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This holiday gift guide contains a whole host of generic but thoughtful gifts to keep on hand throughout the holiday season. These gifts are useful for when you are surprised by someone you did not expect to buy you a gift. We’ve all been there. Here are a few generic but thoughtful gifts to keep on hand for those situations.
Chances are high that someone you know is very into Downton Abbey. That person is not me, but I think almost every other woman I know watches this show. World Market (one of my obsessions and a go to for home items and cute gifts – not to mention wine!) has a whole Downton Abbey Shop this fall. I would probably play it safe and pick up a couple of the branded teas for the Downton lover that I’ve forgotten to shop for.
- While you are at World Market, go ahead and pick up some cute hand soaps like the one above. Use this link and save ten percent! Save 10% in-store or online at World Market. Free shipping on online orders $100+
- Pick up a couple of Starbucks gift cards ($5 or $10) and you’ll always be prepared to hand out a great (useful!) gift.
- A 2016 calendar – you can pick up a couple of 2016 planners for less than ten dollars each and keep them on hand to give out. I like this one from Amazon – it’s just $8.
- A couple of nice Christmas ornaments. A couple of my favorite small businesses here in DC always have interesting ones – if you are local, check out Hill’s Kitchen for some options.
- As a last resort, I always like to keep a couple of extra holiday cards around to give those to folks who’ve surprised me with a card or gift.
What do you keep on hand to give when you are surprised with a gift?
Check out my other holiday gift guides for more great gift ideas! I have guides for the person that has everything, for foodies, and for those of you who want to shop online from one location.
Love Downton Abbey and did not know they had tea but that makes sense! Excited for the new season
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Jingle All The Way-The Husband Project
Haha, I don’t watch it but have SO many friends who do!
I don’t watch Downtown Abbey and have no clue what it’s about, but I have a coffee mug the World Market staff gave me when I was one of the first 100 shoppers on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was in there early bc I just finished running, haha. Good to know it will make a good emergency gift! I like the idea of the tea because that works if the person doesn’t like that show but likes tea. The cans of World Market hot chocolate are good too.
Amy Lauren recently posted…Weekly Rundown: November 30 – December 6
World Market is basically my favorite place ever.I love that place so much!!!
Starbucks gift cards are a great idea because if I don’t give them out, I know i’ll be able to use them!
Totally true! And it’s good because it’s coffee / tea/ snacks. Everyone can find something they like there!
Hand soaps are one of my favorite gifts to give. I’m thinking of doing a ‘Peanut Butter Lover’s Gift Guide’ for the Christmas season. Thoughts?
If you can find enough interesting peanut butter items, that sounds great! 🙂
Love this category- we all know there is a major need for “oh crap!” gifts- thanks for being brave enough to share your list 🙂
Yep! It’s happened to me so many times, that I figured I needed to be prepared this year 🙂
Thanks for this! My sister loves Downton Abbey and tea, so now I’ve got her stocking stuffer all set!! Woo hoo!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Celebrating Running in 2015
Oh, fantastic! I knew it’d be the perfect gift for someone 🙂
Definitely gift cards, Courtney; always great to have on hand, just in case…I have a tendency to forget about something until the last minute – ha! I bought my MIL some Downton Abbey tea for Christmas; she’s obsessed with both of those things, so I hope she enjoys it. Thanks so much for sharing these ideas!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…#3B26 Marathon Training – Week 11
Oooh so glad you liked the tea idea. I thought it was really smart – I know whom I’m getting some for 🙂
Great list! I LOVE Hill’s Kitchen–I live four blocks away and go there all the time! World Market is such a great place too, and so cheap! Downton Abbey is probably one of the few shows I never watched–I’m all about Homeland, House of Cards, Narcos, etc. but that one for some reason didn’t seem like I’d be into it.
Jen@bubblyrunner.com recently posted…Crock Pot Chicken Curry
Love Hill’s Kitchen!
I have some of that soap in my “gift drawer” right now! It smells fantastic!
I love browsing World Market and a Downton Abbey line has me excited!!
Many of my family members will be getting hand soaps this year – found some great travel-themed ones at TJMaxx and I can’t wait for the receivers to open them! 😀 Happy holidays!
Chanel | Cultural Xplorer recently posted…9 Perfect Gifts for the Traveler in Your Life + A Holiday Giveaway