Valentine’s Day gifts to self

I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day, thanks to its indomitable color palette, embrace of kitsch, and overall message: Let someone know you care about them! While it might be a a little late to buy something for your Valentine (though I do have a list of last-minute Valentine's Day gift ideas for the discerning but procrastinating drugstore shopper if that’s where you are this year), it’s absolutely not too late to buy a little treat for yourself.

Here are some recs, based on things I’ve bought/loved recently.

Until We’re All Free sweatshirt

This is part of a fundraiser for Trans Lifeline, and proceeds “go directly toward life-saving commissary & bail funds for trans people in prison.” Available in four shirt styles and four colors, sizes S–4XL, ranging from $25–$35. Get it from Bonfire.

Leuchtturm1917 Smooth Colours notebook

Leuchtturm is finally — FINALLY — making my beloved dot grid notebook in beautiful pastels. Available in four colors, four page styles, and either hard or softcover. Get it for $21 from Leuchtturm or Amazon.

Cardinal patch

I received this cardinal as part of the bird patch monthly subscription, but you can buy it — and several other cute bird patches — individually. Get it from Bird Collective for $8.

Tussie Mussie

This game, which was designed by Wingspan designer Elizabeth Hargrave, is based on the Victorian tradition of giving flowers to friends and romantic loves. There are only 18 cards, so it’s super portable (and easy to learn), and the cards themselves are so cute IRL. While it’s currently sold out (there’s a waiting list though!), it’s absolutely worth poking around Button Shy, which has a lot more of these extremely cute “wallet games.” (I also have Insurmountable, which is a one-player game — always nice to come across those.)

Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey

I am so excited that the author of my beloved Nature Fix is back with a new book! You can read an excerpt, and get a copy from Bookshop ($27.60) or Amazon ($21.05).

Knitter’s Hand Balm

This was actually one of my girlfriend’s Valentine’s gifts to me and I love it! The tube is just a little bigger than a tube of chapstick (perfect for a knitting bag or fanny pack) and the product itself is really good — non-greasy, with a no-fragrance version (along with several scented options). Get it from The Knitting Hole for $11. 💝

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One year of knitting

Jan 2, 2021

This month marks my one-year anniversary of learning to knit, and it’s exciting to look back and see how far I’ve come. I love having hobbies, but knitting has definitely been one of the harder ones. It has a steep learning curve, so it’s easy to get discouraged and give up early on (or…at any point, really). It was even harder to learn to knit at home without any in-person instruction, which would have, I think, changed everything. That said, with enough trial and error, willingness to start over, and good old-fashioned practice (annoying, I know!), I’ve been able to finish several projects and can now confidently call myself a competent knitter.

Here’s everything I used to learn to knit, the projects I completed this year, my favorite tools, some tips I wish I’d known sooner, and my knitting goals for 2022.

How I learned to knit

My girlfriend and I both wanted to learn to knit, and she went first, with me a week or so behind her. We both used my friend Alanna’s book, How to Knit a Hat (also on Bookshop, but currently sold out), plus YouTube videos (which is something Alanna suggests doing in the book). Because my gf started before I did, I was able to get help from her, whereas she fully taught herself without anyone else to show her.

We both finished the hat and then moved on to other projects.

Completed knitting projects 2021

Novice sweater

Knitting a whole-ass sweater felt like a huge step up after just doing a hat, and yet…it was the perfect step up! On my first attempt, I misread a step fairly early on in the pattern (it involved the increases at the yoke, and where you should start measuring the overall length) and didn’t really see a way to undo it. So I just started over! I remember being super bummed at the time, but it taught me an important lesson: that it’s often way easier to just start over, and that projects almost always look considerably better the second time around, even if it’s just redoing a cast-on or a cuff.

I don’t remember everything I worked on right after this one, but I know I attempted a Wool & the Gang sweater (the pattern is definitely not that hard, but I think I had problems because my yarn wasn’t quite the right weight and I was going off script in other ways, which was a bad idea); at least one hat; and a second novice sweater holding three strands of yarn in three different colors. None of these worked out, which was honestly fine! I’ve found I’m more of a “knitting is a journey, not a destination” knitter, and it was helpful to just practice, to get better at reading patterns (one of the hardest parts of knitting tbh), and to get practice buying yarn and needles and making sense of how they felt in my hands.

Lucky dog sweater

The next project I (technically) completed was a dog sweater from Purl Soho. It was way, way harder than I expected, or than a dog sweater has any right to be. It involved a ton of short rows using the wrap-and-turn technique, which is annoying…but it turned out to be great, in a way, because it was a small project and the instructions were well-written compared to most patterns that utilize short rows. I also really liked the Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn; this color is Coney Island, but I also bought it in Dreamcatcher, which I used on a bunch of the projects I didn’t finish around this time. It’s fairly inexpensive but feels nice in your hands, is super easy to knit with, and always a lot better than I expect it to.

I worked so hard on this sweater and all its fiddly little short rows, only to put it on Chuck and realize it didn’t fit quite right (it was too long in the neck). He made it very clear how much he hated wearing it, so I didn’t bother to fix it/redo it.

Junior novice sweater

After a longish break (vaccinated summer was…not the knitting zone), we got back into knitting again in August. I had a couple projects going around this time, but this is the first one I finished. And this one convinced me that the way to get better at knitting and actually finish projects (which helps you stay motivated) is to knit items for babies/children. This sweater, which I knit for my friend Julia’s daughter’s first birthday in October, utilizes literally the exact same techniques as the adult novice sweater, but it went so much faster. As part of the birthday gift, my gf knit the adult version for Julia so they had matching ones.

We used Berocco Ultra Alpaca Chunky yarn for both of these, a brand/weight that has become one of my favorites.

I actually knit this one from beginning to end twice! The first version, which I was thinking of as a prototype since I wasn’t going to be able to try it on the baby first, didn’t fit — the neck was too tight, and that wasn’t really something I could fix. So I just redid it and, again, didn’t regret that at all; it looked better the second time, and it was a quick enough project that I didn’t feel too precious about it, or like I’d wasted a ton of time.

This is the first project I knit swatches for; I learned that I knit very tight and need to make adjustments to patterns accordingly. It’s also the first project that I blocked, a step that I now love and swear by.

Bulky dog turtleneck sweater

This is another dog sweater that calls for a very fussy technique; in this case, it was the i-cord cast-on that took like a year off my life, and for no good reason — he’s a dog, he doesn’t need a fancy cast-on! But I’d prefer to learn on a dog sweater than a human sweater.

(BTW, this is that Lion Brand Wool Ease yarn again; this time, the color is Fairy.)

This entire sweater is supposed to be ribbed, but I decided to just do the neck ribbing and then knit the rest, and I’m glad I did. He doesn’t love the finished sweater, and ribbing the whole thing just…would not have been worth the extra time it would have taken.

Aftenstocking

At the beginning of 2021, my girlfriend and I made one resolution: To be able to knit these stockings by Christmastime. At the time, it felt impossible. Come fall, it felt….very doable, but then it turned out to be kind of a pain in the ass! I think it was because of how the pattern is written, the fact that you need very small circular needles to start, and the fact that using short rows to make a heel is just…an endeavor.

It took me so long to figure out the heel turn (I redid it at least four times, probably more?) and when I finally got it right and then finished the whole stocking, it looked…bad. Why was the toe SO STUMPY???

I still don’t know!! But through the miracle of blocking and then felting — which happened at midnight on Christmas Eve lolsob — the stocking actually ended up looking pretty good.

And with that, my first year of knitting came to an end! There was one more big sweater that I started in September that I thought I’d be able to finish by the end of the year. In the end, I got slowed down because I had to learn new techniques (like sewing on sleeves) and because of some annoying/avoidable mistakes (e.g., using the wrong size needles on the sleeves, which meant they were too small). I finally made it to the home stretch, but I’m having a terrible time picking up the stitches for the neckline, so I’ve set it aside and will go back to it later. I was sick of it and needed a break.

