what’s on my Christmas list?

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is around the corner. It only seems like only yesterday we were taking down all the tinsel and ornaments on the tree. Well, not me, because my family takes down our tree well into the New Year, and I had always made my escape back to campus before then. Because we are in the thick of the holiday season, I thought this would be the perfect moment to publish my first annual Gift Guide. Plus all my competitors have already released theirs (I’m looking at you Vogue and The New York Times). This will be a two parter: a personalized one and a generalized one.

P.S. This is just my wish list Pinterest board I made for my mom in listicle form.

“I’m a Cool Girl” Headphones

A new pair of headphones has been on my Christmas wish list since Apple released the Airpod Maxes. I could never justify the purchase because I already own a pair of headphones: navy blue Beats I got for free when I purchased my MacBook for college. After almost 5 years, it’s time for an upgrade.

Perfume

Everyone needs their signature scent. Last year for Christmas my mom gifted me a Jo Malone sample kit. For the last 12 months, I’ve relied on them + the free perfume samples you get with a Sephora purchase. Adulting is all about stability, and that should include your perfume.

CD Player

Let’s just say I’ve recently developed an addiction to collecting CDs. It’s a topic I will expand on at a later date. Anyways, it feels useless to own all of the CDs without having a way to actually listen to them. It’s ridiculous that newer models of cars and computers no longer have CD players. So we must outsource.

Emma Chamberlain x Warby Parker

Although she receives a lot of petty criticism online, y’all could never make me hate Emma. As a loyal customer, I was excited for her collaboration with Warby Parker. It also came in time for my biennial frame change.

Adidas Sneakers

I held out for long enough: it’s time for a pair of Adidas sneakers. There’s been a ton of online debate on if the Sambas will eventually go out of style. To that I say, any Adidas sneaker is timeless. Those three stripes are going anywhere anytime soon. I still own my Superstars from 2017. So whether it's the Sambas, Gazelles, or Campus ‘00s, they are on my list, even if it seems like I am late to the trend.

Rhode Lip Tint

Maybe because she rules this town, but ever since I moved to LA, I have changed my stance on Hailey Bieber. Now, I do not like that smoothie, but her Rhode lip tint is worth the hype. My coworker (shoutout to Juliette) put me on to the Raspberry Jelly tint, and now I need every shade.

$16

Pajama Sets

A goal of mine for 2024, is to step up my nighttime routine. As a self diagnosed insomniac, I am trying to alter the way I view sleep by prioritizing it. One way is to stop falling asleep in my middle school “Norts” (Nike shorts) and random t-shirts. Another step in my adulting process.

Fleabag: The Scriptures or Black Friend: Essays

While I may not aspire to be a screenwriter anymore, I still like to dabble in my free time. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Ziwe are two women whose careers continue to aspire me.