– 6 GIFTS THAT WILL STEAL THE SHOW –

(and that cost little!)

Just before the summer vacation begins, it's a nice moment for a bit of reflection. Taking a moment to think about what has happened in the past few months, what you were happy about, and what less so. Linda de Mol goes every day with her children to a session of highlights and lowlights where they tell each other, you guessed it, what was really nice and what wasn't.

I do that twice a year. Around the shortest and longest day. I also take a moment to think about the people who have been good to me. The teacher from school, my regular taxi driver, that friend who didn't have her best year ever but still always asks how I am instead of going on about her issue. You also have people around you that you occasionally want to let know how happy you are that they are there.

Do it! Don't just keep it as an intention. With these pre-summer holiday gifts, you will make an impression and you can be sure that they will stay close to you for a long time. After all, that's what it was all about.

Personalized photo book

Thanks to the iPhone era, we have a lot of snapshots of everyday moments. A delicious latte, a run through the woods, there's little we don't capture. Make a little photo book for your friend-brother-neighbor who always takes you somewhere. They are already easy to order at HEMA.nl. If I can do it...

Looking for an image to illustrate your story? For example, a beautiful image of a metro sign from Paris, a cocktail on a beautifully set rooftop terrace, or a great picture of the Neverfull from Louis Vuitton? Get them from Pinterest.

Personalized, healthy jam

At Xenos or other household stores, you can buy cozy old-fashioned jam jars. Then get a lot of red fruit. Cook it with a lot of sugar and add, for example, a red chili pepper and some chia seeds for a trendy touch. At Dille & Kamille, they have nice vintage-looking labels that you can tie around the lid. On it, you write the type of jam you made and a personal message. With every croissant they spread this summer, they will think of you.

Limoncello set

Because making limoncello yourself poses a huge hangover risk (I would always buy alcohol from the liquor store) but because the homemade feeling is just a bit nicer, buy beautiful small stoppered bottles at a Xenos-like store. Fill them with limoncello, put them in the fridge, write again cheerful labels with a nice summer quote. You can find the best quotes on Pinterest. Write them in your beautiful handwriting, tie them around the bottles, and distribute them among all your loved ones.

Cards, cards, cards

In the WhatsApp era, we sometimes forget to send a handwritten card. When I was editor-in-chief of Marie Claire, everyone (from photographer to makeup artist) always received a handwritten card thanking them for their contribution to that issue. A small effort for which I always received so much appreciation. Take a moment to think about what that person has done for you, capture it in words, and write it down.

The most beautiful thing is if you write it on a personalized card. At a printer of family cards, you can order beautiful cards and envelopes on handmade paper with your name and address on them. Super chic, and once you have a stack in your closet, you'll also write cards much faster.

A flower

It might be a bit costly to buy a bouquet of flowers for everyone. Bind three beautiful flowers (for example, onion flowers, hydrangeas, or another flower on a strong stem) together, attach a small card, and you're done.

Have a personalized ribbon made. It costs a bit, but you will always have the cutest wrapping material for the coming years.

Customized T-shirt

When a dear colleague of ours had a child, we had a cool sweater made with her child's name on it. You could see her beaming with pride. Make a sweater for your friend with a personal text. Believethehype.com has the coolest. Doutzen is a fan too.