Presents are hard to buy....

They really are. So I'm going to give you some easy things that you can easily buy up and have on hand for emergency gift-giving. All can be done for under $100, and most you could easily swing for under $50.

Beach Basket

This one is good for an early-summer birthday, or even all year round if you live in Florida. Get 2 really cute beach towels (I saw some mad cute ones at Walmart for like $6), a cute sun hat, some plastic tumblers (no glass at the pool!), maybe a cute summer-y shade of nail polish, and a couple of pool toys. Depending on your budget, you could even spring for a nice beach umbrella.

Romantic Night In

Just get a bottle of sparkling wine (Andre is like less than $10 a bottle and really good), and some really nice chocolate. It's a really good, cheap option, great for gift exchanges and white elephants parties. It's also not sad if a single person ends up with it. Plus, I don't know about you guys, but I refuse to pick out other peoples sex things. Massage oil, weird games, and lingerie..... I just can't look at it without thinking of them, and that gets super weird super fast. So just don't.

Tea Party

Do yourself a favor and never get this one for a dude. I actually kinda love this one for kids ages 4-8. Get a tea set (or this and this would be lovely), some really cute little cookies and snacks, plus hot cocoa, and your instant tea party ROCKS. You could adjust it for adults by replacing the hot cocoa with some fancy loose tea, but it depends on the person.

Picnic In The Park

Buy this basket and then fill it with a couple of linen napkins, a bottle of wine, plastic wine glasses, a cheese spreader, crackers, brie, cookies, and one of these blankets. Give it during warm weather months and they'll love you. Adjust it for those with kids by replacing the wine with Pellegrino and throw in some juice boxes.

Winter Blues

For those of you lucky enough to have winter (I miss the snow so much.....), you can build an easy gift to fight off some winter blues. Warm socks, a pair of mittens in a cheery hue (Kate Spade makes some hella adorable ones), a big heavy mug, hot cocoa mix, mini marshmellows, a bag of dry soup mix (get a nice one from World Market or something), and some hand warmers make a lovely gift.

New Parent Pack

This is what to bring to the hospital or visiting new parents pretty soon after they've welcomed their bundle of joy. Prepared foods (frozen lasagnes, casseroles, etc if they're at home, some pasta salad or sandwiches from a nice deli if they're in the hospital), and an appointment for a mani-pedi for momma during a time you can babysit, or have a place that comes to the house do it and be there to take care of baby while she gets pampered. If they have a dog, get them a couple weeks of a dog-walking service. Honestly, their brains are going to be mush for a while and they'll be completely overwhelmed by baby. Give gifts that make life easier, not a tu-tu for the little one. 

If you never want them to return your calls again, make sure you get their older kid a drum set. 

But seriously... don't.

The Aspiring Baker

Easy peasy to get this one together. Get an adorable apron (just go to anthropologie.com), some cookbooks filled with cupcake/dessert recipes, and a set of piping tips. Don't bother with pastry bags, just put a post-it note that says to cut a hole in the corner of a Zip-loc bag. You can wash it if you want to use it again, or just toss it.

The Party Animal

Get a set of novelty shot glasses and a couple bottles of booze. If you want to be nice, include a little hangover kit with aspirin  bottles of water, Gatorade, saltines, one of those big Starbucks doubleshot cans of coffee, and bagels.

For "The Dude"

FUN THEME GIFT ALERT! Get them a DVD of "The Big Lebowsky", the ingredients for a White Russian, popcorn, and a laminated version of the rules for the drinking game. There are a few versions of the rules online, so pick your favorite.

Caffeine Me

For the coffee drinker in your life. Start with a travel mug (I own two of these), then add in flavored coffees, coffee liquer, chocolate covered espresso beans, and top it off with a Starbucks gift card. They'll love you, even in the mornings.

Bath Addict

Some people love baths, and aren't afraid to show it. Get a couple of bath bombs from Lush, some candles for ambiance, a book by an author you know they love, and if you want to go really over the top, get them an amazing robe. Always white, always terrycloth, and what they don't know they need yet is a hood on said robe. Amazing. Don't get those cellophane covered baskets of bath stuff, it's not creative enough for a close friend.



That's it for me right now! Did you love the ideas? Hate them? Let me know.....