A V-Day Gift Guide for Your Bestie, Boo + Little Ones Too

What Are Boo Baskets?

Boo baskets are Halloween or fall-themed gift baskets typically filled with candy, seasonal decorations, and fun crafts that you can surprise your significant other with to celebrate the season. While videos of this trend usually show people giving their baskets to their “boo” (pun intended), it’s not limited to just your partner. You can also make one for your friends, your parents, your kids, or even your pets if you wanted to!

What Do You Put In a Boo Basket?

Just about anything can go in a boo basket! If you’re creating a basket that’s specific to your loved one’s interests, the possibilities of what you can include are endless. But based on countless TikTok videos and Instagram reels posted about this trend, the general formula for a basket that I’ve noticed includes a cozy item, a mug, a fall-themed drink mix, snacks or candy, a stuffed animal, and (of course) a basket big enough to fit everything!

First, The Basket

Technically, any big basket or container could be used to hold your boo basket items. However, if you’re the kind of person that likes to go all out when gift-giving, I would recommend a Halloween-themed basket like the Andemie Halloween Collapsible Organizer from Amazon. Not only does this basket come in multiple colors and patterns, you can easily flatten the basket and store it anywhere you want, so you can reuse it next fall.

Candles, Body Care, Sweaters & More … A Cozy Girl’s Galore!

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to getting all relaxed and comfortable, especially on a chilly, rainy fall day. Personally, there are three essential elements to my lazy days – an oversized sweater, some gourmand scented body care, and a candle that makes my entire apartment smell like walking into a bakery. If this sounds like you, here are some of my favorites.

This sweater from the LoveStitchesCo shop on Etsy has quickly become a staple to my “lounging around” outfits this season, and for a good reason. For only $26, this sweater is made out of 100 percent cotton, has a wide size range available (S to 3XL), and can be customized to whatever color you’d like. Plus, the embroidered design is absolutely adorable; who doesn’t love ghost kittens?

As the weather gets colder, many people (like myself) opt to swap their perfumes and scented lotions from fruity and tropical notes to warm and edible notes like vanilla, caramel, honey and chocolate. If you’re looking to spoil your boo basket recipient who likes these kinds of scents, Sol de Janeiro recently released a limited edition body cream in one of their best-sellers, Cheirosa 71. Fragrance notes of caramelized vanilla, white chocolate and toasted macadamia nut will have you smelling like a snack (literally), while moisturizing ingredients like macadamia seed oil and tucumã butter will keep your skin feeling silky smooth.

If you’re a candle lover, then you already know that the best place to find candles for every season is at none other than Bath & Body Works. Sure, there are plenty of pumpkin scented candles to try, but if you’re looking to include something in a boo basket that screams fall, Autumn Chai is the perfect option. This three-wick candle has notes of cinnamon chai, French vanilla, and caramel – a great combination if you’re looking for something cozy, but not too overwhelming.

Drink Mixes

Hot chocolate is one of the quintessential cold weather beverages, but if you want to be more creative with your drink choice, Target’s Favorite Day brand has a spooky-themed hot cocoa mix that would be a great addition to your boo basket. One box comes with two cocoa mixes and a marshmallow confetti mix shaped like beakers you can find in a science laboratory, and when combined with warm milk, changes to an orange or green color. How cool is that?

And Of Course, A Mug To Match

You got the perfect fall drink for your boo, but what mug would go with it the best? At this stage, I think this is where you get something that is the most personable to your boo basket recipient. You could include a mug that matches their career or their favorite hobbies and interests. If you want to play it safe and stick with a Halloween theme, this 15 oz ghost mug from Target is spook-tacular!

Plushies Make Everything Better

Who says that stuffed animals are just for kids? Not only are they fluffy and come in all shapes and sizes, giving a stuffed animal to your loved one is one of the best ways to show that you care about them. As a plushie connoisseur, my go-to pick for a boo basket would be any plush, like this pink llama from Warmies. Each cuddly buddy is lavender-scented and also serves as a microwaveable heating pad that can be used to relieve stress or soothe muscle aches and pains.

Don’t Forget the Candy

No Halloween basket would be complete without candy! From chocolates to gummy worms and sour WarHeads, there are so many options to choose from that it can seem overwhelming to pick just one. And if your boo basket recipient has any dietary restrictions, it can be even more difficult to find something that fits that person’s needs. My twin sister has been vegan for almost five years, and before we both moved out from our parents’ house, these dark chocolate coconut bars from Unreal were a staple snack for the whole family. Not only are these bars certified vegan and gluten-free, each bar only contains three grams of sugar and three ingredients – coconut, cassava syrup and dark chocolate. As someone who isn’t vegan, trust me when I say that when you try these, you won’t want to go back to the name-brand chocolate.

