8 Thoughtful Last Minute Gift Ideas
Have I ever told you about Operation Popcorn & PJ’s — the night where my husband and I tell our kids to get ready for bed as usual, then surprise them at the last minute by piling them into the car with gingerbread cookies to drive around and look at holiday lights?
Most years we plan it for a certain day, then reschedule the mission because another activity takes way longer than expected, or I forget an ingredient for the cookies, or . . . life.
All that to say, if you planned to have your holiday shopping done by now and life got in the way, I get it. Here are seven last minute gift ideas that are truly thoughtful and don’t scream “I picked this up at the grocery store fifteen minutes ago.”
Or if you prefer – here are some homemade gift ideas that turn out beautifully and don’t require any special skills.
1. Toups & Co. Gift Card
Toups & Co. is one of my longtime favorites for natural skincare and makeup – their ingredients lists are short, recognizable, and intentionally simple.
Instead of guessing shades or skin needs, a Toups & Co. gift card lets your recipient choose exactly what works for them—their favorite lipstick colors, the right foundation match, and skincare that supports their goals.
Something to put under the tree:
- A small beauty bag or zip pouch
- A natural-bristle makeup brush tied with ribbon
- A simple card explaining the gift
2. Purity Coffee Gift Subscription
Purity Coffee Gift Subscription (SAVE 20% WITH CODE MP20) – For the houses that run on laughter, love, and really good coffee. Purity is the only brand I’ve found that’s certified organic and screened for mold, mycotoxins, pesticides, and other things you don’t want in your morning cup.
Their gift subscription delivers fresh, antioxidant-rich coffee to your giftee every month – available in whole bean or ground – and you can prepay for 3 or 6 months.
3. The Making Herbal Preparations 101 Course from Herbal Academy
Perfect for the curious beginner herbalist, this course covers the four basic categories of herbal preparations, 12 everyday safe herbs to use at home, and 33 DIY herbal recipes from teas and tinctures to salves and oils.
This course will guide your recipient through 7 convenient and compact lessons that are chock-full of hands-on activities, videos, and helpful herbal charts to guide them on their way to making herbal preparations at home.
Something to put under the tree:
- Tie a handwritten card with course details to a small hunk of beeswax (often found at health food stores) that your recipient can use to make herbal salves
- Tie a fresh sprig of rosemary to the outside of a card with details inside
4. PACT Gift Card
If your recipient loves organic cotton basics, sustainable wardrobe staples, and ultra-comfy loungewear, a Pact gift card is an easy choice.
Their pieces are soft, well-made, and built for everyday comfort – and the gift card lets them choose the styles they’ll reach for most.
5. Kids Cook Real Food eCourse
Your kids learn an essential skill they need in order to eat healthy, and someone makes dinner instead of you.
The Kids Cook Real Food Course is taught by my friend Katie, a trained teacher with a passion for making sure our children know how to nourish themselves well before they head off to college.
Something to put under the tree:
Cute little aprons or whisks.
6. Wishgarden Herbs Gift Card
WishGarden makes blends loved by frequent travelers, athletes, new moms, and not so new moms . . . and a gift card is a wonderful option if you’re not sure which formulas your recipient would love most.
They offer herbal supports for sleep, stress, immune health, digestion, and more – so your giftee can pick exactly what they need.
7. Green Kid Crafts Subscription
When my kids were younger they loved their Green Kid Crafts excavation kit and detective kit, which taught them how to dust for fingerprints and write messages using different “invisible ink” techniques.
Something to put under the tree: A note telling your recipient to expect something fun in the mail. (Kids love mail!)
8. Thrive Market Membership
If your gift recipient loves discovering better-for-you brands but not grocery store chaos, this is the perfect fit. Thrive Market is basically Whole Foods meets Costco – only everything ships straight to their doorstep.
With a membership, they’ll save 25–55% on organic pantry staples, clean beauty, home goods, supplements, and so much more. It’s the kind of gift that makes everyday life easier (and healthier!).
Gifting it is simple: scroll to the bottom of the Thrive Market page and select “Give Gift Card.” You can even include a starting shopping credit so they can stock up on their favorites right away.
Something to put under the tree: Something to put under the tree:
- A small treat they can actually buy on Thrive, like artisan chocolate
- A pretty kitchen towel + wooden spoon
- A few glass canisters to organize their new pantry goodies
FREE Ebook: DIY Body Care Gifts Made Simple
Do you want to give gorgeous, handcrafted gifts for family and friends, without spending a bunch of time on them?
Then I’d love to give you a free copy of DIY Body Care Gifts Made Simple – my step-by-step guide to making gorgeous handcrafted gifts without stressing yourself out – as a gift for signing up for my newsletter. I’ll show you how to make vintage labels, luxurious lotion bars, lip balms, sugar scrubs, body sprays and more like a pro. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll be redirected to the download page immediately!
