gift guide

My 10 Life Essentials I Can’t Leave Home Without

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

Whether you lug around a large purse or you keep your essentials floating around somewhere in your pockets or car, you probably have certain things you can’t leave the house without. These can vary greatly depending on what your interests are and what your day-to-day routine looks like. As a high school student, my essentials range from very silly to very practical; they’re pretty typical for a girl my age, but I still thought I’d share. I know the holiday season’s pretty much over, but if you’re still in the market for a gift for a teen girl, all of these are practical items she’d love to have if she doesn’t already.

  1. Hydro Flask/water bottle – I bring water with me everywhere. It’s good to stay hydrated, and you never know when you’ll need it. Hydro Flasks are the most popular brand at the moment, but any reusable bottle that prevents you from using single-use plastic bottles and constantly having to buy water when you’re out should work great.
  2. Portable phone charger – I’ve had a Mophie powerbank portable charger since middle school, and it still works perfectly and charges my phone super quickly. It takes a while to charge the portable charger itself, but it’s worth it since it holds up to four charges worth of battery power. I recommend splurging on a high quality portable charger because it will last you a long time and they usually really do charge more efficiently.
  3. Chapstick – I always have at least two forms of chapstick around me at all times. My two favorites are plain ol’ Carmex (cheaper option!) and Glossier’s balm.com in any of the untinted flavors (a bit more pricey). I have super chapped lips so these are a must, and it’s always nice to keep your lips in good shape with a nice scented product.
  4. Hand sanitizer or some form of wipes – When you’re at school or out all day, you’re bound to encounter a lot of germs. I have hand sanitizer and/or wipes in my backpack for before I eat or for when cold and flu season hits. It’s no substitute for washing your hands, but school bathrooms are so disgusting that it’s still a better option during class. Bonus points for a cute/scented hand sanitizer!
  5. Scissors – This is probably the most random one, but I’m always the girl with scissors. Whether it’s to cut a string off of someone’s shirt, to put together school projects, or to wrap gifts, scissors are actually pretty useful in a typical day. It’s one of my odd things, but I’m pretty particular about it- my favorite are Fiskars non-stick scissors since you can cut tape with them.

I hope you enjoyed discovering more about the things I use everyday- I think it says a lot about me and my daily life. I am currently on winter break as I write this and as it will be posted, so hopefully you all are on break and enjoying yourselves as well. Happy end of December!

-Brooke

5 Reasons to Shop Local

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

I’ve been posting a lot about gift guides, Christmas, and shopping lately, mainly mentioning things you can buy online or in well-known chain stores. This is mainly for your convenience, since mentioning a local shop in my town doesn’t offer much help for you guys looking for gifts; however, don’t mistake this for me ignoring my local shopping options. Today, I’m going to be giving you five reasons why you should shop locally, and why I try to as much as possible.

  1. You’ll find more unique items – Shopping at the same five stores in the mall as everyone else results in always having the same stuff as everyone else. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes you want to get something special that no one else will have, especially for a gift. Going into little boutiques where the inventory changes often and there’s a wide variety of things for sale increases your chances of finding something unique.
  2. It can be a better deal – Chain stores can completely overcharge for their products because they know people will buy it. At local shops, the prices are often cheaper, but you’re not sacrificing quality for a deal.
  3. You can establish personal relationships with the employees – There’s a boutique in my town that I go to fairly often and the employees are always so kind and try to make shopping a personal experience. They’ll pick out things for you to try on that they think would look good on you, and they’ll let you know what the best deals are.
  4. It’s often more sustainable – Ordering lots of items online results in a lot of plastic wrap and other waste related to packaging being shipped to your door, only to be thrown away right afterwards. If you shop in local stores with possibly handmade products, there’s usually a lot less waste involved.
  5. Chain stores and online marketplaces are killing brick-and-mortar businesses – My mall used to have tons of cute and unique stores- now it’s fairly empty and only has a few huge chains like Victoria’s Secret, Macy’s, PacSun, etc. This goes for restaurants too! It’s important to

I hope this inspired you to do some of your holiday shopping at your local boutiques or even craft/artisan fairs. There’s always some new brand or artist waiting to be discovered, and you could be the one to discover it! Happy shopping 🙂

-Brooke

What I’m Giving For Christmas This Year

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

Christmas is less than two weeks away, and I have been busy getting gifts for my family and friends. I figured this would be a cool post idea to give some more gift inspiration while also doing something new. In my friend group, we do a Secret Santa every year, and another club I’m in (shoutout to Youth and Government) is doing a gift exchange as well. If you want to find out what I got for my two Secret Santas, my teachers, and everyone else, keep on reading!

