A Fresh Gift Idea for the Person on Your List Who has Everything

It's nearly Christmas! Tell me that I'm not alone in the panic of still having a few more presents to buy for people on my gift giving list?! It's been a busy winter so far—so much that I haven't been able to whip up my usual gift guides or even share a holiday tour of my seasonal decor. But I do want to share this fresh and oh-so-pretty last minute gift idea with you just in case you're having trouble thinking of something lovely to buy that person on your list who has everything.

Gift Ideas with Caldrea's Summer Entertaining Kit (Get one for free!)

Summer—'tis the season for bridal showers and weddings. Not to mention college students heading off to college dorms and many moving into their first apartments. And, of course, a housewarming party here or there. I love gift-giving for these special occasions, but it's easy to end up stumped trying to find a balance between budget, function, and style. 

Love begins with family. Picking out the perfect gift for Mom this Mother's Day

This post brought to you by Hallmark Jewelry. The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Lovely Side.

Mother's Day is right around the corner, lovelies. Life gets busy and hectic. But life is also filled with love stories and moments to treasure. And some of the most important moments and cherished stories involve our mothers. What are my favorite moments and memories shared with my mom? The first thing that comes to mind is books. From a very early age, Mom instilled within me a love for books and reading. She'd take me to Storytime at the local library. And most nights, we'd curl up and she'd read aloud to me... usually The Boxcar Children. I really believe that had my mom not shared her love of books with me, I would not be the writer and bookworm I am today. I also owe her my love of decorating, fearless use of color (I grew up surrounded by lots of red!), and knack for being thrifty. 

2015 Christmas Gift Guide: Round 1

Whether she's an apartment renter or dorm dweller, she can't paint and yet can't live without color. Pack a pretty wire basket full of home items in her favorite hue - like a coaster set, throw pillow, fragrant candle, and cozy blanket. Then, top it off with the Ohuhu® Ocean Wave Night Light Projector and Music Player. I have one of these and love it! The small, white projector blends into any decor as discreetly as a vase, but when you turn it on... hello, light show! It projects a variety of colors up to the ceiling and around the room. In a white room, it would give a much-needed dose of color. I like to use the soothing blue while I write - and the multi-color setting would be perfect for a party. Plus, you can plug your phone in to take advantage of the built-in speaker. 

JORD Wood Watches + 10 Ways to Style Wooden Timepieces

I love wood jewelry and watches for two reasons. 1) Wood is such a gorgeous and unique alternative to metals. And 2) I'm allergic to a lot of metals, so the less I can expose myself to whatever makes me red, itchy, and scratchy, the better! In the last few years, I've accumulated a little collection of wooden necklaces, bracelets, and rings, but I was missing one key piece: a watch!

JORD is a company that hand-makes luxury, wood watches. When they offered to send me one of their timepieces to review on the blog, I picked out the Sully model in red sandalwood. I love my watches to be either tiny and dainty or big and bulky. The Sully model is a big, eye-catching watch and the red sandalwood color is a rich, auburn-toned hue. (If big watches aren't your thing, JORD offers smaller watches, too.)

10 Classic Gift Ideas for Your Guy this Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day, spoil your lover with coffee, whiskey, and beer. Or if all else fails, boys like chocolate, too. To shop for items in this set, click the links below:

This Valentine's Day, Spoil the Lovely Ladies in Your Life

Be it your best friend, sister, or mother... a little luxury goes a long way. To shop the items in this set, click on the links below:

Gift Guides for the Pet Owner: Cat's Meow & Dog Days

This year, I thought it'd be fun to put together a couple gift guides for the pet owner in your life. What do you get the sister or friend that has it all - and a cat or dog? Now that I'm moved into and settling into my new place, I'm planning on adopting a cat after Christmas. So you can bet I've dropped a few cat-themed ideas into my mom's ear. (I'd love a set of pretty food dishes, nice litter box, or just a gift card to PetCo.)

So why not gift the pet owner in your life with a little something something for or inspired by their furry friend?

Gift Guide: 8 Gifts for the Literature Lover

You know the type. She won't be caught without her library card. You often catch her with her nose in a book. (Literally! She loves the smell of old books.) She can be seen in her natural habitat: a cozy corner in a little coffee shop, the turning of pages occasionally interrupted by a sip of tea. This gift guide is for the bibliophile, bookworm, or future bestselling novelist on your shopping list:

Gift Guide: 10 Cozy Gift Ideas for the Homebody on Your List

For the friend, sister, or mother who relishes in the simplicities and little luxuries of being at home, this gift roundup is sure to get your ideas churning. Think cozy, comfy, and a little creative to find your favorite homebody the perfect present:

Gift Guide: 10 Lovely Hostess Gifts for the Holidays

The holidays are right around the corner. And while many of us will be spending time with family, you may also find yourself invited to a Friendsgiving, holiday party, or New Year's Eve shindig. Bringing a little something for your hostess isn't required - I definitely don't expect hostess gifts - but it is a thoughtful and lovely gesture.

