I don’t know if this is a real term but I call myself a “bevvie”. It’s like a foodie only I’m way more interested in what beverages are served at a restaurant than the entree menu. I’m one of those people who always has a beverage in-hand. Whether it’s morning and I’m clutching my coffee cup for dear life or I’m winding down the day with a warm herbal blend, you won’t ever see me without a liquid.

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This round of Gift Guides is dedicated to those people in your life who keep their throats coated and their souls happy. These are the tools, serve ware, and beverage services I use and love. They make my entire year that much more pleasant.

FOR WINE LOVERS
(click images to purchase)

Christine owned this wine opener when we moved in together and I am in love. Opening a bottle of wine with a traditional corkscrew is a little challenging some days (thanks, Rheumatoid Arthritis!). This opener has saved the day. Literally five seconds and I’ve got the bottle open and ready to go! It may not be the prettiest tool, but it’s my absolute favorite gadget!

Speaking of wine openers, I bought this one for my mother-in-law’s house and she loves it. She doesn’t drink wine very often but she entertains a lot. This was the perfect budget opener for her. It’s easy to use and makes opening an occasional bottle a snap! Plus it’s pretty fancy high-tech, no?

Under $25, this set is amazing! I’ve owned them for five years and they still look brand new. I don’t even hand wash them. I put them in the dishwasher every night because I genuinely use at least one of these every single day. Even for cocktails or water, they’re absolute perfection. This is my go-to gift for new homeowners or established wine drinkers alike. Everyone loves them!

Same idea only for Champagne glasses, I prefer not to go stemless. Here’s why: Champagne needs to be extra cold. Your hand is warm. So when you hold the stem, you’re keeping your body heat from affecting the temperature and subsequently, taste of the the champagne. There. I’m a neurotic.

Speaking of Champagne, this is one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever received. Christine’s best friend gave me this bottle + jacket set for my birthday a few years ago. The jacket keeps my bottles cool and features a handle by which you can pour! No ice bucket necessary!

I love Champagne but I’m not a fan of Mimosas. If I’m going to have a champagne drink, I don’t want it diluted in juice. I do, however, love Champagne when mixed with elderflower flavor. My favorite is St. Germain Liqueur. Throw a splash in your Champagne for a real treat. At night, I like a good spritzer cocktail and these tonic waters mix so well with Champagne that I like to keep them in my fridge all the time. For a fun hostess gift, combine a bottle of sparkling wine, a set of four of these tonic waters, and a fresh lemon in a basket. Tie with a bow. Instant festivities!

Ever red wine needs to breathe. Even the best bottles require some aeration to get the tannins eh I don’t really know the science behind it but I will say – let it breathe and it tastes better. This decanter has saved so many boxes of wine from looking and tasting like garbage. I’m cheap, you guys. I’ve been known to empty a boxed wine (here’s my favorite) into this decanter and serve it to a crowd. No one is the wiser.

Sometimes we don’t want to open an entire bottle or box into a decanter. For those nights when it’s just me, I use this portable aerator that I can pour directly into a single glass. It’s an inexpensive gift that will change your wine lover’s drinking habits.

The same company that makes the portable aerator I love also makes this vacuum bottle sealer that I use pretty regularly. Again, it’s under $10 and saves my good bottles from going bad before I can finish them. Because even the lushiest wine drinker can’t down a bottle a night.

So I could always preserve my reds but I’ve thrown out so many bottles of good Champagne because they went flat. Then I found this simple mechanism this year and it’s really improved my bubbly habit. Great stocking stuffer!

Admittedly, this is a weird gift. But I’m a lush who loves red wine and is married to a neurotic launderer. This is in her stocking every year. The absolute best stain remover we’ve ever found. We go through about one of these a month.

While Christine is a neurotic clothing and upholstery stain remover, I’m a neurotic about my teeth. I drink a lot of red wine, tea, coffee.. all those things that will make your teeth look awful. To combat the stains, I use these twice a year. The kits aren’t cheap, so I always ask for them for Christmas. They make a good under $50 Christmas Exchange gift.

