32 Little Prizes To Gift Yourself Now That You've Almost Made It Through Winter

Buzz Feed

21-02-2025

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
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I believe a cozy coloring book and a pack of scented colored pencils would heal me.
1. Mini Brands Books — mystery capsules filled with tiny replicas of popular titles and a little bookshelf to place them on! You'll have a full library of best-sellers like It Starts With Us and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies in no time.
Each capsule includes three mini books, a tiny bookshelf, and one other mystery surprise (either a magnifying glass or bookmark).
Promising review: "I had seen many librarians post about the Mini Brand Books, so I purchased two sets for myself and a library aide! We love the surprise of seeing what we received and the bookshelf to keep our books organized, of course! Can't wait to add more to our collection!" — Robin T.
Get it from Amazon for $7.97 (also available in a two-pack).
2. A Popin Cookin kit so you can whip up miniature candy sushi that looks surprisingly realistic and tastes like delicious fruit gummies. It comes with all the ingredients and tools needed to make two pieces of tamago and tuna nigiri, plus one ikura sushi. It's also waaayyy less expensive than treating yourself to a night at your fave sushi spot.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I bought these years ago and decided to buy them again for me and my son. He really enjoyed making the candy/gummies. He was proud of his candy sushi once they were assembled, and of course, he loved eating them. He said they were very yummy. The flavor for all the different little things wasn't bad but my favorite was the 'seaweed,' it tastes just like grape Hi-Chew (my favorite flavor). I recommend buying these at least once for the kids. It's fun and a tasty treat. We will look into the other kinds in the near future." — Blythe
Get it from Amazon for $5.39 (also available in a three-pack).
3. A beautiful bouquet of crochet flowers that are 100% better than real ones since they don't require constant watering and will last longer than 2.5 days. There are several colors to choose from, and they're all bound to add a vibrant touch to even the dreariest winter days.
Vega Studio Art/Etsy
The small size includes four flowers, and the large size includes six flowers.
Promising review: "This arrangement sits behind one of my couches and it is always the first thing in my living room people comment on. It is so cute I love it!!" — Sarah K.
Vega Studio Art is a small Etsy shop based in New York.
Get it from Vega Studio Art on Etsy for $20.61+ (available in two sizes, five colors, and options for wrapping and a vase).
4. Murdle, Volume 1, a book filled with 100 logic mystery puzzles that'll test even the most ardent Agatha Christie aficionado. In each mini-puzzle, you'll join Detective Logico to figure out who, how, where, and why — and a special message can be decrypted once you finish all of them!
www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of Murdle in action.
The best part?? Once you finish "Murdling," you can use your sleuthing skills on Volume 2, Volume 3, and a whole BUNCH of other themed Murdle books!
Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun, but the characters, storylines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with all of this creativity! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes, but this one will keep me busy for a while!" — Liz Gately
Get it from Amazon for $10.25.
5. And a murder mystery puzzle so riveting you might just be tempted to complete it in one night. You'll start by reading a brief story, then get to work on the puzzle. As you put the pieces together, more info is revealed, and the final image will tell you whodunnit! Jessica Fletcher has nothing on you 🕵️‍♀️.
Amazon
Promising review: "You don't get to see what it is until it's halfway done, and as you piece it together, everything starts to make sense. Such a fun idea. No missing pieces! And the quality is so good! Stays together! Love all the details of the finished piece." — Ashley
Get it from Amazon for $16.10+ (available in two styles).
6. A Little Corner coloring book filled with images of cozy rooms and cute building exteriors you can customize to fit your personal style. If your favorite part of Animal Crossing is decking your house out with cute furniture and funky wallpaper, you're going to LOVE this.
Promising review:"I purchased this coloring book because I enjoy coloring small details. Too much coloring on one thing can get boring, but I love this one for the many different outlines to color! Not only is the coloring book detailed, but its title really does reflect the book — it brings you a cute and comfy vibe when coloring in it! I also appreciate the variety of pages it has, too! Some coloring books give you minimal pages, but this one contains a bunch! I'm very satisfied with this purchase. I highly recommend if you're contemplating which cute coloring book to order!" — STimm
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
7. And a set of scented colored pencils that will make you super nostalgic for all the scented school supplies of years past. However, these come with a super sophisticated twist: instead of basic scents like grape and strawberry, you'll get dreamy fragrances like "Springtime Brunch In The Garden" and "A Lush Field of Wildflowers." I want to go to there.
