Lake Shore Lady Approved Gifts
All the of the gift ideas that I personally own, love, and recommend!
While I have a bunch of gift guides to update this season, I always like to write a separate one that only talks about items I personally own and love.
This season can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to figure out what is worth spending your money on and what isn’t. And while I always like to include things that I own and love in gift guides, there’s usually some other ideas mixed into them. You know, to help round out gifts for different types of people, price ranges, etc.
But this one is ONLY about items I personally use and think would make excellent gifts. Nothing else. So let’s get to it!
Lake Shore Lady Approved Gifts
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Home Gifts
Hotel Lobby
When it comes to gift ideas for the person who has everything – Hotel Lobby Candles are at the top of my list. It’s such an elevated gift thanks to the beautiful packaging and incredible scents – and they now have diffusers and soaps in addition to candles now too! I especially think their votive collection makes a great gift!
“Hotel Lobby candle! The smell STAYS in the space!”
“1000% Hotel Lobby candles. Luxurious and universally loved – a perfect gift for everyone.”
“Hotel Lobby candle! Great for someone who ‘has it all’ and wouldn’t buy for themselves.”
Pura
If you prefer to have more control over the scents in your home, Pura is a great option because you can control when and how much scent is released through their app! For example, I only have it set to go off during work hours in our guest room/my office. That way it never becomes overpowering!
Fruit Tray
I used to get so frustrated with our fruit bowl because I’d also want to put onions and garlic in it… but you don’t want that next to bananas, you know? Then I saw this fruit tray and I am OBSESSED. Such a cute and functional addition to your kitchen counter!
Cordless Immersion Blender
This immersion blender is a soup season MUST because it’s battery powered! No need to struggle to keep a cord out of the food – if you know, you know. 10/10 recommend for anyone who loves to cook!
Souper Cubes
Speaking of soup season, these souper cubes are so great for freezing and storing leftovers. You just ladle your soup, stew, sauce, or even pasta into it, freeze it and then pop out the cubes to store in a freezer bag. So easy and convenient!
Absorbable Coasters
I got these absorbable coasters a few years ago and I’ve given them as gifts many times since. They’re so affordable, they catch any condensation, and they look pretty!
“Those coasters! So chic and effective. Love them”
Chronology
Chronology is such a fun game to give as a gift – and no, you don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy it. And if you’ve already purchased this game, try Hitster this year! The best game for music lovers!
Chappywrap Blanket
Us midwesterners love a good blanket and Chappywrap blankets are our personal favorite. They’re soft and cozy without being too warm, they’re machine washable, and they come in the cutest colors and prints. We have two in the original size – and I love that they’re a family owned small business too!
“Chappywrap is a great gift because I wouldn’t splurge on myself but love it for friends – especially friends who needs a little extra coziness. It’s a small but useful luxury!”
Our Place
The Our Place Wonder Oven is one of the best gifts out there because it’s cute enough to sit out on your counter and, in addition to air frying, it also bakes, roasts, toasts, reheats and broils. And it preheats 75% faster and cooks 30% faster than traditional ovens. I also really like their blender because it’s SO much easier to clean than other blenders. You can actually get under the blades easily!
And while their whole bakeware set is great and would make a great gift, this oven pan is my top pick for literally anyone on your list. It’s nontoxic, nonstick, and so easy to clean that I use this every week multiple times a week. Perfect for sheet pan meals, roasting veggies, baking cookies – you name it!
The other Our Place item I highly recommend is their Perfect Pot. It’s SO lightweight which makes cleaning a breeze. I love my Le Creuset dutch oven but it’s SO heavy that I reach for this one way more. You can read through all of my other favorite Our Place products from their sale here too!
Brumate Tumbler
You know I love my Stanley but I got a Brumate this year and there’s a lot to love about it – especially for moms! First of all, it’s leakproof!!! Just slide a tab over and it stops any leaks. It also has a soft straw, so if you have a little one who wants to touch and put their mouth on everything, the straw won’t hurt them. They also come in tons of colors!!
Silk Eye Mask
I’ve tried other eye masks and I always come back to the slip masks because the silk is just so nice and it doesn’t break me out. This particular one is contoured so it doesn’t smash up against your eyes if you don’t like that/have lash extensions!
