil diffusers which you can breathe in for an even better experience. Introducing Monq! These personal essential oil diffusers come in a variety of flavors that all use different oils to create a different feeling. I personally love the Zen and I think a nice gift set would be great for your homebody.

PS: Use code briana10 for 10% off your order -- it's good until 12/31 ;)

Salt Lamp

In the same realm of candles and Monq, a salt lamp creates a spa-like feeling in someone's home and also has some great health benefits. It's part decor, part health and wellness and all kinds of cozy!

When it comes to your hygge obsessed friend, any of these gifts will make them smile and then immediately want to hibernate!

What other gift guides would you want to see? Or let me know what hygge gifts you would want! 

Last year I did a whole slew of Gift Guides leading up to Christmas...as did every other blogger in the universe. As do they this year.

There is nothing wrong with that-- gift guides are great posts, but the blogosphere is flooded with them and they definitely don't need anymore from me.

I do really like gift guides because they're perfect for those few people that don't like anything, have everything, or are just really, really horrible to buy gifts for.

I definitely have a lot of those people in my life and I need all the help I could get. That is when gift guides come in handy. So many bloggers have so many great ideas that are so different, no matter who you are shopping for.

Since I didn't want to replicate a gift guide, and they were still flooding my Pinterest feed, I figured I'd make a board dedicated to all the amazing gift guides out there, to reference and look at for inspiration.

I'll be pinning all the gift guides I love and have been looking at for gift ideas to the board so follow along!

Tarte Petite Treats 12 Days of Christmas Lorac The Royal Eyeshadow Collection Smashbox Try It Kit Stila Flawless Gems Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights Butter London Gilded Gears  Glitz & Glam Party Essentials  Gift Sexy: GlamGlow

 It's that time of year! Gift guides are everywhere and you're about to get mine as well. However, I do pride myself on stepping outside the zone of traditional gift guides. I like to be fully transparent and do gift guides for the type of person I identify with or with who I need to get gifts for. For example, I don't do men's gift guides because I don't have any men in my life that I buy gifts. I want this to be real and easy. 

Some of these categories repeat themselves from past years, some are more straight on the nose, like your mom, and some are new. If you're curious about what I did last year, take a look at the 2020 gift guide. 

Now, let's dive deep into this year's gift guide and all the categories! 

For Your Mom

For The Beauty Queen

For The Book Lover

For The Person Who Needs a Wellness Routine

For The Mental Health Advocate

For The Bravo SuperFan

For the Cocktail Connoisseur

xoxo

 At the start of my blogging career, I wasn't a big gift guide person but over the years, I've become someone who shares maybe 3 guides for very specific groups of people: the introvert, the homebody, the girl who likes nothing or the girl who likes everything.

This year, we're sticking to the same theme but I'm condensing it into one huge post... and everything is under $100! 

Let's get right into it!

The Beauty Queen

The Work From Hom-er 
*which is all of this year, right? 

The Essential Worker

The Anxiety Ridden Millennial 

The Book Lover

 I've felt like a hot mess for most of this year and I'm not really sure why. If anything, I was more established in my person, in my home, in my job, than ever before and I did a lot this year, so I'm not sure why the past 330 days have felt so chaotic.

It could be that because I was so settled, so sure of myself, and experiencing new things, it felt unsettling. Maybe I wasn't used to feeling so normal that it caused me to feel abnormal.

Within the past few weeks, I've felt more empowered, more focused, more centered and ready to put one foot in front of the other. I finally feel like I'm coming into my adulthood and getting my life together.

All of that being said, it got me thinking what do you get the girl who is turning over a new leaf, who is coming into her own and getting her shit together? I present to you now, that gift guide!

Boy, what a week! A lot happened and I'm happy to say hello to Friday, the weekend, and almost 1 week until Christmas! I so need a vacation so I can't wait to lay up on my couch for almost two weeks.

Even though the week was hard, I think the blog content was very festive & fun. I really enjoyed writing it so it was nice to see it well received. I wrote all of the posts Saturday night while I watched Christmas movies, sat by the Christmas tree, and as it snowed outside. It felt really good to have things scheduled and not have to worry about it during the week...

Which is why there was no post yesterday. With the crazy, emotionally insane week, I just didn't have the head to sit down and finish a post... but that is usually what happens when I don't have a post go up.

