Christmas is right around the corner; we’re talking ten days away! If you are anything like me, you’ve waited until the very last days to shop for your white elephants, secret santas, and siblings. No worries! There are still gifts abound, and if you’re looking for presents to satisfy the pop-culture obsessed, you’ve come to the right gift guide! Get ready to find the perfect gifts for your nerdy, fun-loving friends!
My advice for those buying gifts for the pop-culture nerd: know their fandoms! Dr. Who fans? There’s definitely enough Etsy items to stretch across the Atlantic! NBC obsessed? You might want to check out page 4! No matter the fandom, there’s another person out there that loves it as much as your friend, neighbor, bestie, roommate, mother, brother, or sister! Take to the internet and give the best presents of the year! There’s still time, I promise.
For the Child (or child at heart):
1. Katniss Barbie
This Katniss Barbie Doll will satisfy the young Hunger Games fan and independent girls alike! Peeta and Effie dolls are also out there; this gift will provide hours of fun and would be great coupled with the trilogy! A perfect gift for the middle schooler. (People still played Barbies in middle school, right?)
2. Wands (From the Wizarding World of Harry Potter)
11-25, no one is too old for a wand. Though Ron Weasley’s wand is shown, the full spectrum of Harry Potter wands can be found online. If a wand won’t tickle the fancy of this gift receiver, there’s also an array of HP shirts, mugs, scarves, and token items, like the Marauder’s Map available for purchase online.
Disney’s Frozen is one of the sweetest movies of the year! This Olaf plush may not talk but it’s bound to get your child singing about being a snowman in summer.
4. Disney’s Cranium
A two in one gift: a board game for snowy days and Disney trivia and fun for the whole family!
5. Downton Abbey Inspired Paper Dolls
So, your child may not be old enough to watch and love Downton Abbey. That doesn’t mean you have to keep them from the world of fashion represented in the show! Paper dolls are the perfect gift for the girl of 4-40 and these ones add a little more romance and history than your run-of-the-mill doll.
For the Lover of Words:
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This is not as family-friendly as the Disney Cranium option above. This Apples-to-Apples gone bad is recommended for Young Folks 17+ and is sure to add plenty of laughter and awkward pauses a regular game night. Rotten pop-culture and innuendos abound, Cards Against Humanity is the “card game for horrible people.”
2. Ready. Set. Novel!
Ready. Set. Novel! is the perfect workbook for the new writer. This book offers plenty of exercises to build plot, character, and setting while having you reflect on your favorite successful characters and novels.
3. Penguin Gifts (Notebooks, Mugs)
Penguin offers it’s classic titles with a new spin. Pick a title and find it printed on notebooks, mugs, or thermoses like the one above! Perfect for the English teacher, student, or bibliophile.
4. Out of Print Clothing
Another gift perfect for the bibliophile, Out of Print Clothing! Out of Print offers a lot more than classics, children’s books and popular novels can all find their covers printed on tees, sweaters, tote bags, and much more! Many of the most “popular” gifts can be purchased at Barnes & Noble if online shopping is not your thing!
5. Inspirational Journals
Journals and notebooks are perfect for the lover of words and writing. Etsy is the perfect place to pick up a customized notebook with an inspirational quote printed on the cover!
For the TV-Obsessed:
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1. Mugs:
World’s Best Boss (The Office)
Self-explanatory, one of the best props from The Office can easily be purchased to curl up with with some cocoa! If the person you need to gift for is an Office fan and they do not already own this mug, just buy it. You can’t go wrong.
What Would Heisenberg Do? (Breaking Bad)
Never having watched an episode of Breaking Bad, this mug is a mystery to me, but it’s really cute and simple! Mugs are awesome gifts because you can stuff them with a cone of hot chocolate and marshmallows and maybe throw in some fuzzy socks and there’s no complaints.
2. Clothing and Accessories:
I Met Li’l Sebastian (Parks & Rec)
The cheapest gifts around: buttons! This Li’l Sebastian button is perfect for the avid Parks and Recreation viewer and if Parks & Rec isn’t your forte, Etsy is the perfect place to find any fandom gifts!
Troy & Abed in the Morning (Community) Many more TV-themed Tee’s are Featured in this Etsy Shop!
More fandom items but this time, in the form of tee-shirts! Tee’s are the perfect way to add a little snark to your wardrobe. And these graphic tees look comfy and cute!
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As the owner and gifter of many a stamped bracelet, these are one of the most thoughtful gifts out there. Functional, easy to wear, comfy, and cute, stamped cuffs are the perfect gift for anyone that spouts their favorite lines or quotes in everyday conversation. Song lyrics, season/series finale quotes, or silly sayings–anything goes on a stamped cuff! This seller on Etsy, ktydiy, offers custom text that can be shipped before the 24th if you order by the 20th! And, the best thing about stamped jewelry, it’s usually under $20!
4. Books about Television:
Walking Dead Graphic Novel
In my opinion, books are the perfect gift. If fiction isn’t what you want to buy, autobiographies, graphic novels, and tell-alls are three genres that will spread entertainment this holiday! I’ve heard great things about these three picks. My friend, a huge Walking Dead fan had a hard time putting the graphic novel version down, without being a reader of the genre before! Mindy Kaling’s autobiography is not only hilarious but the true tale of a strong and fashionable woman making it in the TV industry. And Live from New York looks like the perfect gift for the SNL lover, no matter what year they watched! Books, the perfect gift for anyone on your list!
5. Netflix/ Hulu Gift Cards
Finally, the gift that keeps on giving, a gift card! Netflix and Hulu are two streaming websites that allow us to binge watch TV shows of all kinds, and find new fandoms to participate in. Perfect for the teen, college-student, newly graduated, or adult on your list! All you need is a laptop or a device that plays Netflix/Hulu on the television (Wii is the one we have at my apartment) and you’ve given someone the gift of On-Demand TV. It’s perfect, really.
What will you be purchasing for your pop-culture obsessed friends this holiday season?
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