Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is time to start thinking seriously about friends and family in the upcoming holidays, whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukah or both. There are about three weeks left to work on your holiday shopping in order to avoid that panic we all get when we leave our gift-buying until the last minute. This weekend, I was mall-hopping to scout out some great deals, as well as think of some good ideas for holiday gifts. Here’s what I will put on my “buy” list:

Gifts for Her 

Whether you are shopping for a mother, a girlfriend, a sister or any female, usually the key is great smells or great colors. Most girls love beauty and skincare gifts. 

For beauty gifts, Sephora sells box sets of “Sephora favorites.” These box sets have many themes, so there will be something for everyone. Some examples are Give Me More Lip,which is a box set of various lip products including lipsticks, lip glosses, lip tints and lip lacquers. Skin Wonderland is another box set, which includes oils, cleansers, creams and treatments for every skin need. The Cleansing Ritual To Go box set includes three cleansers and two face peeling systems. 

For perfume, the most popular smell this year has been Elizabeth and James Nirvana White, a perfume by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. It is a blend of peony and musk. This must-try perfume can also be found at Sephora.

Ladies also love candles as gifts, especially around this time of year. I was at the Yankee Candle store this weekend and found some amazing scents. Cranberry Pear, Hazelnut Coffee and Cinnamon Stick are from their regular collection and smell fabulous. However, Yankee Candle also has a Winter Wonderland collection, where all of the names of the candles are a phrase from famous holiday song. Winter Wonderland, Build a Snowman, Dream by the Fire and Frolic and Play are just a few examples.

For bath products, head to the Body Shop. There I discovered some great gift sets with samples of body butter, body scrub, body lotions and body wash. These sets often include a loofah (which the Body Shop calls a “crinkle bath lily”).

Technology gifts are another good option. The Juice Cube portable charger is a great for someone on the go, and it also comes in seven different colors. 

Gifts for Him

Here are some ideas for the father, boyfriend, brother or any male in your life:

At TJ Maxx, you can find some excellent quality duffel bags in various sizes and materials. At Village Pointe there is a store called The Art of Shaving, where they sell gift sets. One is called the Lexington Gift Set and it includes pre-shave oil, shaving cream, after-shave balm, a shaving brush and a razor with “flexball” technology, meaning it is built to respond extremely well to facial contours.

A smart watch is perfect for a guy who loves technology. At Best Buy there are countless variations and brands of smart watches including Moto 360, Asus Zen and Pebble.

Stocking Stuffers

Here are some fun and unique ideas: Good quality highlighters will be practical and well-appreciated by students in the family. Socks are also fun and a gift loved by everyone in the family. Many stores have socks with quirky and interesting designs on them. Stores like Bath and Body Works have small sample sizes of their full-sized products. A really popular product this year has been their Aromatherapy line, which includes pillow spray, lotions, candles and bubble bath. Also popular with all are gift cards to coffee shops, bookstores, movie theaters and favorite restaurants.

I hope these tips will save you time and lower your anxiety level when shopping for the holidays. Shopping with a buddy can be fun and helpful as well.  Be sure to take time for a coffee, lunch or dinner break to enjoy the seasonal decorations and music.