Gift Guide 2021: The Good Stuff
Gift guides are… not usually my favorite thing. While shoppable links are the only way I can make any money on this ad-free blog, I don’t love that the internet turns into a mall for the last few months of the year, flooded with recommendations for things no one’s tried, all for the sake of monetized content. And frankly, I don’t ask for much because I don’t want much; Joey and I are going skiing as our Christmas gift this year. But last year I published an “Upgrade Your Life” wish list full of things I loved and slightly splurgey items that were on my wish list, and it was a fun excercise in finding beautiful, quality things that really add to my life.
This year I want to share items I’ve received and loved and items I personally love to gift. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click through and then make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no cost to you (no money just for clicking unfortunately). But many are not; they are just small businesses that I shop from on my own and want to share with you! A few of last year’s items are on here again, but now as things I’ve recevied and loved.
I hope you find something perfect for someone you love in here! (Or maybe just for yourself? That’s good too.) So without any further ado, here are a few of my favorite things:
Electronics and Entertainment
Kindle: I love my Kindle so much! The pages “turn” rather than scrolling, the soft backlight is so nice for reading in the dark, and the integration with my local library means that now I can go on vacation with 10 books and I don’t even have to line my suitcase with them (I did that). I know it’s a piece of technology, but it doesn’t feel like one. It feels like I can put down the world, walk away, and just enjoy my books.
Jabra Elite Headphones: This year I finally upgraded from my silly little Skullcandy earbuds, and now I feel like a real grownup. A grownup who can turn on noise canceling in the office or on the plane! If you prefer a set that is wireless but less prone to disappearing tricks (read: earbuds that are connected to each other), Joey got this pair from 1More. He’s been wearing them for a full year for yard tasks and while he does the dishes
Explore our National Parks Puzzle: There’s something very calming about the half-focus of a puzzle, and lingering over one during the few quiet days of a holiday break is one of our favorite things. The one I’ve linked here was our Thanksgiving puzzle, and it’s my favorite so far. It’s on the easier side since it’s essentially several tiny puzzles smushed together. Last year we did this Blue Ridge Parkway puzzle, which is a bit more challenging. If you want a puzzle that can challenge a whole group, this 2,000 piece Starry Night puzzle is beautiful and impossible. Joey got it for me in 2010, and we’ve never managed to finish it.
Board Games: My favorite game of the last few years has been Wingspan, where players collect birds for points. The game is beautiful - the art on the cards is captivating, and the boards and pieces so tactilely satisfying. I love that it was designed by a team of women! But my favorite thing is that it’s calm and only quietly competitive - you mostly focus on your own strategy without having to worry too much about thwarting others. Finally: it’s one of those rare games that you can play with just 2 players. Other favorites around here: Dominion, a quick and more competitive card-based game; Settlers of Catan, a hugely popular option that will be enjoyed even by people who aren’t sure they like board games; 7 Wonders, a card development game where players develop their city over several “ages;” and Viticulture, where you get to manage a vineyard in Italy. Finally, Joey thinks everyone should try Betrayal at House on the Hill, which I think is best played by people willing to lean into the spooky storylines; you reveal the board game as you go, so it’s fun that it’s a bit different each time.
Things to Wear - Shoes and Accessories
GLDN: After several years of receiving pieces from GLDN as gifts, I almost exclusively wear their jewelry. The pieces are stunning and perfectly suit my feminine minimalist style. They come packaged so beautifully - perfect for gifting! I particularly love the Tavi Ear Climbers, Freya Hoops, Naomi Hoops, and Florence Necklace, all in extremely regular rotation. I still have my eye on the Sequana Earrings, and should we one day have children, I’ll definitely get the Moon and Stars Necklace.
Kam Clark Handmade: my friend Kamryn recently started up this small-batch clay earring company out of Austin, Texas, and she’s doing fun little details that feel very special - different shapes of posts, unique drops, great color combos. They are the perfect statement earrings! She’s regularly restocking, so keep an eye out on Etsy and on her Instagram.
Allbirds: These were on my wishlist last year for their sustainability (wool uppers and carbon negative sole) and style factor. I received them, and I love them! They’re very comfortable, though I wish I would have sized up. I’m usually either a 9 or a 9.5, and the 9 is just a bit snug. Joey received the Wool Loungers, and they’re basically the only shoes he wears anymore. I’ve put them through the wash several times, and they look perfect! (He also wears the heck out of his Thursdays Cadet boots when he’s dressing up. Highly recommend those; they’re beautiful.)
Soludos Ibiza Sneakers: I bought these for myself as a “vaccinated and getting back into the world and oh no I have nothing to wear” gift. They are currently my absolute favorite shoe and would make a great gift! The leather uppers mean they stay much cleaner than white fabric sneakers, and I’m deeply obsessed with the little leather detail on the heel. They go with everything. I put them through 25-ish miles of walking when I was in Chicago in October, and they were absolute champions. White sneakers never go out of style, and I know I’ll love these for years to come.