Tools

There are so, so many tools for knitters and it’s impossible to list all my favorites (and it’s so personal anyway), but there are a few that really made a difference this year:

Bags within bags

I swear by my Baggu baby bag + smaller individual zipper bags. Also, you won’t regret having tiny scissors and a tiny tape measure in your bag.

Plastic stitch markers

I think my girlfriend bought this case of colorful plastic stitch markers ($8.99 from Amazon) very early on in our knitting journey, and they are one of our most-used and most-loved items. I’ve tried some others in the time since, and honestly, the hot Cocoknits brass ones have nothing on these plastic ones. Truly an MVP.

A stitch counter

I finally bought myself a knitting counter this fall, and I don’t know what took me so long! (I was marking down a tally with a pencil and paper this whole time.) I really like the $9 metal one I have, and my girlfriend loves the $9 Clover one. (Hers makes the most satisfying sound every time she advances it.) I’ve also been experimenting with counting apps; sometimes you need to have two counters going at once, and an app is really helpful for that. I downloaded a bunch of different ones to try, and Count That Now is my favorite.

A knitting notebook

Another major “What took me so long?” addition to my life. More here.

A few tips I swear by

IG: @kiyanaknits

In no particular order, here are some of the things I wish I’d known/really understood as a beginner.

• You have to like the yarn you’re using! You definitely don’t need fancy yarn, especially when you’re starting out, but you should really like looking at it (because you’re going to be stuck with it for a while). If you’ve done a few rows and are asking yourself the whole time if you really like the color or are already regretting choosing it, just stop and start over with a different color.

• I have really never regretted starting something over when I realized I’ve made a mistake or something is looking loose/bad/etc. Pretty much everything looks better on a second pass. 

• If something isn’t looking good and you’re stressed about it, put it away for a while and come back to it. Most things look better with fresh eyes/once you’ve zoomed out and are looking at the entire project. And if they still look bad, well, see above tip about starting over.

• A lot of surface mistakes can be “fixed in post” — aka when you’re all done. For example, blocking solves a huge amount of problems (e.g., you’ve got some stitches that are looking a little funky), and underarm holes can easily be sewn together when you’re done.

• Knitting slower and reading the patterns slower would have solved like 75% of my knitting problems in the past year.

• My girlfriend and I store all of our knitting patterns in a shared Google Drive folder so we can easily find them/re-print them later. We both always work from a printed pattern, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to pull up the pattern on your phone when you’re in a store, or look up a specific instruction on your phone if the pattern is kind of out of reach.

• Most local knitting stores have some form of IRL classes/office hours/etc. where you can get personalized help and ask questions about your projects. (So, for example, if it had been safe to go IRL in December, I would have definitely done that for the stocking heel trouble I was having.)

• If you find a YouTube tutorial you really like, save it to a playlist! You’ll probably need to reference it again in the future, and not all YouTube tutorials are created equal.

• Take more notes than you think you’ll need to; you won’t remember things as well as you think you will, not even the things that are giving you a ton of grief.

• Yarn is a great souvenir! During the trips my girlfriend and I took this fall, we found yarn stores and picked out yarn as a special souvenir from the trip.

2022 knitting goals

IG: @kiyanaknits

Heading into the new year, here are my big knitting goals:

Learn to knit continental. I think this style of knitting will allow me to knit a lot faster and more comfortably. I’ve actually already started learning and it turned out to be…a lot easier than I expected? I think it’s also helping me adjust my tension/make up for the fact that I’m knitting too tight, which is something I really needed to correct, so I’m thrilled.

Knit with blocks of color. This is this year’s stocking goal, aka a goal my girlfriend and I both want to do. This might look like intarsia or a Fair Isle…we’ll see! For me, this is very much a Q4 goal.

Knit an object of some sort. I recently discovered the big world of knit animals, and realized there are tons of other non-clothing items one can knit (like Christmas decorations or vegetables). I think this is going to be something I really enjoy — it has the “you can complete a whole project faster” effect you get with kids’ clothes, but is more immediately useful to me personally. I actually impulse-knit a bird today, so technically I can already cross this goal off already, but I want to properly invest in it and get good enough at it to be able gift things (or at least decorate my Christmas tree).

Annnd that’s a wrap on my first year of knitting! I was going to say something here about how it’s been really good for my mental health, a nice alternative to looking my phone and a good thing to do when you’re feeling anxious… but the reality is that I regularly declare that I hate it, and my girlfriend and I reference this TikTok all the time when we’re knitting. So ya know… it has its moments. 🧶

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My knitting notebook

One of the more useful things I did in the latter half of my first year of knitting was get a small notebook to dedicate to knitting projects. Knitting involves way more math and counting than I’d like it to, and I often found myself tallying counts on the printed pattern itself — which is fine, I guess, but not ideal, especially because my patterns tend to get really tattered while I’m working so they don’t serve as a great record of a project. I also wanted to better record details like the specific yarn and needles I was using and how long each project was taking me. So I finally got a little Rollbahn spiral notebook to keep in my knitting bag, and it’s changed my life.

I set up a table of contents on the first page, and have added page numbers to each subsequent page. Each project gets its own page (back and front). At the top of each project page, I write this:

Started:
Completed:
Yarn

Skeins:

Needles:

Below that, I write Notes: and then use the rest of the page to jot down anything that feels relevant; it might be the date I started a specific component (like a sleeve) or it might be a simple mistake or big source of frustration that I want to remember in case I redo the project later. (I’ve learned the hard way that I…will not remember these things as well as I think I will.) I’ve also been trying to note when I learn a new skill or technique — basically, instead of celebrating the total number of projects I do, I want to highlight all of the things I’m learning, even when I do a project that I don’t end up finishing or really liking.

It’s such a small, obvious thing but it’s been so helpful! 🧶

More journaling content that might be of interest: Starting a house journal, how to start and keep a journal during a pandemic (or any time of major upheaval), the Hobonichi Techo planner, and my book!

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Good gift ideas for the person whose taste is Herman Miller by day and Spencer’s Gifts by night

For the third year running, I am publishing a gift guide inspired by my girlfriend’s taste, and for the second year running, I’m just handing over the reins and letting her write it herself! You know your friend who has impeccable taste but who also, somewhat confoundingly, likes things that are so bad they’re good? That’s who this gift guide is for. And be sure to check out the 2019 and 2020 version too. –RWM ✨

I’m happy to be back with a new gift guide! This year’s influences include Spike Lee’s love of the New York Knicks, Dua Lipa’s cowgirl-themed music video for “Love Again,” and quite literally every single frame of At Home With Amy Sedaris. These gifts are for the person who fusses over small details and cares about quality, but who also likes kitsch and camp and the absurd. I won’t say this gift guide is only for gay people, but it’s definitely for gay people (and not just because it includes multiple carabiner recommendations).

An olive-garnished sweatsuit

My love for food-themed home decor extends into apparel as well, and this olive crewneck sweatshirt and sweatpants situation really hits the spot. Depending on your loved one’s climate, you could opt for the sweatpants or the sweatshorts. And if you want this look to be able to travel from the couch to running errands, then pairing it with the dirty martini baseball cap oughta do the trick.

Get them all from Wear Your Snacks (clothing runs S–XXL): Olive sweatshirt ($60), sweatpants ($70), sweatshorts ($60), socks ($15), and dirty martini hat ($28).

Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons and some smiley-face bookmarks

JP Brammer — my top Twitter follow and author of my favorite newsletter, ¡Hola Papi! — just published his first book, and folks…it’s a banger. It’s sharp and kind and funny and moving in equal measure. Pair the book with some cute bookmarks, and you’ve got the perfect gift for the reader in your life. Get the book from Bookshop ($23.92) and get a set of 20 bookmarks from Brook Farm General Store ($12.50).

Jewelry for anyone

Apse BB ball bracelet

Perfect for layering and adding just a little something extra to your outfit. I’ve found that the sterling silver and gold filled bracelets pair nicely together. Get them from Apse for $50 each.

Apse initial necklace

A splurgy gift that you can personalize with their initial (or maybe your own? 🥰). Get it from Apse starting at $180.

Catbird initial charm and chain

If you like the idea of an initial necklace but want something a bit daintier, Catbird alphabet charms might be what you’re looking for. You can get just the letter charm for $44, or add on a chain (which starts at $148).

