Gifts

From coffee mugs to greeting cards, here are a few of our favorite Etsy finds for Target fangirls and fanboys, alike.

You already know you can get just about anything on Amazon, but you might not have realized that many couples are turning to the online giant to create their wedding registries. The benefit of registering on a site like Amazon is obvious: Rather than craft two or three separate registries, you can create one centralized wish-list. You can even add items from other retailers using the site’s universal registry functionality.

“It’s the thought that counts” usually only comes up when a gift hasn’t quite hit the mark. But the phrase takes on a totally new and wholly positive meaning when a gift displays the giver’s labor of love and forward thinking—regardless of how much money the gift cost. Making plant babies (aka propagating) is exactly this kind of gift-giving.

If you think buying a gift for one person is tough, try finding the perfect present for two.

Perhaps it’s too early to hang those stockings with care, but getting a jumpstart on what you’re planning to put inside them is never a bad idea. Whether your crew is stockings-only, or you fill them in addition to other presents, we have some ideas for sock-sized gifts that’ll put a Santa-sized grin on anyone’s face. If you forego a traditional orange, this travel candle will fit nicely into the toe of a stocking.

Is there anything more awkward than someone giving you a holiday gift and you having nothing to give in return? Or how about the added stress of being busy around the holiday season and remembering last minute that you need to bring a gift to an event? Avoid those potential stresses (and others) by always being prepared: These 15 cute, little, and affordable gifts are perfect for stocking up on now, so you’re never caught empty-handed later. The best thing about the gifts on this list?

Everyone needs an eye-catching accent for their coffee table—so we selected a few beautiful compendiums your friend can page through while watching Netflix. We’ve also selected a few good reads (both fiction and non-fiction), some stellar cookbooks, and the best organizing and style books from some famous faces. Take a look at our favorite books to wrap up for the holidays below. Dope Queen Phoebe Robinson (have you seen her gorgeous apartment?

There’s a benefit to being chosen as one of Oprah’s favorite things: Her seal of approval can be the motivating factor to hit that buy button for tons of people. But there’s a benefit for shoppers, too. Once the list is announced, many items are discounted just to celebrate their inclusion. Such is the case with Embark, a DNA kit for dogs developed in partnership with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Usually $199, its currently on sale for $149.

Not knowing what to get everyone on your holiday shopping list can be anxiety-inducing… and take away from the spirit of the season. Gift giving isn’t necessarily so much about the importance of giving away stuff, as it is giving a token of appreciation to someone you care about or respect. It’s a task made all the more difficult when you don’t know them very well.

Though we should be thanking and showering our kids’ teachers with praise on the daily—sometimes right before holiday break is the only time we really get to slow down and remember to show our thanks. But the thought process of gifting for your child’s educator usually goes like this: “I know my child can be a handful. I’m exhausted by just the one, so I imagine their teacher feels that way times at least 24… Starbucks gift card and cute mug it is!

This time of year at Apartment Therapy, we spend a lot of time thinking about what makes great gifts for other people. (See: all our fantastic gift guides.) But we are only human, and all this shopping around makes it hard not to add some stuff to our own lists as well. From trendy toothbrushes that make adulting fun, to a serious investment-worthy set of sheets and a statement-making terrarium, here are what’s at the top of our lists this year.

We’ve been there: a White Elephant or Secret Santa, and the creeping realization that you have no idea what to bring. So you rush to CVS and grab one of those holiday lotion sets that’s just regular drugstore lotion in a slightly sparkly box, throw in a Reese’s Christmas tree, and call it a day. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

I am a naturally tired person. Therefore I love coffee in the mornings, tea (and sometimes coffee) in the afternoon, and coffee with Bailey’s in the evening. One thing I do not love about drinking warm liquids is that sometimes they are mean and tricky fiends. They hurt you if you’re too eager! They turn cold if you take your time! How rude! This is not really a Problem, but it is an Annoyance. Every time I burn my tongue on too hot liquid, first I think “Hmm… Ouch!

While it would be nice to gift our friends and family personalized presents that fit their personalities like horoscopes, sometimes, it’s easiest to just go with a gift card. This is especially true for those we don’t know as well—you can’t go wrong with a Starbucks gift card for the office Secret Santa! Can we let you in on a secret?

Holiday shopping lists can get long, and while there are great ways to give someone a gift that costs (almost) nothing, sometimes you do want to wrap up something wonderful and put it under the tree (or win an office White Elephant exchange.) One sneaky way to spend less on great gifts? Snag something on sale. Below, ten of our favorite gifts for 2018 that are currently marked down, from under $20 to big, show-stopping options for the person you want to splurge on that are still 50% off.

Humans have looked to the stars for answers to life’s big questions for millennia: Why won’t the crops grow? Are we alone in the universe? Why hasn’t Sam texted me back? Tackling your shopping list is just the next step. So whether you have a tricky Taurus or a picky Pieces on your hands, our astrological gift guide will help you find something for every zodiac sign. Straightforward Aries will love the uncomplicated look of this geometric hourglass.

Anthropologie is a veritable wonderland of giftable goodies, from beauty to home to tech. But before you go in and get overwhelmed by the gorgeous options, take a look at our top picks for 2018. We have 10 luxe stocking stuffers sure to impress your favorite Anthro fan on your list–and five big-ticket options in case you want one of those, too. They’ll love it so much they won’t even be tempted to return it for store credit.

It’s Christmas Eve, and there are still folks on your list. It’s likely you didn’t choose to be here, shopping for friends and family at the last minute, but hey, life gets in the way. All is not lost, however—because we found 11 gifts that you can get today and pretend like you’ve had them wrapped up for months. Thankfully, shopping on Christmas Eve doesn’t mean a frantic trip to the mall anymore.

You want to get your friends and family something sentimental and personal… but also you completely forgot that Christmas is a mere week away. We hear you. But before you rush out and grab a gift card, there’s still time. Etsy has tons of items available to ship in as little as one business day. To find them, you can winnow down your search results by whether it can ship in one or three business days. But, of course, that still leaves you with a lot of stuff to wade through.

Whether it’s a holiday gift or a way to say thanks, a good gift can leave a big—and lasting—impression on its recipient. That’s why knowing how to give a stellar gift is a skill that we can all stand to benefit from. Thankfully, we have Myka Meier, the etiquette expert behind Beaumont Etiquette to call upon for advice. We asked Meier for a few strategies for giving better gifts and she had lots to share. Read on for five ways to up your gift-giving game this year.

We are all human, which means still having someone to shop for just days away from when you’re exchanging gifts. Since everyone is in the same boat (including ourselves), let this guide… be your guide. After digging for must-have merchandise that isn’t your typical candle, we compiled this last-minute gift guide filled with items that can be shipped to you by December 25. We know that you’re most likely busy, so we went ahead and included the shipping fees for you, too!

With all the corny gift guide clichés and tacky holiday-themed products available this time of year, picking the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your partner can be tricky. That’s why it pays to put a bit of thought into figuring out what constitutes a good gift ahead of time. To help, we called on two of our favorite New York City-based relationship experts: psychotherapist Lisa Brateman, and Dr. Jane Greer, author of “What About Me?