Gift Guides

2020 Gift Guides for the PA and for everyone in your life!

Everything is linked in the title of the item. Happy shopping!

Gift Guide for the Pre-PA student (or any college student)

• MyPAbox: THE tool to help you organize all your prerequisite courses, healthcare and volunteer hours, and more. You can create a profile to search PA schools you would be qualified to apply to. A huge time saver and a great value for the price. Use code: 'Courtney15' for 15% off a subscription. 
• Keurig: A lot of students run off coffee and this is the one I have and love. It turns off automatically and can do three sizes depending on your cup/mug. 
• iPad: I can't imagine getting through PA school without mine. I could quickly switch between writing and typing, which was key in classes like anatomy and pathophysiology. Don't forget about the student discount at Apple as well. 
• Bluelight glasses: I've been loving these, more than other cheaper brands, and I think they are so cute and flattering on all face shapes. 
• Staedtler pens: I love these to color-coat my notes and planner. They don't bleed and make my handwriting look pretty.
• Live Inspired Planner: These are just fabulous and I can't imagine my detailed schedule planned out with anything else. This year you can pick from an hourly or daily setup and a portion of the profit goes to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 
• Being Mortal by Atul Gawande: A must-read for anyone wanting to go into healthcare. 

Gift Guide for the PA student

• Suture pad and supplies: This one is my favorites and has held up well from lots of practice. 
• Perfect H & P book: A lifesaver in internal and inpatient medicine rotations. It allowed me to keep all my information and thoughts straight on patients I saw when pre-rounding and was key in my oral presentations.
• Pance Prep Pearls: There's a reason it's called the PA school bible. I almost exclusively used this book to study in clinical year, for End-of-Rotation exams, and for the PANCE. I also highly recommend getting the newer version 3, and getting it spiral bound at a copy store or Staples.
• Compression socks: These will save your feet on long days in the clinic or surgery and help if you are prone to passing out in the OR. This brand in particular is softer and easier to put on compared to other brands I've tried.
• Pocket Pimped books: You can slip these in your white coat to study clinical pearls and commonly asked questions when you have time on rotations.
• Maevn clinical bag: It can be turned into a bag or backpack and has so many great compartments for all the essentials to bring to rotations. Super useful to staying organized. 
• Surgical Recall: A must-have for your surgery rotation. It gives an overview of all types of surgery and was great for brushing up on anatomy and important structures and processes before a procedure.
• Bluelight glasses: You'll be looking at a screen a lot of the day and these helped prevent tired eyes and headaches for me. 
• Personalized white coat hanger: the ultimate special gift for any student in the medical field. A friend gifted this to me at the beginning of PA school and it served as motivation that one day my white coat would hang on it, and now it does!

Gift Guide for the PA-C

• Pance Prep Pearls: I'll still be keeping this book around as a PA-C to brush up on topics. 
• V Coterie enamel pins: An adorable way to spruce up any white coat, bag, or backpack. I also love that these pins can be conversation starters and they make me smile.
• Diploma and license frames: We paid so much to get a tiny sheet of paper, so might as well display it proudly on the wall and make it look nice and official. 
• Engraved insulated coffee mug/water bottle: It's been super important for me to have my name on my drinks at work so it doesn't get mixed up. These from Swell keep your hot drink hot for hours and cold for 24+ hours. Free engraving if you spend $50+ right now!
• Medelita white coat: Truly a beautiful white coat in every way. They make men's and women's coats that are flattering and wonderfully designed. The option to get it embroidered makes it especially personal and I am in love with my new one from here (I have the Rebecca).
• Massage/facial: After mask-ne and stress from work, these would both be very welcome gifts.
• Rothy's flats: An extremely comfortable, stylish, and environmentally-friendly option for all-day comfort. They have lots of cute colors and styles. 
• Me Too loafers: A cheaper option for loafers that are cute and functional. These are the comfiest I've found for the price and have made it through many long shifts on my feet. 
• Cashflow Cornerstones financial course: An interactive course to learn the basics on budgeting, saving, investing, and preparing your finances for the future. This is a super amazing investment and created by a fellow PA who paid off $161,000 of student debt in 16 months!