FOR THE TEA / COFEE LOVER
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Good honey is a luxury for me. I have a cup of tea almost every night with an infusion of honey and even make “special coffee” with honey on the weekends. This is one of those simple pleasures that just makes me life feel abundant. These are my current favorite ways to enjoy honey. I give the bottles as gifts with a bow while I break open the spoon packs and give friends a single one with a bag of tea and a nice mug.

The honey combs make stunning displays on a cheese board or dessert tray and a little goes a long way! I cut off a couple of tiny sections and add a honey dipper for ease of serving.

I like my coffee like I like my women; strong and full of opinions. These are my current favorites. You’ll notice that two of these are local because HELLO NASHVILLE! we’ve got some awesome roasters here. I also recommend you search for local roasters in your own township. You may be surprised to find that the small gals and guys are doing it best. Regardless, these are all available online.

These gadgets are all under $20 and allow me to get my gourmet coffee fix right at home.

This is my current favorite loose leaf tea. I think it would be a great hostess gift when combined with this awesome kettle (that’s a newer version of the one I own) and these glass mugs that we use to serve warm beverages at all of our gatherings.

FOR THE HOME MIXOLOGIST
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A few years ago, I realized I didn’t have a true ice bucket. To remedy, I went a little overboard and bought a handful of them. So now we have a collection. Most are vintage but this one is actually my favorite. It’s simple enough to fit any decor and is so easy to open and use (a legit problem for me is that I can’t always get the lid off half of mine).

So I actually don’t own this one. Our cocktail shaker is an inexpensive blue glass one that I got at the Target Dollar Spot years ago and it’s perfectly functional so I don’t feel the need to replace it. HOWEVER I WANT THIS ONE SO BAD. I always have loved it. So, you know, if you’re looking for a gift for your favorite lushy DIY Home Improvement Blogger…

Two of my closest friends have gone through big break-ups this year which have required them to completely start over in their home furnishings. It’s a weird place to be; mid-30s and realizing you don’t have a set of glasses.

They both have very different styles but I stumbled across these inexpensive drinking tumblers and realized they worked for both of them equally because they’re so simple and classy. Plus, they function as everyday water glasses but also work very well for upscale cocktail drink ware. I want a couple of sets for myself now.

These glasses were one of my very first adult purchases. They lived with me from the time I was 18 until I “lost” them in a divorce at 26. We had some good times and I really do miss them.

Books are my favorite gifts to give and receive. Most notably, I enjoy giving cocktail books because they have such beautiful photos and can be displayed in the kitchen or dining room, where books are often forgotten. These are the ones I’ve been passing out recently.

FOR EVERY OTHER BEVERAGE TYPE
(click images to shop)

This stuff is my jam. Perfectly adorable to serve at a brunch or hoard all to yourself. Or tie a ribbon on it, and take it as a hostess gift to your book club.

For when you really want a cocktail but it’s 8:00 am. This. This. This.

These things were all the rage a few years ago and then they kind of fizzled out. (ha!) Christine is a huge fan of soda and received one for Christmas one year. I actually ended up using it more than she did because I like sparkling water. These are the best syrups on the market too.

Christine comes by her soda obsession pretty honestly. My mother-in-law drinks a 12 pack a day of Diet Coke. Seriously. The first three years I was married to her daughter, I don’t remember ever seeing her eat. She just drank Diet Coke all day. Unhealthy habit, FYI. But I still tease her with a new Diet Coke ornament every year.

To see my other 2018 Gift Guides, click here.

And Happy Holidays!
xoxo

Teri

YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS + I’VE GOT ANSWERS

Commenting on this post is disabled after 24 hours so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out! xoxo

The post Holiday Gift Guide 2018: Gifts for the Wine, Tea, Coffee, and Cocktail Lover appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

I’m back with another round of interest-based gift guides. Today, I’m exploring some great gifts for the homebody. You know the type – just wants to snuggle on the sofa and hydrate their skin? Yep. That can be me about once a month. These are all items I own and I highly recommend them!

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I bought these to give as gifts last year and I ended up keeping one for myself after I saw what great quality they were. I seriously love these throws! They come in an array of colors and patterns and are so warm!