Nisolo Chelsea Boot: These boots are still on my wishlist, but sources say they are coming my way! Nisolo’s focus is ethical manufacturing that doesn’t harm the environment or the people who make their goods. Their pieces are high-quality classics meant to be in your closet for decades, and they are just. so. beautiful. I think next summer I’ll pick up a pair of their Huaraches, but I’d really wear anything they make.
The Best Water Shoes: Okay, now for a less expensive item that you should place under the tree for the casual adventurer in your life. I grabbed these for our trip to St. Martin this summer and then procedded to wear them any time I was near the water all summer, putting them through the wash several times. I’m not outdoorsy enough to justify a purchase ofTevas or Chacos, so this lower-cost option that’s quick-drying and super light is perfect. As soon as Joey saw mine, he wanted a pair, and luckily for him, they also come in men’s sizes.
Cuyana Tech Carryall: Do you own anything that is just special to touch and makes you feel like a slightly upgraded version of yourself every time you use it? This is that item for me. I received the previous iteration of this carryall for my birthday, and every time I put my laptop in it, my heart sings. Cuyana’s detailing is so beautiful, the pebbled leather is gorgeous, and their pieces are timeless. I think I’ll get their Saddle Bag next. I aspire to be the kind of woman who carries a Systems Tote, but my minimalist tendencies extend even to what I take with me when I leave the house, and I can usually get away with a tiny purse.
Home Items and General Coziness
Always Pan: I received this as a gift last year, and I recommend it with a few caveats. First, know that this isn’t a piece you’ll be passing down through generations. It’s just a fancy nonstick pan, and those need tender loving care and no high heat and will still eventually wear out. It’s an expensive pan, and let’s be honest: we’re mostly paying for looks here. But it’s also the perfect size for most things I cook, and it really is great to cook with. For the last year it’s been my everyday pan. I’m not sure I’d buy it for myself, but I think that’s sometimes what makes for a great gift: something your person will enjoy that they probably wouldn’t buy for themselves.
Penzey’s Spice Blends: I love to give and receive consumable things, because I get to enjoy a luxury I may not have gone for on my own and there’s no clutter later, because it’s gone! (Also see candles below…) Penzey’s is great for this; you might spot their spices (and their cinnamon) on lots of Fancy Chef’s roundups. A few years ago I was gifted a Heart and Soul Box, and I fell in love. The adobo is now our put-on-everything blend, and I recommend the Curry Now to everyone I know. They have lots of gift boxes; if you know what your giftee likes to bake or cook, I’m sure you can find one they love! Or you could do what my mom did last year, and buy someone a little bit of everything and stick it in a box under the tree!
Minted Art: This is a bit unspecific, but I just wanted to share this source for easy, high-quality art. Minted has a huge curated collection of fine art, and you can purchase them framed and get pieces shipped directly to you door. We have Calm Forest No.18, Cascade, Budding Peony, and Ace in our home. Whether their style is photography, bold colors, botanicals, or abstracts, Minted will have something beautiful. You can sort by theme, color, orientation, media style, and more. It’s like a candy shop of artistry.
Candles: They’re a banger of a gift, and so easy! Especially for hostesses (or for me - please get me candles). But I advise that you head in the direction of Very Special Candles, the ones that come in beautiful containers or special scents. The Casaluna Candles are only $25 for a large candle and I use the glass vessels for flower arrangements once they’ve burned down. I just ordered this Fancy Person favorite Thymes Frasier Fir Candle to make our living area feel special this season; it’s available in a travel tin size for just a touch of luxury or as part of a gift basket. If you’d like to shop small, I’d love to recommend Candlefish’s hand-poured candles; their collection of 100 fragrances are numbered rather than named to let people explore scent without ideas about laundry or baked goods. A few of my favorite scents: 04 is beautifully wintery, 25 is a beautiful mix of lavender and leather, 82 is a relaxing herbal dream, and 83 is a lovely warm floral. Or you could shop at PF Candle Co, who has uniquely scented candles hand-poured in California; their Winter Trio would make a great gift. Finally, the prettiest candle I’m burning right now is Anthropologie’s Aurelie glass jar candle, which looks positively magical when it’s lit.
KitchenAid Mini Food Processor: Before we decided to go in on a full size food processor, I picked up this little friend. It’s wonderfully useful for chopping nuts, making marinades (I used it for 5 Spice Chicken) and salsas, etc. You don’t always need the full sized thing, right? It also comes apart very easily and is dishwasher safe (and doesn’t take up the whole dishwasher, so I can justify my laziness).
