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Good gift ideas for the sweet, smart, fun, and cool youths in your life

I started thinking about making this gift guide when I was shopping for gifts for my teen brother and my younger cousins, and ended up having so much fun putting the full list together. Is shopping for kids even better than shopping for adults? Honestly…I’m starting to think so!

Here are some of my best ideas for toddlers, kids, tweens, teens, and young adults (and, on occasion, grown people as well).

Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty

I ordered a bunch of these on a whim over the summer and was really pleased; it’s just great (non-messy!) putty! The iridescent ones are truly beautiful, and it’s very fun to squish and play with, no matter how old you are. (The holiday varieties are also so festive and cute!) Get them from Puttyworld for ~$15 each (plus 20% off everything through 11/30) or from Amazon for $8–$15 each.

A record player

I love this for young people who take their music very seriously. (I may or may not have ordered my brother one for Christmas two days ago!) Get this lavender one from Urban Outfitters for $79, and see more colors/options here.

Selfie ring light with phone holder and tripod

For the budding vlogger in your life. Get it from Amazon for $29.69.

A Day at the Barbershop memory game

This is cute! And according to the website, it’s designed to “help little ones get comfy with regular barbershop visits” and “feel at home in a new place.” Get it from Uncommon Goods for $16 or Amazon for $17.95.

Dollhouse room kit

I would have loved receiving one of these when I was young (or…now); instead of building a whole house, you just build a single room. Get the greenhouse from Amazon for $45.99 or a tiny library for $39.99.

Sculpd pottery kit

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This is basically a starter kit for little pot/sculpture projects, and another nice option for a crafty kid. Get it for $49 with this referral link. If you prefer something a little less expensive/more straightforward, a Sculpey variety pack ($19.99 on Amazon) is also a good way to go.

Amazing Area Mazes: 70 Race-the-Clock Puzzles for Budding Math Wizards

I would not be the correct audience for this particular puzzle book, but I am very impressed by the kids who are! Get it from Amazon for $7.86, Bookshop for $8.23, or your favorite local bookstore.

A User’s Guide to Democracy

I interviewed the authors of this book this fall and am a fan! (This is another item that would be genuinely great for adults too!) Get it from Amazon for $13.59, Bookshop for $15.63, or your favorite local bookstore.

The Little Book of Life Skills

I have been a fan of Erin Zammett Ruddy since I read her column every month in Glamour nearly 20 years ago, and was absolutely floored when she asked me if she could interview me for her upcoming book. (I weighed in on the section about showing up for friends.) We talked for like 45 minutes and she was so lovely/smart/fun; I’m so thrilled about this book, which I’d recommend for people 16 and up! Get it from Amazon for $11.99, Bookshop for $18.40, or your favorite local bookstore.

Dot Journaling―A Practical Guide: How to Start and Keep the Planner, To-Do List, and Diary That’ll Actually Help You Get Your Life Together

While this book isn’t specifically for teens, I was very conscious of writing a teen-friendly book as I worked on it, and I do genuinely think young people would like it! Get it from Amazon for $8.49, Bookshop for $11.91, or your favorite local bookstore.

A fun Nintendo Switch case

For anyone who has a very specific aesthetic that is not red and turquoise. Get this one from Etsy for $19.99 (available in three color variations).

Laser star projector

So much cooler and more effective than the stick-on glow-in-the-dark stars we had to contend with!!! Another one I’d be into owning now. Get it from Amazon—currently on sale for $47.99, normally $59.99. (There are also a bunch of different ones in a range of prices, including some for $20.)

Good Vibes neon sign

This sign plus a record player in a fun color? Incredible. Get it from Target for $25.

Karaoke machine

If you’ve got a young JoJo Siwa in the family and their parents are OK with such a noisy gift, you can get it from Amazon for $69.99.

Go Full Fossil necklace

I just love how extra this is; it’s perfect for someone who really loves dinosaurs and wants the world to know. Get it from ModCloth for $37.20 (on sale, normally $62).

Rawr Ambition Fair Isle Sweater

A sliiiiighly more subtle way to wear dinosaurs. Get it from ModCloth for $41.40, on sale from $69. (Available in two color variations and sizes XS–4X.)

1,000-piece zodiac puzzle

This puzzle is extremely cute; I love the art style and the colors. Get it from Galison for $16.99. I’m also into the 500-piece cat zodiac (also on Amazon) and the 1000-piece space puzzle (also on Amazon). And I love Cloudberries’ Crystals puzzle ($23.95 on Amazon) and Poolside ($23.95 on Amazon).

Instax mini camera

I have one of these, and gave my brother one for Christmas last year. Get one from Urban Outfitters for $79 or Amazon for $59.95 (five color variations available). You could also go a different route and give them a couple of disposable cameras ($26.49 for a two-pack on Amazon).

String lights with photo clips

If they’ve already got the camera, these string lights are a cute way to display the photos (or any ephemera that they want to hang up). Get a 7.5’ strand from Urban Outfitters for $20.