About two weeks into Fall, I tend to develop a chill that won’t go away until Spring. These throws keep me warm and toasty through all of it. Soft and plush but not so heavy that you find yourself getting trapped under the weight of them, these are the perfect blanket for a lazy afternoon or Netflix binge.

I’m not typically the type of person who buys every new beauty product and gadget on the market. I usually roll my eyes when a product promises some miracle relief from aging or just plain looking like crap. But this one sold me. I know. I’m so gullible.

The thing is – I actually don’t care if I have wrinkles. I just wanted relief from a puffy face. Mostly, puffy eyes. I spend a lot of time staring at a screen and my eyes get so tired by the end of the day. So when I read the reviews on these jade rollers that said it helped reduce puffiness AND FELT AMAZING, I was all Sign me the eff up!

I’m glad I bought into the hype because I actually enjoy using this. I lather on coconut oil every morning to reduce dryness (here’s the kind I use and love because it smells great and is super cheap). Then I take my roller and spend five minutes rolling every nook and cranny on my face until I the oil has absorbed. It’s cool and refreshing on my skin and the bonus board that comes with it feels great on my feet (don’t know if you’re supposed to use it on your feet, but hey, it works).

This is a really nice stocking stuffer that seems like it costs more than it does.

On the subject of cheap skincare, this lotion is my one item I’d take to the deserted island. I’m allergic to everything, so I usually can’t use store-bought products without breaking out in hives, but this baby is naturally good to me. My skin is notoriously dry (especially my hands), so I keep a bottle of this in every room of my house plus my car. It keeps my hands from drying out and my back from itching. Two thumbs up. Five stars. Put it in every stocking.

I have a wicked case of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and while meds help, I can never really calm my brain. Christine was recently told she needed to start meditating or she’s going to end up having a heart attack from stress.

We’re a crazed duo. We need to relax.

I bought this for her (us?) for Christmas and I can’t wait to give it to her. Technically, I’ve already read it and it’s the perfect gift for someone who thinks meditating is a load of BS but who really needs to meditate so her heart doesn’t beat out of her chest. It’s funny and insightful. Not so woo-woo that you can’t take it seriously but also not such a joke that you ignore it entirely.

I give it 2 Valiums and call me in the morning.

Here’s another good stocking stuffer for you! I’ve always though sleep masks were for trust fund kids. But then I started getting headaches that are worsened by light.

Now I wear this basic sleep mask every time my head hits the pillow and I’ve found my headaches fade faster and I sleep more soundly than before.

It contours to my face but doesn’t put too much pressure on my eyes, which is a good thing when the migraines hit. It’s super no-frills, so even men would wear it, but it does come in other colors in case you want to spice things up.

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When I finally do have a chance to sit down and relax, I like to grab whatever reading material is nearby and quickly dive into the pretty pictures and words before I’m interrupted again.

This book has been on my coffee table for a solid year and I still can’t get enough of it.

If someone on your list loves pretty homes and high-end design ideas, this is the book for them!

This may seem like a weird gift, but it’s one of my favorite items in my home. You can fill it with ice or warm water and it’s an instant relief from pain. I like to put some cool water in it and lounge while it decreases my eye puffiness but I find the warm water works best for my aches. Christine prefers ice water for her headaches. To each her own.

They’re all super cute though. We currently own the monkey pattern and it’s so fun that even our daughter will sit still while we ice her boo-boos.

Even though I’m allergic to everything and my entire life sucks, I still enjoy a good old fashioned spa night every once in a while. The peel-off masks are my favorite because they remind me of my teenage years and there’s something rewarding about the sensation of peeling it off. The clay masks are great for removing dead skin cells, which feels pretty rewarding when your face is all soft.

The travel-sized ones make really good stocking stuffers too.

If you don’t already own a pair of dearfoams, get with it. These are hands-down the best house shoes / slippers ever. They feature hard soles so you can run out to check the mail in them and the interiors are so cozy! My favorite part? The styles are classic and they last forever. I tend to switch mine out every year, but I still keep the old ones to pass on to guests. And they’re machine washable, so you don’t have to worry if they get a little dirty.

