Today’s gift guide is full of ideas for everyone, especially those left out so far—the always-welcoming host, the white elephant recipient you just met, the friend at work, your teenage niece, the neighbor who always brings back your runaway dog…
1. An attractive edition of Pick Up Stix to play over pints at casual get togethers.
2. Because we all have a little magic inside: A Harry Potter Sweatshirt.
3. Stylish and practical: Panniers or a smaller handlebar bag for biking about town, with leather straps that can be fastened to the handlebar,frame, or seat and then carried inside.
4. These bandanas are just the right size for kerchiefs, pockets—or any kind of flare, and come in lots of prints and colors (at a great price point).
5. E. Frances makes the sweetest “little notes”—these are the Smiley Notes: “Eighty-five sweet little chubby cards, cozily boxed together for one to use unsparingly as place cards, gift toppers… lunchbox love and sweet nothings. ”
6. I use our berry bowl all the time for serving freshly washed fruits. I think it would make a great gift.
7. Everyone should have a foldable, lockable Opinel knife in their arsenal, even if its just for cutting up cheese and sausages at picnics.
8. So cool! Christmas morning should definitely come with a Cardboard Tool Kit. “Turn a plain box into a dog, a robot, a dollhouse, a fort, or anything else the imagination can create.”
9. The best unisex Cuffed Beanie I’ve tried in a long while. It’s tall enough to look relaxed and cool, but it has the cuff of a classic fisherman hat. Comes in a bunch of colors, and the wool isn’t itchy.
10. Pencil Nose strikes me as both a potentially ridiculous party game for adults, and something to play with your kids. It’s basically Pictionary, only you draw with your face.
11. In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It by Lauren Graham (aka Lorelei Gilmore): “I’ve had ups and downs. I’ve had successes and senior slumps. I’ve been the girl who has the lead, and the one who wished she had the bigger part. The truth? They don’t feel that different from each other.” Life advice that came out of a commencement speech, but which can be appreciated at any age in a very gift-able little volume.
12. A fountain pen for the people. According to The Strategist, writer André Aciman called the Classic Sport Fountain Pen “the Volkswagen of pens, with a Jaguar engine.” They rated it the fourth best pen of their top 100 and, as a fountain pen, it was only second to one that costs six times as much! Comes in many colors. Add in some ink or the next item on this list.
13. Fake News Notebook. For holding their (in fact, well-researched) scribbles.
14. A black, stainless steel French Press that also happens to look good on the table.
15. Custom wood Party Numbers to use as cake toppers at birthdays and new years, over and over! You can request specific colors or sizing, too. (P.S. This Brookylyn-based company also makes gorgeous cake stands!)
16. For something that keeps time, this one is timeless. A Classic Unisex Watch.
17. A lovely glazed stoneware smartphone valet and vase for their desk, bedside, or kitchen counter—really anywhere where they’re always propping up their phone. Also, a larger version with a planter.
18.For all of the Game of Thrones fans out there, Johnnie Walker White Walker Blended Scotch Whisky. (Pairs well with Meehan’s Bartender Manual, the definitive guide.)
19. For the pizza lover: Pizza Socks in a pizza box! Or, on a more serious note, Mastering Pizza.
20. Or if cake is more their thing, All About Cake is full of the greatest-hits recipes from Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi (I had one on my birthday this year!), but also promises to be a guide for dreaming up and making cakes of any sort.
21. Practical jokes like whoopee cushions and hand buzzers make for unexpected, silly gifts—perfect for a favorite office mate. Gift the whole set to one or split it up among many. (Related: this book of non-mean pranks would be fitting for most teenagers in your life.)
22. A surprisingly great source for stone washed, pure linen tablecloths.
23. So many great puzzle options lately! Love this Women’s March Puzzle
24. Beautiful and unique Double Wall Glasses for the hot or cold beverage of their choice.
I tried to keep these around $30 or under, though there are two or three exceptions. Do you have any go-to gift ideas for you’d add to this category?
P.S. More gift guides—the “for everyone else” ones are always a favorite! And all of this year’s gift guides, including For Her, For Him, and For the Kiddos.
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