The 2018 Official Holiday Gift Guide

Good tidings! It's Black Friday and that means that we are in the official gift-giving season. Today I am coming at you with over 100 gifts for everyone on your list. Grab yourself a coffee (Dunkin has $2 lattes and cappuccinos through the weekend), your Thanksgiving leftovers, and some holiday music as we make our way through the categories of gifts I have lined up for you. I thought long and hard about the gifts I've gotten over the past years that I LOVE, what I've given and had great response to, as well as cult favorites that are on my must-try list! Let's get into it!!

PS. If you want to refer back to this post later, scroll to the bottom for a pinnable image!

Any gifts on this list that you are coveting? Let me know in the comments below! I'll be back with more gifting posts in the coming days, but for now get out your pens and paper to make your lists (and check them twice 😉) And since we love a good sale over here at The Scalloped Edge, be sure to use those coupon codes and discounts to snag some great deals today! Happy shopping! 
LIST OF BLACK FRIDAY DEALS Macy's: Code BLKFRI for extra 20% off, and code BLKFRI25 for $10 off of $25 Nordstrom: Up to 60% off online and in stores Lord and Taylor: $25 off of $200+ with code BONUS J.Crew: 50% off entire purchase with code TGIF Kohl's: Extra 15% off with code JOY Asos: 25% off everything with code EPIC25 Urban Outfitters: BOGO 50% off mix and match any items Mark and Graham: 20% off everything with code FRIENDS Anthropologie: 30% off everything Barnes and Noble: 20% off $40+ online with code BLKFRIDAY, 25% off any item in store

My Holiday Wishlist 2018

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Before I jump into my wishlist for the year, a quick note on my gift guide that will be posted on Friday. My Official Holiday Gift Guide will be going live at 5 AM so you can shop those Black Friday deals! I am going to try to update the post throughout the day as I get emails about new deals, let you know if items are out of stock and where you can find similar things, and more! I'm going to try my best, so hold me accountable! If you need more info about anything in that post, I'm almost always on my phone so DM me with any questions.

Now let's get on with it! There aren't too many things that I want for the holidays this year, and I'm starting to think of only practical things -- more socks! Work outfits! Next thing you know I'll be asking for a vacuum and a KitchenAid mixer ;) Even though I have so many practical gift requests, Santa always does a great job of surprising me with things I didn't even know I needed either. I can't wait to see what will be under the tree this year!

I also think it's fair to mention that some of the gifts I share in the graphic above couldn't be linked in this widget. First up is the beautiful children's book Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes. It's written by Eva Chen (she is a Hopkins alumna and was the EIC of Lucky Magazine, which was my favorite growing up!) and tells the story of a little girl who tries on different shoes of famous women throughout history. I might not be a child, but I would absolutely love to see this book under my tree! 

For years, I have needed a jewelry roll to carry my jewelry when traveling. Right now I'm using the not-so-effective method of Ziploc bags and I need a better solution. This one from Gorjana looks like it has just the right number of pockets and compartments. Another fun gift - not a 'need' item by any means - is the Tuckernuck wine tote that has two spots for a white and a red wine. It would be perfect to give as a hostess gift, or volunteer to bring the wine to all the potluck dinners this season and keep it for yourself!

10 Ways to Help Your Wallet & the Environment

image via

We are officially 3 days away from Thanksgiving, and I know that your wallet can be hurting this time of year. You're cooking tons of food, buying all the gifts, and going out to celebrate with friends more often this month than any other. Here are 10 ways you can help the environment and also keep a little extra cash in your pocket.

ONE | At home, use a reusable K-cup pod instead of the individual plastic ones. Not only will you reduce your plastic use, but you will also save money from buying bulk coffee and making your morning cup at home. When out and about, carry around a reusable coffee cup or water bottle (S'well is great for hot and cold drinks). Most coffee shops will give you a discount for bringing your own cup to the store.

