Gift ideas for women | girlfriends and fashionistas

by | Nov 25, 2015 | beauty, christmas, gifts, girlfriends | 86 comments


This year, husband and I are DETERMINED to get ahead of Christmas shopping. We are attempting to stay within a budget, but starting early will mean we can be a little more creative and actually think of something fun AND practical.

Looking at my list, I have a few girlfriends and family that are so fun to shop for because they are so much like me and love new, practical things. When in doubt when shopping for my girls, I often treat Christmas gifts like a “favorite things” party, and collect things I love {or WOULD love to get} and it’s usually a big hit. Ya know, like you did when you were 6 and had to pick out your favorite toy and then give it to your best friend for her birthday.  Gift ideas for women can be difficult sometimes, but this makes it meaningful, AND practical.

You may have noticed that JCPenney and I have been friends this year. I redid my bedroom with JCPenney Home, did my son’s back to school shopping there, and found cute wardrobe additions for myself. So, I ran into JCPenney for inspiration because I knew we’d see all corners of the gift world: jewelry/make-up/hair products/clothing as well as kitchen gadgets/home decor…etc. It means that we can take notes and plan out our “themed” gifts a little easier.

I won’t post ALL of our ideas because well, I DO have family who reads the blog and I am not about to ruin Christmas or anything! But lets just say that there are some insane deals in the kitchen cookware and gadgets section that I was thinking about for the young couples and mamas that would love that. If the sales are like this now, holy Black Friday Batman!

In high school, I had a friend that would always gift whatever she gave me in a usable “vessel”, and I have somewhat adopted that idea. She’d give me a cute bowl filled with food products or a huge mug with a gift card…etc. Once she gave me a tin gift bag, like a painted, decorative tin gift bag. I’m pretty sure it is still on a shelf in my high school bedroom at my mom’s cause I never could give it away. {Though I really should cause it’s perfect to house a gift in…} My favorite is to grab a cute handbag and fill it with my current favorite products, jewelry, and accessories. That way, when she opens it, I can say, “I know you’ve wanted to try this…” and “I don’t know if you have seen this, but it’s my new favorite thing.” It always makes it more fun than just a gift card or something generic because you don’t know something they want. Girlfriend gift idea from Sephora (in JCPenney!)   What I included in this one are a few of my favorite things this year: This liquid foundation and brush are a dream and I am obsessed with mine, so I thought maybe she could try it out. Again, if the color is off, she takes it back! The highlight and contour “crayon” that the girl helping me said has lasted her a year! {And a blending brush of course} Also, I hadn’t tried the eye-primer before but I let the girl do my makeup with all of these and I LOVE the eye shadow primer and bronzer!  I also grabbed a few of my favorite hair products these days. I might have to post a tutorial for thick, dry-haired girls, but for now just know that this Shine Infusion spray is a game-changer. I bring it with me on photoshoots and call it “pre-editing” because it will smooth and get rid of the frizz.

Girlfriend gift idea from Sephora (in JCPenney!) If you are a Black Friday shopper, I’d be sure to stop over to JCPenney. Get in store early this year! You could get a $10 off $10 or $100 off $100 instant-savings coupon, or maybe even a $500 off $500 super-savings coupon (while supplies last and some restrictions and exclusions apply). There’s also a chance to win 1 of 10 $10,000 cash grand prizes. All the details and official rules here.

Hang out with JCPenney!

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And if you need help finding gifts, I’d stop by JCPenney.com/gifts because they have made it easy to see all of the departments and shop by price, category, and have ideas for the ones I have the hardest time shopping for.

So- this should help all of us:

Tell me in the comments below: WHO you’ve had the hardest time shopping for, and WHAT have you given them in the past?? Let me know for a chance to win a $100 JCPenney Gift Card!

 

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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

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86 Comments

  1. Denise L
    Denise L on November 25, 2015 at 11:15 am

    My father-in-law is THE hardest person to buy for. I even resorted to naming a star after him several years ago. Now if I get his name I just buy him food!

  3. Kelly D
    Kelly D on November 25, 2015 at 12:22 pm

    I have a hard time shopping for my husband. I usually give him clothing or tools.

  5. Jeffrey
    Jeffrey on November 25, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    My parents are the hardest to buy for, my mom goes out and purchases everything they want without waiting! In the past we have made up gift baskets with various food items, gift cards and crafts from my boys.

