Just like every other aspect of our life, COVID is dramatically changing the way we holiday in 2020. But if this year has taught me anything, it is that life is much happier when we reframe the situation. Every experience has a bright-side. So although we can’t partake in the city tree lightings, cross-country travel and standing-room-only gatherings, we can focus more on appreciating our immediate families. That being said, it is still super important to connect with your friends. One way to do this is a virtual Secret Santa. My friend Amanda organized one for us this year and I thought it was a fabulous idea. You have the excitement of opening gifts as a group while practicing social distancing. So thank you Amanda, this virtual Secret Santa is the inspiration for 11 Fabulous Gifts Under $30 for the Stylish & Sporty.
This is my 9th year of doing a holiday gift guide. I love spending hours hunting for perfect presents. This year it’s extra important to bring joy to your friends because 2020 has been especially hard on women. From having to balance work and child care, to finding your house the make-shift, orbital hub for school and office. So this list is all about pampering and self-care. Many of the gifts are under $20 so you could gift two together (like the Weleda Skin Food and Coconut Oil). I also want to disclose that one of the items on the list is from my brand’s new CC Sport jewelry collection, but very fitting for the girl who loves fitness + style.
11 Fabulous Gifts Under $30 for the Stylish & Sporty
a) Healthier Together cookbook by Liz Moody. Ok so I’m obsessed with her Healthier Together podcast. It’s super raw and no topic is off limits. I listen to it at least 3x a week when I’m working out or hiding from my children. She’s been a health editor forever and decided to take her brand full-time. Liz’s approach to health is, “be healthy, but not obsessive. There is always room to eat what you love and enjoy life.” This view is reflected in her cookbook and it’s a gem. See a beautiful example of Liz’s recipe for Mexican Street Corn & Quinoa Bowl on the blog Brewing Happiness.
b) Peach Slices Gold Glow Priming Serum. If you’ve read any of my gift guides, you know I’m a fan of Peach Slices, which is the economical K-beauty line by Peach and Lily. I buy their facial masks in bulk for myself and my husband. I even gave them out as party favors for my Galantine’s Dinner. Recently I purchased 40 masks and decided to add this serum as a gift for me (because 40 masks wasn’t enough). Game Changer! It gives you this glow, but it doesn’t look like a KiraKira filter. It just looks like your hydrated. Bonus…it also doesn’t feel heavy.
c) Ketel One Botanicals Grapefruit and Rose. Ok not ashamed to admit I have tried all of the Ketel One Botanical flavors (in the name of research!) and this is my favorite. Having a cocktail with your girlfriends is the best, and what makes the best even better is when your drink has no added sugars, flavors or preservatives. Add club soda and a couple slices of ruby red grapefruit or lime and it’s tasty and healthy-ish. For an extra special touch, gift with a set of pretty cocktail glasses. For a stellar Ketel One Grapefruit and Rose elderflower martini recipe visit the Lilypad Cottage.
d) Dry Brushing Body Brush. One of the major causes of aging skin is lack of circulation. I try to dry brush my thighs and upper arms in a circular motion before I get in the bath and shower to help with lymphatic drainage. It really is the little things that add up to aging gracefully. Note that I’ve gotten a couple other dry brushes off of Amazon and they broke after a few uses. This one is solid and lasts. I am personally vouching for it.
e) SGX NYC Dry Shampoo. Have you ever purchased a dry shampoo, sprayed it on your hair and then itched so badly you thought you sprayed straight-pollen allergy on yourself? I have. It won’t happen with this brand. This smells wonderful and does a great job of wicking away sweat after a workout when you’re pressed for time.
f) Weleda Skin Food. I was first introduced to this when I watched Lily Aldridge’s facial routine on Bazaar’s YouTube. She mentioned that half the make up artists she works with use this (and she thought it smelled like Trix cereal, which is a nice touch of nostalgia). So being the rarely-influenced consumer I am, I had to have it. It is a thick, luxurious cream and incredible for the neck, chest and dry areas like elbows and knees. I also like to mix it with coconut oil to thin the consistency and use as an all-over moisturizer.
g) CC Sport Silver Earrings. These dainty silver volleyball earrings make a special gift for any volleyball player or fan. And unlike the majority of athletic jewelry, this is minimalist, beautiful and can be worn daily. Just launched last month, other sports in the CC Sport Jewelry Collection include soccer, softball, tennis, basketball, baseball and football.
h) Firmoo Blue Light Blocking Glasses. Nope I didn’t include over-the-hill reading glasses in my gift guide. These are blue blockers. Great for your night-owl friend who says she’s most productive on her laptop or phone after hours. Blue light is pretty damaging to melatonin production, circadian rhythms and sleep in general. Not only will these be helping your body and mind, they are also quite cute and come in black and pink tortoise.
i) Sliding Discs. I am such a fan of working out using a combination of weights and your own body weight. These discs work every part of your body and not only do they tone, they can lengthen depending on the exercise. Plus they take up no space (at a premium with Covid) and they’re easy to travel with. Just like free weights and a yoga mat, these should be a staple in every home gym. Another incredible fitness prop I use at least 4x a week are my short bands.
j) Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil. This oil should always be on hand, be it for your hair, as a body moisturizer, oil-pulling or to cook with. It is a wonder-staple. So give the gift of a clean-organic version. As I mentioned, it works beautifully when mixed with Weleda. You could also gift this with the dry brush to apply after your bath.
k. The Full Plate by Ayesha Curry. This cookbook is all about flavor-filled, easy recipes for families with no time and a lot to do. This basically sums up every family in America right now. I’m personally over cooking a full-blown dinner every night. The meal rotation is getting stale! This cookbook is for the girlfriend who loves to cook healthy meals, but may need a little dinner inspiration.
I hope this holiday gift guide gave you some fresh ideas for the wellness seekers on your list. If you need more inspo read my 2019 Healthy Holiday Gift Guide for the Stylish and Sporty (yes it’s last year but still entirely relavant). Wishing you a beautiful, gratitude-filled holiday season. xx CC
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. That being said, the products above inspire me and I either a) have used and swear by them or b) am currently coveting. I am also the owner and designer of Chelsea Charles Jewelry.
11 Fabulous Gifts Under $30 for the Stylish & Sporty
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