A record of Holly Jolly Christmas Gift Guide

Simply like last year’s roundup of budget-friendly holiday gifts, we are back to share what tickled our fancy this year. So we set off to three mainstream stores that hopefully many of you have access to (if not there is consistently online ordering) and snapped a few pics of our go-to non-fund-depleting finds. The best part is that many of them can be had for simply a few dollars and nothing in our roundup is over the 20-something range. Plus some of these items can be adapted or DIYed so you can whip them up for even less at home. Does not that put some seasonal spring in your step? So without further ado, here is what made us want to rent a Santa suit and utter “ho ho ho” to anyone who would listen…

First we stopped at Crate & Barrel since they are consistently a strong place to sleuth out fairly glassware, bud vases, and more on a dime. We consistently walk into the store assuming that things are in the $50+ range but there are so many remarkable items that still look especially high-end but can be snagged for simply a few bucks. Like these stemless wine glasses for example. At simply $2.50 a pop you can grab a set of four for $10 and simply pick up a bottle of bubbly or cider to round out the gift in under $20. Plus C&B will wrap everything up so nicely for you (in tissue and a chic Crate & Barrel box for free) that we guarantee your giftee will never guess that you only spent a few bucks on each wine glass. Bonus- they’ll think of you every time they share a toast. Plus you can even etch them with a custom monogram for a Hands-on spin that is especially personal and sure to be appreciated.

These festive under-$5 mugs would make strong little gifts full of hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows or gourmet biscotti. They could even be paired with a tin of fancy tea and an inexpensive tea infusers for a charming tossed-together gift that looks elegant and anything but haphazardly glued and over-glittered.

Then we have these fairly $7 and $10 jars that are made from vivid green recycled glass and would look adorable full of homemade cookies (you could tie the recipe on a string around the rim). You can even stuff them with something more personal (like yarn for someone who loves to knit or fairly stationery for someone who sends out frequent letters). We are consistently a fan of presents where the packaging is not tossed away and in fact serves as part of the gift- and these containers would be remarkable if they lived on as chic sugar or flour containers on a kitchen counter.

And if the jar-o-cookies thing is a bit too tried and true for you, this cute little recycled cruet (which is under $6) would be a fairly holiday hostess gift full of some sort of handmade dressing or marinade (again with the recipe tied to the rim, so the giftee can whip it up again and again). Or the lucky recipient can enjoy your gourmet dressing and then choose to use their cruet to store olive oil or vinegar in style for years to come. Again, you gotta enjoy when the package is part of the present…

These fairly little $3.95 birch-wrapped votives were so natural and cozy that we instantly fell in love. We could picture one atop a tin of gingerbread cookies for a charming gift that looks and smells as warm and inviting as it tastes. Is there anything better than enjoying gingerbread by the light of the fire- er, candle?

Although the goal was to find as many $5-10 items as we could, these bookends were too cute not to mention. At $29 they should not totally break your budget, and how strong would they be if you gifted them along with one of your go-to reads to a fellow bookworm?

We also enjoyed this trio of small frames for $14.95 (which means they break down to less than $5 each if you separate them). You could frame three memorable photos of yourself and three distinct giftees to create three personalized presents for under $5 a pop. And they’ll all have heartfelt meaning and some serious style.

We also enjoyed this va-va-voom red bud vase that is simply $8.95. You could fill it with fresh flowers or even pair it with tickets to an arboretum (or anything else that is flower themed). But it does not stop there, you could also gift it along with a box of red and white striped candycanes or gourmet peppermint candy for a red themed present that is half edible and half keepsake. And everyone knows someone who proudly proclaims that red is their “signature color.”

These cocktail glasses are even cheaper than the stemless wine glasses we shared above (simply $1.95 each) and four of them would be especially lively paired with cocktail mix and even one of those sugar-the-rim drink kits for an easily under $20 gift that feels festive and lively.

And not all glasses have to be used for drinking. In fact, we thought these fairly colored glass tumblers (on sale for under $4 each) would make charming little votive holders. Simply toss a candle in two or three of them (you could go with one of each color or three of the same hue) and even include another item in that color palette (like a jewel toned table runner for example) to round out the little tabletop decor kit.

And for anyone seeking a slightly more substantial gift for someone special, if that person is a wine lover we have you covered. Who would not adore this vivid, sculptural wooden wine rack that simply happens to be on sale for $24.95?

And Crate & Barrel is also strong for a few little things that round out a gift that is nearly there but simply needs a dash of customization (or even simply a little something tucked next to the bow on top of the box). These small leatherbound Sudoku and Word Scramble booklets are under $8 and the chic luggage tags and picture clips are in the $2-5 range so they all qualify as stocking stuffers or gift toppers with more flair than the average checkout-counter find.

Then we dropped in on Pottery Barn which had some truly fairly holiday decor (this gleaming moss and ornament filled enclave reminded us of these little moss and ornament decorations that we made last year). Gotta enjoy when natural things like fresh green moss meet seasonal sparkle for an understated and charming effect. Hands-on alert: you could grab some glitter-spray at any craft store and make your own sparkling seasonal pine cones to add to the mix simply like they did here.

