A Rural Girl’s Favorite Things Christmas Gift Guide

Inside: Announcing our first ever A Rural Girl’s Favorite Things Christmas Gift Guide! Look for affordable, practical, and sometimes a little indulgent gifts that I absolutely love and wholeheartedly recommend.

 

I have a dual nature–it’s true. A very practical side, yet, at times, a little indulgent. Not much, mind you, but perhaps a tinge. So when it comes to creating ARGW’s first Christmas gift guide, I wanted to include those wonderful, helpful, practical things I love and use regularly along with the occasional small indulgence. What follows is a list of my favorite things, organized according to spending limits.

(By the way, this post contains affiliate links. What that means is that when you click on any link and purchase something, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me to pay for the cost of this blog and make a living. Thanks for your interest!)

Gifts Under $20

Speaking of my indulgent side, I absolutely love flavored coffees. And quite often this ends up on my wish list: orange brandy coffee. Yum!

I also happen to be in love with scented things, from candles to essential oils to lotions to soaps. When Hubs and I stayed in the Frederick Hotel in Boonville, Missouri, the hotel used these special goat milk soaps called Zum Bars, which they also sold in the gift shop. I was especially intrigued by the frankincense and myrrh scent, reminded of the Christmas story. With a little hunting I found the soaps online, purchased them, and wrapped them in gold paper (of course) for family. These make great stocking stuffers. Remember, you, too, can be a wise gift giver!

Note: If you want to purchase several bars, the price is lower per bar here.

This next gift has become a perennial favorite of mine– Daily Guideposts 2018: A Spirit-lifting Devotional. This year’s theme is “Unfailing Love” from Psalm 33:22. Several reasons to love this book, which Amazon describes as “America’s best-selling annual devotional”: One, it’s written by writers with different levels of faith, so it appeals to a wider audience. Two, the paperback version is in large print, so it’s easier on the eyes. Three, it’s very affordable. Four, the writers write beautiful prose. Lastly, it’s a great way to start your day!

I have a favorite doctor. His name? Dr. Teal! Or maybe Dr. Teal is a woman, I don’t know. What I do know is this company has some amazing products for those of us who do some of our best thinking while soaking in a tub. Dr. Teal’s Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution comes in multiple scents, two of which are included in this bundle: lavender and eucalyptus. I’m also quite fond of their new scent–Dr. Teal’s Pink Himalayan Mineral Soak, which has the wonderful aroma of bergamot and sweet orange essential oils. And did I mention an important benefit? A good source of magnesium, a mineral most of us are woefully lacking. Plus it makes your skin so soft!

Note: They have a wide variety of products beyond bath soaks, so check them out.

Gifts Under $30

About a year ago I became interested in essential oils and received this diffuser as a gift last Christmas. I really like it! It’s a great place to start if you’re new to essential oils.

 

And if you’re looking for a good book on the subject, I highly recommend Essential Oils Ancient Medicine by Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin. I bought one for myself and Mom this past year.

While I wouldn’t say I use this immersion blender (also called stick blender) every day, I find it really comes in handy with making soups and cauliflower purees (our version of mashed “potatoes”). I also use it to make a quick shake when I don’t want to get the big blender dirty. Definitely in my top ten of kitchen gadgets and appliances.

Gifts Under $50

My friend Patty got me this cool lap desk last year for Christmas, and I absolutely love it! For anyone who works on a laptop while sitting on the couch watching TV (come on, be honest) this is a comfy solution. What I like about it is that it elevates the laptop so that I’m not hunched over straining my shoulders and neck. And did I mention the adjustable light? Computer work never was this easy! Now if I could only find someone to bring me hot beverages at regular intervals. . .

My Kindle Fire and I are joined at the hip–er, I mean hand. Let’s just say we’re very close. While I am not a tech gadget girl, the Kindle Fire has so many features I love beyond my main reason for wanting it–as an e-reader. Years ago when Hubs got it for me and was showing me how to recharge it, I said, “Well, I probably won’t be using it every day.” Yeah, right.

The Kindle Fire barely squeaks under our spending limit at $49.99, but it’s an excellent price!

Gifts Under $100

For the essential oil enthusiast in your life, this starter kit has the basics any newbie or seasoned guru would need. While you can find cheaper oils, the quality is not the same. The lavender and lemon oils smell great when diffused, and I use the peppermint oil for a number of things, from aches and pains to congestion to nausea to needing a pick-me-up.

Last but certainly not least, I recommend the coolest of gifts–an ice cream maker! I have gotten so much use out of mine that it sits right next to the coffeemaker, if that tells you anything. Emily purchased this as a combination Mother’s and Father’s Day gift and it has been used continuously since then. She uses hers to make frozen kefir, so it can be used for healthy frozen treats, too.

 

 

So there you have it–A Rural Girl’s Favorite Things Christmas Gift Guide 2017.

Happy shopping, friends! May all your gift selections be on sale and in stock, and may they arrive before Christmas!

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Coming Attractions: Next month we’ll be making and baking ARGW Christmas style with DIY crafts and recipes. Look for our 12 Posts of Christmas–daily posts celebrating the season starting December 14 and counting down to Christmas Day!