14 Last Minute (but lovely!) Valentine's Gifts

Have you put Valentine's gifts off to the last minute? Whether you're buying for a sweetheart, best friend, or family - from the obvious cards and candy to less traditional, spunky ideas that you know your recipient will love, here's a roundup of 14 items to get your ideas flowing. (And all color-coordinated, of course!)

1. For the writer, poet, or list-maker in your life, opt for a beautiful leather journal. Writing by hand feels so much more luxurious and nostalgic in a handsome journal as opposed to a spiral notebook. 

2. Perfect for your retro-loving fashionista sister, roomie, or best friend, brighten up her dreary winter with sassy vintage-inspired shades. Spring's just around the corner, right? (Or so we keep telling ourselves...)

Gift Basket Idea: Goodies for the Bibliophile

Coming from a family of bookworms that could never have enough books - and being a bibliophile myself - I couldn't pass up curating a gift basket for the readers out there. A good bookworm basket begins with a good book, but unless your dear reader has a wishlist of books (which they very well might!) it could be hard to pick out a book for them. In the case of no wishlist, instead buy them a beautiful copy of a book you know they love.

Gift Basket Idea: Beery Christmas

Toast the holidays (or any gift-giving occasion) with a beer basket for the brew lover in your life. Go above and beyond a six-pack of their favorite brew with a beer-themed gift basket. I started this one with a gorgeous, just-enough-rustic, industrial-inspired metal basket.

Gift Basket Idea: Apartment Warming

Perhaps your roomie is striking out on her own next semester. Maybe your friend is moving in with her boyfriend. Or your sister is getting her first place all her own. This gift basket is to help make your newly independent dweller make her apartment feel more like home. Don't be overwhelmed by the thought of helping someone decorate. You needn't know their personal decor taste - and even if you do, resist the urge to go overboard. You might get it wrong or she might want to change up her interior design style. Instead, stick with simple design and neutral colors that can seamlessly blend into any decor.

Gift Basket Idea: Classy Careerist

Whether one of your gal pals just recently landed her dream internship, is busy job searching and interviewing, or already works a 9 to 5 career, this gift basket is sure to pamper any young professional. Instead of using a traditional basket for this gift set, I started with a woven desktop organizer. Cubicles can be so stark and gray, so a little decor goes a long way.

Gift Basket Idea: Shiraz and Sheers

This basket is for the wine lover on your gift shopping list. I took inspiration from the rich reddish-purple hue of one of my new favorite wine styles: Shiraz.

Gift Basket Idea: High Tea at Highclere

This gift basket is lovingly curated for the Downton Abbey devotee in your life. Chances are good that your Downton lover already has the previous seasons on DVD, so now's your chance to pull together the perfect items to tide them over while they suffer Downtown withdrawal symptoms and await the US airing of the beloved British drama.

Gift Basket Idea: Chamomile + Cashmere

I love giving (and receiving) gift baskets. While pre-packaged baskets can take a little stress out of shopping, I think that putting together a personalized package is so much more special and sentimental. Plus, it's a lot of fun to curate a basket of goodies for a friend, roommate, significant other, or family member. (And the gift recipient can also use the basket or box as they please, too!) Between now and the holiday season, I'll be whipping up some 5-item gift basket ideas to give you some inspiration and ideas. 

This Chamomile + Cashmere gift basket idea is all about comfort and coziness. It's perfect for your girlfriend, roommate, sister, or any female family member. The item that originally inspired me to put this basket together is the Burt's Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. My sister gave me this in Burt's Bees package she put together for me. (Great minds think alike!) I love it - the refreshing fragrance, the tingly clean feeling it leaves on my face, and the fact that it doesn't bother my super sensitive skin.

The next item in the basket is the Hidden Fox mug from Uncommon Goods. Nice and large for an indulgent cup of tea or coffee, a cute little fox appears at the bottom as you sip on your warm beverage. And the scalloped edges are simply adorable. A cute cup can't go without a tasty tea, like Bigelow Cozy Chamomile Herbal Tea. 

To compliment the coziness, I'd also throw in the Chamomile Lavender candle from Calypso St. Barth (because one can never have too many nice smelling candles!) and the coziest, softest pair of cashmere socks I could find. All packed into a sweet, simple white basket from Ikea, this gift basket is a box full of comfort. And the basket would be perfectly suited to store magazines, beauty products, or office supplies.

What "comfort items" would you love to receive in a gift basket?

Need more ideas? Browse more Gift Giving Guides.

No need to track down the sources for the items above. Here you go:

White Basket
ikea.com

Chamomile Lavender Scented Candle
calypsostbarth.com

Bigelow Cozy Chamomile Herbal Tea
amazon.com

Brooks Brothers Knee Socks
brooksbrothers.com

Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser
$14 - debenhams.com

Hidden Animal Mugs
uncommongoods.com

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Gift Guide: For the Girl(s) in Your Life

I don't know about you---but for me, the ladies in your life are the most fun to buy gifts for!  They somehow also turn out to be the easiest.  But if you're frantically trying to think of ideas to spoil your sister, sorority sister, co-worker-turned-friend, bestie, or roommate... check out this wish list of girly delights!