Unique holiday gifts for women who appreciate sentiment

Unique holiday gifts for women who appreciate sentiment

Are you the type of holiday shopper that plans all year and has a full closet, or a wait-until-the-last-minute spender? Gifts for women in your life just got easier!

It delights me, as someone who enjoys gift-giving as a love language, to shop for people all year long. Finding just the “right” thing is enjoyable, and less stressful to do in advance.

My dad, on the other hand, waits all year JUST to shop on Christmas eve. It is his “thing” and many times he and my husband spend the day enjoying the hunt. That is special too.

If you don’t really enjoy shopping at all, but need a gift?  This unique gift guide has you covered.

What is a nice gift to give to a woman?

Small businesses are my favorite place to shop for personal items that are unique. Online presence makes it super simple too!

We can offer business to companies just getting their name out, who are creating great quality products and really notice our business (and show that in their excellent service!).

Like many women though, I have a love affair with Target. Home Goods and Barnes and Nobles too. I still like to browse around local stores.

But it is SUCH fun to get an idea for someone like, “wonder if anyone makes a _____ with a ____ on it” and chances are…they do!

This year I thought I’d introduce a few small businesses I really enjoy, and some items from larger stores too. A gift guide for the thoughtful giver, who just wants to give something more meaningful than a black Friday toaster.

Sometimes we give homemade gifts, but when that isn’t in the cards? Be personal, the recipient will be so loved feeling!

You’ll find a price point from under $7 up to a few big-ticket spends that I was glad I spent our money on, even from a tight budget. (If you need help with ideas to make ends meet this year in other areas, please check this out)

 

Unique gifts for women who love to read

• There is a fresh new magazine called Eden and Vine. Send it to yourself or a friend who needs extra encouragement
• In other fave magazine departments, two of my FAVORITES are Bella Grace and Daphnes Diary. Click on each title to read more about it. For the DD, please make sure to order the correct language needed, as it is a European publication. These are big spends, so a BIG treat
• How about a Scrabble for Book Lover’s game? Find it here
• WoodaCooda has wood finger thumb page spreads to help keep the pages open. Very original! A great idea for readers with mobility issues
• For a splurge gift, Jane Mount creates very cool custom prints with up to 7 of the coolest illustrations of books on a shelf that YOU choose the titles
• Etsy has tons of great shirts that celebrate reading and being a book lover here
• Books are gifts that never go out of style and make wonderful gifts. My grandpa gave me several books, all of them signed on the inside jacket. He said it was important to give good wishes along with your gift!

I still have my favorite (that no one has ever heard of, ha ha) from my grandparent’s shelf. It is called Katrina by Sally Salminen. Difficult to find in English, but worth the hunt if you like literary fiction.

Great gifts for women who like board games

• These have been family favorites since our kids were young, and even as empty-nesters, we still enjoy playing them! Rummikub, Farkle, Five Crowns, Phase 10, and Bananagrams
• Sometimes we feel an inexpensive game doesn’t seem like enough to show our love for someone. Perhaps put a coupon to watch their kids? Or include some snacks? Make a playlist with songs they’d love for background music?
• If the recipient enjoys unique games with a group that are family-friendly, check out Ticket to Ride  which younger players can enjoy. Or for playing with teens or strategy lovers, try Dominion  (great for people who enjoy Settlers of Catan or similar types)
• For classic family fun, our 20 something kids still love to play Scattergories, Mexican Train, Apples to Apples, and Sequence when they come over
• If they want a game to challenge mental acuity for alone time, perhaps

  399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges Specially Designed to Keep Your Brain Young

Gifts for women who love homemaking?

• Lindsayletters does really great work. Artful phrases and song lyrics. I’ve enjoyed having the Doxology on my wall.  Also, RedLetter makes a great canvas that includes the names of all the streets you’ve lived on! That was a hit in my house!
• Nice sheets, the kind that we feel guilty buying yourself. These are on my list, from the Vermont Country Store... flannel or cotton percale. Dreamy
• Candles are NOT created equal.  I stopped buying cheap ones that smelled like burnt wax after a few uses and switched to Antique Candle Co. They are top quality and worth the extra money, plus, if you don’t enjoy the smell? They have the most amazing customer service I have ever heard of

• Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management , The Inviting Life and The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays are long time favorites

Original gifts for foodies

• Do you appreciate some good meat, I mean really yummy stuff?  Delicious bacon or a thick steak. If you have a meat lover in your world, check out Butcherbox. You can order custom boxes of curated means (and heck, I bet lots of men would rather have this than another pair of pajamas)
• Etsy has a great list of small businesses that make items for the food lover here
• The first time I stepped into a Penzey’s spice store, it was like a sensory vacation.You’ll never want to go back to buying spices from the grocery store after using these. The prices are often CHEAPER and the experience is awesome. They also sell online and tell all about where the spices come from and give lots of ideas to use them. I’ve been a loyal customer for at least 15 years
• Emma and the Bean Home creates beautiful tea towels with your any recipe card you send in. A wonderful way to preserve a loved one’s handwriting!
• How about a customized cookbook holder made from wood with that handwritten recipe? Check out Rustic Route 
• A coffee subscription box based from Trade, from top US roasters

One-of-a-kind homemade gift ideas for any woman

Budget needs reigning in? Spend pennies on up…you decide…with homemade gifts! Here are some resources to get you started! You might even find these books at the library!

• Little House Living: The Make-Your-Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple, and Self-Sufficient Life (Tons of ideas in here that are very affordable)
• Gifts in Jars: Homemade Cookie Mixes, Soup Mixes, Candles, Lotions, Teas, and More!
• Homemade Beauty: 150 Simple Beauty Recipes Made from All-Natural Ingredients
• Taste of Home Handmade Christmas

Gifts for the woman who has everything

• The more I learn about Fairtrade, the more I want to do my shopping from reputable sources. You can find fair trade certified companies and find a shopping guide with ideas here.
• Shopping small businesses is also a great way to help out the people who are trying to work from home, creating unique products or offering handmade items that are personalized. Often all three! Check out Etsy to support the handcrafters of the world. Great place to find one-of-a-kind items.
• If you’d like to give a gift that gives life, check out companies like Heifer International. Many organizations give practical gifts to communities like water or animals in someone’s name. Perfect for the person who has everything.
• Consider unusual ideas that give money to charitable organizations on behalf of the giver at places like Compassion.com   (please do reseach into how much actually goes to the CAUSE of each organization before giving)
• Subscription box to places like Explore Local...with different cities highlighted each time. Or perhaps the Fair Trade Earring of the month box that supports creators in difficult circumstances around the world

Gift guides aren’t just for women!

I hope these ideas give some fresh inspiration to make shopping enjoyable for you this year!

I wrote a whole post gift ideas for teenage girls, with direct input from my own kids… click here to get 10 gift ideas for teens. How about creative gift experiences for kids?  

Gifts for a writer or blogger?  I have you covered here!

Have a blessed Christmas season.

Disclosure: I only recommend products I do/would use myself. This post may contain affiliate links that at NO additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission to help support this blog.