How is your gift shopping going? Considering that the holidays are bound to be quite different this year it seems ever more important to give something special to those you love. If you need a few ideas for the men, women, would~be~artists, glamor girls, wine lovers, cooks, coffee aficionados, fragrance seekers, the sportifs, the young ones, the fashionistas and more, I’ve composed a list of things that I’m sure will give you and yours needed comfort and joy in these uncertain times.
Before we get to the list {there are links to all of the products, mostly from Amazon} I would like to share the words of Sir Walter Scott:
“Heap on the wood the wind is chill, but let it whistle as it will, we’ll keep our Christmas merry still”.
Travel restrictions be damned! Let your friends travel to Italy with each swipe of their paint brush with this Modern Monet Amazing Amalfi paint~by~number kit which comes with the quality canvas, paints and brushes they need to create the masterpiece of their dreams.
These classic silver plated Wallace Sleighbells are beautiful piled in silver bowls or hanging from the stairway. I buy one of these keepsakes each year for the special young people in my life so that when they leave the house they will have their own collection of ornaments to help start their own holiday traditions.
When a friend gave me this golden coin pendant from Jane Winchester that offers strength and resiliency I had no idea how much I would rely on it in some of the darker days of 2020, just being able to touch it did provide me with some inner strength when I needed it, oh, and BTW, plenty of compliments came my way as well. There are many different themes and they come in 2 sizes, this is the small and and it is about the size of a quarter. You can opt for a gold chain or leather strand for securing the medallion. There are plenty of other thoughtful treasures to find from Jane Winchester .
Since we will all be spending more time at home, why not adorn your favorite ones feet with the cozy, comfy, glamorous Cozette slippers from UGG? She will wear them from morning to night.
These beautiful paint~by~number kits are a great activity for a family to share. Left out on a table everyone can paint in a few sections as they feel inspired. When it’s all finished they can hang the masterpiece on their wall as a momento of the time they spent together creating this All about Austin, or any of the beautiful botanicals or landscapes from Pink Picasso.
Keep the men in your life safe and warm in the storm with these handsome, rugged Merino Shearling gloves.
If you’re like me there are some days when you just want to flee from the jogger/ yoga pants uniform but not give up the comfort they provide. For those times what could be better than this gorgeous Miyabi Floral Silk Caftan from Josie Natori? The lovely feminine motif and the yards of luxurious silk will be just that thing to please the special women in your life.
A tagine is a simple, delicious way to make a comforting, flavorful dinner for your pod. At a cooking class at the legendary Villa Maroc in Essuaria, Morroco last summer my favorite tagine we made was a classic with chicken, olives, preserved lemons and, of course, spices that we bought at the market. I’ll try to publish a family sized version of the recipe in January. Until then you could share this recipe with your favorite international cook along with a jar of preserved lemons to transport them to the coast of Morroco. With this tagine from Emile Henry the creations under this conical ceramic lid will be limitless!
I love these substantial, colorful /kit~sch/ microfiber terry scrunchies! They absorb the moisture out of my hair after I wash it so I don’t have to rely on the damaging heat of a hair dryer. A time saver also, these will allow your favorite beauties to emerge from this stay~at~home time with glossy, healthy locks. They absorb the moisture and prevent frizz from forming. Using these, I only style my hair when it’s dry. They are also great for drying your hair {without damaging heat} after sports.
The candle lover on your list will enjoy this gift for endless hours. The gift box includes two exquisitely scented Diptyque Paris candles with a delightful, mesmerizing carousel topper that spins around by the power of the candlelight. The carousel projects the spinning light around the room for charming entertainment through the long cold winter.
Your friends and family will never miss visiting their favorite coffee shop if they have this handsome stainless steel Breville Espresso machine {now on sale!} in the kitchen. I have had one for years and it has reliably treated us with sumptuous shots {I like to use fresh ground French Roast or Sumatra beans because they are more mellow than Espresso Roast beans} each and every morning.
Like many, I aspire to use this isolation to accomplish something I’ve not been able to focus on as much before. My goal has been to bring my French language skills up a level. So, I signed up for Frederic Bibard’s Intermediate French course and have really been enjoying it. The courses are well laid out and the grammar is clearly explained. He and other French speakers provide the oral segments and quizzes and at the end of each lesson there is a written lesson that is personally graded by Frederic {or so he says..} Click on Talk in French to find the right course to please your favorite francophile.
