a few of my favorite things (cue the Julie Andrews' singing voice)

Speaking of what gifts we need to purchase and who is hard to shop for, we were recently discussing this, right? Not yesterday. Yesterday was an unplanned post that's short (for me), in case you missed it. 

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things/gift ideas:

I love this website https://www.redbubble.com/explore/for-you/#  I'm not getting money from this site, but I enjoy it and maybe you will too. I googled a list of gift ideas for teenage boys and Redbubble popped up. The stickers are apparently cool to put on Hydroflask water bottles, or other water bottles (I imagine). 

I went a tad overboard. I think I bought around 70 of them. 

In my family and Coach's, we only buy for godchildren. On my side, we buy for our parents but otherwise the adults don't technically buy for each other anymore. By technically, I mean that my  sisters were ticked a few years ago when I suggested we stop buying gifts for each other (especially Ann), so my two sisters now exchange fabulous gifts with each other on Christmas while the 'Grinchs' of the family sit by and admire them. 

Have I mentioned my family is odd?

Anywho, since we aren't getting together this year I decided that I'd pick out a few of these stickers for family members, and college roomates, and other my friend in Texas who used to play for the Bears. The stickers don't cost much and they are funny, so why not? Note:  it wasn't my intention to buy a butt-load of stickers for family members (adults and kids) but I found it impossible to scroll through the options without getting excited about stickers that I KNOW family members would enjoy. If they don't use them, no big deal - it is the $1.25 thought that counts.

For example, my brothers are huge Star Wars fans. They dress up in costume and go to see the movies at midnight on opening night and stuff. Yes, they're 'those' guys. How could I pass up a sticker like: 

(image from the Redbubble website)

 Get it? (Sith is Star Wars lingo, in case you are more of a Star Trek type). 

I get inspired when I see stuff as I'm shopping - something I usually do in person, but I had so much fun browsing these that it felt like REAL shopping. Oh, the decisions. I plan to send little stacks of them off to my siblings and their families as an unexpected treat. My sister, Marie, was a huge Rob Lowe fan as a teen. She's getting a Rob Lowe sticker- it's a photo of him from his early years. 

I might label the package:  DO NOT OPEN UNTIL WE ARE ON ZOOM TOGETHER, because I want to see their reactions for some of them.

I bought my kids stickers for their existing water bottles, or their dorm room fridge, or whatever. I selected a variety:  HGTV, The Office, Irish Dancing, college teams, favorite sports, etc. I didn't want to leave out 'don't-buy-me-anything' Coach, so I got him a large glass of Guinness (in a sticker, not the actual drink. The drink would be his preference).

A few of my kids need new water bottles, so I bought them new water bottles that are more affordable than the Hydroflask brand. I cannot say whether or not these water bottles are as good as the reviewer claims that were, but here is the link on Amazon in case you want to give them a try.  

**I just realized that the ones I ordered are plastic, and I MEANT TO ORDER THE INSULATED ONES IN THE LINK I SHARED. Now, I plan to reorder them and return these. Dang, I hate it when I suck.**

My personal favorite thing for my hair is Botanical Boost. If you know someone with wavy or curly hair, this product is the bomb. I spritz my hair with it and give it new life. Well, as much life as my thin, listless mop can get. I love the tiny bottle for traveling (dare to dream) and to just keep on hand in my purse, but they don't always have the tiny version available. You can also get it at Ulta. 

Because I'm me, that is where my beauty tips end. I hear MAC cosmetics is a must-have though. (see what I did there? Those of you who read the recent Irish dancing saga are appreciating that jab at myself, I assume).

Not exactly earth shattering ideas, but if you want to buy something fun for people you don't even normally shop for - I think these stickers will make people chuckle. 

Your favorite little gift ideas?

Oh, and I almost forgot - the point of the exercise (yes, I spelled that wrong, thanks spell check) . . . a gift I bought today for Coach. It's a narrow, small filing cabinet that I am thinking will fit next to his recliner. Translation:  it's a gift that keeps on giving (to me). Coach stacks all of his PT journals and legal case files (because he is a professional witness) on either side of his chair. No. More. Excuses. *He always says he doesn't want anything. Making it work for ME.