Levi’s sherpa trucker jacket

A classic for a reason! For a teen, an adult one should be fine; get one in sizes XS–3XL for $98 (but typically on some kind of sale). For a younger kid, browse all the options here. (Sadly, none of the ones for little kids have the sherpa lining.)

Doc Martens boots

I am losing my mind over all of the cute and extremely cool tiny Doc Martens that exist in the world; it’s impossible to pick a single pair to recommend. The glitter options are obviously fun, but I’m also partial to basic black! (I own that exact pair in my size actually.) Browse all the kids’ styles on the Doc Martens website or Zappos (they start around $50).

Doodle crayons

Get them from Areaware for $7. 🖍

More 2020 gift guides:

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Good gift ideas for cozy types who are always just vibin’

Now that we’ve had a general gift guide and a hip, colorful gift guide, I bring you the gift guide for the homebody in your life who loves doing projects, making sauce, and maybe watching a Ken Burns joint. (It’s me, I’m her.)

Record player

I don’t even like music that much and I would love one of these. Get it from Urban Outfitters for $79. (I also love this one from Urban.) Bonus pairing: a Christmas album like Motown #1s, Kacey Musgraves, Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton, or A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Lex Pott twist candle

Obviously, I recommend Danica candles for anyone and everyone, but if you want something a little more special, these are a great choice. Get one from Coming Soon for $40. (You can also find them at several other retailers, including department stores!)

Storm Cloud

I have wanted one of these — which allegedly predict the weather — for like…several years. Get it from Uncommon Goods for $25.

National Parks greatest hits T-shirt

Parks Project is a good source for gifts in general, and I really like these “Greatest Hits” ringer tees that are available for several different National Parks. Available in unisex sizes XS–XL; get one from Parks Project for $38.

Shearling Danskos

These are a fairly recent purchase of mine and I gotta say: they rule! They are great house shoes and I already love them so much I sort of want a second outdoor pair. Get them from Zappos for $99.

Sunny Side Up puzzle

This 500-piece puzzle from the Girls’ Night In folks is so cute! (There are also three other totally different designs, if you’re interested.) Get one from Whiled for $37.

I’m also a huge fan of Mudpuppy and Galison puzzles (also on Amazon); you truly can’t go wrong with any of them. The Slowdown Studio x Madewell puzzles ($35) are really pretty too. And I’m obsessed with Piecework Puzzles.

Hobonichi Techo

I wrote about this planner last year and stand by that review; it’s a wonderful notebook that would make a great gift. Note: don’t wait to order this one, as it has to ship from Japan. Get it from the Hobonichi store for ~$60 with shipping.

Avian Flight Classic Game Bandana

This is lovely, and as someone who, in the past couple of years, has taken to playing games in parks, I find it very convenient/smart! (There are also two other games/designs, one of which is zodiac themed.) Get it from Galison or Amazon for $24.99.

Baggu flower face masks

These have quickly become some of my favorite face masks; I also see them on people around our neighborhood regularly. (BTW, they are available in several other nice colorways/patterns.) Get a three-pack for $32 from Baguu or Nordstrom.

Knit a Hat: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting

Written by my good friend Alanna, who taught me to embroider, and who is the only person I’d want to teach me to knit. Get it from Bookshop for $15.63, Amazon for $13.38, or your favorite local bookstore.

Gorgeous roller skates

For anyone who has seen skaters all over IG and wants to join in the fun. Get these from Urban Outfitters for $139 (available in four colors). You could also check out Impala (~$98 per pair); a lot of their skates are sold out right now, but a restock is coming soon and their products are really beautiful.

Bay leaf wreath

Greenery and flowers are a really nice gift, especially for people who are hard to shop for. But also for anyone! Also, fresh leaves are apparently way better than dried leaves in soups and stews. I’ve wanted one of these wreaths for ages and finally decided that this is my year! You miiiight be able to get one from a local gardening store or farm, but if not, you can get one from Williams-Sonoma for $54.95. ✨

More gift inspo:

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Good gift ideas for the design-minded kitsch-loving somebody in your life

Last year, I published a gift guide that was 100% inspired by my girlfriend's taste — which is decidedly cooler and way more colorful than mine; as I wrote then, she’s the Claudia to my Stacey. Shopping for someone whose entire job requires them to care very deeply about single pixels can be a challenge… so this year, I asked her to just write the entire guide herself, which she generously agreed to do. So, I’m going to let her take it from here!

If the person you are shopping for is anything like me — a person who has strong opinions about seemingly small details (I often feel the walking embodiment of the “it’s a tough call, they’re so different” scene in The Devil Wears Prada); enjoys camp; and would love to visit a museum exhibit dedicated to Danish chair design, but is settling for browsing Clever home tours from the comfort of their couch for now — then this guide is for you.

Fake decorative drinks

Inspired by Amy Sedaris’s home tour, we’ve bought some fake foods for different spots around our apartment and readers? It rocks. I really love the kitsch/silliness/unexpectedness of finding a food item where it doesn’t belong (on your bookshelf, on a media unit, etc). We started out with incredibly realistic fake drinks (hers and hers martinis on our respective nightstands), and just this week became the proud owners of a loaded baked potato.

