Hey everyone! I know giving gifts can be challenging, especially if you want to gift something with meaning behind it. I put this list together to make shopping a little easier for someone who has either lost a friend/loved one, or who has had a monumental event happen in their life (baby, wedding, big move, etc). If you have any other recommendations for this list please leave them in the comments so we can all share!
1) Custom framing and shadow boxes of personal photos, a keepsake, or a collage. My husband kept 2 prayer cards from my dads funeral, and had them framed for me with a coin that was given to me by his best friend. If for any reason you attend a loved ones funeral, and want to do something incredibly personal for them, this is one of my most precious gifts! He kept 2 prayer cards so we could display the front and the back. This is REALLY personal, and one of my favorite sentimental gifts. You can do the same thing with newspaper or article clippings, a precious letter, etc!
2) Consider donating to a foundation in their honor! Example: My father passed away from a heart attack, so we’ve had family and friends donate to the American Heart Association. What if this person did not pass away from an illness, but they were passionate about animals? You can donate to a shelter, or rescue. If they cared about the environment - there’s foundations where you can plant a tree in their honor. There are many ways to keep their memories alive and still share it with their family and friends.
3) Write them a letter! Even if you don’t know what to say, even if you don’t get a response (sometimes it’s just mentally hard to), the act of kindness and love is the best gift.
4) A Map of the night sky - use code STAR20 to get 20% off! // This is a wonderful gift to celebrate a significant date. My sister gave this to us as a wedding gift, and we have it hanging in our loving room with this simple frame $15. It is a coordinates map of the night sky above the coordinates of where we said, “I DO.” This is a beautiful gift to memorialize engagements, births, birthdays, etc.
5) Mapiful is a great website to create maps for loved ones who have a favorite city! 20% off // This is a great gift to give a friend who has moved away from work (get them this map from their home town, or where you met). This is also a great gift for someone who loves traveling, and again… to celebrate special occasions like where someone was married or gave birth!
6) I adore these personalized map ornaments! These are only $15.
7) A personalized bracelet from Alex and Ani, $15-30! I was given a similar bracelet to this one, and it’s meant to represent my dad always being with me. I don’t wear it all the time, but I do keep it on my dresser as a constant reminder - I cried when I opened it, since the person gifting it to me also wrote a note. This is a sweet gift for a dog owner, childs initial, or anything else you might find sentimental! They have a lot of options.
8) A locket! I know it sounds cliche, but a locket has been something on my list for myself for a long time. I would love something simple to keep a photo of a loved one close to my heart. I love this brand, Gorjana, too! I own many pieces from them, and the quality is fantastic for the price.
Here are a few more timeless lockets at other price points depending on your budget. Personally, I would want something that I wouldn’t have to take off, and these are all on major Cyber Monday Sale 50-65% off! My advice would be to go ahead and gift them the locket with a photo or note already on one side :)
9) Oval Locket // was $890, now $311.50
10) Simple Starburst Locket // was $275, now $137.50
11) Circle locket with moon // was $300, now $150
