Gift Guide: For the Homebody
Creating gift guides has grown on me. It’s like a shopping excursion for a portion of my personality! (See past year’s here)
This year, I’m pretend-shopping for three portions of my personality and sharing a few things I’ve loved and a few things I would love. First up: the homebody, the lover of a quiet night in, the curator of cozy.
Gifts for the Homebody:
Pura Smart Diffuser: I accidentally fell in love with this smart diffuser this year, and now I find that I can’t stop evangelizing. It’s a clever little thing: you put in two scents at once, and they alternate on whatever schedule you choose so that you never experience scent fatigue. They’re sourcing scents from all the bougie candle companies (if you can find it at Anthro, I bet they have it). And while the scent pods are about the price of a mid-tier candle, they last for hundreds of hours. Mine have been lasting for about 3 months. They have pre-made gift sets for easy gifting, but if you want to build your own, my favorite scents are Santorini, Frasier Fir, Cedar Leaf & Lavender, Spanish Cedar, and Afternoon Retreat
LL Bean’s Wicked Good Slippers: I’ve been wearing a pair of these since college (which Facebook keeps reminding me was over a decade ago. Trends come and go, but I think these slippers may be forever. They’re a bit of a splurge, but they’re worth it, and the hard sole on them means that a morning run to drag the trash to the curb or scrape the ice from the windshield is no trouble at all.
Crate & Barrel Wood and Black Silicone Utensils: I believe in elevated basics, and I’m a little bit obsessed with this kitchen set. I haven’t snagged any for myself yet, but I will soon. They’d look so sharp in a crock on the counter. It’s an affordable little upgrade, and the pieces can be bought individually!
Board Games: One of my favorite winter traditions is board games with Joey, so we have a little collection of games that are very fun with just two people. Right now, Viticulture is my favorite: you spend the game building a wine empire, from grapes to filling orders. Other favorites: Wingspan, where you earn points by collecting birds (it’s fun, I swear!). For a party, my current favorite is Hues & Cues, where the group tries to guess a color on the board from a very short clue; best with a big group!
Kindle: I realize that I can’t shut up about my Kindle, but that’s because everyone should be equipped with one of these and a library card, and I’m doing my part to get the word out. If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it! Makes a great gift, especially if you happen to be a millennial or zoomer who can give a quick IT lesson after gift-opening.
Peony Still Life Puzzle: I’m obsessed with this highly-rated puzzle featuring a floral still life in the style of the Dutch masters. A puzzle is the best way to while away the quite evenings between Christmas and New Years. We picked up a very similar one to this one when we were in The Netherlands this fall, and I can’t wait to put it together.
Evergreen Embroidery: I love decor that is more winter than Christmas, because I can happily leave it up until February. This artist’s beautiful embroidery of evergreens would be so fun propped on the mantel or as part of a gallery wall.
Thymes Frasier Fir Candle: A candle is the perfect gift for so many occasions and relationships, and this wintery scent in a gorgeous ceramic vessel is a must-gift. Frasier Fir is the perfect wintery smell (also available as a Pura scent, above), like walking through an evergreen forest on a crisp winter day.
This post includes affiliate links. Click here to learn more.
