Gift Guide, Part 1: Dads, Sisters-in-Law, and New Quar Romances
You have gift questions, and we have gift answers! Welcome to part one of our second-annual gift guide, where you’ll find so much cool stuff from small businesses (many run by women and BIPOC!), no Amazon links (but you do you), and thoughts on orgs to donate to, too. Part two is coming next week, and last year’s still-relevant installments are here and here. Now, hope you’re prepared for an outrageously long episode recap...
The linkage:
PARENTS!
My mom has requested “a new hobby” for Christmas which has sent me spinning. Any ideas? She’s very artsy and already gardens and writes fiction. Knitting hasn’t worked for her due to her arthritis, and she’s a lifelong hater of kitchen activities, most of the cute gifty hobby kits I’ve seen fall into those categories. Stumped!
Fic & non-fic books that will nudge my parents to the left without them realizing it.
What Unites Us by Dan Rather
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Good Talk by Mira Jacob
I need gift ideas for my almost 60-year-old, tech-y, suburban dad. Hasn’t finished reading the books he got for Father’s Day but he loves history. Does a lot of biking on his indoor trainer. He has an Apple Watch but we aren’t allowed to get him AirPods because my mom thinks he’ll accidentally put them through the laundry. He likes food/eating/cooking but had a heart attack 3 years ago so we’re not allowed to do fun things (unless they’re low sodium/cholesterol). Usually I try to find an activity (movie, bike, ride to brewery, etc.) but covid makes that hard. So many restrictions!!
Claire puts her airpods through the laundry all the time and they still work! (Mostly.) But for an alt: Rapha x Bang & Olufsen earphones (made for indoor training—bigger than Airpods).
Subscription to the Peloton app to use with his bike (you don’t need the Peloton bike!)
Smart/wake-up clock: Philips SmartSleep, Loftie
Beer-plus-history book: Pilsner: How the Beer of Kings Changed the World
MasterClass: Doris Kearns Goodwin teaches "U.S. Presidential History and Leadership"
Mom and her husband who just bought a new cottage and are DIY fixing it up. The kitchen and garden are especially yucky!
Online landscaping-design apps like Yardzen or Tilly Design
Gardening stuff: Floral Society, Floret, and Father Rabbit
Tools: MoMA Design Store Rainbow Multi-tool set, FIXR tool, and Bosch Blaze laser measurer
Birdhouse: Andreu Carulla's Bird and Breakfast, Amish cottage
Coffee-table books: The Gardens of Bunny Mellon and More than Just a House by Alex Eagle
Donation to Habitat for Humanity
My Jewish parents who are IMPOSSIBLE to shop for and trying to stop eating sugar.
Popcorn seasoning set: The Spice House or Oaktown Spice Shop
Engraved Masala Dabba from Diaspora Co.
Cookbook: Sweet Laurel or Ottolenghi Flavor
Russ & Daughters tote, tee, hat...in R&D wrapping paper!
My crunchy fire-fighting dog lady MIL.
Donation to BARC Shelter in Brooklyn or her local animal shelter (many have wish lists where you can send dog food, etc!)
Stepmom: hates being cold. She’s always cold. But is entertaining outside now in CA.
Hot water bottle: Amara sheepskin and Chickpea knit
Something for cooking warm entertaining food/drink outside: Boska mini raclette cheese melter and grill, Royal Rose hot toddy mixers, or FLÎKR Fire personal concrete fireplace
Flamingo Estate candles—scents like Roma heirloom tomato
SISTERS-IN-LAW!
My sister-in-law is a chic New Yorker and I live in Missoula, Montana. I am a needs-based gifter and she is very much a wants-based gifter. I love to cook, she dabbles in cooking (she’s dairy free) and I think she finds me kind of quaint for my homey ways. She is (and strongly identifies) as an Aries. She is a platinum-rewards-level business traveler and boss babe entrepreneur in the music industry. We get along great, but we literally could not be more different and I am ALWAYS stuck on gifts for her. This year I already gave her a gorgeous coffee table book of NYC night photography that I feel pretty good about, but I need a lifetime stockpile of ideas. Budget is $50- $100
A pretty colored glass thing with utility: a couple Estelle wine glasses, Maison Balzac glasses, carafe, or pitcher, and Laurence Brabant A La Pointe Candle Holder
Anything from Casa Shop—some is new, some is vintage, and it’s all very good.