If you don’t think your loved one is ready to take the baked potato leap, this red wine spill ($18.50) or PBR spill ($15.50) would be a nice gateway into fake food home decor. Shop all of the delightful options at DisplayFakeFoods.com.

Lotta From Stockholm indoor wool slippers

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Shoes help make my outfits complete, but I’m a big believer in shoes off in the house. Before COVID, I would have settled for socks to keep my feet warm, but in an effort to not feel like a garbage slug, I often try to wear the soft, indoor version of my real-world outfits. That’s where these slippers come in.

In addition to being cute, they’re practical! They keep my feet cozy and warm, but because they’re slip-ons they don’t suffocate my feet either. (I bought these over the summer and was worried about sweaty feet, but was able to wear them right away without any issues.) Get the slip-ons from Lotta From Stockholm for $49.01. And if the person you’re shopping for has especially cold feet, there’s also a boot version ($59.62).

“Outside Clothes” print

If your loved one is a “shoes off in the house” type of person, chances are they’re also a “don’t sit on my bed in your outside clothes” type of person. Get the print from Brownie Points for $45.

Dusen Dusen striped bathrobe

You know those NASCAR driver fire suits? With the head-to-toe sponsorships? I want the Dusen Dusen, normal-person-going-about-their-life version of that. I unabashedly love this brand and everything they make. This colorful robe is ideal for days when you want to look cute, but cannot be bothered to find pants. Although the bathrobe is sold out on Dusen Dusen’s website, you can still purchase it from Coming Soon for $140 (available in sizes S-L and three different colorways).

Lauren Martin Studio posters

Art, in general, can be really expensive, but Lauren Martin’s prints are incredibly affordable. We own her Tiny Diner ($18) and Hang In There ($18) prints (the latter is perfect bathroom art, I can’t explain why), but I also love her Dinner Party ($18) poster. Get these and other prints from Lauren Martin Shop.

Recreation Center mugs

If the person you’re shopping for likes Memphis Design–inspired decor but isn’t necessarily looking to redo their entire home, Recreation Center mugs satisfy that craving. The dipped/coated handle is also nice for anyone who doesn’t love the feeling of cradling a raw ceramic mug in their hands.

I own the red grid mug, but you can also get a slightly more muted version ($40). I’m also a fan of the dot grid mug ($40), and the color lovers in your life might also like the black bauhaus mug ($48). Get all of them from Recreation Center.

Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails

Shannon Mustipher is a Black, queer woman and her book is the first cocktail book by a Black bartender in a century. In addition to being historic, the book is beautiful. Mustipher is a Rhode Island School of Design graduate, and it’s readily apparent in the art direction throughout the book. (My favorite image is the “Lake at Night” cocktail.)

It’s a really fun book to thumb through and a great gift for anyone who wants to make their winter quarantine a little more summery and fun, even if it’s not the most seasonally appropriate. Get it from Bookshop for $27.55, Amazon for $22.25, or your favorite local bookstore.

Face Vessel mugs and carafes

We recommended Group Partner’s face planter last year, and we’re continuing the tradition of recommending objects with inanimate faces with these face vessels by Degen.

These hand blown glass mugs and vases are unique — no two are the same! — which makes them extra special. But be warned that when you order via the preorder link on their site (or via Coming Soon or Mociun) you can’t choose a specific vessel (only the type and size), so it’s a bit luck of the draw. Having said that, they’re all incredibly precious, so you can’t really go wrong.

But if you want a bit more control over what you get, keep an eye out for Degen’s periodic drops (which I’ve learned about through their Instagram).

Get them from Coming Soon: the mug for $44 or the carafe for $55.

“Have a queer day” T-shirt

Just Gay Shit! Sometimes it’s nice to communicate your queerness without adorning yourself in rainbows or having someone scream “PETER’S GAY” every time you come around. If you’ve got a queer friend or loved one, they might like this shirt, too! Get it from Hey Rooney for $30.

A colorful, patterned "statement" mask

This piece about investment masks made me finally realize that it’s nice to have different masks for different moods. These masks come in an assortment of patterns (I own the rainbow cookies mask, but I’m also a fan of the olives and the black and white cookies) and somehow manage to be kitschy and fashionable. (For folks based in NYC: Hart’s in Brooklyn is selling some of these masks and 10% of each mask sale will go to Fair Fight and will help support fair elections in Georgia in the upcoming Senate runoffs!). Get the mask from Steak Diane for $30.

Bodum french press

We recommended this french press in last year’s gift guide, but we love it so much we’re recommending it again.

They’re remarkably hardy — we use ours every single day, sometimes multiple times a day, and they show no signs of wear — and look incredibly cute on our countertop. MoMA’s multicolored options ($25) are incredibly cute, but I’m a big fan of the new lavender option. You can even get a matching lavender iced coffee maker ($23.99). Get the french press from Bodum for $19.99.

