Brilliant Tips for Easy Gift Giving

Thank you to The UPS Store for sponsoring this post. Make the holiday to-do list a little easier this season with The UPS Store!

I was born and raised in Brooklyn. It’s the place I will always call home and although I have lived in New Jersey for the last several years, some of my closest friends are still back in New York. During the holiday season, I love sending them thoughtful and sentimental gifts. And when it comes to a quick & easy shipping experience, nothing compares to The UPS Store. Still shopping for holiday gifts? Keep reading for all my top gift-giving tips!

Out of all my friends back home, I consider Jessica to be my best friend. She was my closest friend throughout middle school and high school. What did I get her this year for the holidays?

• spa gift certificate (so my friend can pamper herself- she works so hard)
• teddy bear (for her daughter)
• a set of beads & wire (she enjoys making handmade jewelry)
• a sweet handmade card (keep reading for the tutorial)

I’m so excited to send her the package and I really think she will love it all! Have you been doing a lot of shopping for the holidays? Here are my tips for making gift-giving simple & convenient this year!

Don’t wait until the last minute!

To make gift-giving as least stressful as possible, don’t procrastinate. Getting started early is key to avoiding that last-minute craze. Here are some things I like to do early on:

• Make a list of all the people I plan on buying gifts for. This helps to make sure I don’t forget anyone accidentally.
• Make a budget. Gift costs can add up quickly. I like to set a budget that outlines my total spending for the season.

Make shipping easy with The UPS Store!

When it comes to shipping stuff, I always trust The UPS Store. Their Certified Packing Experts ensure that my items are properly packed. I love the peace of mind that comes with knowing that my goods will arrive at their destination on time and in one piece!

With The UPS Store, the shipping process is streamlined. Everything I could need to package my shipment is available at the store.


Plus, the staff is always friendly and super helpful! That means a lot, because I sometimes need guidance on which specific shipping service is best for my needs.

Did you know that The UPS Store network is the exclusive sponsor of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program? This program gives less fortunate children a chance to compete academically. By making resources available, The UPS Store is improving the likelihood that these children will be able to read & communicate effectively as they grow up. How awesome is that!

From now through the end of December, participating locations will be supporting Toys for Tots with a donation card drive. Every single donation helps to purchase books for local kids in need. I love this initiative! When it comes to the spirit of the holiday season, it’s all about giving back to the community. I always encourage my own kids to give back to those in need and this program is a wonderful way for our family to give back. Find out more here about how you can contribute to this valuable cause.

Also, keep an eye out for a special float from The UPS Store during the Tournament of Roses Parade® on New Year’s Day. This year’s float will promote the Toys for Tots Literacy Program. It’s a wonderful reminder that we can help those that are less fortunate. Tune in on Monday, January 1, 2018 to watch the parade- it starts at 8 a.m. PST!

Consider the recipient’s interests/hobbies!

When shopping for anyone, I always take into account the individual’s hobbies and interests. Are they into a particular sport? I might get them some new gear or even tickets to a game. Are they into a specific instrument? I might get them some new accessories or tickets to a concert. Are they into some sort of collectible item? I might get them a display case to showcase their collection.

Include something sentimental!

In every gift I give, I like to include something handmade. It really adds a special, personal touch. Sometimes I’ll make a DIY gift (a mason jar filled with my famous chocolate chip cookies or a gift basket filled with gourmet food items). Sometimes the handmade item is a simple greeting card. For my best friend, Jessica, I made an adorable – yet super simple – card. Here are the supplies I used:

• sheets of scrapbook paper
• colorful buttons
• gel pen
• ruler
• glue stick

Start by folding the paper in half. Use the ruler to draw several straight vertical lines of varying lengths.

Use the glue stick to attach some buttons at the bottom ends of the straight lines.

I really love the way this card came out. My daughter decided to make one of her own. She loves getting creative with me – I always encourage it! 🙂

My best friend has a daughter so Sophia wanted to make a card for her! How sweet!

Give gifts of experience!

When it comes to gift types, I find that gifts of experience are always a smart choice. Gifts of experience are gifts that allow a person to do something, experience something, learn something, etc. Instead of collecting dust, gifts of experience become precious memories. Examples include a trip to the spa, movie theater tickets, a cleaning service gift certificate, and more. Consider giving a gift of experience to family & friends this year!

Before you tackle the rest of your holiday shopping list this year, I have some great giveaway opportunities to share with you. If you love a great sweepstakes (and who doesn’t!), I have two great ones from The UPS Store:

• 5 Days of Giftmas: The UPS Store will be hosting an interactive game for 5 days through Facebook Live posts (Dec. 11-15 at 2 p.m. ET). Follow The UPS Store Facebook page to play along!
• Guess the Gift Follow The UPS Store Instagram account to see a box with a series of clues. Guess the gift for a chance to win a great prize. It starts on Dec. 4 and will continue for approximately three weeks. Follow The UPS Store Instagram page to play!

Good luck on both sweepstakes!

I hope these tips have inspired you to simplify your gift giving this year. Do you often ship items via The UPS Store? How many people are on your shopping list this year?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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