Then….

As I scroll through my Instagram feed this time of year, I see endless posts from mommy bloggers with their adorable little ones posed by the tree, swathed in airy photo filters, big red bows or little Santa hats perched saucily on their heads. And I think back to how easy it was to shop for my daughters at that age (not cheap….but definitely easy!) All it took was a trip down the toy aisle at Target and a last-minute run to the Dollar Store. A few Barbies, a stuffed animal, an EasyBake oven, coloring books, candy, and stickers to fill their stockings …and pretty much anything pink and sparkly. Easy-peasy. I could then turn my attention to the daunting tasks of wrapping it all up - and paying it all off.

…and Now!

Fast-forward 20 years and those little girls are independent young women “adulting” with their own tiny apartments, tackling college majors and first jobs… armed with loads of ambition, their very definite senses of style, and precious little extra cash. I can’t really pick out their clothes for them anymore - sparkly unicorn leggings are no longer in vogue! So, it occurred to me that some other empty-nester moms out there might be in the same boat as me. Still wanting to spark a little Christmas morning delight, but feeling a bit stumped about how to do it.

So, I went straight to the source - I asked my 23 year old, Christi, what she and her girlfriends are into these days. She laughed and said: “Mom, all my friends are broke With rent, gas and paying back their student loans - honestly we could probably all just use grocery money!” Brought back memories of my own tenuous first years after college, thrust into the real 9-to-5 world of junior status on the corporate food chain and learning to navigate the world of budgets and making do. I look back on it with a little bit of sentimentality now, and I think it’s great that my daughters think in such practical terms - it’s a good life lesson to start out lean and mean. But, it is Christmastime, after all, and a few treats are in order. So, Christi gave it a little thought and asked her roommate, and they texted me a few small indulgences that they and their girlfriends like, but wouldn’t necessarily splurge on for themselves.

Kayla rocks an edgy style vibe these days!

I also texted my youngest, Kayla - she was in the depths of her college library writing a philosophy paper and studying for exams. She was much more forthcoming - she texted me back with a list of items almost instantly! (…no doubt because she is still accustomed to living on parental largesse.) Anyway, I think the list they came up with was pretty good - many of these treats are perfect to tuck into a Christmas stocking, and none of them will break the bank. My girls will be finding a few of these goodies under the tree Christmas morning, so… shhh!

The List

Kiley LipKits - These lip stain + lipliner combo kits come in a bazillion shades and Gen Z /young millennial women seem obsessed with making the Kardashian clan even more ridiculously wealthy than they already are: the Kiley products are wildly popular. You can purchase them here - and they carry them at Ulta, though the most popular shades sell out fast.

Speaking of Ulta - my girls tell me they’d love to find Ulta gift certificates in their stocking Christmas morning - there’s nothing girlier than meandering through the aisles of beauty products (turns out pink and sparkly never truly do go out of style!) NOTE: I’ve noticed that Ulta employees will rarely volunteer information about any coupons or special deals. I don’t know if this is corporate training or if I’ve just been a wee bit unlucky with the folks who’ve checked me out, but definitely ask very clearly if there are any coupons or discounts available when you buy from Ulta, so you don’t miss out! Makeup is expensive, and it is marked-up a TON! There’s no reason to overpay.
Mini bottles of champagne and sample cocktail mixers are always fun for a girls’ night in with their friends.
Buxom lip plumping duo - for the perfect pout
Mini skincare products - It seems like once girls hit their early 20’s they develop an interest not just in makeup, but in skincare - and they love testing and trying out moisturizers/cleansers toners etc. You can find lots of these in the checkout line at Ulta and I found one that received a lot of great Gen Z reviews from Glossier.
Tiny hoop earrings - classic, universal, and currently very on-trend. I’ve always been a big fan of this timeless earring style because it adds polish to any outfit. Here are a few cute, affordable styles: Kendra Scott (you can add a charm dangle to dress these up) and there are some cute, sparkly styles available on Etsy.
Blue light glasses for college students staring at computer screens - find some more options here and here.
Mani-pedi gift certificate - because there’s something about polished nails that just makes a girl happy!
Hydro Flask - to keep her skin aglow even after the tinsel and Christmas lights are packed away, this is the trendiest reusable water bottle right now.
Bright eyeliner in funky colors like pink, cobalt blue, yellow - for the young fashionista who likes to be a bit edgy.
Coil ponytail holders - these are supposed to be kinder to your hair. The jury is still out on that claim, but they are really popular with the younger ponytail-wearing set!
Chunky hardware-style chain necklaces -extra points if it has a lock as the focal

There it is! Now I’m gonna run out and start shopping - LOL! I hope this helps you bring a little Christmas morning glam to the lucky young fashionista in your life, too :-)

xoxo Sue