The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People

Being a Wife Guy is easy when your girlfriend is as talented a writer as Rachel is! I know firsthand how thoughtful and kind her advice is, and she put so much care and consideration into writing a truly helpful and inclusive book. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who is interested in being kinder to themselves and others. Get it from Bookshop and basically every other retailer here. ✨

Get more gift ideas:

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Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

It’s (weirdly!) that time of again: gift guide season. In a year when the things we need and want are so dramatically different than they used to be, and when it feels like both nothing and literally everything has changed since last year, it’s sort of hard to conceive of gifts that make sense for 2020. But making gift guides is one of my truest pleasures, so I’m going to try my best!

Last year, I published three gift guides, which still really hold up, imho. You can find them all here:

This year, I’m planning to do a few gift posts, in similar categories as the ones above (plus a couple of new ones). To kick things off, here are the MVPs that I think will work well for a lot of different people!

Chile Crunch

I bought this after a reader recommended it last year and love it on fried eggs and toast especially. Think of it as the new hot honey (which was, by far, the most popular item from last year’s gift guides). Get a jar from ChileCrunch.com for $12.80 or from Amazon for $19.75. (BTW, if you’re looking for DIY/edible gift ideas, you can also make your own.)

Danica taper candles

My precious beauties. (More info on why I love them here.) DM me if you’re obsessing over which color to get or wondering how they look IRL; I own…a lot of them. Get a box of five 9-inch tapers from Danica for $18.50. (Bonus pairing: taper holders — Urban usually has good ones that aren’t too expensive.)

Mexican train dominoes

I was first introduced to this game by Terri and I love it so much! It’s easy to learn and is a very good family game (and it only requires two people, so it’s nice for couples who are spending a lot of time at home together). You can find versions at a lot of different retailers, including Amazon ($39.97) and Target ($24.99), and you can get personalized hubs on Etsy which is a nice way to upgrade a standard set.

The Comfy

This is one of those “as seen on TV” products that absolutely rules. My mom saw it on HSN and sent me a cream one (which is annoyingly no longer available), and I’ll admit I was skeptical at first. But you guys… it fucking rocks. It’s warm and cozy and so soft, and makes life on the couch or in bed so wonderful. (It’s also way better than a Snuggie in, like, every possible way.) Get one for $39.99 from The Comfy (use this referral link to get $10 off) or Amazon.

At-home Escape Room

This is such a clever way to recreate something that really can’t be done in our current pandemic reality! Get it from Uncommon Goods for $50.

Wild One dog leash

This leash is such a beautiful color and it makes me happy every time I use it. (There are also several other colors that I’ve spotted around the park, and that are also lovely.) It’s also durable and easy to clean. Get it from Wild One for $58, and pair it with the coral poop bag carrier ($12) for a very cute vibe.

Yeelight smart color-changing bulb

I talked about this in my lighting post and, since then, a couple people have let me know they bought one and love it. Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

Joy of Cooking

I swear by this classic cookbook; the authors use Wirecutter-esque rigor to develop truly great recipes. They released a new version in 2019, and it’s a good gift for new cooks or more experienced cooks who have never gotten around to buying this classic. Get it from Bookshop ($36.80), Amazon ($20.91), or your favorite local bookstore.

The Tushy

Fun fact: I regularly included a Squatty Potty on my BuzzFeed gift guides and it always sold extremely well. Obviously, anything hole-related is a “know your audience” gift, so use your best judgment here. But if you’ve already given a Squatty Potty, the Tushy is the next frontier, and while installation is not necessarily as easy as they make it sound — it really depends on your toilet, I think — it’s very doable and worth it in the long run. Get the classic on sale for $89 (normally $109).

Clip-on mini ring light

The current reality of very little daylight + lots of video calls makes this little guy a rather nice thing to have around. (I have one and use it regularly.) You can also clip it to your phone for nice selfie lighting. Get one from Amazon for $13.99. 🎁

More 2020 gift guides: Gift ideas for the design-minded kitsch-loving somebody in your life, gift ideas for cozy types who are always just vibin’, good gift ideas for people who want to cronch on something delicious, good gift ideas for the sweet, smart, fun, and cool youths in your life, good gift ideas for anyone who wants to look, smell, or feel nice, and good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30.

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Unscented taper candles? Unscented taper candles!!!

Pastel taper candles in lavender and pale yellow Hay crates sitting on top of a seafoam green Cold Picnic rug

When it comes to making purchases in an attempt to stave off existential dread, candles are at the top of my list — which is actually kind of a new thing for me! It all started when my girlfriend traveled to Sweden for work in early February. In addition to discovering that Swedish McDonald’s is called “McDonken,” and offers “Donken Deals” and “Donken Meals,” she learned a lot about great lighting.

Here’s what she had to say about all of this:

“I visited Stockholm in February and learned that because it’s fairly far north, you experience regular early-afternoon darkness. Evidently, the shortest days are around six hours, and as you go further north, it’s basically dark around the clock. My guess is that because it gets so cold and dark there, Swedes have become experts in cozy, ephemeral lighting. (See also: hygge.) Even public street lamps were beautiful — soft, glowy orbs.

