Is everyone ready to RUUUUMBLEEEE? I mean that so seriously- holiday shopping is not a joke. Nor for the faint of heart. I recently had a FANTASTIC experience over in Downtown Summerlin (a MUST for anyone living/visiting in Vegas!) & while I learned allll about a ton of gifting options…I came up with 5 tips to make your shopping seamless! & by that I mean less completely insane, panicked, & involve copious amounts of begging for it to end. Keep reading for alllll my tips!
1. Make a List, Check it Twice
Before you even pull up- have your game plan ready. & I’m not just talking family members either! Think you might need a teacher’s gift? Your spouse’s boss? That nice neighbor that will probably bring you cookies but you don’t have time to reciprocate with homemade cookies because it is holiday season & is she freaking crazy? WRITE. IT. DOWN. I also throw in a few “random” gifts…don’t laugh. When someone exchanges a gift with me unexpectedly…I’m RIGHT on top of it Rose! C’mon- Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead? You’ve seen it… right?
2. Prepare Yourself to be There ALLLL Day Just in Case!
Bring snacks & something to drink. Oh- they have a food court! No big deal! GUESS WHAT! Those drinks with straws? Yeah you have to carry those. & be weary of touching anything with glitter thanks so condensation. Or the lid popping off. Or making that horrible empty cup noise. I grab a Sparkling Ice & throw it in my bag. Boom. I’m ready to take on the day. Check out all their flavors riiiight here.
3. Dress for the Mission
If combat boots & fatigues are the most comfortable to wear- cheers to that. But usually I’m dragging a friend with me (or several) so I tend to choose something more holiday-esque for photos. Because blogger life. For this day out, I wore a lightweight top so I wouldn’t get too warm running around, a pair of black jeggings, & incredibly comfortable flats which you can find here & I highly recommend purchasing …you might be surprised by who makes them… I also wear minimal jewelry which isn’t the norm for me personally. Why? Because when you’re carrying a ton of bags & trying to maneuver through stores you don’t want anything that might snag!
4. Pick the RIGHT Place to Shop
Downtown Summerlin is one of my favorite places to shop in the country- believe me I’ve been to A LOT of malls! But they have awesome lunch options, ample parking, & more than enough stores for me to browse. Because often I have NO IDEA WHAT I WANT TO BUY. Pick a place that has a variety so you can really knock down your list. For instance, I was able to hit West Elm for my decor loving aunt, Jo Malone inside Dillard’s for my friend who adores fine fragrances, & the Aveda Salon where you can pick up a customized certificate or gift set for any beauty lover. Then we all did lunch at California Pizza Kitchen where I was able to snag a $100 CPK gift card split into $20 increments (along with a FREEBIE card for myself to use for purchasing!) which is the ultimate gift for the “maybe people” who you need to have something for. Joe in accounting sometimes goes crazy with gifts & you aren’t prepped? Bam- gift card all ready to go. Oh you have leftover gift cards? MORE CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN FOR YOU.
5. Buy Yourself a Little Something Along the Way
Now this might sound completely counter-intuitive… but stick with me. Because there is logic in buying yourself a little somethin-somethin. So when you’re shopping, you’re going to see things you want. A lot of them. You’re going to get distracted by them. It WILL happen. Because…shopping. If you buy yourself a little present, you’ll remember you did. Oh that sparkly dress you’ll never wear? Eh, I just bought myself this present let’s keep going down my list. It truly helps my focus! & it doesn’t have to be something big. For me yesterday, it was a bottle of Jalapeno Olive Oil from Oil & Vinegar which is one of my favorite shops in Downtown Summerlin. They let you bring the bottles back & refill them so we’re always picking out something new. So when I was walking through Sur La Table in case I needed something for a friend (which I ended up getting at West Elm!) I wasn’t so focused on shopping for myself. Because let’s get real- I like shopping for me.
What are some of your favorite tips & tricks? Favorite places to shop? Tell me all your secrets in the comments below!
