For those non-coffee drinkers like me, tea is always a great gift. I am always willing to try new flavors and one of my favorites is The Republic of Tea Cranberry Blood Orange black tea. It's the perfect holiday blend. For something to stir with, I always love the look of personalized dining ware like hand-stamped spoons and forks or even engraved glasses. This spoon was from a local craft fair and it just adds a little joy to every cup of cheer! I would recommend looking on Etsy for custom engravings, too. 

I don't know anyone who doesn't love chocolate. Every year my mom has one of these Terry's Chocolate Orange Balls. Maybe it's more of a British tradition, but there's something so satisfying when you have to slam the orange on the counter and break open the decadent orange chocolate slivers. Pure bliss. 

Indulge in fruit-flavored body care items such as the Orange Ginger Body Lotion from Bath and Body Work's Aromatherapy collection. There's always something to love from their wide variety of bath, skincare, and home scents. I'm always trying to keep track of who loves what fragrance! I love their aromatherapy line because it includes natural essential oils and the look of the amber bottles are sleek and the perfect addition to anyone's bathroom essentials. 

Speaking of sleekness, olive oil is another great gift as a stocking or basket filler. I bought this La Carrera Olive Oil while I was in Spain, so I'm not quite sure how accessible this bottle is, but another one of my favorites originates in Egg Harbour, Wisconsin. It's Fat Louie's Garlic Olive Oil and every time we're in Door County my family stocks up with five or six of these bad boys. It's perfect to cook and dip with. 

I can officially say that all of my Christmas shopping is done. Usually, I'm even more ahead of the game and I have it all figured out before December. I love gift-giving. I know I have talked about not being materialistic and what impact we make as consumers, but hey, the holidays are the time to spread a little consumeristic cheer. Especially when it comes to the people that I love. 

When it comes to gift-giving, I'm all about the personalized sentiments, but every now and then I think it's definitely okay to hit the high road and splurge on something really nice for a person who is undoubtedly well-deserving of it. Perhaps this can be used as a wishlist for those women in our lives or a little hint for those guys looking for some inspiration. 

Handbags and accessories are always great gifts to give. In fact, that was one of the things I got my mom this year. I know a lot of people have a specific brand, style, color, or material they love—bags are just the key to a girl's heart. Something petite and as vibrant as this Calvin Klein Cora Crossbody is the perfect size and statement. It's the perfect Christmas red, too. 

As much as I honestly love receiving fuzzy socks, sometimes it's okay to go above and beyond, especially for a jaw-dropping moment, by gifting this Gucci GG Marmont Card Case Wallet. It's a timeless piece and will be a long-time love of mine. 

No need to panic—my gift guide is here to inspire and enhance your gift-giving ideas. Treat the lovely women in your life because you and I both know socks may not just cut it this year. While I do think practical gifts can be well-loved, I'm def asking for a new calendar lol, sometimes going the more luxurious route may be a really nice surprise for someone not expecting it. 

My favorite part of gift-giving is seeing the receiver's reaction and the whole process of opening up a present. Just the small joys in giving make my heart feel full and warm. Who's on your gift-giving list this year?

I don't know about you, but I am all about effortless hairstyles. The less work, the better. I used to spend at least a half-hour on my hair in the morning deciding what I wanted to do with it and it would normally end in me getting frustrated and putting it in a messy bun or ponytail. In middle school, I used to try all of the Youtube tutorials and "damage-free" curling techniques. I would sleep in foam rollers every day in seventh grade and honestly I wish I had the same motivation. 

Alas, times have changed, life is busier, and hair is just not a number one priority. I feel like the "effortless" hairstyles are on trend anyway. I mean, it's not like Hallmark where everyone walks out looking like they're going to prom with perfect curls and volume. When I'm in the mood to get a bit dolled up, especially for a holiday occasion, I've found that the best soft curls come from a simple 1-inch curling iron and just two of my favorite products. The Hot Tools 24K Gold Curling Iron is my tried and true tool for the perfect beach wave. 

Over the years, I've tested many drugstore curling irons and grew up with Conair and Revlon, but they never left my hair feeling as soft as the Hot Tools iron does. It has a nice range of heat settings, a comfortable grip, and a pretty gold barrel, but my favorite feature is the swivel cord. You don't get stuck going around your head. The barrel just so effortlessly rolls around itself, which is a win!

This is a new addition to my hair product family, the Amika Shield Style Extending Spray acts almost like a heat protectant and hairspray all in one. Not only does it smell delicious, but for loose waves, this is the perfect product for ensuring that my waves stay in place all day, despite unruly Chicago weather conditions. 

I first became a fan of Amika when I got my first balayage last year. My stylist recommended the Amika Vault Color Lock shampoo and conditioner, to maintain my color and protect it. There are no parabens or harsh chemicals in these products and more recently, I've been mindful about what products I'm using on my head. While there are many other options out there, Amika has really worked for me, so I would highly suggest trying out their range of products.

I've talked about the Ouai Texturizing Hairspray and I'll talk about it again! This has to be my favorite hairspray of all time. For beach waves and lob hairstyles, texture is something my hair craves, especially because it can be a bit weighed down after I curl it. This tousled in is the perfect finishing touch. 

I've embraced not having to put much into my hair, mainly because I just love my natural hair. It's taken me a while to come to terms with my natural waves and just letting it air dry after I shower. I've spent years trying to figure it out, but my hair honestly looks its best just brushed. As much as I wish I was more adventurous and still had the motivation I had in seventh grade, I think the best hair is hair that's healthily well-taken care of and maintained. What's your hair secret?