I saw my first holiday commercial on TV the other day. And, while I think it might be a little early, it did get me thinking about some of my favorite things and that they would make ideal gifts. These are things I’ve enjoyed and have made a difference in my life –both large and small. So, I thought I’d share. Some of these were gifts to myself (I am worth it and so are you!). In the spirit of not gatekeeping, here is the list of some of “My Favorite Things” gift ideas.
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My Favorite Things: The Nod Pod
I am a side sleeper and, until recently have slept with a pillow over my head. This helped with both sound and darkness. There are, however, two problems with this. The first one is cosmetic. Any dermatologist will tell you that side sleeping is a NO NO! As we age, sleeping on your side scrunches your face and makes the wrinkles deeper on that side. As hard as I’ve tried to train myself to sleep on my back, it hasn’t worked. I have seriously considered ordering one of those huge U-shaped head contraptions you see on Instagram.
The second is, as you can imagine, it gets hot. Enough said.
Enter the Nod Pod. Elizabeth gave this to me for my birthday and I immediately loved it. They call it a “weighted blanket” that rests on your eyes with additional pods that drape down around your ears, tackling both light and sound. It’s the perfect weight, which is somehow relaxing and effective. It’s made my side sleeping much less intense and somehow stays in place as you move around during the night. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I predict this will be the gift of the season.
The Nod Pod sells for $34.
My Favorite Things: Nu Face Microcurrent Device
I’ve sung the praises of the Nu Face in this post. It is a microcurrent device that does tighten and lift. Celebrities get microcurrent treatments before big award shows and red carpet events –and I can see why. It’s a subtle improvement – but any amount of lifting and tightening is always welcome.
The Nu Face Mini sells for about $187. If you have a person who’s looking for gift ideas for you –this would you be a great gift.
My Favorite Things: Red Light Therapy Mask
Red light therapy has been all the rage for a while now. It is documented to reduce redness, inflammation, fine lines, wrinkles, build collagen and even promote hair growth. There are many products out there. I have the Omnilux Contour Face mask, which is “medical grade” LED light therapy. It is red, infra-red and blue light therapy.
When I was looking into it, I relied on the expert, Angie at Hotandflashy.com. She is my age (we even share the same birthday) and she does deep-dives into everything beauty for women our age. She tested multiple masks, investigating the number of bulbs, wavelengths, etc. and went with the Omnilux. So, I went with the Omnilux.
There is some evidence that it will help you sleep, so I use it at night. Whether it helps with sleep or not, it is 10 minutes where I can’t be on my phone so it forces me to power-down before going to sleep.
The mask is flexible enough to use on your face, your chest, hands –I’ve even used it on my sun-damaged lower legs.
The Omnilux Contour sells for $395 which is the most expensive item on the My Favorite Things Gift Ideas list. But, I would say it’s worth the investment.
My Favorite Things: Cashmere
For me, cashmere is a gift that is practical and luxurious. It’s a great investment piece, as I wrote about in this post. It looks good and keeps you warm, without getting too warm (again, you know what I’m talking about). There is a lot of cashmere out there at different price points. The less expensive cashmere is made with shorter strands and will not hold up.
One of my favorite brands is Subtle Luxury, it is light weight, but warm and has great style that you can dress up or down. And, I just purchased this sweater from Banana Republic. It’s a little heavier weight, slightly cropped and in the color of the season, burgundy.
My Favorite Things: Cuyana Leather Goods
I find the brand Cuyana to have amazing leather goods. It is high quality leather, great colors and finishes. They’re styling is minimal and understated, but so elegant. I have the 13″ Cuyana System Tote, but all their products are amazing.
Base price for the System Tote: $328
My Favorite Things: Corkcicle
I know Yeti is all the rage, but I choose Corkcicle. I was given the Classic Canteen as a gift and I was BLOWN AWAY that it actually kept my water cold for 24 hours. I could take it to the beach, or have it bedside and take a sip first thing in the morning. No matter what, you will get a swig of refreshingly cold water. It’s also perfect for keeping wine chilled, perfect of a beach dinner.
Over the years my collection has grown to the sport canteen, coffee tumbler, and the cooler tote. The Canteen’s start at $34.95 and the cooler is $128
“Anything on Your Wishlist?”
As the holidays approach, you will inevitably be asked what’s on your wish list? My answer is always “let me think about it”. Hopefully, with these “My Favorite Things” gift ideas I’ve given you some options –and at a range of price points.
These are things that I use every day and LOVE — and know you will too.
WETSU! WETSU!
XO JT