I ❤️ NY

In addition to food motifs, I unabashedly, unironically love New York City and New York paraphernalia. I’m not the only one, so if your loved one is also partial to Zizmorcore, they might like these items:

Standard Baggu: I Love New York

This bag is a workhorse. It holds far more than you’d expect it to, and then some, but it folds down flat, making it perfect for those days you find yourself suddenly and unexpectedly schlepping around the city. Get it from Baggu for $12.

NYC themed felted holiday ornaments

I audibly gasped the first time I saw these felted ornaments, and immediately bought a few as gifts and a few to keep. Get all of the ornaments from Craftspring: Metrocard ($22), holiday taxi ($24), and subway train ($24). (P.S. the subway train ornament comes in multiple styles, which means you can get the person you’re shopping for the train line that’s particularly meaningful to them.)

Susan Alexandra I Love NY card holder

I was gifted a trifold wallet nearly 10 years ago and only bothered to replace it once it became painfully evident that I was filling it to the brim with junk and then carrying that junk around with me everywhere I went. I recently swapped it for this beaded Susan Alexandra card holder, which can comfortably fit about five cards. I feel unencumbered! Get it from Susan Alexandra for $88.

A gift basket from Zabar's

This past year I discovered that Zabar’s will ship anywhere across the country, which meant I had discovered the perfect gift for friends who have left New York (or who simply want to live out their You’ve Got Mail dreams). You can mix and match items to create the perfect custom care package, but Zabar’s also has a wide variety of pre-bundled baskets with treats like black and white cookies, rugelach, babka, and lox, which is the route I usually take. They also sell mugs and T-shirts with their iconic logo, and whenever I wear the shirt or sip from the mug on Zoom calls, I end up getting compliments from my coworkers. Get them all from Zabar’s: Gift baskets (starting at $135), T-shirt ($9.98), and mug ($5.98).

Wooden bird tchotchkes

When Rachel and I visited Acadia, we stumbled across a wooden objects gift shop in downtown Bar Harbor that sold an astonishing amount of wooden birds — at scale!! I’m talking everything from a little chickadee to a giant pelican. We marveled and moved on without buying anything, but I found my mind wandering back to them each day, and by the end of the trip I had gone back and bought a couple of birds for our home as well as a few birds for friends. The craftsmanship of these hand-painted birds is really remarkable, and because they’re such beautiful little objects they make great bookshelf decorations. Get them from In The Woods starting from $39.

For their kitchen

Dusen Dusen oven mitts

It comes in three colorways, but my personal favorite is Berry. Get them from Coming Soon ($26).

Fruit and vegetable shaped kitchen timers

Everything’s better when it’s shaped like food, and these kitchen timers (which would make great stocking stuffers) are no exception. I own the corn timer, but I’ve got my eyes on the pear and the red pepper timers as well. Get them all from Amazon (from $4.65–$10.29).

A penguin sticker for your French press

I recommend Bodum’s French presses each year, and this year is no different — but, there’s a twist this time! You can convert your regular french press into a Penguin Press using this vinyl decal. The seller recommends pairing it with the Bodum Brazil 34 oz french press, which you can buy from Bodum for $19.99. Buy the sticker from Stuff by Andrew Neyer for $6.95.

Aarke Carbonator 3

This is on the pricier side, but it’s a great option if you really want to splurge on, say, your partner. My mom gifted me mine a couple years ago and I’ve never looked back; not only is the Aarke far more reliable than a SodaStream, but I actually like the way it looks on my counter top (the matte black finish is really chic). Get it from Aarke ($219) or Amazon ($164.25).

A hot carabiner

I am a lesbian, and this is my carabiner. If you’re like me and want something a little fancier than your local hardware store carabiner, then Japanese accessory maker Candy Design & Works has you covered. I opted for the Quincy ball-closure carabiner, but really agonized over my selection because there are plenty of other alternatives available that are equally as nice. Get them all from Hightide Store DTLA: Quincy ($30), Holger ($36), Delta ($38), and Gordon ($30).

Gifts you can customize

Vintage sports gear

I typically loathe gift guides that suggest items I can’t tap a link and immediately buy. But here I go, doing the thing I hate! Here’s the thing: Vintage sports merch is a great gift because it’s plentiful, relatively affordable (especially if you’re willing to do a tiny bit of digging), and can be selected to match your recipient’s tastes/preferences from team, sport, city, and/or school to specific article of clothing. There is no one link to recommend, because it really depends on who you’re shopping for.

My advice for finding great stuff on Ebay, Etsy, and Grailed is as follows: 80s and 90s merch is the absolute best, so include that in your search terms if you want to refine your results a bit; defunct team merch and retired styles/uniforms are especially fun (e.g., Seattle Sonics and The Mighty Ducks); teams that won titles, competed in significant tournaments, or even just competed against a major rival will likely have created merch specifically for that event, and it tends to be more exciting than your usual fare (e.g., The Rosebowl). I tend to opt for sweatshirts because they’ll usually give you more bang for your buck (and hold up better over time), but there might be a T-shirt that speaks to you. If you’re looking for hats, search for snapbacks specifically because you won’t have to worry about whether it’ll fit the recipient (and you’ll also have more luck finding brims with contrasting colors, which has a little more ✨razzle dazzle✨). One last thing to keep in mind is that vintage styles tend to run smaller — sellers will typically call this out in the listing, but always double check.

Airbrushed T-shirts

If you’d rather not try to hunt down the perfect vintage sportswear item, then I have an alternative for you: an airbrushed T-shirt from Etsy seller FreshAirShirts. My recommendation would be to use one of the sports T-shirts as a jumping off point and then customize it with your loved one’s favorite team’s colors and name. (That’s what Rachel did with the shirt pictured above, which also got me on the Jumbotron during the game!) This shop offers baseball, soccer, basketball, and football designs, but it’s also worth mentioning that an airbrushed T-shirt isn’t just a gift for a sports fan — it’s a gift for anyone who likes a dumb gag. Might I suggest the couples T-shirts, this shirt that just says “Mommy”, this cowboy hat-centric number, this covid cocktail (????), or this splurgier (lol) pet portrait as thought-starters? (And remember, you can get every shirt made in basically any color.) This seller is also super responsive and helpful when it comes to customizations, which means the only limitation is your own imagination. Get your shirts from FreshAirShirts (starting from $22.99).

Local business T-shirts

Restaurant and bar merch is a great way to support local businesses and show an interest in the restaurants your friends love the most. If you need some inspiration, The Cut curated some great NYC options and we gave some guidance on where to start last year, but really, if it looks like the store owner’s son-in-law’s first attempt at graphic design — in a good way, obviously! — you’re on the right track. My current favorite is the Ferrara “Holy Cannoli” T-shirt ($23).

New Balance 57/40s

The 57/40s are a more modern take on the classic 574s — they still get the job done, just with a little more flair. This particular style comes in a ton of colorways, but my favorites are “Black with pink lemonade,” “Light cliff grey with velocity red,” “Oyster pink with blue chill.” In my own experience, you don’t have to worry about rigidly adhering to men’s vs women’s shoes because the shoe is the same no matter what department you’re shopping in — just find the style you like, and then figure out what your appropriate size is. Get them from New Balance starting from $99.99.

Drag queen merch

Like wearing a band T-shirt, only gayer. I love this Sasha Velour T-shirt ($30), but you can find lots of other options on Drag Queen Merch dot com and My Best Judy Merch.

Stocking stuffers

Baby Baggu

This bag is the perfect size for my in-progress knitting projects, but it makes for a great running-errands-but-not-too-many–errands bag. I own the bag in lawnstripe and black & white cow, but it comes in a wide array of options so trust your gut on this one. Get them from Baggu for $10.

