Organizer-Approved Gifts

Wondering what to gifts to give your loved ones? Have you seen this funny gag Christmas gift going around? It’s a roll of toilet paper just in case you get crap for Christmas! Don’t be the person who makes them use that paper!
 
Instead, think of gifts that feature experiences, upgrade everyday necessities into luxuries, or are consumable. Below are some of my favorites, many of which can be bought at the last minute.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT STUFF

• Tickets to a concert, movie, comedy show, sports event, play, or musical. (The tickets could be for the exact show or a gift certificate so they can choose the show and date they like.)
• Apple News+: like Netflix for magazines so you can read all you want with no more paper magazines to clutter up the house!
• Kindle books (Click the "Give as Gift" button near the purchase options.)
• Passes to all kinds of places: zoo, aquarium, museum (art, children’s, science, historic), adventure park, amusement park, bowling, roller or ice skating, mini golf, trampoline park, etc.
• Scenic tours: boat rides, train rides, duck boat tours, city tours, etc.

FOOD STUFF

• Tickets to an RI Food Fights event. These food showdowns are so much fun!
• Food basket: put together a meal kit or a basket of favorite snacks
• Sentimental food gift: a favorite family recipe along with the ingredients to make it.
• Gift certificate to a meal kit service such as Blue Apron or Sun Basket
• Homemade goodies: If you’re a great baker, bake! Do you like to can food? Then make up a bunch of summer jam, fall applesauce, or anytime spaghetti sauce. If you, like me, are not a great baker and have had one too many canning disasters (Anyone want some scorched peach honey?), try flavored sugars, spice rubs, or an ice-cream-topping sauce.
• Healthy snack box subscription or single gift (NatureBox, Urthbox, Graze)
• Restaurant gift cards
• Farmer’s market gift card or CSA share (Check your local area.)
• Coffee subscription (k-cups from various places or beans from a great craft brewer such as Borealis)
• Harry & David pears are insanely delicious and luxuriously wrapped in gold foil!
• Beer or wine

GUY STUFF

• Man Crates: Opening these super-creative gifts is half the fun. They come in wooden crates with a crowbar to open them. Need gift wrapping? They'll cover it in duct tape!
• Shaving products or a subscription like Dollar Shave Club or Harry’s
• Luxury underwear and basic clothing, such as Mack Weldon or Meundies

KID STUFF

• Art classes or music lessons
• Magazine subscriptions (Ladybug, Highlights)
• Creativity crates by KiwiCo
• Put together your own craft kit (e.g. sock puppet kit) complete with instructions.
• Membership or tickets to a children’s museum, zoo, aquarium, or science museum. 

 
PAMPERING STUFF

• Spa, massage, or mani/pedi gift cards (Alayne White is my favorite. Hint, hint!)
• Makeup or perfume ( If they don't have a favorite perfume, try one of the unique creations from Providence Perfume Co.)
• Gym membership (Be careful that they really want this and won’t take it as an insult!)
• A really great set of sheets (If they prefer crisp percale, try L.L. Bean or Brooklinen. If they favor soft sateen, try Boll and Branch.)
• Bath bombs (very popular right now!), body scrub, shower gel, body lotion (If you’re crafty, you could make your own bath bombs or scrubs using one of the many tutorials out there. This would be a good teacher gift.)
• Flowers or wreaths (dried or fresh)

  
PRACTICAL STUFF

• Membership to a warehouse store near them (BJ’s, Sam’s Club, Costco)
• Gas station gift cards
• Coffee shop gift cards (Think beyond the big ones and see if the recipient has a local favorite.)
• Grocery store gift cards (For those with special diets, consider Thrive Market online.)
• Lottery or scratch tickets
• Household necessities basket: fill it with your favorite can’t-do-without items or with luxury versions of necessities, such as laundry detergent, dish soap, microfiber cleaning cloths, sponges, etc.
• Gift certificates for Kate Bosch Professional Organizing