In addition to beautiful lamps — think: mushroom lamps and paper lantern orbs — unscented taper candles and candlestick holders were ubiquitous and inexpensive. The candles were widely available in really lovely colors, most notably soft pastels. While I was there, I visited Lagerhaus (basically a cooler, leveled-up Bed Bath & Beyond) and bought as many candles as I could fit in my suitcase. When I got back home, I was reluctant to burn the candles; as far as I can tell, Lagerhaus doesn’t ship to the U.S., and I knew that once my supply ran out, that would be it.

A month or two later, I was browsing the website of Shop Sounds, a Park Slope boutique, and realized they sold colorful, unscented tapers. I bought two 6” pairs, at $6 a set. When I tried to buy more later, they were sold out, so I wanted to figure out if any other retailers carried them.

Boutiques like this will typically name the designer of each item, but these particular candles were conspicuously missing a designer. Still, the website description offered one clue: ‘Designed and made in Rockport, Maine.’ So, I did a bit of Googling and discovered Danica Design Candles — a candle company based in West Rockport, Maine.

Don’t let their website fool you; the tapers are beautiful, come in tons of colors, and ship super quickly. Not only were we able to order the candles directly from them, in even more colors, they were significantly cheaper: $3 per pair vs. $6. So we ordered a bunch, and, because they were less expensive/easily replaced, started burning them every evening just...because. A new duvet o’clock, basically.”

The Danica candles are available in several sizes, but we buy either the 6” tapers ($15.50 for a box of 10) and 9” tapers ($18.50 per box of 10). I like the look of the longer ones better, but the smaller ones tend to be a better fit for a lot of candle holders.

Colorful taper candles in a variety of different candle holders

Unscented taper candles were a revelation for me; I’m pretty sensitive to fragrances, so I can’t burn scented candles for very long/too near where I’m hanging out, and I avoid strong candles entirely. And because I was used to jar candles, I had always viewed them as something you do for fragrance/mood first and foremost versus something you do for decor. (While some candles, like Totem and Goober, are obviously decor, I would be less likely to burn them because I wouldn’t want to ruin the shapes.) But because unscented tapers are so elegant and the colors are so lovely, I see them more as a really beautiful decorative item and a way to create a mood. (They are also a pretty good source of light! Imagine that!) And because they don’t have a fragrance, you can light a bunch at once and let them burn for a few hours without getting a migraine.

I’m also really loving unscented tapers as an (inexpensive) way to decorate for different seasons; this summer, we bought brighter colors (like maize, peach, and antique rose), and are now moving into fall colors (like pewter, honey, willow, bordeaux, and black). Last month, I ordered a bunch of boxes of Danica candles and shipped them to friends as part of a fall care package. (Shout out to my postal scale!) Here’s how our friends Tom and Danny styled the bordeaux tapers we sent them:

Taper inspiration

My girlfriend and I follow a bunch of Scandinavian home accounts, and taper candles show up there pretty regularly. Some inspo:

Other good taper candles

While I mostly stick to Danica’s tapers, I’ve expanded a little bit here and there in the past few months; I bought an ombré taper set from Urban and recently got two Frau Gold ombré tapers from Casa Ziki. The other ones I’m really excited about are these spiral candles from Kiosk48th; the colors are amazing and I love the glossy finish.

While those particular ones are currently sold out, I’m seeing similar candles pop up at a lot of other retailers, and Etsy has a ton of not-quiiiite-the-same-but-still-nice twists too.

Taper holders

You’ll need something to put the tapers in, but taper holders are fairly plentiful in bigger retailers, at thrift and vintage stores, and on Etsy. We’ve collected a bunch over the past few months; here are some shopping recs:

We recently bought a couple $4.99 IKEA godtagbar candle holders, which are great — inexpensive, and built to catch dripping wax
Urban Outfitters has lots of cute options, though the specific ones I have are no longer available
Target has really nice, straightforward taper holders
Blue and white wedding china–esque holders are plentiful on Etsy and look lovely mixed in with other, more modern, candle holders
I ordered this splurgey Hübsch metal candle holder this summer, and Førmprojekt has other options in a range of prices
I love Kiosk48th’s home goods, and their vintage section often has cool candelabras; I bought one that looks like this a few months ago
Flying Tiger, which is based in Denmark but has stores in the New York area, has tons of unscented candles and candle holders, so I’m excited to be able to shop there again...someday
A few days after I looked at tons of vintage red wooden candle holders in this style on Etsy, thinking it would be nice to get one for Christmas, my friend Caroline — who had no idea I had been looking at these! — was randomly like, “Hey I thrifted a candelabra that I think you guys would like, I’m going to ship it to you!” and it turned out to be a red wooden candelabra in the exact same style! Thrilling!

Oh and Hay makes storage bins ($6–$10 from MoMA Design Store) that are a great way to store your growing candle collection!