TWO | Use cold water and turn off the water when brushing your teeth! This goes for all year round, but especially at this time of year when you should be brushing extra to make up for all the sweet treats. When I was little, there was an episode of Barney that I watched with a song all about why you shouldn't leave the water on while you brush. I haven't forgotten it since and for your viewing pleasure, I'll link it here.

THREE | Hang your clothes to dry instead of drying them in the dryer. This will save lots of energy (and money) and will also limit wear and tear on delicate items, so they last longer. You can always toss your clothes into the dryer for a short cold-air cycle for a few minutes if they feel stiff after air drying. Also, use cold water to wash most, if not all, of your clothes.

FOUR | Go through your closet regularly to assess what clothes you have and donate anything you don't want. Being able to see what exactly you have in your closet and keeping only what you want to wear will prevent extra spending on clothes.

FIVE | Along with carrying a travel coffee cup or water bottle, also keep a reusable straw on hand when traveling. At restaurants, ask to get drinks without the straw and use your own. You can do the same thing for utensils by carrying a fork, spoon and knife on you wrapped in a cloth napkin. This tip is better for reducing your plastic waste than your spending, but there are whispers here and there about some stores also taking discounts for bringing your own straws/utensils.

SIX | At least once a week, try to eat meat-free for the day. Studies show that even cutting back on meat one day a week is significant for our environmental impact. This is surprisingly easy to do! You can continue to use animal products (such as eggs and milk) that day, or challenge yourself further by going vegan one day a week. Save money by cutting back on how much meat you purchase, and you might discover some new favorite dishes made with staples already in your pantry. 

SEVEN | I know that this tip is not going to be for everyone, but, if you can, consider using a menstrual cup during your period instead of using traditional feminine hygiene products. This reusable tool will save you lots of money, and though I haven't tried it myself, I have heard tons of positive reviews from friends about how effective menstrual cups are!

EIGHT | Bring your own shopping bags with you to the store! Whether it be grocery shopping or going out to the mall, carry a reusable canvas tote bag that you can stash purchases in, and don't use the plastic shopping bags they would otherwise give you at the store. Lots of stores now are charging for you to use disposable shopping bags so this will save you a little bit here and there that can add up. This is also a fun opportunity to showcase your style or a cause you support on your bag!

 NINE | Easy beauty products like exfoliators, lip balms, and face washes can be made using products you already have at home! Not only does this save you money since you don't have to purchase expensive products at a Sephora or even a drugstore (we all know sometimes even the drugstore is pricey!), but it also allows you to see what exactly is going into your beauty products! You can make the products as clean as can be, and customize them to your liking with scent and color.

TEN | Move to digital storage of files and track your life on the computer. I have bought many a planner that goes to waste when I only write in a few pages a year. I have also been the culprit of printing 30-page articles in my room when I had assigned readings for school. Don't be like college me! Get yourself on Google Calendar or iCal and keep track of your events and to-do lists on your computer and phone. Also, try to read documents online instead of printing them out. If you must print, follow my tip -- eliminate the pages you print by printing either 2 or 4 sheets per page, and printing double-sided! I mind the small text much less than I mind the huge environmental impact of printing so much paper.

Writing a Personal Mission Statement | Step 1

image via (if you know the original source, please let me know!)

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you are excited about all the holiday content I have coming your way in the next few weeks. I know that not everyone is a Christmas fanatic, so I want to keep mixing in my normal content during the next month and a half, but still tie it into the season.

Today, I'm sharing about my experience working on a personal mission statement. I'll admit that I haven't devoted too much time to this yet because I know that it is a huge undertaking. I first discovered the idea of doing this through the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People book, and I think that this is a perfect exercise to prepare for a new year.

The Franklin Covey Company was created based on Steven Covey's leadership center, as he is the author of the 7 Habits book. On the website, you can take free assessments that help you narrow down your goals, values, and write your very own mission statement.