My very chic sister-in-law who lives in a shoebox in Paris and will need to clear TSA
Glass oil/vinegar decanter: Gary Bodker or Stover Glass
Gilded marble body brush (there’s a mini too!), Kate McLeod body stone
Fancy fashion socks: Darner, Comme Si, and Hansel from Basel
Sister in law who loves to cook. $50 and under
Bamboo steamer + chopsticks + Wing on Wo spoons and chopstick rests (or Pearl River Market)
Trivets: Hawkins cork and Il Buco salvaged antique tile
Home Cooking podcast sweatshirt
Donation to Soul Fire Farm or The Okra Project
HUSBANDS, BOYFRIENDS, AND OTHER UNDEFINED MEN!
A dude who I’ve been seeing since early October. We’re exclusive but not serious….helllp
Slippers: Vince suede and shearling, Yoko Wool
Cool lighter (and possibly candle—Norden??): Tetra slide lighter or Tsubota Pearl tortoise lighter
Nice bottle o’ booze—the one a shelf or two above what he buys himself
A game for two that you can learn to play together: dominos from Printworks, Wolfum, or Fredricks & Mae; 2-in-1 chess/checkers Set from Ridley’s or MoMA
Fiance! Together 8 years, postponed wedding. Xmas AND his bday SAME WEEK!
A piece of art—maybe decide to pick it out together for Xmas (and then you only have to shop for his bday): Picture Room or Absolut Art
You could even reach out to an artist you like on IG and ask about commissions!
Custom neon sign with something you two say or your initials : Yellowpop or Brite Lite
Something sentimental framed via The Heirloomist
A 35-year-old man who loves sports, his dog, his Jeep, the Cubs and classic music.
Dog bed: Dusen Dusen or Found My Animal
A 37-year-old suburban dad who misses dance parties and loves the Book Review
Turntable and mixer
FRIENDS!
My long-distance bestie and I turned 30 this year and we’d originally planned on going on a trip together and getting welded gold bracelets as some grown-up version of friendship bracelets. However, THESE TIMES(™). So now she’s moving from Toronto (same country) to New Zealand (different hemisphere! Different continent!). We thought we’d do some sort of big co-gift! Pertinent details for your brainstorming pleasure: She’s a Capricorn (reluctantly) and I’m an extremely Pisces Pisces (love 2 cry). Budget is up to $200ish. Needs to be mildly packable considering she has to get it to NZ somehow along with the rest of her earthly possessions. Needs to ship to Canada. LOVE YOU!
Fancy pair of stud earrings—you each take one. Or singles of White/Space birthstone studs.
Catbird smallest love letter charm or tiniest key charm that you can get engraved
Some sort of art/print: Tappan and Uprise Art
Group text friends
A little food thing: Rice & Miso Everyday soup ball things (if in Brooklyn!); Copper Cow Coffee Vietnamese-style pour-over, Kusmi Tea set with 12 diff flavors, or Sakara popcorn trio
A mask or mask chain that’s a little more *special*: Lizzie Fortunato, Diarrablu, Injuri, Baggu
Porcelain fortune cookies that you can slip a fortune/wish for them for 2021 into
An ornament related to an inside joke
Three Potato Four key tags, specifically the "thank you for being a friend" one
GRAB BAG!!!
My great-grandma who lives across the country and has never met my baby, because COVID
Calendar with pics of your baby: Artifact Uprising brass easel and Parabo Press classic desk cal
Locket with pic of your baby: Catbird (can be engraved!)
People whose hobbies are “going for walks in the neighborhood.”
Fanny pack: Tory Sport color-block, Baggu, or Beklina ribbed leather
Hiking/all-weather boots: Bernardo Winnie
Puffer scarf: Echo, Eileen Fisher, or Patagonia NanoPuff Scarf
Someone who hates things/prefers experiences, but with Covid it’s hard to experience!
Online cooking class: Sonoko Sakai, Goldbelly Live! Cook-Alongs, League of Kitchens, Momofuku, and Ole & Obrigado.
Things to enjoy the experience of winter: Yaktrax, Crescent Moon eva foam snowshoes, or cross-country ski lessons
Merch from favorite restaurant/hotel/place they’ve traveled to
Games: Ridley’s Card Games, Actually Curious, Lacorsa Grand Prix Board Game, Maharam Memory Game, or Helvetiq Matchmaster or SixStix
OTHER LINKS
You know what else makes a great gift—a digital stocking stuffer, if you will? A sub to Secret Menu.
Do you have other ideas and just thoughts in general to share? Hit us up at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and/or @athingortwohq.
On 12/21, we’re going to be talking about the romance novel Reckless by Selena Montgomery (aka Stacey Abrams). Join us for a read-along!