Promising review: "Everything about these colored pencils is enchanting, the design, scents, *the names of the colors*. Sigh. These scratch my itch for charming, lovely little things to elevate the day-to-day, and they take coloring as relaxation to a new level of self-care. The quality of the pencils themselves in terms of drawing/coloring is great as well; they blend easily, and the colors are clear/unmuted (they are not as rich/smooth as true artist quality pencils but perform above standard Crayola, similar to Prismacolor). I had to get a couple more as gifts, and both recipients were absolutely delighted." — Sunny
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three color palettes and in sets with diffuser pens).
8. A lip balm keychain cap so you can keep your go-to fave on you at all times. If winter has been wreaking havoc on your lips, this will be a life-saver. They're designed to screw onto a variety of popular lip balms (including Summer Fridays, Glossier, and Laneige), but be sure to take a look at the listing to make sure your favorite brand is compatible.
Promising review:"One of my favorite purchases from Etsy! I have one on my keys and my work bag. My lips are now always glossy. It fits several brands of lip gloss. I just took it to Sephora and tried the samples on the screw top." — Samantha
Glossgrl Caps is a small Etsy shop based in Florida.
Get it from Glossgrl Caps on Etsy for $6+ (available in various colors and styles).
9. A Blind Date With a Book — an absolutely genius idea for bookworms looking to spice up their reading list with a totally random recommendation. All you have to do is select your genre of choice, and then you'll receive a brand new, beautifully wrapped book ready for you to discover (along with some fun extras like a highlighter and bookmark!). Who knows, you might just find your new fave book this way.
All books sent are in brand new condition and have a Goodreads rating of at least 3.5, but often higher. The extras included will vary with each book.
Promising review:"Absolutely so well put together and a beautiful gift to myself as I'm trying to dip into reading more books in different genres! Love it!" — Nikki
Cute Book Corner is a small Etsy shop based in Van Nuys, CA.
Get it from Cute Book Corner on Etsy for $22.99 (originally $45; available in 12 genres or a random selection).
10. A plush piece of toast for the days when eating carbs isn't enough — you must also hug them. It may look extra crispy, but reviewers say it's actually very soft and lightweight. It can offer a supportive smile while you grind away at your desk all day, and then you can cuddle it to sleep, which is much more sanitary than bringing an actual loaf of bread to bed.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This little stuffy is adorable. It's very well made, the perfect size, cuddly, and lightweight. My daughter's baby brother keeps trying to steal it because he loves it so much. I'm going to have to order a second one!" – TR
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in four other styles)
11. And a set of emotional support nuggets — you can carry one of these little cuties around with you all day, or just carry the whole basket, I won't judge. If you ever get tired and frustrated at work, just take a quick glance at these to remind you why it's all worth it — to make unnecessary but adorable purchases like this.
Amazon
Promising review: "These are the absolute cutest little support plushies ever. They are well-made and super soft. The overall quality is great. You can either carry one for personal comfort or the whole basket for group support. Perfect for little hands, and even bigger ones if necessary." — LLBon23
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
12. A silly swinging planter I guarantee will put a smile on your face every time you see it — kind of like the one painted on it! It includes two hooks for easy hanging and a drainage hole for easy plant parenting. I suggest placing this by a window so it can lightly swing anytime there's a breeze.
Amazon
Promising review:"This adorable plant pot is great for my collection. The cord is strong and long enough to adjust as needed. I was concerned that the little guy would tip forward on his swing, but it actually sits very nicely and looks great. The size is wonderful — so many special pots like this are tiny, but this one holds a nice mature plant. All the materials are of nice quality, and the planter itself is thick and sturdy." — LauraM
Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (also available in five other styles).
13. Or a high-tech planter pot for anyone who has trouble keeping track of their plant children. The adorable display on the front lets you know how happy your plant is (i.e., if the soil is moist enough and if it's getting enough light), and it even has a self-watering feature you can control through the smartphone app. This is basically a grown-up Tamagotchi.
