I’m starting this with a FULL disclaimer: It’s STILL fall and I’m STILL not ready to put up Christmas decorations… but with that said, I am big on doing my holiday shopping early and planning ahead. So here we are!
Also, it’s been a while since I’ve made a gift guide!
I’ve been pretty meh on gift guides for the last few years. They’re typically just laden with affiliate links* to the same four products at Nordstrom, and a lot of the stuff is pretty generic. Like, I really want my gift to be something the recipient will actually like, you know?
*OK, yes, there are some affiliate links in my post below. Look — Flag rent is getting EXPENSIVE! But this isn’t a cash grab and I didn’t solely post things just because they’re affiliate links. I genuinely put some time and thought into this post, promise!
Ryan and I didn’t give each other gifts last year because my flight home from my work assignment in California was pretty expensive… and he wasn’t working at the time, so we just spent our Christmas weekend together.
But, this year I’ve been spending a little more time perusing the internet (I was just sick for like, a full week) and I found a few cute things I wanted to share.
Especially now that holiday parties are a thing again.
Experience gifts are still my favorite! They’re eco-friendly and guarantee that your gift recipient doesn’t end up with something they don’t need or want. Plus, they’re often a great way to share time with someone you love.
Otherwise, antique stores, thrift stores and second-hand stores are all great places to shop. I also love shopping local when I can. If you’re lucky enough to have smaller, independent gift shops in your city (I relied so hard on Foursided and Inkling when I lived in Chicago!), those are also great places to check out.
With that said, use everything below as a last resort.
A few of my favorite easily-accessible online stores are Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Uncommon Goods, World Market and, of course, Amazon and Target.
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STOCKING STUFFERS / GIFTS FOR HOSTS / TRINKETS FOR FRIENDS / GENERAL GIFT IDEAS
First, you can almost never go wrong with a good bottle of wine! Check your local wine store. I love to buy a few extra bottles at the start of every November so I have them on hand to bring to party hosts, or close friends that are doing me HUGE favors.
If you’re not into wine, or have some recipients that aren’t, baked goods are my next go-to. You can buy cute (and sustainable!) paper or bioplastic bags, tags and ribbons from your local craft store, and then bake breads, pastries or cookies for friends. I only recommend this if you’re a pretty proficient home baker, though.
Small plants in plant potters are also cute ideas! Check your local nursery or plant store. Chive and Pigment make great potters, but I also love these geometric potters ($10) and this little half-moon potter ($14).
Candles are one of my favorite small gifts to give. I love these cute terrarium candles ($27), these National Park-themed candles ($26) and these glass Voluspa candles ($12) (Baltic Amber is my favorite scent!).
Coffee mugs are another favorite gift of mine. You can never have too many! I recently shared a few enamel camp mugs I like — many of which benefit some cool organizations doing good work to protect public lands! Otherwise, these tiled monogram mugs ($14) are so cute and these rustic stoneware mugs ($28 for a set of four) come with lids!
I also love gifting books. Check the New York Times bestseller list, or the Goodreads Choice Awards lists for some ideas. Non-controversial coffee table books — like Cabin Porn ($27), The Visual History of Type ($51) and Accidentally Wes Anderson ($18) — are also great. You can find a coffee table book for just about any hobby or interest. You can also get a little more personal and gift books and novels you really love.
Board and card games are also a great gift. Bananagrams and Cards Agains Humanity remains two of my favorites, but the Totally 90s Board Game is also an awesome pick for any of your millennial friends. I’ve also heard great things about Exploding Kittens and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.
Stationery makes a great generic gift. I love this retro-VHS-inspired journal ($10) and of course the classic Moleskin journals ($18).
And, finally, blankets. Who doesn’t love a cozy blanket?! This red fair isle print fleece ($30) is festive, and this neutral-colored waffle throw is perfect for year-round.
KITCHEN GIFTS
You can never go wrong with sustainable kitchen gifts! I posted a while back a few of the sustainable purchases Ryan and I have made throughout the past year to make our home more eco-friendly. These are great upgrades for friends and family members. Cute reusable food storage containers (like these blue-and-white ceramic bowls ($30)) make great gifts (bonus if you fill them with food in advance) and reusable dish towels (like this colorful four-pack ($5)) are always nice to give.
