A Practical Gift Guide for the Fitness Enthusiast/Foodie

While material goods are fun and all, I just want to first point out that if this is for a close friend/significant other/what-have-you, the absolute best gift is just to be able to spend time with the people you care about. That one has topped my wishlist since I started college, and since moving across the country for all sorts of higher education, the chances for that to occur have diminished even more, and while I very much cherished those times while I was living through them, that’ll always be what I miss the most.

I don’t get to go home for the holidays this year, but don’t go feeling too sorry for me! If the weather’s not terrible and I happen to have Friday off, I’ll probably attempt to drive to Please Save A Cat so that I can spend Christmas covered in cats and a couple dogs, and in the company of one of my closest friends on this end of the country. <3 If it’s snowy and horrible, I will either be chilling with church friends, or hanging out with my foster kitty and eating all the food that I’ll probably end up making.

That being said, I suppose I shall move on! :O

This is more suited for a female who’s interested in food or fitness (why hello, main subjects of my blog other than med school!), with a couple indulgences here and there.

Everything listed is under $30 (if you don’t buy a tonnnnn of one or more of the suggestions)! A couple of these are also gifts that can give back, in some way, shape or form! :]

Disclaimer: Some of these are Amazon affiliate links, but most are not! If you use them, I may receive a rather miniscule commission off your purchase to throw towards my astronomical student loans (at no extra cost to you!). These are items/products that I genuinely like and have either already tried out and loved, or definitely plan to try out soon!

So without further delay, here it is!

A Practical Gift Guide for the Fitness Enthusiast/Foodie!

1. A Healthy Snack Subscription Box
   Since it’s me recommending things, the first item on my list would, of course, be food. There’s a plethora of all sorts of healthy, tasty snacks floating out there these days. My friend Ricardo has been sending me super awesome Natureboxes packed with all sorts of goodies (thank you, good sir! you are a wonderful soul! :O )! They’ve pretty much been fueling me through my rotations (and making the nurses my best friends). Plus, for every box purchased, they donate a meal to Feeding America to help the hungry!There are a whole host of other snack subscription boxes out there too! (I can only speak for Naturebox though, as I haven’t tried the others. Just listing for completeness’ sake!)
   Graze | Love with Food | Conscious Box (There are others, but they weren’t under $30, so I didn’t include em’!)
2. MyLipStuff
   I’ve kindasorta mentioned them before, but if dry weather, dehydration and/or chapped lips are a problem, these awesome lip balms (can be lip glosses as well) can come to the rescue!
   

   I uh, bought a billion of them earlier this year and probably won’t need to buy lip balms ever again (some were gifts, I promise), but there are so many cool options!

   They come in almost every flavor imaginable, and have all sorts of fun seasonal/holiday balms, but my personal favorites include…
   –White Russian
   –Passionfruit Orange Guava
   –Rainbow Sherbet (Charitabalm!)
   –Tropical Fun
   –Carrot Cake (Charitabalm!)
   –Fuzzy Navel

   They have 100% vegan options, as well as Charitabalms that support different animal rescue/eco-friendly groups, and even supplies to make your own!. Make sure you check out the sales/coupons page before you complete your purchase!

3. HydroFlask
   The inspiration for the name of my group of friends in med school! I think this actually used to be cheaper, and it’s kinda throwing a wrench into the fact that this gift guide could’ve been $20 and under, butttt…I’ve had this for over two years and it is by far the best insulating water bottle I’ve ever owned. (It’s a pretty big deal if I’m willing to shell out over $20 for a water bottle.)
   
   I’ve forgotten it in the car overnight on several occasions when it was freezing and snowy and all kinds of miserable outside. 12 hours later, it was still steaming hot, and it stayed warm for many hours after that. It’s also equally as awesome with cold beverages, so it’s super useful, and also motivates me to actually drink enough water per day. (My worst lifestyle habit is probably my unconscious attempts to  live like a cactus.)
4. Venice Kitchen Silicone Baking Cups
   Do they like to bake or make food? I know I sound super biased when I say this, but…these make my baking adventures a billion times easier, and I’ve been using them for pretty much everything. I’ve already written a full-on review on them, so I shall refrain from repeating myself! I will, however, say that they’re currently running a special promotion: 25% off each set! Offer expires December 7th, or while supplies last! Just enter the code, VKTHANKS, during your checkout! :]
   

   The fun colors make everything look more festive!

