2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Take a look at this Holiday Gift Guide for the 2023 Season! Photo via Hanna Zabski '25

The 2023 holiday season is here and students are now planning what gifts they are going to get their loved ones. Many people feel a certain pressure to nail gift-giving, and it can be hard to find that perfect gift. Whether you are looking for things to buy for family and friends or are trying to think of gifts that you would want to receive, here is a list of five gifts that are affordable, unique, and potentially perfect for your loved ones.

Personalized Book Embosser/ Stamp

Do you know someone who loves reading? If so, a personalized book embosser/ stamp may be the perfect gift for them. A personalized book embosser allows any reader to mark their books as their own and allows readers to make their books more individualized and unique to themselves. Personalized book embossers can cost, on average, anywhere between 10 to 30 dollars. This special gift is not something that one can simply grab in a bookstore, and that is what makes it stand out from other gifts for readers.

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag

Within the past few years, fanny packs and belt bags have resurfaced as a fashion trend. Operating as a smaller purse, belt bags are an incredibly versatile style option that allows people to carry around their essentials without the fear of the bag being stolen. Belt bags are great gifts for people who may be studying abroad or who love to travel. Companies such as Lululemon make belt bags that come in many different colors and sizes. This is a great gift that could work for people of all ages, occupations, and lifestyles.

Owala Water Bottle

One fascinating trend that always seems to take the internet by storm is the water bottle trend. Having a fancy water bottle has turned into an aesthetic over the years, with many people prioritizing the look of their water bottle over more important things such as temperature control or size. With brands such as Hyrdoflask and Stanley rising in popularity, many smaller companies have worked to try and keep up with these competing companies. One water bottle brand that has attracted a cult following is Owala. The Owala water bottle design that took the internet by storm was the Owala Free Sip bottle. Many customers love this bottle due to its ability to completely enclose the mouthpiece when one is not actively drinking from the bottle. Compared to other popular water bottle brands, Owala has a relatively smaller design and is more suited for students and people who are on the go. Owala also offers a variety of different sizes and color options.

Card Games

If you are ever stuck on what to get someone as a gift, you can never go wrong with a card game. Card games are great gifts for family members or college friends who you are looking to have some fun with. Nowadays, there are so many fun and unique card games such as What Do You Meme, For the Girls, The Blockbuster Game, and New Phone Who Dis. Card games can liven up any event and allow people to enjoy some bonding time in a way that doesn't involve technology.

Sunrise Alarm Clock

A sunrise alarm clock is a perfect gift for someone who prefers to not be on their phone in the morning. Instead of using the alarm on one’s phone or a regular alarm clock, a sunrise alarm clock enables someone to wake up with the aura of natural light. The sunrise clock stimulates light when someone is ready to wake up. There is an optional choice to wake up to both the light and a preferred sound. The light also appears gradually, so the person waking up is not instantly met with a burst of light in the morning. This gift is an excellent alternative to being woken up by an unpleasant iPhone alarm and offers more time for relaxation and adjusting to the new day in the morning.

Whether you are looking to add gifts to your own wishlist or looking to buy gifts for your loved ones, this gift guide helped steer you in the right direction!