Don't know what you want for your birthday? No fear! We've gathered a bunch of fun and practical ideas to get you feeling a bit more ~inspired~. From cute animal socks to a Bob Ross coloring book to a Vitamix blender, there's something for everyone!
1. A pack of colorful socks with animal patterns that'll peek out when you wear loafers.
2. A candle designed to smell like your home state (or city), in case you're far away from family on your birthday.
3. A beautiful gold loop "Daphne" claw clip inspired by Daphne Bridgerton so you can look and feel like the season's diamond (and hopefully stay out of any Lady Whistledown gossip).
Fib and Fables is a Black woman-owned small business based in Washington, DC, that sells an assortment of mythical hair accessories inspired by stories and folklore. We've also got you covered with some more Black-owned small businesses to shop from, as well a roundup of the best claw clips for your hair!
Get it from Fib and Fables for $26 (available in four styles).
4. An LED shell lamp for anyone who wants to live in Ariel's grotto.
5. A bottle of holographic nail polish that'll seriously hurt your productivity because you'll be staring at your nails all day.
6. An Animal Crossing video game so you can create your dream island and virtual home (that you hope to recreate for real someday).
7. Teeny tiny ramen earrings for anyone who counts instant noodles as a main food group.
8. A book filled with words of wisdom by ultimate chill dude Bob Ross to soothe your tired old soul.
9. A Kate Spade tote bag covered in classic novels that would be great for — well — carrying your books!
10. An Instant Pot because you want homecooked meals but hate cooking. Well, this 7-in-1 appliance will do most of the work for you.
11. A personalized necklace to wear during birthday month because once a year, it's all about YOU.
12. An Instax Mini 9 because one of your New Year's resolutions was to start a photo album for your future grandchildren. (Or is that just me?)
13. A set of fine-line pens for starting that bullet journal you've been planning since your last birthday.
14. A word clock that's way easier to read than anything with Roman numerals. Plus, people will ogle at it every time you have guests over.
15. A quirky print of animal pirates to hang on your wall because you'll never really stop being a child — even if your driver's license says otherwise!
16. An aesthetically pleasing water bottle that just might get you to start drinking more water. Maybe, we'll ~sea~.
17. A pair of heart-shaped sunglasses to match your fave emoji. 😍
18. A splurge-worthy Vitamix blender you've been eyeing since your last blender died on you mid-smoothie.
19. A bottle of Rock Grace Non-Alcoholic Crystal Elixir so you can enjoy some tasty mocktails and cheers to being another year older (and potentially wiser).
20. A leopard fleece throw blanket that can be styled on your couch or bed for a pop of pattern and for when you're in the mood to watch your favorite movie with a cup of hot tea.
21. A stylish and useful Béis backpack designed to become your new favorite travel companion. It's got tons of compartments, pockets, hook-able padded straps, and a built-in laptop sleeve, all in one chic design.
BuzzFeed Shopping Editor Chelsea Stuart says: "I just bought this bag for a five-day cross-country road trip and it came in so clutch. First, I flew with it and was able to stow it under my seat so not only did I not have to check a bag, but I didn't even have to deal with overhead storage. Then, it traveled through 10+ states and various hotels with me. My absolute favorite parts of the bag are the compression straps and the fact that it fully unzips. This makes it *SO* easy to pack, unpack, and take through airport security. I was able to fit ~four pairs of leggings, four T-shirts, two sets of pajamas, two pairs of shorts, two bathing suits, a sweatshirt, a week's worth of undergarments, travel toiletries, an iPad, my wallet, and more odds and ends."
Get it from Béis for $88 (available in eight colors) or from Nordstrom, also for $88 (available in three colors).
22. An amazing Always Pan by Our Place, the do-it-all kitchen tool you can count on for braising, searing, steaming, straining, sautéing, frying, boiling, serving, and looking downright beautiful, too!
Promising review: "Our daughter bought us an Always Pan for Christmas, we use it at least once every day; and absolutely love this pan! Nothing sticks to this pan, we have burned stuff in this pan, all we have to do is let the pan sit in warm soapy water for a few hours, then use the little scrubber that comes with the pan to wash the pan clean. We are so pleased with the Always Pan, we bought one for our friends as a house warming present this past month. The Always Pan is well worth the money." –Kimberly V.
Get it from Our Place for $120+ (available in three sizes and 12 colors).
You can read more about this product in our full review of the Always Pan.
