Another holiday gift guide but this is the best one because it was made with love.
Featuring affordable and thoughtful gift ideas not from Amazon.
Dear friend,
I felt compelled to create a holiday gift guide because:
I have great taste.
I’m really good at shopping.
I just love stuff. All year long I save neat stuff to my Pinterest, and now I’ll recommend it to you for gifts instead of buying it for myself. Nothing is sponsored because literally nobody asked me to do this.
I tried to feature small businesses; some recommendations are Seattle-based but you can probably find something similar near you if you prefer. Nearly everything here is under $100 and a lot of it is under $50. Also this got a little long for Gmail apparently, so you may have to click to read the full post.
Let me know if you found a gift for someone from this guide! It’ll give me the warm fuzzies.
For the bookworm
Personalized book embosser ($30+); Classic Authors’ Favorite Recipes cookbook ($23); a book subscription from an iconic Seattle bookstore ($110+); Papier Reading Journal ($30); Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket ($150); Out of Print tee ($16-$36) of their favorite book plus a copy of it, read and annotated with your thoughts.
Notes:
The reader in your life will have a lot of fun personalizing their books with a custom embosser.
The Elliott Bay Books subscription box comes in several flavors, from romance to sci-fi and fantasy.
A friend got me a reading journal and I love it; it’s a great way to keep track of your personal reading challenge for the year.
Nothing like reading a good book while trapped under a weighted blanket.
For the movie lover
A24 logo hat ($35); the screenplay book of their favorite movie ($60); a membership to their local independent cinema ($75); 99 Movie Crosswords ($34); a poster of their favorite movie ($15); The Criterion Channel subscription ($11-$100)
Notes:
A24 has a lot of good gifts for movie lovers. You could also get them a collector’s edition of their favorite movie if they’re thinking about going back to a physical movie collection.
For the homebody
Boy Smells Best Buds Set ($78); Ariane Tiger Matchbox ($14); Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe ($74-$129); Charentaise Wool Slippers ($65); Curva Candle Warmer Lamp ($76); The Six Bells Ecru Logo Stripe Pajamas ($85); Cat in Beret Glass Mug ($19); Croissant Lamp ($70); The Waight Blue Handle Mug ($45)
Notes:
the wool slippers are cool not just cause they’re machine washable but because they’re been around, virtually unchanged, since they were used in the court of Louis XIV.
the candle warmer is nice for people who keep forgetting to blow out their candles, or who want to use their $$ luxury candles more slowly.
and the croissant lamp is made from a real croissant!
For the baker/chef/foodie
Butter Hat ($33); Croissant Bag Charm ($25); DeLaurenti Store in a Bag ($100); Cookman Chef Pants ($44); Nordic Ware Harvest Bounty Loaf Pan ($35)
Notes:
DeLaurenti is an upscale grocery store in Pike Place Market; they also offer Pantry Provisions for $50.
I need a Nordic Ware pan after seeing this TikTok creation. I also love this Stoneware Shortbread Pan.
For the Barbie
Barbie: The World Tour ($51); Chunky scarf ($55, also in other colors/prints); Baggu Swan Bag ($48; also in black); Glossier Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist ($30); Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick ($25); Wolf & Badger J’Adore Gold Ring ($68)
Note: that Clinique lipstick looks good on everyone, which is why it’s been around forever.
For the little ones
Maileg My First Teddy ($36); Ms. Rachel University Kids’ Tee ($22); “Phoebe’s Diary” by Phoebe Wahl ($20); "The Queen in the Cave" ($20); “Monster Hands” ($19); Monarch Butterfly Wings ($68); Briar Baby sherpa bonnet ($44); Natural Glitter Play Dough ($16); Jellycat Caboodle Puppy ($20); Organic Wilfred Wolf ($48); Hooded coat by Another Fox ($76)
Notes:
Another picture book that I recommend to everyone is Phoebe Wahl’s “Little Witch Hazel” and you could gift it with the Little Witch Hazel Sticker Set ($8). Her other book pictured above is best for ages around 14.
I love the Milk Teeth store for kids’ clothes and might need to get these striped parasol pants for Mal.
For the new mom
Wolf Circus Alphabet Charm ($55); Nuuly clothing rental subscription ($98); Canon Wireless Photo Printer ($150); leather tote ($151 on sale); Baggu pouch set ($40)
Notes:
I got one of those alphabet charms after Mal was born and love it; note that it doesn’t come with a chain.
A clothing rental subscription is great for the first 1-3 months after having a baby when your maternity clothes are too big and your normal clothes are too small.
Jesse got me that photo printer so I could easily free photos of Mal from my phone; highly recommend for parents.
I feel like it’s a rite of passage for new parents to hate the diaper bag that they picked out; I’d personally love to switch to a chic slouchy tote bag instead. And the Baggu pouches can keep all the baby stuff contained and organized.
Crowdpleasers
Emily Lex Watercolor Workbook ($22); Elseware watercolor pencils to go with the watercolor book ($30); homemade baked goods; Artifact Uprising scallop frame and photo print of you together ($39); Natalie Andrewson Chestnut Fairy Washi Tape for a stocking stuffer ($7); Le Bon Shoppe Classic Cashmere Socks ($24)
Notes:
Le Bon Shoppe socks are my absolute favorite. I also like Darn Tough for cozy merino wool socks that last forever and come in a lot of cute colors and prints.
When in doubt, just get them top tier socks and something delicious to eat.
xo Kelly