Amazon
Promising review:"I got this as a gift, and they love their Ivy planter! The digital expressions are cute and adorable, but aside from that, the size and quality of the planter itself make this an excellent planter. The app it comes with is easy to use and makes it easy to take care of your plant. I look forward to getting this for myself in the future!" — Mario
Get it from Amazon for $81.99+ (available in five colors).
14. A Bitzee — it puts a 3D spin on the traditional virtual pet from our childhood. Simply open the capsule to reveal one of 15 pets that respond to touch, tilts, and swipes. There's even a Disney version with characters like Stitch, Wall-E, and Lightning McQueen!
www.amazon.com, Amazon
When your pets evolve into Super Bitzees, you can find cool outfits and mini-games. In a rare turn of events, batteries are included!
Promising review:"My 8-year-old loves this thing so much that she hasn't put it down since she got it. It was the star of the show for Christmas, and I got so many hugs for getting it for her. This is basically the modern take on the old-school Tamagotchis, but it has a fluttering LED bar that zips up and down at an extremely high rate of speed to mimic the appearance of an actual digital pet floating in midair. Seems weird at first, but that fluttering light bar also allows you to feel like you are really touching the animal — very cool in action. If you are a parent looking for the perfect gift for a 5-10-year-old child, then do yourself a favor and grab one of these; you will not regret it! Really awesome toy for a very reasonable price." — M. Myers
Get it from Amazon for $23.44+ (available in four styles).
15. " Liquipens," which answers the age-old question: what would happen if you combined a pen with a lava lamp??? The answer? A ridiculously fun writing utensil you'll stare at and play with all day long. Reviewers say the pen itself is great quality, and the lava lamp effect doubles as a calming sensory toy.
Promising review:"I broke up the three-pack and gave one pen as a gift for a class gift exchange and put the other two in a stocking for Christmas. Good quality and approved by both the 8-year-old and 49-year-old husband, who is a kid at heart! Definitely recommend." — Kindle Customer
Get a set of three from Amazon for $17.99.
16. A coffee mug that has a precious surprise inside waiting to greet you "Good morning!" after you finish your first cup of the day. Imagine starting every morning with a tiny ceramic squirrel offering you an acorn 😭.
Amazon
The mug holds 12 ounces.
Promising review: "A great little mug. Feels good in the hand, a nice size, beautiful 'hammered' texture on the outside, and such a lovely, sunny color." — K-Mommy
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in 11 color/animal combinations).
17. Or a coffee mug with a cute bookshelf design and a unique interactive twist: there's a QR code on one of the books you can scan that will take you to a new literary quote every day. The best part of waking up is now reading quotes from Charles Dickens, W.E.B. DuBois, Jane Austen, and more.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review:"Love this mug so much! I purchased three — two for my best reading friends and one for myself! I love that this mug is 'left-handed' friendly, too, as I'm a lefty, and so is one of my reading buddies, so often we miss out on seeing 'cool stuff' on our mugs — not on this one! The daily literary quotes are awesome! I love seeing old favorites and have been inspired to read books I don't know about via daily quotes!" — FourBuddies
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $28.
18. A Hello Kitty ramen bowl, which would pair perfectly with a pack of pink Buldak noodles (which everyone knows is the best flavor). It comes with matching chopsticks that can be stored inside the bowl, so it's basically the only thing you'll need to grab when your late-night noodle craving hits.
Amazon
Promising review: "I love this bowl! The quality of the bowl is really good; it's super easy to clean, a standard-sized bowl. I've been handwashing mine, so I don't know how it handles in the dishwasher, but the design has not faded whatsoever (which has been an issue I've had with some cups back in the day!). Pretty good gift idea." — The Witch Noir
Get it from Amazon for $17.30+ (available in 18 styles).
19. And a super soft plush that looks like a normal Care Bear from the back, but turn it around, and you'll see it's actually Hello Kitty in disguise! Two iconic characters for the price of one?! That's such a steal it would almost be rude not to add it to your cart.
Amazon
Promising review: "I love this Hello Kitty and Care Bear! I am an adult who grew up with Hello Kitty and had to have this. Well made and soft." — Karen T.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in two other characters).
