Hello, fair readers. Do y'all even remember who I am? I am so sorry for my blog break of late. I just cannot seem to get it together enough to write anything, but I learned recently that I have more readers than I knew about, so I guess there is some added external pressure to update this baby so you don't have to look at my Amazon.com wishlist of cookbooks any longer....
Without further ado, here is my big, fat, holiday shopping guide. There is no rhyme or reason to this list...it is simply a list of interesting gift ideas I've seen lately. I was going to do separate posts for a bunch of different categories, but clearly I've not shown I'm capable of that much follow through so I'm just going to try to do a mammoth single post. I hope you find a few things that someone on your shopping list might like too!
For the hostesses on your list
Seeded Glass Pitcher - This beauty would also double as a unique vase, and it's on sale right now!
These soapstone whiskey stones will keep a drink cool without watering it down (you can buy with or without the pictured glasses). Pair with a nice bottle of his (or her) favorite brown liquor for a complete gift!
This bay leaf peace wreath is a fun twist on an old standby gift idea for me. I love giving wreaths, especially to those who I don't see very often. A beautiful greenery wreath goes with most any decor and I think it's definitely one of those gifts that keeps on giving (plus it is stunning as is, so you don't have to worry about it not being wrapped, since most of them cannot be gift-wrapped).
My favorite place to send wreaths from is Williams-Sonoma. I have been ordering them for about the last 5 years and they have always been high-quality, long lasting and beautiful!
I have this Magnolia & Pomegranate Wreath from last Christmas and it is still beautiful.
I think this cook's herb wreath is a wonderful option for the chef in your life!
For the person who has everything
Sorry for the blatant giveaway of where I stole this photo from (here is the link to it on amazon.com). I think this would be great for a friend who has everything and might appreciate some new material on her coffee table (especially one that might have a hidden stash of Us Weekly magazines hidden in a cabinet somewhere). It's a little bit cheekier than just pictures of landscapes, or houses, etc but still has gorgeous photos.
There are endless possibilities out there for a photography lover - gorgeous options exist for almost any interest or hobby. Here are two that I'd love to feature in my home.
Click on the photo for a link to the item.
Another great idea is a personalized puzzle. I got these puzzles made from a satellite image of an address for several family members on our list (the hometown puzzle is more of a general area). John's extended family is very hard to buy for, so I just got everyone a puzzle of thier address. If nothing else it will keep them occupied for a while! I got mine from LL Bean since they have free shipping on everything right now, and I can just ship them directly to the recipeints, who live in FL and CO so we're not going to see them anyway. However, they are available from a bunch of different retailers, so if you have a coupon or promo code, you may want to do a quick Google search to see if you can use it to buy one from some other retailer.
For the charitably minded
First, let me say that I totally support charitable giving at the holidays in lieu of gifts. There is no one on my gift list who truly needs a single thing; nor do I. Of course getting gifts is fun and that's what most of this list is about, but I fully support this method if this is the way you admirably choose to go. I hope to push my "gift giving" more in this route in years to come. A nice note explaining why you have chosen to give to a specific organization in honor of someone is certainly sufficient. However, if you would rather give a more tangible gift here are some good options. All of these ideas donate to worthy causes in some way.
Juliska Cornerstones Charity Piggy Bank - available in pewter and signature Juliska whitewash
$8 for every bank sold, with minimum of $50,000 goes to Save the Children; I would write a nice note and encourage the recipient(s) to choose a charity to support with the funds they place in the bank.
(sorry the picture is so tiny, it got very blurry as I tried to make it larger)
This was recently featured on Oprah's Ultimate Favorite Things (Did y'all see that one by the way? Completely over the top.). We all know teachers who have to pay out of their own pockets for necessary supplies. This site helps you match up your donation with a classroom. You can choose what project you want to donate towards.
Kellie is the daughter of Hank Greenwald, who was a baseball broadcaster for the Giants and Yankees during his career. He published his autobiography in 1999, after which Kellie expressed her desire to put out her own story. Kellie was born with Down's Syndrome and wanted her book to portray memorable events and emotions in her life. From Amazon: Kellie's Book expresses her celebration of life & promises to be a source of hope for people with developmental challenges, their families, extended families, providers, & educators. It is a testament to the fact that when children know they are utterly loved & supported, there is no end to what they can achieve & no end to what they can give back by uplifting the lives of those around them.
Part of sales proceeds are being donated to The Cedars of Marin, a facility for adults with developmental disablilties. Y'all know this book hits a soft spot with me.
***There are millions of ways to do this same thing. If you are passionate about local food, then buy a membership to a local CSA/food box/co-op program. If you love the Humane Society, sponser a few animals to be spayed/neutered in someone's honor. If a local charity produces an item that gives the proceeds back to it's causes, buy a few of those for gifts. The sky is the limit. I think any thoughtful gesture that supports a cause someone is passionate about is the ultimate gift.***
For the gourmand
There is a heck of a lot of fancy food out there. I prefer to find something sort of cheeky and fun to give; if you see some crazy unique food item and think, "I'd love to try that, but I'd never buy it for myself", then it's a great gift idea. I like the idea of picking one thing and buying a case, or in whatever bulk quantity for that to just be your signature gift for the year. Here are a couple of things I've seen that I'd love to try (but probably won't buy for myself, wink wink).
