By new Smarty teen blogger, Clare Gibbons! We brought in a teen expert and who better than a teen herself! We’ll get to know Clare this weekend, she’ll be sharing her perspective on all things teen and Smarty over the coming months! ~Jen
The 2013 Smarty Holiday Gift Guide is sponsored by our favorite local toy store, Toys & Co in Cotswold and Park Road Shopping Center. Find everything on your child’s wish list and then some at Toys & Co! And guess what? They will wrap every gift BEAUTIFULLY and oh-so-expertly – so you don’t have to pull an all-nighter on Christmas Eve!
It’s almost that time of year again, which means Santa is collecting Christmas lists! The problem is, once a kid hits double digits, they usually abandon this age-old practice of writing a Christmas list, leaving both confused parents and jolly, bearded, red-suit-wearing men in the dark whilst Christmas shopping. However, with the help of this Tweens & Teens Smarty Gift Guide, hours of Christmas shopping and the repeated what-do-you-want-for-Christmas-interrogation of eye-rolling teens can be avoided.
For Her:
The girls are easy. If you ask your girl what she wants for Christmas, there is no doubt she will be able to rattle off countless items that have caught her eye. If you’re lucky, she will even whip out her phone and show you her Wanelo wishlist!
Lilly: Can’t go wrong here! Girls of all ages love Lilly Pulitzer clothes and accessories. Whether it be a keychain, cup, necklace, or dress, she will LOVE whatever precious, patterned item you choose!
Boots: Boots are a girl’s best friend! Every girl needs a great pair of boots for winter, whether they’re cowgirl boots, rain boots, combat boots, or riding boots. If you ask, she will most likely be able to pick out the exact pair she has had her eye on!
Wallet: The girls who are driving will love a new wallet to keep their licenses or permits in! Kate Spade and Tory Burch wallets are very popular, stylish, and will hold up well, but other cute wallets or wristlets can be found at half the price if you’re willing to look!
Jewelry: This is a classic. Girls will love any piece of monogrammed jewelry whether it be a necklace, a ring, or earrings. On top of that, every girl needs a bubble necklace and a pair of pearl earrings to start their wardrobe! Wrap-around bracelets and watches are also very popular right now! If you’re willing to splurge, most girls have had their eye on a Michael Kors watch at one time or another.
Giftcards: Cash or a giftcard to her favorite store will definitely bring a smile to her face! Girls love shopping, and sometimes a trip to the mall with a pocket of spending money can be better than a shirt or pair of jeans that may not fit right or that she may not like!
Yoga Pants: Girls of all ages will love a Lulu headband or pair of fun yoga pants! They are comfy, stylish, and of course great for working out!
Room: For some reason, many tween/teen girls (myself included) always want to change something about their room. Help her decorate her room with a makeover that will last! If this is done right, the addition/removal of a few items can give a room a whole new look without being too expensive. I got a bed spread and lamp from Anthropologie (which I love!), but my furniture is all from PB Teen! Homegoods also has a lot of good items for a really good price!
Check out this super cute wooden wall mono from Sercie.com. And guess what? We have a Smarty Steal. From our friends at Sercie.com:
Use code SMARTY and you’ll save 25% through December 9th, and will have them by December 17th. Now, don’t be calling us fast and cheap… usually the estimated time is 3-4 weeks, but for this promo, we will turn it around quickly, just for our Smarty Shoppers! You MUST enter “SMARTY” code on “View Cart” page prior to “Checkout”.
For Him:
This is the hard part. For some reason, many teenage boys fail to voice what they want for Christmas. While the reason for this eludes me, I suspect they must want something! I know for a fact that if my brother came downstairs on Christmas morning and saw a wad of cash under the tree for himself while my sister and I opened our stack of neatly wrapped presents, he would be perfectly content (but then again, who wouldn’t?! A little bit of spending money is a GREAT present for boys and girls alike!). Hopefully this list can save a bit of time and guessing when trying to find a Christmas present for your special boy, and you won’t even have to hire a private investigator to find out what he wants!
Sports: If he is into sports (as many teen and tween boys are), you can’t go wrong with sports equipment. A jersey or any merchandise from their favorite player or team will be sure to put a smile on their face! If he is an athlete, ask him if he needs any new equipment (odds are he will, teenage boys tend to be rough, regardless of the sport). Any boy would also love tickets to a professional sports game to see their favorite team (we have the Panthers, the Bobcats, the Checkers, the Knights and the Hounds all right here in the QC!).
Another Smarty Steal Alert, just in from our friends at the Charlotte Hounds!
Charlotte Hounds is having their annual Merchandise Blow-Out sale this Thursday (December 5th) – 50% off Hounds gear…T-Shirts ranging from $7.50 – $12.00, hats for $10.00 and sweatshirts and other gear ranging from $20 – $30. Perfect for your sports guy!
Date: Thursday, December 5th
Time: Noon – 7:00pm
Location: Charlotte Hounds Headquarters (210 E Trade St – Epicenter, 4th Floor)
Click here for more details.
Gaming: Of course an XBOX, Wii, or Playstation is a great gift for the whole family, but for some reason it tends to be the boys who can hole up in a dark bonus room for hours on end playing video games with only a bag of potato chips for sustenance. Find out what their favorite gaming system might be or if they want any new games (make sure they are appropriate before you splurge!).
TV Shows: If he has a favorite TV show that might not be on Netflix, look for it at Target or Walmart and buy him a season or two. He will be hooked! Again, make sure that you approve before buying it! If you don’t have Netflix, this is an investment that will bring great pleasure to both your girls and boys, in fact, they’ve probably already asked for a subscription!
Gym: Many teenage boys enjoy going to the gym, and if yours fits that description, a youth gym membership can be a great investment for him and one that he will love!
Clothes: This is what we usually end up buying for him when we can’t think of anything else, but clothes can be a great gift! A Vineyard Vines pullover or Patagonia jacket will look great on any guy! Just make sure it is something that he would like to wear instead of something you would like him to wear!
Shoes: One thing that boys do seem to love as much as girls is shoes. If you buy him a new pair of Nike or Adidas sneakers, there is no doubt he will be happy! If he is in need of a pair of dress-shoes try a pair of Sperry’s or Wallabee’s.
REI: If he’s the outdoorsy type, a trip to REI will do you wonders. Camping, fishing, or hunting equipment can make a great present! You could also plan a trip to take him on where he can try out his new gear! Make sure to pack a Guy Harvey T-shirt, some croakies, and a baseball cap!
For either:
Ahhh… technology. Although it’s expensive, you can’t go wrong with an iPhone, iPad, iPod, MacBook, or a tablet. In fact, one of these items probably sits at the top of your kid’s list. If you do decide to take the plunge and buy one of these great gifts, a cute, cool, and of course protective case should be given along with it! iTunes giftcards will also undoubtedly be a big hit. My brother, sister, and I get one each year, and we can always spend it up quickly! If you’re looking for a present the whole family can enjoy, a gaming system or a Ping-Pong, fussball, or air-hockey table can be a great gift that will lead to hours of fun! Lastly, one family tradition in our house is to go on a fun family outing whether it be a vacation or something near home like a restaurant or a play at Blumenthal. These gifts can be the greatest because they will provide togetherness for the whole family and great memories!
Good luck Smarty shoppers!