  • To my Youth and Government people: It’s kind of like a White Elephant exchange, so I just got a $20 In N Out gift card. Before you say, “Lame!”, don’t worry: there’s some meaning behind it. After all of our meetings, a good chunk of our members go to In N Out and continue the fun there; hopefully it will be a hit.
  • To one of my best friends/ my friend group’s Secret Santa: My friend is about to turn 16, so I got her a “Minimergency Kit” at Francesca’s that she can keep in her car. I put the kit, as well as a car air freshener, a set of bamboo utensils (she’s very ecofriendly as well) with some mints and snacks to keep in her car.
  • To one of my friends whose birthday is coming up: I got her a birthday candle from birthdatecandles.com, a book about her astrology sign, and a Lidstar eyeshadow from Glossier- she loves astrology and sparkles.
  • To my friend hosting the Secret Santa: I got her a set from Glossier that includes mascara, eyeliner, and makeup remover. I also threw in a festive holiday-scented lotion (apple cinnamon, yum!). I wanted to get her something anyways, so it was a nice thing to do.
  • To my neighbors: My neighbors have the cutest little kids, so my mom and I picked out a couple kids’ books to give to them.
  • To my teachers: I gave five of my teachers little boxes of See’s Candies, and my yearbook teacher a candle and lotion set from Trader Joe’s.
  • To my mom, dad, and brother: I don’t want to spoil it yet, in case they read this 🙂 Most likely something homemade!

Technically, this isn’t everyone I’m giving gifts too. My mom picks out gifts for my grandparents, cousins, and such and puts my name on the card/tag as well. I’m happy I got to pick out some gifts and I hope all of the recipients like them. Even though this time of year can be stressful with the long shopping lists and packed stores, there’s nothing better than searching for the perfect gift and seeing the recipient’s face light up when they open it. Happy gifting!

-Brooke

Gift Ideas Under $20 to Up Your Secret Santa Game – For Her

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

If you were frantically searching the internet for ideas on what to get for a Secret Santa gift exchange, you’ve found the right place. I know the price limit on a gift exchange always seems daunting- you’re glad it’s not too pricey, but how are you supposed to get a great gift that the person will love for such a small sum? Here you have it- the best and most clever gifts that won’t break the bank.

For her:

