I first discovered Diane’s products when we were living in El Paso, TX—and I’ve been hooked ever since! Her goat’s milk soap bars and shea butter are luxuriously high-quality, and the scents are irresistible—Buttercream Punkin’ Pie or Pistachio Maracon, anyone?

Even now, I still have them shipped all the way to our home in Italy, which speaks to how much I love them. Perfect for gifting, these soaps are not only indulgent and practical, but buying them also supports a wonderful local business in New Mexico. Thoughtful, unique, and actually useful—this is one gift you can feel great about giving.

We once stayed at an Airbnb with a stainless steel spatula, and it changed my life. Plastic spatulas melting at the edges? Never again.

This set (or even just a single spatula) is durable, practical, and surprisingly fun—from the fish turner I didn’t know I needed to a peeler that actually peels! You don’t even have to buy it from Williams Sonoma; I’m sure there are other affordable stainless steel spatulas out there.

It’s a bit of an investment, but it’s a gift any cook will actually use—and appreciate—for years to come.

I’m a huge coffee addict, so when I say this tea is worth trying, I really mean it. DavidsTea has some of the most creative, delicious blends I’ve found anywhere.

Take Valerian Nights, for example—a calming, caffeine-free tea with notes of caramel and coconut. It’s cozy, comforting, and perfect for winding down.

And now that I’m browsing their site again (dangerous), I see a whole new lineup of flavors I’m dying to try: Pumpkin Earl Grey, Lavender Buttercream, and Candy Cane Crush—a peppermint tea with white chocolate and candy-cane pieces. There’s even a tea advent calendar!

My cart is already in trouble.

I first discovered sassy cross-stitch while my husband was deployed and I was spending an inordinate amount of time watching sappy romance movies. These snarky little patterns kept my hands busy and made me laugh with their humorous twists. Guests have even snapped photos of the ones hanging in our home!

This gift is like a reversible jacket—it can work two ways.
Option 1: You stitch the design yourself and give the finished piece as a handmade gift.
Option 2: If you have crafty friends, you can wrap up the pattern (and maybe a hoop, needles, and floss if you’re feeling ambitious) and give them their own sassy DIY kit.

The best part? Etsy has a cross-stitch pattern for almost anything you can imagine—National Parks, dinosaurs, Welcome Baby designs, video-game memes, and everything in between.

Fair warning: some patterns get very sassy. But with the sheer amount of selection, you’re practically guaranteed to find something to tickle every kind of funny bone.

Just search cross stitch patterns on Etsy, or follow the link below to get started.

Cute, festive, and just a little punny, I designed Roxy Moon notebooks to capture the magic of the seasons—and bring a smile to your face while you get creative!

A perfect, affordable holiday gift under $10 for writers, journalers, or anyone who loves cute stationery.

This is an Amazon affiliate link. That means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you!

I used to work at L.A. Burdick’s back in the day as a barista. ☕

When I was young, Larry Burdick displayed a little selection of chocolate mice on the counter inside the general store, but his tasty treats have grown into a chocolate empire spanning seven cities today.

And with good reason!

His handmade chocolate mice, penguins, and all manner of seasonal critters are simply delish! 

I often send them out as wedding gifts. The larger sets come beautifully packaged in wooden boxes crowned with a golden seal.  I’ve never had any complaints about the adorable and delicious chocolate morsels inside.

They also have hot chocolate packages.  And for the dark chocolate lovers out there, there’s even a whole collection of single source chocolate with unique flavor profiles from around the world. 

These chocolates can get a bit pricey, but they’re absolutely worth it for special occasions or as an extra-memorable treat. It’s the kind of gift that feels thoughtful, indulgent, and wonderfully unexpected.

Have you ever heard of The Strand Bookstore? It’s one of my favorite places in New York City.

This iconic, sprawling shop boasts more than 2 million used, new, and rare books—and I’ve discovered some real treasures there.

Beyond books, The Strand also offers a slew of bookish merchandise: notebooks, tote bags, pencil cases, mugs, and even goodies featuring beloved children’s literature characters.