5. Motivational Fitness Tanks!
   I suppose it’s not really the season to be wearing tank tops, but I’m still partially in denial, and for lifters, we’re generally indoors, so it is a-okay to live in this fairytale land!
   
   

   This one’s a personal favorite from bodybuilding.com, and may or may not also do with the fact that I don’t drink alcohol (unless you count the tablespoon of Kahlua once-ish a year).

    

   

   I also love this one from Chase Infinite! It’s in all my favorite colors, and I love the message. :] (Just bought it yesterday. Yay for Cyber Monday! <3)

6. Sweet n’ Charming Soaps
   Need a good pampering? Sarah is a friend of mine from junior high + high school, and she makes super pretty and awesome-smelling soaps as a hobby! (Here’s her facebook!) My friend Trish has mentioned that some of them seriously look good enough to eat. (I would very much agree, but please don’t actually eat them.) Maybe it’s because I’m still a California girl at heart (and my years spent dancing with Na Keiki ‘O Hawai’i), but I’m a total sucker for anything beachy. My favorite scents always gravitate toward the fruity, tropical scents.
   

   I currently have Seaside Breeze because I’m a sucker for anything beachy and tropical. This one’s made of olive oil, palm oil, avocado oil, shea butter, cocoa butter & mango butter!

   I’d also love to try Peach Daiquiri, Hawaiian Breeze, and Lychee Red Tea. <3

7. Sock Dreams
   Free shipping anywhere in the U.S.! I’ve gotten everything from armwarmers to knee-high socks to gloves from them, and haven’t ever had any problems with them. I love their products! Do you want lingerie? Compression socks? Toe socks? Garters? Leggings? Gloves? Eco-friendly? Petticoats? Socks for kids? Thigh highs? Leg warmers? Ankle socks? Silk? Wool? Something for a costume? Burning Man?! I kid you not, they have em’ all! They make me wish I had more of a reason to dress up and look cute, haha.I would note, however, that if you’re on the shorter side of the spectrum, the “over-the-knees” are more like thigh-highs and the “knee-highs” are more like “over-the-knee’s.” Just something to consider! They’re very good about including the foot size + top stretch/circumference though. :]My personal favorites are probably their O Basics (offered in practically every color imaginable), Arm Warmers, Fishnet Knee-Highs with Garter Tops…and it appears they’ve stopped selling my favorite knee socks!?! NOOOOO. Well. I guess that’s all the more reason to get these so I can wear them for deadlifts at my next powerlifting competition. <3
   Their shark socks would also be awesome. Did you know that a kids’ size 4 is a women’s size 6? I shop in the kids’ section all the time to save money. :x A boys’ large or extra large shorts fits me pretty well. <3
8. Tea Infuser & Loose-Leaf Tea
   What with the cold and all (really, Farrah? Again with the cold?), there are few things more awesome than snuggling up on the couch with your significant other (or if you’re me, your cat[s]) a mug of hot tea, and either a good book or your favorite movie/TV series. Free time is actually the stuff of fantasies in my life right now, but hypothetically speaking, would that not be wonderful? :O Pair this with their favorite loose-leaf tea, and you’re golden!
   

   The tea infuser I have is a strawberry, but this submarine is really adorable!

9. Donation to their favorite charity
   You’d probably have to know the person somewhat well, but if you don’t, why are you getting them a present!?While I’m on the subject of charities, if you’re doing any holiday shopping through Amazon, please make your purchases through smile.amazon.com! And if you don’t have a charity you already support, this is my super shameless plug to put in Please Save A Cat (Maxwelton, WV)! <3
   #Holiday #GiftGuide for #Foodies & #Fitness Enthusiasts! Every item <$30! #FavoriteThings2014

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10. Amazon gift card
    If all else fails, you can pretty much get anything on Amazon, so it’s hard to go wrong with one of these! This was always a favorite and coveted prize when I was hosting food fundraiser contests back at school! If you buy it through smile.amazon.com, you can support your favorite charity! (And as mentioned in #9, if you don’t have a favorite, please consider helping out my furry friends at Please Save A Cat!

I’m also apparently psychic and wrote this post a while back, but had it scheduled for the same day that a holiday gift guide linkup is happening! It’s being hosted by April, Elise, Katie, Zelle! Their theme is Friends + Family Gifts Under $100, so if you’d like more ideas, go check em’ out!