Littlest Pet Shop Playset

Turns out the Littlest Pet Shop is still a total must-have! This playset comes with two adorable pets and over 20 accessories that your kiddo can move around to customize their own little world.

Target Toy Checklane

This interactive Target checkout counter will be very familiar to your little one if they're part of a Target family! It has options to browse store shelves, ring up play items, and pay with pretend money for the whole experience.

Wild Republic Amazon Exclusive 2024 Holiday Bear

How cute is this sweater-bearing bear? We honestly want one for ourselves. This darling plushie makes the perfect bedtime snuggle buddy for the holiday season!

Syncfun Play Kitchen Toys

If the kid you're shopping for isn't quite ready to cook and bake, they'll certainly learn the ways of the kitchen with this playset. It includes a coffee maker, toaster, and a blender, along with 2 knives, 2 spoons, 2 forks, 4 foods, 2 cups, 2 teacups, 2 plates, 2 saucers, and 2 "toasts" so their imagination can run wild.

Ninja Blast Brain & Memory Game Cube

For kiddos in the 6 to 12 year-old range, this light-up, noise-making game cube comes equipped with tons of one- and two-player games to keep them occupied, sans TV or phone screen.

Harper The Pig Weighted Comfort Plush

This cuddly stuffed animal helps "lower stress and boost calm" with a weight of 4.5 pounds to help anyone feel grounded and relaxed, even adults! Its soft fabric and cute, welcoming face will certainly satisfy any anxiousness. You can choose from Harper The Pig, Frankie The Cat, Charlie The Puppy, and more characters!

Lego Despicable Me 4 Minions & Gru's Family Mansion

The Despicable Me franchise has a hold on us all, and for the kiddos who can't get enough of The Minions or Legos, this build-it-yourself building block set will definitely have them excited and enriched with the challenge of constructing Gru's famous mansion.

Bestamtoy 36-Piece Wooden Sorting Stacking Rocks & Stones

Building blocks have come a long way from the basic triangular prisms and rectangles of our youth. This creative set emulates rocks and stones for a unique play experience since your kiddo can stack 'em in endless ways!

Fisher-Price Learn & Serve Coffee Cafe Playset

If you know the kid you're shopping for watches mom and dad prep their coffee every morning, let them in on the fun (non-caffeinated, of course) with this play-espresso machine! They'll be whipping up their very own lattes and cappuccinos in no time, and the 'rents will undoubtedly have a great time watching them get to 'work'.

Mon Ami Christmas Joyful Tree Kids Plush Toy

This cheerful tree plush rings in the Christmas season in the most adorable way possible. It's "soft, snuggly, and full of personality" to become your little pal's perfect companion!

Syncfun Marble Run Set

With a whopping 196 pieces to play with and customize, this set is full of surprises and endless ways to race marbles. It's the gift that keeps on giving, since your kiddo can change the track day after day.

Tonies Peppa Pig Toniebox Starter Set

This squishable speaker pairs up with Peppa Pig to play 9 different audible stories, songs, and more interactive sounds for your little one to listen to. It offers a great, screen-free way to keep them enriched and entertained throughout the day!

We couldn't leave this obvious group costume idea out of the mix. Whether you go sexy or sweet, it's always a good fallback. You'll love to twirl your skirts and sing your songs! (via Brit + Co)

Nevermore Students From 'Wednesday'

Get all your friends together and dress as Wednesday, Enid, and the gang from Nevermore! You don't have to dye your hair rainbow colors, but we also would totally respect you if you did.

Whether you're dressing up with your family or your friend group, this 80s Halloween costume is so easy (not to mention it's very comfortable). Don't forget your mustaches! (via Brit + Co)

Daisy Jones & The Six

Rock out with a costume inspired by one of the best new TV shows this year. There's a very good chance you can find crochet, leather, and suede pieces in your local thrift store — or you can just ask your parents. 👀

The base of this costume is really simple — jean shorteralls, a long-sleeve yellow shirt, tall yellow socks, a yellow beanie, black gloves, and preferably black sneakers. (via Brit + Co)

Have white go-go boots, will costume partayyy! (via Brit + Co)

After you rewatch Deadpool & Wolverine (again), kick some butt with a Deadpool group Halloween costume. Unfortunately, Ryan Reynolds is not included. (via Brit + Co)

Do you love this sparkly bev to death? Grab your girls (and boy) and create the ultimate cast with your fave flaves. Start your DIY with this hamper. (via Brit + Co)

Rumpus Rumpus Rumpus is how you get the party started. (via Brit + Co)

Dress the whole fam in your fave marine creature cast! Dory, Hank, and Nemo FTW! (via Brit + Co)

Who’s the Lorelai to your Rory? Choose carefully and then pick your main men too. (via Brit + Co)

Watch your head if you and your friends decide to dress up as this crazy cast of characters. You're gonna need a foam sword and faux fur to pull these looks off. (via Brit + Co)

What's better than a wicked AF sisterhood?! Don't forget the brooms. (via Brit + Co)

Cowabunga! Throw together green tights, turtleneck leotards, and spray-painted shells with a pair of gladiator sandals. Then celebrate this awesome costume's success with plenty of pizza after a night of trick or treating. (via Brit + Co)

Asteroid City

Wes Anderson's latest tale revolves around something the whole world is talking about: aliens. Whether you decide to go as an extraterrestrial or go all-out with teal and orange outfits, this is one group Halloween costume that is instantly recognizable.