Because I was hesitant about jumping into the deep end of this project, I started by 'discovering my values,' which is like a small-scale version of the full Mission Statement Builder. This assessment asks you a set of short answer questions and then has you reconstruct your responses into full sentences to make a mock mission statement. Through answering the questions, I was able to pick out key themes in my values, such as:

•  commitment to family
• developing strong ethics and practicing them in my daily life
• loyalty to friends and the expectation of the same in return
• understanding success as a product of intangible goals, rather than material possessions

During the month of December, I'm going to share how I took the initial mock mission statement and turned it into a working document to guide the new year. Follow along with me by completing the "Your Values" assessment now and building upon your results in the next month!

10 Easy Ways to Host a Waste-Free Holiday

Happy Wednesday and welcome to my first holiday post of the season! Since Thanksgiving is only a week away (crazy), now is the perfect time to start planning your menus and getting everything ready for guests. It's also the perfect time to start thinking about how to reduce waste this holiday season. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is so much excess that can get thrown out, so I wanted to share ten ways that you can eliminate waste this holiday season.

ONE | Plan in advance! If you know that you end up with too many leftovers each year, try cutting back on a few sides and skip buying every type of pie that the bakery has to offer. You'll spend less and end up with less leftover food that goes to waste.

TWO | Though it might seem easier for setup and clean up, don't use disposable plates, cups or utensils for your holiday dinners. Instead, opt for reusable glasses, metal utensils, and ceramic tableware. Also, dishwashers are more efficient than washing by hand, so when you can, use your dishwasher to reduce wasted water and energy. It is also recommended not to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, so just wipe off excess food scraps into a compost bin or garbage and then put your used dishes in the dishwasher to run (once full!)

THREE | Compost the food you don't use. When you are cooking, make a compost pile and throw any food scraps in there. After eating, wipe plates clean into the compost bin also. Same goes for leftovers. Some cities actually mandate composting, while others don't, but it's such a great way to reuse your food -- once your compost is made, you can use it for growing your own vegetables and herbs.

FOUR | Speaking of leftovers, it's likely that you won't be able to eat everything yourself. Distribute leftovers between guests and wrap everything in reusable glass Tupperware or mason jars.

FIVE | When purchasing holiday decorations, buy things that you know can be used year after year. My family had custom wreaths made years ago for our home at Christmastime, and now when we purchase decorations, we make sure that they go with what we already have. We also have a set color scheme for our Christmas tree and reuse the same ornaments each year (see above). We've kept a few of the novelty Christmas ornaments that we really love and my siblings and I each have our own mini tree where we can display our novelty ornaments.

SIX | When sending invitations to family dinners, holiday parties, and new year's eve events, try sending the information via email, text, Facebook, or a virtual invitation company like Paperless Post. Odds are that your guests will look at the invitation once to write down the date on their calendar or add it to their phone, then throw the piece of paper away. Using a virtual invitation tool reduces your paper waste. You might also opt to send your holiday cards over the Internet as well.

SEVEN | Limit your physical gift giving. If there is something you know someone really needs (like a new pair of snow boots) or this is an item they will absolutely love, then feel free to purchase a gift. But in the spirit of zero-waste, gift your loved ones with experiences you can share together. I'll be sharing some great experiential gifts in the coming weeks.

EIGHT | If you decide to purchase physical gifts that must be wrapped, choose eco-friendly wrapping options. Use repurposed materials like newspaper or brown paper bags for a fun touch on gift wrap. If you have gift bags lying around from years prior, reuse the old bags to wrap new gifts. 

NINE | You can also get creative and put gives inside a reusable wooden advent calendar, a stocking, or gift a reusable shopping bag and fill it with other gifts. This is like getting two gifts in one!

TEN | Purchase a real Christmas tree instead of a fake one. Not only will it make your whole house smell wonderful, but it is also decomposable. Unlike a fake tree that is laden with plastics, your real tree can break down much more quickly and return to the soil to nourish other growing trees. I would also recommend purchasing your real Christmas tree from a local nursery, which helps support small businesses during this time of year.