50+ tried-and-true ideas for the BEST favorite things gift basket
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A couple weeks ago, it was a friend’s birthday here in NZ. And I had SO much fun putting together a “Favorite Things” gift basket for her.
(It’s funny- I always make the mistake of assuming our kiwi friends have heard of/know about all our favorite things. But turns out, many of these items that we rave about either just aren’t popular, haven’t made the long trek across the ocean to New Zealand, or they’re so expensive here that people haven’t tried them out.)
That made it even more fun to assemble this Favorite Things Gift Basket!
And, actually, one of my favorite parts was the brainstorming of “favorite things” that I could include. Once I got started, it was hard to stop (turns out, I *really* love kind of alot of things). You could pretty much choose any five or six items from this list and assemble a FABULOUS gift basket for your bestie or your mama or your sister (or even your kiddos’ teacher!).
FAVORITE THINGS TO PUT IN A FAVORITE THINGS GIFT BASKET (GIRL’S EDITION)
Useful things-
Yeti travel mug (LOVE this thing!)
Vitruvi grapefruit essential oil (I also love this Vitruvi starter kit!)
LEMON cozy pom socks (take it from a girl who LOVES cozy- these are the BEST)
Barefoot Dreams socks (ok, don’t make me choose- I love these cozy socks as well!)
Back and neck massager (I love this so much that the kids got me a new one compatible with our NZ outlets!)
Ban.do travel cup (love the floral ones!)
Tangle Teezer brush (got this for Pi, but I always steal it!)
Ban.do Insulated soft cooler (wouldn’t it be fun to use this as the ‘basket’ portion of the Favorite Things gift basket?)
Luggage Tag and Passport Cover (Ban.do)
Warmies Slippers (I found these on one of Oprah’s favorite things lists and ordered them for my mama… and then for myself!)
Invisibobble Hair Ties (love these things)
Yummy things-
Chick Fil A Sauce (we miss this stuff so much!)
Fix & Fogg Peanut Butter (my top fave is the Coffee & Maple, but I also love the Everything Butter and the Fruit Toast)
Chuao Chocolatier (love this sample set!)
Beauty things-
ThisWorks Sleep Roll-On (our whole family loves this stuff!)
Origins Ginzing Eye Cream (this is my go-to baby shower present because it makes you look awake and rested even with no sleep!)
Ole Henrickson Trial Set (this set has two of my skincare faves- the truth serum, the banana eye cream!)
Buxom lip polish (I love SO many colors, but White Russian is my fave)
Buxom mascara (my fave. Fave. Fave.)
Essie style stunner nail polish (the perfect bright/summer-y polish)
Essie matter of fiction nail polish (the perfect light/neutral polish)
Tangle Teezer brush (I got this for Pi, but now I always ‘borrow’ it)
The Ordinary Facial Set (I love ALL THREE of these items!)
Sunday Riley CEO Serum (or this Sunday Riley sample set or this one before you commit)
CO Bigelow Menthe Lip Gloss (I love the colors, but this one is color/shimmer free)
Benefit Watts Up Highlighter (favorite. I love highlighter in general, but this one is my favorite)
Davines Hair Mask (smells SO GOOD)
Glow Recipe Watermelon Face Mask
Isle of paradise tanning drops
Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener
Soap & Glory Righteous Butter (the smell of this lotion, though!)
NARS Women’s Matte Multiple Stick
Things to wear-
Blondo Waterproof Sneakers (it is RAINY in New Zealand, and this waterproof shoe brand is my fave!)
Tunic that I love (I have this tunic in three colors and debate about whether I should order another- ha!)
Rainbow Flip Flops (we have now lived in two different beachy locales and these hold up SO WELL even with the constant harsh of salt and sunshine)
Good Threads Heritage Fleece Basic Jogger Pant (I love, like LOVEEEEEEEEEE, these sweatpants! They are the answer to my extensive searching for perfect lounge pants)
Pretty things-
All the Rifle Paper Co. (I love all of it! A Rifle Paper journals, or fabric, or pens, or notepad)
Corkcicle Rifle Paper Co. Tumbler
House things-
Vitruvi grapefruit essential oil (I also love this Vitruvi starter kit!)
Capri Volcano candle (I have lots of favorite candles, but I think this one tops the list)
And Capri Blue Diffuser Oil (I have this as well! Perfect for not-candle people)
Corkcicle Rifle Paper Co. Tumbler
Kate Spade glass food storage (LOVE these! They are in constant rotation for ‘best leftovers’)
Homesick Candle (we have Colorado, Texas, America Summer and I just ordered New Mexico for a friend… I wish they made a New Zealand candle!)
Airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Reading & writing things-
Either Magnolia Table Cookbook (Volume 1 or Volume 2)
Every Bitter Thing is Sweet by Sara Hagerty
Rifle Paper Co. Stitched Notebooks/Journals
Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel Book (and the corresponding Ultimate Eats book)
Also- I’m sure you can tell from the pictures, but the items I chose for this Favorite Things Basket are a Rifle Paper Co. journal, MAC lipglass, raspberry dark chocolate, the Adore book, gel eye patches, a Capri Volcano candle, a Ban.do “but first coffee” mug, CO Bigelow mint lip gloss, the Buxom mascara, the Origins Ginzing eye cream, and the LEMON cozy pom pom socks.
What did I miss??? What are the things you’d put in a Favorite Things gift basket???
So so fun and such a helpful guide!!! I’ll definitely be putting it to use!
You’re the best at putting together thoughtful, fun items!
Thanks friend!!!