Teenage girl gift ideas. Don’t we all need those?! Teen girls. They have to be one of the hardest groups to buy for. You might be birthday shopping or maybe you are looking for Christmas gifts for teen girls. I’m excited for you to meet two of my sisters (maybe someday you’ll meet them all – there are 4 more!), Kara and Julia. As a sophomore and senior, they are the perfect ones to write this gift guide (and they have good style to boot).

They wrote this post to moms, but take the ideas and buy for any teenage girl in your life.

Remember, I’d recommend that you research any media or book suggestions before you purchase them for your child (or if you are buying for someone else’s child, run it buy their parents first) as each family has different guidelines.

Now, here’s Kara and Julia!

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Teenage Girl Gift Ideas

Teenagers can be very hard to buy presents for sometimes. As the years go by, it gets more and more difficult. So, coming from two teenage girls, here are some teenage girl gift ideas that we and most other teen girls would love to receive.

1. Clothes

If you know your daughter’s style and favorite store, any teenage girl would LOVE to have more clothes to add to their closet. Some of the popular stores for teens: Target, Forever 21, Aeropostale, Hollister, and Wet Seal.

2. Phone or iPod Case

Girls like to change their phone cases just as much as they like to change outfits. One of my favorite places for cases is Wallflower Designs. You can also look at Amazon.

3. Money

Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t be happy with receiving money. You can do whatever you want with it: save it, buy a favorite thing, or spend it on anything else you want.

4. Movies

Most girls love to watch movies. It’s the best to cuddle up on the couch and watch a good film. I have a collection of movies that I keep stored up in my room that I can just pull off the shelf anytime I want to. One of my personal favorites is The Avengers.

5. CDs

Just like movies, teens LOVE music. We could listen to it all day if our parents would let us. I keep a collection of CD’s in my room just like I do with movies. If your child isn’t an album kind of person, get them an itunes gift card… which brings us to the next suggestion. I just love the Imagine Dragon’s album Night Visions. 

6. Gift Cards

Don’t know what types of music, clothes, jewelry, etc. your child likes? Well, gift cards are always a safe bet. It allows your child to be assured that they actually will get what they like. You can easily buy a gift card from your daughter’s favorite store, but if you’re not sure, you can never go wrong with iTunes, Starbucks (or any other food place), or any of the clothing stores I listed above. Don’t forget you can use your Swabucks to buy these!

7. Jewelry

Any girl would be happy to receive any kind of jewelry – rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, or anything else you can think of. I just love it when someone buys me an adorable necklace or a cute bracelet. You can find jewelry at almost any clothing store and even online. If you know their style and know they would love it, surprise them, but some teen girls can be pretty picky. You could make a date out of it and take her jewelry shopping so she could pick out her favorites.

8. Books

For your daughter that loves to read, any book would be the best gift ever. Check and see if she is missing any from her collections of favorite novels. You can look through her bookcase to get her taste in books. If you’re still not sure, one of our top favorite books ever is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

9. Perfume, Body Lotions and Spray

I know for me, I absolutely love body spray. It is my number one must have before I leave the house. Not only do I get lots of compliments from friends, but also it is a great way to smell fresh all day long. Bath and Body Works is always a given for a great place to buy from.

[Note from Deanna – you can also make your own to avoid harmful chemical. Check out this recipe for Body Spray or this one for Body Butter]

10. FOOD

This is a must have. Christmas is that time to fill yourself on foods that aren’t good for you. So why not go all out on one day? Just fill your daughter’s stocking with cookies, candy, gum, etc. Even if you have a daughter who is into eating healthy, you can still get tasty energy bars and healthy snacks she’d love!

11. Sunglasses and Accessories

Accessories are a HUGE part of a girl’s wardrobe. Scarves, hats, sunglasses, shoes, purses and you name it. Last Christmas this was all I asked for from friends. I loved it. You can easily dress up a casual shirt with a hat and scarf, and it’s super cute. Forever 21 has ADORABLE accessories, and you can find more at Target, Walmart, Payless (or any local shoe store) and basically any clothing store.

Depending on your budget, you can mix and match any of these options to create an awesome gift. We can be picky but we’ll love anything you give us.

Thank you, sisters! Hooray for ideas for Christmas gifts for teen girls. If you have questions for them or want to run a gift by them, ask in the comments! What are you favorite teenage girl gift ideas?