Candles will never get old for me but I’ll admit that I do rely more and more on these diffusers every single day. The mist makes me smile, lifts my mood, and makes me home smell fantastic! These are my favorite brand (after trying several from Amazon that didn’t work for very long). I keep one beside my bed, one in my daughter’s room, and one in my office. This Refreshing oil mix is my favorite everyday scent, too. It makes the house smell clean and clears my sinuses. I’m also about to buy another one for my meditation room. Hold on just a sec while I check out, since they’re on sale and I have Kohl’s Cash. ; )

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Okay. I just restocked my oils and now I’m ready to tell you about the other items I rely on Kohl’s for every single year: Family Coordinated PJs. We buy these every Christmas for Chuck and my mother-in-law and I love that the nightgown we get for Chuck has a matching doll’s nightgown.

Corny? Yes.

But also precious.

So no matter how many cute diffusers you get, nothing will ever replace the mystique of a glowing candle. These three are my favorites. I know they’re cheap and not really fancy, but the smells are amazing! Nothing too overwhelming and the glass jars aren’t too unattractive on the counter.

If you’re looking for something fancier, this one is my current favorite splurge candle;

Or you could gift a one-of-a-kind candle from my shop;

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Nothing is cozier than sweaters, right? These are my current favorite. The top 3 are all currently on clearance, so act fast!

Christine has the ribbed hoodie and I love it so much that I actually just purchased the llama sweater for my niece who prefers androgynous attire. I actually want one for myself. So classic and adorable!

I live in workout clothes. These running pants are my favorite because they have pockets and they’re comfy af!

I’m currently wearing these joggers. No, they’re not the ones with the sequins (those were discontinued, to my utter disdain). These are simple and so affordable. They’re also very soft on the skin, warm but not heavy, and the cuffed ankle keeps cold air off my legs. Plus, they have pockets which I think we can all agree is a must-have. I’m a fan.

I love tea and coffee and honey.. all those simple little pleasures that make life more relaxing but don’t really cost much.

Truth in marketing – I technically don’t own the tea kettle you see here. But it is the updated version of the one I do own, which has been discontinued, and it has all the same features.

Also, I have this honey pot in white but it appears to be out of stock everywhere, except in yellow. I think the yellow is precious, so I decided to include it.

Once every couple of years, I allow myself to wander into L’Occitane and purchase one item. It’s a real luxury for me and I’ve been doing it since I was in my 20s. Even now that I can technically afford to shop there more frequently, I still keep my distance because I want it to remain a luxury and not a commodity.

These are my two current favorite items I have from there. Since I only use them sparingly, these bottles last me an average of THREE YEARS!

The pillow spray has a lavender and chamomile scent and is so pure that it doesn’t cause my skin any irritation. The Supple Skin Oil is naturally almond scented and is pure heaven to apply. When I use it, I catch myself smelling it all day and it makes me so happy.

If there’s a person on your list who deserves a special treat, this is for them. It’s pure luxury in a bottle.

I also adore these French milled soaps (Linden is my favorite) and have been known to just keep them stored in an apothecary jar in the bathroom so I can lift the lid and smell them whenever I want. I know I’m a lunatic. You don’t have to tell me.

I buy at least three new pairs of cozy fuzzy socks for my sister every year. She’s a homebody and she loves them. These are her favorite because she says they stay nice and fluffy even after a million washes.

Since I didn’t have the traditional collegiate experience, I didn’t happen to have a pair of these lying around my closet. Wink. After a decade of back-and-forth, I finally bought myself a pair of these lined boots last year and HOLY WOW I’m so glad I did. Last Winter was harsh. I barely wanted to leave the house. But sometimes you have to get out in public. These boots let me carry the coziness with me wherever I go.

Here’s a gift you can make yourself and really impress your loved ones. I use this in the shower about once a week to keep dry skin at bay and I’ve given these as gifts for years. The scent of lavender mixes with the coconut for a really pleasant treat!

Here are the supplies I use (click to purchase directly):

I make these in bulk which keeps costs low. I originally purchased these containers three years ago and haven’t had to restock since. In fact, I’m still using the original bag of lavender buds and epsom salt as well!

RECIPE:
1 cup epsom salt
1/2 cup lavender buds
2 cups coconut oil

Blend all together in a large bowl. Divide into small cups. SO EASY!