A tiny pet-sized cowboy hat

Give the gift of laughing at how truly ridiculous your pet looks cosplaying as a tiny sheriff. It’s got adjustable chinstraps so it’ll stay secure (much to your pet’s chagrin, I’m sure). Get it from Neon Cowboys for $15. 🤠

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Good gift ideas for the person who is always tending to some little project

Welcome to gift guide season 2021! I’m kicking things off with gifts for the person in your life who is always tending to something — maybe their newest hobby, or the planning doc for the next group trip, or a tomato plant (either real or in a video game). Lightly outdoorsy, but in a very at-home kind of way. Like a dad who is also a mom who is also a dad. This is the gift guide for people with taste that’s quite similar to mine, is what I’m saying.

P.S. Get more gift ideas for this type of person on the 2019 and 2020 version of this list.

Charles Viancin mug toppers

These were actually an impulse buy from a really great store in Bar Harbor, Maine, and they’ve turned out to be great. Basically you just set them on top of a mug to keep your hot beverage hot. They really work, and they are cute! I have the sunflowers (a set of two is $13.50 from Amazon) and I just discovered/ordered the tomato version.

Arts & Crafts T-shirt

For the person who is a jock in their own unique way. Available in sizes S–2XL; buy it from House of Dakh for $29.95.

A guide to local wildlife

This is actually what I got for my mom — who is famously hard to shop for — for Christmas last year, after I realized that she pays pretty close attention to the birds in the trees in her yard, as well as all the other wildlife. In her case, I went with Butterflies of Michigan, Mammals of Michigan, and Birds of Michigan, but you could easily tweak based on where the person lives. I personally own/love New York City Trees, and just last week, after way too much time on the Brooklyn Bird Alert Twitter account, bought Birds of New York Field Guide and Field Guide to the Neighborhood Birds of New York City.

A birdhouse/bird feeder

Speaking of local wildlife, this beautiful modern bird feeder would be a great way to turn the books into a bigger gift. This one is available in two color combinations; buy it for $75 from MoMa Design Store.

Hawkins NY sparkly sponges

These would make for a beautiful stocking stuffer or help round out a cookware-centric gift. Available in three different color sets; get a set of three from Hawkins New York for $6.

A steel toolbox in “the very best size”

If the Mx. Fix-It in your life doesn’t have a spot for their growing collection of tools (or craft/hobby supplies, or whatever), this extremely hot green one would be perfect. Get it from Garrett Wade for $64.55. Bonus pairing: A hot carabiner. Bonus to the bonus: A teeny tiny metal toolbox, which is the ideal place to store all your carabiners.

A solid beech craft storage box

If the person you’re shopping for has lots of little odds and ends — maybe they sew or knit — I’d recommend this beautiful solid-wood craft box, which is the sort of thing they’ll have/use forever. Get it from Garrett Wade for $179.

A gentle, nature-inspired game

I’ve been obsessed with/signing the praises of Wingpsan for the past month, and there are a lot of other options in this vein that are worth checking out:

• Mariposas, which focuses on butterflies and was designed by the same person who designed Wingspan. Buy it for $49.99 from Alderac Entertainment Store or $32.99 from Amazon.

• Parks, which is National Parks–themed and is on my personal wishlist this year. Get it from Keymaster Games for $49.

• Trails, a new game from the Parks team. Buy it for $19.99 from Keymaster Games.

• Arboretum, which challenges players to “create the most beautiful garden.” Buy it from Renegade Game Studios for $21.99 or from Amazon for $20.49.

• Point Salad, a drafting card game that centers on vegetables. Buy it from Alderac for $19.99 or Amazon for $16.99.

• And, finally, Wingspan! Buy it for $60 from Stonemaier Games or from Amazon.

Birkenstock Arizona shearling sandals

Sometimes I’m like “Hm, I can’t really think of anything I want for Christmas this year” and then later I’ll remember these exist. I’m a recent convert to Birks and these just look so luxurious and cozy. Get them for $150 from Urban Outfitters (also available in two other colors) and find some other color options at Birkenstock.

A monochromatic sweatsuit

To wear with a pair of New Balances and a baseball cap on Saturday morning trips to the library and local garden store. The sweatsuit above, which I have, is from Gap (the bottoms are on sale for $25 and the hoodie is on sale for $25, both available in sizes XS–XXXL). I also love the options from Aritizia, which come in a ton of really beautiful colors and different cuts.

Fjallraven Kanken backpack

I’ve never been a backpack person, but I bought this one in September for our trip to Acadia and ended up loving it; it holds a ton of stuff, the color is beautiful, and it’s just super convenient — great for hikes, but also little day trips and/or park visits. It also comes in like 50 colors; buy one from Fjallraven for $80 or Amazon for $76.

Dad Grass or Mom Grass

Are they more of a daddy or a mommy? It doesn’t really matter because there’s something for everyone! I’ve sung the praises of this product times already; it’s a great option for someone who occasionally wants a wine-free way to take the edge off, but doesn’t want this badly or often enough to actually get a weed dealer. Get it all from Dad Grass: a pack of five joints of Mom Grass ($35), Dad Grass ($35), or the Parent Pack (which has five of each) for $66.

Haws watering can

I bought one of these watering cans back in 2015 and it felt like the most indulgent purchase. It’s just beautiful; a genuine joy-sparker. This watering can is also more than just its looks; it’s made by a company that has been doing watering cans for 130 years and is extremely ergonomic/loved by gardeners. Buy one from Horti for $16. (There are also some additional color options on Amazon, but the prices/shipping times vary.)

A metal cookbook stand

This might not look very special on the website, but I own it and I can tell you that it’s really beautiful in person. The packaging is particularly nice, and it’s made of that sort of painted metal that feels very 1950s. It would also pair perfectly with a cookbook! Available in 12 colors; get it for $12 from Hightide Store DTLA. (Also: I love this store so much! Definitely have a poke around; they have tons of great gifts. For example, the Penco clips are great and would be a good stocking stuffer.)

And practical slip-ons to wear when doing all those little projects

I love sturdy house shoes (safety!!!), especially rubber clogs. A couple recs:

• The Super-Birki, which looks like what would happen if a Croc and a Dansko fucked. Available in nine colors (and men’s and women’s sizes) from Birkenstock for $79.95.

• Calzuro clogs, which I’ve had/loved for a while now, and which now come in pistachio green. Available in 16 other colors and men’s and women’s sizes; get them from Calzuro for $106. (Some of the colors/styles are also available from Amazon FYI.)

Perfect to slip on so you can dash outside and check out an interesting bird before it flies away. 🦉

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Bags within bags!

Today I’m here to sing the praises of an organizational system I creatively refer to as “bags within bags,” which I’ve been using to keep several aspects of my life organized for the past few months.

I don’t normally carry a very big bag (if I carry one at all), but when I do carry a tote for whatever reason, I really hate having all my stuff just...floating around in it. I don’t want to have to root around for something, wondering the whole time if I remembered to bring it with me; I want to be able to find it quickly and easily so I can move on with my life! This became a problem over the summer, when we started going to the beach regularly. I wanted to be able to easily grab things like chapstick, car keys, hand sanitizer, etc. and not worry about anything spilling or getting lost. So I decided I’d just buy a couple of small mesh travel pouches…but the thing that made the most sense at the time turned out to be a set of 18 (!!!) zipper mesh bags of varying sizes that cost $12.99 on Amazon.

This turned out to be an incredible purchase, which I didn’t really expect. The smaller pouches did exactly what I needed them to do, and the larger sizes (which are really quite sizable) meant I could put bigger bottles of sunscreen or bug spray in their own bag as well. Great! My beach bag problem was perfectly solved! But the mesh bags really began to shine when I picked up knitting again. 

After a few weeks of working on a couple of different knitting projects at once, I realized I needed a better way to corral all my stuff and not have half-knitted sweaters perched on every flat surface. This led me to the baby Baggu bag ($10 from Baggu or Amazon) which is the perfect size for 1–2 knitting projects. (It’s smaller than your standard canvas tote, but bigger than a brown paper lunch bag.) The baby Baggu made it easier to just keep the needles, yarn, and instructions I needed close at hand, and to easily move everything from, say, the bedroom to the living room or up to the roof, or wherever I felt like knitting on a given day.

