favorite gift round-ups from around the interwebs
In my informal data collecting over the past couple of weeks, I am an anomaly (in more ways than one obviously!) in that one of my favorite things about that week after Thanksgiving is how bloggers/magazines/journos put out their holiday gift lists. I LOVE THEM ALL! Last year, we had all of our Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving, which turned out to be too stressful for me because then I found all of these wonderful ideas on the holiday lists, but I had already spent my Christmas budget. As if it wasn’t already obvious, gift giving is my love language. (And I hate the more recent phenomenon of telling people what to get you. I’m looking at you, Dad. I’m trying to be less judgey about it because I know they are so helpful for people who aren’t big fans of gift giving and receiving, but I’m a work in progress.)
Just in case you happen to enjoy these as much as I do, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite lists of the season. I’ll add to it for those people who haven’t published their lists yet. Be sure to add any I’ve missed in the comments!
Best lists for cooks
Megan McCardle. This is her list from last year, but they don’t change too much from year-to-year. I have found so many kitchen gadgets and utensils that I can’t live without on her lists. Some highlights: good measuring spoons, several sizes of whisks, good tongs, stainless steel pots and pans, bowl scraper for my KitchenAid mixer, to name a few. Basically, one year, I emailed Grant Megan’s list, and it was my kitchen’s best Christmas ever. Side note: most of her expensive items are a bit over-the-top for normal home cooks, which she readily admits.
Smitten Kitchen’s gift guides. I love SK’s recipe style: food I want to eat with straightforward, real food ingredients. So it makes sense that I love her taste in kitchen-related gifts too. I have found some great stocking stuff/small gift ideas from her because, since she lives in a small NYC apartment, she is judicious with what makes it into her kitchen.
Best lists for booklovers
Modern Mrs. Darcy. MMD always has killer gift recommendations, but she especially won’t steer you wrong when it comes to book-ish gift ideas.
Hearts & Minds. H&M always has great recommendations for the thinking Christian on your list, so stay tuned to their blog for more best-of lists as the year winds down. I love their Advent recommendations, which would make great host/hostess gifts for all of those Christmas parties coming up.
From the Front Porch. This is a podcast, not a blog list, but I love their book recommendations, so it would be a fun way to listen your way through finding just the right book for the book lover in your life.
Wild Geese Book Shop. They don’t have a list, but if you call their store, their staff is amazing at picking out just the right book for anybody on your list – and they ship. I also hear that they’re planning a book-of-the-month that I plan on gifting to at least a few people on my list (myself included, perhaps!). Of course, best of all for the book lover in your life, is to gift them something from your local gift shop, but you can be like me and adopt Wild Geese if you don’t have a local bookstore.
Best lists for the ladies
Wholefully. I like Cassie’s style in the kitchen and elsewhere, and I trust her recommendations.
Pantsuit Politics. I feel like Sarah and Beth are friends, so, of course, I trust their gift-giving advice. There is some good stuff for the guys on here too.
For the kids
Art of Simple. AoS always has some great ideas for the kids that have staying power.
Ben and Birdy. I love games, and we have found some our family favorites via B&B’s annual best-of game lists, but her annual gift guides have other fun stuff for all ages in addition to games. For the kids, we do the something I want/something I need/something to wear/something to read + they each get a family game, most of which have come on B&B’s suggestion.
Best lists for the guys
Art of Manliness. Stay tuned for the 2017 gift guide, but I love this list of subscription ideas for the guys. I feel like the subscription services lets the recipient feel like you’re thinking of them well past Christmas, and there are so many options out there that it is easy to find one that works for the guys on your list.
For the music lover. Obviously, this is a bit sexist because you could easily have lady music lovers on your list, but Grant is a music snob in the best sense of the word, so I always try to find him something new in the music department.
Best lists with staying power
Sarah Bessey’s Christmas Gift Guide to Empower Women. I can’t think of a better gift to give for everybody on your list this year than to shop from Sarah’s list.
A subscription to a favorite magazine. Good journalism is in trouble these days, and, if we want more of it, we need to pay for it. I love gifting a magazine subscription for the same reason I love gifting subscriptions of any kind – it keeps coming throughout the year.
Bearfoot Theory. This list is sponsored by REI, but I trust Bearfoot Theory for all things outdoorsy. Gifts that get you or a family member outside more are worth every penny if you ask me.
Lazy Genius’ Guilt-Free Guide to Giving Back. The Lazy Genius, as usual, is on point with this helpful post on how to give back to your community in a more strategic and long-lasting way – sans guilt. Triple win!
If any of you love lists as much as me, enjoy! Otherwise, come back tomorrow for some food.
