Thoughtful Holiday Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List
Holiday shopping almost always starts with good intentions. We tell ourselves we’ll get it done early this year. Then November fills up, December arrives faster than seems possible, and suddenly it’s late at night and we’re scrolling for one more idea for the person who insists they don’t want anything. Our Holiday Gift Guides are the answer.
This year, let’s do it differently.
This guide is organized by person, because that’s how we actually shop. You’re not looking for a candle or a sweater. You’re looking for something your sister will love, something your husband will actually use, and something you can grab on your way out the door to a friend’s house for dinner.
Every pick here had to pass one test: it had to be useful or delightful, and ideally both. Nearly all of them are things I own and love, or things on my own family’s wish lists this year. A few gifts suit more than one person, so you’ll see those mentioned in more than one section.
Start with the hosts. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and holiday invitations are about to start arriving. A small stash of host gifts by the door is one of the kindest things you can do for your future self this season.
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Holiday Gift Guide: Hostess Gifts
Shop the whole list in my shop: Hostess Gifts on Shop Lifeticity
These are the little thank-yous you bring when you’re invited for dinner or the weekend.
A host gift should be easy to bring, easy to love and easy to use. These add something to her kitchen or her evening instead of her to-do list.
Graza Olive Oil Gift Set
About $40 at Amazon. Graza’s olive oil comes in squeeze bottles, which sounds like a small thing until you try it. This set pairs their everyday cooking oil with their finishing oil, so it covers everything from sautéing to drizzling over a finished plate. Pair it with a loaf of good bread and it will be used the very next morning. Shop it here
Bee’s Knees Honey Gift Set
About $45 at Amazon. Three honeys in one box: lemon, salted and hot. Hot honey on pizza, roasted vegetables or a cheese board is the kind of thing people buy again for themselves once they’ve tried it. It’s a host gift that feels a little more special than a bottle of wine. Shop it here
TRUFF Chef Starter Kit
About $50 at Amazon. Hot sauce, black truffle oil and black truffle salt in one handsome set. It’s the gift for the host who loves to cook, or the friend whose pantry could use a little luxury. Shop it here
Crate & Barrel Organic Cotton Tea Towels
About $30 at Crate & Barrel. Every kitchen can use more good tea towels. These come in a set of two in organic cotton, and I love both prints: Pear and Stripe and Pomegranate and Stripe. Fold them, tie them with ribbon and you’re done. Shop it here
Voluspa Noble Fir Garland 3-Wick Candle
About $34 at Amazon. This one smells like walking into a house where the tree is already up. The tin is pretty enough to give as is, and it fills a room. Shop it here
NEST New York Classic Christmas Candle
About $52 at Amazon. Beautiful packaging and a light, classic holiday scent. This is the candle for the host who has everything, because no one ever has enough good candles in December. Shop it here
Also great for hosts: the NEST Grapefruit Candle, the UGG Shira Fleece Throw, the Book Club Fleece Blanket, and Rifle Paper Co.’s travel and dog lover’s 2027 wall calendars. You’ll find all of them below.
Holiday Gift Guide: For Her
Shop the whole list in my shop: Gifts for Her on Shop Lifeticity
These are the women who know us best: mom, sister, the woman you’d call first with good news. The secret is comfort, beautiful everyday things and a small luxury she wouldn’t buy for herself. Several of these are things I own and love.
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Lite Ribbed Robe
About $128 at Nordstrom. I have this robe in Sea Salt and I love it. It’s incredibly soft, light enough to wear year-round, and it washes beautifully. It’s the gift she’ll reach for every single morning. Shop it here
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic UltraLite Lounge Set
About $92 at Nordstrom. I love this set. She’ll never want to take it off. It’s soft and easy, the kind of thing she’ll wear for slow Saturday mornings and long evenings with a book. Shop it here
UGG Shira Fleece Throw
About $98 at Nordstrom. A snowy white throw with that famous UGG softness. It makes any couch or reading chair more inviting, and it’s beautiful enough to leave out. Shop it here
NEST Grapefruit 3-Wick Candle
About $80 at Amazon. Absolutely delicious. The grapefruit scent is fresh and bright, and when the candle is done, the vessel is lovely enough to keep and reuse. Shop it here
Lagos Caviar Beaded Heart Pendant Necklace
About $450 at Lagos. My husband gave me this necklace, and I wear it nearly every other day. Lagos is known for its beaded caviar silver, and this heart pendant is the kind of classic she’ll keep for years. Shop it here
Madewell Structured Flap Shoulder Bag in Suede
About $100 at Madewell. I have this bag and love it. The suede is beautiful, high-quality and soft, and the structured shape goes with almost everything, from dinner out to every day. Shop it here
Johnny Was Split Neck Velvet Blouse
About $328 at Johnny Was. This one is on my own wish list this year. Rich velvet with that beautiful Johnny Was detail, made for holiday gatherings. Shop it here
Johnny Was Wes Blouse
About $298 at Johnny Was. I love Johnny Was blouses. They drape beautifully and elevate anything you pair them with, and this is one she’ll wear well beyond December. Shop it here
Rifle Paper Co. Garden Party Pocket Notebooks
About $12 at Rifle Paper Co.. A set of pretty pocket-sized notebooks for her purse, for lists, ideas and the thoughts she wants to keep. Pair them with the matching Garden Party Gel Pens (about $19) for a gift that feels complete. Shop it here
Holiday Gift Guide: For Your Friends
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Friend gifts work best when they’re thoughtful, personal and not too extravagant. Rifle Paper Co. is my favorite place for these. Everything they make is beautiful, and there’s something for every kind of friend.
