'A' for Accessories• 'D' for Decorating

Points for Presents

I’m working with American Express to share ideas for holiday gift giving. All of the gifts below can be purchased with points from their Membership Rewards program. Some of the items (numbers 1, 6, and 7) can be purchased directly with points, and the others can be had by redeeming points for gift cards.

American Express Points For Presents Gift Guide

  1. KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer

  2. Alphabet Needlepoint Pillow (via gift card)

  3. Torpedo Sconce (via gift card)

  4. Newgate Bubble Wall Clock (via gift card)

  5. Squirrel Cookie Jar (via gift card)

  6. Dooney and Bourke Florentine Domed Buckle Satchel

  7. Michael Kors Acrylic Tortoiseshell Watch

I’ll be sharing more gift ideas next week too. Are you having trouble coming up with ideas for someone in your life? Let me know in the comments and I’ll help out with some ideas. Glorious ideas.

Paid

I was selected by American Express to help educate consumers about how to use Membership Rewards points. As such I was paid for my services as an ambassador, but all gift choices selected and opinions about the gifts and American Express are my own.

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  • Dustyn
    December 6, 2012 at 12:15 am

    This is awesome and I’ve always wanted a KitchenAid mixer like my sister (she’s a chef and loves it for at home baking storms)

    • Making it Lovely
      December 8, 2012 at 10:58 pm

      I’ve had mine since Brandon and I were married — my mom gave it to us as a wedding present. They’re so nice, and they look nice too (important, right?).

  • Marie
    December 6, 2012 at 12:29 am

    I could use gift ideas for my boyfriend’s parents!! We’ve been dating for 1.5 years and although I’m not very close with them (distance makes it tough), I’d like to give something thoughtful.

  • Emily
    December 6, 2012 at 5:36 am

    Thanks for the gift suggestions! I always struggle with new gift ideas for my brothers in their mid-late twenties. I always go with t-shirts or something boring like undies or socks – any other thoughts??

  • Erica
    December 6, 2012 at 7:20 am

    i always struggle with ideas for my husband. he is a computer guru that specializes in mapping software. so the problem its, he is all into technology and I’m not as up on it as he is. plus it needs to be affordable. maybe ipad accessories? any ideas?

  • Paige
    December 6, 2012 at 7:22 am

    baaah I want the West Elm squirrel speakers (that look like the cookie jar without a slice in the tail). Maybe I should link this to my husband to remind him, haha.

  • Sarah
    December 6, 2012 at 7:32 am

    I’m having a tough time coming up with something for a family gift exchange. It could go to anyone in my family from my 12 year old niece to my 50+ uncles. I seem to only be able to come up with girly or adult ideas.

  • Jenn
    December 6, 2012 at 8:03 am

    I have that watch and mixer. Best purchases ever. (until I get that squirrel cookie jar.)
    xo Jenn

    • Making it Lovely
      December 8, 2012 at 10:59 pm

      I have the mixer, but not the watch! I love a good tortoiseshell. And I have an owl cookie jar, so I’m going to say that fulfills my woodland creature cookie jar quota.

  • Hillary
    December 6, 2012 at 8:22 am

    Would love advice about what to get my dad and stepmom. They are retired, don’t really need any “stuff” and are just plain hard to shop for. I usually default to restauratn gift cards but would like to give something more thoughtful. Help!

  • jenn aka the picky girl
    December 6, 2012 at 8:36 am

    I’ve wanted that Michael Kors watch for ages. Here’s hoping….

    I notice a lot of people have trouble with the men on their lists. I know for my brother, he really appreciates house stuff as much as we do, but with a natural bent. I bought him a terrarium in a really cool hanging container from Etsy. I think he’s going to love it, especially as he’s in an apartment in Queens without a whole lot of natural light.

    • Making it Lovely
      December 8, 2012 at 10:56 pm

      I love the terrarium idea! And both the bubble clock and light, above, could be appreciated by men as well as women.

  • Chloe Moon
    December 6, 2012 at 10:16 am

    I just bought a kitchen aid mixer for myself and it has changed my life. I love it! Definitely a great choice for a present! I’m using my AMEX points too! I love that they have that option! =)

  • Sarah
    December 6, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    Suggestions for brother-in-law would be great.

  • Donna
    December 6, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Teen Girls? They are always tough.

  • ryan
    December 6, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    my mixer is one of my favorite possessions. the pasta attachments make for such fun family dinner nights.

    • Making it Lovely
      December 8, 2012 at 11:00 pm

      Do you use it a lot? I have the mixer, but not the pasta attachment. I’ve never made my own pasta, but I feel like I’d do it once or twice and then never again! Do you find crazy places to hang the noodles while they dry?

  • Kristina
    December 6, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    I wish I had a billion points to turn in for that Michael Kors watch, I’ve been drooling over that one for a loooong time.

    • Making it Lovely
      December 8, 2012 at 11:01 pm

      Me too. I just cashed in all of my points for tickets to The Book of Mormon for me and Brandon (which I’m really looking forward to), but that means no watch for me.

  • Jackie
    December 6, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    I really like the satchel…suggestions please for 20 y.o. daughter!! :)

  • Valerie
    December 6, 2012 at 3:00 pm

    I’m trying to figure out what to get my brothers (18 and 19) that isn’t in the video game/dvd/gift card oeuvre. But I’m pretty broke this year, so I have a $40 limit for both of them. Everything I’ve looked at so far that I thought would be good goes way over that!

  • Jen b
    December 6, 2012 at 6:23 pm

    I have been an long time user of Amex reward program. My couch, bed, dining table from Crate and Barrel. My Hurom juicer from Williams Sonoma. You can link points directly to your Amazon account. From amazon I have purchased shoes, boots, my Vitamix, a galaxy tab and even my Mac desktop. It’s the greatest program out there!!

    • Making it Lovely
      December 8, 2012 at 11:03 pm

      I use my points all the time at west elm. So much easier to justify getting something new for the house when you can ‘buy’ it with points.

  • Ashley
    December 6, 2012 at 9:36 pm

    I’m having a really hard time coming up with something for my 18 year old sister. She has so many interests its hard to narrow down a meaningful gift.

  • Kim @ Yellow Brick Home
    December 7, 2012 at 10:12 am

    Cute ideas! Every year, we struggle with our little nephews and niece. They’re between 2-6, so old enough to LOVE Christmas, but some are young enough to sleep through it! We’re terrible with kid gifts, and we don’t have many friends that are moms to ask for help. So, help?!

    • Making it Lovely
      December 8, 2012 at 11:58 pm

      I wrote a guest post for Modern Kiddo, showing what we’re giving to Eleanor and August this year. I’m not sure when it’s going up, but soon, I imagine!

  • Kim @ Yellow Brick Home
    December 7, 2012 at 10:24 am

    Oh! And I meant to make a note to Donna, above. For teen girls, I always think things like “fancy” makeup (in brands like Nars, Bobbi Brown, Stila…) would be fun since they wouldn’t normally buy that themselves. And sparkly tights or opaque tights in cheery colors!

    I love teen girl gifts.