ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE: THOUGHTFUL & MEANINGFUL IDEAS TO LAST A LIFETIME

Think back to a magical moment where you either received [or gave] an emotional and special gift. Reflect on the smiles…

Think through the smells, sights, and sounds where you relished in pure joy… 

Let’s face it – we all need a little more joy this year!

It is a perfect time to express gratitude and show others how they make our lives better by providing a thoughtful gift. However, finding a unique or thoughtful gift is usually a struggle, let alone time-consuming!

But fear not, my virtual friend. Below you will find a comprehensive gift guide featuring affordable, easy, & meaningful gift inspiration.

Gone are the days where you have to spend hours researching online.

We’ve assembled 50+ gift ideas, ranging from homemade gifts that will make your heart melt, to jaw-dropping experiences.

Whether you’re shopping for the person who “has it all,” a mom who is consistently frazzled, or a brand new couple, the ideas listed below will WOW your loved one.

We’ve done the work of providing gift-giving tips, modern options, and tangible hacks….so you get to focus on the FUN parts of gift-giving!

Let’s get started!

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HOMEMADE MEANINGFUL GIFTS

You don’t have to be an artist, painter, crafter, or interior decorator to gift a homemade work of art that your beloved will cherish for years to come.

Here are two of my favorite hacks for giving “homemade” gifts:

1. Peruse Pinterest or Etsy for ideas. There’s a chance you have helpful tools and materials in your closet already. Find an example, keep what you like, discard what you don’t, and make it your own!

2. If you’re in the market for something a little more professional or luxurious, there are TONS of artists that would be honored to transform your dreams into reality. All you have to do is find your match!

GIFT BASKETS

Date Night: Searching for a gift for a busy couple who are always on the go? Gift them with a date night package!

Who doesn’t love someone planning for them? For inspiration, check out these premade ideas:

• DIY Ravioli Kit,
• DIY Mochi Ice Cream Kit,
• 192 Date Night Idea Cards
• Picnic in The Park Backpack, Smores Kit
• 20+ other affordable & luxurious kits from Williams-Sonoma.

Bucket List: Do you know someone’s ultimate goal or bucket list dream? Help them get started by providing supportive tools and resources. 

Location-themed: Collate a box of iconic goods from where you live, their favorite place, or a place they want to visit.

You’ll get extra kudos for adding in sweets, alcohol, or cheese! For inspiration, check out this Ultimate Destinations List.

BOOKS

Comic Book: Recreate a funny or emotional memory. Or better yet, craft a future story that is worth drooling over. Create a Free Comic Book here.

Create a love list on beautiful paper: Jot down 100 reasons why you love someone….and let them read it!

Memory Book: Create a storybook or highlight meaningful moments from a trip or a certain period in time via StoryWorth.

Friends & Family: Who is your loved one close with? Ask them what they cherish about them and then transform the responses into a book containing pictures, idyllic fonts, and fancy paper!

Make it simple by using Microsoft Word and then printing and binding it at your local Kinkos or FedEx Shipping Center.

Want something a little less time-consuming? Create a wordle with the feedback instead!

Video: Let’s get digital, digital! If you know, you know. Create your own video using pictures and videos with Animoto.

FRAMES

Quotes: Frame an evocative quote, lyric, inside joke, recipe, or family saying. 

Pictures: Publish a major life moment such as a marriage ceremony, pivotal move, achievement, or birth. The sky is the limit!

PICTURE KEEPSAKES

Shutterfly: This epic company deserves its own category! If you’re looking for an affordable, personalized, & modern keepsake such as a mug, keychain, engraved cutting board, or ornament, check out Shutterfly!

Shutterfly has tons of deals and new inventory every month. If you’re looking for something a little more local, check out Etsy which offers homemade pieces like this Cutting Board.

Watercolor: Choose a watercolor keepsake of someone’s favorite moment. 

Painting: Create or find an artist on Etsy to paint a beautiful moment in time or their favorite landscape with beautiful acrylic paint.

Clothing: Do you have a picture or drawing that you could transform into a piece of clothing? Check out Picture This Clothing!

STORE-BOUGHT MEANINGFUL GIFTS

Whether you’re last-minute panic buying, or just prefer to choose a sparkling store-bought gift, we hear you. Sometimes, it’s just what we have time for. The ideas below are modern and easy to complete. 

MAGAZINES

Real Simple: A magazine that is perfect for women who need a little me time; each page inspires fans to slow down.

Real Simple highlights products that bring joy, peace, and comfort. You can purchase 10 issues for $5 via magazines.com. By the way, this gem pairs really well with a handwritten note, a bath bomb, or tea!

