As time goes on and on, climate change gets worse. Let's face it, our planet is dying. So why not do something good this holiday season and give out some eco friendly gifts? Whether you're shopping for a family member who doesn't believe in climate change or a friend who is living their best green life, check out my guide of green gifts to give this holiday season.

Something everyone should have is a Reusable Water Bottle. Plastic bottles are so bad for the environment and for you. When you drink out of a plastic bottle, little particles of plastic leak into the water you're drinking. Gross right? Instead choose to give a reusable water bottle as a gift, literally everyone can use one.

For your candle lover, why not get a Soy or Beeswax Candle? What's wrong with regular candles? Turns out they're bad for the environment too. Candles are made with paraffin wax, which is full of hydrocarbon. Hydrocarbon is essentially what fossil fuels are made up of. So if you want to get an eco friendly gift for a candle lover, choose an organic candle made from beeswax or soy. If you want to be even more eco conscious, choose an essential oil diffuser instead!

The war on plastic straws has been going on all year long. So if some of your friends and family haven't hopped on this bandwagon yet why not get them some Reusable Straws? Now you can find so many different types of reusable straws out there. Stainless steel, glass and even retractable keychains, there is literally a reusable straw for everyone.

For the person who can't start their day without a cup of coffee, give them a Coffee Traveler! The United States alone throws out around 108 billion disposable cups per year. So the perfect eco friendly gift for a coffee lover would be a reusable coffee cup. So many stores sell reusable cups for both hot and cold beverages. You really can't go wrong with any one of these!

One of the most eco friendly resources out there is bamboo. Bamboo can make literally anything, cutting boards, toothbrushes, sunglasses, bathtub trays, and so much more. You think it, they probably have it. Since bamboo is a natural resource, it can break down and decompose unlike products made out of plastic. So when in doubt choose Anything Made Out of Bamboo!

For the environmentally conscious tech obsessed, you can't go wrong with a Portable Solar Charger. Portable chargers are a handy thing to have no matter what, but what's really cool about the solar ones is that you don't need to constantly recharge them. If it can feel the suns rays, it will charge up. How cool is that?

A Tote Bag is just a fancy version of a reusable grocery bag. They tend to be big and roomy so they can hold loads of stuff. Plus they are durable so you don't have to worry about them ripping right away. A tote bag is versatile and can be used for anything, like as a purse, a beach bag, a shopping bag, and so much more. If you want to go the extra mile this holiday season, use a tote bag instead of wrapping paper or a gift bag. The planet will thank you.

Giving green gifts this holiday season is one way to help save the planet. Not only are you lowering your carbon footprint, you are encouraging others to do the same. By giving these eco friendly gifts, you're encouraging your friends and family members to get into greener habits. We only have one planet so let's take care of it so we can have many more years to celebrate the holidays! Until tomorrow.

Shopping for presents during the holiday season is one of the most stressful things about this time of the year. It can be even more difficult if you have no idea what to get someone. Whether you're stuck on what to give your mom or the person you barely know in your workplace gift exchange, follow these tips to overcome your gift giving struggle.

Think About The Person. Think about who you are shopping for. What do they like? What do they need? What reminds you of them? What's something you two have in common? Did they mention anything they really want or need? Asking yourself these questions is a simple thing to do when starting the gift idea process. When you're done doing that, make a list of all their interests and needs, then take it from there.

Do Some Research. If you're really stuck and have no clue what to get someone try to fish some ideas out of them. Take a look at their social media, see if they've posted anything or created an online wishlist. Or ask the people who know them the best for some help. Or you can take the direct approach, ask the person if there is anything they wish Santa would bring them this year. It can be a fun conversation topic and it can actually help give you some ideas!

When In Doubt Be Practical. When you get really stuck an easy thing to do is think of the things this person will actually find useful. Because the worst thing you could do is give someone a gift just because you have to give them a gift. You can never go wrong with giving someone a practical and useful gift. Simplicity is always key.

Don't Procrastinate. When you have no idea what to give someone, sometimes putting it off seems like the best idea. This isn't always the case. Instead of putting it off, keep it on your mind. Maybe while shopping for gifts you know you need to get you will see something that will help inspire you.

Just Have Fun. The whole point of Christmas is to spread joy and good cheer, and it's important to never lose sight of that. If you're still stuck on what to get someone, think about what would bring them joy? What is something fun for them? Giving them something that is simply enjoyable or provide an enjoyable moment is something every one needs.

