Tag / throw blanket

by Kelly Mattei

Holiday Gifts for the Home

Holiday gifts for the home.

Lots of us love gifts for the home. I love when someone gives me something I can use or display at home. Therefore, I’m sharing some favorite ideas for 2023:

  • Vietri Vase. Y’all, I love Vietri glassware, and their vases are my very favorite. They add a little beauty and color to any room. Your friends/family would love to receive a Vietri vase. My fave is the Vietri Hibiscus mouth blown glass vase, starting at $65 for the small clear version and $69 for various colors…the cobalt, the dark green, the pink…I love them all! Purchase here.
  • Ice Ball Maker. This is great for the person on your gift who loves a good cocktail on the rocks. Or if they like a good Old Fashioned, they will love being able to make their own ice balls to perfectly chill their cocktails. Get this thoughtful gift for just $16.99 at Amazon here.
  • EXVALO nightlight/charger/speaker. This is an unusual gift I would love to receive! An adjustable bedside nightlight with phone charging capabilities and a Bluetooth speaker. It’s portable and rechargeable! In fact, I think we need one on every nightstand in our house. Priced at just $35.99 right now (on sale 40% off!), it’s a great gift for anyone on your list. Get it here.
  • Frozen Beverage Machine. I want a frozen drink machine at home. I did a little investigating, and I found that the Margaritaville brand gets great reviews and is priced right too! It’s not commercial grade. For that, you’ll spend more, but for a home machine, Margaritaville gets great reviews. It’s still $320 (at time of writing). If you have someone in on your list who likes to entertain with frozen margaritas, daquiris, or anything, else, this could be a great gift. The Margaritaville brand makes 2.5 pitchers at a time. Purchase here. If you’re up for commercial-grade, I recommend VEVOR brand. Prices start at $542 for the slushie maker on Amazon. What I really like about VEVOR is that no pitcher is required. You can dispense the beverage straight from the machine. I love it. . See the various VEVOR options here.
  • Garden Potting Bench. Have someone on your list who loves gardening? Me. I’m the one on the list who loves gardening. My husband knows I would be happy to receive a potting bench for Christmas. I found one from Yaheetech on Amazon that I would love, and priced at under $70, it’s a deal. There is some assembly required, but according to reviews, it’s pretty easy. If you have a gardener on your list, this could be a great gift at a great price. They’ll never suspect it’s under $70. Get it here.
  • Double Stitch by Bedsure Throw Blankets. Who doesn’t love a good throw blanket? Double Stitch by Bedsure makes quality blankets at great prices. Add a splash of modern charm to any room with these blankets, priced right now on sale at Amazon for $59.99. Get one for each person on your list! See them here.
  • Hippo Resin Figurine Dish. Y’all are going to think I’m crazy, but I love this hippo figurine that also acts as a bowl for keys, candy, whatever you want. It will be a conversation piece, for sure! Priced at $30.99, it’s a fun gift that will get noticed Christmas morning! Get it here.
  • Jonathan Adler Greek Key Frame. I love Jonathan Adler products for their modern look and for their whimsy. This one isn’t as whimsical as some, but it’s a great frame. Pop in a favorite photo for the recipient and wrap it up. Photo memories make great gifts. See it here.
  • Birdfeeder. The older I get, the more I remind myself of my mother. During summer, I enjoy watching the birds flock to my garden, but during the winter, they need to eat too! I’m adding a “birdfeeder” to my Christmas list this year. Hopefully, my husband will read this and come through. Otherwise, I’ll have to rely on Santa. There’s a great one at Amazon for $17.99 here.
  • Great Escapes Coffee Table Book. I’m a big fan of coffee table books. They add color a room and tell visitors a little bit about the residents. Have a traveler on your list? They might like a Great Escapes Coffee Table Book. My favorite right now? The Great Escapes USA: The Hotel Book. Priced under $50, it makes a lovely gift for the traveler on your list. Get it here.

There you have it…ten home gift ideas for the holidays. I’ll be following up with more ideas until Christmas.

Happy Shopping!

***As an Amazon Affiliate, I might receive commission on items purchased through my links.

by Kelly Mattei

2020 Gifts for Teens

2020 gifts for teens.

Every year, I enjoy compiling lists of gift ideas for different members of the family. For whatever reason, the gifts for teens is the most difficult to put together, and I think it’s because teens are so opinionated…and they want what they want.

I can tell you, without hesitation, that my teenage daughter will be getting some new slippers, a weekender tote bag that I featured a week or two ago (see it here), some shoes she has requested, some jewelry she has requested, and some clothes she has requested. But she is very specific about which ones she wants. She made my shopping easy, but I know all teens don’t want the exact same things.

If you need to purchase for a teen this year, I’m going to give you a list, but it’s not one I have compiled. I found it on Merrick’s Art, and it’s a good one. You can see it here. When I say there are lots of good ideas, I mean it. But like I said about teens….they’re picky, so ask some questions before purchasing.

I’ve looked through the Merrick’s list, and I can tell you what my own 17-yr-old daughter would like from the list. She has the LED light strips and loves them…got them for Christmas last year. If your teenage daughter doesn’t have them, you can order through the link on the Merrick’s list or get from Amazon here. They will definitely be a big hit with almost any teen girl.

Throw blanket? Polaroid camera? Yes! They will likely be big hits with almost any teen. My daughter, on the other hand, would look at me like I’m crazy if I give her a karaoke microphone. If you have a teen on your list who enjoys singing (or trying to sing), it might be a great gift. A bluetooth speaker is a pretty safe bet for any teen…boy or girl, but it doesn’t have to be a “mini” one as suggested on the list. My daughter has a big bluetooth speaker that she uses out by the pool all the time. Other things on the Merrick’s list that would definitely appeal to her? Gift cards to almost anywhere, but especially local favorite clothing boutiques and Ulta or Sephora.

I see Merrick’s has listed shearling boots. I looked at the ones they recommend, and they’re great. As for shearling, my daughter also loves her Ugg slippers, that are actually meant to be worn in the house, I think, but I often see her getting into her car wearing them. Our daughter loves the Scuffette II, and at $90, they’re not cheap, but they’re tough. You can find those here. As for the Nike Air Force I shoes they have listed, I say a resounding “yes.” It seems all teenagers love them.

Merrick’s also has listed fanny packs/bags, but check with your teen before getting that. Yes, they’re popular, but you don’t want to get the wrong one that will never be used.

As for blue light glasses, as suggested on the Merrick’s site, my daughter loves hers. She has several pairs that she purchased from Amazon. As much time as they spend staring at screens, they need these glasses to cut down on eye strain.

Roller skates? Maybe…depends on the teen. All the teens I know would say a big “no” to that, but that doesn’t mean others wouldn’t like them.

Those are the highlights and lowlights of the list, but it’s a great, comprehensive list that covers teens with lots of different personalities.

One thing I would add for teen girls is “repurposed” hoodies. They are very popular this year. Basically, they are vintage hoodies or t-shirts that have been bedazzled or reworked in some way to make them stand out. One store that offers them online is LF Stores. Click here to see their selection of sale items. It’s a pricey store, but they have great sales.

Teens are a fickle bunch, but we want them to have happy holidays too…and we don’t want to waste money on gifts they won’t use.

Happy shopping!