Every year it’s always a treat for me and my family to make our “wish lists” for the upcoming holiday season. I still remember from being a child of taking a big marker and circling all of the toys my sister and I wanted, and even ‘til this day I make a wish list for Santa!

This year American Express is helping you ring in the holiday with the #PointsForPresents program, where you can check off great items for yourself, friends and family using Membership Rewards points, satisfying everyone this holiday season.

Ringing in the Holidays with American Express – Points for Presents

A variety of ways to use your Points for Presents:

To use #PointsForPresents, you can go to shopAmex® for thousands of products, and now, you can download the new and improved American Express app to use  Membership Rewards points on your phone! I’m always on the go, so now I can use points to pay for a few gifts off my holiday list while in the grocery line with this new mobile feature.

Here are a few of my favorite picks this year from shopAmex. I always love picking a “throwback” nostalgia item for my kids, so this year I chose a dollhouse because this was my longtime, top-of-the-list item I begged my parents for when I was young. It’s the absolute joy to any little girl’s Christmas morning.

My favorite nostalgia “throwback item” from childhood:

Savannah Dollhouse from KidKraft Furniture

Find the Dollhouse here.

Now what’s on my holiday wish list this year? Every year I try to think of items that will help make my life easier. So I would love any small home appliances in the kitchen, ways to clean up easier… and of course, some entertainment would be great too.

Here’s my top 5 picks to use #PointsForPresents (all of which are a part of American Express’ Brand Sale, so they’re 20% off during the month of November!)

Here’s my top 5 picks to use my Points for Presents:

1. Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with Lids

Cuisinart Mixing Bowls

.

2. Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender

Cuisinart Hand Blender

3. LG 42″ 1080p 120Hz LED TV with HDMI Cabi

LG LED TV

4. Dyson DC34 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Dyson Cordless Vacuum

5. Cuisinart 5.5 qt. Oval Covered Casserole Dish

Cuisinart Oval Casserole Dish

Via AmericanExpress.com

What gifts would you use Membership Rewards points for? If you need more ideas, take a look at American Express’ Pinterest page for ideas. You can see what are on other member’s wish lists and you may get a few ideas for those hard to please family members.

Stay close to Stagetecture as I will give you ideas for those tough family member gifts in the upcoming weeks. We will help you ring in the holidays with American Express!

I was selected by American Express as to help educate consumers about how to use Membership Rewards points. As such I was paid for my services, but all gift choices selected and opinions about the gifts and American Express are my own. http://paid-po.st/3Nfrb0

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, the idea of what to give everyone on your holiday gift list is probably at the forefront of all the stress, right? This season, instead of stressing about what to buy, who to give what, and most importantly, how to pay for all these gifts, think about a better solution. Why not use American Express Membership Rewards points to help you do your shopping and mark off some “hard to find holiday gifts” easily, and without spending a fortune!

I’ve paired up with American Express for their ‘Points for Presents’ Holiday Program to highlight some of their great home and kitchen products that are wonderful to give and in my opinion: anyone would love to receive. For 12 days, American Express will highlight 12 experts and show their holiday picks and I was lucky enough to get Day 2!

Visit American Express Membership Rewards to see all of our picks.

My fond memory of using American Express Membership Rewards:

I remember in years past having to wait for my Membership Rewards in the mail! It was torture… waiting for the snail mail to go buy my mom a gift was awful. I used to love to use my Membership Rewards at the Coach Purse Factory outlet store, and I would get use my rewards points to purchase a gorgeous purse for my mom. Now they have changed the system and you can use your reward points IMMEDIATELY!! How awesome is this? Read on to see 6 different ways to use your rewards points this year, so much easier than before.

To make it easy I chose 5 products that I think my readers will love. Each of them can help make life easier in your home, or are perfect leisure gifts!

Stagetecture’s Home Gift Picks

1. KitchenAid® Artisan Series Stand Mixer with Bonus Food Grinder Attachment

Want to add to your gift list, get it here —> KitchenAid Mixer

2.) All-Clad 6.5 Quart Stainless Slow Cooker with Ceramic Insert

Want to add to your gift list, get it here —> All-Clad Slow-Cooker

3.) Dyson AM04 Hot + Cool Heater/Table fan with Air Multiplier Technology

Want to add to your gift list, get it here —> Dyson Heater/Fan

Stagetecture’s Leisure Gift Picks

4.)  Cheesecake Factory Restaurant Gift Card

Want to add to your wish list? –> Cheesecake Factory Restaurant

5.)  Crate and Barrel Home Store

Want to add to your wish list? –> Crate & Barrel

To redeem American Express Membership Rewards points: 

1. Choose items from catalog

American Express offers a diverse array of merchandise from popular brands like BOSE, Apple, Michael Kors, TUMI and Kitchen Aid. You can browse by brand, category, or even by “point range”. You’ll often find items on sale, marked down from their original point value.

2. Gift cards/mobile cards

According to this year’s American Express Spending & Saving Tracker gift cards are THE #1 gift to give, so consider buying all your gift cards with points. Also consider using points to buy gift cards for your own shopping. It’s like having an additional $25 or $50 off at all your favorite stores, which is awesome for brand-name items that don’t go on sale. They also have a new Mobile Gift Cards feature: Cardmembers can now now log onto their American Express app on their phones (find it at MembershipRewards.com) and use points to download Mobile Gift Cards instantly for Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, PBteen®, Pottery Barn®, Pottery Barn Kids®, West Elm® and William-Sonoma®…with more retailers to come! Amex is the only credit card rewards program to currently offer this, and it means additional savings while you shop.

Visit American Express to see the full list of retailers to redeem your Membership Rewards

3. Ticketmaster events

If you want to give the gift of experience, there’s nothing like gifting tix to a live show. You can log onto your account while on Ticketmaster and opt to pay for your tickets with the points you’ve earned.

4. Pay in full or partially with Points on Amazon

Did you know that you can set your American Express card to default and when you go to log out, you can pay in full or even PARTIALLY with Points?

5. Charities

Give the gift of charity. Membership Rewards allows you to donate points and give to hundreds of local, national and international non-profit organizations.

6. Travel

Turn points into a trip. Use Pay with Points and enjoy the flexibility to travel using all or some points.  You can book travel with points and even use points for hotel gift cards for room nights, spa treatments, dining, and more.

Stagetecture Readers – Who needs help choosing the perfect gift this year? If you are an American Express cardmember and you can’t think of an idea – let me know. I will help you find the perfect items for your holiday giving this year!

I was selected by American Express to help educate consumers about how to use Membership Rewards points. As such I was paid for my services as an ambassador, but all gift choices selected and opinions about the gifts and American Express are my own. http://cmp.ly/3/H1Gj0K

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.