Happy almost holidays everyone! If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift, I have searched internet, visited the gift shows and found some amazing, unusual food, tech and happy gifts to help you find something original and fun — and more importantly something that everyone on your list will love.
Gourmand Gifts
- Maille Maison Fondee En 1747 Gourmet Truffle Gifts
- Carry On Cocktail Kit ($24)
- TheWand by Pure Wine ($24.99/8 pack)
- Malin+Goetz Dark Rum Candle ($52)
- Compartes Chocolate Bar ($9.95)
- Drop Bottle ($40)
Oprah turned me onto the joy of food themed gifts (she includes has quite a few recommendations in her ‘Oprah’s Favorite Things‘ issue, you can shop her list HERE. This inspired me to pick some food themed gifts that are great for all different types of foodies and boozers. Maille makes so many distinguished condiments, from savory mustards (rosemary mustard anyone?) to designer vinegar, and Gourmet Truffle Gifts all wrapped in exquisite packaging, that make a great gift for the sophisticated chefs on your list. For the boozers that like to fly The Carry On Cocktail has everything you need to make a cocktail (i in bloody Mary, Moscow Mule, Gin & Tonic, Champagne), just add alcohol, they supply the rest. For the red wine lover, there’s TheWand, which lets you enjoy any bottle without the side effects. Featuring 8 individually wrapped wine filters that removes histamines and sulfites, just place TheWand in a 6oz glass of wine. Swirl and soak for at least 3 minutes, discard and enjoy! Another booze favorite, is Malin+Goetz Dark Rum Candle, which I’ve given so many tough to shop for men (I also usually have one burning in my apt). It smells amazing, has up to 60 hours of burn time and zero calories. For the chocoholic I’m a little obsessed with Compartes Chocolate Bars. Half of the reason is the amazing packaging that’s so fun and a great add on to any gift. They taste amazing, and have so many interesting and delicious flavors. Lastly for the health freak in all of us (especially after the holidays, Drop Bottle — which I discovered on Oprah’s Favorite Thing, has a built in infuser so you can add lemon, cucumber, oranges or whatever strikes your fancy to your water.
Tech on a Budget Gifts
- Picture Keeper Connect ($120)
- myCharge Hubmax ($99.99)
- Verloop Stripe Trio Glove ($38)
- My Audio Pet $24.99)
- HButler Orbit Key & Phone Finder ($29.99)
- Brouk & Co Travel Cord Roll ($9)
I love a good techy gift that will make my life easier. Picture Keeper Connect is a USB you connect to your phone and lets you download all of your pictures! The app is pricy, but great for anyone that wants to back up their entire phone when the cloud isn’t cutting it. I’m walking sales person for the myCharge Hubmax, it’s literally the only portable charger you need in this world. Sure it’s a little bulky BUT what do you do when your phone dies and your charger dies? In the case of the Hubmax you plug it in! The plug adaptor makes sharing your portable charger when you’re out so much more comfortable because you know you can find an outlit and recharge it on the go. Not that you’ll need to… once it’s fully charged it last forever. I’ll admit the next 4 items I got from Oprah’s Favorite Things list. The Verloop Stripe Trio Glove is 3 individual touchscreen gloves that actually works, and My Audio Pet is the cutest mini bluetooth speaker and great for travel. The HButler Orbit Key & Phone Finder should be on everyones list, it’s only $29.99 and lets you use an app to locate your keys from your phone or your phone if you have your keys… genius! Lastly, if you have a tendency to travel only to unpack and find all of your cords tangled, you need the Brouk & Co Travel Cord Roll. $9 is a small price to pay to save yourself the annoyance of everything tangled.
Good Vibe Gifts:
- Power Your Happy: Work Hard, Play Nice & Build Your Dream Life by Lisa Sugar
- Bottled Brooklyn I’m The Shit Mirror ($15.95)
- Affirmators! 50 affirmation cards to help you help yourself- without the self-help-ness! ($11.95)
- Kate Spade Posy Court Small Heart Dish ($20)
- What Would You Attempt Paperweight ($36)
I’m currently reading Power Your Happy by Lisa Sugar, the founder of POPSUGAR, and find myself so inspired and with striking similarities to a woman I’ve admired for some time. It’s a great read for recent college grads, or anyone looking to do a career change or needs some extra motivation in their lives. It’s filled with great advice and a very enjoyable read. The best gift on this list may be the Bottle Brooklyn Mirrors, they are only $15.95 and have so many awesome sayings on them like “I’m The Shit”, “You Know You Can”, “K!ll!ing !t” and so many more! One of my favorite birthday present was these Affirmators! cards. They have a unicorn on the cover, and I read one every day and fills my day with job. The Kate Spade Heart Dish that reads “in the right place” is a pleasure to have on my nightstand and put my rings and small jewelry items before bed. It’s a nice note and makes a great Secret Santa gift. Uncommon Goods is a great site to shop if you’re looking for unique gifts. One of my favorite items to order is this What Would You Attempt To Do If You Knew You Could Not Fail? Paperweight. I have one on my desk my mom bought me at graduation and is probably one of handful of things I still own since graduating.
Happy holidays everyone!