Every year I love putting together a little list of my favorite things — items I use and love, and a few new things I treated myself to just because. If you’re looking for gift ideas for women in their 40s (or hey, maybe for yourself!), I hope this favorite things gift guide gives you some great ideas and introduces you to something new you’ll love, too!
My Favorite Things & Gifts for Myself
Leather Bucket Bag
I got this a few months ago and love it! It’s beautiful everyday bag. More importantly, it’s so VERSATILE. You can wear it with athleisure pants and sneakers, jeans and a sweater, or a dress or blouse — it dresses up and down with ease. I also love that the color is not a rich or bright cognac.
Water Resistant Boot
These boots are pricey but are so good! The style is SO versatile. Wear them with jeans — both full length AND ankle length, dress pants, work pants, dresses, and skirts. Literally everything. They are elevated casual to dressy. And they’re water-resistant, which means you don’t have to change shoes and ruin your outfit if it rains! Several colorways. I own them in tan and black.
Colored Sneakers
OMG LOVE. Naturally, I went for yellow 😍💛, but they come in other really cute and fun colors. They’re comfortable, too, and just a great shoe in general.
Elastic Shoe Laces
Of course I put my elastic shoe laces in said sneakers above to make me love the shoes even MORE. This is a small thing that makes everyday life a lot more enjoyable.
Lip Oil
Subtle shades and lots of hydration. My kids like it so much that they always try to sneak in and use it. 😊
Elemis Cleansing Balm
I gifted this to myself after several friends raved about it. It melts off makeup and hydrates and softens your skin! Definitely feels like luxury — which our skin deserves.
Nickel & Suede Earrings
The only statement earring brand I’ve worn since 2015! Their earrings are LIGHTWEIGHT and SO COMFY to wear, allowing you to wear statement earrings without weighing down your entire earlobe. The styles are super modern and fresh, and there are always new ones! Any statement earring you’ve ever seen me wear on this blog since 2015 is from Nickel & Suede!
Also, don’t be dissuaded by “nickel” in the name — there is no nickel in the hooks. “Nickel” refers to the founders’ last name, Nickels!
Professional Color Analysis – use code PMTCOLOR for 10% off!
Having a color analysis was something I was never super drawn to, TBH. But, since getting the analysis done over a year ago, it has been something I’ve used regularly, has saved me tons of time, and has given me a lot of confidence. I’m still always surprised when I cut out tons of time I would have wasted overthinking colors.
You can read more about my experience and see my color palette in my post My Color Analysis + 10% Off for PMT Readers. And you can read my update from almost a year later in my post My Personal Color Palette: 5 Ways It Has Simplified My Life (One Year Later).
Volleyball Clinic (or an experience or class you’ve wanted to do)
I played volleyball in middle school and high school. Since my 11 year old is now on a club team, she’s been getting amazing skill coaching that I never had the opportunity to get when I was younger but wish I had.
So, I recently attended a 2-day adult volleyball clinic as a (delayed) birthday gift to myself! If there’s an experience you’ve wanted to do or a skill or hobby you’ve wanted to level up in, do it!! And if there’s an experience you can gift someone else, do it!
FASTer Way to Fat Loss
If you’re an OG here, you remember my FASTer Way to Fat Loss journey, which was many years ago at this point. FASTer Way is a 6-week fitness program that combines intermittent fasting (hence the “FAST”er in the name), carb cycling, a focus on nutrition, and strategic exercises to help you trim down and build muscle.
Recently my friend finished her first 6 weeks and had major breakthroughs, and it’s made me want to do another round! Besides losing 7 lbs, she said, “It feels really good to not feel like I hate clothing. Seriously THANK you. Like even my own self image is not negative anymore.” And now that she’s working out regularly, she says her anxiety has been reduced so much — even more than her meds did! Major breakthroughs, you know?
I’d like to focus on muscle in my 40s, and I feel like this would be a great next step for me. I just need to nail down timing before I sign up.
Anyway, you can see my before & after pics here from when I initially did the program.
(While I could definitely do the program without officially signing up again, I need accountability and to have skin in the game or else I won’t really do it. 😅)
Touchland Hand Sanitizer
I’ve told you my daughter and her friends are in LOVE with this hand sanitizer! It smells soooo good. We love the fruity ones like mango, lychee, and peach. Plus, my daughter says it doesn’t sting her hands.
Theracane
I’ve had this forever and still use it regularly. It’s SO helpful in getting knots in small places that massage balls can’t even get to. It’s especially been a lifesaver this month (like after the adult volleyball camp!! 😫)
Massage Gun
Another lifesaver! We had one from a different, less expensive brand before we got this brand, and while our first one was good, we DEFINITELY felt this brand was better. Our friends noticed the difference, too. TOTALLY worth it!
Tartlette Mascara
My favorite tubing mascara!
Eyeshadow Palette
I’ve used this palette every single day for YEARS. It has versatile shades that are suuuuper easy to use, whether you’re a makeup beginner or super seasoned.
Backpack
This travel backpack has traveled the world with me! I’ve had it for several years.
It’s pretty big, holds a lot, but isn’t super duper bulky. It also has a slot for my huge laptop and has lots of organizational pockets. Plus, it’s water-resistant!
Comes in several colors. I’ve seen lots of people around airports with this backpack — it’s been fun to know that I’m not the only one who loves it!
Packing Cubes
I’ve been using packing cubes for 20 years and can’t imagine traveling without them. They keep your suitcase organized, allow you to find things more easily, and make your travel less chaotic and more peaceful!
Nod Pod
The gift I’ve always needed but never knew existed! It’s a weighted sleep mask. I’ve always fallen asleep with way more ease when something covers my eyes, but I don’t like traditional sleeping masks. I was given this as a gift last December and have used it EVERY SINGLE NIGHT since then. I love it!!!
Owala Water Bottle
THE BEST water bottle. Doesn’t leak. The water flow through the straw is pretty fast. AND the straw is covered. Plus, there’s a sip option in case you don’t want to use a straw.
I have had a lot of water bottles over the years, but this is the one that TRULY doesn’t leak — even on airplanes when air pressure has changed.
Hoop Earrings
You know these are my everyday earrings! Super affordable, super lightweight, and go with EVERYTHING. They’ve totally lasted through years of heavy usage. And Courtney, whose skin is pretty sensitive to cheap jewelry, says these don’t irritate her!
Portable Power Bank Charger
I recently bought this in prep for being away for long days at my daughter’s volleyball tournaments, and I LOVE THIS THING!!!!!
It’s thin, lightweight, and easy to pack or tuck away in your purse. I can charge my iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. SO useful! It comes in SO many cute colors. I just LOVE IT!!! SO MUCH!
Travel Steamer
Super underrated and super necessary! I hate ironing and never do it, but steaming? TOTALLY different. It’s WAY easier, less cumbersome (no need to bring out an ironing board), and oddly therapeutic! This allows you to get wrinkles out of clothes. AND it helps you unshrink garments that may have shrunk in the wash, as the steam relaxes some of the fibers.
Hair Ties
I’ve never paid so much for hair ties, but I’ve used these for YEARS and have NEVER looked back. My daughter and I both have slippery, thick hair, and these hold our hair the best!
(I don’t let her use these on a day to day basis because they’re so pricey, and she loses hair ties too often, haha! I almost never lose my hair ties. I let her use these for high-stakes times, like for sports or performances.)
As for my favorite clothes that would be great to gift to someone — or to yourself, find them in My Top Wardrobe Essentials for the 40 Year Old.
Looking for more gift ideas? Find all my gift guides and cross everyone off your list at the Gift Guides station!
