The holidays are coming, along with the long lists of things to do and buy. And if you don't have a list, and are a bit overwhelmed at the thought, I’ve got you covered.

I've curated a list of [unique] gifts I'd like to receive, in hopes of inspiring you to move away from “gifting” just for the sake of it and heading towards giving experiences or more thoughtful gifts, in general. Without further ado, here it is:

DNA Genetic Testing and Analysis. I know it may sound strange and you might think that this is an unusual gift option. However, I always wondered about my roots, as in where exactly I came from, and what I'm made of. One can easily think that they're Italian or Irish and so on, but there's so much more to it than that. This was a question on my husband's mind for as long as I've known him. He was so fascinated about finding out his “roots” that a few years ago, for Christmas, I gave him an AncestryDNA kit. It was easy to use and exciting to wait for the results. Once he received them though, they were not what he expected. It opened our eyes in many ways and it only made us want to explore more.

Now, at the time, I wasn't aware there were other types of tests out there regarding DNA and even genetics. I don't know about you but I want to know what I might have to deal with in the future. Plus, I want to know "my history". This test gives you insight into your ancestry as well as genetics. It may be scary, but if there are things I have to consider/change, I want the chance to do so before it's too late. So yes, this was on my wishlist. I say "was" because we bought the tests, and I shared my experience in this post.

Photo Books. I try to make a photo book of our major events or just to have something physical to look at that captures those moments. Whenever I browse them, I am overtaken by the beautiful memories and experience those moments all over again. Like, one day I was not very happy with my hubby, and while I was cleaning, I came across a photo book I made for him for Christmas, a few months after he proposed. We met online so that's where our relationship unfolded. He asked me to be his girlfriend via skype before he even met me in person. ​We saved all the transcripts of our conversations (maybe publish a book one day? haha), and I have included the text leading to him asking me to be his girlfriend and me accepting in those pages. I can tell you that I quickly forgot what we were arguing about just by reading those lines and, instead, was reminded for the umpteenth time why I allowed him in my life.

But back to it. We live in the photography era. Cameras are always within reach and we constantly take photos. But how many of these photos end up forgotten or never looked at again? How many pictures did you take of your loved ones and forgot to share? Have you gone to a special place that you want to never forget? Have you taken a vacation with your family that you know everyone enjoyed?

Why don't you put those photos into a photo book and give it to those you know will appreciate it? Why don't you give one to yourself? It's so much nicer to browse through an album/photobook than swiping left/right or pressing the left/right arrow constantly on your phone/computer. Give it a try.

Spa/Salon treatment/Mani/Pedi/Massage. Yes, I am wary about sharing this gift idea, but the truth is that these businesses, as well as us, need some TLC. Please consider purchasing gift certificates to be used when safe.

Help them get active. This year we spent a lot of time indoors. Yes, this has been the year of the Peloton, but, let’s be real, they’re not cheap. So if you’re on a budget, try getting your loved one a regular bike instead (I LOVE biking), or better yet, rollerblades (they’re on our wishlist this year!) - I’m eyeing these for myself, and these for my husband.

Weekend getaway/mini vacation. Most of us are wary of travel these days, but I do hope we can do that soon, so I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like this idea, once it’s safe to travel.

I love getting away from the day-to-day and explore a new place or just relax somewhere away - you can only relax so much at home. Why not gift yourself and/or your loved ones a ticket to a place that is special to you or a completely new one? If well thought/planned, you won't forget about this gift or want to return it. When we wanted something different than a hotel, or when one was not an option, we’ve been using Homeaway, which is now Vrbo, for booking our stays while traveling.

A membership to learn or better new skills. In this ever-evolving world, we all need to keep up either by learning new or improving our skills. I am a fan of online courses, and while there are possibly millions of them out there, Skillshare and MasterClass offer memberships to courses created and taught by the experts themselves. I surely would greatly enjoy these, and I’m sure your loved one would too.

A book that will change their life. We all need inspiration and a boost to make changes in order to improve our lives. I recommend these books because they have helped me tremendously when I needed it.

Do you know someone who was left crushed by this year (we all have been in some way)? Give them a little hand with a self-help book - you can make a difference. Other books on my list are this one, this one, and this one.

And lastly, but most importantly, be selfless. The holidays are times when people less fortunate are reminded of their circumstances more than ever. Donate to local programs and charities and make someone feel special by bringing them a little cheer. Do that either by donating a meal for someone in need or find another way you can make a difference. Especially around this time, donate toys for children through Toys for Tots or the Salvation Army, to name a few organizations - trust me, it is VERY much appreciated.

I hope this list gave you an idea of what you can do this holiday season. I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Happy Giving!

XOXO,
Em