Like clockwork, Christmas comes around once a year but for some reason, it always seems to sneak up on me like a thief in the night, intent on swiping all of my coins with no warning, regret, or remorse. While in the past, I've been the best example of a procrastinating holiday shopper, this year, I'm ahead of the game and I've got the ultimate pre-season gift guide that will put you on, too.
Oprah recently dropped a list of her favorite things and while these items may cost a helluva lot more than raindrops and roses and whiskers on kittens, they are sure to warm the hearts of your loved ones all damn year.
If you're an early-shopper and need some inspiration for what to get the ones you love for Christmas, scroll below for 20 of our favorite items from Oprah's list:
*This list includes affiliate links. If you purchase an item from the affiliate link provided, xoNecole might earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting the brands that continue to keep this platform up and running!
Beauty Gifts
La Chatelaine Luxury Soap Collection ($68)
Amazon
No rich auntie's home is complete without a collection of luxury soap, and Oprah wants you to know that La Chatelaine has your back, sis.
BlendSmart2 Holiday Glow Set ($98)
Amazon
Oprah suggests you get this four-piece, electric makeup tool for the cosmetic-lover in your life.
Murphy & Daughters Bath Salts ($88)
Amazon
Turn your bathroom into an in-home spa with this 25-ounce, botanical-scented tin of high-end bath salts by Murphy & Daughters.
Cozy Gifts
E-Marie Travel Blanket ($88)
Amazon
Not sure about what to buy the jet-setter that has everything? Try this ultra-comfy faux cashmere travel blanket that is not only warm but versatile AF.
Matte Glass Candles ($55)
Amazon
These 10-ounce candles are hand-poured in Los Angeles using a mix of coconut, soy, beeswax, and apricot oil.
G.I.L.I. by Jill Martin Oversized 60" x 70" Printed Reversible Hamptons Throw ($45)
Amazon
Temperatures are dropping and warmth must be preserved at all costs, making this oversized throw by G.I.L.I. by Jill Martin the perfect gift for the whole family.
Foodie Finds
Spicewalla Kitchen Essentials Spices and Seasonings Set ($95)
Amazon
Put some spice in your loved one's life with this 18-piece set of of essential seasonings by Spicewalla.
Borgo de' Medici - Luxury Truffle Gift Tray ($100)
Amazon
This Truffle-laced cooking set is a bougie foodie's dream and features pasta, risotto, dipping oil, balsamic glaze, and black truffle sauce.
Eastern Standard Provisions Gourmet Soft Pretzel Gift Box ($60)
Amazon
Handmade, artisanal pretzels with all-natural ingredients are always a good idea and Oprah seconds this notion.
Online Exclusives
Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice ($14)
Amazon
Our forever First Lady is hitting us with even more heat this year and is offering a guided journal featuring 150 questions that will allow you to reflect on your circumstances and truly become the woman you were born to be.
Stylish Gifts
Brouk & Co Duo Travel Organizer ($48)
Amazon
Traveling on the fly has never been easier with this fashionable Brouk and Co Duo organizer.
Intelex Plush Slippers ($25)
Amazon
Nothing says "I love you" like a pair of fuzzy house slippers and Oprah has got just the pair for you to add to your holiday shopping list.
Faux Fur Colorblock Pull Through Scarf ($59)
Amazon
Pull through scarves are the wave this winter, so lace the fashion-forward woman in your life with this efficient accessory and watch her slay.
Tech Gadgets
Rae Phone Crossbody Bag ($49)
Amazon
Throwing my phone in the endless abyss that I call a purse is a risk that I take everyday, but this Rae Phone crossbody bag is an inexpensive remedy that will definitely be on my holiday shopping list this year.
Neolab Convergence Neo Smartpen M1 and Notebook ($150)
Amazon
There are some folks who prefer write out their thoughts before they type them out, and I am some folks; some folks is me. While this can be a tedious habit to maintain, the Neolab Convergence Neo Smartpen M1 and Notebook is sure to make any writer's life a bit less overwhelming.
Magic Hands truShiatsu Neck and Back Massagers ($199.99)
Amazon
Your neck, your back, this electric massager got you on alla that.
Courant Catch:2 Multidevice Wireless Charger ($150)
Amazon
Tired of your BFF's phone dying every time the tea starts getting hot? This multi-wireless charger is here to get your homegirl's battery life all the way together.
For The Family
Pink Picasso - Adult Paint by Numbers Kit 16x20 ($42)
Amazon
Arts & Crafts and nap-time were pretty much the best parts about being a kid and this Paint By Numbers set by Pink Picasso is perfect for anyone in your life who needs a break from adulting.
The Clementine Hunter Collection-Collectible Christmas Ornaments ($58)
Amazon
Crafted by who is known as Louisiana's most famous artist, these handmade must-have Christmas ornaments are a sentimental and valuable gift for any Black art collector.
Pilo Fabric Shavers ($50)
Amazon
Say goodbye to lint brushes and sweater pills with this top of the line technological gadget which guarantees 50 minutes of continuous fabric removing.
Featured image by Reuters/Getty Images.
