*affiliate links used
{faux leather jewelry organizer/initial pendant necklace}
It’s officially summer at our house and we couldn’t be more excited! Kids are thrilled about no homework and lazy days at the pool and beach. I’m thrilled about more time with them and waking up without the alarm clock! Especially appealing to night owls like myself. :)
I’m sharing some fun graduation gifts today and I know! I’m a little late with this post. Some schools are done while some still have a week or two. These are fun gift ideas in general and also work well for kids heading off to college so hopefully they are helpful. These are all items Ellie received and loved last year when she was heading off to college!
First up is this beautiful jewelry box and necklace. Either would be a perfect gift alone but also fun to give together. This faux leather jewelry organizer doubles as beautiful decor and you know I love a good initial pendant necklace! Such a thoughtful, personalized gift. This has been my favorite necklace this past year.
{initial pendant necklace/pilcro henley tee – on sale!}
I snapped this quick in my kitchen to show it on and it’s kind of hard to see, but it has an initial and a little diamond. So pretty and a perfect little accent with most tops. My girls have it and love it too.
This is the jewelry organizer open. I ordered one for my bathroom too I loved it so much!
This is another fun jewelry organizer that makes a great gift! We bought this for El last year to hold all of her jewelry in her dorm.
This is the jewelry box both of my girls have in their bedrooms. So many fun options!
{laptop tote/marble & wood cake stand/fern leaf plant/rattan-wrapped glass jar candle}
Another fun graduation gift idea is a laptop tote! This is a good one I really like and use often from Amazon.
Simple and stylish and it has a padded spot that holds my large laptop with lots of room for other books/planners/notepads.
Speaking of planners! Forever a fun gift idea. At least for people like me who never get tired of a good planner. :) El got a cute planner from a good friend at graduation last year and used it all year during college. These are some of my recent favorites!
{twin wire binding planner/floral academic planner}
These two planners are both simple and straightforward with pretty covers. It would be cute to pair them with a good set of pens. (These are my favorites.)
{productive weeks/weekly planner pad}
This weekly planner pad I’ve used on and off for years and have given as a gift several times. It’s a great way to lay your week out in front of you. I love the habit tracker too if I’m trying to drink more water or work on other goals. I used to always include “be in bed by 11” on my habit tracker, but after years of seeing that written with one to two to zero checkmarks next to it I finally stopped writing it down.
That’s my secret to success. Only write down the goals you know you can easily achieve. Ha. ;)
This is another planner pad I like with the same concept! Great gifts for someone leaving high school and venturing out on their own. Or for anyone attempting to “adult” really. :)
These hand tool kits are such a cute gift idea for a graduate! Or for anyone moving into their own apartment or home for the first time.
They come in lots of colors and include all of the main, basic tools you need for small repairs and projects.
So fun right!?
I have a few on hand for gifts and I’ve been keeping this pink set in my office. I’ve used it more times than I can count!
This was another fun gift Ellie got from a good friend of mine when she graduated. It’s a towel wrap with her name on it. Such a thoughtful gift! Perfect for kids going away to college because they are usually in dorms sharing a shower. El loved it and used it all year. I linked lots of cute similar options below!
I’ve been asked by several readers recently what El wore when she graduated and for dress ideas. Most of the girls wore white dresses! I’m not sure if that’s typical at most high schools or just hers but I found some cute options linked below. They are also just fun options for summer.. graduating or not. :)
1-flutter sleeve dress 2-pleated A-line dress
3-short-sleeve dress 4- ruffled smocked dress 5- prairie dress
6- dot swing dress 7- lace sheath dress 8-v-neck dress
Feels like we moved her in to her dorm yesterday!
And just like that.. one year done! I got lots of questions about these blue bags I used when I shared them a few posts back. You can find them here. They were perfect for moving her back and forth and I would definitely recommend them! You can see more details on what we ordered/bought for her dorm in this post if you have college bound kids this year!
{before}
Speaking of El.. here’s a recent before and after! Her hair was getting crazy long and it was time for a change.
{after}
Summer ready!
I gave both of my girls my thick hair. The girls at the salon we go to gear up for ALL THE HAIR when we come in. They always team up when it’s time to blow dry. Ha. Love them!
I love this girl too. So much. It has been the best having her home with us! Everything feels right in the world again when all of my kids are home. :)
We ended May celebrating my other mini me’s birthday. Happy 17 to Addison! I started this blog when my girls were 3 and 5 and they are now 17 and 19. So hard to believe that many years have flown by!
Addison celebrated with lots of friends including these 3 besties. They are pretty much family members at this point. :)
Then we took her out to celebrate!
The evening ended with our typical late night grocery store run to get ALL the snacks for our typical late night movie party.
Bed by 11 just never seems to happen at my house! Especially when the 3 girls are in charge.
Typical. :)
Happy end of the school year and happy graduation to all of the graduates out there!
I would LOVE to see an updated dorm post now that she’s finished her first year! I move my daughter across the country (Texas > Oregon) in September and am at a loss for what we really need for her.
Oh that’s so exciting! Huge congrats for your daughter! I’m going to make an updated list/printable soon so hopefully that will be helpful! :)
Love how all the girls’ hair turned out! A fresh cut makes everything looks so healthy and nice! Enjoy your summer with the whole family!
Thank you so much Susi! Happy summer to you too! :)
Thank you for the gift ideas. They are always helpful! You and your girls are beautiful! Enjoy summer!
Pam
So sweet of you Pam! Thank you and same to you!
Lots of great ideas, Erin! I’m sure they will be a big help to others. Love the pics of you and your girls. So cute. Great job on the hair. I never in my life have been able to have long hair like you and your girls. It’s way too wavy and wiry. I have pretty short hair to keep it in line. Haha. I hope you have a fantastic day. :)
Thank you so much Jeanne! You’re the sweetest. Funny because I’ve had my hair short before and it was actually harder for me to do! When it’s really long I can get away w/o washing it as much. ;) We all have to do whatever we can to keep our hair in line right!? ha. :)
Erin,
I love your gift ideas posts! The laptop tote is a great idea! The late night movie party is even better!
Barbara
Oh you made my day Barbara! Thank you so much! :)