Holiday Shopping Challenge {What I Purchased}

You may remember the Holiday Shopping Challenge from American Express. The goal was to purchase five holiday gifts for family and friends using an American Express gift card and American Express Membership Reward Points. A particularly fun aspect of the challenge is that at least one gift had to be purchased from a small business. American Express is the brains behind Small Business Saturday, after all! I started slow with my holiday shopping, but once I got goingI was on a roll and I am really excited with the goodies I purchased for loved ones.

Unfortunately, the Reward Points didn’t work out because our AmEx is a CostCo American Express card and not a typical card. I’ll admit I was disappointed because the Membership Rewards shopping offered a GREAT selection of gifts for people on my list, including a piece of Le Crueset I had my eye on for my sister, some iPhone accessories for my father-in-law and gift cards for my brother.

In any case, I found some fun stuff, so here’s a rundown of what I got.

Recipients #1: The Shopping Mama’s 5 Contributing Writers
What They Got: A fabric rosette necklace from  Jillian Audrey Designs and Starbucks gift card packaged in a personalized favor bag from Paper Nook. I loved this little gift package because it includes handmade items – the necklaces were picked with each person in mind. It was something I would love to receive so hopefully they loved them!

Recipient #2: My Husband
What He Got: A bike trailer! I actually referenced this gift in TheFind.com app post as I used that to find the best price in my area for the kind of bike trailer I was looking for. I wanted one with a weight limit to carry both children, but didn’t want to spend a fortune since it’s our family’s first experience with one. So far so good! My kids love riding in it, my husband enjoys the challenge of pulling an extra 70 pounds on his work out and I like the quiet time I get when they’re out for a ride.

Recipients #3: 2 Nieces
What They Got:  Initial Necklace from Etsy shop called Untie Jewelry. We featured these necklaces in our last minute personalized gifts post and I took my own suggestion and ordered one for each of my nieces. The girls are entering the tween years and I readily admit that age is out of my comfort zone! I had no idea what to get them but figured you can’t go wrong with a sweet personalized piece of jewelry.

Recipient #4: My Mom
What She Got: Flatware Set & a few kitchen odds and ends. I was actually totally inspired for her gift after browsing the Membership Rewards Shop at American Express. My mom had her kitchen remodeled last year, but I’m pretty sure she’s still using some kitchen equipment and tools from the year I was born. After seeing some very nice flatware sets I thought it would be fun to update some of the things she has in her pretty new kitchen.

Recipient #5: My Grandmother
What She Got: I admit that I have been rather unoriginal in my gifts to my grandmother for the last several years. Obviously we give framed photos of the kids – always a hit! – but other go-to gift is Crane stationary. She’s been a fan for as long as I can remember and I love browsing the pretty paper. Even though my husband has helped her learn the basics and she sends email she is still a diligent note writer.

Did you give any holiday gifts you’re particularly proud of or that you wish you could have kept for yourself? Have you used Membership Rewards to shop?

Giveaway Update: Congratulations to Vanessa for winning the American Express Card from the Shopping Challenge giveaway!

Shop! Visit American Express to learn more about Membership Rewards – and how earning points can help with your next shopping challenge.

The American Express shopping challenge is a compensated program. As always, opinions are my own.