Welcome to the first EFM gift guide of 2024! No better place to start, as there’s no one I know better how to shop for than myself :) And I actually do plan to shop for myself this Christmas, as funny as that might sound. There are a few reasons why… First, I am committed to a Christmas morning that is not simply my children opening gift after gift. I want them to see other people (a.k.a. me and John) opening and enjoying gifts, too, and understand that this morning is for them, but not all about them. This is tricky, though, because while John and I try to exercise restraint in our giving, the handful of gifts we select for them are just the start: our kids also get gifts from two sets of grandparents. And aunts and uncles. And great aunts. And their siblings. Which is so wonderful! But in contrast, John and I get gifts from… each other. Maybe one or two or three. And as both sides of our families have moved to swap systems or exchanged gifts for experiences, the balance of boxes under the tree has become more and more lopsided. So yes, I’d like to even things out a little, and if I need to buy myself gifts to do so, I’m okay with that: I like getting things that I believe will improve my days or bring me little glimmers of joy, but gifts are not my main love language. Second, I’m frugal. For years, in our early life together when we were living on less, I built my Christmas list with great care, earmarking things month in advance that I wanted but that simply didn’t fit in our budget. I’m grateful for all the gifts from parents and in-laws and siblings

After doing them for five years in a row, last year I took a break from sharing gift guides. It takes a good amount of time to prep and post them, and if I wasn’t all-in, I wasn’t interested in throwing up a few J. Crew links and calling it a day. (Though let’s be real, most people I know would love a gift from J. Crew! :)) That means I have an overflow of ideas stored up, and I’m excited to share a few this week! One of my favorite parts of gifting is getting to support independent brands, and to share them with my loved ones. Today, I’ve rounded up 14 gift ideas from Etsy shops and small businesses, all perfect for the sweet, stylish kiddos and parents in my (and your!) life. Several of them we already own, several of them I’m planning to gift this year, and several June and I would love to receive! All the details are below… Tiny Dancer tee | Soft, snuggly, and perfect for the baby of this former-ballerina. Poppy bow set | These are our favorite mini bow headbands! My June has the two solid pinks shown here. Teepee | NOT CHEAP. However, the detailing is incredible (pom poms! swiss dot!), and I think this is a plaything the whole family could love for a long time. Great Day plate | I love gifts that are experiences, and these plates by my friend Emily Ley are a perfect compromise – they offer something fun to wrap, as well as the promise of lots of sweet “great day” memories for years to come! Pearl the Mermaid | With the sale of each Cuddle + Kind doll, 10 meals are provided to kiddos around the world. Plus, they’re adorable! Soft bib set

John and I finished off most of our Christmas shopping over the weekend, with just a few goodies and some stocking stuffers to pick up this week. In case you’re still checking things off your list, too, here are a few of my brightest suggestions! A. Colorblock double-strand necklace ($42) | Bright and colorful with jeans and a tee. B. Letterpress Alabama camellia print ($25) | My Mom gets the credit for discovering these beauties! So fun to build a collection of states to which you have a connection. C. Merry Christmas Y’all pillow ($15) | Southern and merry. D. Lola sunglass cake ($22) | I think this case would make me smile every time I pulled it out of my bag. E. Pieces and patterns wall calendar ($25) | So beautiful you’d want to frame each month when the year’s over. F. Halcyon print ($35) | Gorgeous and girly colors. G. Molly Blue cosmetic bag ($24) | Just big enough for weekend essentials! H. Floral pillow cover ($48) | Bright and beautiful, and less than half the price of similar options from Society Social. I. Dotted napkins ($5 each) | A perfect set for everyday use. J. Buffalo check iPhone case ($35) | A little expensive, but I love the pattern. K. Mason jar soap dispenser ($24) | I know I put this on last year’s guide, but it’s too good not to include again! L. Pool confetti note set ($18) | So pretty! I’m actually planning to try my hand at DIY-ing these, though… M. Prinstagram gift card (varies) | For the person who has everything… printable memories! Which is your favorite? P.S. 2012 and 2011 bright gifts

After a week of gift ideas for friends and family, I thought you might like to see a few things that are on my wish list this year… 1. A set of those tortoiseshell glasses from yesterday’s gift guide! ($10 each) 2. A pretty neutral ballet flat ($90) 3. A Southwest gift card. We will be doing a lot of traveling next year! 4. A large and in charge utensil crock ($30) 5. A soft throw for our couch ($30) 6. New “city sneakers.” I bought my current pair in seventh grade!! ($64) 7. The pretty birthday calendar from Wednesday’s round up! ($30) What are you wishing for this year? P.S. Don’t forget — today is the last day to enter my Minted giveaway!