20. A desk lamp shaped like Glen Pow... I mean a capybara! It's totally wireless, and a single charge can last for up to six hours, meaning you can carry your new pet around with you from room to room. There's even a 20-minute timer function, so it'll cut off by the time you go to sleep. Please tell your new lamp he was excellent in Twisters.
Promising review:"Seriously adorable and easy to recharge. It's been awesome for my bathroom. Use it as a night-light and in the dark morning while taking my shower. Puts out a good amount of light and is easy to use." — Cassie
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (also available in four other styles).
21. Or a duck night-light that will cheer you up almost immediately because it's a total mood. You can tap the duck to change between three different brightness settings, so you can use it for everything from study sessions to nap time.
Promising review: "This little lamp is BEYOND adorable. I got it as a gift for my niece, and she loved it. It's super cute, has a soft squishy texture, and has a little X for his butt. Maybe some won't like the little X, but it just adds extra cuteness. Worked right out of the box. Seemed pretty bright. Squish him, and the level changes. I can't speak to life expectancy, but it seems decent enough quality. Freaking adorable! Way better than expected." — KF
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
22. An adorable polar bear hydrating eye stick — it's basically a venti iced coffee for your under-eye area. It features Iceland glacier water to help relieve the appearance of puffiness, and the niacinamide in the formula can provide a brightening effect to lessen the severity of dark circles. Also, reviewers love putting this lil' cutie in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation! I mean, it is a polar bear, after all — it only makes sense to keep it cold.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I have always had serious dark circles and bags under my eyes, and this has really changed this for me. The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable. My sensitive skin has not broken out. I never write reviews, but this was so good that I had to write a review. This actually works." — Ben
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
23. An adorable cat that only has one job — to hold your glasses, and it does it so well! Now you'll have a proper place to place your specs instead of throwing them on your messy nightstand and then fishing around for them in the morning.
Promising review: "This is perfect to hold my glasses so I don't have to spend time looking for them. It's super cute and heavier than expected. Really happy with the purchase." — Savannah
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $32.
24. A set of pastel highlighters with glitter in the ink. I don't think you heard me — there's ✨ GLITTER ✨ in the ink!!! I haven't been this excited about glitter since Mariah Carey started an acting career. Their rectangular design provides an ergonomic grip so you can use them for hours and hours during your next study session — or for when you read a Colleen Hoover novel and decide to highlight every ridiculous thing that happens (so, the entire book).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the highlighters in action.
Promising review:"These are amazing!!! Beautiful colors and the sparkle/shimmer is more than I imagined it would be. Mr. Pen did it again! If you don't have these pens, you need to get them!! Great addition to my journaling supplies!" — FBJH12
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $6.98 (also available in three other color combos that aren't metallic).
25. A whimsical UFO Bluetooth speaker to teleport you to planet Funkytown and give you some background music while finally responding to those e-mails you've been ignoring all week. It also acts as a night-light, so this might fly its way over to your nightstand as well.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Bought this for my daughter, and she loved it. The design is cute. Quality seems good for the price. Love the sound quality and ability to play any music. I'd have bought this just as a cute decor gift as well." — Nilay
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in four colors).
26. A moisturizing body wash with notes of white jasmine, red currant, and sweet amber — and reviewers say it smells super similar to Baccarat Rouge 540 👀 👀 👀. Plus, its moisturizing blend of glycerin and jojoba seed oil will leave your skin feeling as good as it smells.
Amazon
Promising review:"Cremo's body wash is nothing short of exceptional. If you're a fan of luxurious fragrances, this product will quickly become your new favorite. It boasts an incredible scent that perfectly mimics Baccarat Rouge 540 — a fragrance renowned for its sophisticated and captivating aroma. What sets this body wash apart is not just its stunning scent but also its longevity. The fragrance lingers beautifully throughout the day, ensuring you stay enveloped in that luxurious aroma long after your shower." — Ralph D. Thompson II
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in two other scents).
