I am a notoriously hard-to-shop-for person.

My husband never knows what to get me for Christmas, because he claims “you already buy yourself everything you want all year round.”

Okay, he does have a point here. What can I say? I’m a woman who knows what she wants, and a sucker for instant gratification!

So the ultimate gift guide you shall receive below is, well, just things I bought for myself recently that I really loved and hope you will love, too.

I purposely stayed away from shoes since it’s something difficult to buy for someone due to sizing intricacies. These are gifts you can get your wife, your girlfriend, a girl that’s just a friend, or things you can get for yourself, too. If you do end up getting something off my holiday gift list, please do let me know!

1. The Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash from Aesop

Price: $10.00 for 1.7 fl oz

Just like all of you, I’ve never washed my hands as much as I did this year. I’ve also been using hand sanitizer everywhere I go, 24/7, like a mad woman. Especially during the beginning of the pandemic, these very necessary steps to be safe and stay healthy unfortunately left my hands dry as the Las Vegas desert (where I grew up). Did you know that you can always tell a woman’s age by their neck and their hands??! We have to take extra care of them! You can always fix those droopy eyelids with a facelift, but it’s hard to reverse what age does to our hands. So imagine my relief when I discovered Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash from Aesop. It’s made of non-drying, alcohol-based formulation with purifying and hydrating properties.

I buy a ton of the 1.7 fl oz pocket-sized bottle and stuff it in every single one of my bags and purses. Did I mention this stuff smells like heaven?

2. A Smart Garden from Click and Grow

Price: $99.95 for 3-Pod System

Okay, this is probably the most unconventional item on my gift list. Especially if you live in a house with a yard, please feel free to skip to the next item. However, if, like me, you live in an apartment in a crowded city like New York, then please trust and keep reading.

When you’re working from home for months on end, and all you see is literally wall to wall, this little smart garden has done wonders for me.

I love planting my own herbs at home, more than I ever thought I would. I can’t describe how satisfying it has been to see my own basil sprout and then cook with them. It’s also helpful that the Click and Grow technology makes the chance of me killing these plants and herbs basically zero. I now have a 3-pod System and a 9-pod System, growing everything from hot peppers, rosemary, to mini-tomatoes. This is a must for anyone that could use a little green in their urban life.

3. The 2 Yard Wrap from Bleusalt

Price: $100.00

Okay, if you haven’t discovered Bleusalt in 2020, it’s time to get on this Malibu train. Bleusalt blew up after Cindy Crawford was photographed wearing many of their clothing. Everything the California brand produces is made of ultra-soft fabric that’s 100% sustainable and antimicrobial. Derived from the Beechtree, the natural fibers are breathable and machine washable.

While Bleusalt has taken my money on many many different items (including the Shorty V Top that I basically wear everyday at home now), I tell everyone I know to buy The 2 Yard Wrap.

I recommend the 2 yard length because 1 is too short (doesn’t wrap all around fully) and 3 is just too much material. The wrap is light enough to be used as a regular winter scarf, as a shawl over a gown for an evening out, or just for a bit more warmth watching Netflix on the couch. I have it in the French Blue, Chocolate, and Camel colors. And yes, as I told my husband, I absolutely needed all 3 colors!

4. The Asala Hoodie + Safiya Jogger from UGG

Price: Hoodie $98.00 + Jogger $98.00

A great way to describe my goal while staying at home these days is to simply feel like how my feet feel in my UGG boot, but all over my body. My prayers were answered when UGG started producing clothing in this “cozy knit” material.

This Hoodie + Jogger combo might just be the best purchase I’ve made all year. It’s just so soft!! Like, the softest, ever. UGG also makes a V-neck sweatshirt in the same material, but I prefer the drawstring hoodie cause the higher neckline keeps me warmer. I now own the combo set in the light green, dark grey, and pink. If you haven’t noticed a pattern already from this blog post, once I find something I like, I order every color available. In all seriousness, I really can’t think of anything better than being in this outfit, on the couch, with a glass of wine, watching something with Nicole Kidman in it. Buy this. No one will ever dislike this gift. It’s a winner in every way.

5. The Siena Coat from Apparis

Price: $460.00

I am not lying when I say I own more coats than I do T-shirts. I am a major major coat person. As I said, I get cold easily to begin with (my mom would tell me I have to drink more ginger tea), and staying warm in NYC becomes a game of survival, but I also believe coats can make a big statement.

