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Kalyn Brooke

Simple Solutions to Manage Everyday Life

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The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Hundreds of the Best Gift Ideas Under $30

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Who couldn't use some tips when it comes to gift-giving? I've bookmarked this treasure trove of practical gift ideas for different personality types, themes, and stages of life -- all organized by holiday! And every gift comes in under $30! #practicalgiftideas #giftguide #giftideas #holidaygiftguide #frugalgiftideas
Looking for the perfect gift? Look no further than this ultimate collection of creative, unique, and practical gift ideas!
Who couldn't use some tips when it comes to gift-giving? I've bookmarked this treasure trove of practical gift ideas for different personality types, themes, and stages of life -- all organized by holiday! And every gift comes in under $30! #practicalgiftideas #giftguide #giftideas #holidaygiftguide #frugalgiftideas

Shopping for the perfect gift isn't as easy as Hallmark Christmas movies would like you to believe.

Almost every film features a scene where the main character and her friend pop happily in and out of boutique stores with colorful bags hanging from their wrists. In the background, perfectly proportioned snow drifts border the sidewalk.

Instead, reality often looks a lot like a list full of people who are practically impossible to buy for while navigating grinch-like crowds at the local shopping mall who are also scrambling to find a last-minute gift.

But if you're looking for a few ways to make holiday gift-giving a breeze, you’ve come to exactly the right place!

I've rounded up all my hand-selected picks for different personality types, themes, and stage of life. And you won't stumble upon a brilliant gift idea only to experience eye-widening sticker shock. That's because every gift comes in under $30!

Have fun, and happy gifting!

Practical Gift Ideas for …

Valentine's Day (or Galentine's Day!) Gift Ideas

four girls with their arms around each other
  • 10 Valentine's Day Gifts Under $10
  • 10 Perfect Gifts to Give to Your Besties this Galentine's Day

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mom sign among pretty flowers
  • 12 Gifts Soon-to-be Moms Actually Want
  • 13 Fabulous Gift Ideas that will Impress Every Mom
  • 5 Last-Minute Mother's Day Gifts You Can Pick Up Today
  • 15 Clever Mugs for Mom 

Graduation Gift Ideas

graduate holding paper hat
  • 12 Inexpensive Gift Ideas that are Perfect for Every Grad
  • Instagram-Themed Graduation Party in a Box

Father's Day Gift Ideas

mustache mask
  • 13 Father's Day Gift Ideas Under $30
  • 11 Gift Ideas for the Dad Who Loves Puns

Christmas Gift Ideas (and Stocking Stuffers!)

wrapped gifts
  • 24 DIY Gift Basket Ideas
  • 9 State Pride Gift Ideas
  • 15 Gifts for the Star Wars Nerd
  • 11 Literary Gifts for Those Who are Obsessed with Reading
  • 11 Gift Ideas for Every Introvert in Your Life
  • 10 Cool Gifts for the Frequent Traveler
  • Easy Handmade Gifts You Can Make in Less than an Hour
  • Glitter and Glam: Gifts for the Girly Girl
  • 20 Stocking Stuffers Guys Will Actually Use
  • 50 Stocking Stuffers Under $20
  • 15 Gifts Disney-Obsessed Fans Will Want Immediately
  • The Best Operation Christmas Child Gift Ideas for All Ages
  • Shop with Purpose: 15 Small Gifts that Make a Big Impact
  • Thoughtful Gifts for the ones You Almost Forgot About … But Didn't!

Is there a gift guide I might have missed? Let me know in the comments which themed gift idea list you'd love to see!



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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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kalynbrookeco

👩‍💻 | I help value-driven women lead manageable + meaningful lives.
💬 | INFJ / Enneagram 1
🚙 | RV Life @openroading
👇 | Resources + Links


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Recently, we visited our storage unit to swap out a few things. 📦⁣
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Almost one year has passed since we stuffed this 9’x9’ space with furniture, decor, and other odds and ends in order to travel in our RV full-time. And during our year on the road, I’ve not missed ANYTHING … until I saw my possessions in person! 💔⁣
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For a brief second, I wanted to sell the RV and buy a sticks-and-bricks home just so I could fill it with all my stuff. 🏠⁣
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Thankfully, this mental lapse didn’t last very long. 😌⁣
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Because almost just as quickly, I thought of all the experiences we’ve shared over the last year that I would have had to trade in order to do that, and suddenly I didn’t feel so attached anymore. ⁣
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Courtney Carver from @bemorewithless says, “I don’t want my legacy to be containers of stuff.” In other words, people won’t remember you by the amount of stuff you leave behind. They’ll remember you for WHO you are. 🤗⁣
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I want people to remember me as the gal who said yes to adventure and not someone who couldn’t say no to a Hobby Lobby sale. 🏷⁣
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And so, that means decluttering a few more things that I don't need (in the RV OR in a future home!) and holding onto the simple nomad life for a little while longer. 💼⁣
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What do you want your legacy to be? ⁣
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#lifeisajourney #homeonwheels #storageunit #theeverygirl #rvlife #rvliving #rvfamily #livelifetothefullest #tinyliving #traveloften #gorving #homeiswhereyouparkit #camperlife #campers #fifthwheelin #fifthwheeler #declutterwithkb #decluttering #declutterlikeamother #declutteryourhome declutteryourlife