27. A pair of stylish teardrop earrings that'll make you shed a tear when you realize you can now cross the way-pricier Bottega Veneta ones off your wishlist. Tons of reviewers say these are super lightweight and won't cause ear pain, yet still make quite a statement and elevate any outfit.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"These are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! If I didn't know any better, I would have said these are the Bottega Drop Earrings. I personally love the smaller ones. I have not ordered the larger ones yet. Smaller ones are truthfully the perfect size. We love a good alternative because who has $800+ to spend on the Bottegas." — Brittany
Get them from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 11 colors, two-packs, and an extra-large size).
28. A llama-shaped stress ball with a catchphrase you will live by: "when spit happens, give me a squeeze!" Now, you can redirect the aggression you feel toward your laptop every time it freezes into cuteness aggression toward this squeezable sweetie.
Promising review:"I tend to get rather stressed and have been known to accidentally obliterate stress balls. Thankfully, this llama is quite sturdy and hasn't shown any signs of wear and tear yet despite frequent and intense use over the past few weeks. Based on that, I fully expect him to endure for a long time to come." — Rachel L
Get it from Amazon for $13.95.
29. A ridiculously adorable Bluetooth karaoke machine for the aspiring American Idol who never turns down the chance to grab a mic. This can easily connect to your phone so you can play your favorite songs, and the two mini mics provide some impressive sound quality.
Promising review:"This karaoke machine is great! The quality of the sound is super clear! All of the buttons are self-explanatory in case you lose the directions, and they're very accessible! The light is nice as well, especially if you're in the party mood, however you can turn it off if not wanted. This size is perfect for transporting and makes it easy to use anywhere! 10/10 recommend" — mksavage
Get it from Amazon for $20.86+ (available in nine colors).
30. A bubble tea kit (it's made in Taiwan!) so you can save some money by making boba at home. It comes with everything you need — yes, including the boba! — to make your own milk tea at home, so this is really a gift for your wallet as well.
It's as easy as mixing the powder and boba in hot water.
Promising review: "This. Is. AWESOME! I will agree with another reviewer that the Thai tea tastes a little more like Tiger tea, but is still super good nonetheless. I just had surgery and haven't been able to leave the house, so I bought this product for my boba fix while healing up. I used about 6oz of water for mine, so it's a bit more diluted, but that's a better balance for tea to boba pearls. The pearls are quite soft but have a great taste. The tea is so sweet and flavorful. Really enjoy this product! Super easy to use, great value. Cute box and easy-to-follow instructions. And pretty decent quality! Can't wait to enjoy the rest of this box!" — SO GOOD!
Get it from Amazon for $10.99 (available in two flavors).
31. An "Everyday Mindfulness"-themed word search book for anyone looking to decrease their screen time in 2025. From anagram searches to fill-in-the-blank puzzles, you'll be so entertained you won't even miss your phone.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This is exactly what I was looking for! It lays flat to easily complete the word search and not have to fight with the book. There are different types of puzzles, and some have extra secret searches! It's great for the slow days at work!! I will definitely be buying more of these word searches!" — Roy Y Hahn
Get it from Amazon for $8.50.
32. Kanoodle Ultimate Champion game, an updated version of the game that's taken over TikTok — although you'll be scrolling through TikTok a lot less now that this brain-teaser has entered your life. This version includes a whopping 500 puzzles to solve, but the game-changer is the included timer to help provide an extra challenge.
Amazon
The goal? Try to fit all of the puzzle pieces on the game board before the timer is up! The easiest way to get started is to place one piece inside, close the lid and shake until the piece falls in a spot on the board, then open and start the timer as you try to fit the remaining pieces inside! There are also challenge cards that give you a specific shape to make in a set amount of time. Here's a TikTok video that shows how to play. It requires AAA batteries, so pick some up here.
BuzzFeed contributor John Mihaly has this to say about this game:
"We love the classic version in our home, and it's been in heavy rotation since we got our hands on it. The object of the game is to finish a puzzle using all 12 Kanoodle pieces. The 2D version lies flat, while the 3D version (you can play both with this set) requires you to build a pyramid of pieces. Simple, fun, and challenging (harder puzzles reveal fewer pieces to start)."
Promising review: "Very easy to use and fun for all ages. Great gift idea and is small and compact, so you can take it anywhere with you!" — Jocelyn
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
Reviews here have been edited for length and/or clarity.