23. A whimsical dog lamp because yes, it's practical as it will illuminate your work space, but it will also light up your life. 🥰
24. A 2-in-1 straightener and curling iron that'll make remixing your hairstyle so. much. EASIER. Also, its extra long cord comes in handy when singing live concerts in the mirror. 🎤
25. A SKINFOOD egg white mask that helps minimize pores while sloughing off dead skin cells and blackheads. Not only will your face feel ultra-smooth, but it'll be rejuvenated for all those birthday selfies you're destined to take.
26. An adorable solar-powered LED wind chime that'll add a little personality to your patio. They don't actually chime since they're plastic balls, but their color and light will definitely make your heart sing.
27. An Instax smartphone printer because all those epic birthday memories shouldn't be trapped in your phone. With this smartphone printer, you can choose your favorites from your library and print them on the spot — you can even print multiples and hand them out as party favors!
28. A pair of fuzzy slippers for keeping your feet extra warm while you're putzing around the house.
Promising review: "Really comfortable slippers. I love mine. They fit as expected, and your toes can breathe! I'm not sure how long they'll last, but they are cute! I may order another pair in a different color!" —Mrs. Jones
Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in sizes 5–10 and 15 colors)
29. Some gorgeous glass food containers for stunningly storing your week's worth of lunches. This is elevated ~eating~ (no more takeout food containers).
The jars are BPA-free as well as microwave- and dishwasher-safe.
"Before working from home became the norm, I would use these handy jars to bring my lunch almost every day. They're perfect for things like fruit, salad, or something saucy — stuff you really don't want to get squished *and* want to ensure doesn't leak into your bag. *But* I have found that I use them just as much at home full-time! They are of course great for leftovers, but also for prepped ingredients for the week. Shedded cheese, prepped chicken, and chopped veggies usually live in these, ready to be utilized for a quick lunch or snack. They clean *super* well — I even have the cream color and it recovered from storing beets! 10/10 from me." —Rachel Dunkel
Get them from Amazon for $25+ each (available in two sizes and seven colors).
30. A Brightland olive oil subscription that'll have you feeling like you could take on Bobby Flay in a cook-off. These are great on salads and pastas, and are perfect to drizzle on top of a ton of other delectable dishes. The subscription starts off with Brightland's bestseller, The Duo, which includes their popular Awake and Alive olive oils.
Brightland is a WOC-owned small business that sources olives for their oils from a family-run farm in California.
What they'll get: Their first package will include two of Brightland's bestselling olive oils, and after that they can customize their packages via Brightland's subscriber hub.
Promising review: "I have yet to find another olive oil with better flavor than Brightland. I find myself making meals specifically just to use this lovely olive oil. It is a total game-changer. Say goodbye to that nasty bitter flavor that comes with most commercial oils, and hello to an explosion of flavors and spice. (Surprisingly spicy!) Ordering and shipping are always a breeze; you can also easily adjust the subscription to suit your needs. I’m so happy to have found this product. It honestly makes everything taste better." —Jen
Get a gift subscription from Brightland for $65/month (available once monthly or every 2–3 months). Just keep in mind that you'll have to go in and cancel the subscription once you're ready for it to end. (Note: this can't be sent with the "send as gift" option.)
31. A set of porcelain serving bowls so you can display fresh fruits on your countertop and act like Architectural Digest's "Open Door" will be stopping by for a full house tour. Très chic!
Promising review: "I wish I bought these years ago. Having a dinner salad has always been a choice of cramming it into a bowl or having it fall off a plate. With these, that issue is solved and as a bonus, things like pasta are much easier to serve and eat. They are very well made and heavy." —CNorris
Get a set of two from Amazon for $25.99+ (clip the coupon on the product page to save 30%; available in three colors).
32. A set of detox face mask and brush set if you're always looking for a good skincare addition. These are also a great gift if you love ~keeping up~ with all things Kardashian.
Promising review: "I personally love this face mask! It makes your face feel so good, and so soft after! You don’t need to use a lot, and it will last me a while! My husband loved it too! Also used it with the face mask brush and I have to say, it is a GAME CHANGER!!!!❤️❤️" —Tori
Get 6 pairs from Kylie Cosmetics for $33 (originally $37).
33. A super sleek Beast blender + hydration system that will look très luxe sitting on your counter. This'll help you make super silky smoothies (say that five times fast) with its smart blade that adjusts its speed for a consistent blend.