Kindle Paperwhite
I wasn’t sure which section to put this in, but my Kindle has been a key factor in improving my nighttime routine so health/wellness it is! It is the #1 reason why I read so much now, which makes it a great gift for anyone who says they want to read more. It’s just so convenient! You can download as many books as you want, bring it anywhere, and it causes much less strain on your eyes than reading from an LCD screen.
Caraway Pans
Obviously I’m a huge Our Place fan, but I recently got this Caraway set and I’m very impressed. I love that it’s nonstick but has a higher heat tolerance, the color is gorgeous, and the sizes are so useful.
House of Noa Standing Mat
I got this standing mat as a gift a few years ago and truly, EVERYONE NEEDS ONE. It looks really pretty, almost like a rug, but it wipes clean. No need to stress about water or food or wine spilling on it! But the best part is that it’s cushioned and feels so comfy under your feet. It makes washing dishes so much better.
Side note: this is the same brand that makes our play mat – and both items are on sale right now!
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Beauty Gifts
Salt & Stone
I’m sure you’ve heard me rave about this brand by now, but everything they make is SO GOOD! I first fell in love with their deodorant (the best in the biz), followed by their body mist and body wash. I recommend checking out their sets for gifting purposes though. Such a fun way to try the different scents – and a value too! Plus you can use code LAURENN15 for 15% off!!
Parallelle Makeup Bag
I treated myself to this makeup bag last year and it’s awesome. It has tons of compartments, it stands up, and when you want to use it, you just unzip the top and fold the flaps over so everything stays in place. GENIUS!
Makeup Organizer
And for at home, this makeup organizer has been soooo helpful at keeping my vanity area clean. There’s so much room and I love the brush holder too!
Dibs Duo Brush
If I could only keep one brush in my makeup drawer, it would be this one. One side has a large rounded brush that’s great for powders, while the other side is denser and angled which makes it ideal for cream products. A great stocking stuffer!
Crown Affair Dry Shampoo
This is the dry shampoo that made me believe in dry shampoos. I’m so serious. It’s a powder instead of a spray and it not only makes your hair look clean, but it makes your hair FEEL clean too. It’s sorcery!
MERIT Makeup
I have a lot of favorites when it comes to MERIT but for gifting purposes, I would definitely get the color trio from their site or the Flush Balm Trio from Sephora!
One/Size Setting Spray
This setting spray is an amazing gift for any makeup guru – and there’s a mini version that would be a perfect stocking stuffer! It’s basically like hairspray for your face. As in, once you spray it on, your makeup does. not. move.
Theraplush Hand Lotion
This hand lotion was the only thing that helped our cracked hands when Charlie was first born and our hands were cracked 🤣 But in addition to working incredibly well, it also looks so cute sitting out on your counter, you just press down with one hand to release the lotion, and you can purchase refills!! A phenomenal gift.
Currentbody LED Mask
This LED mask is a bit of a big ticket item, but it worth it. I’ve been using it for the past 3 months and I’ve noticed a HUGE difference in my skin. I’ve also been able to simplify my skincare routine as a result which makes the price even more worth it. Use code LAKESHORE for 10% off!
Jolie Shower Filter
I had been struggling with my hair and skin last year, and since we were also having trouble keeping the shower (and specifically the shower head) clean, I got this filtered shower head to test out. It’s now been over a year and I don’t think we’ll ever go back. You can read my full review here.
“Jolie Filter – one may not buy for themselves but makes HUGE difference!”
Maya Fragrance
I fell In love with this this Maya Base fragrance last year and it’s still a favorite. Apparently it smells a little bit different on everyone but I think it smells bright and fresh on me – I get compliments whenever I wear it. A perfect gift!
Dyson Airwrap
I was a Dyson Airwrap skeptic for a while because it’s so freaking expensive, but now that I have one, I can confirm that it’s pretty incredible. It comes with 5 attachments so you can dry, straighten, and curl your hair – all with minimal heat damage. I have thin flat hair and this gives me volume like nothing else ever has.
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Style Gifts
Lake Pajamas
Lake Pajamas has been on my gift guides for years now because they really are the best pajamas. They’re insanely soft, super high quality, they last for YEARS, and they feel like a luxury purchase. They even come in a beautiful box that looks lovely!! I recommend going with the size up if you are unsure of their size, but you can read more about each style in this post. They also make great maternity styles with buttons for nursing postpartum!
