Girlfriends Gift Guide

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Our family follows the gift rule of “something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.” I find this keeps gifts to a manageable level especially if you factor in stockings. Please learn from my mistake: don’t get the giant Pottery Barn Kid stockings  – they are huge and can hold the entirety of Santa’s sleigh. 

We crowdsourced some of our favorite items for this girlfriends gift guide. It is intended to be a resource of ideas for your BFF, your child’s teacher, or your neighbor who has rescued your child/and or pet one too many times. Or you can send your husband this list and tell him you would like one of everything 🙂 

Something You Want

girlfriends gift guide

Are you as guilty as I am of never printing pictures? This is a fun gift for the whole family – an updated version of the old school Polaroid camera! I love this Fuji Instax Mini 9 Camera for its zippy aqua color. 

There are times in my life when I want to graduate my furniture to being grown-up furniture. I’m pretty certain that while all my present lamps are fully-functional, this Madrot Glass Globe Floor Lamp would graduate me to “grown-up” status. 

These Host Wine Freeze Cooling Cups are a fabulous idea for the hostess or wine lover in your life. Or for the person who just likes their drinks icy cold on a hot summer’s day.

 

Something You Need

Erin Condren has the world’s best planners. They are cheerful, uplifting, and keep me from self-sabotaging my schedule. I’m old-fashioned and like to see my life on paper. I’m currently in love with the Erin Condren Hardbound Life Planner.

I don’t know how many shirts I’ve splattered with red sauce or gotten grease on. I’d rather spend my time in this classic striped apron from Williams-Sonoma than spot cleaning my laundry.  

One of my goals for 2018 is intentional gratitude. This May Designs “Gratitude First” journal allows me to jot down my items daily in a beautiful and practical way. 

Lastly, I have small children, a furry cat, a messy husband and really long hair. A Roomba makes me feel less compelled to force everyone to eat outside in the middle of winter. 

girlfriends gift guide

Something to Wear

girlfriends gift guide

Hunter Rain boots are my answer to keeping my feet dry in slushy, snowy streets. And if you have “athletic” calves like me, the short versions are right up your alley. Classic black means you’ll always have trendy, dry feet!

I love my Mox shoes so much. I get so many compliments about them – they are my grown-up version of the jelly shoes of my youth. They are super comfortable and come in an array of colors from platinum to grape. They’re the best!  

I really want a pair of leather-feather earrings. The St. Cecilia Minis from Waterloo Style are beautiful and on trend. Buy a pair for yourself and then buy another pair for me 🙂 

Lastly, I love a good tee with a sassy quote. ShellYeah! makes some of the best, and my favorite part is that Shelly, the designer, is a local Des Moines mom!

Something to Read

If you know me, you know I really like books. But I only BUY books I love and know I will re-read in the future. All three of these books are ones I would gladly add to my bulging bookshelf!

Ree Drummond is like the ultimate girlfriend. She’s one of those people I would adore being friends with in real life. She seems so fun, slightly self-deprecating, and completely down-to-earth. And she isn’t afraid of butter. Ree Drummond is my kind of gal and I love her step-by-step cookbooks. Her newest, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It!: Simple, Scrumptious Recipes for Crazy Busy Livesspeaks to my stage of life!

Okay, I originally read At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe with zero expectations and was completely surprised when I found it to be unputdownable. But have you ever imagined packing up your whole family, selling your home and living out of a backpack and traveling the globe for a year? That’s what Tsh Oxenrider did and it was fascinating to hear about their adventures! 

Sometimes as mothers we need encouragement in the form of a hug, a cup of coffee, or the kind words of a friend. I found The Magic of Motherhood: The Good Stuff, the Hard Stuff, and Everything In Between to be all of those things in one book. Ashley Gaad, the author of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast and blog, is relatable as a mother and a woman. It’s a must-read.  

girlfriends gift guide

I hope this holiday season is met with friends and family and love for all of you. I know holidays can be a difficult time of the year for some, so from all of us at DMMB – hugs. You got this mama! 

What would you add to this girlfriends gift guide?

***Includes affiliate links. We did receive product from Erin Condren, Mox Shoes, and May Designs but all opinions are our own. 

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Kara Knaack
Kara originally hails from northwest Iowa where she met her husband, Lance, through a 4-H fashion show. After a decade of living in central Iowa, Kara is still figuring out which way is north. Wearing the hat of “wife, mommy, employee, chef, ribbon tie-er and family calendar organizer,” Kara knows a bit about juggling life and work. Kara became a boy-mom in June of 2011 to Lucan and a girl-mom to Gracelyn in December of 2014. Most days you can find her mixing up metaphors and oversharing life’s moments via social media. Kara enjoys yoga, reading, gardening, cooking, sewing in straight lines and singing along to musicals. A spender by nature, but thrifty by necessity, Kara is always in hunt of a bargain. She’s an active member of Northpoint Church and a resident of Grimes. Her vision for life includes “doing the best we can with what God gives us.”

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