Since we’re always so busy and go go going, we tend to forget to take quiet moments to restore ourselves. I like to capture these gifting opportunities to remind my loved ones to slow down and take it easy. A gift that pampers is a great way to do that without shouting Sit down before you lose your mind! at them.

Happy Holidays!
xoxo
Teri

YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS + I’VE GOT ANSWERS

Commenting on this post is disabled after 24 hours so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out! xoxo

The post Holiday Gift Guide 2018: Gifts for Pampering a Cozy Homebody appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

I know a lot of people do gift guides for women or men separately but this just doesn’t fit into my lifestyle, honestly. The biggest problem with associating gender with items is that it leaves a ton of space for those of us who don’t fit into gender norms. For instance, I asked for a tool belt for Christmas this year. I’m a woman and, unless it has sequins or comes in pink (in which case: HARD PASS), that’s probably not showing up on any gift lists for women.

So I’m breaking my Gift Guides down into interests. Today, I’m exploring some great gifts for the technically-inclined loved one in your life. These are all items I’ve either purchased or own and I highly recommend them!

The following post may contain affiliate links.
As an Affiliate Marketing Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This helps me keep the content coming, so thanks for your support!

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I bought this portable record player for Christine a couple years ago as a birthday gift and she LOVES it. She still has a ton of her old vinyls from her teenage years (original Michael Jackson Thriller album? Yep. Madonna? Check.) and a ton of these are from artists who no longer produce music, so she couldn’t get them on CDs or digitally. So this was the perfect solution until we have more space for a dedicated music room. That’s right. Give the mouse a cracker, and she’ll ask for a whole room dedicated to 1980s goth and industrial music.

The portability is what I love most about this record player. When not in use, it closes and stores away, looking like an old brief case. It’s pretty chic and fits right into our decor. But then she can take it anywhere in the house and play her music. The speakers are surprisingly good. They even make her industrial punk bands sound less.. what’s the word? … terrifying??? She can play both 45s and LPs on this machine.

If you’re married to an old with a fetish for those giant black discs with teeny groves, this is a definite must-have. It comes in 3 color options and each is uniquely adorable and chic.

On the subject of music, here’s something I own and love! I actually bought one of these for a friend’s birthday a few years ago. It happened to be that we were staying at his house the night we gave it to him. That next morning, he came out of his bedroom and exclaimed, That’s the best shower I’ve ever had! He loved this speaker so much that I gained a case of FOMO and bought one for myself. I’m so glad I did.

Before that, I’d been considering a whole home built-in speaker system. But after purchasing this, I realized I didn’t need one. I just move it around the house with me. It’s got great sound (Hello, BOSE), is WATERPROOF (so I can literally put it on the shelf inside the shower and listen to podcasts), and connects wirelessly to my phone. I even take it outside with me while I’m gardening and have no concern about it getting dirty because I can wipe it down so easily. As long as my phone is within range (I’ve discovered it needs to be on the same floor but not necessarily in the same room), it connects beautifully. FIVE STARS!

Oh! And I’m just going to mention this briefly because I was actually surprised by it – the price is really good. I thought a BOSE speaker would set me back hundreds of dollars but this one comes in under $150!

These are fancy. I received them as a gift for Christmas last year from Christine’s best friend and I was astonished by the call clarity and noise reduction. I like to run, mow the lawn, work around the house, etc while listening to music and these make those tasks so much easier. I used to wear my wired headphones and get literally stuck on every knob and corner in the house. And if you’re a runner, you’re likely familiar with the ridiculous tangle of wires dance you end up doing right as a school bus full of mean teenagers or that one hot dad in your neighborhood passes.

They’re pricier than I would’ve spent on headphones for myself, but because they’re now an older generation, you can get them for half the price of the newer generation (around $100 vs $200). They also come in some pretty cute colors. I have silver, (pictured), but Christine would probably prefer black and I kind of dig the rose gold.

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This is, hands down, my favorite purchase of all time. And, you guys, I had to buy stuff to create my offspring. So.. yeah. I use it every single day and I’ve literally NEVER WATCHED TV ON IT. Calling it Apple TV is such a misnomer because it truly does so much more than that.

