Need a birthday gift idea? Look no further, we’ve assembled our favorite gifts for all types. Go ahead… have a look.
September’s coming, and you know what that means: September birthdays are coming, too. (It is the most popular birth month, if you didn’t know.) Don’t know what to snag your best Virgo—or Libra—pal? Worry not. We’ve got 19 suggestions, each more likely to induce birthday smiles than the last.
1. Fragrant soaps that mimic the look of real birthstones.
These soaps are so pretty, we wouldn’t begrudge you buying more than one—even if September’s all you really need. Colored completely with veggie-based dyes, they’re loaded with invigorating minerals and soothing vitamin E oil.
Birthstone Mineral Soaps – $20 Buy Now »
2. A necklace filled with real nonpareils.
Handmade in Brooklyn, it’s a great way to pay tribute to your sweetest pal.
Sprinkles Heart Necklace – $52 Buy Now »
3. Puzzles that unlock bottles of wine.
Got a friend who likes their liquor with a side of problem-solving? These wooden brainteasers require decoding before they’ll relinquish their precious vino.
Wine Bottle Puzzles – $30 Buy Now »
So your bestie’s a Taurus. Or maybe a Gemini. That’s great and all, but the stars won’t help you pick a birthday present they love. Just leave that kind of thing to us! This month, we’ve got 20 of our coolest new items on deck, so you don’t have to think too hard about that “gifting” thing, at least as far as May birthdays go. Read on for every one of ’em.
1. A pretty piece of art that toasts their home state.
A watercolor portrait of their home state’s natural wonders + a super-cute acrostic = one happy birthday girl (or boy, of course).
Ode to Home State Art – $40-100 Buy Now »
2. A game that’s perfect for friends with #nofilter.
We know, we know, #nofilter’s an Instagram thing. But something tells us you know a little someone who’s equally deserving of that hashtag, and chances are, they’ll love this meme-tastic game that tasks them with choosing an image’s cleverest caption. (Please forgive us for saying “meme-tastic.”)
What Do You Meme Game – $30 Buy Now »
3. A sculpted llama that’s just the right size for a succulent.
Whether they love llamas or little green friends (hey, plants have personality, too), they’ll delight in the presence of this petite sweetie on their window sill.
Nothing makes us happier than hearing these four magical words: But wait, there’s more! At least when it comes to presents (and puppies, but that’s a different blog post). Go the extra birthday mile by adding any of these small but mighty thoughtful gifts to their birthday bundle.
1. Shot glasses they can eat for dessert.
It’s like an ice cream cone and a candy bar had a baby. Fill the chocolate- or cookies and cream-dipped mini cups with ice cream, espresso, or—if the mood is right—a little liqueur.
Chocolate Waffle Shots – $24 Buy Now »
2. An adorable llama pouch to carry essentials.
Tote change, keys, makeup, and candy across the Bolivian Altiplano, or just through the produce section, in this colorful carryall made in India.
Llamarama Large Zipper Pouch – $18 Buy Now »
3. Bottle stoppers that rep their birth month.
Help them party like it’s their birthday every time they open a (second) bottle. Jill Henrietta Davis hand blows these colorful glass globes inspired by birthstones.
Birthstone Wine Bottle Stopper – $24 Buy Now »
We’ve all got that friend who seems to have everything, but for whom cop-out birthday gifts are simply not enough. Thankfully, “uncommon” is our middle name. Or our first name. Whatever. The point is, we’ve got plenty of stuff your tough-to-shop-for bestie will love. Just keep scrolling.
1. Porcelain planters shaped like prehistoric pals.
Who doesn’t love a little dino? Whether your best pal’s a fan of T-Rex, long necks, or the three-horned triceratops, these planters—perfect for low-maintenance succulents—will be sure to please.
Porcelain Dinosaur Planters – $40 Buy Now »
2. A spigot that rocks (pun intended).
Are we entering dad joke territory? We don’t care. Just have ’em pop a bottle in the top and their booze presentation will be solid.
Stone Drink Dispenser – $153 Buy Now »
3. A petite superhero that holds up their favorite books.
Trust us, he’ll watch over their prized hardbacks.
Got a good friend with a birthday in March? Look no further for this year’s gift: here, we’ve assembled 14 of our favorite gifts for all types, from plant lovers to whiskey drinkers. Intrigued? Go ahead… have a look.
1. DIY hot sauce for your favorite foodie.
Have you, too, run out of hot sauces to give your spiciest friend? Here’s a suggestion: Give them the tools to make their own.
Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit – $34.95 Buy Now »
2. Tacos for their toes (and feet, and ankles).
Everyone knows a taco lover, and these cozy socks are the ultimate tribute to their tasty Mexican indulgence of choice.
Men’s Taco Socks – $10 Buy Now »
Birthstone meanings by month:
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What is a birthstone?
Birthstones are gems that are associated with a birth month, each stone has a unique meaning and significance. Like horoscope signs, when you ask someone “what is your birthstone?” they almost always know the answer. Today you’ll commonly see birthstones in jewelry pieces, like necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings as reminders to celebrate your birth month all year long. Besides jewelry, birthstones or the colors symbolizing the stones show up in many other types of gifts and keepsakes making birthday shopping easy and fun. Birthstones are a part of modern society and since ancient times it is widely believed that wearing your birthstone is a symbol of wellness and good fortune. See which birthstone is meant for you.
What is the origin of birthstones?
Christian scholars in the 5th century made the connection between the twelve gems in the Breastplate of Aaron, twelve months of the year, and twelve signs of the zodiac. They theorized that each gem was connected to a certain month or astrological alignment and that they would receive therapeutic benefits for wearing one during that time.
To receive the full benefit, people took to wearing one stone for each month of the year and attributed a different meaning and value to them. Eventually this practice was modified so that a person would only wear the stone for the month they were born in (hence the term birthstone). There was a great amount of disagreement over which stone should represent a calendar month until 1912 when Sears published an “official” list of all the birthstones and the months they represented. Since then there have been a few modifications here and there but the list remains largely unchanged.
Whether you’ve just recently met a new friend, or you’ve known them all your life, odds are they probably have a birthday. For as long as birthdays have existed – Claudia Severa sent the first documented birthday invitation around 100 AD – so too has the pressure to find the perfect gift. Yet birthdays themselves actually aren’t all that distinguished; just today, 15 million people will celebrate their special day. How can any birthday gift giver hope to stand out?
Fear not! We’ve put together a list of our current favorite birthday gifts that are sure to make the other 14,999,999 wish that they, too, had received Uncommon gifts.