KALEIGH’S DECLASSIFIED HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

In a world full of worries, insane schedules, and gross financial expenses, Kaleigh Rose (that’s me🙋🏻‍♀️) will try to do the impossible: create a guide that will help you survive the holidays, and find the perfect gifts for your loved ones!

(*Yes I just spoofed the Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide intro, because I am a child and will never grow up 😛)

If you’re like me and get extra stressed around the holidays when you’re trying to find the perfectly appropriate gift for the various types of people in your life (co-workers, loved ones, acquaintances, etc.), then I hope the following suggestions give you some solace and enable you to enjoy the rest of the holidays happy and stress-free. 😊

** Before we start, don’t forget to sign up for Ebates (the cash-back site/app for online purchases), as well as to support your local artists/ small businesses at craft shows and events in your community!🎁☺️🎄**

And now, without further ado, here are my top 5 gift suggestions for this holiday season (*click the pictures to be taken directly to the product links, if you so desire*) :

Cabin Socks

mens cabin socks — *Image belongs to Dick’s Sporting Goods

These are honestly the COMFIEST pairs of socks that I own!!! My little sister got them for me last Christmas and I have been obsessed ever since! They have the appearance of a casual crew-knit sock, but are filled with an extremely soft, fuzzy interior to provide ultimate warmth and comfort.

These would be perfect to give to a co-worker/acquaintance, or even a friend/family member who you know adores fuzzy socks! Fair warning, though- I’m pretty sure these are only sold seasonally, so get them while you can before they’re gone! I tried to get more throughout this past year and only just now saw them return to the stores (and therefore promptly purchased several more pairs because I have no impulse control🙈😅).

You can’t go wrong with these awesome socks! Do your feet a favor and get yourself a pair as well while you’re at it! #treatyoself 😏

treat yo self gif — *Image belongs to Parks and Recreation production team

2. Mug-Warmer Coaster

cookie mug warmer — *Image belongs to Amazon

I noticed my co-worker using this a couple months ago, and I just think it is such a cute and clever invention! All you have to do is plug this in, and it will heat up and keep your drink warm and toasty while you’re busy working those long, distracting hours.

This is a great gift for people you know who are so consumed with their work/daily goals that they often forget to drink their tea/coffee while it’s hot, and ultimately either have to continuously keep heating it throughout the day, or just end up dumping it out since it loses its freshness after a while. Additionally, its plug is a USB cord, so you can use it portably and just plug it directly into your laptop while you’re working/studying on the go!

Plus, it comes in sweet designs, such as Oreo cookie and donut! This deliciously delightful gift will warm anyone’s heart (and drinks)- I bet Santa would get a reindeer-kick out of it too! 😝🎅🏻

3. Weighted Blanket

If you’re looking to give a loved-one a thoughtful gift that will keep them cozy AND reduce their anxiety, then a weighted blanket is the way to go!! While they are on the pricier side (well, for me at least because I’m a broke millennial 😅), these blankets are truly worth the investment. Their main purposes include: promoting sleep, reducing anxiety, helping to calm down, improving cognitive function, helping overcome the oversensitivity to touch, and pacifying obsessive compulsive disorder.

Since I pretty much have all of the above issues, I skeptically bought one on Amazon while they were on sale for Cyber Monday, extremely nervous that it wasn’t going to have the same calming effect on me that it seemed to have on everyone else (*yet another reason why I needed it- who gets anxiety over buying a f*cking BLANKET?! Me, apparently🙃).

There are several size, fabric, and weight options that you can choose from, depending on what kind of bed you have, and whether you are buying it for a child or an adult; even though I have a double bed, I got a 15 lb cotton twin-sized blanket because it was cheaper – and I honestly was afraid that I’d feel claustrophobic while using it- so I figured starting out small and simple would be the best option for me.

One thing to be mindful of when you’re browsing for the perfect weighted blanket is to make sure the design enables the weight to be evenly distributed and secured within each little quilted square- that way the weight won’t shift to random spots while you’re sleeping and put an uncomfortable amount of pressure on you throughout the night. The YNM weighted blankets sold on Amazon are designed with even weight distribution, so if you’re thinking of buying one, definitely check them out!

Even though I was fully prepared to hate mine, I must admit, it has been a game changer for me. I am a turbulently depressed, anxious, insomniatic individual (*to put it lightly😅), and this blanket makes me feel safe, calm, and relaxed every night. I’ve definitely noticed that I’ve been falling asleep at a much faster rate, as well as STAYING asleep for more consecutive periods of time.

All in all, this blanket = the practical & thoughtful GIFT OF SLEEP, and I highly, HIGHLY recommend it!!! #DontLoseChooseTheSnooze #NowSayThatFiveTimesFast 😜

4. Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm

I am OBSESSED with this lip balm!! It’s great for adding some natural, long-lasting color to your lips whether you’re at work, at the gym, or on a date. I first bought mine when I was looking for something to add to my little film kit to provide some natural and soothing lip coverage for my 14 + hour days on set, and I was not disappointed! Plus, bonus points because Burt’s Bees is a cruelty-free makeup company! YAY! 🐾❤️

There is a diverse range of naturally flattering colors to choose from in order to find the perfect match for all different skin tones; my personal favorites are Rose (go figure 😉🥀), Red Dahlia, and Hibiscus, but honestly they all look beautiful!

These are great stocking-stuffers, and are the perfect addition to anyone’s lip balm arsenal for the upcoming cold, dry months. #WinterIsComing #BeeSmart #GetTheLipBalm💋

5. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Book, G’Morning, G’Night: Little Pep Talks For Me & You

lmm book — *Image belongs to Amazon/ Lin-Manuel Miranda

Okay, first things first: if you are not already following the American treasure ANGEL that is Lin-Manuel Miranda on Twitter, please do so before reading on (@Lin_Manuel).

YOU’RE WELCOME.

If you are, on the other hand, accustomed to Lin’s charming and soul-nourishing social media presence, then you may already be aware of his new poetry book, G’Morning, G’Night: Little Pep Talks For Me & You (illustrated by Johnny Sun).

As an accomplished creator of all things wonderful, from life-changing musicals such as Hamilton and In The Heights, to original songs from Disney’s Moana, to fresh score pieces for Star Wars: Episode VII, to starring in Mary Poppins Returns alongside the magical Emily Blunt, all the way down to his 140 character tweets, Lin-Manuel Miranda has officially established himself as a pure-hearted, endlessly witty, boundlessly talented artist and legend. He is a person who understands pain and tragedy, and makes it his daily mission to tirelessly create art that makes life better, even if it’s just a few kind words that you see on your phone screen when you first wake up or before you fall asleep.

G’Morning, G’Night is a culmination of Lin’s daily/nightly tweets that he routinely sends at the beginning and end of each day, and they are specifically written to make you feel a little less alone, a little more loved, and a TON more inspired.

I cannot tell you how many of his tweets I have saved in my screen shots — I’m STILL amazed and in awe of his seemingly effortless way of radiating such a calming, loving, understanding presence in the world- even if it’s just through his phone. For example, this one’s from a couple days ago:

… I mean COME ON!!!!! MY HEART!!!!!!!! IT ACHES!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS SO SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

😍😭❤️

Listen to his music. Watch his interviews (and his SNL episode from 2016!!). And get this book for someone you know needs to hear/see these kind words every day when they wake up, and every night before they fall asleep (and get a copy for yourself, too. You deserve it).

In all honesty, I wholeheartedly believe that if every person on this planet had these kind, loving words in their life, the world would be a much better place.