The Pop of Joy Official Holiday Gift Guide 2014

Not many things bring me as much joy as choosing the right gift for someone, and the Christmas season is the best time to get my gifting on.  In fact, picking the perfect gift for someone is way more rewarding than receiving gifts, and the receiver can see that you gave some thought and love their way.  Here are some of my favorite gift ideas this year, in case you are still looking to pick up a few items this season.

For Classy Ladies:

Copper monogram tray - Mark and Graham

This tray is so cute - Mark and Graham has awesome monogram gifts, and this is a versatile tray that can last a long time.  A bit high-end, so look for knockoffs if you can't spring for the real thing here.

Photo via MarkandGraham.com

Bite Beauty Best Bite Lip Crayon Set of 4 - Sephora

I bought these for myself during a moment of weakness in the "impulse purchase bins" while standing in line at Sephora last year, and I am so glad I did.  They have them this year as well, so march right in the store and just get in line to shop.

Photo via Popsugar.com

Baggu Dipped Tote Bag - West Elm

I often can't help but buy a few things for myself when I find cool gifts for others.  This was one of the "one for you, one for me" gifts of last year.  Very sturdy, good size and shape, great adjustable strap that can be worn cross body, and super cute colors.

Photo via Westelm.com

For People Who Like Fun:

Gnome Terrarium - CB2

I don't need to tell you why this is cute.  Plant sold separately.

Photo via CB2.com

Chicken Wine Stopper - Fred and Friends

This is the ultimate rubber chicken gift (that is, other than incessantly chickening people year round).  I hope my sister is ready for her wine to be super-chickened in a few days.

Photo via Fredandfriends.com

Boozers/Foodies:

Wine 2 Go Flask - Flask 2 Go

I know a lot of people whose problems would be solved with this wine container that holds an entire bottle of wine.  Poolside, picnics, shenanigans, you name it.

Photo via flask2go.com

City Tin - Milwaukee Edition

This is available for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but also for Madison.  The tin includes coaster gift cards for $10 off your $25 bill at 20 Milwaukee area restaurants.  I will note that the list of restaurants in the tin is legit, and a fine selection by the tin creators.

Photo via Citytins.com

Kids:

Less stuff - Want, Need, Wear, Read

This was a concept shared with me this year (Thanks, Kathryn!) and I think it is a great idea, especially for young children.  Buy only four items, one item for each category listed.  This helps you and your child prioritize what is really important and what they really want the most.

Experiences

Make a gift out of a family vacation, special day, or other experiences.  Or, buy something that the family can use to make memories or experiences.  One mom I know is picking up a "Go Pro" camera as a family gift, and think of all of the fun things that can come of that with the family!

Kiwi Crate

Okay, if you need more than those four items, check out the Kiwi Crate.  It is a box shipped to your child (age range is 3-8 years) once a month with fun activities in different themes.  You can buy a subscription, a single box activity, holiday boxes, or other smaller items.

Photo via kiwicrate.com

Handmade:

I think that handmade or "hand assembled" gifts are always a nice way to put a personal touch on a gift.  I love a good themed basket or kit for a gift, it is a great way to put together some smaller items and make it feel really thoughtful.  This list from the berry.com is one of my favorite lists of basket ideas for all year round.  The key is throughout the year when you see containers or baskets on sale or clearance, snatch them up so you have a few on hand to make a basket when you need it.  World Market is also a great source for cheap basket and wrap kits in a pinch.

Photo via theberry.com

There you have it!  Only 8 more shopping days before Christmas, so this is your last chance for online shopping without paying a ton for shipping.  Go get 'em, tiger.

The "How-To" Guide to receiving, returning, and repurposing gifts gracefully

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So, I imagine that since it is the start of the new year, you have partied 2013 out of the way and finished all of your Christmasing (finally).  Depending on your family dynamic, I am willing to bet that either you have received a gift that isn't quite your thing or perhaps someone in your family didn't do a very good job convincing you that they appreciated your gift.  It's ok, not everyone is as savvy at it as you might be.  In case you aren't, or in case you want your weird uncle or a perpetually unhappy in-law to read my blog, here are some tips in dealing with gifts that you don't love.

If you received a gift that isn't what you would like:

1. Is it seasonal?  If you received some god awful Christmas décor as a gift, smile and give a sincere thank you.  You only have to look at it for 2-6 weeks, or save it to put out when the gift giver comes to visit only.
2. Is it the wrong size, or something exchangeable?  You may be able to tactfully mention that you really enjoy the gift and the thought, but would like to get a different size since you lost all that weight recently (wink, wink).  You could even follow-up after you exchange it with a photo to show how much you were enjoying the updated gift.
3. Is it something you just don't like or won't use?  There are a lot of retailers that allow you to return for a short period of time following Christmas for a gift card or credit.  When you open it, say, "This is great, thank you!  Where did you get it?  It is so unique."  Then try and do a stealth return to the retailer for credit, and buy yourself something else or use the credit to buy a gift for someone else that would like it better.
4. Is it totally hideous and hand made and can't be returned?  I am willing to bet that you run in another circle of friends or co-workers that could benefit from your gift in the white elephant gift exchange (*See regifting section below so that you don't screw this one up).