But I still had the problem of a lot of small loose items (a measuring tape, knitting markers, tiny scissors, crochet hook, etc.) floating around the bottom of the bag. So I pulled out some of the extra mesh bags I had and organized everything in the baby Baggu. The size 9 and 10 needles of varying lengths I was using for one project went into one mesh bag, while the size 4 and 6 needles I needed for another project went in their own — so I no longer had to sort through all my needles to find just the size 9 40 cm circular needles. I put my needle stoppers (which I’ve found are weirdly hard to keep track of) in a small bag of their own, and put my remaining tools in their own bag.

This new system was nothing short of life-changing. 

When my girlfriend and I drove up to Maine last week, we used more of the mesh bags (because, remember, the set came with 18 bags) for all of our toiletries/products, as well as things we wanted to have handy at all times (like phone chargers, contacts, and bandaids). I took the Fjallraven Kanken backpack I bought for the trip with me everywhere, and being able to throw the appropriate mini bags into it depending on where we were going/what we needed was so helpful. And on the couple of occasions when I wanted to take my knitting out with me, I just put the single project I was focusing on into the Fjallraven, and then added the small mesh bag with all of my tools in case of a knitting emergency. 

Being far from home/driving for 10+ hours/out all day in a national park for the first time was mildly nerve-wracking, and it was a huge relief to not be stressed about where my car keys, eye drops, and granola bars were. But even when I’m just knitting at home, it’s just been so nice to know where all my shit is.

Get the mesh bags from Amazon for $12.99 and the baby Baggu bag for $10 from Baggu or Amazon. 🎒

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This tinsel is a pretty good way to spend $15

One of the unexpected winners of the at-home birthday celebration I threw for my girlfriend a couple of weeks ago was the pack of metallic tinsely curtains ($15.99 for two silver and two gold on Amazon) I bought.

Each curtain is approximately the width of a door and fairly long/tall, with a horizontal adhesive strip at the top; I put three over the window/door to the terrace, and one over the bedroom door, and they genuinely made the space feel different and celebratory.

In fact, we liked them so much that we got a second pack to use for the “office holiday party” that we had on Tuesday night.

The curtains flutter and reflect light in a really nice way, and you actually don’t need to do anything else to make them shine. But if you want to take things up a notch, you could turn on a mini LED party light. (We used the one that came in a company swag bag my girlfriend received a couple of months ago, but you can get a similar one for $16.99 on Amazon.)

Even though you can see some window showing behind the curtains in these photos, they look great and plenty thick IRL. (But if you wanted to make them appear thicker, you could easily double them up.)

We also kept them up for our “supercouch” (aka air mattress inflated in front of the couch) movie day.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much delight/novelty the curtains provided; in this bleak year, it’s always nice when a small thing actually helps quite a bit. If you’re a New Year’s Eve person and want to do something to mark the occasion while also being safe, or if someone in your household has a birthday coming up, these are totally worth it.

Get the gold and silver four-pack from Amazon for $15.99. (They also come in a bunch of other colors, like this pretty rose gold.) ✨

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Just a bunch of good gift ideas we forgot to include the first time around

My girlfriend and I spent a lot of time curating all of our 2020 gift guides…and, in several instances, remembered or came across something brilliant within 12 hours of publishing. So to close out the gift guide season, here are a few stragglers we wish we’d included on previous guides.

Good gifts for anyone…

See the original gift guide here.

Kikkerland solar-powered rainbow maker

We got one of these earlier this year and like it so much; you simply stick it on a window and it throws rainbows all over your room, which is way more delightful than you might expect.

Get the single crystal rainbow maker for $41.25 from Urban Outfitters or from Uncommon Goods for $33, and get the double crystal rainbow maker from Kikkerland for $55. (If you’re not sure whether a window-mounted setup will work for your person, Urban Outfitters also sells a tabletop version of the rainbow maker for $44.95).

For the design-minded kitsch-loving somebody in your life…

See the original gift guide here.

We are out of office risograph art

Art in general is really expensive, which is part of why I like risographs (a high-speed, low-cost alternative to screen printing). We Are Out of Office capitalizes on risograph printing’s “spot colors” to create really bright, charming, and (primarily) food-inspired art, all of which is available from Etsy.

We bought their sardines ($12.67) and pomodori can ($12.67) prints to hang in our kitchen, but the Japanese candy ($12.67), De La Rosa Marazapan ($12.67), or “thank you, have a nice day” shopping bag ($50.67) prints would make great gifts as well.

If you want to get multiple prints for multiple people, you should take advantage of their combined shipping offers (starting at $25.34 for two or more prints and starting at $88.67 for seven or more prints).

“if u gay, perfect” candle

This candle, which has the most lovely, mild fragrance, is from Lil’ Deb’s Oasis, a beloved restaurant that would really benefit from folks buying merch right now. Get it for $24.69. (And if the person you’re shopping for isn’t queer, then they might like the Love or Luck candles instead).

For cozy types who are always just vibin’…

See the original gift guide here.

Equal Parts Stock Pot

This 8-quart pot is one of the items on my wish list this year; I’m going to fill it to the brim with dried beans and bay leaves and talk about how she and the Our Place pan are girlfriends. Available in five colors; get it from Equal Parts for $110.

Piecework Puzzles

These puzzles feel like they were created for me personally in a lab; I feel both seen and attacked. All of the puzzles are beautiful, but I’m particularly drawn to the breakfast-themed Rise & Shine ($36), 80s working woman Power Lunch ($36), and vintage recipes-esque Punch Line ($36).

For the sweet, smart, fun, and cool youths in your life…

See the original gift guide here.

Lorien Stern bucket hat

Listen, I Googled “Gen Z bucket hat” and I still don’t totally understand why they’ve taken a shine to buckets. (Something about ‘90s trends and TikTok? Y’all mind if I just slip away into obsolescence really quick?) Regardless, I’m always into practical gifts (it protects your teen’s face from the sun!), especially one as cute as this particular bucket hat. Get it from Lorien Stern for $32. If the teen in your life gives off more of a business casual vibe, then they might like some of the solid colored, corduroy options from Urban Outfitters ($15 or $19).

Color-changing LED light strips

According to several sources, teens love these (they are very big on TikTok). You can find the lights several places, including Amazon ($29.99), Walmart ($29.98), and Urban Outfitters ($29.95).

Tie-dye basketball

I was told sports “build character” growing up. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but what I do know is that the NBA has been showing up for racial justice in a meaningful way for a while now. These are good values to instill in a kid, and perhaps a cute, tie-dye ball will help them pick up the only team-sport I personally recognize. Get it from Urban Outfitters for $29.

For people who want to cronch on something delicious…

See the original gift guide here.

Odd-sized measuring cups

I got these as a gift seceral years ago and still absolutely love them — having a 2 tsp, 1 and ½ tbsp, and 2 tbsp spoon is life-changing, and I love the measuring cups as well. Get them from Williams-Sonoma: the odd-sized measuring spoons for $20, the odd-sized cups for $40, or the set of two for $50. 

Food52 stackable wine glasses

I recently discovered these via Kelsey Keith’s newsletter, and was blown away by how practical, stylish, and affordable they are. They come in increments of either 8, 9.5, or 11.75 ounces (and each set is the same price, regardless of size). Get a set of six from Food52 for $36.

Bikini Bananas rocks glasses

We recommended Shannon Mustipher’s cocktail book, Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails, in two of our gift guides and it’s turned out to be one of our best-selling recommendations. So, in addition to the book — which you can purchase from Bookshop for $27.55 or Amazon for $22.25 — get your loved one some cute glasses from Chicago-based tiki bar Lost Lake as well. Buy them from Lost Lake for $20 per glass. And if you want to lean into holiday kitsch, Lost Lake also offers extremely cute “Jingle Bell Square” rocks and Collins glasses as well ($20 per glass). ✨

Annnnd here they all are one more time:

• Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

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

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

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

• Good gift ideas for people who want to cronch on something delicious

• Good gift ideas for anyone who wants to look, smell, or feel nice

• Good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30

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Good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30

One of my favorite things about holiday shopping is finding all the fun little items that will help round out someone’s present, or that will work nicely in combination with something else to make a fun and personal gift. Here are bunch of little items that I think would make good stocking stuffers, Secret Santa gifts, last-minute gifts, and/or white elephant gifts that people actually want to take home.

