Tis the season for my blog reader to fill with Gift Guides. I have so many gift guides in there, some of which I've read and some of which I haven't. I'll get to them all eventually! Even if I don't need them as gift guides I do like seeing just what people are interested in. There is at least one thing on this list I only know about because someone else talked about it! Actually, that's probably most of the list!
My family is big on gift lists. We've been using Elfster for years to give each other ideas on what we need/want. We no longer do a sister (and brother-in-law) exchange but I use ideas from there to buy for my parents and the boys' godmothers. I post lists for myself and the boys, Matt posts for himself. It is SUPER handy. I am always torn between wanting to micromanage my own gifts from Matt (I no longer buy them for myself but I can't stop myself from texting Matt when I see something on sale on my list) and also be surprised. Basically, I'd like to be surprised by someone with my exact tastes and that can read my mind...which is limited to...me. It's a process!!
This is not an exhaustive gift guide but it is a variety of items that I think have a pretty broad appeal. Many of these are items I am gifting to others this year and others are items that I just love so much and want to tell more people about! I previous did a list of my favorite kitchen gadgets and a lot of that list could make good gifts too. I got those baking mats for Christmas a few years ago and they are fantastic.
Note: Affiliate links abound below, I make a small (very small) commission off items if you purchase through those links, at no extra cost to you. But these are also things I would tell you about if I didn't make pennies off your purchase. I appreciate your understanding and support!
BOOKS
I recently realized that I want a hardcover book every year for my birthday and Christmas. Always, I don't often buy them for myself (at least, before 2020 I didn't buy them often) so it feels extra special to get them as gifts.
HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by Elizabeth Holmes
Who: Anyone who follows the British Royals.
This is on my list this year! I follow Elizabeth Holmes on Instagram and she has fantastic insights into why the women dress the way that they do. And the book looks very pretty. I did briefly flip through it when my library hold came in much quicker than I expected but returned it once I realized I was probably getting it for Christmas. It is gorgeous with so many photographs. I hope I am reading this between Christmas and New Years!
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
Who: For your Dad, anyone else interested in history and real people.
I have had this book sitting next to my desk for over 2 months, waiting for me to write a post on it. This is an amazingly told story of 9/11 and the days that followed by people who lived through it, on the ground in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, as well as the President and government leaders. It is heartbreaking but also hopeful and so so well done. I think almost any American over a certain age, especially those of us who were old enough to remember that day, could appreciate this.
The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace what Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi
Who: For adult women, mainly Moms, who feel overwhelmed or just want to feel a
little more on top of their lives, who want the ok to skip the stuff
that doesn't matter.
A book bound to be on my top 10 of the year and what I almost bought for all my sisters for Christmas, before I decided most of them probably wouldn't read it (but I'd recommend it to them all!). Reading this book really did help me improve my life.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer
Who: For the home cook who really is more into making sweets (ice cream, cookies, cupcakes) than making the actual food we need for sustenance. *raises own hand*.
The two cookbooks that I use the most are ice cream cookbooks and I don't feel bad at all. If you have an ice cream maker and don't know what to do with it...get this book.
Stir, Crack, Whisk, Bake by America's Test Kitchen Kids
Who: For kids, the under 3 set mostly.
This is Sam's current favorite book and I have read it at least once a day for at least 2 weeks now. And it's so good, I really don't even mind. We are giving this to our youngest godson this year (he's not yet two, he's not going to find out here. And my sister who will probably read this already knows). It is a board book that wants kids to tip the book to pour the cupcake batter into the cups, help "frost" the cupcakes, blow a kiss to get sprinkles to appear. It is darling and one of the best I've seen of this interactive genre.
NOT BOOKS
I do shop for more than just books...even if my gift stash for the boys (largely books) says otherwise.
Ice Roller
Who: For anyone who wakes up tired and/or gets headaches.
This ice roller is really the reason this lists exists. I already put it on a "things I like post" and I wanted to write about it again because it is one of the best things I have ever bought. I am serious. I used to have a lot of problems with headaches but now when I feel one coming on I hold this under my eyes and if the headache isn't gone, at least it's much less painful. I originally bought it when Sam was having major problems not sleeping through the night a year ago (he'd be awake ~2 hours a night, 5 nights a week, just screaming his head off at 2am, no biggie, the rest of us didn't need to sleep or anything). I don't drink coffee but I needed SOMETHING to help me wake up in the morning. This didn't make up 2 hours of missing sleep but it did help a lot. I use it multiple times a week still and it feels amazing every time. The price has gone up since I bought mine but I'd still pay the higher price.
Seche Vite
Who: For anyone who paints their nails with regular polish.
This is another item I've written about before but I recently bought my second bottle and wanted to talk about again. I almost always have my nails painted; I just like doing something just for me. However, it took me a long time to figure out when I had an hour I barely needed my hands. Enter this. It's a quick dry top coat that helps my nails last a week. AND QUICK DRY. I wouldn't take a shower or dig in the garden 5 minutes after applying but I feel fine doing normal things without worrying that my nails will smudge. I only paint my nails with this now, I couldn't constantly be doing it otherwise!
Ticket to Ride: New York
Who: For couples, anyone who needs some more options for game night.
This is the Ticket to Ride that we own and I like that it's a quicker version. Matt & I can play 3 games in about an hour. It's very satisfying to be able to complete multiple routes every game, something I never managed to do in the full version! And I like the vintage New York aspect. Ticket to Ride seems to be one of those games that a lot of adults have played and enjoyed but maybe don't all own? I feel like I've been hearing about it for years but people are still excited to see it on sale. I don't feel we have many games that are repeatedly fun with just the two of us!
Stomp Rocket
Who: For pretty much anyone, particularly kids under 10 maybe.
We are also gifting this to our youngest godson for Christmas (his Mom already knows). Luke got one for, I think, his 3rd birthday that got a lot of playtime for about 4 years and by that point was destroyed. Then Sam got one for his 2nd birthday and now that one is getting a lot of playtime. Kids of all kinds seem to love these but the 2 year old do usually stomp it low enough that it's not flying over the fence or onto the roof or into our one tree (Sam thinks Matt keeps a ladder in the garage just for getting rockets off the roof). Matt & I even stomp on it too. It's seems to be a very well received gift!
Slippers
Who: Anyone who has feet and likes them to be warm and comfy.
The single item of clothing that I own that gets the most wear are my slippers. I wear underwear but I change it every day. I change my shirt every day and my socks. But I am wearing the same slippers almost every waking moment I am in my house from September - May. I am wearing them right now! These look very similar to the ones I have and I love them. I need a hard slipper base with my bad arches and it helps my feet stay warmer too. My last pair like this lasted quite a few years and these seem to be holding up well so far, one year in. They are one of the best things I've picked out for myself recently.
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