For avid home bakers. This bread box with a built-in cutting board ($30) is incredible! I also maintain that you can never have too many 1. measuring spoon sets (mine are always either in the dishwasher or getting lost) and this ceramic measuring spoon set ($10) is cute, or 2. spatulas (for the same reason) — these are tartan-print ($16)!
A few more cute kitchen finds: This modern smocked apron ($18) available in a ton of colors, this gorgeous pot holder ($12) has a matching oven mitt and apron.
And, I’ve also always LOVED the idea of these custom recipe-printed dishcloths ($20).
GIFTS FOR OUTDOORS LOVERS
Outdoors people can be kind of picky. Odds are that your hiking friend has a laundry wish list of gear saved to their phone, so subtly hint or ask to get some ideas! If all else fails, a gift card —either to REI/Backcountry or a local outdoors store — is a safe bet.
Otherwise, a few non-controversial ideas:
Socks and base layers: You can never have too many. I love Smartwool hiking socks and Patagonia’s Capilene line for base layers, but Smartwool, Sweaty Betty and REI also make good base layers.
Trail food. Put together a gift basket full of trail mixes, granola, protein bars and backpacking food. If your recipient is tired of Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry, grab a variety of lesser-known and/or new brands, like Heather’s Choice, Good-To-Go, Stowaway Gourmet, Gastrognome, Fernweh, Farm to Summit, or any other brand you can’t find at REI. Same for trail snacks! That way, your recipient has something new to try. Don’t forget to include electrolyte packets like Liquid IV or Nuun, high-quality instant coffee, backpacker-friendly tea, and hot cocoa packets!
Some more camp kitchen suggestions: Enamel camp mugs! Also: these spice pods ($38) for backpacking or stashing in any camp kitchen, silicone Stasher bags ($varies) are great for making backpacking food or storing snacks and leftovers and these collapsible rotating marshmallow-roasting sticks ($17) are easy to store.
And finally, affordable, rec-friendly Goodr sunglasses ($25) and multi-functional Buffs ($17) are always good options.
EXPERIENCE (NON-TANGIBLE) GIFTS
Like I said, I LOVE experience gifts. They’re eco-friendly and can be a great way to make memories with the recipient in some instances. Just avoid Airbnb Experiences? There are probably some local shops/ organizations that deserve your money WAY more.
Gift cards: TopGolf, local classes and lessons (cocktail crafting, languages, pottery, art, cooking, baking, calligraphy, musical instruments, endless options!), a National Parks pass, local restaurants, and health and wellness services (massages, spas, nail salons, hair salons, those fancy sensory deprivation tanks, etc.).
Memberships: Your local museum, a grocery co-op, a local wine club, fitness studios or class packages (As an instructor at YogaSix I’m obviously biased, but I love Xponential Fitness due to the sheer variety of fitness studios available), MasterClass or other virtual online classes.
Date night/ girls day ideas: Local wine tasting, a local cooking class, a vehicular adventure (local train rides, helicopter tours, hot air balloon excursions, etc.), event tickets (concerts, shows, festivals or sporting events), museum admission, ski resort passes, movie theater gift cards.
Random: Cameo messages, consumable one-time gifts or subscriptions (think: monthly deliveries like cheese, local co-op baskets, coffee, wine, beer, liquor and cocktail kits, skincare and wellness products, homemade baked goods, etc.), and DIY kits (like this bubble tea kit ($40), this whisky-making kit ($60) or this hot sauce making kit ($42) are all great ideas.
GIFT GUIDES
Alright. If you hated every single thing I suggested: Here you go! A list of gift guides that might not suck.
The absolute holy grail of product reviews! Holiday and gift guides via Wirecutter
Sustainable and eco-friendly picks: “38 unique eco-friendly gift ideas for earth conscious friends” via Well and Good
I mentioned coffee table books: “47 of the year’s most giftable coffee table books” via The Strategist
For boyfriends/ husbands: “65 best gifts for men that will impress any guy” via Esquire
More small host gift ideas: “40 best hostess gifts 2022” via The Today Show and “The host’s gift guide” via Goop
For girlfriends/wives: “77 sweet gift ideas for girlfriends” via Business Insider
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This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy.
