There are a lot of reasons I love Christmas, but one of them is giving gifts. I love the process of thinking about the person, who they are, what they love, what they do, where they are going, things they've told me they like and then finding something that perfectly fits their personality and lifestyle.

I start Christmas shopping way in advance. Like all year long.

I realize not everyone enjoys the process of selecting a gift, so the good news for you is that I’ve already done a lot of the work for you and have put together some gift guides to inspire you to find the perfect gifts early this year.

I've pulled together a gift guide for the ladies, guys, mommas with babies under 2 and my absolute favorite, a stocking stuffer list.

I love a good entry bench. They can be so functional if you pick one that fits your lifestyle, space and style. You can obviously use the bench for seating, but they are also great for storage, landing zone for guests’ shoes/purses, defining your entry and streamlining getting out of the door.

Picking the right bench can be overwhelming because there are so many options, types and styles. I’ve got a roundup of some of my favorites at the bottom of the post but first, I had to share these dreamy entries.

If you’ve been following me long enough, you’ll know that I love functional pieces of furniture that fit your lifestyle and tell your story. So naturally, I love bookcases and shelves and how functional they are (hello, storage!).

But have you ever thought of them as a piece of art? A way to tell your story? With a little attention, bookshelves can be turned styled into a piece of art, a reflection of you with favorite treasures, books, colors and trip mementos. It’s a design craze called “shelfie”. An alternative to a “selfie” that’s a curated and reflective of your style, interests and personality.

Here are my tips on how to create your perfect “shelfie”: