1. Monogram velvet travel jewelry case, $17: One of the greatest pleasures of adulthood is having proper equipment that also looks beautiful. And monograms are always personal and fun. 

2. Salt and Stone deodorant, $20: This natural, non-aluminum deodorant will be a treat she’ll look forward to using. It not only functions very well where most natural deodorants fail, but it also feels and smells high-end. There’s also a sample set of different fragrance options. 

3. French folding knife, $23: This attractive tool comes from a heritage brand in France and folds up to just four inches. I love the leather tassel and four handle color options. Opinel offers a wide collection of many other beautiful, durable knives.

4. Luxury boar bristle hairbrush, $33: Upgrading her everyday tools is a gift that keeps giving. Like so many tools that I love, this high-quality hairbrush is simple and just works: no bells and whistles, no screaming colors, very well made, comfortable to hold. I bought a second one to keep at our apartment. 

5. Rhodia notebook, $14: I always stock up on these French notebooks when I am in Paris, but you can gift them from anywhere. A stylish, well-made notebook is something she won’t buy herself but will love using over and over because anything that’s high-touch is always worth upgrading. Also comes in orange and white with pages printed in lines, blank, or (my favorite) dots. Pair with the Marvy pens. 

6. Marvy pens (12), $16: The theme of this round up is finding ways to make her ordinary tasks more beautiful. I’ve used these smooth-writing French pens for many years. How pretty is this minimalist design and that gold clip? They also come in sets of beautiful, saturated colors.

7. French hair pin, $10: She’ll be surprised how much she loves these French hair pins. They’re sturdy, truly hold hair in place, and so much more refined than messy scrunchies (or the sharpened pencil that I used in high school to hold up my hair). #TheFrench always win form + function.

8. Black Honey lip balm, $25: This iconic ‘90s “almost lipstick” famously looks great on literally everyone, everywhere, has a perfect texture, and still comes in its sleek silver case. There’s also a Black Honey eyeshadow palette and lip/cheek oil if you want to round out a set. 

9. Disposable face towels (50), $10: Treat her to a fresh face cloth every day instead of an overused wash cloth. I started using these about a year ago and love the improved hygiene. They’re also excellent for travel (after I’ve used them for my face, I use them as a body cloth). Affordable enough to give her a year’s supply! 

10. Weighted eye mask, $38: Give her a better night's sleep or a great afternoon nap with this weighted eye mask. She probably doesn't know yet how much she needs this, but that's why you're here.

11. Striped toiletry bag with tassel, $15: Make even the most mundane parts of her life more beautiful—this case can hold toiletries, travel items, makeup, small electronics and cables, office supplies, or sewing items. Who wouldn’t love the punchy stripes and fun tassel zipper? Choose from seven stunning colorways. 

12. Favorite classic pajamas, $25: A good pajama set just makes you feel better. These are wonderful—soft, stretchy, but substantial. I appreciate the details like piping, cuffs, and adjustable tie waist. Choose from nine colors and 12 sizes from XS to 6X.

13. Sterling silver rosary bracelet, $20: I like the feminine scale of this Italian-made rosary bracelet that comes gift boxed. To make it really special, pray a rosary for your gift recipient on it and have it blessed before giving.

14. Woven suede clutch, $50: Does she need a new bag? Maybe not. But she will reach for this beautiful piece again and again. Woven of vegan leather and rich suede, this bag is convertible from crossbody to shoulder bag to clutch, so it goes with everything and every occasion. Choose from six beautiful neutrals like black, caramel, burgundy, and gray.

15. Toups and Company organic skincare products: I can’t live without this frankincense tallow balm. It’s the single organic, nontoxic moisturizer in the entire world that has worked for my face. I love it and could go on and on. A teeny bit goes a long way. My jar lasts about two months with twice daily use. From this small-batch, small business, I also love, use daily, and subscribe to the tinted lip balm and the mineral makeup (a jar lasts me a few months). You can also give gift sets and sample sets. They run great sales during the holidays, plus you can get 10% off everything with my link.

16. Theology of Home: Arranging the Seasons book, $22: One of a gorgeous series that explores the spiritual beauty of homemaking, interior design, and aesthetics with stunning photos and thoughtful reflections. Bundle the full set of four for an amazing gift. 

17. Mini croissant hoops, $38: These 18k gold vermeil hoops blend personality with forever-chic, classic style. Add these amazing problem-solvers to give earrings security and lift. There’s also a matching 18k gold vermeil domed croissant ring. 

A note about Amazon

These links connect mostly to products sold on Amazon. This is not the only place you can buy most of these items, but I set it up this way because of Amazon's ubiquity (everyone I know already has a Prime account). You can also try finding the items you like at other retailers, local shops, or even use these ideas as a springboard to create gifts.

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Contact me. I am a Catholic author, artist, speaker, pilgrimage leader, and travel concierge.

I'd love to collaborate with you on your next retreat, day of reflection, pilgrimage, trip, or event.

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