Blackberry Farm Spicy Pear Chutney I think by now y'all know I'm obsessed with this place. Many of its popular products are available for purchase online, and this is one of just several that I want to try. They even sell a handsome looking birch box that will hold 2 12-ounce jars so you can give someone a sampler if you wanted. Some other products I have my eye on are the green tomato chutney, the winter jam and the spring thyme marmalade.
As for other food gifts, think regional. If you love a particular item from your hometown, consider packaging up nuts, cheese straws, honey, jam or any other special item that has some significance to you or the gift giver. As always, a nice note explaining why the gift is special helps give it that personal touch. Consider making your own gifts. I get my ideas most regularly are the kitchn blog, Smitten Kitchen, My Recipes and Real Simple.
For the young (or young at heart)
*My apologies this part of the list is sparse. As I write this on December 8, I don't even know what I plan to get my own child for Christmas, so I'm hardly able to give you much guidance on what to give yours.*
I am in love with Elizabeth Mitchell's music. We have You Are My Little Bird, You Are My Flower, You Are My Sunshine and I just ordered her newest release, Sunny Day. Her songs are sweet, fun and creative, and I find myself listening to them for my own pleasure, which is something I cannot say for all children's music! Consider tucking one of these into a child's stocking.
Mary Englebreit's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
This book is absolutely beautiful. Even if you already have a copy of TtNBC, I think this is a gorgeous addition to a child's library. Her sweet Nursery Tales book is also a great gift.
My favorite children's gifts come from The Land of Nod (free shipping on lots of great gifts right now), Learning Express, or Uncommon Goods. I know lots of people find lots of wonderful things on Etsy, but I always feel like I need anti-anxiety medicine and a personal shopper before I go looking for anything on there. There's almost too much available. If you don't know what you are looking for, do not go there.
I hope this gives you some great ideas. If I come up with any other gems this week I will do a follow up. I am also trying to squeeze in a quick Mitchell update. Stay tuned!
***There are millions of ways to do this same thing. If you are passionate about local food, then buy a membership to a local CSA/food box/co-op program. If you love the Humane Society, sponser a few animals to be spayed/neutered in someone's honor. If a local charity produces an item that gives the proceeds back to it's causes, buy a few of those for gifts. The sky is the limit. I think any thoughtful gesture that supports a cause someone is passionate about is the ultimate gift.***
For the gourmand
There is a heck of a lot of fancy food out there. I prefer to find something sort of cheeky and fun to give; if you see some crazy unique food item and think, "I'd love to try that, but I'd never buy it for myself", then it's a great gift idea. I like the idea of picking one thing and buying a case, or in whatever bulk quantity for that to just be your signature gift for the year. Here are a couple of things I've seen that I'd love to try (but probably won't buy for myself, wink wink).
This stuff is made by Vosges, a "haute" chocolate company. The Mo's Bacon Bar has bits of bacon in a chocolate bar. This mix has bits of the bar in it. Need I say more?
As for other food gifts, think regional. If you love a particular item from your hometown, consider packaging up nuts, cheese straws, honey, jam or any other special item that has some significance to you or the gift giver. As always, a nice note explaining why the gift is special helps give it that personal touch. Consider making your own gifts. I get my ideas most regularly are the kitchn blog, Smitten Kitchen, My Recipes and Real Simple.
For the young (or young at heart)
*My apologies this part of the list is sparse. As I write this on December 8, I don't even know what I plan to get my own child for Christmas, so I'm hardly able to give you much guidance on what to give yours.*
I am in love with Elizabeth Mitchell's music. We have You Are My Little Bird, You Are My Flower, You Are My Sunshine and I just ordered her newest release, Sunny Day. Her songs are sweet, fun and creative, and I find myself listening to them for my own pleasure, which is something I cannot say for all children's music! Consider tucking one of these into a child's stocking.
Mary Englebreit's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
This book is absolutely beautiful. Even if you already have a copy of TtNBC, I think this is a gorgeous addition to a child's library. Her sweet Nursery Tales book is also a great gift.
My favorite children's gifts come from The Land of Nod (free shipping on lots of great gifts right now), Learning Express, or Uncommon Goods. I know lots of people find lots of wonderful things on Etsy, but I always feel like I need anti-anxiety medicine and a personal shopper before I go looking for anything on there. There's almost too much available. If you don't know what you are looking for, do not go there.
I hope this gives you some great ideas. If I come up with any other gems this week I will do a follow up. I am also trying to squeeze in a quick Mitchell update. Stay tuned!
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