My (and Your) Favorite Gift Ideas
Let me make your holiday shopping easier with this gift guide.
It’s my birthday today, so I am announcing two fun things. First, I am running a flash sale! You can get 30% off all paid subscriptions through Friday, because I am in the giving spirit. If you’ve been on the fence, now’s your time. Bonus: you’ll be able to read Friday’s paid post on how to deal with whining, which will be life-saving after several days of being home with your kids.
Second, I am unveiling my first holiday gift guide. I’ll be honest: I don’t like the intense consumerism of the holidays. Shopping on Black Friday is basically my worst nightmare. I wish, during the holiday season, our culture focused on the truly important things in life rather than on clearance doorbusters.
But the fact is, many of us need to buy gifts for loved ones right now. And gift-giving can be a challenge. I never know how much to trust the big name gift guides — are they recommending these things because they’re getting a cut? — so I thought it might be useful to share some of my favorite things and experiences with you (no, I won’t get a commission). I’ve also included a few items recommended by my paid subscribers in a recent discussion thread.
I’ve tried to include a range of items and prices, and gifts for both adults and kids. Note that prices vary depending on where you shop (most of my purchase links are to the companies themselves or, for books, Bookshop.org).
I hope this is helpful! Happy shopping!
Self-care:
Weleda Skin Food ($19.99). This is the most powerful, amazing-smelling hand and body cream I’ve ever found. I slather it on every night in the winter when my hands start looking gila-monster-like, and it works miracles.
Nuun Sport Hydration Tablets ($7.49). I get dehydration headaches like nobody’s business, so I’m always on the hunt for ways to hydrate myself quickly (including after having had a glass of wine or two). Nuun Sport Hydration tablets are easy to use — just drop one in a glass of water and wait for it to dissolve. They’re not too sweet, but they taste good. I recommended these in The New York Times Well Gift Guide too.
How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes by Melinda Wenner Moyer ($16.74). I mean, you knew I was going to recommend this, right? Filing it under “self-care” may be a bit of a stretch but I promise, it *will* make your life easier. It also makes for a funny (and helpful!) gift for parents who are expecting. If you order it from my local bookstore, Split Rock Books, I can even sign it and/or write a dedication, and they’ll ship it anywhere in the U.S.
BeeZBee CBD + CBN Tincture, normal strength ($80). Folks, I have finally drunk the CBD kool-aid. I don’t know why, but I’ve been rolling my eyes at this stuff for years, thinking “it can’t be THAT good.” Then insomnia left me desperate for a sleep aid and I decided to try this tincture and damn if it doesn’t work amazingly well. I place 1 ml under my tongue about 20 minutes before bedtime, let it stay there for one minute, swallow, and poof! I am out like a light. It’s pricey, but I’m willing to pay for a good night’s sleep.
Adult Clothes & Accessories:
PrintFresh Pajamas & Lounge Wear ($100-$200). A good friend of mine recommended these adorable pajamas in a recent discussion thread, saying, “They are at a ‘luxury’ price point for me, but are well worth the money. I've had one set for a year, wearing them several nights a week, and they are holding up great. They are size inclusive and have kiddo stuff, too. Their basic cotton ones are great for summer sleeping and I'm eager to try their flannels for winter (hint-hint, family members!). I sized up per their recommendation for maximum comfy.” Other subscribers vouched for them, too.
Etsy Besbelle Snowflake & Sunburst Stud Earrings ($60.35). I bought these earrings for my sister a few years ago and I think they are so classy and beautiful. Hmm, I should buy myself a pair too. Happy birthday to meeeeeeeee…..
Bombas Slipper Socks ($45-$75). I do not own these (yet) myself, but a bunch of paid subscribers adore them. They said things like “they’re just insanely comfortable. I know they’re expensive for ‘socks’ but my mom has a pair and I am perpetually stealing them because I love them so much,” and “we just got them and I’m obsessed.” One subscriber noted that they run a bit small, so size up if you’re on the border.
Food & Cooking:
Momofuku Chili Crunch ($13). This crunchy, spicy chili oil from David Chang’s Momofuku is THE BOMB on scrambled eggs, and pretty much everything else, too. We go through these jars so fast, I’ve started buying them in packs of four.
Zingerman’s Artisan Cheese Club ($200). I went to the University of Michigan and spent way too much time at the world famous Zingerman’s. You can’t go wrong with pretty much of any of their gift boxes, but I’m an especially big fan of their cheese-of-the-month club, which I bought for myself my husband a few years ago.
Fresh Flavors for the Slow Cooker by Nicki Sizemore ($18.95): Full disclosure, my neighbor / good friend / daughter’s best friend’s mom wrote this cookbook, but I adore it. Far too many slow cooker recipes end up mushy and bland, but Nicki’s recipes are bright, fresh and delicious.
Kids’ Gifts:
Hugimals ($64). Move over, weighted blankets — it’s time to make room for these super soft weighted stuffed animals. My 8-year-old adopted Charlie the Puppy this summer, and he immediately rose to the top of the stuffie hierarchy and hasn’t been relegated since. Full disclosure: Hugimals were invented by a health journalist I have known for years, but my daughter’s love for Charlie is genuine.
Go Nuts for Donuts board game ($16.99). We love board games, and we have many. But one of our perennial favorites is Go Nuts for Donuts. I’d say it’s appropriate for kids over 5, and my 11-year-old still enjoys it.
KiwiCo subscription boxes (prices vary). My sister gave my son monthly subscription Kiwi Crate boxes a few years ago and they were awesome — he built all sorts of amazing contraptions. They have different subscription types based on age and interest, and you can customize the length of the subscription.
Marble Genius Marble Run ($46.95). One of my kids got this for Christmas two years ago and they both still play with it, which I consider to be a true Christmas miracle. It will buy you time and silence (except for the sound of rolling/dropping marbles).
Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder ($17.66). There are so many wonderful children’s books out there, but friends reminded me of this one recently so it’s top of mind. A wonderful book that celebrates all kinds of bodies, perfect for kids aged 3-6.
I love this! I absolutely adore gift giving (finding the perfect gift) and gift guides! I’ll probably have some more ideas to add to this convo later :) For kids, I like giving books, art supplies, or bath bombs or other bath stuff. I’m a big fan of things that can we used up. I also ask people if they have anything specific on their wishlist or what the kids are into. But the real key to giving the perfect gift is noticing. Noticing what the person does in their free time, what they talk about, read about, etc. We tend to want to default to giving something WE would like, but it’s not about us! If I really can’t think of something they want or need but still need to give a gift (like my brother!), I will donate in his name to a charity I think he would support or one I know he supports. Lastly, I love Bodies Are Cool!!
Thank you for this list! I was just looking at a magazine with a great list of things, but I just couldn’t help but think -- was the product that great, or was the magazine just pushing it for monetary gain? I appreciate your candor AND your taste is impeccable! I am very excited to shop this list (and I can confirm, the Momofuku chili is sooo good!)