Let’s get this out of the way upfront – it’s $149 and then you have to pay for TV shows you can watch on it. So if all you want is a TV streaming device, get yourself a $50 ROKU Stick (we have one of those too and love it) and save yourself the money. But if you listen to podcasts, audio books, and music, have an iPhone, and regularly browse the Zillow, Pinterest, or Instagram apps, or literally any website on your phone for fun, KEEP READING CUZ I’M BOUT TO BLOW YOUR MIND.

The Apple TV has a feature called “screen mirroring” which allows you to broadcast whatever is on your phone to your television. Think of everything you look at on that tiny screen. Now imagine it on your TV. You’re welcome.

Also, pair the Apple TV with Apple Music – we pay around $16 /month for a family plan which allows the two of us to have unlimited access – and your world just got instantly better.

If you ever watch my Wine Downs and hear me saying “Play Spa Radio” or whatever at the beginning, I’m talking to my Apple TV. Apple Music has free radio stations that are so good. Even for people like me, who haven’t listened to pop music since the 90s, they have music I love!

Here’s the best feature of Apple Music (and why I love the Apple TV so much) – you can listen to almost every single song ever recorded any time FOR FREE. If it’s in the Apple library, you get instant access and you can download it to your library and devices so that you have access to it even when there’s no wifi connection. Unlimited albums. Unlimited songs. Everything you want to hear. All for $16 a month.

Listen, if you have an Apple device (iPhone included), you want Apple Music. Even if you don’t buy the Apple TV just yet, at least spend $16 to try out Apple Music. Trust me.

I was a late adopter, am not even particularly technically inclined, and now I wish I’d known about it a decade ago. If you buy the $25 gift card (above) for a friend, you can get a free 3 month subscription to Apple Music. Don’t say I never gave you anything. This will change your life.

I feel so weird recommending expensive products to you guys because I am such a tightwad with my own money. So let’s throw in something super cheap that makes my technical life a bajillion times better.

I am a neurotic about my computer and phone screens. I’ve tried every product and tip and tutorial and this is the best on the market, I swear. Throw it in a stocking and watch as your loved one is slightly disappointed and then thanks you three weeks later.

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As I was finalizing my list, Christine said, You’re not including Sirius???, in shock. I actually wasn’t going to. Not because I don’t love it but because it’s almost like an arm by this point. I forget that it’s not something people don’t just inherently have.

So if you don’t, it’s time to get with the program. The old radio stations suck. I’m sorry. They do. Even my old favorite here in Nashville – Lightening 100, is a mess now. I’d been completely dedicated to that station since 14 years old and then one day the musical director died, (RIP David Hall), and the next week the shows were garbage and the same 8 songs played over and over again until my ears bled.

But who can sit in a car without music? Especially on road trips. Of course, we play Apple Music and our old standby radio stations but there’s something about the 80s / 90s stations’ random mixes that makes me happy. Plus, Channel 33 – First Wave on Sirius – plays Saturday Night Safety Dance on Saturday nights (shocked!), which is this fantastic mix of 80s electronic music that’s uplifting and nostalgic. On Sunday nights, the same station plays Dark Wave, which is a mix of 80s goth and industrial music and Christine’s been known to just go sit in the driveway for an hour, listening in.

The package we have is normally $16/month but is currently on sale for $5 a month, which is a HECK OF A DEAL, so jump on it.

How much do you love this techie? Is it love or is it LOVE? Because this one is pricey.

But hear me out – this is the best purchase I made this year and it has completely transformed my life and everything about how I do business and literally my entire future and career.

I’m prone to buying the bargain items. I don’t buy the cheapest but I’ll buy the second cheapest. The refurbs. The slightly off-brand. The “has almost all the features I wanted and who needed a non-cracked screen anyway?” computers. This is the very first brand new computer I’ve ever owned. No joke. Every computer I’ve ever had has either been a refurbished model or was a hand-me-down. That’s how little I care about computers.

But when my refurb Dell went belly-up, just before I was slated to start taking a course I really needed for my business, I knew what I had to do. So I got out a credit card and I cringed so hard when I signed the receipt but I sucked it up and I bought it and the rest is history. Three months later, I launched a design service that turned my business from sinking ship to suddenly moderately profitable and this past Fall, I paid off the laptop.