When it comes to buying gifts, don't take it all too seriously. The whole point of exchanging gifts is to spread joy and show the people you care about how much they mean to you. Don't sweat the small stuff. Whatever you end up getting or doing for someone this holiday, I'm sure they'll appreciate the effort you made and that's all that really matters.

Now it's time for me to follow my own advice, there are two weeks until Christmas Eve and I do not want to be one of those last minute shoppers out there! It's time to buckle down and finish up all my Christmas shopping. How about you, how do you overcome the gift giving struggle? Let me know! Until tomorrow.

Hello everyone! Can you believe it? We've made it through the first week of Blogmas! Woo hoo! It's been fun to write up these holiday themed posts and see what others have come up with so far. So for today's post, I'm going to share some of the things I would love to receive this holiday.

I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas wishlist posts for Blogmas. Sure they're easy to write up, but sometimes I feel like it is a little ego centric. But I'm not going to lie, I love reading other people's Christmas wishlists. It gives me ideas of things I may want, but mostly it helps me think of ideas for gifts for the people I love. So I hope my holiday wishlist does the same for you!

While I was writing up my Cruelty Free Holiday Scent Guide for Blogmas Day 5, I couldn't help but add some of those products to my wishlist. Ever since I found out about the Holiday Hair Care Barrel from Basin, I have not been able to stop thinking about it! Shampoo and conditioner bars are the best and I absolutely love the ones from Basin! One other thing I have not been able to get off my mind are the seasonal items from Lush! If I receive anything from Lush this holiday season I'll be a happy camper.

Recently my love for Tye Dye has become more and more apparent, I've felt the need to Tye Dye anything and everything. But what has been holding me back? My lack of Tye Dye! So a Tye Dye Kit would be an amazing present this year. Please someone help make my Tye Dye fantasy come true!

I'm a complete sucker for anything rose gold so when I saw the Nike Flex Contact Women's Running Shoes in White Silver Pink, I fell in love. It's been a while since I got some new running shoes so I think I might be due for a new pair. PLUS THEY'RE ROSE GOLD!!! As a skin care fanatic, I love looking to see what new tools are currently trending. Cleansing brushes for your face have always been something I have been obsessed over. Foreo is one of the most popular cleansing brushes brands out there, thanks to the Luna. While the standard Luna is great, it's way too much money. Luckily Foreo made a smaller and way cheaper version the Luna Play Plus, which is perfect!

If you've been bit by the environmentalist bug this year, then you know all about the dangers of the overuse of plastic materials. The anti plastic straw movement has been going on but now what's the next thing to stop using? Those pesky produce bags in the grocery store. If plastic shopping bags were banned why weren't these? Anyways for Christmas a great gift that everyone (myself included) needs are reusable produce bags.

If you know me there's two things I love most in this world: Kate Spade and Minnie Mouse. When Kate Spade came out with her Minnie Mouse collection at Disneyland, I literally died and went to heaven. Ever since that, Kate Spade has been making even more Disney related items and I am obsessed with this Minnie Mouse iPhone wallet case.

Speaking of Disney, the Disney store recently released notebooks that mimic a VHS tape. How nostalgic is that? I'm literally obsessed with these, and I bet every other 90s kid is too!

As someone who enjoys spending lots of time in the bath tub, a Bath Tray Caddy would be the most useful gift for myself. I have been known to drop things in the water once or twice so this would be a great thing to have in my bathroom.

And there you have it! Those are some things that I wouldn't be upset to find under the tree this year. But friendly reminder, Christmas is about giving and not receiving. If you're struggling to find a gift for the basic girl in your life, chances are my wishlist is similar to hers. Happy shopping! Until tomorrow

Participating in a Secret Santa gift exchange can be a really fun holiday experience. Some families draw names to make the whole gift exchanging experience easier. Or maybe your work is putting on a Secret Santa gift exchange to lift up some holiday cheer. Sometimes even groups of friends will put on a Secret Santa for fun. Either way, it's supposed to be a fun experience but that doesn't mean that it can't be stressful.

