Ultimate 2016 holiday gift guide

Sitting+on+the+canvas+mannequin%2C+this+hand+beaded+Madrid+Choker+retails+for+twenty-eight+dollars+on+JV+Jewels+Foundation%E2%80%99s+Etsy+site.+All+profits+from+JV+Jewels+Foundation%E2%80%99s+sales+go+towards+The+Brain+Research+Foundation.

Julia Vandermel

Sitting on the canvas mannequin, this hand beaded Madrid Choker retails for twenty-eight dollars on JV Jewels Foundation’s Etsy site. All profits from JV Jewels Foundation’s sales go towards The Brain Research Foundation.

Olivia Burnette, Staff Reporter

 With the smell of rotting pumpkins and peppermint mochas in the air, many are already planning out the upcoming season in this transition between Thanksgiving and the December holidays. Most agree that the most joyful moments of the season are the exchange of presents with loved one. But how many times have you been forced to gift your friend a cliché Starbucks gift card when you cannot come up with a proper and sentimental gift? Junior Yousra Rasik comments on this issue by stating, “It’s difficult to buy people Christmas presents usually because each person has their unique interests.” Luckily for Yousra and for you, we have compiled the ultimate gift guide, sure to bring your best buddies pure joy in this holiday season.

 For Coffee Addicts: Does your friend need coffee like a car needs fuel? If so, a wonderful gift would be a t-shirt from Sola or Jubala so your friend can flaunt their caffeine dependence every day. The shirts cost around $12, and they can be bought at the Jubala location in Lafayette Village or on Hillsborough Street, or the Sola location on Lead Mine Road.

 For Philanthropists: If your friend thrives on the betterment of others, a great gift to buy them would be a necklace from JV Jewels Foundation, a foundation cofounded by a junior and an alumna at Millbrook. With each necklace bought, one hundred percent of the profits are donated to The Brain Research Foundation. With beautiful beaded jewelry ranging from eighteen to thirty-two dollars, you are sure to find a perfect gift your charitable friend will love. These necklaces can be purchased on their Etsy store under the name jvjewelsfoundation.

 For Out of State Visitors: If you want your friend or family member to remember their holiday experience with you even after the wreaths come down, Homesick Candles has created natural soy candles that adopt a smell that can remind someone of a certain state. The North Carolina variety contains scents of blackberries and barbecue, and retails on their website for $34.95, although they are on sale for $29.95 right now.

 For Daredevils: For a friend who cannot seem to stay seated, a trip to Go Ape on Pleasant Union Church Road would be the perfect gift! This two to three hour excursion contains zip lining, high ropes and Tarzan swings. With prices ranging from twenty-eight to fifty-eight dollars a ticket, this is definitely a holiday gift they will soon not forget. Tickets must be booked in advance on their website.

 For Foodies: Does your friend live their whole life anticipating their next meal? If so, you should get them a gift card for Ashley Christensen Restaurants. These gift cards can be purchased at any of her restaurants or online and the card is eligible to be used at Beasley’s Chicken and Honey, Bridge Club, Chuck’s, Death Taxes, Fox Liquor Bar, Joule Coffee and Table, and Poole’s. Each of these critically acclaimed restaurants contain their own unique charm, and your friend will surely have a happy belly thanks to you.

 Hopefully this list has inspired you to show your friends how much they mean to you, but just remember that while this season is about giving gifts, it is also about showing kindness to everyone you meet. So Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays! Go out there and spread some holiday cheer–one friend at a time.