The thing I really like about the Danica taper candles is that they have forced me to stop being precious about beautiful but ultimately fleeting items. I’ve certainly been guilty of saving things like candles and face masks and journals for some “special” future use, to the point that I don’t actually ever let myself enjoy them. It’s been nice to buy these candles and give myself permission to actually burn them just for the hell of it. 🕯

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Go on, live a little — get yourself the giant pasta-shaped garlic peeler

Photo of oversized piece of (fake) penne on wood surface in front of a vintage yellow glass bowl holding heads of garlic

When my girlfriend bought this giant fake piece of penne from GreatBigStuff.com — along with some bowtie pasta pot grippers — I expected it to merely be decorative. That alone would be great! But much to my delight, it’s also a surprisingly effective garlic peeler.

Hand rollng oversized piece of (fake) penne on wood surface next to a vintage yellow glass bowl holding heads of garlic

Gif of peeled clove of garlic being removed from oversized piece of (fake) penne

Peeling garlic by hand is a fairly annoying task, and putting it in a plastic tube — that, it cannot be overstated, looks like a giant piece of penne — and rolling it around is a nice alternative that doesn’t take up a lot of kitchen space.

I highly recommend it! Get it from GreatBigStuff.com for $19. 🍝

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My beach birthday in quarantine

For my 35th birthday last week, my girlfriend threw a beach party for the two of us at home. The theme was “cool 90s beach/shells/Enchantment Under the Sea” + my Animal Crossing beach, which has a pastel rainbow ombré theme.

She went all out with lots of inflatables and several outfit changes (including an outfit for Chuck), all of which she managed to keep under wraps until my birthday.

The morning of, I was sequestered in the bedroom for an hour or so while she set up. At one point, she cracked the door open and handed me breakfast and a bikini T-shirt, and told me to “dress for a day at the beach.”

When she told me I could come out a little while later, she had transformed the apartment with two giant pink shells floats, palm trees, flamingos, beach balls, and rainbow ombré streamers. . There was a beach scene on the TV, “Girl from Ipanema” was playing, and there were bubbles wafting out from a bubble machine (!!!) in the kitchen.

Julia Turshen’s “Happy Wife, Happy Life” cake + “tan lines” Fancy Sprinkles.

I think my favorite detail was the airbrushed T-shirts my gf ordered from Etsy for us to wear in the evening “on the boardwalk.” The T-shirts had a beach scene + both of our names (essentially this one, but heart-shaped). We wore them for a Google Hangout with some friends (where everyone came dressed to theme, another very good surprise).

Overall, it was a lovely and fun day/weekend, despite everything going on in the world right now.

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Last-minute Valentine's Day gift ideas for the discerning but procrastinating drugstore shopper

To my girlfriend: stop reading right now.

Everyone else: hello.

So, it’s Valentine’s Day Eve (Valentine’s Day Jr. as we say around here) and perhaps you are feeling a bit worried that your Valentine’s Day gift/plans for your partner are not very exciting. Maybe they are even nonexistent! Not to worry — you can still pull this off. Even if you’re reading this on Valentine’s Day, I think you can still pull it off.

If you’re looking for last-minute gift ideas, surprises, or ways to make the day special, and are working with an “uhhh what’s available at Walgreens or the grocery store??” sort of timeline, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Embrace the classics.
Chocolate/candy, flowers, underwear, love letters, romantic movies, love songs, lasagna, wine… these are all nice things! It’s perfectly OK to lean into the things that Valentine’s Day is known for; there’s no need to reinvent the wheel! As long as you’re shopping/planning a date with real intention, choosing things that you think your partner will actually appreciate, and not taking things too seriously, clichés are fine and good.
Lean into the kitsch—like, really lean into it.
Here’s a tip for a great drugstore Valentine’s Day gift: if you must buy something kind of kitschy, buy the absolute largest version of it you can find. A regular heart-shaped balloon? Fine. Nothing wrong with that! A HUGE heart-shaped balloon? Fucking amazing, Several huge heart-shaped balloons? An apartment full of them??? Now we’re talking!!! Going for oversized kitschy items or multiples of kitschy items is silly and memorable and even impressive (buy out Trader Joe’s entire stock of bouquets, I dare you!!!) and I’m extremely here for it.
Consider that fairly small/simple items in Valentine’s Day colors can feel special, especially as part of a bigger gift.
As you comb the aisles at CVS or do a power-lap through the mall, keep this fact in mind. There’s something about, say, really red socks or a really pink phone charger that makes them feel like a Valentine’s Day Gift in a way that yellow socks or turquoise charger would not. When you’re doing your last-minute shop, look for small, on-theme items (like a sharp red Moleskine or a beautiful rosy hoodie) that you can combine with a consumable (flowers, a nice bottle of wine, etc.) to create a really nice gift.
Related: look for solid-colored pink, red, lavender, or white wrapping, trimmings, etc.
Sometimes, the offering of, say, Valentine’s Day gift bags won’t be kitschy enough to feel fun/intentionally corny, and instead will feel kind of sad. In that case, check out the regular gift wrap section, where you’ll likely be able to find plain bags, tissue paper, and ribbons in traditional Valentine’s Day colors that will ultimately look nicer and more considered.
Toss/swap any packaging that looks cheap.
If you don’t want it to look like you just went to the drugstore to buy a gift, get rid of the evidence that proves you just went to the drugstore to buy a gift! That might mean cutting the clear plastic wrap off of store bought flowers and re-wrapping them in a solid color tissue paper, kraft paper, or even newsprint, or removing other packaging that’s not particularly cute/pretty.
Don’t sleep on bookstores.
A lot of bookstores have a game/puzzle section, where you might find something fun/cute/fairly unexpected that your partner will like. They also tend to just be well-curated for gift giving in general (bonus: you can buy a card while you’re there) and are worth checking out if there’s one that’s not too out of your way.
Consider the homemade coupon.
I’m always surprised by how much people love receiving homemade coupons for things like, say, a foot rub or taking the dog out. If you think your partner would be into something like this, here are some Valentine's Day coupons that Terri came up with a few years ago that are very cute! (FYI, the printable versions took a while to load for me, but they popped up eventually.) The more personal/specific the coupons are to your partner and your relationship, the more meaningful and fun they gift will be.
Always give a card or letter.
Love letters are sweet and good and basically free. If you’re not sure what to say or are worried that you’re not a good enough writer, these tips from an expert I talked to a few years ago might be helpful. And if you’re at a loss for words or intimidated by the blank page, embrace the humble list. (“Things I like about you” really never goes out of style.)