There's always a chance you could pick the name of the person you know like the back of your hand, but if you're not so lucky (like myself) you'll pick the name of someone you don't know very well. Last year (and even this year) for my job's Secret Santa I picked someone that I hardly knew at all. But luckily, someone in the office came up with a genius idea to put together a Google Doc where we all could share our likes and interests. For me, this was a huge help! Since I knew nothing about my person, I was able to look at her likes and put together a decent gift for her.

But sometimes you don't get a crutch like a document filled with gift ideas made by your person, even though that's a really good idea. So for those of you struggling to figure out what to get your Secret Santa this year have no fear. Here is what you can do to be the best Secret Santa:

Think About Your Person. This may be an obvious tip but it truly is the best place to start. Close your eyes, picture the person. What's their style like? When you think about them what are they doing? Do you and this person have a memory or a significant event where you two bonded? Little questions like this can help you figure out the core personality of your person which could lead to an amazing gift!

Check Out Their Social Media. This may make you feel like a stalker, but if you do not know anything about your person and have zero clues about who they are this will help a lot. Just by going to their Facebook page you can literally look at pages they've liked and maybe even shared. The same goes with Twitter and Instagram, you can see what they've posted about or even check out other posts they have liked. Sometimes even checking to see what kind of accounts they follow can help you narrow down your search.

Gather Some Intel. Now you don't need to be a spy to complete this task. All you need to do is figure out who knows your person best and ask them for some advice or if they have any suggestions. Or if you're feeling really brave, you can casually talk to your person and try to get to know them a little better. Just be careful and don't let them figure out you're their Secret Santa! If you start eating lunch with them everyday and are constantly playing twenty questions they will definitely figure it out.

Make A List. When you write something down it can help you visualize and think clearly, especially if you are completely stuck. Take the time to gather what you know and write it all down. This will help you come up with some possible gift ideas. Maybe you can even narrow it down to the actual gift!

Stay In Budget. This may be an obvious tip, but remember to always keep to the set budget. Even if you get your best friend, you may want to spend an excess amount because you really care about that person. But it is important to keep in mind about everyone's feelings. Also don't be that person who spends less than half of the amount. If finance is a huge issue for you, you can always opt out. No one will judge you for not participating. As long as you play fair and stay in the budget it will be a great time!

If You're Still Stuck It's Okay To Be Generic. Sometimes there are people who are just difficult to figure out what they could possibly want or even need. And that's okay, because they probably don't know what they want either. In these circumstances a gift card is probably your best bet, and that's perfectly fine. Whether it's for their favorite restaurant, store, coffee shop or even the movie theater, that could be the most practical gift and it will be appreciated.

When in Doubt Listen To Your Gut. If you're unsure or not positive that your person will like what you've picked out, don't stress over it. If something called out to you, trust your instinct. It called out to you for a reason. As long as you do your best and put some thought into it, your person will appreciate the time and effort you put into their gift. If they complain and say you're the worst Secret Santa ever then that's their problem, not yours.

The point of Secret Santa is to have fun! If you received someone you don't know very well don't dread it, look at it as an opportunity to get to know them a little bit better. Be sure not to give any of the secrets away, the whole point of Secret Santa is that it is supposed to be a mystery! It starts to lose the magic once everyone knows who has who. Don't stress, and remember to have fun! And as long as you follow these suggestions, you will slay your Secret Santa gift exchange this year!

Now you tell me, are you participating in a Secret Santa this year? Do you have any tips and suggestions you want to share? Comment below!

Until tomorrow!

Shopping for men can be very tricky, especially for the important men in your life. I know when I need to buy a gift for my brother, my dad, or my boyfriend, I'm always stumped for ideas. So this year I thought I'd get a head start and create a little gift guide to help ease the process.

Wallet. Something every man needs is a nice wallet, and it is easy to find a nice wallet for a decent price. Stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Nordstrom Rack sell designer wallets for a reasonable price.

Comfy Socks, Slippers or Loungewear. It's safe to say that men like to be comfortable, especially after a long day. So why not treat your special guy to a fun pair of socks or some comfortable loungewear. Odds are he will appreciate it and get a lot of use out of it.

Alcohol. If the man you are shopping for is of the legal drinking age, alcohol is always a safe bet. Beer, wine, or liquor, you really can't go wrong with that. A lot of stores will have gift sets for wine or liquor, and some stores will have special variety packs of beer. But if you're not sure what type of alcohol to buy, a flask or any kind of alcohol accessory should work nicely.

