Muji: Minimalist Gifts

Gift giving is incredibly fun if you know exactly the person wants, but 9 out of 10 times, that isn't the case.

My gifting solution is always Muji. (Surprise!)

Here are my top 3 favorite gifts from Muji:

#3.  Chopsticks
I have a friend who really enjoys all forms of Asian cuisine, but would always take several packs of chopsticks from any restaurant she visited in order to always have a supply.  So, needless to say, this gift was perfect.  The Muji chopsticks range in price from $4.35 to $13.00 so you can buy an individual pair or whole set depending on how big your budget is.

#2. Cardboard Speakers

It was Christmas, and I had absolutely no idea what to give my dad.  Guy gifts are always hard for me because 1. I'm a girl, and 2. I don't have any brothers. This find was my saving grace.  The speakers worked well as a gift for several reasons: 

- It lays flat (thus easy to transport in a suitcase)

- They are useful (my dad currently has them sitting on his office desk)

- Construction required (it gave my dad something to build while my sisters and I had a Christmas gift fashion show)

#1. Personalized Notebooks [Warning: some planning required] 

This is the favorite gift that I have given.  I love the Muji notebooks because they are super cheap, and are a joy to write in. For Christmas one year, I bought a few notebooks and sketched iconic New York City sights onto the cardboard cover.  I drew the top of Chrysler Building, the torch from the Statue of Liberty (pictured below), and even the Conservatory Water (including sailboats) from Central Park.  This gift is ideal for your family (especially grandparents) who would rather have a meaningful piece of you rather than just another knickknack from an NYC tourist shop.

Minimal DIY: Unfinished Hem Jean

There is a new trend going around: The Unfinished Hem.

This is a no-fuss style that makes a statement without needing too much work. As soon as I saw a pair in the subway, I knew I had to sacrifice a pair of my jeans so I could jump on this bandwagon.

I bought these great jeans a few months ago. They are distressed, patched and super comfortable, however, they were too long for my taste. Although cuffing them was an option they ended up being bulky and bit awkward.  They were the perfect specimen.

Sure. I was pretty scared as I sliced through my favorite pair of jeans with an exact-o knife... this would either solidify their position as my favorite pair or forever doom them to paint clothes.

Here is how they turned out...



I love them! These jeans are now light, breezy and perfect for summer. (In fact, my roommate loves them so much she is having me cut her jeans.)

The entire project took about 20 minutes and the only thing you need is a pair of scissors. Figure out how short you want to make them and snip away! (Just make sure to keep your line straight)

Do you have a pair of jeans that could just some refreshing? Try this! The unfinished hem will definitely be in style for a few more years.