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The Best Practical Presents

01/18/21 | Christmas, Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide

You know you are an adult when you get excited over receiving socks and kitchen supplies for Christmas and I am not joking.  My family, friends, and fiancé where especially generous  this holiday season and while I did get some lovely and more typical gifts like the  Sephora ‘Give Me More Lip’ Holiday  Lipstick Set and the  SUGARFIX Iridescent Crystal Statement Ring. which was on my wish list, I wanted to share some of the other gifts. Being in lockdown for many more months the reasons to get dressed up will be few and far between but practical household items?  I am going to be using those now more than ever!  Take a look at some of my favorite practical presents with a brief blurb as to why I love them. Sparkles and Shoes Best Practical Presents Christmas 2020

RuMe Classic Medium Tote Bag  in Navy Downing$20 – I have been a fan of this company for years and sadly they are going out of business but these Machine washable totes are oh so handy – they fold up very small but also are sturdy enough to hold 50 pounds!

OXO SteeL Vacuum Wine Saver and Preserver with Two Stoppers,Silver. $17 –  This device Pump extracts air from bottle to preserve wine’s flavor and the stopper  Keeps wine fresh longer than cork alone – perfect for a winter red wine lover like me 

Sporti Poly Pro Micro Back One Piece Swimsuit in Royal Blue  ($24) I can not wait to get back into a pool and it has been less than two weeks since I was swimming laps in Florida, sigh.  But for when I do get the chance something I would not have seen as a good gift growing up – a new Chlorine resistant polyester one-piece training suit made me quite giddy when I opened it! 

Beige Cable Knit Short Reading Socks w/Pom Pom  ($19) I had not heard of these but Mark and I each received a pair for Christmas and there is something just so much better about watching TV is oversized fleece sock as opposed to gym socks on a cold Winter evening! 

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Raisins. ($5*)   Along with Goldfish you can add these to the list of things you can not get in the United Kingdom.  These are a true Trader Joe’s classic – sweet and addicting and the perfect thing to find in your stocking on Christmas morning!  *(I have linked these but advise you do not purchase them online as the Amazon price is much higher than Trader Joe’s) 

Stainless Steel Drinking Straws ($7) I often find myself very busy in the middle of the day with back to back meetings and the idea of making lunch is just too much.  Thus I have been turning towards healthy smoothies as a quick alternative but the thin paper straws I was using in 2020 were just not cutting it – enter the wonderful metal straw! 

Amazon Basics UV Protection Camera Lens Filter  ($9) and ChromLives Lens Cap Leash ($6)   – I got a new lens for Christmas (yippee!) an druse two are essential for keeping it safe – a UV protection filter for general, everyday use and this cap keeper which fastens to the lens cap to prevent your lens cap from getting lost while shooting

Blue Diamond 12″ Frypan ($30) I have to admit it but one of the reasons I have not made eggs recently is i HATE cleaning the pan.  I shared this fact with my Mom and she gave Mark and I the ultimate solution . This magic frying pan does not even need oil or spray to keep things from sticking to it and clean up is a breeze – hello scrambled eggs!

What do you think of these practical presents? 

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Comments

  1. Laurie says

    January 20, 2021 at 1:42 pm

    Those socks look so warm and cozy. There is still a lot of winter left and I think I need to get a pair or two of those.

  2. Hilary says

    January 20, 2021 at 7:26 am

    I have several of those Rume bags too and so sad that they are not going to be around any more.

    That pan sounds great and I think I will have to give it a try, love a quick clean up and even cooking surface.

  3. Charlotte says

    January 19, 2021 at 12:36 pm

    It was so nice you were able to do CHristmas with your family and you got so many great gifts! My favorite gift this year was a new handbag!

  4. Paula says

    January 19, 2021 at 10:05 am

    Oooh, I have such good things about weighted blankets so looking forward to hearing what you think

  5. Aimeea says

    January 19, 2021 at 8:43 am

    I agree, as an adult practical presents really are the best!

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog.  I am a New York City girl at heart but I moved to London in the Spring of 2018!

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