If you’re searching for a rare edition or looking for literary-themed gifts, their website is a wonderful place to start. And if you ever find yourself in the Big Apple, I highly recommend carving out a little time to wander through the stacks—it’s pure magic for book lovers.

I first discovered PhoenixCrate because they’ve featured several of my favorite authors—and I’ve been hooked on the noblebright fantasy genre ever since.

Think of it like a jelly-of-the-month club, but for indie fantasy books. Each monthly box is built around a theme and includes 1-2 indie fantasy novels along with thoughtfully curated bookish goodies that match the vibe.

You can browse past collections and themed gifts in their shop, which is perfect if you want to pick out something special without committing to a full subscription.

It’s a unique, delightful gift full of surprises for the fantasy reader in your life. And as a bonus, PhoenixCrate designs each box to be appropriate for readers ages 12 and up, making it a fantastic option for teens and adults alike.

Growing up, my mom always cooked with cast iron, but as a young adult I never had the patience for it. For years I was all about slick, easy nonstick pans—until recently, when I finally came full circle and discovered how wonderful it is to have at least one good cast iron skillet in the kitchen. They sear meat beautifully, crisp up potatoes like a dream, and are basically a breakfast lover’s best friend.

So I did a little happy dance when I discovered Lodge’s Blacklock cast iron skillet. It’s noticeably lighter than traditional cast iron, but still delivers that incredible heat retention and sear. (Fun fact: Lodge is America’s oldest family-owned cast iron foundry, dating all the way back to 1896!)

Right now, Williams Sonoma has a great discount on their Blacklock skillets, or you can browse even more cast iron cookware on Lodge’s official website.

I got hooked on Shutterfly when I made a scrapbook for our wedding and promptly entered a full-blown scrapbooking phase. (I still love collecting postcards, ticket stubs, and little keepsakes—I just haven’t had the time to make a new scrapbook lately!)

Then I discovered their huge selection of customizable photo gifts, and became a lifelong fan.

We’ve made photo books for everything from our son’s first year to our trip to London. I have a mousepad filled with family snapshots that always makes me smile. We’ve ordered playing cards, wine stoppers, calendars, Christmas ornaments, and cards as gifts for family and friends—my aunt even has a blanket with a life-sized photo of all her grandbabies on it.

Shutterfly offers a nearly endless variety of customizable gifts featuring your favorite photos, and they almost always have a sale or discount running. If something you love happens to be full price, just give it a little time—chances are it’ll be on sale soon.

My lovely godmother gifted my son the cutest children’s book–themed onesies, and I’ve been in love with Out of Print ever since.

Their baby onesies are adorable, with nods to beloved classics like Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings, and Babar.

But the fun doesn’t stop with babies—Out of Print carries bookish apparel and accessories for all ages, and you can even browse their shop by author or book title.

It’s the perfect bookish gift for readers of all ages.

We could debate the practicality of gifting candles—unless you’re dealing with winter power outages—but wood wick candles add such a cozy warmth to the season that I couldn’t resist including them.

I first discovered wood wick candles at the Bryant Park Christmas Market and have loved them ever since.

Now days, you can find these candles everywhere—both from the mainstream WoodWick brand (owned by the same parent company as Yankee Candle) and from small independent chandlers at farmers markets and craft fairs.

Fair warning: wood wick candles do require a little maintenance, but that gentle fireplace-crackle makes it completely worth it.

Here’s a super quick guide if you’re new to them:

• First burn: Let the wax melt all the way to the edges to avoid tunneling.
• Trim the wick: Keep it at ⅛ inch before every burn—about the size of a grain of rice.
• Burn time: Aim for sessions of 2–4 hours, not an all-day marathon.
• If it won’t relight: Snap off any charred wood at the top and try again.

I was sad to discover my favorite chandler in New Mexico—maker of an incredible piñon pine candle—has gone out of business. 😢

During a bit of online browsing, I found Ralph Fields, an independent chandler in Texas with a similar scent. They offer both traditional cotton-wick and wood wick options, and I’m tempted to give them a try.