Isolating on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands for the first part of the pandemic, I quickly found the hand spray/ gel of my dreams. I actually use it more than I need to because I love the fresh Spruce & Cedar Scent. Coming in a close second is the Grapefruit Mandarin and who does relish a whiff of Lavender and Lemon? This Gift-packed trio from Island Thyme is going to most all of those on my list this year, I know they will delight in their scents as much as I do. The family behind Island Thyme has been hand crafting body products on their Orcas Island farm since 1996. These are made with locally made 200% grain alcohol {no isopropyl}, aloe vera and pure essential oils. They are packaged in attractive glass bottles that will fit in your purse and glove box.
If your favorite athlete {or couch potato} is leery of going to the spa for a massage, this Massage Gun with multiple attachments will surely bring them the pain relief they desire.
A bottle of Dear Polly perfume came in the Liberty of London Beauty Advent Calendar I bought for my daughter{s} this year. One shared a spritz with me and now I am obsessed with the “scent of black tea, crispness of morning light, slowly easing away the night that still clings to the senses” {it really does smell like that} of this Vilhelm purfume. I encourage you to share the notes of bergamot, apple, ceylon black tea, oakmoss, musk and black amber with someone you love this year.
Do you have some pickleball players in your pack? If their favorite courts are closed they can set up their own pickle ball club with this transportable net, paddle and ball set, markers and tape for lines.
Your favorite wine lovers may consume the bottle of wine you give them before there’s even a vaccine in place, but they will cherish and use this personalized leather tote from Mark and Graham for years to come and will always remember your thoughtfulness. If you order right away you can still personalize them in time for Christmas.
Your favorite fashionista will not have to forgo comfort to enjoy a little glamour in her life with this beautifully embellished Liv~a~Little silk caftan from Camillia.
Have you tried a weighted blanket yet? I can’t imagine sleeping without one anymore. It may sound strange to sleep beneath the weight of glass beads, but I find that weight is quite is comforting and helps me to sleep more soundly. Find the right size for your friend or family member who could use some more Zzzzzz’s.
Give the beauties in your life something to look forward to {or a way to keep their make up organized at home} with these sturdy, clear nesting pouches from Mark and Graham. Order now to get the monograms printed on time and to take advantage of the new sale price!
Chess seems to be the game of the year since the Queen’s Gambit came out on Netflix. Why not give your inspired player a board so they can up their game. Bring out their inner icy Beth with this chess set made with frosted and clear glass ,
or Benny with this rustic wood chess set complete with a storage drawer.
Do you have someone on your list who enjoys scented candles but sometimes finds the fragrance to be too strong? Seattle based hairstylist extraordinaire, Ashley Kirk, has turned her candle making hobby into a business and offers subtly scented seasonal fragrance like this refreshing Bay Berry and Fir Wreath and juicy Red Currant and Kumquat in a hand poured Coconut & Soy waxed base.
Keep your loved one’s air cool, pure, clean and safe with this Dyson Air Purifier which will also cool the air if desired.
Would that man on your list prefer a slip~on or slip~in slipper? With these sumptuous OLUKAI Shearling Slips he can enjoy the best of both worlds because the section behind the heel folds down as desired. Also, with the rubber soles he won’t have to change his shoes before walking out to grab another log for the fire.
If you’ve been following me on instagram the past few months, you have seen a lot of shots of my Enameled Dutch Oven filled with soups, stews, roast meats and even my favorite crusty, chewy No~knead Sourdough bread loaf. To say this piece has been indispensable in my kitchen would be an understatement. Buy this beautiful Le Creuset Dutch Oven in navy for your favorite chef, you may reap some benefits.
I treated myself to a pair of these UGG Ansley slippers when the weather was cool up in the islands, they kept my feet warm and supported for the duration and because of the rubber soles I was able to slip out to the herb garden without going to the trouble of changing my shoes.
Well, that is it, I hope you find this list to be useful. please let me know if you have any other ideas you’d like to share, I’m all ears. Now I need to finish up my shopping and then start stringing the lights on the tree.
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