Today I’m excited to share with you the words of someone else. I’m so thankful for her thoughts, heart, and influence, not only here but throughout my life. I’m excited to introduce you to my mom, Vicki! I can’t think of a more fitting person to write the first guest contribution on this blog as she shares her thoughts on keeping your eyes on Christ at Christmas.

Photo Credit Jason Jenkins creative commons

It happened again today.

I took my eyes from the vertical position, heavenward, and turned them toward the horizontal. My focus went from following only what the Holy Spirit is directing me to do to focusing on what my friends, neighbors, church, authors, and radio show hosts are telling me I should be doing.

Why do I continue to do that? I know what looking horizontally brings – fatigue, depression, feelings of inadequacies, trying to please others, the fear of letting others down, and frustration. I guess if I had to sum it up, I would say it makes my burdens heavy. Like a chain around my neck, I carry the burdens alone. But, oh the difference when my eyes have been looking upward.

“What next, Lord? Okay, I’ll do it.” Today, God has told me to go “there.” As Vance Havner said,

“’There’ is the place of God’s purpose. God has a ‘there’ for you, somewhere He wants you to be, something He wants you to do. You can never be truly happy elsewhere, nor can you please God anywhere but ‘there’.”

The path is not always easy. The days are not without trials. The problems are still before me. The difference is only in the weight of the burden. When I walk where He tells me to walk, the burden on me is light because He is carrying it for me.

During this Christmas season, we celebrate a day 2,000 years ago when God told His only Son, Jesus Christ, to go ‘there’ – the place of God’s purpose – and He went. Help me in all the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season to keep my eyes centered only on Him. For only then will I be where He wants to use me today.

Photo Credit Cliff Muller Creative Commons License

This week continues all things Christmas at From this Kitchen Table. (Find all the posts here.) Be sure to come back the rest of the week for a gift guide for teenage girls (written by my two teenage sisters) and to get a fabulous recipe for a gingerbread latte. You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!

Linking up to Teach Me Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Tending the Home Tuesday, WFMW, Welcome Home Wednesday, Homemaking Link Up, From House to Home, Thriving Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, The Weekend re-Treat, Faith Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, Strut Your Stuff, Mindful Mommy Monday, Living Proverbs 31, Mama Moments Monday, TGIM, Babies and Beyond, Lovely Ladies, Fellowship Fridays

This is the third post in the Christmas series at From this Kitchen Table. (Find all the posts here.) Be sure to come back over the next few weeks to read more thoughts, get some new recipes, and receive gift ideas. You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!

It’s December. Parties and dinners to attend. Presents or hostess gifts might be required. Every year I find myself brainstorming ideas for my church staff party and for family.

I’ve assembled some ideas that I’ve seen, received, or made. Make them simple (and super affordable) or add the optional ideas to jazz them up a bit. You could even combine a few baskets into one – Popcorn/Movie Basket and the Hot Chocolate one go together pretty well.

1. Hot Chocolate Basket

• Hot Chocolate: Purchase hot chocolate or make your own mix and package it in a small mason jar. You could also do hot chocolate balls or hot chocolate spoons
• Toppings: (place this in small jars from Hobby Lobby or little food bags)
  Marshmallows (If you feel up to it you can even make them! These look yummy or check out this recipe for peppermint marshmallows. This recipe is made with honey)
  Mini Chocolate Chips
  Sprinkles
  Carton of Heavy Whipping Cream (optional)
• A mug or two (completely optional)
• Packaging:
  Find a basket or tin (Hobby Lobby has a great selection of both you can buy on sale) or even a gift bag and arrange all the goodies!
  You can also put everything inside of the mug as packaging if you’re going to give it to a single person. Tie cellophane around it with a bow or ribbon to complete the packaging.

2. Tea Basket

I love tea but it’s not often that I splurge on a fun new flavor.

• Tea Bags Some brands to consider:
  Yogi has some amazing flavors (Egyptian Licorice is fabulous, but it’s not recommended when nursing or pregnant)
  Tazo
  Twinings
  Traditional Medicinals  (choose this or one of the next two if you want the cleanest tea)
  Numi
  Rishi
  Celestial Seasons is an option available at your local store.
• Small Jar of Honey (Optional) Buy a small glass jar and put honey in it or buy a honey sampler already packaged.
• Packaging A basket or you may put a bow on a single box or tape several boxes together and tie it with ribbon.

