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Holiday Gift Guide

Jamie Banks
Dec 4, 2014
3 min read

I have been thinking a lot about my mom lately, especially since Christmas is her favorite holiday. In her honor, I am putting together a holiday gift guide inspired by her advice.

1. Always write thank you notes. No, not an email or a text. A real, pen-to-paper, send-in-the-mail note. I always appreciate when someone gives me cool thank you notes. I never seem to have ones around that I like and it's not my favorite thing to buy (I prefer shoes). It also helps if the notes have a sense of humor like these T. Hanks Thank You Notes 2. Cherish and support your friends. My mom has a core set of girlfriends who take care of each other like nothing I have ever seen. She has taught me to cultivate lasting friendships. Check out these one of a kind, cool necklaces made by my amazing friend Elyse. Trust me, your friends will love these beauties by Laken Jewelry 3. Create a holiday tradition. Each year when my siblings and I were young, my mom would give us Christmas ornaments. At the time I didn't give it much thought, but when I was ready to move out, I already had a good start on my ornaments. Every year I unwrap these goodies and remember something about the holiday. These are good memories that never go away. My sister and I used to get matching angel (duh) ornaments like this one. Start your ornament tradition this year with friends and family. 4. Be organized. No, I'm not going to tell you to snoop in your mom's purse until you find "the card" with everyone's gifts listed (so she was giving evenly of course) like I did one year (so bad!). Rather, my mom has kept everything important in her "book" since I can remember. This was way before organizing was en vogue - her meticulous notes have saved us more than once. We know if we need anything to refer to the book first. I have been trying to replicate this process for years, but feel like 2015 might be my year with the help of the Day Designer. I may never be as good as my mom at organizing, but I will look good trying. Get this for all those striving to do better next year. 5. Invest in classics . My mom isn't a shopper or lover of clothes (do you think I'm adopted?), but she always looks put-together and is a classic beauty. She is cut from the same cloth as Lauren Bacall or Katherine Hepburn - striking, strong women would can also hang with the boys. When she got dressed up to "go out" she always had a few key, classic, pieces that could be worn in several ways. This is how I feel about a black, Diane Von Furstenberg Wrap Dress. Put it on your wish list and wear it again, again and again. 6. Always wear lipstick. Oh, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard, "you would look so much better with a little lipstick." Yes mom, but I prefer gloss. I think we can agree on one of the new lipstick/gloss hybrids. Oh, and better make it in a snappy color, she doesn't go for that nude stuff. My go to is Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Adventure. Thank you mom for all of the good advice, love and support. I love you.