Rifle Paper Co. Book Club Fleece Blanket
About $62 at Rifle Paper Co.. For the book lover. It’s soft, cozy and covered in the kind of pattern only Rifle Paper does. Pair it with a favorite novel and you have the perfect gift. Shop it here
Rifle Paper Co. 2027 Travel Wall Calendar
About $36 at Rifle Paper Co.. For the traveler, with illustrated sketches of Paris, Tokyo, London, Venice and more. Every month is a little trip of its own. Shop it here
Rifle Paper Co. 2027 Dog Wall Calendar
About $26 at Rifle Paper Co.. For your dog-loving friends and family. It’s charming, and it will make her smile every time she turns a page. Shop it here
Rifle Paper Co. 2027 Garden Study Kitchen Calendar
About $26 at Rifle Paper Co.. For the gardener in your life. It’s pretty enough to hang right on the refrigerator, which is exactly where the busiest calendars belong. Shop it here
Also great for friends: the CozyChic UltraLite Lounge Set, for the friend who deserves a cozy night in, and the Garden Party Pocket Notebooks with their matching gel pens, both in the Her section above.
Holiday Gift Guide: For Him
Shop the whole list in my shop: Gifts for Him on Shop Lifeticity
Men often say they don’t need anything. What they usually mean is that they won’t buy anything for themselves. These are well-made things that tend to earn a permanent place in his routine. Several of them are on my own husband’s list this year.
Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Quarter-Zip
About $130 at Nordstrom. My husband would wear this every day if he could. It’s a warm, light layer that works on its own or under a jacket, and merino wool keeps him comfortable without overheating. Shop it here
Smartwool Everyday Socks, 3-Pack
About $69 at Nordstrom. For the man who wants what he wants: quality wool socks he’ll reach for every day. Warm, soft and far more durable than ordinary socks. Shop it here
Luma 75 Ultra Mini Projector
About $199 at Nordstrom. For the man who likes to live large and see everything projected on the big screen. It has a built-in speaker and HD support, and it’s small enough to take anywhere. It’s on my husband’s wish list this year. Shop it here
MEATER Smart Meat Thermometer
About $80 at Amazon. For the man who’s still finding his way around the grill, or who just wants to set it and forget it. The wireless probe stays in the meat, and an app on his phone tells him exactly when dinner is ready. Shop it here
Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack
About $110 at Amazon. A well-designed travel backpack in a nice size, with a laptop sleeve, room to expand and the right dimensions for a carry-on. It’s a gift he’ll use on every trip. Shop it here
Le Creuset Champagne Crown Sealer
About $55 at Nordstrom. Get ready for New Year’s with this handy gadget. It seals an open bottle of bubbly so it stays fresh, and it belongs on every well-stocked bar cart. Shop it here
Holiday Gift Guide: For Your Grown Kids
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Shopping for adult children has its own challenge. They have their own homes, their own tastes and often very little space. The best gifts for them are useful, built to last, and occasionally a little fun.
Le Creuset Rectangular Baking Dishes, Set of 3
About $140 at Nordstrom. These will be used nearly every day, and done with style. They go from oven to table, and they’re the kind of kitchen piece that lasts for decades. Shop it here
Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet with Silicone Handle Holder
About $35 at Amazon. A great starter cast iron for everyday use. It comes pref-seasoned, and the silicone handle holder protects their hands. Tuck in a card with your favorite skillet recipe to make it personal. Shop it here
Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook
About $40 at Crate & Barrel. The 10th anniversary gift edition, and a lovely choice for a couple setting up their first real kitchen together. Shop it here
Crate & Barrel Sectioned Wood Serving Board
About $150 at Crate & Barrel. A beautiful board with built-in sections that make a charcuterie spread look effortless. It’s a gift for the grown kid who’s started hosting friends of their own. Shop it here
Apple AirTag, 4-Pack
About $77 at Amazon. Beyond luggage. AirTags help them keep track of wallets, keys and bags, which offers a little peace of mind for you too. Shop it here
Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Camera
About $170 at Amazon. Beyond the phone, there’s instant gratification in images you can shoot and print on the spot. Those little prints tend to end up on refrigerators and bulletin boards for years. Shop it here
Also great for grown kids: the Osprey Travel Pack, the Graza Olive Oil Set, the Bee’s Knees Honey Set, the TRUFF Chef Starter Kit, and the Crate & Barrel tea towels in Pear or Pomegranate. A stocked pantry is a wonderful gift for anyone just getting started.
Holiday Gift Guide: The Splurge
KitchenAid KF7 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
About $1,700 at KitchenAid. If you really want to spoil someone, or yourself, this is the one. My husband and I gifted it to each other last Christmas and we both swear it’s the best gift we’ve given each other. It pays off for us every single morning! It makes café-quality espresso and lattes at the touch of a button, and it’s easy to clean. It’s for the very best coffee lover on your list. Shop it here
One Last Thought on Giving Well
A good gift doesn’t need to be extravagant. It says one thing above all: I was paying attention. If you’re stuck on someone, think about how they spend an ordinary Tuesday. What do they reach for? What would make their days a little easier or a little lovelier? Start there, and you’ll rarely miss.
The gifts will get wrapped one way or another. What we remember most is how the season felt. If you’d like help making the whole season feel a little simpler, from your calendar to your expectations, my free guide Your Simple Season is waiting for you. Get Your Simple Season, free.
