Gift Guide, Part 2: Teens, Bosses, Brothers, and, Duh, Your Mail Carrier

Welcome to Gift Guide Podcast, the Sequel: Presents Requested. (Can you tell we’re a little slap-happy after recording these eps?) If you haven’t tuned in for part one, here’s the deal: We’ve got lots of ideas from small businesses, many owned by women and BIPOC, (and none from Amazon)—and we have thoughts on organizations to donate to in someone’s honor, too. Are you ready for all the thoughts? Great, let’s get into it. Oh, and if you just can’t get enough, our 2019 installments are here and here.

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The linkage:

BROTHERS!

21 year old brother who has a new passion/major every week. Techie, creative, loves pasta.

• Grossy Pelosi merch: This Too Shall Pasta or Live Laugh Lasagna

• Designy pasta book: The Silver Spoon or The Geometry of Pasta

• Memoirs of people who found/made their own way: Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi, Just Kids by Patti Smith, and The Autobiography of Gucci Mane  

• Subscription to Courier magazine

Little brother, loves foreign affairs, about to graduate from college, very classic taste

• Subscription to Stranger’s Guide, The Atlantic, Monocle, or ProPublica

• A watch! Todd Snyder x Timex collab or Hodinkee for Swatches.

• Norse Projects x Hestra gloves

• J. Press Shaggy Dog cuffed hat

21 y.o. Lil bro who is way cooler than me. Into the outdoors, vintage jackets, anime.

• Hanafuda Flower Cards by Nintendo

• Atsuko long-sleeve

• Parks Project long-sleeve or hoodie

• Pallares pocket knife

• Anywhere Brewer by Alvaro Rodriguez

My 30 y.o. lefty anti-capitalist brother who secretly really likes buying things.

• Something Patagonia WornWear ReCrafted or Todd Snyder x L.L. Bean

• Patreon subscription for Chapo Trap House

• Leftie merch: Call Your Girlfriend The Scam is Structural Hat or Bernie Sanders Rage Against the Machine T-shirt

• Kura Kin sake club from Brooklyn Kura

• Donation to his local mutual aid organization

KIDS!

The 2-year-old that has everything—9 sets of Aunts/Uncles!

• A giant, mascot-style costume for an adult to wear—Elmo? Bear? 

• Kid audio player things: Yoto Player and Tonies

• Toy storage: Fabelab bear storage bag and Oh Noo toy wheelbarrow

• The Dough Project

• Donation to National Diaper Bank Project

Kids! Not little but not teens. Bonus for stuff that isn’t tech-based. PLEASE

• Cooking thing: Kid in the Kitchen by Melissa Clark or Bella Cucina pastry tart set 

• Box set of books: Roald Dahl or Puffin in Bloom 

• Something outdoorsy: Tubbs snowshoes, Hamboard shortboard, or cool roller skates by Chicago Skates, Impala, or Moxi

• Da Bomb Fizzers

• Tie-dye kit: Horizon Group unicorn tie dye bundle or Tulip tie-dye party

• Washi tape sets

• Twee sidewalk chalk

• Liewood domino set

• Mary Matson Double Happiness poster (edition of 50, signed and numbered)

TEENS!

Late teen more responsible than me at 30 and already has the lined Birkenstocks.

• Olive & June manicure/pedicure system (or just the mani system)

• Watercolor sets: Beam Paints, LDBA Palette, Case for Making, or anything from Blick

• Original art from Caroline Kaufman

• Safomasi quilted bean bag

• Lorien Stern sloth rug or seal bath mat

• Lotta Blobs mirror

• Breda watch

• Alex Mill tie-dye cotton socks

17-year-old awkward tomboy who has NO opinions on anything she likes

• Book that might get her thinking about what she likes/where she’s going: In the Company of Women, Roadtrip Nation’s Roadmap book, Start Where You Are journal, or Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

• Custom Converse or Vans

• If she has an iPad: Apple Pencil

BOSSES AND EMPLOYEES!

Design-minded bosses (one male and one female) 

• Puzzles: Four Point Puzzles, Whiled, and Piecework 

• Mug that suits each of their aesthetics: Yowie and Mociun

• Design-y chocolate: Compartes bars or Vesta bonbons

• Design-y calendars: 2021 Stendig or Design Letters

• Astier de Villate notebook

• The Granite ceramic matchboxes

Male boss you have a crush on. Should seem to cost about $50 (but ok if it costs more)

• Signed book by his fave author: AbeBooks has a very good search tool, and 1stDibs is good for more coffee-table stuff.

• Body wash or soap that is just on the cusp of inappropriate—Musgo Real soap on a rope?

• Set of two glasses (subtle hint to have a drink together?!): Mia Craft beer glasses, Estelle Colored Glass, or vintage French champagne coupes, maybe with a bottle of something to drink, too.

65-year-old male boss who’s super successful, obsessed with Tesla and health and wellness

• Food innovation: Seemore Meats & Veggies sausages or Oishii strawberries

• Gossamer CBD in Dusk and/or Dawn

• Oracle olive oil

• Donation to Partnership for a Healthier America, Back on my Feet, or Fresh Air Fund 

• If this person is your dad not your boss: Oura ring or Theragun

18 co-workers. I’m their boss.

• Omsom sauces

• Pineapple Collaborative olive oil or pantry set

• Zazzle or Etsy mugs with superlatives

GRAB BAG!!!

37 weeks pregnant and just want to pick one thing to buy 25 of and call it a day. But what?!

• Five-year journal: One Line a Day, Hobonichi 5-year Techno, or Unbound Planner

• Plant: Holiday cactus from The Sill or herb collection from Bloomscape

• Il Buco Alimentari Sale Fiore or WAJD salt

• Planting a tree via Nature Conservancy

• Donations to No Kid Hungry or Heifer International 

My dog walker who dresses like a Tim Burton character and is 22. $50 - $100 

• $$

• Kule striped mask

• Something FUN, useful, and a little grown-up for home: Fredericks and Mae cutting board and Areaware table tiles

My mail carrier

• Gift card to a coffee shop on your route

• Thermos: super classic Stanley one or Zojiruchi ones in more colors 

• Lands’ End ear muffs

• Zippo 12-hour hand-warmer

I need special little things for neighbors/mail people/building managers!

• Seasonings: Momofuku seasoned salts, Burlap & Barrel spice set, or Westbourne spice trio with recipes

• Fancy hand sanitizer: Jao and MCMC

• Gift cert for a neighborhood spot that does lunch

OTHER LINKS

• Last gift idea, promise: a 6- or 12-month gift sub to Secret Menu.

• We are here for all of your thoughts and feedback, always. Get in touch at 833-632-5463, podcast@athingortwohq.com, and/or @athingortwohq. 

• On 12/21, we’re going to be chatting about the romance novel Reckless by Selena Montgomery (aka Stacey Abrams). Read with us?

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the sponsors (and promos!):

• Give Nutrafol a go for thicker, healthier hair—the code ATHINGORTWO gets you 20% off.

• Live that bidet life with Hello Tushy. 10% off and free shipping!

YAY.

Welcome to Gift Guide Podcast, the Sequel: Presents Requested. (Can you tell we're a little slap-happy after recording these eps?) If you haven't tuned in for part one, here's the deal: We've got lots of ideas from small businesses, many owned by women and BIPOC, (and none from Amazon)-and we have thoughts on organizations to donate to in someone's honor, too.