Bella Grace Subscription: Bella Grace Subscription is a splurge-worthy treat; a subscription includes 4 issues for a total of $64.99.

While this is steep, each magazine is like a mini-book with 70+ pages filled with captivating Hygge pictures, creative journaling exercises, and thought-provoking stories. 

SUBSCRIPTION BOXES

Fab Fit Fun: This is one of the most highly valued boxes on the market for your special lady!

Why? The boxes are filled with awe-inspiring products that reflect comfort and relaxation valued at $200 per box, and you can get it for $50!

You can choose to purchase 1 box or all 4 at once, it’s up to you! Let Fab Fit Fun brighten someone’s day!

Kiwi Crates: Kiwi Crates offers hands-on projects that are perfect for kids who love science, to explore, or mold things together.

Sips By: If you know a tea-lover, this subscription is perfect! Want to kick this up a notch? Pair it with an evocative mug and have tea with them to experience the 1st box together. Sips By charges $15 per month for 4 aromatic teas and first-time customers receive a 10% discount code too!

HOME DECOR

Hygge Ambiance: There were many lessons learned in 2020 and one of them is that our home should be COZY! Consider gifting an item that compliments their home.

What is something that they love, a topic or brand, that can warm up a room? If nothing comes to mind, aromatic Yankee Candles usually do the trick. 

Art: Artwork inspires creativity and can serve as a fantastic conversation starter. For fresh ideas, check out Etsy, Minted, or Michaels.

MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE GIFTS

Delight someone by engaging with them in an activity that reflects their favorite hobby, a fond milestone, or an activity they’ve wanted to try for years. And don’t forget, for most of the activities, you can make it even better by joining them. 

FOOD & DRINK

Whether your beloved is an aspiring chef or Emeril in the kitchen, provide them with a new apparatus to warm their soul.

Kitchen Tools: What is your loved one missing in the kitchen or what gadget would they swoon over? A few ideas for inspiration are listed below:

• Purchase a budget-friendly mix, kit, or set with Williams-Sonoma

• Check out this Pasta Maker on Amazon

• Purchase an organic spice club subscription

• Purchase a one-time Thrive Market Membership

Recipe Box: Purchase a Recipe Box. Don’t forget to add in a few of your favorite recipes to start them off!

Homemade Meal: Have you ever NOT been excited when receiving a homemade or unexpected meal?

I didn’t think so!

Deliver homemade comfort food or coordinate delivery from their favorite restaurant.

CREATE [OR CONTINUE] A TRADITION

“Open When” Letter: Craft a beautiful hand-written note that should be opened on a certain day in the future. Jazz it up and build up momentum by melting hot wax on the back of the envelope. A nail polish top can serve as the “stamp.”

Projector for Movie Night: If they adore movies, hook them up with the essentials. Gift them a mini-projector and pair it with a cozy blanket, a bag of popcorn, and candy.

Make sure to kick off the series by watching the 1st movie with them. Check out this Apeman LC350 Mini Projector for a more luxurious option.

Health: A book can be hit or miss; however, you can make a book quite memorable by treating it as an initial token to a bigger experience.

For example, if someone has a dream of breaking through a fitness challenge, such as running a marathon, place an open ticket within the Run Fast. Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes Book.

Better yet, pair it with a sample fitness plan and share that you’re doing it with them!

Games: If you haven’t engaged in an epic game night yet this year, now is the best time to do so!

Purchase a game they love and find a new special edition to put a spin on it. For example, if they look GOT, why not get them a memory that will last a lifetime? Try out the Game of Thrones Monopoly Game!

If you want to get to know them on a deeper level, try gifting Actually Curious. Each well-designed deck encourages empathy as participants learn more about what makes them tick, their personal values, and their dreams.

For something a little more light-hearted and quick, try a Friends-Themed Puzzle.

KITS

Hot Sauce Kit: Spice up your life! Seriously, check out this Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit. Uncommon Goods is a mecca for kits. Other options include offers kits for brewing beer, nut milk, and dried floral wreaths.

Gardening Kit: Who doesn’t want a green thumb?

Look at this action-packed Gardening Kit that helps any newbie grow their own herbs in window-sill friendly planters. 

This kit includes 5 compostable pots, potting soil discs, wooden markers, and organic seeds. Better yet, dig into the kit with them and start a beautiful adventure.

Knitting Kit: Inspire someone to get a little cozier by indulging in a hand-knitting sweater or beanie pattern. For initial DIY ideas, check out options via Mild Woman or obtain a kit from Stitch with Skye.

This is an activity you can complete for them, together, or allow them to initiate on their own.

Well……that’s all, folks!

Know of a perfect meaningful gift that is not listed here? Please share below so others can benefit from it!