If you gave a gift that clearly wasn't appreciated or well received:

1. Pay attention throughout the year for what the person may appreciate.  Personally, I am not into cats, but if I know someone really likes cats, that feline throw pillow might be right up their alley even if you think its ugly.  Or, see what magazines and catalogs are in their house.  Or, see where they tend to shop.  Pinterest boards are invaluable for gift ideas.
2. Ask for suggestions upfront.  Ask the person for some ideas, or ask their significant other for ideas for that person.
3. Give gifts that aren't returnable things.  If the person is a pet lover, donate money in their name to ASPCA, or the Humane Society.  If the person likes unique stuff, feed a child in Africa or name a star for that person.  Or, consider a subscription gift, such as a magazine or a wine of the month club.
4. Get help from another person.  For example, I give ideas, but the hubs does a nice job deciding what the gifts will be for his parents.  That way I didn't put my heart and soul into the gift (I take Christmas gifting VERY seriously, like a sport) and feel disappointed if it wasn't perfect.

If you are considering regifting something you received:

1. Do. Not. Regift. in the same social circle.  Put a note on the item before you put it in your pile of "possible gifts" in the closet.  Ensure the note states who gave it to you, when they gave it to you, and who else was there to witness it.  If you regift, make sure it is to someone who could never possibly cross paths with any of those people.
2. Think twice about whether or not you need to regift.  Are you sure you can't repurpose the gift into something else?  Is it something worth donating?  Will the gift giver ever ask about it in the future?
3. Regift only if you think that the new recipient would have a genuine interest.  For example, you received two copies of the latest Pixar movie, but instead of returning one you give one to a friend that said they liked the movie.  Or, maybe you aren't really a floral scarf sort of person, but your mom totally is.  If you follow rule #1, I think that your regifting is in acceptable form.

Sometimes, you just can't win on the gift-giving (or receiving) front, and just know, it's not personal.  If you are like me and you put a lot of love into gift giving, hopefully some of these tips will help you keep your sanity.

And if you are a guy reading this, I have one gift giving tip for you.  Yes, you do have to wrap it.  That is part of the allure, do not give gifts in a Piggly Wiggly bag.

True confessions of the retail world, and please, don't be that guy.

I have a feeling that y'all have already started your holiday shopping, so this is my public service announcement for you.  As a veteran of the retail store battle ground, I am here to share some knowledge for you.  This is not knowledge about where to get a good deal, or how to get what you want this holiday season; there are a million other sources for that.  This is a snapshot from the other side - the retail workers.

While you are out shopping for Christmas gifts this year, might I suggest this year you do your best to take care of the people helping you shop?  Whatever craziness you are feeling for the holiday season, I promise you, yelling at the lady at the service counter won't help, and her day will be worse with the six other people who yelled too.

If I were to give you my best advice on being a shopper that doesn't make it into our dinner conversation, here it is:

Smile, make eye contact, and say, "Thank you."
Yes, this sounds oddly similar to what you might expect from retail employees, but we are people too.  And wouldn't it be nice for you to make someone else's day better too?  Try it, it's fun even when you aren't getting paid for it.  Trust me, you would stand out above the rest.

Don't get mad at me when there aren't any more PS4s on December 23rd.
Often the person trying to assist you in the store is not directly responsible for the outage of a product.  Please don't be mean about it.  Unless you want me to personally knit you a replica, it is out of my hands.

"Since it didn't ring up it must be free."
Oh boy.

[me] "Is there something I can help you find?" [you] "Yeah, my wife!" or "Yeah, a million bucks!"
That's a cute joke and all, but literally you are the 12th person to say that to me today.  I suggest coming up with something much more entertaining for us, like "I'm looking for heavy rope, black garbage bags, and a metal shovel," or "just  your beautiful smile," or start up a Hall & Oates song as a flash mob.  Something, anything.

Black Friday - do you really need that $6 coffee maker?
Whatever you are looking for on Black Friday, please do so with the mentality of fun and not trampling.  We don't want to have to budget for medical triage tents next year.  That $6 coffee maker will probably leak in 3 months anyways.

This is such an exciting time of year, but remember just because you won't see that person again doesn't mean they won't remember you.  I still remember all of the people who crazy yelled at me, so don't be that guy who lives on in our war stories.  If you go in with the mindset of having fun and bringing cheer to the people around you, I promise you will feel better than if you went in with a 'tude.

Don't you "Bah Humbug" me, not at Christmas.

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Ohhhh, it's here. Yes, I already checked to see if the XM radio station changed from "Love" to "Holly" playing holiday tunes.  And the red cups are out at Starbucks, so I know I am not the only one who feels this way.

I have been conditioned by working in retail to understand that the Christmas season begins on November 1st.  I do in fact celebrate five seasons throughout the year and the fifth one is me considering Christmas a season, not a holiday.  Hopefully this year I can make it past December 15th before I am sick of it, and I have a sporting chance at this seeing as I won't be getting attacked over iPads this year.

This is not a new phenomenon for me.  For a while as a child, I claimed my future career path would be in "Christmas interior design," or simply put, getting paid to decorate for Christmas.  I learned life skills from my dad (a civil engineer and dare I say, meticulous) about how to properly string lights on a Christmas tree.  I don't know if we ever had a tree that managed to have less than 1,000 lights on it.

The hubs and I have to compromise early on to decide a date that I can start decorating.  He doesn't usually agree to November 1st, and am quite certain that Thanksgiving is too late.  I have already dusted off some indie-rock holiday tunes and the likes of the Rat Pack.

Let the package deliveries BEGIN!