Holiday Shopping Strategies Revealed!

Here's how to holiday shop better, smarter, faster...

From the LifeMinute Team

December 9, 2014

It's you versus the ticking clock every holiday season. You want to find super-personalized thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list, but you don't have time to surf through a gazillion specialty shop web sites or, even worse, trek from store to store to store, not even knowing exactly what you're looking for.

So is one-stop holiday shopping just wishful thinking? We wanted to know, so Fashion and Lifestyle Expert Jill Martin set out to find out. Here's where she went and what she found...

And the winner is...

Jill's one-stop shopping pick for this holiday season is JCPenney. Why? Well, the fab PJ's, for starters. "Loving these Liz Claiborne Long-Sleeve Knit Pajama Sets...in fun prints and patterns, exclusive to JCPenney," says Jill, "And this is great if you're going on a trip and want to pack them; they pack flat. And what a great hostess or housewarming gift!" And they're just $50, so they're a cozy and cute way to take care of lots of ladies on your list.

Now, kids can be tricky, but Jill's strategy is simply to look at what they're loving right now and find a gift to match. And this year... "Okay, it's all about Frozen. If you don't know who Elsa and Anna are, you better learn, because that is the hot, hot ticket for the season," Jill tells us. She found adorable Frozen gear for little girls for $44. And for little boys, Jill's pick was the Arizona Plaid Flannel shirt. "Look how cute this is," says Jill, "Great for the holiday and to wear throughout the year."

But what about those niche gifts...for your Gadget Guy or Gal, Super Chef, Coffee Connoisseur or Budding Beautician? Jill has those folks covered, too. "If you cook - I do not," reveals Jill, "But I can cook with this because this is super simple for anybody: the single serving Mini Dipper Slow Cooker; you can cook soup or chili, dipping sauces... And again, it's really a nice size because you don't have to make too much. Great for date night, great if you're staying in by yourself, and it's only $20... What a substantial gift!"

And when it comes to gadgets... "Now, my dad -- he is the gadget guy," shares Jill, "Loves tools. And this is awesome for him or for anyone in your life who's, like, the gadget guy. It's for the Mr. Fix-It in your life: all-in-one LED flashlight, pliers, knife, screwdriver, among others, all in one tool."

For that avid coffee drinker...well, this gift challenge hits home for Jill. "I drink six cups of coffee a day," she says, "But for anyone who's going to work in their car, this is the Heated Travel Mug. You take it, you plug it into the outlet in your car, and what's super cool about this...it actually shows the temperature, so that is so unique. Loving that gift."

And for the beauty and fashion guru who's always a trend ahead of you, Jill suggests finding a gift that pairs function with a little flash. She says, "Now I have frizzy hair and I am constantly ironing it, so a great iron is a must and always a great gift." Jill likes the i.CHI iron, for $129.99. "It comes in a sequined thermal bag, which is really awesome for the holiday and just really great to pack," says Jill.

Even harder to shop for than the kids are the teens, but Jill went the overachiever route with our one-stop shopping challenge and found THREE great statement piece gift options for teen girls. "So you have the pearl necklace by Mixit [for] $28, only at JCPenney," says Jill, "And then...a paw scarf that says "FIERCE." It has the claws, it's by Mixit, $34, for the girl who sort of wants to express her personality. And then, it's all about the hashtag this holiday season. So hashtag fabulous, this [sweater] is $30 from Arizona." And Jill confesses the latter is not just an adorable gift for teens, telling us, "This is a riot, and really for anyone in your life, if you're obsessed with your phone like me."

But with the gift list covered, Jill didn't stop there. Tis the season to be decorating, and Jill has a shopping strategy for that, too. "A lot of people think you have to re-do everything in your life, but what's nice is, you can mix and match pieces. And what I love about JCPenney is you can buy things at affordable prices and mix and match with things you already have in your home," says Jill, adding, "So everything here, under $100...things for your mantle, just also a great housewarming gift if you want to give something to sort of spruce up the table."

To stock up on Jill's fab finds and other great gifts, visit JCPenney stores or JCPenney.com. And to get in on some fun holiday chatter, use #JustGotJingled to join in on the conversation. What's that all about? Get details at JustGotJingled.com.

After all, you'll have time to play with now that you'll be able to conquer your own personal holiday shopping challenge in one fell swoop.

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