Here we are, in the final hours.
Those of us who have waited until the last minute to purchase our Christmas gifts are likely all sharing in a similar wave of panic. No, not a fear-for-our-lives kind of panic (or at least, I really hope not), but an anxious sort of feeling.
Let’s all stop and take a collective inhale. On three:
One.
Two.
Three.
inhale
Pause for a moment, and slowly exhale:
ahhhh
Feel better? Maybe just a tad?
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Hopefully, by the time you finish reading this post, you’ll feel a lot lighter, as I’m here to guide you through purchasing or making some last-minute gifts for the ones you love (or hopefully the ones you like, at least a little). We don’t have much time to spare, so let’s dive in:
TRAVEL GIFT CARDS
Postcard Cabins (formerly known as Getaway) | If they live near a Postcard Cabins site, this is a great gift for the person or couple who needs a break from it all without truly roughing it. Plus, if you order now, you’ll get a little bonus too: When you gift $100+, you’ll receive $25 toward your next stay, and when you gift $300+, you’ll get $100 toward your next stay. Hey, it pays to give!
Airbnb | The home-sharing platform offers gift cards in a variety of denominations available at major retailers in the U.S. like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart—all with the option for email delivery. They can choose their own adventure: one big splurge at a luxe accommodation, or several days at a budget pad.
Tinggly | This new-to-me site lets the recipient choose their own hotels and dates—you just choose the number of nights. The gift card can be shipped or emailed, so the delivery window is in your hands!
Rideshare Apps | For the commuter without a car, or for the traveler who hates driving, a rideshare gift card can be a great way to ease the pressure on the recipient’s wallet. Both Lyft and Uber offer gift cards—and you could even consider buying one of each if they don’t have a preference between one or the other. An even better alternative to buying these gift cards is buying a pack of public transportation passes, if those are available in your area.
Ticketmaster | I don’t love paying all of those fees when buying tickets, but so many performances and matches are only bookable through Ticketmaster. For the person who loves attending events, but is picky about their sources of entertainment, this gift card is sure to be a hit.
Airlines | Not every airline offers a gift card, but several do (Delta, Southwest, and Alaska are some examples). If you know they are loyal to a certain carrier, consider picking up a gift card to cover their next flight.
Goldbelly | This gift doesn’t physically send them anywhere, but it does send their tastebuds flying! Goldbelly ships their favorite destination restaurant meals right to them, whether it’s NYC bagels, Texas BBQ, or Chicago deep dish.
Luggage & Accessories | Giving luggage can be a daunting task, but giving a gift card to a travel brand still carries the same sentiment: you should travel. Trendy travel brands like Away, Monos, CALPAK, Arlo Skye, Paravel, Solgaard, and July are all great places to start. Or pick up a gift card to a brand that carries well-made travel accessories, like Cuyana, Pakt, Troubadour Goods, or Lo & Sons.
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CRAFTS
Knit Scrunchies | Last year my friends and family received woven items for Christma—this year they’re all getting something knitted! One of my go-to’s for my long-haired friends has been knitted scrunchies. There are a number of patterns out there, especially if you are on Ravelry (if you’re a member—let’s be friends! My username is waywardblog). After trying various patterns, and for the sake of efficiency, I eventually decided to knit my scrunchies in stockinette in the round on a shorter pair of circular needles, seaming the cast-on/bind-off edges with a hair tie inside (this tutorial is essentially how I made the bulk of my scrunchies, although my CO stitch count varied based on the weight of the yarn used). You will need a tiny bit of knitting experience to make these, but as long as you can cast-on, knit, and bind-off, you are ready to make scrunchies!
Hot Chocolate Blocks + Marshmallows | Before hot chocolate bombs were the rage, hot-chocolate-on-a-stick reigned supreme. They must still be quite popular as I frequently see them in stores, but I’m always thrown by the price. I’ve been gifting these for four or five years now, and they never cease to amaze the recipients. Be prepared to hear an incredulous “You can make marshmallows?” over and over, and smile to yourself at how easy it is. Here is the recipe I use for the cocoa blocks, and here’s my go-to marshmallow—and don’t worry, there’s no tempered chocolate or special molds involved.
Cookies | In less than an hour you can have a nice big batch of cookies ready to gift (plus your kitchen will smell amazing!). Some of my favorite cookies to give are snickerdoodles (I modify this recipe slightly: I use all butter, add a pinch of cream of tartar, and roll in cinnamon sugar), chocolate chip cookies, biscotti (which feels very fancy considering how easy they are to make!), and gingerbread. Once the cookies are cool, wrap them in parchment, place them in a plain white box, and tie the box with twine or a cute ribbon. Alternatively, place them on a platter and let the oohing and ahhing commence.
DIY Beauty/Personal Care Products | A quick trip to the local drugstore will net you all the supplies you need to make your own personal care products. Collective Gen has a few great-looking recipes, and you should easily be able to find some small empty containers in the travel section. Printable labels or a label maker add the finishing touch.
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MISCELLANEOUS
A heartfelt note | Sometimes the gifts that should be the easiest are the toughest. In this day and age, it can be difficult to sit down and put more than 140 characters together to express how you feel, which makes this simple act even more meaningful. Close the door, turn off the music, and put away your phone so you can focus; words matter.
A homemade coupon book | Yes, this can be a good ol’ handmade book of coupons for things like “a scalp massage” or “a month off from laundry” (yes, please), and that’s truly wonderful. But a fun spin on this DIY gift is to put together a book of free or cheap outing ideas. I created one for Michael for our first Christmas in Charlotte when we were very broke from the move, and it’s been a great resource for those “what do you want to do?” days (some items from the book: a visit to the cat cafe, a picnic at the airport overlook, test-driving a Tesla).
Tickets for an upcoming event | Broadway show touring in your hometown? Home team playing a rival at your nearby stadium? Favorite musician headlining at a local venue? Pick up a pair of tickets! Just slide them into a greeting card, or have fun wrapping them in a large shipping box for the recipient to open. Sweeten the gift by planning a day-long itinerary based on the activity, like shopping for an outfit to wear or securing a restaurant reservation beforehand.
Sign up for a class or workshop | Many cities have studios or other venues that offer one-day or multi-day workshops on topics as diverse as pottery, photography, dance, and coding. Find one on a topic they’ve always wanted to learn about, and sign them up (or better yet—sign up together!). Check your local creative studios, sports venues, or community education programs for options; if none are available, sites like SkillPop and Skillshare offer online options, too!
What are your go-to last-minute gifts?
Still need a gift? Check out my entire series of gift guides to finish off your list!