Watch. Just like every women should have a nice professional purse, a man needs a nice professional watch. Which is why watches are a very popular gift during the holiday season. The only problem is that they can be pretty pricey, especially the really nice ones. But thanks to outlet stores like Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off 5th, you can actually find a decent deal for a really nice watch.

Tech Accessories. We have that one guy in our life who is obsessed with technology and wants/has all the latest gadgets. Just because they have everything from a MacBook to an iPhone, that does not mean they all have all the accessories to go along with it. Speakers, headphones, cases, sleeves and etc, there are plenty of options for the tech obsessed guy in your life!

French Press/Espresso Maker. For the coffee lover you can't go wrong with a french press or espresso maker, especially if they love strong coffee. You don't need to go out and buy them a really fancy coffee maker. In fact, stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Homegoods have really nice french presses and espresso makers for a decent price. Plus you can always pick up a nice bag of coffee there to go with it.

Backpack or Duffle Bag. For the traveler or student in your life, a nice backpack or duffle bag is a great gift. Especially if they are always on the go whether it be on a vacation or constantly running around because of a busy schedule.

Cologne. Cologne is always an easy go to gift for a man, especially if you know what scent they like. Cologne is expensive but most stores like Sephora or Macy's will have sales on fragrances or offer some kind of deal. Sometimes they even offer a sample pack of different colognes.

Sports Merchandise or Tickets. For any sports lover, an easy go to gift is any kind of merchandise that reps their favorite team. If you want to go all out, surprise them with tickets to a game. That's an experience you can share and spend some time with your favorite guy.

And there you have it, just a few little gift ideas for the men in your life. These gift ideas can give you some inspiration if you're stuck on a gift for your father, brother, boyfriend or even your best friend. Now you tell me, what is your go to gift for some of the men in your life?

Until tomorrow.

The holiday season is possibly the worst season for shopping, and we all know why. Let me give you one word: crowds. Is it just me or does it seem like no matter what time of the day you go out to do your Christmas shopping or errands it's always PACKED?! I went to Target at 9 pm on a Sunday and it was crowded!

So I am convinced there will never be a good time to go Christmas shopping. Except maybe in May but that's a little excessive. So crowds will be inevitable. But maybe they won't be too bad early in the morning, but who has time for that? Some of us need our beauty sleep. But for those of you who do get up early enough to do that, try it and report back!

One thing that's certain, if the crowds are bad two weeks before Christmas, imagine how bad they'll be the week of, so don't wait until the last minute to do all your holiday shopping!

One thing I like to do when it comes to Christmas shopping is go to the stores and see what they have in stock. When I see what the stores have, that's when I get ideas for Christmas presents. Then I come home and make my list, so when it's time to do holiday shopping I know exactly what to get and I end up not wasting as much time. Making lists, it saves time and makes you less likely to forget someone!

Also I always look online to see what's there. I've noticed with some stores, like especially with Forever21 they have a lot more online compared to what they have in store. Also sometimes the prices are way better online! And Cyber Monday, is the perfect time for this, I got a couple things for presents but I mainly got ideas of what I wanted to get for my friends and family. I check my email to see the current sales and search for promo codes and discounts! Also sometimes some stores email you coupons for in store!

But when I do buy online, I make sure I can get enough stuff to get free shipping or search for a free shipping promo code. Also for you last minute shoppers, when it gets closer to Christmas some stores offer an option to get things by Christmas Eve. If you want to see who is currently offering free shipping check out the website Free Shipping Day. Also when you shop online, shop through Ebates! Where you earn money back by shopping online, I kid you not! I legit thought this was a scam, but I actually have earned some money from Ebates. Of course it's not much but some is better than none. If you want to sign up and get some cash back click here.

If you want to save money this holiday season, check out stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, and other outlet stores. You'll save a lot of money and get some of the same stuff that you would at the department stores! So why bother spending lots of money when you can get some of the same items on sale?!

Also if you're planning on doing some DIY presents, make sure you give yourself enough time. Get your supplies early or when Michael's is having a sale, which seems like they always are! Christmas stuff is already 50% off!! Plus they have tons of coupons! But give yourself time to create and not stress out.

The crowds, the prices, the time, all three of these things can make shopping during the holiday season really tough and stressful. But as long as you come up with a game plan (budgets & lists) you'll shop this holiday season like a pro! Until tomorrow.