Put your best fascinator forward and do your best impression of the royal fam. (via Brit + Co)

How punny is this costume? Pick your favorite spice, grab a cheap white tee, and get ready to DIY a perfect ’90s throwback look. (via Brit + Co)

These 2000s costumes are so easy to replicate — you probably already have a lot of the items in your closet already! Grab your closest girlfriends to be every Spice Girl or go stag with our awesome Ginger Spice redhead Halloween costume. (via Brit + Co)

This is one of our favorite throwback ideas for incorporating some pop culture into your Halloween. And it gets bonus points for being a perfect choice for soon-to-be moms who still want to dress up with their gals. (via Brit + Co)

The gang's all here — let's catch 'em all. (via Brit + Co)

Dress your whole posse as this amazing cast just in time to celebrate Halloween — and Stranger Things 5. (via Brit + Co)

Vanderpump Rules SUR Staff

Bring the drama this Halloween by wearing some pretty iconic uniforms. Boots or ballet flats will definitely be the most comfortable, but feel free to go all-out with heels if you're feeling it!

Babes who brunch together, stay together — on Sundays and Halloween days! (via Brit + Co)

After the girl-power and Gen-Z remakes of Ghostbusters, we knew this DIY costume tutorial was a must. Grab your besties and spend a night in DIYing your group Halloween costume. You’ll never believe it, but the secret behind this look is Tupperware containers. (via Brit + Co)

After sobbing our way through Inside Out 2, we're feeling all kinds of emotions about this Pixar film-inspired group look. (via Brit + Co)

Channel your inner Slater, Kelly, Zach, and Jessie with some sweet threads straight out of the late '80s. Just don't forget the old-school cell phone with an antenna bigger than your head. (via Brit + Co)

Barbies And Kens

Come on Barbie, let's go party! Grab your closest pals to dress up as 2023's most iconic toys-turned-humans. Take a hint from the viral set pictures or use the Barbie movie character posters as inspiration. (via Brit + Co)

Get nostalgic with this early era Lohan-inspired squad costume. Unleash your inner mean girl if you dare! (via Brit + Co)

The Pogues

This is a great costume because it uses up pieces that you will definitely wear again! (It's also great for anyone who lives somewhere that's always warm). The key to a recognizable Outer Banks costume? John B's backwards hat-and-bandana combo, the girls' layered necklaces, and lots of bracelets.

This get-up is bound to take the costume contest gold. This Olympics group costume also a much-needed excuse to wear sweatpants to all of your outdoor Halloween parties. Swap a few details and you can be 2024's Team USA, the Golden Girls, too! (via Brit + Co)

Or is it Bae watch? Love the sexy swimsuit. (via Brit + Co)

Taylor Swift and Her Group Girl Halloween Costumes

Taylor Swift and Her Group Girl Halloween Costume. This costume is sure to turn heads. (via Brit + Co)

Unite the gang with a superhero theme. Instead of sticking to either DC or Marvel, have them pick their fave heroes and go from there. (via Brit + Co)

Not digging the lingerie costumes? Wear a giant red cape and dress modestly with a bonnet for this Handmaid's Tale look. (via Brit + Co)

We might have said goodbye to Riverdale, but the show's iconic looks will always make great Halloween costumes. (via Brit + Co)

Taylor Swift's "I Can See You" Music Video

You can't go wrong with a good Taylor Swift halloween costume and "I Can See You" is a super fun pick for anyone who loves spies — and Speak Now (Taylor's Version), of course.

Consider this Guardians of the Galaxy the perfect getup for the whole crew — kids included. (via Brit + Co)

You don't actually need a character-based theme to go as a group. Pick any color and roll with it. (via Brit + Co)

Try lining up a bottle of Corona, a lime wedge, and an avocado. (via Brit + Co)

Is Ocean's 8 one of our all-time favorite movies? Yes. Does it make for the most badass Halloween costume? Also yes. You're gonna want to bookmark this one! (via Brit + Co)

Tell everyone to come dressed head to toe in one color, and for true commitment, use a marker for the “PANTONE” part. (via Sugar & Cloth)