But back to the gift guide… sorry for that decorating diversion. We enjoyed these gorgeously European-looking ceramic latte cups, coffee mugs, and cuppuccino cups that range from $8-10 and look so high-end and detailed they’d be vivid everywhere from a bathroom full of q-pointers to a glass-fronted cabinet in a kitchen. Simply like the Crate & Barrel mugs they can be filled with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows or even bags of gourmet coffee or cuppuccino for any coffee lovers out there. Heck you can even toss in some biscotti for extra credit.

And because everyone knows someone glamorous and confident sufficient to appreciate a $10 faux-fur wine cozy (that is right, not only do they exist but they made our roundup!), this little sleeve of festive holiday ooh-la-la can be gifted along with a posh bottle of wine or cider. Is it weird that I want to pet it for hours?

For anyone who is a bit more decor obsessed (or even math or science obsessed) one of these elegant hourglasses (the big ones are $18 and the little ones are $9) would make quite a memorable present. Cannot you picture the large one on a cool looking Domino desk and the little one serving as an ultra chic paperweight atop a pile of bills and receipts. Nothing like a little accessorizing to make a stack of unpaid bills look good…

We also especially enjoyed this plain stack of towels bound together with a gleaming ornament, so for anyone who is giving anything that can be folded and corralled with a bit of ribbon (dishtowels? placemats? fabric napkins? etc) channel the PB style gurus and add a little ornament to keep things lively and festive. Again there is no wasteful one-time-use gift wrap that’ll get all balled up and tossed in the trash- and we enjoy that you can pick an ornament and some ribbon that will work with whatever you are “wrapping” for a chic little coordinated effect. Note: for more ways to wrap gifts in unexpected ways (that are straightforward on your wallet) check out this post from last year on the subject.

At last we slipped through Urban Outfitters since they are full of hipster-fabulous finds that are quirky, unique and oh so entertaining. Plus they will not cost you an arm and a leg. First I found these vivid ceramic doggy banks (I used to think I only enjoyed white ceramic animals but it turns out I have a thing for black and white ones too!). And at simply $18 a pop they are remarkable gifts for anyone who loves dogs, banks, or simply having some cool conversation piece on their bookcase or mantel. And they are in fact fairly big too (the photo sort of dwarfs them) so they are certainly statement-makers for less than 20 beans. And in case it is not painfully obvious, I want one truly bad (are you reading this honey?).

To stick with the ceramic animal theme here for a minute, these $20 cow banks are fairly darn cool too. They are certainly not for everyone, but you simply might know some cute farm guy or gal who would adore one (and you could pair it with a cow creamer or some cow tails to take it even further).

And because we are both fairly personalization-glad, and John is a lover of all things typography, we could not fail to mention these remarkable oversized metal letters that run in the $18-20 range and would certainly be cool gifts for anyone with… oh, a first or last initial for example. You could even get two initials and an ampersand for any paired off friends or relatives that you think would enjoy something so bold and graphic. And perhaps we simply have babies on the brain, but we are thinking one (or a collection of a few) would look fairly cool in a nursery too.

They also had these $8 wire letters that make a cool gift for anyone with a modern aesthetic or a enjoy of industrial-chic design (they’d look especially strong in a raw studio apartment or loft space). Plus at simply $8 for these you could tie one of them to any gift you’ve already wrapped with ribbon as sort of the ultimate gift topper/accessory. They are fairly darn lively and nearly impossible to put down (I had to pry more than one out of John’s hands before we left).

I am also a big fan of giving a striking scarf or a pair of exotic earrings to a good friend or relative, especially if I see something that screams their name. And these textured scarves in fact screamed a lot of my friends’ names so I figured they might assist you folks find that ideal gift for the fashionable gal on your list, whoever she may be. They are far more elaborate and posh looking than their $10 price tag, and we also enjoy using striking scarves like these as “gift wrap” of sorts, so you could twist them around a sweater or even a clutch with some ribbon and a card and there you have a stylish little gift pack for your fashionista complete with a scarf and another lively accessory.

And last but certainly not least, this $20 jewelry tree was so charming and sweet that we thought it would work for everyone from a coworker to a best friend and even a mother or grandmother. It is made from white painted metal so it is substantial and elegant in your hand, and imagine how fairly it would look on a dresser or night table with earrings and necklaces draped over a few of the branches.

So that is a roundup of all the little tokens of enjoy and friendship that we think could make thoughtful (and affordable gifts) for you and yours. Because there is nothing like giving a ceramic cow without having to utter “holy cow” when you open your bank statement a few weeks later. Ok, so perhaps the bovine joke was a bit of stretch, but we truly hope you enjoyed this year’s little virtual shopping spree with us. And do not forget to drop in on last year’s Holly Jolly Gift Guide for even more ideas that are as straightforward on the eyes as they are on the wallet. Glad holiday shopping to one and all!

Note: None of these stores paid us for this mention or otherwise rewarded us in any way. They are simply real places that we in fact shop for gifts (in fact we picked up a few things for our family and friends as we went) so they are ideal sources gift-giving inspiration.