One of the reasons I was nuts this week was because it was my dad's birthday on Sunday, and I really just miss him. Grief is a funny thing and it sneaks up on you... I've written about it once but I feel like it deserves another post, an update on my grief. That's probably the most blogger thing I've ever written but writing helps me in every aspect of life.

This weekend will be a busy one; I have a family reunion of sorts tonight in Manhattan, and then I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning and will head back into the city to go to the Louis Vuitton exhibit which will be so much fun.

I also still need to finish Christmas shopping because it really is sneaking up on me... there is just so much to do and so little time, and so little motivation.

It snowed yesterday too!

Anyways, here are my links for the week:

• A very interesting article about the new moon coming up in a few days
• Chunky knit blankets are the #1 decor trend of the year and I need one
• Why do you jerk awake when you're just falling asleep? This will tell you
• What do successful people do over a 'holiday break'? Find out! 
• How to be happy on the go
• How and why social media can actually reduce anxious feelings

This post is coming a little (much) later in the day than I intended but wow, was I busy today. I was non-stop doing stuff from 2 PM until just now, at 9 PM. It's the day before Thanksgiving and we're hosting so it was a busy day.

The office closed early so I was home with enough time to make mashed potatoes, an apple pie, pumpkin bread, clean, and organize. Then I went on a bit of a cleaning/organizing/decluttering spree in my room and got rid of so much stuff! It is the best feeling ever to have a clean, de-cluttered room.

Now, however, I am exhausted and ready to get this blog up and head to bed!

Today, I wanted to discuss my next gift guide which is for the tech lover in your life. This is someone who is attached to their phone, is never anywhere without an extra charger, or is always watching the Apple launch in real-time.

Since I was a little girl, I have been very into technology. I was always able to fix the computer or television without thinking too much about it. I remember my first AOL screen name and was always on the computer when I had free time. Then, I was always hounding my parents for the latest phone and when I got the Sidekick II for my birthday, I cried hysterically.

To put it lightly, I love technology so these are things that I think any tech lover would really love to open on Christmas.

Kate Spade Phone Charging Tray | Pinch Provisions Tech Kit | Laptop Stand | Bluelight Glasses | Volition Beauty Screen Time Hydrating Mist Spray | Kate Spade Smartwatch | Kate Spade Laptop Sleeve

I am not ashamed to admit that I am a Sephora VIB which means I've spent $350 at Sephora in a calendar year. When I hit VIB a few months ago, I was insanely thrilled. I felt accomplished, like when you get your Gold Card at Starbucks.

The perks of VIB are insane, but the one I couldn't wait for? The VIB sale. Before the holidays, and I think sometime in March or April, Sephora offers VIB & VIB Rogue members the chance to get 20% off their entire purchase. It started already for VIB Rogue members(spending $1,000 in a calendar year) and for us regular VIBs, it starts on Friday, November 13th.

If you are a beauty junkie, you know that Sephora never has sales. It's a very expensive store and everything is always full priced, so this VIB sale is a huge deal.

It's also really great that they offer it right before the holidays because you can score all the insane holiday sets that they have in stock--whether it's for yourself or for gift giving.

It is however unfortunate that the VIB sale comes during No Buy November. 20% off insane and only happens once or twice a year so I am making an acceptation. I feel like I'm betraying everyone but hey, beauty junkies/bloggers gotta do what they gotta do!

I will say though that it has felt amazing to not buy anything for the past two weeks. I will definitely be doing No Buy December and hopefully kick this bad habit!

I have been eyeing a few things that I want/need from Sephora but there are also some great gift ideas out there too.

Here's what I'll be purchasing at the VIB Sale, along with some exclusive Sephora at JCPenny kits since that is my closest Sephora and the kits look fab(they are in a catalog I received at home so you'll have to wait till I purchase them to see what they are):

1 2 3 4

Here are some gift ideas:

1 2 3 4

Have you ever shopped the VIB Sale before? If so, what are you getting this year? Give me some more beauty suggestions in the comments!

Marc Jacobs Wallet//Clinique Skincare Set//Calvin Klein Hooded Coat//Kate Spade Trinket Tray//Slippers//Faux Fur Scarf

My other favorite month is coming to an end and that means two things:

Kiss Instawave

Tory Burch Gemini Link Tote

Barefoot Dreams In The Wild Throw

Ugg Slippers J.Crew Herringbone Sweater Whiskey Book  Shot glasses Birchbox Man Subscription Fit Bit Fitness Wristband   Crewneck Sweatshirt Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

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