If there's one thing I know about holiday shopping it's this: Start early. But before you congratulate me on my responsible, forward-thinking nature, just know it took me 42 years to learn this lesson. I learned the hard way that the holidays have a way of pouncing on us unannounced, even with 12 months' notice.
I come from a gifting family. Drawing names? Never! My family relishes our cozy evening by the fire, tearing into our presents while listening to a Motown holiday playlist and the cacophony of crinkling paper. We live for the look of surprise and satisfaction on each other's faces. Christmas is our Super Bowl. But before we can get there, we plan.
When it comes to holiday shopping, I need a retailer that does it all. I'm buying for family members aged 2 to 78 (including a toddler, a musician, a lawyer and two teenagers), and being that I'm the resident writer––always scouring the Internet for what's new––I look for top tech as much as possible. I need options, which is why I buy my gifts at Target.
From a spa-grade skin care device to cameras that keep us in the moment, these are the gifts I'm eyeing for the whole family this holiday.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ combination espresso and coffee maker
CNET / Target
My husband and I are coffee snobs, which means we will go to the ends of the earth to procure a good cup of joe each morning. Lately, though, I'm finding myself craving just one cup of coffee, or even a small top-me-up. This Nespresso machine is one of the greatest gifts to give a coffee lover because it makes premium espresso and coffee. It's compact, so it fits in a variety of spaces, and it offers a free recycling program that your sustainable-minded friends and family will appreciate. Plus, how fun are these colors?
Polaroid Go Everywhere bundle and Fujifilm Instax mini
CNET / Target
I'm an 80s baby, so physical photos, especially Polaroids, will forever reign supreme to me. This led my husband and I to start a tradition: Anytime we have a party, out-of-town guests or friends for dinner, we take a Polaroid of them and hang it on the wall. Now we have several banners of Polaroids in the living room for everyone to admire. Even our four-year-old knows the drill, and has begun taking photos of her own. This is such a fun, easy way to document our memories without being stuck on our phones.
... continue reading