OR

• Loose Leaf Tea
• Stainless Tea Mesh Tea Ball
• Small Jar of Honey (Optional) Buy a small glass jar and put honey in it or buy a honey sampler already packaged.
• Packaging Leave it in it’s original packaging and tie the tea ball on with a bow or move the tea into a canister or glass jar and arranged in a small basket.

3. Ice Cream Sundae Kit

• Toppings: (Put the sauces in mason jars and place the other topping in small jars from Hobby Lobby or little food bags)
  Chopped nuts
  Hot Fudge Sauce (This recipe is super easy with sweetened condensed milk or try this one to make it from scratch)
  Caramel Sauce (Here are a couple of recipes)
  Chopped candy bars, cookies, sprinkles or whatever else you feel
  Carton of Heavy Whipping Cream (Optional)
• Ice Cream Scoop (optional)
• Ice Cream Bowls or Cones (optional)
• Packaging:
  Find a basket or tin (Hobby Lobby has a both selection of both you can buy on sale) or even just a gift bag works great and arrange all the goodies!

4. Cheese & Crackers Basket

• Assorted Cheeses (personal favorites are Havarti and Smoked Gouda)
• Crackers (a box or two)
• Summer Sausage (optional)
• Specialty Jellies (optional)
• Small cutting board and knife (optional)
• Packaging:
  If you are using the cutting board you could place everything on top of it, wrap it in cellophane, and tie a bow around it. Otherwise the basket or gift bag route is a simple way to go.

5. Nuts and Dried Fruits (Healthy Snacks) Basket

This would be another one that I would love! These are all things I enjoy snacking on but don’t always have the budget to purchase.

• Snack Ideas:
  Almonds
  Walnuts
  Pecans
  Cashews
  Dates
  Apricots
  Raisins
  Craisins
  Other dried fruits or nuts
• If you want something else to add, Lara Bars or dark chocolate are fun
• Packaging: Leave in original package, put in small food bags, tins from Hobby Lobby, or mason jars. Place in a gift bag or basket.

6. Candy/DIY Snacks Basket

• Purchase:
  Bag or bar of better quality chocolate (Ghiradelli, Lindt, a fair trade brand etc) or an assortment of them.
• Packaging: Put a bow on it or place in a small basket

Or

• Make (Your favorite candies): 
  Fudge
  Caramel Corn (My Pinterest board dedicated to caramel corn recipes)
  English Toffee (This recipe from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures look fabulous and for a twist on traditional toffee this Salted Toffee Pretzel Bark is incredible)
  Peanut Brittle
  Truffles (Here are some recipes that look yummy)
  Candy Bark (Another recipe from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures. Top with mini chocolate chips to avoid artificial colors)
  Chex Mix
  Dipped Pretzels
• Packaging Place each type of candy into a small plastic gift bag (Hobby Lobby has cute ones), metal tins, boxes or do all three. Place in a basket or simply put into a gift bag.

7. Movie Basket

• Movie (optional) If you know a movie they’d love you can buy it, get a Redbox digital gift card ($10 minimum), include a couple dollars to cover a Redbox rental or skip completely and focus on the snacks.
• Popcorn Supplies
  Popcorn Kernels – 1/2-1 cup of kernels in a bag, jar, or tin
  Coconut Oil – (Makes movie theater like popcorn. Order online or you can find it at Wal-Mart now) A couple of Tablespoons per 1/2 cup of popcorn in a small container
  Butter 1 stick is more than enough for 1 -1 1/2 cups of popcorn
  Sea Salt Optional, as most people will have salt they can use.
  Directions: Put oil and 3 kernels of popcorn in the bottom of a large pan with a lid and place over medium – medium high heat. When all three kernels pop add /2 cup or corn and put lid back on. Shake frequently until corn is popped. (May have to quickly empty out some of the popped corn to allow the rest to finish popping) Dump into a bowl and top with melted butter and salt to taste.
• Popcorn Seasoning (optional)
• Candy
  Add a few of their favorite movie candy bars or make these homemade Crunch or Heath Bars
• Packaging: Place all of the supplies into a large bowl (it will become the popcorn bowl!). You could find plastic or paper popcorn containers to add as well. Wrap a festive ribbon around the bowl and you are set.

8. Fruit

• Fruit Whatever you like and what’s in season: apples, oranges, cuties (my daughter would love to see a basket of these), grapefruit, pomegranate, bananas, pineapple, kiwi etc. The options are endless.
• Packaging Arrange them all in a basket and add a bow.

What homemade gift baskets have you given or received?

Be sure to come back next week for the next post in our Christmas series! You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!