Finally, this all might seem like a lot of fuss for “a Hallmark holiday” and I suppose it is. But demonstrable, undeniable effort is meaningful to a lot of people, even if the reasons behind the gift or card are fairly arbitrary or driven by capitalism. If Valentine’s Day is your partner’s love language—and it is a lot of people’s, whether you like it or understand it or not—you should try to show up for them. Yes, you might already show your love for them all the other days of the year… but if that’s the case, why not also show your love for them on the day when they’d really like you to do so? Love and connection is rare, life is short, and making sure your people know exactly how much they mean to you is pretty much always a good idea. 💘

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Holiday gift ideas for the well-dressed, blob-loving creative in your life

Hello! I’m back with some more gift ideas for you! Sunday’s list was general gift ideas and Monday’s list was gifts for someone who reminds you of me; today’s list is gifts for someone who maybe reminds you a little bit of me, but whose taste is, say, 25% cooler and 60% more colorful. Like, this person fucks with a simple J. Crew sweater and a can of chickpeas, but also has good taste in music and wears hip art teacher earrings, you know? It is 100% inspired by my girlfriend and the things she owns/loves/has on her wishlist, though there’s definitely some overlap with my own. Anyway, if you are shopping for someone who is the Claudia to your Stacey, this list might be helpful.

Cold Picnic bathmat

I love this brand, and their bathmats are absolutely the gateway drug. I actually bought the one pictured at a sample sale in the spring, but there are a ton of other styles, including multiple boob mats. Buy it from Cold Picnic for $60.

Boy Smells candle

All the Boy Smells candles are beautiful, and the Cedar Stack is really nice but mellow woodsy smell. Buy it from Amazon for $36.

Supersoft mockneck sweater

This was in Tuesday’s gift guide, because, again, it’s so versatile. Available in 13 colors and sizes XXS-3X from J. Crew for $89.50.

Just Say No to Bullshit socks

For when you want to tell your coworkers to fuck off, but can’t. Buy them from Electric West for $15.

Face planter

You know Toilets With Menacing Auras? This planter is, like, the cosmic opposite of that. It’s charming but not overly twee, and has just good, sweet energy. Buy it from Group Partner for $65.

Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over

Another gift that would definitely appeal to Monday’s homebody! This is a great cookbook — even better than Dining In — and is aesthetically and spiritually aligned with many of the other items on this list. Buy it from Amazon for $20.12 or find it at a local bookstore through IndieBound.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9

This camera is easy to use, takes super flattering photos, and is extremely fun at a party. (You’ll get way better fun action shots than you do with a phone, honestly.) It’s also a very gentle entry point for anyone who has been thinking about getting into film photography. It comes in 10 colors; get the camera and two packs of film on Amazon for $67.86. (Urban Outfitters also has some very cute exclusive colors, including lavender, yellow, orange, and rose.)

Enamelware serving bowl

This was a purchase directly inspired by the aesthetic of Nothing Fancy, and looks way more expensive than it actually is. It’s a good size for holding a few lemons or onions and some heads of garlic. It comes in four colors; buy it from Amazon for $14.88.

Bodum French Press

This is another gift that looks more expensive than it is. It makes a single cup of coffee or tea and is really easy to use. If someone is lightly interested in getting into coffee, it’s a good place to start. The Chemex gets a lot of attention because it’s so beautiful, but it takes a decent amount of effort to make coffee with it. Meanwhile, this little press is quick/unfussy enough to use before work.

The MoMA Design Store has the Caffettiera French press pictured and a second multicolored one for $20; Madewell has a pastel version for $15; and there’s a light green one and a light blue one on Amazon for $15. If you want to gift it with some coffee, Variety Coffee tastes good and has great packaging. (In Brooklyn, you can buy it at Whole Foods.)