Bearaby Velvet Napper: Joey got me one of these last year for Christmas and while I cannot believe the price tag (very splurgey!), I also can’t believe how good my naps are when I’m under it. The velvet is super soft and made from recycled marine plastic, and the chunky knit is so pretty and breathable; in the summer I nap with just it, and in the winter I can put another blanket over it. If you’re not into velvet, they have a cotton version and tencel version. I will say that Joey bought it thinking it would double as a great living room throw, but it’s so heavy and bulky that it’s not great for that purpose.
Books - Nonfiction
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat | Samin Nosrat: I recommend this book every chance I get, because it’s changed they way I cook, the way I eat, and the way I understand food. I return to it often, and I want everyone to read it. It’s part textbook, part cookbook, and full of joy the whole way through. The choice to illustrate rather than photograph food makes it so much more approachable.
Just Mercy | Bryan Stevenson: This book — about American’s justice system, but more narratively focused — is a must-read. Stevenson writes with a moral clarity that is deeply needed in today’s world, weaving together stories of injustice, pain, and hope during his work founding and running the Equal Justice Initiative here in Alabama.
At Home: A Short History of Private Life | Bill Bryson: This delightful book goes room by room through the house and shares how humans have shaped the home and vice versa. Bryson acts as a tour guide through centuries of Western history. There is so much weird stuff baked into how we live. It’s entertaining, educational, delightful.
The 99% Invisible City | Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt: Like Bryson’s book, but about cities and a little more focused on design. It’s the perfect gift for a design nerd or anyone who is interested in the funny ways humans shape cities and then cities shape our lives. You should also be listening to the podcast, which, fun fact, is how I got into podcasts way back in 2014.
Cut Flower Garden | Erin Benzakein: This beautiful (it’s truly stunning) book is what sparked my still-growing passion for growing my own flowers. You don’t have to be interested in growing your own to enjoy the book; I bought it long before we had our own property. Just learning about flowers, arrangements, and the work that goes into it is utterly fascinating. There is so much out there that I just didn’t know!
Books - Fiction
Circe | Madeline Miller: I won’t stop talking about this book until everyone I know has read it. Circe takes a minor mythological character (you may remember her from the pig scene in The Odyssey) and puts her at the edges of millennia of mythological drama. I couldn’t put it down, and it’s one of the rare books I love to re-read. It’s so beautiful.
Homegoing | Yaa Gyasi: This book follows two branches of a family tree, starting in Ghana in the 1800s. It’s a novel that leaves many stories unfinished as it moves from one generation to the next. Gyasi’s characters are so vivid that any chapter could have been its own book, and I would have loved it.
Anxious People | Fredrik Backman: I could not put this book down and found myself reading it late into the night (on my Kindle! In the dark!). Someone robs a cashless bank in Sweden. That someone realizes their mistake, runs, and ends up holding an apartment of home buyers hostage. I loved the dark humor, the reflections on human connection. I will admit to teary eyes in the final few chapters
The Midnight Library | Matt Haig: This book tapped into a very specific neurosis of mine, which is my near-constant rumination on all the lives I have not lived. A woman tries to kill herself. In that liminal space between life and death, she experiences the infinite paths not taken. What if she’d stuck to swimming? What if she’d married that man she dumped? What if she hadn’t gotten a cat? Wait, is she on anti-depressants in every version of her life? Beautiful, poignant, and (for me) occasionally painful. I loved it.
Piranesi | Susanna Clarke: It’s a shame that you can only experience a book like this for the first time once. And that’s exactly how I feel about it, because it’s so charmingly bizarre and haunting, unspooling on the page until the surreal world clicks into place and you gasp “ohhhh” right at the page. I won’t spoil it for you, but I will highly recommend it. I’ve never read anything like it.
Shadow and Bone Trilogy | Leigh Bardugo: A bit of fantasy! You may have seen this series premier on Netflix this year, and I’m here to remind you that books are nearly always better than the movie tv show. I couldn’t put this series down! I read all three books as fast as my library would give them to me. I loved living in this world for a little while. It was fun to read fantasy that seemed more informed by Russia than Britain, more steampunk than medieval.
Klara and The Sun | Kazuo Ishiguro: What a strange and charming book. It’s technically sci-fi, as it takes place in a future where an artificial intelligence can be purchased as a friend for a child. But it’s so focused on the interior life of the AI that the futuristic elements feel like background noise. It’s a really special little book.
The Vanishing Half | Brit Bennett: Black twin sisters born in the segregated South, their skin light enough that they can pass for white. What happens when one of them decides to? This book has such wonderfully complicated characters and a real thoughtfulness to the way past impacts future, the way our decisions spin out in unexpected ways. One of those books that made me wish for a book club, because there’s a lot to talk about here!
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