The holidays are upon us, and we are getting to crunch time when it comes to gift buying. We asked our contributors for their top picks under $50. The things they cannot absolutely, couldn’t possibly live without. Here’s what they had to say:
2013 Gift Guide – Under $50
Holly: Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill mascara. I can’t live without it because it’s the BEST mascara I’ve ever tried and I’ve tried almost all of them. As a makeup artist, it’s my responsibility to try products before I use them on my clients. For years I’ve only found mascaras that I like; until I tried Eyes to Kill. The mascara lengthens and adds volume without clumping. I don’t have long or thick lashes, but the mascara (magically) finds the shortest lashes and lengthens them and the thinnest lashes and adds volume that looks very natural. The end result, is beautiful, long lashes. A great mascara is the stand-alone product that makes my eyes Pop!
Eva Said It: A slam dunk for coffee lovers. What’s better than a pound or two of gourmet beans and a grinder! Hit any store that sells kitchen appliances and gadgets for a grinder. You can go high end and fancy, but my its not uncommon to find a basic model that does the job just right for about $20. Then, hit a gourmet shop (in NYC, I love Porto Rico Importing Company on Bleecker St. www.portorico.com) for some of the tastiest and exotic coffee beans you can find! Toss both in a basket with some shortbread cookies or chocolates, et voila! A gift they wouldn’t dream of returning or regifting, and will use with pleasure!
Charlene: When holiday shopping for someone who already has it all, or you just can’t figure out what to get someone, I opt to send a donation to their favorite cause or charity in their name. You get to do good and it’s tax deductible. You can even make the donation at justgive.org and let them choose the organization where they want the money to go.
Scarlett: My Roku box is the best thing a girl can have (and it doesn’t hurt that Roku sounds like the French pronunciation of my last name). Roku is this cute little streaming box that lets you turn any TV into a Smart TV and the prices start at $49.99 for the LT model. You can watch channels like NetFlix, Amazon Prime and so much more. All you need is wireless Internet and a TV. Boom.Done! Oh, they have free shipping right now!
Trinidad: You’ll pry my food processor from my cold dead hands, it’s one of my most prized possessions. It’s definitely a thing I can’t live without. This handy gages chops, minces, dices, purees and in a pinch blends. I’ve used it to make soups, pestos, grating cheese and even making dough. The thing is seriously versatile. This is a great gift for anyone who likes to cook and/or entertain.