How to be a better gift giver
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The Notes app trick that changed how I give gifts (+ what I’m actually buying my friends this year)
As much as I love my spiritual girlies who run their lives based on zodiac signs and moon phases, I am not one myself…at least not intentionally.
Even so, I’ve accidentally accumulated a surprising number of Aries friends, and as someone who takes gift giving very seriously, I go broke every year from March 21 to April 19.
So I’ve been scouting the best gifts for my besties, and I rounded them all up for you!
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Gift giving is a hobby I recently started taking seriously (after realizing I don’t really have any others), and while it’s not cheap, it’s genuinely rewarding. When done right, it makes your friends feel seen and loved, and who wouldn’t want that?
The biggest hack: keep a running list on your Notes app of each friend’s hobbies, favorite things, and gift ideas, and update it throughout the year. One of my closest friends started pottery last year, so anything like a ceramics class or a custom clay stamp would be perfect for her. The key is paying attention year-round, not just when birthdays or holidays hit.
Also, don’t underestimate the card and wrapping! Gift giving is a whole experience. My college roommate wrote my birthday card on a pink heart-shaped piece of paper every single year, and I saved every one.
Gifts for your chronically online bestie
My favorite people to get gifts for are those that are as chronically online as me because they just get it. A Hatch Alarm Clock would confuse my parents, but my bestie who spends a million hours scrolling already has it on her wishlist.
For the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy lovers
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy is having a serious moment right now due to Love Story, so anything remotely CBK-inspired would be such a good call.
That includes:
– Oval glasses (I have these from American Eagle and love them)
– Tortoise shell headband (loving this cutie from J.Crew)
– CBK coffee table book
For the fashionista
A Parke sweatshirt is a foolproof gift. Cute, comfortable, and just expensive enough that she’d never buy it for herself. Her birthday is your chance to spoil her!
I was also scrolling on Abercrombie and found this gorgeous blazer dress (immediately added to my own cart). It’s currently fully in stock and there’s a plaid version too.
Omg and if she’s into working out, a SET Activewear set would be such a good one — the colorways and styles are so good: top & bottom.
For the beauty girlie
A Maison Pearson hairbrush is another one in the “she’d never splurge on herself” category. This detangling brush is perfect for fine hair. What better way to show her you know her like the back of your hand?
One of my personal go-to gifts is the Rare Beauty Weightless Eyeshadow Stick in Well-being. It’s super creamy and blendable, making it the perfect eyeshadow look for everyday. Plus, it’s Selena and we all love her.
For the one whose screen time is higher than her sleep time
Don’t get me wrong, gifts don’t have to be expensive to land, and this Anthropologie Crystal Phone Chain is the perfect example. Cute and practical, and she’ll think of you every time she grabs her phone (so, constantly).
But if you’d rather reduce her screen time, make her an analog basket! All you have to do is fill a basket with hobbies that don’t require a phone.
– Watercolor workbooks
– An embroidery set
– A traveler’s notebook (aka a Louise Carmen dupe) and some new pens
You can either buy the journal or DIY it, there’s a bunch of tutorials online.
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And that’s how I survive Aries season without completely losing my mind. If you take nothing else from this, let it be the Notes app tip — it genuinely changed the way I give gifts. And if your bestie ends up loving her gift, you’re welcome. 🤍