  7. Elena
    Elena on November 25, 2015 at 1:58 pm

    My mom is the hardest to shop for. I give her gift cards

  9. Whitney
    Whitney on November 25, 2015 at 3:06 pm

    My husband! But more specifically stocking stuffers! He always picks tools and I usually have to go to the hardware store and navigate it by myself which is no fun!

  10. Lindsee
    Lindsee on November 25, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    My husband. He is super picky with everything. If he buys himself something he researches it for HOURS or DAYS even before buying it. So if someone else buys it, he usually is hesitant because he hasn’t done the “research”. My most successful gift: an antique collection of Charles Dickens books I found in an antique store. How can you critique that?!

  11. Molly
    Molly on November 25, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    My in laws! They have so much junk and don’t use the nice things we buy them. I don’t get it!!

  12. Sarah
    Sarah on November 25, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    My Mom! I got her pajamas last year, but each year it seems like she gets pickier so I resorted to a gift card this year.

  13. Holly
    Holly on November 25, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    My sweet brother! If he wants something, he usually just buys it. I usually get him drawing pads or amazon gift cards. 🙂

  14. Meg B
    Meg B on November 25, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    My great aunt. Every year it’s gift cards because we can’t think of anything else. I am planning on hitting JCP on black Friday for sure. Already trolling the ads!

  15. Christi
    Christi on November 25, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    My dad is the hardest, what do you give someone who seems to have everything? We usually give him the standard golf balls and beef jerky.

  16. Emma
    Emma on November 25, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    My husband. He is not picky at all and somehow it makes it even harder to find him something great. I’ve gotten him shorts and tools before (snooze, I know!).

  17. Macey
    Macey on November 25, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    My husband can be tricky to buy for! I never know what to get him!

  18. Jessie C.
    Jessie C. on November 25, 2015 at 6:13 pm

    I’ve had the hardest time shopping for my father-in-law, and I have given him gift cards in the past.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

  19. Jessie C.
    Jessie C. on November 25, 2015 at 6:13 pm

    tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/669700166627143680

  20. Mami2jcn
    Mami2jcn on November 25, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    My son is hard to shop for because his birthday is also in December, so I struggle to get enough gifts for him for both Christmas and his birthday. I have taken him to Great Wolf Lodge in the past as a gift.

  21. Mami2jcn
    Mami2jcn on November 25, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/669711022916284416

  22. Julie Wood
    Julie Wood on November 25, 2015 at 7:02 pm

    I have had a very hard time shopping for my brother and Dad. Men seem to be the hardest to get gifts for. I always seem like i end up getting gloves and slippers.

  23. Julie Wood
    Julie Wood on November 25, 2015 at 7:03 pm

    tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/669712959816359937

  24. Kelsey
    Kelsey on November 25, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    My mother. We usually end up getting her a group gift. I’d love to be able to get her something she LOVES this year!

  25. Tami
    Tami on November 25, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    I get indecisive shopping for my husband.

  26. Amy Tong
    Amy Tong on November 25, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    My in-laws are the one that I have the hardest time getting gifts for. Father in law is into play golf, but he has his equipment already. So I got him accessories in the past.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  29. OFG
    OFG on November 26, 2015 at 6:05 am

    My husband. He is so particular in everything he wants. I’m afraid to say most of the time we just don’t give each other gifts anymore!

  30. Lisa Brown
    Lisa Brown on November 26, 2015 at 6:05 am

    my husband is the hardest person to buy for, but a well-made tool is always appreciated.

  31. Lisa Brown
    Lisa Brown on November 26, 2015 at 6:06 am

    tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/669879743861227521

  32. sherri crawford
    sherri crawford on November 26, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    my mother in law is hard because she buys what she wants when she wants. i usually get her a pretty knick nack

  33. Ellie Wright
    Ellie Wright on November 26, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    My middle son is the hardest to buy for. he only likes a certain type of clothes and they have to be black, white, or gray. I usually get him a white cowboys shirt and and a certain cologne he likes.

  35. Gina M
    Gina M on November 27, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/670377211598368768

  36. Gina M
    Gina M on November 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    My dad is hardest to shop for. In the past I have bought him some CDs he really likes.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

  38. Shawn Gallagher
    Shawn Gallagher on November 28, 2015 at 1:46 am

    My dad because it seems like he already has everything he needs… So I usually get him the coolest plant I can find at the time lol

  39. Linda C.
    Linda C. on November 28, 2015 at 1:11 pm

    The men in my life are the hardest to buy for! In the past I’ve given them football tickets or grill stuff.