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The busiest month of the year doesn’t have to be one you dread, especially when you try this simple, yet brilliant hack: 👇⁣
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**Number your to-do list.** ⁣
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1️⃣ Start by spilling everything you need to do this week onto the page (don’t worry about the order yet!)⁣
2️⃣ Identify your top priority.⁣
3️⃣ Number the rest of your tasks in order of importance. That’s it!⁣
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Psst… I use pencil just in case I change my mind and want to switch things around! ✏⁣
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This method does two things:⁣
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💛 It helps you focus on the next right thing...not ALL the things!⁣
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💛 It forces you to prioritize. When everything is important, nothing is important. And you want to make sure the most important things actually get done. ⁣
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FYI: You don’t have to go to every party or keep every tradition just because it’s something you “should” do or “always have done” in past holiday seasons. Lean into what you love most about this month and find freedom in letting the rest go. 👋⁣
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Because somehow, having less stuff to do makes the things you CHOOSE to do all that more special. 💖

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Even though we won't be spending Christmas in the RV, I just had to put up a few decorations to enjoy before we leave! 🎄⁣
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The next three weeks will be our first time traveling without our home-on-wheels and I'm feeling all sorts of anxiety over choosing what items to pack. We've always had everything we need with us, which means I'll probably forget something. 😬 RV living tends to spoil you in that way!⁣
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Q: Are you staying home for the holidays or going out of town?

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Earlier this fall I hosted a Facebook challenge where I invited you to define what self-care looks like for your life while making an intentional effort to incorporate it into your week. 📆⁣
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This event was even more popular than I expected, and I am so pleased with the positive results many of you shared!⁣
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What I didn't expect? 👀⁣
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The haters.⁣
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Some readers morally disagreed with my Facebook self-care event and let me know by messaging me and calling self-care "misguided," "unbiblical," and even an "idol." ⁣
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Let me be clear: I do agree that we should be careful about our priorities and not neglect our responsibilities completely for the sake of a little me-time.⁣
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👨‍👩‍👦 Your family still needs you.⁣
👨‍👩‍👦 Your church still needs you.⁣
👨‍👩‍👦 Your community still needs you.⁣
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What they don't need is someone who is a frazzled, stressed-out mess who serves out of obligation rather than joy. Because when we demonize rest, we inadvertently swing the pendulum the other way and create an idol out of working, serving, and hustling. ⚖⁣
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God didn't intend for us to wear ourselves out for His glory. Rather, I think He created us with needs (food, water, shelter, rest, etc.) to remind us that we ultimately *need* Him.⁣
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So when you take time to address those needs and care for yourself, remember that it's not selfish. It's just wise.

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Are you ready for Turkey Day tomorrow? Although I’m not hosting this year, I’m helping my sis-in-law prepare and contributing my Creamy Parmesan Mashed potatoes and a cherry pie (Joseph’s request) ☝ to the menu. ⁣
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When I *did* host Thanksgiving, my family made fun of me for being over-prepared, but they later told me it was the smoothest Thanksgiving they’ve ever had—and they weren’t just talking about the mashed potatoes! 🥔⁣
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I relied on these seven tips to pull things off without a hitch:⁣
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1️⃣ Read over your recipes one more time and confirm you have ALL the ingredients. ⁣
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2️⃣ Create your day-of timeline. Calculate backward from dinner time so you know exactly what needs to be in the oven when.⁣
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3️⃣ Copy/hang recipes on your cabinets  so you can see everything you need to make at a glance rather than being forced to flip through several cookbooks.⁣
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4️⃣ Lay out and label all food dishes (including serving ware) with sticky notes.⁣
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5️⃣ Set the table. (And perhaps bust out some crime scene tape to keep kiddos out of the dining room!) 🤣⁣
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6️⃣ Make whatever food you can ahead of time, whether it’s chopping veggies, assembling dry ingredients, or making the entire recipe and refrigerating until it’s time to warm! ⁣
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7️⃣ Do a quick clean of your kitchen so it’s fresh and ready for the big day!⁣
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Remember: the point of Thanksgiving is NOT to pull it off perfectly. 🚫⁣
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No one cares if you spill blueberries for the fruit salad all over the floor (true story) or you pull a too-jiggly peanut butter pie out of the fridge because it didn’t set right (also a true story). Those are just extra memories you can add to a table already brimming with abundance...and gratitude. 🍽Q: What is your favorite pie to eat at Thanksgiving?

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Family members are just about as different as the ice cream toppings they choose. 🍨⁣
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Even though we love them unconditionally, it's not easy for family to come together during the holidays and have it be completely drama-free. There's increased social pressure, obligation, tradition, personality differences, and always a comment or two that makes you bristle, whether it was intended that way or not! 😤⁣
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So, how can you celebrate holidays without the drama? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦⁣
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PREPARE. Head into family get-togethers knowing how you’ll respond in a tense situation. 🗣⁣
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Here are three ideas:⁣
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1️⃣ Leave the conversation and start a new one with someone else. 🚶🏻‍♀️⁣
2️⃣ Ignore the frustrating comments, and shift the conversation. 🤐⁣
3️⃣ Engage--but instead of gearing up for battle, respond with a curiosity-driven dialogue. Ask questions in order to understand the other person's perspective, rather than focus on "winning" the argument. 🥊⁣
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Most of all, prioritize being kind over being right. Because if you approach conversations with a different attitude, your button-pusher might too. 😉⁣
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Q: On a lighter note, what is YOUR favorite ice cream topping? I love rainbow sprinkles!


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