  • Fuzzy socks – Old Navy has really cheap fuzzy socks, but Target and Nordstrom Rack also have a lot of cute ones.
  • Candles!! Target has affordable candles that are still really good- Homegoods is another place to look for various different brands. I absolutely love Anthropologie’s candles, but the full size ones are over $20- you can get a mini size for cheaper though!
  • Victoria’s Secret/VS PINK body products – Their body sprays and lotions are always on sale, and sometimes they have gift sets that are an even better deal.
  • Gift cards – Before you groan and say, ‘That’s so basic!”, think about going a little bit outside of the box. Instead of getting a gift card to her favorite clothing store, get her gift cards she can use at her favorite fast food places, favorite restaurants, favorite boutiques, the movies, or to important/useful services like Uber and grocery store gift cards. The possibilities are endless depending on what she likes!
  • Fuzzy blanket – Everyone loves a good throw blanket! I received a fluffy blanket last year in a Secret Santa; I believe you can find them on Amazon or stores like Marshalls and Homegoods for under or around $20.
  • Candy/snacks – If all else fails, everyone has a favorite food or snack. Fill up a gift bag with tons of sweets and they’re bound to love it- bonus points for being homemade!
  • A nice stationary set – For the girls with perfect notes, they would love a new notebook or set of pens. The Zebra midliners and Muji pens are really popular at my school right now, and you can get them on Amazon or your local stationary store.
  • Bath bombs – LUSH has my favorite scents, but you can get them pretty much anywhere- Target has even cheaper ones and they’re still just as good. I just find the LUSH ones look the prettiest.
  • A care package – If you get the items on the cheaper side, you can put together a cute package of lots of the items I’ve already listed. Go to Target and get a combination of candy, face masks, bath bombs, and fuzzy socks, and almost any girl will be happy.
  • Portable charger – If she already has a portable charger, you can get a wireless charger for them to use at home. For a girl on the go, or the girl constantly on her phone, this can be a real lifesaver. If I know I’m going to be out for the whole day, I never leave without mine.
  • Framed picture of the two of you – If you want to get creative, you could also make a collage or it could be a Polaroid picture in one of those cute Polaroid frames from Urban Outfitters. It’s a sentimental gift they’ll appreciate, and it doubles as cute room decor.
  • Beanie or some sort of hat – It’s winter and it’s cold; beanies have been trendy lately, and you can find them in any store. If they already wear and love beanies, get them a fun color you know they wouldn’t have.
  • Scrunchies – The ultimate VSCO girl trend, but also a practical gift for all. There are packs on Amazon that are super cheap and have every style imaginable- if you want to go for the best quality, get Urban Outfitters or Lululemon, but they’re much more expensive.
  • Stickers from Redbubble – There are SO many cute stickers on this website; I asked for some for my Hydro Flask this year. You can put them on your laptop, your water bottle, your notebooks, or anything you desire. The point is, there’s tons of options and it’s super customizable.
  • Astrology related gifts – If they believe in astrology, get them something related to their zodiac sign. Whether it’s a necklace, a book about their sign, or some room decor, this is a cute gift and something they probably don’t have.
  • Glossier products – This is perfect for the girl who loves makeup, or wants to get into it. I have their balm.com chapstick in multiple flavors and absolutely LOVE it. Their most-talked-about products are the Boy Brow, Balm.com, Milky Jelly Cleanser, and Cloud Paint blush. Based on what her style is, choose the product you think she’ll use most.

I hope this guide helps you find the perfect gift for your Secret Santa. It’s crazy to think December’s almost over and we’ll soon be ringing in the new year. Enjoy the holiday season while it lasts, and have so much fun getting into the spirit of giving. I have a few more holiday posts coming soon!

-Brooke

5 Candles That Would Make Great Holiday Gifts

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Today I have a mini gift guide for you all, focusing around one of my favorite things in the world: candles. There’s nothing better than lighting a candle on a cold winter day and curling up with a good book as you smell the scent wafting to the corners of your room. Candles are great all year-round, but I find I mainly light them in the wintertime. Here are five of my favorites that would make great gifts for the holidays.

  • Himalayan Homemade Candles – Primrose Hill: This is a great candle for all seasons, and the presentation of it is beautiful, so you can leave it out on a table for decoration. It smells like a breath of fresh air, but it’s not too strong of a scent.
  • Bath and Body Works – Fresh Balsam: This smells exactly like a Christmas tree, so it’s perfect for someone who has a fake tree but still wants the smell of a real one. I absolutely love the fresh smell, and I think it smells super authentic.
  • Bath and Body Works – Twisted Peppermint: A classic B&BW favorite, I also love this candle. I love the smell of peppermint, and this one reminds me of when I used to drench myself in the matching body spray and lotion. Ah, those were the days.
  • Yankee Candle – All is Bright: My mom introduced me to this candle somehow, and I absolutely love it. I can’t even describe what it smells like; it’s just a mild holiday scent that everyone can enjoy. My mom is very sensitive to smells and gets headaches easily, so that’s why all of these scents are mild.
  • Bath and Body Works – Winter Candy Apple: Another holiday favorite from B&BW. I really like all their renditions on apple scents, but this one is the most Christmassy. I think it’s also a fairly mild scent, if that’s what you’re looking for.

If you’re in the market for a new holiday candle, I hope this helped. All of these would make great gifts- you can even put them on your Christmas list!

-Brooke