A 2023 Gift Guide.
A bunch of stuff I like and think you should buy for someone.
It’s time! Here’s a big list of stuff I have and love, stuff I want, or stuff I am buying for other people. As always, I do not know what kids or boys of any age want, sorry!!!
Before pulling together this list I looked back at my gift guides from 2021 and 2022. This gets harder every year because most of my favorite things are already mentioned on one of those lists! I tried not to repeat a bunch of stuff, so definitely look back at the old lists for more ideas. I stand by everything on them.
Ok. Here we go.
Stocking Stuffers ($30 and under):
Touchland Hand Sanitizer: my beloved fancy hand sanitizer. I have converted so many people. The aloe scent is my favorite. Get a gift set and split them up!
Luv Scrub: This is like a loofah but way better and lasts for over a year. I love mine.
Birdie alarm: Maybe this is dark, but it can’t hurt to have. You pull it and it starts making a very, very loud noise. Just a good thing to have on your keys.
Reusable straws: There are so many cute ones now. I love these cute ones, or silly ones like these.
Deep Sleep pillow spray: This is just a nice little luxury, and I especially like to use it when I travel so I can trick my brain into knowing it’s time to sleep even though I’m not in my usual bed. I swear it works.
Moisturizing heel socks: When I wear these consistently it makes a noticeable difference.
Travel watch case: This went in my dad’s stocking last year.
Confidential stamp: I use this alllllll the time. I don’t own a paper shredder because I am under the age of 30, so I just roll this over my address or other personal info on all my mail.
A good hand cream: the Trader Joes ultra moisturizing hand cream is genuinely amazing, as are the Neccesaire one and the L’Occitane ones.
Nemat Amber Oil: I own several expensive perfumes but I get the most compliments on this, the cheapest one I own. I keep one on my desk at work and one in my car, it smells SO good.
Evian Facial Spray: I have these little minis everywhere.
Dior Cuticle Cream: Using this consistently makes a truly astonishing difference in my nail beds. And a little goes a long way, so this will last forever.
White Elephant/Workplace gift exchange:
The Bridge Collection ornaments: this brand has so many cute and silly ornaments. I love these raviolis, this little pill one, this sweet tea one, or the hot dogs.
Gnome Bottle toppers: I laughed.
Pasta Shaped Pot Holders: useful but also funny.
Maldon Flaky Salt bucket: I am once again noting for the record that I would genuinely be thrilled to leave a gift exchange with this item.
Games to play with your family:
Ticket to Ride: The Gilbert family’s favorite board game. There’s also tons of other boards you can get if you already have the original.
Azul: This is fun and good with only two people.
Hues and Cues: This is fun with a big group.
A selection of fancy oils/vinegars/condiments for the home cook in your life:
Graza Olive Oil: I love a nice olive oil. This brand is good.
Bachan’s Japanese Barbeque Sauce: I grabbed a bottle of this on a whim at Target once and now I’m obsessed. I’ve only tried the original flavor but they have several, and you can get gift sets.
Momofuku Chili Crunch: this is my favorite chili oil.
Daysie syrups: good in cocktails or coffee.
Brightland: they started with olive oil, and now also do vinegar and honey. They have lots of sets, too.
Gifts for someone who likes to drink that are not alcohol:
Cocktail Cherries: I always get this brand.
Red Clay Spices and Salts: Red Clay started as a hot sauce brand, but now they have several spice mixes and salts that are all really good. I like the Spicy Margarita Salt, or you can get a set of all of their spices and salts.
Blue Henry fruit garnishes: They have lots of different options and also a gift set. And they have rimming salts and sugars.
Wine accessories: like a chiller, or a coaster, or a fancy bottle opener, or a decanter.
Personalized Ice Stamp: Easy way to make a drink feel fancy, and could also include some fun shaped ice trays like this one or this one.
Personalized cocktail napkins: there are so many options on Etsy, like these.
Gifts for someone who loves to read that are not books:
Bookmarks: So many options on Etsy. Love these, or these, or these.
Personalized Book Embosser: So fun for your friend with a full bookshelf.
A book journal: Also countless options here, but I love this one and this one.
Custom book print: If you know some of their favorite books, this is so cute.
A gift card to their local indie bookstore, or bookshop.org.
Gifts for someone who travels a lot:
Sleep headphones: This eye mask with headphones embedded is an item that people laugh at me for owning, use once, and then buy for themselves. I bring this every time I travel and it helps me sleep so well.
Mini humidifier: For your high maintenance friend (me).
Cord organizer: I have this cheap one from Amazon, but this Dagne Dover one is really nice.
TRTL Neck Pillow: those more common donut travel pillows do nothing for me but make my neck hurt, but this actually works.
A selection of cookbooks I love:
Snacking Cakes: By far my most used cookbook, full of easy one-bowl recipes with tons of options for variation. I make one of these almost every weekend and any time someone comes to visit. Her new book, Snacking Bakes, is on my wishlist.
What’s for Desert: A gorgeous book, full of so many creative desserts I never would have thought to make but are all doable for an amateur baker.
Weekday Vegetarians: This was so helpful and gave me so many ideas for cutting out meat.
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: This has so much useful information, I genuinely learned so much from reading this.
Salad Freak: I turn to this when I am in a lunch rut and I am never disappointed with what I chose to make.
The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking: A year or two after I graduated college I asked my Dad to get me a cookbook for Christmas and he got me this. It is so useful, I’ve made bread and pasta and desserts from this countless times.
A selection of lip balms I love:
Smith’s Rosebud Salve: My holy grail for over a decade. In the tube, not the tin.
Jack Black Lip Balm with SPF: The only SPF lip product that doesn’t taste terrible.
Rhode lip tint: These are new and I love them.
Covergirl Yummy Gloss: I’ve gone through two of these this year and just bought a third.
Dior Lip Oil: They’re worth the hype.
Gifts that keep on giving (subscriptions):
Scentbird: A monthly perfume subscription.
Magazines: I love NY Mag, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker.
A substack you know they love, or a streaming service you know they use a lot.
On my wishlist:
Hatch alarm clock: Everyone I know who has one of these loves it.
Clogs: I am TBD on whether I want the Rothy’s clogs or UGG Tasman slippers or Birkenstock Bostons, but one of these is going on my list.
Calpack cosmetics case: I have a bunch of these that are falling apart and I just want to get a nice one and be set.