You know that the holiday season is in full swing once the ‘Believe’ sign is suddenly twinkling down at you from above Macy’s and the homeless guys who frequent your morning commute start singing about holiday cheer. You think to yourself, is it December already? Was that Thanksgiving, or just an extra large (and long) Friday night dinner?
And then you realize that if all of these thoughts are running through your head, it means it’s gift giving season, and at this point in your life, you’re somewhat accountable to contribute something to its circulation. That sparkly holiday card DIY you saw on Pinterest might not cut it, so you may actually find yourself going out to purchase presents this year.
In light of this unavoidable—and panic inducing—sequence of thoughts and events, we’ve put together a holiday gift guide for you that will leave your anxiety to upcoming finals and YUConnects notifications (or lack thereof). Roommates, friends of the girl variety, friends of the guy variety, boyfriends (or fiancés, or husbands, to include the rest of you) and parents—we’ve got you covered.
Roommates: The girls who have seen you at your best and your worst. The ones who helped you get ready for your first date and subsequently saved you when you almost went down to the lounge with lipstick on your teeth. The dance party partners, surrogate moms every December when you get the flu, and the late night paper editors because you procrastinate always. For them, a limited edition Golden Monogram Mug from Anthropologie is the way to their hearts. Head to the store’s Upper East Side location to handpick your mugs and request their festive holiday gift wrapping. Write a handwritten note for each roommate and be sure to propose a hot chocolate night somewhere in there. For extra points, include a box of their favorite flavor of tea.
Girlfriends: So you bailed on plans for the third time in a row because all of those papers are catching up with you? The perfect remedy and holiday gift in one is a little bit of sparkling makeup and the promise of a girl’s night out. Head to the beauty department at Forever 21 (yes, I said Forever 21) where the eye shadows have high quality color pigmentation and the lipsticks are surprisingly long lasting. Pick out a few of her favorite colors, some gift wrapping at Duane Reade on your way home, and do a little scouting on Time Out New York for the perfect proposition.
Male Friends: Guys are notoriously hard to shop for, but when it comes to the perfect gift, we’ve got you covered with that too. Did you hear about that one guy who didn’t walk that girl to the shuttle after their date? I think we all did, Brookdale lounge confidantes. Use that Amazon Prime account and have How to Be a Gentleman: A Contemporary Guide to Common Courtesy by John Bridges shipped to the package center. He won’t be offended, he’ll be forever thankful. So will his future girlfriend.
Significant Others: One word for you: Netflix. A monthly subscription is the gift that keeps on giving. Purchase as many months as you can afford on that Caf store salary (we know how it is), and have a backup date plan for weeks to come. No matter how much he protests, he’ll love those Nicholas Sparks movies—we promise.
Parents: They just want constant reassurance that you haven’t been swallowed by subway grates. Send them a large collection of self-addressed stamped envelopes with matching cards and write a note promising that you have the other half of the set. Not exactly the ‘Dear John’ romance you were hoping for (see Nicholas Sparks movies above) but nonetheless, let the old fashioned letter writing commence. Don’t be surprised to find your letters on the fridge when you finally make it home for winter break. They’re just so proud of everything you’re accomplishing in school. And that you wrote them a letter.
Yourself: We saved the best for last, so we’ll leave that for you to decide for yourself while you head over to the pre-pre-Christmas shopping sales.
There you have it, a gift guide for the most important people in your life. And your parents. And don’t forget, yourself.