Gift Guide to support small businesses

• Tom's Mom's cookies: The actual best cookies I've ever had, and I've had a lot. They are a tiny shop in Northern Michigan and shipping out for the holidays. These will seriously make someone's day. 
• Live Inspired planners: These are just fabulous and I can't imagine my detailed schedule planned out with anything else. This year you can pick from an hourly or daily setup and a portion of the profit goes to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 
• CrazyTown custom cookies: Just beautiful cookies for any occasion. My mom had some personalized for my PA graduation and they were a true work of art.
• Abboo candle company: These smell delicious, are soy wax which is important because it minimizes toxins, and a percent of the proceeds go to help dog shelters. 
• V Coterie enamel pins: An adorable way to spruce up any white coat, bag, or backpack. I also love that these pins can be conversation starters. 
• Hexagon wooden shelves: So adorable and handmade. They spruce up any wall and give a cozy feel.
• Medthusiast tees: Creative medical sayings on all types of clothing items that make great gifts for anyone medical in your life. This company is run by a fellow PA. 
• Dainty necklace: I just got this and haven't taken it off. It's beautifully-made and sparkles. I wear it during workouts, in the shower, and to sleep and it still looks perfect. 
• Cashflow Cornerstones: An interactive course to learn the basics on budgeting, saving, investing, and preparing your finances for the future. This is a super amazing investment and created by a fellow PA who paid off $161,000 of student debt in 16 months!

Gift Guide for the one who is difficult to buy for

• Laneige lip mask: Say goodbye to dry lips this winter. I apply it at night and my lips are soft the whole next day. Truly a miracle product and at the rate I'm using it, one container will last me two years. 
• Map artwork: A fun way to incorporate past places you've called home or special places into art on your walls. 
• 4-in-1 Apple charger: This has been a game-changer for charging, and I only have one plug one thing into the wall but can charge all my products in one place. Goodbye messy extension cords. 
• SmartSweets: These are actually amazing. My favorites are the peach rings, watermelons, and sour gummy bears. They are low sugar and a guilt-free sweet snack. 
• Double hoop earrings: I was gifted these beautiful earrings and they quickly became a beloved staple in my wardrobe. The 14k gold means no irritation on my ears too which is a big deal to me.
• Coziest Cardigan: This cardigan is actually a dream and I wear it all the time. It's warm and cozy and incredibly soft. Anything of this brand will be an amazing gift.
• Facial sunscreen: Recommended by numerous dermatologists and skincare experts, this is my favorite facial sunscreen. I've been using the UV clear version because it has an acne-fighting ingredient in it, and clogged pores are my biggest complaint with other sunscreens. This is the only brand I actually don't mind putting on in the morning.
• Real Me leggings: I've heard it's the perfect Lululemon Align dupe, and although I can't compare the two, I haven't been able to take these off since I got them. They are flattering and extremely comfortable. There's always a sale going on too. 
• Best breathable face masks: I found these and only wear these if I can't get the disposable hospital ones. I've gifted them to others too who have found them superior to other brands. They are comfy and affordable and come in packs of five.
• BEST hair ties ever: I'm usually wary of the stuff promoted on social media but these are legit. I have really thick and heavy hair and have been on the hunt for better hair ties for years. With these, you can choose all types of sizes depending on your hair needs. I like the Any Fit and Long&Curly ones. If you use this link, you'll get $10 off your order too!
• BeautyCounter: I love this skincare brand and the advocating they are doing nationally for stricter regulations of what can be in our skincare products. If you do even a little bit of research, it's pretty concerning. If you just want to try a product or two out, I love the charcoal face mask and resurfacing peel. 

These are all products or services I own or use personally! I'm frugal and a girl who reads 20 reviews before even considering buying something, so I hope you love these items as much as me! A big money-saving tip is to use the website Rakuten to get cash back on all of your purchases, some as much as 10%! When you sign up through my link, you will get $40 cash back automatically if you spend $40+ on your first purchase using this. Happy Holidays!

✤Courtney