“Lake pajamas 100%! My favorite pjs, hands down.”
“Lake pajamas – so soft and look elevated, incredibly comfy and breathable.”
“Lake pajamas are the perfect gift – they come beautifully packaged and they’re so soft!”
Hill House
Speaking of Lake Pajamas, I styled my Hill House jammies (so lightweight!) with my Lake robe above!! Even though Hill House has a ton of beautiful styles now, I feel like their original nap dress is always a great gift because they’re so versatile and sizing is really easy since it’s flowy with a smocked bodice. I even wore mine all the way through my pregnancy!
Favorite Daughter
I was never a baseball hat girlie until Favorite Daughter sent me their Mom of the Year hat… and now I wear it ALL the time! I wore it so much, that I also got this neutral hat too.
Speaking of gifts for moms, this Mom of the Year sweatshirt is probably the article of clothing I wore the most this year. It’s soft and oversized and something that most moms wouldn’t buy for themselves… but would love to have. Wink wink! Nudge nudge! Get it for her!
Varley Sets
I got my first Varley set last year and liiiiived in them postpartum. I have this grey sweatshirt and sweatpants + this darker half zip and cargo pants – and they all live up to the hype. I got my usual small in the sweatshirts but I sized up to a medium in the pants so that I could wear them when I was pregnant too.
Mini Uggs
I treated myself to mini Uggs last year and I’m so glad I did. They’re so warm and cozy and easy to slip on. If you’re shopping for someone who lives in a cold climate, get them while you can! (I’m a 6.5 usually and I sized up to a 7.)
Splendid
They may call this set pajamas but they are soooo warm and cozy that I think of it more as a lounge set. I specifically thought of it as my ultimate postpartum lounge set. It’s so incredibly soft and it was such a dream for those early newborn days in the depths of winter. I also have this robe which is equally perfect for ultra cold days!
Aerie Sweatshirt
Listen, I get it – buying clothes for women can be really hard. Will it fit? Will she like how it looks on? That being said, most women I know love an oversized sweatshirt that they can also wear out of the house – and this one is a winner. It comes in tons of colors, but I love these dainty flowers. I sized down to an XS and it’s still huge!
Accessories Gifts
Alice & Wonder Tote
If you know me, you know that Alice & Wonder is THE place for Chicago gifts. My friend Ali started the company back when I started blogging and it’s been amazing to see how successful it is now! My top recommendation for 2025 is this Chicago tote – which they also made for New York, California, Boston and Texas. That being said, there are so many great Chicago gifts at her shop so make sure you look around before checking out!!
C Necklace
It’s so hard to get a good picture of a dainty necklace, but this one is my most prized possession! Adam got it for me for Christmas last year and I’ve worn it every day since. I have it on this chain and I literally never take it off. Use code LAURENNMV for 20% off!!
Beats Headphones
I treated myself to Beats Studio Pro headphones earlier this year and now I never want to travel without them! The noise cancelling effect helped me stay way calmer on flights and the sound quality is so much better than earbuds.
That being said, I still wear these wireless earbuds on walks with Luna and around the city when I want to be more alert. They’re only $20 too – such a good stocking stuffer!
Abby Alley Sling Bag
If you’re looking to support a female founded small business this holiday season, this suede sling bag is sooooo beautiful. Abby is also Chicago based and makes sure everything is ethically sourced!
Wellness Gifts
Walking Pad
If you’re shopping for someone who wants to be more active but is super busy, a walking pad is a great gift idea! You can see how mine easily folds in this video – it’s so convenient! If you don’t care about sliding it under a desk and you’d rather be able to run on it, I also have this version that has a handlebar and can go up to 7.5mph!
Oura Ring
I’ve had my Oura Ring for about 2 years now and I highly recommend it. It’s a great way to get sleep, health and activity insights – but, thanks to their connection with the Natural Cycles app, it also helped us get pregnant! You can read more in my full Oura Ring review here.
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Shop more gift ideas below:
PS. You might also like My Chappywrap Review, My Currentbody LED Mask Review, and My Hotel Lobby Candle Review!
