All I Want For Christmas Is...

My immediate thought when it comes to giving the perfect present is checking Etsy. I feel like Etsy is so underrated, at least with everyone I've come across. That's great for me because it's my secret weapon to being "Best Gift Giver", and I'm basically losing my title by telling you all this, but my love for Etsy easily surpasses my narcissistic need to maintain my self-given superlative. Also, this isn't a sponsored post (I wish). The love is just that real.

I don't have my own store, but I love browsing through Etsy to find unique gifts. I think almost everything I've gifted people lately has been from Etsy. The best part is that I can almost always find something personalized, which I think is the icing on the cake when it comes to thoughtful gift giving. It's also really nice knowing that there's a real person behind the product, handcrafting it from love, and being able to receive a result of their passion. Ultimately, I like that I'm supporting someone's creative outlet versus something that's being mass produced.

If you really want to wow your boothang, friends, or co-workers this season, here are some of my picks for personalized gifts from Etsy.

My favorite category on Etsy is jewelry. I purchased this gold bar necklace from Mignon and Mignon because I wanted something I could wear everyday that'd match with any outfit and not worry about quality. At the time, I had plenty of statement necklaces from Forever 21 or H&M, and I wanted something more minimal. I also knew it wouldn't rust, which is great if you're on a smaller budget and not looking to make a fine jewelry purchase. This dainty bar necklace fit my needs and I loved that I could make it one-of-a-kind by having it engraved with my name.

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Personalized jewelry is great gift for your girlfriend, boyfriend, parents, bridesmaids, the list goes on and on. You can personalize them by engraving their names, including important dates, or even recreating their handwriting. I think receiving jewelry is great, but this extra step makes it uniquely yours.

My obvious tip for shopping Etsy jewelry: check for metal material. I try to stick to sterling silver. Gold plated works, but there'll be some wear and fading eventually. I also check to see where it's made because sometimes cheap wholesale companies sell on Etsy and it could potentially be lower quality stuff that you can find on Amazon or eBay. As a general rule, I refer to reviews and my intuition when reading the shop bio.

Home decor is abundant on Etsy. My gold foil print from Holly Casto Design wasn't personalized, but it might as well be because everything about it described me perfectly. I've featured it on my blog and Instagram so much, you're all probably sick of seeing it. 

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Sure you can get wall art anywhere, but it's so much harder to find wall art with your name or your favorite quote. I also like that you can choose between instant downloads of customized prints or get personalized prints on quality cardstock. I prefer getting something physical with details like gold foil because it feels more luxurious than something that you can get printed at your local Office Depot or your home HP printer.

Don't feel limited by my suggestions above. I only shared two to get an idea of what you can find, but there are so many designs and options out there. It makes a great statement or talk piece and I think this would especially be a great gift for someone who just moved or is always on the lookout for home decor.

Since I can't possibly list out everything you could get, here's my quick gift guide for personalized gifts under $50:

1. Accessories Tray - for the bedside or vanity table

2. Phone Case - for your friend who's practically glued to their smartphone

3. Mug - for hot cocoa, coffee, or tea lovers

4. Leather Clutch - so luxe and great for someone who can't be bothered with big purses

5. Leather Keychain - because friends don't let friends use lanyards after graduating school

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Hope this post helps you find something for your Secret Santa or special someone! I was gift shopping and got so excited that I stopped to write this. The best part about Christmas for me is wrapping gifts and placing them under the picturesque tree. I hope you share my excitement in giving and discovering gifts for every occasion whether it be Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries. Happy early holidays!