Nintendo Switch button covers

These button covers are a fun and inexpensive way to customize a Switch. Get a set of four for $8.99 on Etsy.

Edible prism powders

This gorgeous edible glitter comes in a variety of pretty colors; get them for $14 each from Fancy Sprinkles.

Rice Blessing Candles

I love, love, love this packaging, and the candles themselves are so elegant. Get the pack of 20 candles for $20 from East Fork.

16-color motion-activated toilet night light

What can I say? I just love good lighting! This is one of those gifts that walks the line between gag gift and kind of amazing. Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

A good puzzle book

Some options: Perilous Problems for Puzzle Lovers ($15.95 from Target or Amazon); Can You Solve My Problems?: Ingenious, Perplexing, and Totally Satisfying Math and Logic Puzzles ($14.67 from Bookshop); or Sleuth & Solve: 20+ Mind-Twisting Mysteries ($16.19 on Amazon).

Mini ceramic cooking pan

I love a tiny pan, and these look like little jewels! Buy them for $30 each from MoMa Design Store (available in five colors).

Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty

I mentioned these in the gift guide for teens, but they really are great for people of all ages! The holiday varieties in particular would be great in a stocking. Buy them from Puttyworld for ~$15 each or from Amazon for $8–$15 each.

Lake Champlain hot chocolate mix

My all-time fave! Also, in the week since I wrote that post, several people have told me they bought this mix and are loving it. Get it from Lake Champlain Chocolates ($13 for 16 ounces) or from Amazon ($12.99 for 16 ounces).

Calm strips

These “textured sensory adhesives” go on your laptop (or anywhere, really) and are a little treat for fidgety hands. Available in four different designs; buy a pack of five for $12.99 (with free shipping!) from Calm Strips.

IQ link game

Just a compact little puzzle game for ages 8+. Buy it from Smart Toys and Games for $9.99 or Amazon for $7.99.

Nice playing cards

I love the National Parks set ($14 from Parks Project) and the rainbow ombré set ($12.95 from Woonwinkel).

A chic disposable camera

Get one from Urban Outfitters for $18.

Supergay vodka

Cute packaging, catchy name…so good. Get it from Supergay Spirits for $27.

And a hand washing timer

For anyone who is sick of singing “Happy Birthday” a million times each day. Get it from Urban Outfitters for $12. ✨

More 2020 gift guides:

• Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

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

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

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

• Good gift ideas for people who want to cronch on something delicious

• Good gift ideas for anyone who wants to look, smell, or feel nice

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Good gift ideas for anyone who wants to look, smell, or feel nice

We’re back with another gift guide! I actually debated doing this one, because I think grooming/beauty is a category that is really only right for partners, siblings, parents, children, other family members, or very close friends, and/or as stocking stuffers for those folks. Grooming gifts are simply too personal/intimate to give to a lot of other people, and could feel like a letdown (or, worse, an insult) if you don’t know the receiver and their tastes/interests well. On the other hand, if you know your audience well, they can make great gifts — it’s so nice to be able to upgrade someone’s everyday items, solve one of their most pressing problems, or splurge on something luxurious and special that they’d never buy for themselves. 

So if you’re looking for something both pampering and (somewhat) practical to gift, here are some recs!

L’occitane deodorant

These L’Occitane deodorants are technically for men, but that’s…a bit silly, right? Everyone sweats and everyone would like to smell good instead of bad, and these deodorants will help folks do just that. Both of the fragrances are fairly delicate and neutral, and ultimately work really nicely with your natural scent; they make you smell like you, but better.

The cypress has a woody, slightly spicy vibe that’s great this time of year, and the citrus is great for warmer months when you want something light (though my gf uses them both interchangeably depending on her mood, and I stick with the citrus year-round). A nice added bonus is that they go on clear, meaning they won’t leave white stains on clothes. 

One stick will run you about $19 (and last you a while) — get Eau des Cedrat (citrus) from L'Occitane or from Amazon, and get Eau De Baux (cypress) from L'Occitane or from Amazon.

Shiseido eyelash curler

My girlfriend doesn’t wear makeup; she simply curls her very thick eyelashes and looks totally transformed. (It’s honestly wild.) She also always has an eyelash curler with her for touch-ups — tucked in her coat pocket, in her backpack, etc. As such, she has pretty strong feelings about the best eyelash curler, and she swears by this Shiseido one.

To me, the gold is a great way to take this eyelash curler to the next level if you’re giving it as a gift; you can get it from Macy’s or Nordstrom for $22. Otherwise, you can get the standard metal one from Sephora or most major department stores for $22.

Radha organic rosehip oil

I’ve used/loved/recommended this rosehip oil for years, and I think it makes for a great gift. It looks and feels a lot more expensive than it is, does a lot of jobs (I love it as a moisturizer and cuticle oil, but other reviewers swear it helps with acne), and the bottle lasts for a while because you only need a few drops at a time. Get it from Amazon for $14.95.

Starface pimple patches

A cute alternative to the (highly, almost scarily, effective) Cosrx pimple patches! These hydrocolloid patches are great at flattening out whiteheads, will help keep you from picking at any spots, and are so cute that you won’t necessarily mind having one on your face. Get them from Starface for $14.99.

Allegra M. France ice globes

My gf learned about these through an article Rio Viera-Newton wrote for The Strategist, and said it’s “probably the best purchase (second only to hydrocolloid pimple patches) I’ve made based on one of Rio’s recommendations.” Pimple patches are great, but they can’t help you when the blemish is under you skin. In those situations, you need ice to flatten the spot out. Rio outlines all the benefits of these globes in her article, but the short version is that they’re much more effective than an ice cube because they stay colder for longer, won’t melt, and won’t burn your skin. Buy them from Amazon for $42.

An Aesop gift hand wash and body balm bundle

When I was growing up, the go-to gift for someone you don’t know particularly well was literally any gift set from Bath and Body Works. And while that still might be a great choice for the person you’re shopping for, you can level things up by choosing a gift set from Aesop instead. Aesop (pronounced EE-sop for some reason) is a great gift because it’s one of those brands that often feels too expensive to justify buying for yourself, making it a thrilling, luxurious present to receive. This particular bundle is especially great because it includes their Rind Concentrate Body Balm, which has a really lovely grapefruit scent. Get it from Aesop for $63.

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer 

This is a super rich moisturizer that feels very light on your skin and really does make your skin look dewier and brighter. Much like Aesop, it makes for a great gift because it’s a pricier than your average moisturizer/hard to justify purchasing for yourself. (It also lasts a while.) Buy it from Sephora or Amazon for $68. (Sephora also sells a mini for $22.)

Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel

I’ve been singing the praises of this peel for years; the first time I used it, I had my head down as I was rinsing it off, and when I finished and raised my head up, I actually said "holy shit" out loud to the mirror. I was glowing. It smells and feels great, and using it is just an extremely pampering experience. (Bonus: pair it with some sheet masks or the rosehip oil to use afterward.) Get it from Amazon for $11.

Dior Glow nail polish

I first started using this polish several years ago, when I decided to stop getting shellac manicures and grow out healthy nails. It’s got a subtle pink sheen that is basically clear, but still makes your nails look brighter and healthier (and doesn’t really show chips). I often get compliments on my nails when I’m wearing it, and I recommend it for anyone who wants nice, manicured nails but can’t or doesn’t want to wear color. Get it from Sephora for $28 or from Nordstrom for $28.

Marvis toothpaste

I started using this Italian toothpaste around the time I got Invisalign, which had me brushing my teeth multiple times a day. The toothpaste genuinely made the annoying experience better, while adding a bit of fanciness to my bathroom counter (and my life). The jasmin mint flavor takes a couple go-rounds to get used to, but I promise it’s great. If the person you’re shopping for isn’t the adventurous type, they might prefer the mint, which I also swear by.

Get jasmin mint for $10.50 from either Amazon or Sephora, and get classic strong mint for $10.50 from either Amazon or Sephora. You can also get a set of minis in seven different Marvis flavors from Amazon for $36.