This comes with a drinking lid so after they've blended their smoothie, they can take the glass to-go!
Promising review: "This has been a lifesaver in our house! My family was ready to divorce me over the noise created by our last blender, which we put up with for the past two years. I'm sure even my neighbors were awakened every morning when I turned it on! I had to cycle through it twice to get everything blended properly. Never did I think you could find a quieter option that would perform better. The Beast is a game changer! It is so quiet I can blend in the early mornings without fear of waking anyone else, and it cycles through once with blended smoothie perfection. It is so easy to use and clean and looks quite sleek on our counter. I love the smaller cup for making salsa and pesto. And, the hydration system is lovely. I have only one complaint: Wish they would have included to lids with carry handles so I could bring both with me to work and drink from them, but still give this 5 stars! LOVE IT!!!!! Don't hesitate, you will love it too!!!!!" —Cmarvy
Get it from Amazon or Nordstrom for $194.95+ (available in three colors).
34. An incredibly colorful puzzle that comes in a variety of locations that are sure to inspire wanderlust, like Paris, New York City, and London. These are so stunning, you may want to frame it once you're finished.
Promising review: "We discovered Uncommon Goods around Christmas, and were just browsing online and saw the puzzles. I haven't done a puzzle in over 20 years but the artwork depicting NYC caught my eye. It was something new to get us off the couch and away from the TV. It was a blast. I really enjoyed it. The quality and size of the pieces are top notch. I bought a second puzzle from somewhere else and it wasn't half as nice." —Elaine
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $22 (available in four styles).
35. A California wine mixer flight from In Good Taste to take you on a tasty trip to the West Coast. You'll get to sip some delish mini vinos and expand your palate.
In Good Taste specializes in searching for small-batch wines to offer wine lovers through their website. Curated tasting flights include six to eight servings. This one specifically has eight: pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet, red wine, sauvignon blanc, rosé, granche, and barbera.
I've been loving In Good Taste for their cute wine samplers. It's such an amazing way to get to try out different blends of wine without the commitment of a full bottle. You can get about two glasses of wine from each mini bottle, which is perfect for the person in your life who wants to taste any wine they can get their hands on.
Get it from In Good Taste for $65.
36. A duo of skincare items from Glossier to make skincare approachable if you don't quite know where to start. This comes with a cleanser and a face oil serum hybrid.
The set comes with Glossier's Milky Jelly Cleanser and Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid.
Promising review: "I turned 39 and boom, acne on my chin I have never experienced before. I tell my bestie, she recommends this brand. IN ONE WEEK MY SKIN HAS COMPLETELY CLEARED! My pores minimized, my complexion the most even I have ever seen. The texture is smooth, no baby bumps. I came back and bought Cloud Paint Duo, Boy Brow Duo, and priming moisturizer. I am super excited for those products. I'm allergic to everything and Glossier DOES NOT IRRITATE ME!!! So happy!! Customer for life." —Susan
Get it from Glossier for $45 (originally $50).
37. A mini jewelry case if you rely on sandwich bags to store your necklaces and bracelets and then have to spend hours undoing a giant knot when you have a dinner reservation to make.
Promising review: "Bought this jewelry case for my Granddaughter and she loved it. Small enough to pack in a suitcase but big enough to carry all she needs. Nice color too. I may have to order one for myself." —Carolann G. Manka
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 10 colors).
38. A set of eye-popping fine point pens because why settle for just black and blue pens when you could have all the colors of the rainbow at your disposal?
These are designed not to bleed through thin pages, so all your planners and journals can get the flair pen treatment.
Promising review: "I love how this pen feels to hold and it writes beautifully! I am very picky about how the ink looks from the pens I use and I don't remember having one that writes so smoothly and beautifully! I will buy these whenever I need more. I actually just purchased another package of all black!" —Marcia
Get a set of 18 from Amazon for $7.99 (clip the coupon on the product page to save 20%; available in two color combinations).
39. A custom paint-by-number pet portrait for turning those 8 million dog photos living on your Instagram into a hand-painted art activity that'll be fit for framing.
Promising review: "This was so much fun! I tried three different photos in the tool they give you and chose this one. It shows you a preview of each painting, which is really helpful when deciding which image to go with. Not every picture came out as good, so definitely try a few! Easy to use, and fun to paint — excited to frame it! I actually have some paint left over and will try to do another one!" —Jonathan Kebert
Get it from Amazon for $39.99
It's your bday, you do what you want!
