ENABLING YOUR PASSION FOR HEALTHY LIVING

The Top 5 Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas eve is tomorrow and I haven’t finished shopping yet. I blame my procrastination on the move and the growing human inside my uterus. However if I said this didn’t happen every year, I would be lying. I am a pro at last minute gifts ideas and here are my go to solutions:

  1. Great for Mom, Sister or Mother in Law: The Spa Experience

If they didn’t give you something specific that they want, why not treat them to a day pampering themselves. You will need to walk/drive to the store to pick this up. I recently had one of the best facials at a spa on Newbury street at Balans Organic Spa. They are the first organic spa in Boston and also have a studio on Boylston that offers private yoga, pilates and chiropractic care. After the holiday stress, I think everyone could use a little spa therapy.Balans Organic SpaThey offer facials, wraps, massages, hair removal and more! They even have their own organic skin care line created by the founder who is from Sweden.

Organic Skin Care Maria Balans

My facial with Ashley was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. I had it the Thursday before we moved and man did I need a little relaxation. I almost fell asleep at one point! Not only did she do the traditional cleanse, exfoliate, mask, but she also gently massaged the skin on my face in addition to my neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Even though I was running a little late, she didn’t cut the time that I had booked short.

Balans on Newbury

Balans is located next to Zara on the second floor of Newbury Street between Exeter and Fairfield. This works best if you live close to the spa so you can just walk over and pick it up. If the receiver of your gift does not live near you, offer to take them to lunch afterwards for a fun bonding afternoon. Otherwise, try to call and have the gift card sent to their home directly for a last minute solution.

You could also do Zeel, an at home massage service that comes to you.

2. Family That Lives On The Other Side of the Country: The e-gift card

My brother and his family live in Los Angeles, CA as some of you know. For the little boys I usually buy toys through my Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the free shipping. I know my brother is always looking to update his wardrobe and e-gift cards provide instant gratification and zero actions pre-holiday. You can literally buy the gift card the day of Christmas and they will receive an email with the amount of money you gift them to use at the online or brick and mortar store. JCrew is my go to for this move but for a lady Sephora is always a good option! iTunes is great for this too.

3. Secret Santa or Under $20 Solution: Magazine Subscription

The holidays bring out the disparity in our country. We have gift guides featuring $1000 hover boards to $300 snow cone machines for kids. If you are looking for a simple gift last minute that is not exorbitant, go to a local drug store or newsstand, pick out a magazine that reflects the person shopping for – maybe Real Simple for the newly domesticated, Dwell for new home owner or Women’s Health for the fitness lover. Go home and purchase a year long subscription on Amazon and write a note included in the box.

4. New Mom or Parents: Diapers… yes diapers or other baby essentials.

Honestly, if you’re not given a suggestion of what someone might want, buy them something they may need. Diapers are expensive and you need lots of them as a new parents (unless you cloth diaper which I’m not doing). So while no, your sister didn’t ask you to buy her diapers, she can now save herself $50 and buy something she actually wants. Add in some scratch tickets for excitement and make them promise to split the pot if it’s above $1000.

5. Literally Anyone: Homemade baked goods or gifts Homemade cookies or mason jars filled with ingredients to make homemade cookies are good options. I also always end up giving someone picture frames with keepsake moments from the past year or forever ago to commemorate happy memories. Ikea has great frames, as do Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Target, Kohl’s… you name it without breaking the bank. Print out photos at your nearest Walgreens, Target or CVS. Have a better idea? Leave it down below.

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