There’s just something so loud and amazing about a great coat, so boy was I glad to find the brand Apparis.

Apparis is known for its vegan clothing and its top-selling faux fur coats. One of my favorite coats of the brand is the Siena Coat. I love how long, thick, and lush it is; it is also the softest faux fur material I’ve ever felt. I mean, ladies and gentlemen, this is a coat! I feel like Elizabeth Taylor when I have this coat on (missing her huge jewels and diamonds). So long, Canada Goose (and looking like every other girl walking around NYC)! This coat is perfect for the cool city girl, getting sh*t done, looking chic, and staying warm killing it.

6. The Alaia Necklace from Alexa Kelley

Price: $240.00 for 16”

Sticking to the Nicole Kidman references, we all know that diamonds are a girl’s best friend (thank you Moulin Rogue for existing).

Unfortunately, not all of us can buy a real diamond tennis necklace for the holidays as we please. Fortunately, there is Alexa Kelley to help save the day.

Alexa Kelley makes delicate jewelry with Cubic Zirconia (CZ), a synthetic gemstone that’s lower cost, durable, and has close visual likeliness to diamonds. While people tend to rave about the brand’s Ring Collection, I, on the other hand, particularly love this Alaia Necklace that’s 4mm in width. It goes with a T-shirt, an evening dress, and (yes, I’m going there) even a workout outfit. When you wear this necklace, the necklace is the main act baby; the outfit is just there to supplement its brilliance.

7. The LUNA™ mini 2 from FOREO

Price: $119.00

I was never a fan of any of the facial cleaning brushes until I found the Luna Mini 2. The problem I had with the first generation of facial cleaning brushes that came out was that they were, in fact, brushes. I couldn’t imagine having tons of brush hairs poking my skin could be good for it in the long run; the notion seemed barbaric.

Along came FOREO, a radical new approach to skincare by being the only facial-cleansing device that combines pulsations to effectively cleanse the skin with a nonabrasive silicone brush that remains totally gentle and pleasant to use on the face.

While FOREO has several different products (i.e. for sensitive skin, for combination skin, etc.), I love the Mini because it’s super compact and travel-friendly. My face has never felt cleaner.

8. The Airpods Pro from Apple

Price: $249.00

I was totally against the Apple Airpods when they first came out. I thought they looked so silly and pretentious. Why look like an assh*le when you can just talk on the phone like a regular person? I admit, I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Apple Gods, hear me now, I was wrong! How did I ever live without my Airpods Pro?

They make like easier and enjoyable in every single way. I still can’t believe how easily they connect/disconnect from the iPhone. It’s truly genius. I’m so thankful to be able to drown out the noise when I’m in the Whole Foods line, waiting for my turn to check-out. It’s nice to be able to listen to Brene Brown while on a walk. In fact, I am using them now, listening to Christmas Jazz on Spotify, writing this blog. Finally, the icing on cake, you can get your name engraved on the Airpods Pro case for free! Something about adding your name to anything just makes you feel more legitimized in that purchase, doesn’t it?

9. The 154 Cologne from Jo Malone

Price: $142.00 for 100 ml

Introducing my favorite winter scent (besides Yankee' Candle’s Balsam & Cedar, of course). Jo Malone obviously needs no introduction, but the “154” Cologne name is actually a note to the street number of the first London Jo Malone boutique. As the official website puts it, “this grand olfactory journey contains ingredients now synonymous with the brand: mandarin, grapefruit, lavender, basil, nutmeg, and vetiver. Eclectic.” Who wouldn’t want to smell like nutmeg and vetiver?!

This scent always makes me feel ultra sexy and stylish whenever I put it on.

10. A Cashmere Shawl 140 from Hermes

Price: $1,100.00

Last but not least, a little luxe never hurt nobody. These Cashmere Shawl 140s from Hermes are definitely one of my favorite things in the world

I get cold easily, so scarves are totally my thing to begin with, but add the amazing pops of colors and I’m hooked.

These scarves instantly elevate any outfit; they are especially beautiful to add to any #bossbabe attire. I can have no makeup, haven’t combed my hair, and sitting in sweats at home… the money I wrap this shawl around me, I immediately feel like a million bucks. They are also surprisingly very very warm, but also ultra-light, which makes them great for both warmer and colder months. This is a must to any woman’s wardrobe (yes, this is the only place I bolded through this entire blog post!).

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