  41. Tina m
    Tina m on November 28, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    my father in law. I have given him gift cards and clothes in the past!

  43. Debbie B
    Debbie B on November 28, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    my husband is very hard to buy for – he usually guesses everything i get him – i did get him a yeti rambler this year though – i don’t think he’ll be expecting it

  45. debbie
    debbie on November 28, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    I have the hardest time buying for my dad. He is a simple man and pleased with anything but it’s hard to find something he needs.

  47. Erika
    Erika on November 28, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    I feel like guys are harder to shop for- I make my dad and husband write a list to help me!
    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

  48. amanda sakovitz
    amanda sakovitz on November 29, 2015 at 7:10 am

    my mom is hard to shop for and i usually get her gcs

  50. Erika W.
    Erika W. on November 29, 2015 at 9:22 am

    I have the hardest time shopping for my mom. She always comments about not needing anything so I usually just give her a gift card or candy from See’s Candies.

  53. Natalie
    Natalie on November 29, 2015 at 9:55 am

    I have had a very hard time shopping for my Dad. Last year I got him some personalized cufflinks with my picture and his wife’s picture on it.

  54. Anne
    Anne on November 29, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Without question, my spouse is the hardest person to buy for! Why? Because when he has the idea that he wants something, he buys it for himself. For example, earlier this year his travel razor broke. Yesterday I thought a new travel razor would make a perfect gift for him and started shopping around. Last night, he announced that he had just gone on Amazon and got himself one. Sheesh! In the past, I’ve gotten him watches, pens, books, and stuff like that. I don’t know what I’ll get him this year.

  56. latanya
    latanya on November 29, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    my mother in law and I would get her ponchos

  58. Tarissa
    Tarissa on November 29, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    Aunts and uncles are the hardest for me — usually buying them candy and gift cards.
    pixelberrypie at yahoo dot com

  60. Thomas Murphy
    Thomas Murphy on November 29, 2015 at 4:12 pm

    I have had the hardest time shopping for my dad. I got him a TV before.

  62. Kristen
    Kristen on November 29, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    I have a hard time shopping for my mom sometimes. The best thing I got her was a subscription to a series at a local playhouse.

  64. ANGEL JACKLYN
    ANGEL JACKLYN on November 29, 2015 at 5:28 pm

    My mom… shes so picky. I always get her flowers because of it =)

  67. Faith
    Faith on November 29, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    My man… So I usually stick with gift cards for him…

  68. Dawna Berry
    Dawna Berry on November 29, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    My grandparents are hard to shop for. If they want it, they buy it. I usually just buy them a giftcard for dinner.

  69. angie
    angie on November 30, 2015 at 6:45 am

    I am lucky that I only have to shop for my mom, stepdad, and partner. That said, shopping for my stepdad is always a nightmare. I honestly try to win him restaurant giftcards so that I don’t have to think about it. hahahaha

  71. Jerry Marquardt
    Jerry Marquardt on November 30, 2015 at 10:29 am

    The hardest person to shop for is always my dad. I just bought him a new cell phone last year, and it should be the hardest thing, but it turned out to be the easiest thing I ever gave him for the holidays.

  73. Cynthia C
    Cynthia C on November 30, 2015 at 11:30 am

    My husband is the hardest for me to shop for. I usually end up getting him some clothes even though that’s not very original.

  76. Kathryn C
    Kathryn C on November 30, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    #SweepstakesEntry- comment

    my mom is always the hardest to shop for because she always says there is nothing she wants so my brothers and I end up buying her restaurant gift cards because she does enjoy dining out! This year I plan on buying her a nice pressure cooker

    KC

  77. Sarah L
    Sarah L on November 30, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    I already have most all of the gifts I’m giving since I buy year round. That way I can find just the right gift for everyone.
    Thanks for the contest.

  78. CR Williams
    CR Williams on November 30, 2015 at 4:24 pm

    I would have to say my hubby and I gave him cologne one year.

  80. erica best
    erica best on November 30, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    my mother she never really used anything i get her but her kindle

  82. Susan Smith
    Susan Smith on November 30, 2015 at 8:18 pm

    My sister is tough to buy for, I usually get her a gift card or bath products.

  84. D Schmidt
    D Schmidt on December 8, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    My Husband is awful to shop for, usually I get him very random items like collectible figures.

  86. Kerry
    Kerry on December 28, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    My Dad is pretty hard. I have bought him a gift card in the past.