Yellow silicone finger grippers and lavender scraper

These are good stocking stuffers and/or a great addition to the Nothing Fancy cookbook. (Alison Roman apparently loves a scraper.) Buy them from Amazon; the grippers are $6.06 and the scraper is $5.99.

Dusen Dusen hand towels

Dusen Dusen has really unique patterns and prints, and is good for anyone who has walked into a Madewell in the past year and thought, “Boy, everyone sure is depressed, huh?” Most of Dusen Dusen’s clothing and home goods are pretty expensive, so the hand towels are fairly affordable and offer a good amount of color/pattern bang for your buck. Available in four styles; buy them for $20 each from Coming Soon.

Bathing lady dish

Who is she??? This multipurpose dish (for keys, change, jewelry, etc.) is fun and kind of unusual, and has a vintage vibe that isn’t too stuck in a particular era. It comes in five colors; buy one from Coming Soon for $40.

Areaware goober candles

These candles are less “I’m burning my scented candle for self-care,” and more “I have cool blobs on my bookshelf that make me happy, and sure, I could burn them if I wanted to.” Available in four colors; buy them from Coming Soon for $26 each.

Catbird loopdie earring

This shape of these earrings — open at the top and bottom — is fairly unusual, but the earrings themselves are not fussy at all. They are basically gold hoop earrings…that fuck. (BTW, a lot of cool/weird earrings are hard to put on or take off, but these are very user-friendly.) Buy them from Catbird — $88 for the gold pair and $52 for the silver pair.

Catbird teardrop earring

Another pair of “classic silhouette, but more interesting version of it” earrings. They aren’t full-on statement pieces, but they are unique enough to communicate to the recipient “I noticed you have good style so I got you something a little bit interesting.” Buy them from Catbird — $52 for the silver pair or $88 for the gold pair.

And a year of Spotify Premium

Spotify is something most people use every single day, but it’s something most people don’t think about using every single day because it’s literally in the background. So a gift card for a Premium account (or to cover the cost of their current subscription.) ends up being a super practical gift that is still fairly unexpected/delightful. (It’s also a good one for a couple!) Get a 3-month ($30) or 6-month ($60) gift card from Target, or get the $99 annual gift card from Best Buy.

And, of course, you can’t go wrong with some of the OG gift guide items here: the hot honey, the Chups socks, and The Art of Gathering would be my picks. ✨

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Holiday gift ideas for the Everlane-loving, shit-together homebody in your life

While yesterday’s gift idea list was meant to be pretty general, I thought it might also be fun to put together some ideas for people whose taste is more specific. Or, in this case, whose taste is just…mine. Though I don’t actually love/shop at Everlane all that much, I recognize that a Type exists, and I am a part of it! If you’re shopping for gifts for your sister/best friend/girlfriend/wife/some other cozy Millennial (or just…yourself…) this list might be helpful.

A New York Times crossword puzzle app subscription

This is, to me, an ideal gift, because it’s one of those things that is kind of annoying to pay for yourself, but is actually not that expensive as far as gifts are concerned. It’s also just really worth having! I have been cranking through the archives recently to get better at solving/be on Instagram and Twitter less. Buy it for $19.97.

The perfect lemon candle

This is, in my estimation, the perfect lemon candle. Buy it from Williams-Sonoma for $19.95.

J. Crew x Chups socks

These socks spark so much joy for me. After looking at them online every few weeks for like three months, I finally bought myself a couple pairs on Black Friday last year when they were half-price. They were so great that I was ready and waiting to buy them this year on Black Friday when they were 50% off. I am slowly but surely building my great sock collection. They come in four colors; get a single pair from J. Crew for $36 or a pack of two pairs for $62. (And also…definitely buy them during one of J. Crew’s many sales.)

Lodge Dutch oven

This is a great Dutch oven (it’s the Wirecutter pick) and the cream color is really lovely in person. It’s become the most-used pot in my kitchen. Buy it from Amazon for $59.90.

450-piece boob puzzle

A puzzle! With titties! Honestly, what more do you want from me? Buy it from Jiggy (a new brand that also has other, non-boob puzzles) for $40.

USB rechargeable lighter

This is one of those things that I didn’t know I needed until I saw it — during a sale, when I immediately impulse-bought it. It’s very beautiful and also the way it works is genuinely neat; instead of casting a flame, it just sort of…zaps your candle wicks and then they start to burn! Available in four colors; buy it from Food52 for $32.

Chenille throw blanket

For everyone who says, “Can you hand me that blanket?” approximately 10 times a day. Available in three colors; buy it from West Elm for $39 (FYI, it’s currently on sale for $19).

A Shhhowercap

I have had my Shhhowercap for a couple years now, and it is probably the most-used item in my home, now that I think about it. It’s a splurge, but if for anyone who doesn’t wash their hair that often, it’s absolutely worth it. Available in 13 colors; buy the dark pink one from Amazon for $43 or one of the other colors from Sephora.

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