Treat Yourself Gift Ideas

​This next gift guide is going to be a little different. It's going to be a gift guide for yourself. So this will be a top picks of  "treat yo self" type thing. I'm gonna go ahead and say it's not going to be like vitamins or things that are "you'll thank yourself later" or "life changes", it's going to be things that I personally love myself and I find my friends love but we possibly don't do it often or something you've wanted for a while. Also, things that you don't realize you'd like as much as you do.

​So first up something that you've wanted for a while. For me right now, that was a specific Tory Burch purse. It's actually a purse that was discontinued or at the very least the color was, I'd been looking for it for a year at least. A few years ago I purged 80% of my purses and narrowed it down to all solid colors that are neutral tones for the most part except for 1 or 2 bright colors. Also very few patterns. I think Leopard is a neutral (obviously) but unless it's like a classic pattern for a brand, I'm not big on patterns. I tend to like different textures too like suede, velvet, super soft leathers, etc. I also got rid of every bag I didn't absolutely love. I started saving up for bags that I really wanted. The last time I actually bought a purse was probably a year maybe two years ago. It's because I wanted a solid navy purse. Now the last part of my collection that I'll look for is a camel color solid bag. I have no idea what brand I'd want. I LOVE Kate Spade purses and fun fact every month they pretty much have a 75% off sale. Sign up for their emails so you don't miss them. An underrated brand that have great quality purses is Henri Bendel. I have a couple of theirs. One being my absolute favorite out of all my bags is a forest green in a crocodile texture which you rarely see people carrying. I want staple pieces. I want things that always look very classy and that go well with nearly everything. 

​Next is shoes. I feel like there are two types of people. Those who love bags and those who love shoes. Of course there are those who love both but most everyone can really appreciate a pair of really good shoes. Whether it's some fancy heels you've wanted for a while, a comfy pair of everyday flats that will hold up for a long time, a good pair of sneakers to either train in, work in, or for casual wear. I think shoes are worth the splurge for sure. In flats I love Tory Burch Caroline flats, in casual sneakers I'm an Adidas Superstar classic fan, for active purposes I'm a Nike person, in heels I love Gianni Bini. My husband on the other hand has a wide foot and he works in an ER so he goes through shoes more than I do but we always try to make sure his shoes are comfortable and durable for all the hectic days he has so he wears Asics and his preferred boots are Doc Martens.

Another treat your self type thing that I love but rarely do is scheduling a massage. My friends and I love going for massages together for a girls day type thing or just when we've had something super stressful happen. I love them. My best friend, J, loves getting gift certificates for a massage or scheduling herself a massage for her Christmas present from her husband and it's well worth it. It's more than stress relief. It's helpful for blood circulation, muscle spasms, lymphatic passages and more. I'm going to go ahead and say that a facial by a good facialist or esthetician is equally as good. I love a good facial massage. 

​Next up is things you collect. Some people really love and cherish crystals. I have several myself. I've always been enamored by them since I was little but I love doing research on them and having them around me. I sleep with a selenite tower by my bed and also have a small crystal under my pillow because I tend to have bad dreams sometimes. I have a Selenite lamp and a Himalayan Salt lamp which are stunning and just soothing to look at. I love agate trays and coasters I think they make beautiful decor pieces. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. So I love EVERYTHING from the Harry Potter world. Including prop replicas, illustrated books, DIY decor, you name it. I don't go insane and have Harry Potter/Hogwarts stuff everywhere in my house but I love a good mug, an ornament, or a scarf because I'm a proud Ravenclaw. I love the books and the illustrated versions, I also love the artwork by MinaLima who is responsible for all the text books, posters, and props basically. Not gonna lie I have several wands. My husband loves antiques like crocks, cast iron, farming tools and so on. I myself really love glass pieces like milk glass, Jeanette glass, jadeite, delphite, carnival or luster glass and so on which are more from the 50's really. 

​Another great thing to gift yourself is good quality and comfortable things. I am a sucker for a soft comfy over-sized sweatshirt. AE and Aerie have THE BEST right now. I have nearly all of them and in every color. I also love super soft light weight pj's and cute socks. I have a plush heated blanket that is so great in the winter or when you're not feeling the best. I recently got the most stunning blanket sent to me from a company called Ecuadane. They do ponchos, scarves, blankets, and more. It's a super soft wool and authentic South American. It's big enough to fit a queen size bed honestly and it's a southwestern geometric print called the "Antisana Blanket". It's a small company created by 3 sisters and some of the proceeds (right now 100% of the proceeds) go to rebuilding homes in Muisne, Ecuador. The blanket weighs 4 lbs. They have BEAUTIFUL colors and designs. I'm so in love with this. I've got in on my bed right now. My husband also loves it and it's super warm but it's not a thick blanket at all. It's a fantastic gift for yourself or for someone you love. This is my favorite thing this year I believe.

​Good skincare is a given but it's quite overwhelming right now with everything that is out. Skincare is the one thing I think is well worth the money if the formula is right. A good example of that is Vintners Daughter Active Botanical Serum which is a facial oil absolutely PACKED with all the superfoods to feed your face with. If it's something you know you'll use, then I say get the skincare you want. 

It's hard for others to pick out makeup for you when it comes to really good base/face products. So I always suggest you get those yourself. Maybe you're super interested in trying a luxury brand. When people don't know what to get me they usually get me Sephora giftcards, given what I do, I typically use them on more expensive products that I've been eyeing for a while or a really good tried and true foundation or other base products. Of course it doesn't have to be luxury but it's a good time to try something new that you wouldn't typically get yourself.

I've realized that there is a whole community dedicated to bath products and making "bath cocktails". The beauty of this is LUSH and bigger brands aren't your only options anymore. Some of the best ones I've seen actually are on Etsy. They're not incredibly expensive and they make the most beautiful baths along with having incredible oils for the skin, amazing scents, tons of bubbles. It's a real experience. I really love milk baths but I also love bubble bars and bath bombs. I've tried several brands and I must say that the smaller brands are the best. I love Sky Organics, Bare Naked Bath, and I really want to try Country Market Crafts, Lavish Bath Company, and Peace Love Bath Products. Just look up #bubblebar or #bubblebath on Instagram and it's incredible to watch. 

That pretty much sums it up. I hope you consider getting yourself a gift this holiday season. Always remember that selfcare is not selfish. Found that on Pinterest. lol.