Hay toothbrush

Ugh, I love these toothbrushes! They are one of those design-y items that still feels accessible, and also isn’t wildly expensive. Get them for $6 each from MoMa Design store or from Hay (currently on sale for $3.60).

Static Nails press-ons

Honestly, I love a good press-on; it’s a great way to go if you’re short on time before a big event, and an especially good manicure option during this pandemic. My coworker Amy Rose recommended this brand over the summer and I immediately bought a couple packs for the days that I’ve listened to Megan Thee Stallion one too many times. The Static Nails come in tons of colors, are easy to use, last for a few uses, and will make you feel wildly glamorous. $14 per pack — browse more colors and shapes at Static Nails.

Shhhowercap

This is another item I love and use every single day; it’s an effective shower cap that also looks chic. It comes in multiple colors/prints, and you can get one for $42 from Shhhowercap, Anthropologie, Bloomingdale’s, or Dermstore.

Trixie Mattel sparkles

Trixie is one of my favorite drag queens (her YouTube channel is very worth your time) and the body glitters from her makeup line are gorgeous. Available in several colors; get them from Trixie Cosmetics for $10 each. ✨

Get more gift ideas:

• Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

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

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

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

• Good gift ideas for people who want to cronch on something delicious

• Good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30

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Good gift ideas for people who want to cronch on something delicious

Food- and drink-related gifts? Groundbreaking. But they are classic for a reason! And every year, the food world finds a way to make them feel new/fresh/interesting. So if you’re thinking that a cookbook, kitchen item, or something edible would make a good gift for somebody in your life, you might enjoy this list that my girlfriend and I curated together.

Escali kitchen scale

If I can buy an appliance in a hot color, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do!!! We own this scale in the soft pink, but the pumpkin orange and tarragon green variations are extremely cute as well. In addition to being cute, it seems as if this thing’s nearly indestructible. (My girlfriend has dropped ours a couple of times, and the reviews echo this sentiment.) Get it from Escali for $39.95 or from Amazon for $23.94.

Great Big Stuff’s pasta-shaped kitchen wares

This is the perfect gift for the design-minded, kitsch-loving somebody in your life who’s also something of a Sauce Man. We own and love the penne-shaped garlic peeler and bowtie pasta potholders (read more about them here), but Great Big Stuff also offers an extremely charming mezzelune silicone gripper ($19) as well as a ravioli spoon rest ($19). Get the garlic peeler ($19) and pot holders ($19) from Great Big Stuff.

Farmhouse Pottery’s double oven mitt

I love safety; other people love using their own shirt as a potholder. Why not marry the two things? Get it from Food52 for $48.

Bodum French press and/or iced coffee maker

I’ve recommended this Bodum French press on multiple occasions now; my girlfriend and I just love it that much! If you want to punch it up a little, add a bag of coffee beans from a local to you (or to them) shop/producer. We love Partner’s Coffee Bedford blend for the french press and the Jumpstart blend for cold brew (the cute packaging is a nice bonus). Get the French press from Bodum ($19.99). Get the iced coffee maker from Bodum for $16.99 (usually $23.99). P.S. This is a good one for white elephant gift exchanges if you want to bring something that people actually like!

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. (See also: the “Lake at Night” cocktail.) This is 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.

Luxardo maraschino cherries

I’ve loved/recommended these fancy cherries for years; they are a leveled-up version of the ice cream-stand maraschino cherries most of us are familiar with. They’re a deep red (almost black) color and come packed in a thick, sticky syrup. They’re a great little treat for banana split and cocktail enthusiasts alike (in fact, if you’re already planning on buying your loved one Shannon Mustipher’s cocktail book, these cherries would pair extremely well with it).

You can buy them from Amazon in a big, beefy, 6.6 pound can (that will last you at least a year!) for $86.99. Or you can get the more diminutive 400g jar for $19.28 from Amazon or $19.95 from Williams-Sonoma. (Williams-Sonoma also sells a set of two 400g jars for $38.90.)

Ferm Living ripple glasses

After reading Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails, we decided it was time to get a set of beautiful glasses. We went with the tall/highball glasses, which are unfortunately out of stock at the moment. Their shorter counterparts are equally as beautiful and stylish, however, and you can get a set of four from Ferm Living for $55 (or the Smoked Grey version from Amazon for $55).

Beautiful and practical pantry staples

Food gifts are always a good option for practical people who are hard to shop for, and choosing items that are delicious and beautifully packaged is a good way to level things up. Here are a few of our favorite pantry staples that you could use as the basis of a fancy DIY food basket:

• Fancy beans. If you aren’t familiar with Rancho Gordo beans, this New Yorker article is a good place to start. Buy the beans directly from Rancho Gordo for $6–$7 for a one-pound bag or from myPanier for $7–$8 for a one-pound bag.

• Harissa Chili Paste. We’ve gone through a bunch of this this year. Get a tube from Amazon for $7.99.

• Canned tomatoes. Bonus: the empty cans look great with fresh flowers in them. Get a 28-ounce can of Cento tomatoes from Target for $4.29 or a 28-ounce can of Bianco DiNapoli tomatoes from Amazon for $3.99.
  

Set of two Brightland olive oils

These have been all over Instagram this year, and with good reason: they really are delicious. While a single bottle of Awake is currently sold out, you can get a set with Awake and Alive from Brightland for $74. As a bonus, add an inexpensive but very useful pour spout to your gift; get one from Amazon for $4.10.

Casamara Club amaro soda

This is the year my gf and I learned that we’re mainly social drinkers — and without much socializing to do, we’re not drinking much and our tolerance has all but tanked. But these self-proclaimed “leisure sodas” scratch the itch when we’re feeling in the mood for a fancy drink. The packaging is incredibly cute, and they taste like leveled-up, not-too-sweet seltzers.

We both love the Capo flavor, but they’re all delicious so just go with whatever speaks to you. These are also great to keep in mind for the day when we can have parties again and you want to offer an EANAB (equally attractive non-alcoholic beverage) to your sober guests. Get a 12-pack from Casamara Club for $36.

Material cutting boards

My gf and I personally own and love these cutting boards. Not only are they pretty, but the recycled plastic they are made from has the added benefit of helping obscure/mask visible cut marks. They come in six beautiful colors, but Deep, Sand, and Coral are especially lovely. They’re currently on sale at Material for $35, but you can also opt to donate your discount to Drive Change which “is training young adults who were formerly incarcerated and equipping them for the workplace.” You can also save a little money by buying three cutting boards — it’s $70 for a trio — which you could either gift as a set or divide up among a few giftees.

Areaware house-shaped bottle stopper

Remember when I said our tolerances have tanked? Well, these extremely cute stoppers have helped us extend the life of our wine for…a long time. They would make a great stocking stuffer or you could pair them with the recipient’s favorite bottle of wine. Get red, yellow, or blue from Design Public for $8 each, or get yellow or blue from East Dane for $8.

Baking at the 20th Century Cafe: Iconic European Desserts from Linzer Torte to Honey Cake

The 20th Century Cafe is a very cute bakery and restaurant in San Francisco that’s probably most famous for their Russian honey cake with salted honey buttercream served on top of incredibly cute vintage plates. If you want a better sense of what the recipes are like, check out Samin Nosrat’s article on Russian honey cake and the recipe she adapted in conjunction with 20th Century Cafe owner, Michelle Polzine.

Get the cookbook from Bookshop for $32.30, Amazon for $22.88, or your favorite local bookstore.

Dishoom: The First Ever Cookbook from the Much-Loved Indian Restaurant

The title really spells it out for you!!! Dishoom is a wildly popular, UK-based group of Indian restaurants modeled after the Iranian cafes that used to be readily found in Bombay. (There were almost four hundred cafés at their peak in the 1960s!) So, they’re blending the best of two excellent cuisines together to create something really special. If you’d like to take a peek at some of their recipes before you commit to buying the cookbook, The Guardian published four of their recipes and Delicious published another six, including Dishoom’s masla chai. We’ve made the chai multiple times now and can personally vouch for how easy the recipe is to follow and how delicious the final product is.

