There’s almost nothing I love more in the world than telling others about something that’s been helpful for me. Sometimes that’s a book I read or a mindset shift and lots of times (at least once a month in my weekly newsletter) it’s products that I dig.
Since it’s the season of gifting I thought I’d share some of my favorite things to gift (and to get!) in case you’ve got some present procurement on your to-do list. As always, there are no ads and no affiliate links in this gift guide… just stuff I actually love and think you’ll love too!
For the Cook
- The Mozza Cookbook by Nancy Silverton – this is the absolute most used cookbook in my kitchen… I’ve had it for years (ever since Nancy was a guest chef on this very blog). It’s a little more advanced so maybe not ideal for a beginner (there aren’t step-by-step photos and most recipes require a real commitment of time) but Nancy doesn’t gate-keep. She tells you exactly how to recreate her famous dishes and if you follow the directions you’ll impress yourself.
- Shun Chef Knives – A really great knife is an absolute key component of any kitchen. It’s my go-to wedding gift or housewarming present because it’s the kind of financial investment most people don’t want to make until they have it– then you wonder how you ever chopped without it. I love Shun knives (I have several of them) and when I was just starting out Henckle was my go-to.
- Beautiful bowls + Plates – Beautifully colorful platters, bowls and tiny appetizer plates make me so happy so I love to gift them to others. The best part? They absolutely don’t have to break the bank! I’m linking out to these gorgeous bowls but one of my favorite ways to collect them is to wait until the after-Christmas sale at places like Anthro or Crate + Barrel when these little beauties get marked way down. I’m the queen of buying my holiday serving dishes, napkins, etc after the holiday. I also love visiting the local Salvation Army or Goodwill to see what they’ve got for kitchenware. My favorite aunt worked at the Salvation Army for decades so I grew up getting holiday gifts that were previously loved. She’d collect them over time, wash them up then package them beautifully. I still think this makes great gift for anyone who wont mind a little vintage moment.
- Hedley + Bennett Aprons – I never cook without an apron on (I’m way too messy for that!) and Hedley + Bennett are my favorites because they’re so durable. I’ve personally got 2 of them in rotation and I already bought two as holiday gifts this year.
- Le Creuset Dutch Oven – At the risk of sounding ridiculous, I will never forget the day I got my first Le Creuset! I couldn’t afford the official dutch oven so I got 4 teeny tiny individual dutch ovens with visions of using them at a dinner party. That never actually happen. I used them almost exclusively as a prop here on the site but when I finally got the real deal… I felt like such a chef! I use my Le Creuset dutch ovens for everything: Soup and stew and fried chicken and pasta... you name it! They’re incredibly durable (I hope to pass them down to my kids) and I’m slowly collecting a rainbow of colors and sizes. I’m linking out to the color “nectar” which I don’t have yet but I am really lusting after.
For Her (or you!)
- A New Apple Watch Strap – I’ve had my eye on the Hermes apple watch strap for as long as I’ve had the Apple watch… and I’ve still never pulled the trigger on it. But maybe you’re a billionaire who wants to splurge?? 🤷🏼♀️ I’m going to link out just in case. What I actually wear everyday is the far less expensive neon option which is my companion for every workout. I’m putting both the boujee and the friendly options here so you’ve got choices!
- American Vintage Cardigan – You’ve maybe seen me wearing my favorite orange cardigan in more than one photo or podcast episode. I’m gutted to tell you that I lost it traveling back from London (I like to think that someone at Heathrow was super happy to find it and it gave it a good home) and even more devastated to say that (as of now) they’re sold out in that particular color (hilariously named “neon carrot”). But. American Vintage is the coolest most lovely brand and the other colors they make are totally gorgeous. I have a red sweater vest and a neon green oversized sweater and the second that carrot comes back into town this bunny will nab it again!
- Custom Name Necklace – Of all the questions I get from y’all one of the top has got to be where I get my jewelry. My “Rachel” necklace was actually a gift from Cez after I mentioned to him that I’d always wanted one as a little girl. He had it custom made from Noemie Jewelry but they also make a ton of beautiful ready-to-wear options
- A Book to Kick off the New Year – My newest book What if You Are the Answer comes out on January 7th and it’s the absolute best thing I can think of to help you start 2025 with intention. Plus, if you pre-order before it comes out there are all kinds of fabulous freebies. So maybe this is a gift you get yourself while you do a little shopping for others. 😉
- My Favorite Candles – I love a great smelling space! It’s one of the most home-making elements I can think of and I love to gift my favorite scents. Two of my favorites for wintertime are Thymes Frasier Fir (which smells like a romantic fairy forrest) and Maison Louis No. 4 (which smells like your favorite stylish gay uncle’s house) and both make fabulous gifts!
- Nap Earrings from Maison Miru – The first time I tried “nap earrings” it was a revelation! Imagine wearing fabulous studs without the sharp post in the back stabbing the side of your head when you sleep. That means you never have to remove them… and I never do!
- Moisture Rich Balm from Oak Essentials – I discovered Oak Essentials through an Instagram ad and that algorithm knows me well because I am a sucker for new skincare! This one was a big winner and I absolutely love it so much I’m telling you about it too. Luxuriously moisturizing and the smell reminds me of new beginnings… don’t ask me why but every time I smell it I feel like I’m 20 years old moving into a new apartment.
For Him (or you!)
- Carhartt Work Jacket – We’re big fans of Carhartt– the workers in my family tree have been wearing it for decades and now my teenagers are rocking it for the arduous labor of third period Chemistry. Regardless of what your workload calls for their product is always a great gift because it lasts forever and looks fantastic.
- Imogen + Willie Socks – I’ve told y’all about how much I adore I+W as a great family-owned American small business but beyond that… they just make really cool stuff! I’ve got plaids and flannels and t-shirts and socks in almost every design they have. Also, all their stuff gets shipped to you wrapped in their leftover denim scraps which only adds to the unique experience of shopping with this brand.
- Freaks of Nature Skincare – This recommendation is coming straight from Cez who loves it. It’s a clean, performance driven skincare founded by pro-surfer Kelly Slater. They use nature as their inspiration and collaborate with best-in-class partners to biosynthesize high-performing ingredients. Also… their packaging is fantastic.
- The “Question Game” that Made Us Fall in Love – You may have heard me tell the story of how I fell in love with my fiance over a series of questions… this is the game we played. By asking each other questions it allowed us to get to know each other so much faster than we would have otherwise. For someone like my boo (who is naturally more introverted with new people) this was a really great way to get him talking. Best of all, they make this game for couples, families, kids, etc. We have every deck!
Alright friends, that’s all I can think of for this year’s holiday gift guide. I hope you found it super helpful (or at least entertaining to read).