Last-Minute Holiday Gifts & Solutions!

It’s two days before Christmas, three days before Kwanza and the 6th night of Hanukkah…yet, is there still time to pull off the Holiday Season of your dreams if you haven’t done a thing? YES to last-minute Holiday Solutions as seen on NBC’s Today show, for quality, some-personalized holiday gifts, stylish DIY wrapping and food and drink that will wow any family member or guest! Ho ho ho…let’s go!

Amy, flanked by co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.

PERSONALIZED

Photo 3x3 Desk Cubes, $24.99, cvs.com/Photo

These are free, same-day service photo cubes! I just love that it’s possible to get a personalized photo gift two days before Christmas! There are dozens of designs to choose from, holiday to love, family to pets–a little something for everyone.

The latest you can order is 7 pm Christmas eve to pick up same-day at select CVS locations. (Christmas Eve hours vary by store location so be sure to check.)

Additionally? There’s a deal on this: Through 12/24, get 40% off all items sitewide on CVS.com/Photo!

THE COFFEE DRINKER

Chefman Barista Pro, $99, walmart.com

NEW! Stainless steel, 1.8 liter water container, the perfect size for small countertop spaces and apartments! You can brew your favorite espresso drinks with a seamless and easy-to-use digital control panel, including a milk frother. One of my favorite features is the self-cleaning function, which assures your unit will be clean and ready to use in a snap. Add some bags of local coffee beans, charming mugs, a creamer container to make it a complete gift. Normally $139, this is an incredible savings and last-minute buy!

SIMPLE SWEET TREATS

Marks & Spencer assorted cookies, teas & chocolates from $7.99, target.com

New and first collab between British retailer Marks & Spencer and Target! Scrumptious cookies, chocolates, cocoas and teas, in elegant and interactive packaging. (The cookie and cocoa tins, they have light up mechanisms which we’ll demo!) I love the shortbread made in the highlands of Scotland (I recently learned that I’m 25% Scottish!) packaged in an iconic red London Bus tin, as well as the fun shapes for the chocolates in Santa’s workshop (pictured above: elves and gingerbread men) and cookies (star, tree, snowflake). Prices start at $7.99 with a majority of prices below $14.99. Wrapping Tip: This late in the game, it’s beneficial to select items that have such beautiful packaging that minimal wrapping is needed.

M&S Santa’s Magical Light Up Workshop Chocolate Box - $27.99
M&S Shortbread Light Up Lantern - $9.99
M&S Scottish Shortbread Biscuit Tin - $14.99
tea lantern - 7.99

THE HYGGE GIFT

Ugg Big Sur Oversized Blanket, $48.99: bedbathandbeyond.com

I love the gift you can totally tear open and dive right under–in this case, under the warmth of coziness! Available in 5 colors: oatmeal, off black, seal grey, snow, cabernet. It’s so big it actually has room for two and is sumptuously soft…featuring a polyester micro mink for added plushness. Best part is that it’s machine washable! 60" W x 80" L

Wrapping Tips:

My first W2 job ever was as a gift wrapper at a store called Corrick’s in my hometown of Santa Rosa, CA. I love the art of wrapping gifts, and here’s some tips for quick, easy, at-home wrap!

Use white printer paper. Any colored yarn but red is nice. Tie individual strings around in a plaid-like pattern. You can use hot glue or clear tape to secure on the underside of the box.
Use brown grocery bags, carefully removing handles. On the unprinted side, using any kind of craft paint you have, dip pine needle branches and create your own pine-printed wrapping paper! Allow to dry before wrapping.
Lastly, using any construction paper you have added to the white printer paper or brown shopping bag paper as mentioned above, create woodland creature cutouts to make your holiday boxes a super cute hit! Consider a reindeer, polar bear, penguin, fox or bunny.

Supplies if you have them around the house:

Brown Craft Paper, Brown grocery bags, White printer paper, Brown string, red yarn or red ribbon, Eucalyptus or pine branches (real or faux) tucked in, dried flowers are VERY popular, white or green craft paint, tape, scissors, Felt flowers if you can find.

Quick Appetizer: Christmas Tree Caprese

Cheese star

Julienned/Thin sliced cucumber “tree”

Toothpick or slightly longer wooden skewer cut to ~3” inches

½ grape tomato

Using a vegetable peeler, cut long continuous strips from the cucumber. Starting at the smallest end, carefully fold a strip of cucumber back and forth while piercing it with the toothpick, until you have created a tree shape. Anchor the bottom of the tree on a half-cut cherry tomato. Top with a star-cut carrot or star-cut white cheese like Monterrey Jack or preferably Pepper Jack so you have some flecks of color! You'll have to separate the folds a little to have the tree branches fill the length of the stick.

Quick Cocktail: Candy Cane “Crushers!” (Champagne)!

Squeeze the rim of a champagne flute with an orange slice to coat. You can use any citrus you prefer.

Crush 2 candy canes in a zip lock bag using a rolling pin till you have a nice powder with several small chunks of the peppermint. Transfer to a shallow dish or plate.

Then dip each glass rim into the crushed candy cane and let sit on the counter for 1 minute, while you pop the champagne. Pour champagne into each glass about 3/4 of the way and garnish with a candy cane right in the bubbly before serving. The candy won’t so much infuse the drink with a mint flavor as it will give the bubbly a little blush color, perfect for the holidays!

Can even serve remaining crushed candy canes around the edges of a tray with flutes in center for a pretty holiday “effect.”

Thanks to my friend @socalcutie for providing the inspiration!

SELF-CARE SEEKER

Homedics Shiatsu Vibration Massager Cushion with Heat, $103 sale/$129.99, bedbathandbeyond.com

Finally, let’s be honest…this next gift might be just what any holiday-weary, exhausted mama/parent/shopper needs! And just because you’re shopping 2 days Xmas before doesn’t mean you’ll skimp on the quality of your gift. Who couldn’t use a massage seat that is portable and can be strapped to nearly any seat in your home for added comfort and relaxation every time you sit? I love this!

It has three massage zones to loosen tight lumbar muscles using deep-kneading shiatsu massage and also uses soothing heat for deeper relaxation. I tend to get cold easily during winter, so this added heat is really welcome.

To watch these products and tips in action, check out the segment here.

Editorial. All prices reflect segment airdate.