Wednesday, November 17, 2021

The Best Big Ticket Gifts I've Received

 As I’ve gotten older, my Christmas list has become more and more practical, but also over the years it has become filled with more expensive items too. While I wish that weren’t the case that is what tends to happen when you’re able to buy the smaller things you may want throughout the year thanks to a paycheck. Take yesterday’s Christmas wish list post, for example, even a pair of practical running shoes is over $100. I know many of y’all also try to include more practical items on your wish list which made me think that as you’re making your list and checking it twice it could be helpful for me to share some of the best big-ticket gifts I’ve received. 

Some of these have been gifted to me by my family, some by myself, and others by the brands so I’d like to think that the only bias included is my opinion and personal style. I’m hopeful that many of these items will go on sale in the coming weeks making them a bit more affordable for gifting. Even still, all of these things are items I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth from! I hope you find this useful as you make your wish list and start shopping for gifts! 

Barbour Jacket

While there is definitely a bit of sticker shock when you see the price of a waxed Barbour jacket for the first time, I can assure you it is worth EVERY penny. This is, without a doubt, one of the most worn items in my closet. I received mine for Christmas my freshman year of college (meaning I’ve had it for a long time) and wear it regularly for almost three full seasons of the year. I have the Barbour Beadnell jacket in the color Sage in a U.S. 6 and have since invested in a hood and liner for the coat. Even with those additions, I think that if I had a quarter for every time I wear it, I would have another one or even two in my closet. I have sent it to be rewaxed before by the Barbour team in North Carolina, and it came back feeling like a brand-new jacket. As long as you continue to take care of it, it’s a piece that can last forever. If you’re considering purchasing a Barbour jacket, I have shared a complete guide on the brand and their jackets in this post.

Dyson Vacuum

A Dyson Vacuum was a bit of a pipe dream on my Christmas list last year and I was both shocked and elated when I opened it up on Christmas morning. I even had my family skip my next turn to open a gift so that I could get it set up and ready to use (which probably made my mom happy come time for cleanup). Having a cordless vacuum really is a game-changer, and this one is powerful while still being pretty compact. It’s an investment, but Dyson also sells refurbished options (as does Amazon) that cut the price tag quite a bit! 

Weezie Towels

During Weezie’s big birthday sale this past year I decided to finally bite the bullet and purchase new bath towels. The ones I was using had held up well but had seen better days which is to be expected since I had had them since high school graduation. After my first use of my Weezie Piped Edge Bath Towel, I questioned what took me so long to upgrade. I love the way they look and feel and even after washing them weekly they look as good as they did when I first opened them. I also love my short sleeve Weezie robe, which would make another great gift! 

Michelle Watch 

One of the most unbelievable collaborations I’ve gotten to do through my blog was the one I did around the time of my college graduation with Michele Watches. I didn’t fully expect the collaboration to be a reality until this watch showed up in the mail. I remember a few friends were with me when I picked up the package, and they made me unwrap it in front of them so they could see it too. At first, I thought I would only wear it on occasion, but since receiving it well over four years ago, I’ve worn it almost every day. The square face is modern yet still classic, and the ability to change the bands has been an unexpected feature that I’ve adored since it makes it feel like I have more options to choose from. A watch had never really been on my wish list, and now I can’t imagine not having it on me at all times. 

Gold Family Crest Ring

A couple of years ago for Christmas, my sister-in-law gave me one of the most thoughtful gifts. When she and my brother had gotten married, she originally wanted something with her new monogram (we are slowly convincing her of how fun southern traditions can be) but came across a family crest ring instead. She got one for herself and gifted one to me for Christmas, and I wear it daily. I love that it looks like a classic signet ring with a really sweet story behind it! I wish I had thought to gift it to her as a way to further welcome her into the family, but it was so thoughtful for her to give it to me! Since it was a gift. I don’t know exact details on the crest's size or where it is from, but I’ve linked one that looks incredibly similar to mine.

David Yurman Bracelets

I have this one and this one.

Sticking with the jewelry trend, my David Yurman bracelets, like my Michele watch, are items I reach for daily. My first David Yurman was actually a gift to myself, my sophomore of high school. I had seen them and loved the simplistic style and combination of metals and eventually saved up enough money to purchase my own. I have since added to my collection and love the layered look and variety of bracelets made by the brand. As such a timeless piece, I could see many girls categorizing a David Yurman bracelet as one of the best gifts they have received as well. 

Mark and Graham Luggage

I used to rely on my parents’ suitcases in our attic, but once I moved out, I figured it was about time I have my own luggage. I own both the carry-on and checked size of this hard-shell suitcase and love the navy color's classic appearance. What’s great about this luggage is that you can go ahead and buy it as a set or break up the gift and order the various sizes separately. The hard exterior makes me think that everything inside is well protected, and the navy striped lining when you unzip it is pretty cute too. 

