Right, let’s talk Christmas shopping. If you’re anything like me, you start off with the best intentions - This year I’ll be organised, thoughtful, calm and within a week you’re panic-adding things to the basket because someone on TikTok said it was “must-have”. But honestly, the best gifts aren’t the flashy, last-minute splurges. They’re the ones that either solve a problem, address a need, or spark that little fizz of joy. Ideally, all three.
Over the years (and many failed gift attempts - looking at you, smoothie blender I bought for my mum in 2016), I’ve learnt that what we think someone wants and what they actually want are often miles apart. The secret? You’ve got to be curious. Consider their habits, quirks, style, and the things they talk about when they’re not thinking about Christmas lists. That’s where the real magic is.
For me, my strategy is simple: instead of one big present, I prefer putting together a bundle of smaller, thoughtful gifts—each one ticking off a need, a want, or a spark-joy moment. And this year, I put it to the test with my daughter’s gifts. She’s a teenager, so as you can imagine, she’s got opinions. And style. And absolutely zero intention of wearing anything practical unless it suits her “aesthetic”.
Here is how I navigated her list this year...
OHS Adults Water Resistant Leopard Print Sherpa Drying Robe – Natural
This is my “needs” gift. My daughter is forever darting between after-school sports, rehearsals and random clubs she joins that I still haven’t the faintest clue what they actually do. She’s outside constantly, and yet—despite my very reasonable mum reminders—she won’t dress sensibly. “It ruins the outfit,” apparently.
So I decided to beat her at her own game: get her something warm, practical, and water-resistant… but also stylish enough that she’ll actually wear it. The leopard print? That was my ace card. She’ll look trendy, she’ll stay warm, and I’ll get to stand in the car park smugly thinking, I told you so—but silently, of course. It’s Christmas.
OHS Bow Print Lap Tray – Light Pink/Black
This one was straight off her Christmas list. Honestly, I wasn’t even surprised. She’s obsessed with bow prints at the moment—if it’s pink and has a bow on it, she’s sold—and she has this belief that eating on the sofa is some sort of childhood rite of passage.
Now, I’m not the fun police, but I’m also the one who ends up scrubbing pasta sauce out of the cushions, so I usually limit sofa-snacking. But when I saw the lap tray on her wishlist, I caved. If she’s going to sneak snacks onto the sofa, she may as well do it in style, right? And at least this way, we’re both winning.
Starlytes Christmas Scented Tealights & Holder Set – 10pk
This is her “joy” gift. She loves little rituals—lighting a candle before doing her homework, switching scents depending on her mood, that sort of thing. It’s very wholesome. Very aesthetic. Very teenage-Pinterest-board energy.
This tealight set felt like the perfect surprise. Each scent is a mini moment of calm (or festive chaos, depending on which one she lights first), and it lets her revel in her cosy-girl era. It’s also my way of saying: I see what makes you happy, and I love that for you.
OHS Ribbed Hot Water Bottle Gift Set – Cream
And finally, this is the “trust me, you’ll love this even if you don’t think you need it” present. It’s one of my absolute winter essentials. I’m the type who permanently has cold feet, so my hot water bottle might as well have its own spot on the sofa.
My daughter, meanwhile, claims she’s “not really a cold person”, yet somehow always ends up curled under a blanket with cosy socks on. So, I’m giving her this because I know that once she tries it, she’ll wonder how she ever lived without it. It’s practical, comforting, and one of those quiet little luxuries that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long day.
These little tricks work for everyone—friends, parents, partners, even that one colleague you barely know but somehow pulled in Secret Santa. Gift giving doesn’t have to be stressful. Just tap into what makes that person them. Forget your immediate assumptions and really think about what would make their day easier, nicer, or a bit more special.
Good luck, happy shopping, and may your wrapping paper actually be long enough on the first try this year.
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