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RELATED
Again, the answer never changes because, if there is one thing that Shellie Reneé Warren is gonna get, it’s 6-8 (sometimes nine) hours of sleep. However, since my chronotype (check out “Ever Wonder What Personality Traits Make Someone A 'Morning Person'?”) means that I like/prefer to write in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I will sleep for the night for five hours and take a nap in the day. And y’all, that is just fine with me because I am well aware of the fact that napping does everything from give me more energy, heighten my alertness and even make me more creative to decrease stress levels, strengthen immunity, and reduce my chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
My problem is I will oftentimes go “overboard” with my daytime zzz’s. What I mean by that is, in order to get the most out of a nap, they say thatyou shouldn’t sleep for longer than 25 minutes or so; otherwise, you could wake up feeling sluggish (I don’t but…). Also, it can make resting, soundly, at night a bit of a struggle.
So, what are you saying, Shellie? We should get quickies in? Yeah. And it’s funny that the word “quickie” would come up because just like a sex quickie can do wonders for you (and it can — check out “12 Super Solid Reasons To Have A Quickie Every Single Day”), it’s a full-circle moment when I say that something that can improve the quality of your sex life is to have a power nap (a nap that lasts between 10-30 minutes).
Wanna know how the two things correlate? Honestly, it’s no secret that sleep and sex work together to optimize both (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”). Today, though, we’re going to tap into how a nap, specifically, can have you partaking in some of the best sex that you’ve experienced in a minute. I’ll explain.
Naps Reduce Stress
GiphyIf you’re feeling super stressed out right now, you are not alone. There is plenty of data out here that says that most of us are stressed for at least a couple of reasons at a time — and that can impact your sexual health on a few levels. For one thing, it can bring about feelings of depression and/or anxiety. Stress can also throw your hormone levels off (including your cycle) which can weaken your libido. Stress can make you want to put distance between you and your partner (yes, literally).
Stress can also make it challenging to get aroused or to have an orgasm. And just what can help to decrease stress? Taking a nap. Since sleep has a way of helping you to “get off of the clock” and relax a bit, that can lower your stress levels and “reset” your body so that you are calmer — and that, in turn, can do wonders for your sex drive and ultimately your sex life.
Naps Improve Your Mood
GiphyThere is one person in my life, and fairly 80 percent of the time, she’s in a super good mood. Oh, but let that girl go without sleep, and…who is this woman? LOL. There’s research behind why this happens. When a person is sleep-deprived, it messes with their brain chemicals, and that can amplify emotions like anger, restlessness and sadness. In fact, one study revealed that people who had their sleep disrupted throughout the night, they ended up having their positive outlook on life reduced by about 30 percent.
And geeze, who wants to have sex when they’re not feeling very good? Anyway, since serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your moods, your sleep patterns, and your libido and sleep is what helps to keep it in balance — by taking a nap, not only can it help you to feel better, it can also increase your desire for sex (it can also build up your endurance which is also…sexually beneficial).
Naps Increase Your Focus and Concentration
GiphySomething that some of my clients bring up is how, when it comes to having sex, sometimes the flesh is willing while the spirit is weak because, although the desire for intimacy is there, so much is going on that they aren’t able to get still enough to focus on experiencing copulation with their partner. This also tracks because, when you don’t have enough rest, your brain finds itself not working in harmony and that can make it hard to do everything from approaching life with a sense of flexibility to making necessary decisions.
Certain data also reveal that a lack of rest can cause you to have a really poor attention span and not process things in context (the more you know). So, if you really want to get some yet it’s hard for you to focus long enough to make it happen, ask your bae to lie down with you and take a nap. Between the sleep and the snuggling (check out “Fall's Coming: 8 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Cuddling”) — you may wake up with your mind and body totally on the same page. #wink
Naps Can Make You Feel Better About Your Body
GiphyEven if, overall, you feel really good about your body, I think that we all have moments when we feel less attractive than others — and who wants to have sex when they don’t really feel…very sexy? Well, something else that sleep, in general, can do is increase your confidence in your body.
For one thing, if you want to lose a few pounds, sleep can actually make that happen by helping your body metabolize the glucose (sugar) that’s in it so that you can better manage your appetite. Other studies go on to share that since sleep deprivation can impact one’s mental health and emotional stability in a negative way, of course, getting enough rest would increase body positivity.
Shoot, science even goes so far as to say that insomnia can cause people to have an elevated level of dissatisfaction when it comes to their body image. Don’t take their word for it, though. Look in the mirror before a nap. Then look in a mirror after waking up from me. Do you feel better? I’d be surprised if you don’t.
Makes Your Brain Bigger…Which Could Make Your Orgasms Better
GiphyI saved the best for last by design. Now if you’re wondering how in the world a nap can improve (and possibly increase) your orgasms — oh, there is a method to the madness…trust. For starters, the saying that your biggest sex organ is your brain? That isn’t a myth. Long story less long, the brain is what houses your central nervous system and that is what controls how men and women sexually function (yes, literally).
And since the brain also releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin during sex and brain activity significantly increases in women during sexual activity (especially right before she orgasms) — well, would it trip you out to know that when you take a nap, your brain actually expands? A bigger brain (that’s healthy) can potentially intensify your sexual experiences (and your climaxes) — and who doesn’t want that to go down?
____
Like I said earlier, I never have to be convinced to get a nap in. However, if your sex life has been a bit stagnant lately, you’ve been feeling a little sluggish and you’re not sure what to do — I’m hoping that a nap can get you right.
There’s enough science to prove that it can. All you need to do is give it a shot.
Now where’s your pillow and sleep mask, chile?
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