Barrington Gifts Tote

I love tote bags and am under the impression that you can never really have too many. That’s a good mindset to have when narrowing down which Barrington Gifts St. Anne Tote print to purchase. Thanks to my indecision, I now have five different prints of Barrington Gift’s totes. The durability and functionality of it are what keep me coming back to it time and time again. Whether I’m carrying my laptop, magazines, and other work supplies or textbooks in college, these totes only get better with age. Thanks to the customized nature, I also love that you can create exactly what you want to fit your style when making this purchase! You can see one of them in the first image of this post! 

Longchamp Le Pliage Large Tote 

I warned you that I love tote bags! I received my very first Longchamp bag in eighth grade and have been a huge fan of the brand ever since. While I’ve outgrown that first medium-sized chocolate brown one I received years ago, my navy, large Le Pliage tote is the perfect bag to tote to the gym or pack in when heading out of town. The material is so durable, and the style is simple enough to be used as an accessory or luggage easily! 

Patagonia Puffer Jacket

Sometimes a gift to yourself can’t be beaten since you know precisely what you want. That’s how I feel about this Patagonia Puffer Jacket that I got for myself during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale this year. I have a white North Face puffer jacket that I got before my 8th-grade class trip to Washington D.C. (it’s as shocking to me as it probably is to y’all that this jacket still fits and appears to be white) and decided it was finally time for an upgrade. I chose this jacket in particular because it would be easy to put on over other jackets and can be packed up into a very tiny size. It gets so much wear in the winter when I am in comfy leggings, and the better sweater pullover from the brand has been another great buy. 

Frye Riding Boots

Two years ago for Christmas, I received these boots but only because my previous identical pair had been quite literally worn through. I had them resoled a few times, but I wore them so much that the last time (when I could see my sock through the sole of the shoe) I was considering resoling them, it became clear that a new pair would be a better investment. I had kept my eyes peeled for something similar and classic that I liked equally so I wouldn’t be asking for the exact same thing I already had, but nothing fit that bill, so the Frye Melissa Riding Boots were unwrapped (again) on Christmas morning. From November until March, I wear these boots frequently with dresses or jeans. The quality of Frye’s boots is unparalleled, and I’ve been impressed by how good these boots still look despite the countless treks across campus I’ve put them through. 

LL Bean Duck Boots

Growing up, I called these farm boots since we always knew to pack them when we went to our grandparents’ house, which we call the farm. I even have one of my aunt’s pair from college in my closet since these shoes last forever! Whether you’re looking for something easy to hose off when dirty or keep your toes warm in the snow, these boots can fit the bill! 

MacBook Pro

I spent more time with this computer than I did with my family while in college. If that’s not a scary realization, I’m not sure what is, but it’s the reality. I was lucky enough to replace that first MacBook Pro I received in high school and used so much that it had to have its hard drive replaced with a newer one for my master’s graduation that I hope will have an equally lengthy lifetime. From college applications, starting a blog, four years of college coursework, teaching lesson plans, graduate coursework, and the occasional Netflix binge, I’ve spent a lot of time behind the screen of a Macbook and can undoubtedly say it is worth the investment. 

Lake Pajamas 

I wish I could come up with where my love of pajama sets originated, but I think it started at a very young age. I always remember opening my pajama drawer to find matching sets to grab. I suppose I never outgrew that since my pajama drawer now is still the same way with many of those sets from Lake Pajamas. I could rave about these for days (and actually did yesterday) and understand why some people may be hesitant to purchase them. They are expensive for a pair of pajamas, but the quality is unparalleled. Pajamas are one of those items that get more wear than many of my real clothes, and I use that as an excuse to spend a little more on them. The material of these P.J.s is so soft, and the different colors and lengths mean they make a fantastic gift for a variety of people! 

Airpods

I don’t lose things often, but unfortunately, AirPods are something that I’ve lost. After punishing myself for having misplaced them I finally purchased a replacement pair. They make moving around and doing different tasks while listening to music, books, and podcasts so much easier. I love not having to worry about a cord on walks and runs and overall think these are a great buy that I wish I hadn’t waited so long to get behind. I have the non-noise canceling version, but if you’re looking for the noise canceling ones, I’ve seen them here. 

KitchenAid Mixer

My mom was looking to upgrade the KitchenAid Mixer she’d had for years and did so by giving me that one and purchasing a new one. I’m so glad she did because I got a KitchenAid out of it, and given how much I enjoy baking, it’s a gift that keeps on giving! I can also attest to the fact that they last and hold up so well! Mine is a basic white one, but if I were to ever upgrade I’d want one that holds a larger size bowl. 

I’d love to hear what your most-used bigger ticket gift items have been! 

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  2. Leather jackets are a great way to add a touch of style to your look and they can also keep you warm in cooler weather.

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  4. Wow, that’s amazing! What were the big ticket gifts? I’d love to hear about them!

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  5. What an incredible list of gifts! It's great to see that you've been so lucky to receive such thoughtful, meaningful gifts. It's clear that the people who gave them to you really care about you, and that's an amazing feeling.

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