I haven’t written a wish list/gift guide in awhile, but with my thirtieth birthday coming up in a couple of months, I thought it was high time! In the past I’ve written my personal wish lists as general gift guides because (a) it feels weird to write an entire post just about things I want, and (b) I like to think my tastes would appeal to people in a similar phase of life :) So, if you’re reading this and you happen to be looking for a thirtieth birthday present for me, here are some ideas. And if you’re shopping for your wife/sister/girlfriend/mom/bestie/etc., I hope this will give you some inspiration! A lot of these would be great for Mother’s Day (May 9) and for your Taurus/Gemini/Cancer/Leo babes with upcoming birthdays.
Here’s what’s been catching my eye lately (not in any particular order):
We got a beautiful set of wine glasses as a wedding gift, and to be honest we’ve already broken half of them. I realize that might not be the biggest endorsement toward giving me MORE wine glasses, but I think breaking things is just part of life and they are replaceable :) So I would really love to upgrade with a set of six nice wine glasses. This set from Williams-Sonoma looks perfect ($84 for 6).
2. Gold Jewelry Staples
The older I get, the more I like to simplify my jewelry based around nice staple pieces. In general, I only wear gold (rather than platinum, silver, etc.). My engagement and wedding ring are gold and I just think yellow gold is so pretty and classic. For my thirtieth birthday I would love to add some simple gold jewelry that I’ll keep forever (I think this is a great gift for a lot of people for big birthdays, graduations, and life milestones). Here are a few pieces I love:
Three stones for three decades?! Love. (Mejuri, $295)
Slightly more affordable but lovely, simple staple necklace (Mejuri, $70)
I absolutely love these, and pearl is my birthstone! These would be a great gift for any June babies with pierced ears. (Mejuri, $90)
These are so fun! (Sequin Jewelry, $68)
These seem like the perfect combination of chunky yet lightweight. (Shop Ange, $38)
“Jordan” Chain Choker Necklace
I’ve been looking for something like this for awhile, and this one seems like the perfect weight/length. (Sequin Jewelry, $118)
3. Classic White Sheets
I am a big lover of crisp white sheets, which obviously need to be replaced every few years. I would love to get another set—these Brooklinen sheets (in white, King size) would be absolutely perfect. ($160 for a King set)
I have a bunch of these pairs of underwear and they are ALL I wear! I can never get enough! They have so many super pretty colors. This is an easy gift where you can get one pair ($22) or a whole set, for either a “stocking stuffer” type gift or a whole array. Also, I personally do not think it’s weird to give underwear to people as gifts… my sister and I give each other these pairs all the time because we love them so much! These are a “one-size-fits-all” situation, which I realize is not going to be 100% accurate, but they happen to fit me really well and are a very stretchy material.
5. Candles
I go through phases of being really into candles. Well let me tell you… I am VERY INTO them right now. But I don’t have many. It’s the kind of thing that I find hard to treat myself on, but would love to receive as a gift. I bet a lot of people feel the same way, so unless you know the person you’re buying a gift for doesn’t like scented candles, this is a pretty safe one to make someone smile!
Pic by Ashley Hosmer on Instagram
I’m kind of picky about candles. Here are a few that I love and/or have read great reviews of that I trust:
Diptyque - the gold standard; you cannot go wrong with this. My favorite scents are BAIES, TUBEROSE, and ROSES. ($68 each)
Boy Smells - Slow Burn. This is a perpetual favorite of a lot of people. ($39)
Matte Gallery - Sun Burn. My godmother often has this burning in her house, and it’s just so good! Ethereal. ($45)
Otherland - Canopy. I’ve not smelled this one yet, but I’ve heard enough people talk about it that I would love to try it! It has fig notes, which is a big plus for me. ($36)
Roen Candles - Ojai Nuit. I REALLY want to try this one! It is named after Ojai, my favorite town (and where I will be spending my thirtieth birthday), so this would be a perfect gift. They have a bunch of candles named after different areas in Southern California, so pick the one that matches a place you (or the recipient of your gift) love. ($28)
Also, as a side note, I would love to get a wick trimmer (this one is sold by Boy Smells, but they’re sold pretty much everywhere). I think a wick trimmer would be a really nice add-on to a gift if you are giving someone a candle.
6. Super Plush Dog Bed
I guess this is kind of a gift for my pets, but seeing them happy makes me happy! And I bet many pet lovers feel the same way. I have one 15-pound dog and one 65-pound dog, but they both really like to lie in big dog beds. The ones I have are a few years old at this point and feeling a bit deflated. I love these options:
Casper (size large, $229)
Jax & Bones (size large, $178)
Orvis (size large, $189)
7. Gummies!
In terms of a birthday treat, gummies are one of my favorite things to get as a gift. I am definitely that girl that wants gummies, Swedish fish, jelly beans, etc. on Valentine’s Day instead of chocolate. I have always loved gummies and fruit candies more than any other candy, so this is a “last but not least” item on my list!
I am in love with this rainbow “bento box” gummy set from Sugarfina, which includes rainbow bears, heavenly sours and baby butterflies.
Also, Dylan’s Candy Bar has bulk gummies you can order online and my mouth is watering reading through the list.
I hope this list gives you some gift-giving inspiration for the upcoming birthdays and special occasions in your life!