As the cozy, cold season of Christmas approaches, so too does the season of cuddling by a fireplace, hot cocoa and a Hallmark movie, and sledding and snowmen. With that comes the relationship test and gift which is the Burr Basket. All over TikTok is the viral basket trend, where boyfriends buy small, seasonally-themed gifts to put in a cute basket and give it to their girlfriends.
However, as boys will be boys, it can be a struggle for them to think of things to put into this all-important basket. And, although I am no boyfriend, I have given Boo baskets—the Halloween-themed equivalent of the Burr Basket—to my friends, and I am a girlfriend myself, so I know what we want in our baskets. To prompt boyfriends into action, this can be the go-to guide to creating the Burr basket that we girlfriends actually want.
Step 1: The basket
Though this may seem very simple, and possibly the easiest part of creating this basket, it is one of the most important. This basket sets the tone of this gift, and if you get a neon red and white basket with Santa’s covering every surface, you have gravely missed the mark on how this basket is meant to be. The aim should be to find a relatively large basket that has neutral tones that give a faint vibe of Christmas and winter. This way, after all of the things have been taken out, the basket can still be used in the long run.
Step 2: Comfy gifts
Once you start filling your basket, you have to think about what you need to put in there. You should first start with the soft things that your girlfriend can use when she wants to be comfy—keep in mind that, for girls, gifts that can be reused are the best gifts. The best option for this section is a blanket. Someone might think of many different things when gifting a blanket, but there are only a few rules to follow to get the correct type of blanket: it should be themed and fluffy. Target often has very good blankets, covered in snowflakes, snowmen, cute winter animals, or simply Christmas colors. However, make sure the blanket is soft and fluffy so it is nice to snuggle into when she is watching a movie or chilling in bed. With the blanket, you should add at least one more comfy option: Christmas pajamas, slippers, or fluffy socks are the best. If you choose the pajamas, make sure they are soft or silky, because if they are coarse at all, then they will not be fun to wear, no matter how cute they are. They also should be Christmas or winter-themed, snowflakes or candy canes are good options for designs. The slippers from Target are the most common option, and they are always on-theme. However, fluffy socks can be found anywhere, and they are often the more cost-effective option.
Step 3: Fun gifts
Next, you have to add one or more fun things, which also doubles as a usable gift. For example, candles, stuffed animals, sugar scrubs, bath bombs, shower steamers, or a coffee/tea mug. You should choose one or two of these options so that the basket won’t be overly full and cluttered. Candles, bath bombs, shower steamers, and sugar scrubs have to have one main thing in common: they have to be winter or Christmas-scented. The best way to find out what would be a good scent is to do a little bit of surveillance. Snoop around your girlfriend’s room or ask her friends to try and distinguish the types of scents she likes—for example, peppermint, Christmas tree, sugar cookie, or gingerbread—and base your choices on her preferences. Another option, if you don’t think you can handle the decision of choosing a scent, then you still have a couple of options. If your girlfriend appreciates cute things, you could get her a stuffed animal. One brand that specifically carries good Christmas and winter is Jellycat. Their website holds a seemingly endless amount of themed stuffed animals to give. However, if you wish for a cheaper option, one quick search on Google or a trip to your local Target will give you plenty of options for a cute companion that will most likely be cheaper than the name brand. A final option is to find a good Christmas mug, but this only really works if your girlfriend makes her coffee, tea, or other hot drinks at home. Otherwise, this gift option will be appreciated, but never used, which is not the point of the basket.
Step 4: Sweet treat gifts
This step is to add filler to the basket, so it is not entirely necessary, however, it will elevate the basket. Your best options will vary depending on what your girlfriend prefers. If she likes chocolate, one of the best options is Lindor chocolates. They come in all kinds of flavors and the packaging is aesthetically pleasing, so they will be cute in the basket and are tasty. If she likes mint, candy canes or soft mints are the best options. I love the soft mints but base this also off of your girlfriend’s preferences. Another option is to put in a package of hot chocolate bombs. They are a quick and cute little thing to add, and there are different flavor options that you can add if she likes a specific kind of hot chocolate. However, if you do not add a mug in the previous step, it would probably be better to stick with just candy instead of the bomb.
Step 5: Fill and decorate
Now, once you have completed your shopping, gather all of your gifts together and make sure you have a ready order to put the gifts in. The best way to do it is to set the candies and anything that could be breakable, like bath bombs and candles, aside and start with the other things. Put blankets and clothes on the bottom and put the slippers and socks next. Then you can stack the candies and other breakables on top. Try and organize things so that it is easy to see everything, and so that your girlfriend doesn’t have to dig through the basket to find everything.
Now that you have the guidelines of what your girlfriend will want, you only have to go out and buy everything. Although these projects are often mildly pricey, they will all be worth it when you see just how happy it will make your girlfriend. If it were me receiving a Burr Basket, and it followed the steps that I listed above, it would be the perfect gift to commemorate the cozy season. The fun, comfy, and tasty gifts combine to make for the perfect kick-off or end to the season, with your favorite person forging the way with this one all-encompassing present: the Burr Basket.