The designs I create, and the ease with which I am able to create them, would not be possible without this machine. It’s a beast. I’m on my laptop at least 11 hours every single day and almost never have a slow down or freeze. I have 5,000+ high resolution photos on this machine and not an issue with storage. I take at least 50 screenshots a day, on average. Write 1200 word posts. Ask Siri to do math like 500 times. This baby gets it all done.

Looking for a gift under $20? This phone case is brilliant! Every single time I’m out in public, I get comments about how amazing it is. I agree. I can’t believe I’ve only had it for 3 months. It feels like I should’ve known this existed a long time ago.

I’m not prone to carrying giant purses or pocketbooks full of change. I like to have my debit card and my ID on me. That’s it. With this case, both tuck right into the back of my phone and I’m never without all three. I have the rose gold one because, I have a rose gold phone and I really wish I could just use it without a case, but alas.. whatever. Also, I drop this all the time and she’s fine. No breaks. The phone is fine. The case is fine. We’re all good.

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Portable DVD players still exist. My kid has this one. It stays in the car, strapped to the back of the passenger headrest. Daniel Tiger is raising her and now road trips are 90% more enjoyable and unless you’re a parent of a three-year-old, you’re not allowed to comment nor pass judgment.

Why not an iPad or a streaming device? you ask. Two simple words: Red Box. There are a million in every city and your kids never run out of movie options. When she’s losing her mind because she wants to watch something else and you’re still six hours from the beach, RED BOX, homies.

I’ve told you that Christine works in television. She actually works on televisions. It’s kind of a long story and I don’t really think I’m supposed to get into it, but let’s just leave it at she has an Electronics Engineering degree and she knows a lot about TVs.

She will not buy a TV that isn’t Samsung. We have five TVs and they’re all Samsung. This is her favorite. We paid $1,000 more than its current sale price for it last year and I’m not even mad about it because I really do love this TV. The picture is beyond gorgeous. Hook your Apple TV to it and get lost in those aerial screensavers for hours. We do.

I want a Frame TV like, super bad. But I can’t justify the price. So I’ll just stick to my regular old TV that looks like a TV and deal with it.

For under $100, this Blu Ray player is solid and helpful. She’s our old standby, connecting us to apps like Netflix and Hulu and allowing us to play our daughter’s Blu Rays and DVDs on repeat.

Can’t go wrong with a basic and well-made machine!

I almost didn’t include these two in our list because they seem so uncool. But if you’ve got a person on your list who likes to automate your home, this is a good gift!

The first is a programmable light switch. It installs in the place of your regular light switch, requires no wifi or bluetooth connection (no additional apps on your phone hooray!), and can be programmed to turn the light on and off automatically every day. We have this installed on our front porch (exterior) lights and it’s so helpful! I love that it keeps our lights coming on even when we’re away, so the front of our home is never dark at night.

The second is my favorite. It’s a motion sensing light switch. You’ve probably seen these in public bathrooms. When you enter the room, the light comes on and it stays on for a set number of seconds after you leave. We have two of these installed in our home; one in the garage and one in the laundry/mudroom. Both of these rooms are most likely to be entered when our hands are full (groceries, laundry baskets, etc). So these switched automatically light our paths and then shut off to save electricity automatically. Brilliant! It’s the original Smart Home device!

The best part? Both of these genius products are under $35!

This is, hands down, the fastest printer I’ve ever owned. It’s fully wireless, so I can print from my laptop in the garage while it sits in my office. I can print from my phone, my iPad, Christine’s laptop – anything connected to our wifi. And the quality is amazing.

Plus, here’s my favorite part, it prints up to 13×19”! I’ve sold my own prints that were printed off this machine and received amazing compliments. Looking to make your own artwork for your home? This is your machine. Want to sell your prints? This is your machine. You can even print full calendars from this baby because she’s the freakin bomb.

The quality of the photos printed from this machine is unparalleled. Trust the reviews. It’s that good.

xoxo
Teri

YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS + I’VE GOT ANSWERS

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