Get the cookbook from Bookshop for $32.30, Amazon for $23.89, Target for $30.49, or your favorite local bookstore.

Local bar/restaurant merch

Restaurant and bar merch is a great way to support local businesses and show an interest in the restaurants your friends love and miss the most. (Also, how great is that Cubbyhole T-shirt?!) Merch Aid is a great resource for NYC folks, and Merch 4 Relief is great for folks outside of (but also including!) NYC. Both groups team up with local artists and designers to create exclusive items for small businesses/restaurants that have had to significantly alter their business model due to the pandemic. (BTW, Merch 4 Relief is offering 50% off everything Black Friday through November 30th.)

If you need other ideas, Helen Rosner compiled a list of cool merch from restaurants/bars all over the U.S., which you can find in her Instagram stories highlights (part 1, part 2, and part 3). Or you can just do a gift card that your person can use in the future or for takeout! Think of it as an investment in two things you love: the person you’re shopping for, and the local establishments that nourish so many people. 🍅

More 2020 gift guides:

• Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

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

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

• 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

• Good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30

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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

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:

• Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

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

• Good 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 anyone who wants to look, smell, or feel nice

• Good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30

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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:

• Last year’s version of this list, if you want more ideas!

• Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

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

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

• Good gift ideas for people who want to cronch on something delicious

• Good gift ideas for anyone who wants to look, smell, or feel nice

• Good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30

🍑

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

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:

• Good holiday gift ideas for pretty much anyone

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

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

• Good gift ideas for people who want to cronch on something delicious

• Good gift ideas for anyone who wants to look, smell, or feel nice

• Good gifts and stocking stuffers under $30

🍑

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: 

• Holiday gift ideas for pretty much everyone in your life

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

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

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!!!

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.

Norrmalms Elektriska in Stockholm

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. 

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:

Image: @tomgvellner

Taper inspiration

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

Image: @danicachloedk

Image: @mariaharmuth

Image: @frollein_herr

Image: @frollein_herr

Image: @cathdelichtenberg

Image: @cathdelichtenberg

Image: @aylagurganus

Image: @cathdelichtenberg

Image: @mosebacke

Image: @mosebacke

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.

Image: Kiosk48th

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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Extremely good shit: IKEA Fado lamp

IKEA Lisabo side table, Mimi Ceramics planter, Poketo coaster

As the days get shorter and we prepare for a long winter at home, I’m getting very into lighting! I come to you with two strong recs in this department: unscented taper candles, and, today, the $25 IKEA Fado lamp.

I cannot say enough good things about this lamp, which my girlfriend brought into my life last year. It looks so nice and creates a soft, glowy, warm, cozy light. It also really pulls its weight, brightening up dark spaces without being too harsh.

It was actually impossible to get the Fado in Brooklyn for a while this spring/summer, but I kept checking the website regularly and they eventually returned — so we were able to buy two more, bringing our total to four (two in the living room, two in the bedroom). Other friends have mentioned the same thing happening in other cities recently, but they were also able to get them eventually, so don’t give up if it appears to be out of stock where you live.

The Fado comes with a perfectly good bulb, but if you want to take it to the next level, I recommend the Yeelight multicolor smart LED bulb ($32.99 on Amazon). We have two of these, and have been really happy with them. You can use the app that goes with it to choose the exact shade of white and brightness you want, and/or easily turn the bulb whatever color you want. (My friend Devin sold me on this idea, and now I’m very into it, especially for movie nights. I recommend a pink shade, personally.)

Other lighting-related odds and ends:

• While poking around Tradera (a Swedish version of eBay) this summer, my gf came across the IKEA Lykta lamp, which they no longer produce. It originally came in a bunch of colors; we tracked down a Barbie–fuchsia one on eBay, and absolutely love it. While the color is fairly aggro, it’s balanced by the fact that the lamp is so small. And when it’s on, it looks very much like the wax in a lava lamp, mid-bloop. It’s very flirty!!!

• The Room Essentials G40 clear globes from Target ($12 for a 20-ct. string) are my all-time favorite indoor/outdoor string lights.

• Good floor lamps are hard to find, but Article now has an orb floor lamp (floorb?) that looks pretty nice.

• I’m into IKEA's $12 Tokabo table lamp, which seems like it might be the new Lykta. The lamp’s designer said, “I see TOKABO table lamp as a cute little friend who fits anywhere, on the smallest shelf or table top.” A cute little friend!!! I love it. 💡

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

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.

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 favorite cloth face masks

Over the past five months, I, like a lot of people, have tried a bunch of different cloth face masks. Some have turned out to be better than others, so I thought I’d share the ones that I like the best and that are holding up well!

A couple top-level notes, for context:

• When I’m venturing out, I’m doing fairly low-risk activities: taking my dog out, going for walks in the park, taking trash to the trash room, and picking up packages from the front desk (which is generally possible to do at a distance). If you’re spending more time in close proximity to and/or indoors with people who aren’t in your household, these might not be the best options.

• Not all of my favorites are three-ply or have a hydrophilic outer layer (which I learned about when working on this article), but those are features I’m looking for as I buy new ones.

• I generally pair my masks with a filter (more on those later), so that adds another layer/improves the effectiveness.

• Since we started buying masks, my girlfriend and I have discovered that I have a BIG FACE (I mean, I sort of already knew that) and she has a ˢᵐᵃˡˡ ᶠᵃᶜᵉ so our mask preferences are fairly different. She prefers masks that have ear loops with adjusters and is not a fan of behind the head elastic, whereas pretty much all masks fit me well. Some of the ones below work for both of us, which is a nice bonus, but others really only work for me.

So! With all that said, here are the cloth face masks that I like a lot:

Stark’s face masks

These are a fairly recent addition that I thiiiink I found via Instagram ad, and they are great! We now have four in rotation and I really like them. These masks have the adjustable ear loops, three layers, and the lilac is so nice. (It also comes in several other colors, and they are now making a slightly smaller option for smaller faces.) Get one from Stark’s for $12.95.

BaubleBar face masks

These are another recentish addition that I immediately ordered more of after a couple wears. They are soft/comfortable, they have the adjustable ear loops, and I like the pattern options. Get a two-pack from BaubleBar for $12.

Amalfii face masks

This was actually the very first mask I bought, and they’ve been great! They are full-coverage with a fairly tight seal, and they’ve held up very well in the wash. Get a three-pack from Amalfii for $30 (multiple colors available).

Gir.co filters

I came across these filters when I bought the masks that require them this spring. While I like the masks quite a bit (they are lightweight and can be sterilized in the stove, microwave, or dishwasher), I like the filters even more. I usually order three packs at a time and they always ship/arrive quickly. Get a ten-pack for $10 from Gir.co.

Wear a mask! Over your nose!! Please!!! 😷

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I've finally achieved my lifelong dream of owning a postal scale

Since everyone is—reasonably, correctly!—talking about the post office right now (and buying lots of stamps), it seems like a good time to mention a recentish purchase of mine that has been very wonderful: my USPS postal scale.

I have wanted a postal scale basically since I’ve known what they are, but have never had a super compelling reason to get one. But a couple months ago — wanting/needing to send small packages but not willing to go inside a closet-sized UPS store to do so — I decided to buy one. And let me tell you, it’s been worth its weight in gold.

Basically, a postal scale allows you to precisely calculate the weight of a package, so you can then create a shipping label from home. (This postal scale can connect to your computer/the USPS website via USB, but that feature only works with PCs. Fortunately, that’s not actually necessary — you can simply type the weight in on the USPS website when you’re preparing the label.)

It’s been really helpful to have the scale in a few instances where I’ve needed to make a return and the company doesn’t cover return shipping/provide a label; without it, I would be sort of screwed. It also allows the possibility of sending out care packages and gifts!

To make the postal scale work, you’ll also need access to a printer for the labels you’re creating, which I feel like might actually be the higher barrier to entry…but I got a printer this summer too, and can say that having both in my home has made me feel very powerful! Not having a working printer is a hassle fairly regularly, so having one has been a true relief, and made it easier to stay at home/inside.

Buy it from USPS for $35.99. 📫

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