The Best Books To Gift This Season (for everyone on your list)
By Eugenia Vela
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Except when you are in a mad panic because you have NO idea what to get your friends and family. Well, as a bookseller, it’s my duty to recommend some crucial, irresistible reads to gift this holiday season. Below are some suggestions for those special people in your life who deserve a book that just GETS them. A little bit of history, inspiring memoir, a cookbook, some music, an old classic– there’s something here for everyone. Check ‘em out!
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I don’t know about y’all, but I believe few things can cure all like a hot shower. Ever since having a baby, it’s one of the few moments of the day where I get to be alone with my thoughts. Well…maybe the dogs are staring from behind the shower curtain and maybe Jude is in his bouncer just feet away babbling and hitting all the buttons (#realreality)…but even with what often feels like chaos around me, I am oh-so-relaxed and always look forward to 10 minutes to myself (well, mostly…haha). So, what’s one way to make your shower situation even better? If your guess is a glass of wine – YES you are correct…but also using really awesome bath products just kicks that shower time up a few notches. Which brings me to the razor of my (and yours…you wait!) dreams. Insert: 
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This week has been rainy and cold…which means we’ve finally reached the fall season in Austin, ha! And while most days I’m not a huge fan of this combination (…dogs + rain = mud eeeverywhere in our house haha), this week was different because we totally embraced the crazy weather and it was maaagical. My sister and I spent an afternoon hiking down to Barton Creek (…the dogs stayed home haha). Mud, rain, cold wind…it was invigorating. We were both so happy! I know I say this all the time, but getting outside and spending time in nature really does revive the soul.
Are you into thrift shopping? #Sponsored Lately, my sister and I have had so much fun scoping out the cool secondhand stores around Austin. thredUP has been an online thrift brand we’ve both shopped for years and when we found out they were opening shops in 30 select JCPenney’s nationwide, we were pretty pumped to find one in a south Austin store just minutes away from my house. Blake watched Jude for a couple of hours while we got enjoy a coffee date and some thrift shopping! Needless to say, it was an afternoon very well spent and we left with some awesome finds.
Best fall season yet! Pretty certain every holiday this year will be our best one yet, thanks to one special little guy. Picking out pumpkins is always a fun annual activity, and this time was particularly adorable because I got to dress Jude in a matching mama and me outfit. Call me a dork, but man, I live for this stuff! Also…infant Patagonia vests?! I die!
It finally feels like autumn in Austin this week and we are enjoying every second! Cool, crisp mornings spent outdoors…it feels so good to get out of the house and soak up the beautiful change in seasons. Generally, Halloween is the turning point for this city…it finally cools off for good and moody weather is here to stay. No complaints here that fall has arrived a little early (and fingers crossed is here to stay)…happy to have more time to relish in cozy socks and boots weather!