Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Jenny’s Holiday Gift List (For Adults)
Posted by Jenny M. on 12/10 @ 10:42 AM
Over the years, our family has whittled holiday gift-giving down to Draw-a-Name Exchanges for both siblings and cousins, making lists of gifts to give and get manageable (and presciently appropriate in this economy). Nevertheless, I always enjoy perusing the catalogs for cool stuff and culling good ideas from magazines’ gift-giving guides. Here is a list constituting a combination of items I either admire, would really like to have or would really like to give.
Photo via MarthaStewart.com
Jenny
Anthropologie's Monogram Shop
Though I am not generally a fan of monogrammed items, I have to admit to being taken aback by Anthropologie’s Monogram Shop. I love the bracelets and necklaces. They are a great fusion of funky and “vintage” and would be great gifts for wives, moms, sisters…Missy has the mugs and lurves ‘em.
Kitchen Gadgets
I am asking for two items, related to the kitchen, this year: an apple corer (slip it in my stocking, please. I never thought I needed one until THIS year of packing lunches for three!) and a soup blender thingy. This is one of those appliances you don’t need till you really need it, and I really needed it the day I made hot soup explode out of my blender. And it isn’t so much fun transferring soup back and forth from pot to blender, either.
The Flip
My husband is not so much a gadget guy, content to use the same old technology from way back ever. Which makes him the only male on the planet who has not yet insisted upon a flat-screen TV. My other half is the videographer of the family, and yes, folks, he is still recording video on TAPES. And no, people, his cell phone does not take photos or video. SO, the perfect present for him is the Flip video camera, which he can slip into his pocket. I feel comfortable posting that Santa is likely to bring him one, because he is not likely to read this review.
Davidson's Teas
In terms of things I drink, I love water, coffee, wine, and beer (and grapefruit juice when I’m pregnant). In the winter, though, I love me a nice cup of tea before I go to bed. A friend of mine knows the family who owns Davidson’s Tea Company, whose teas are all certified organic. Just check out the kinds of dessert teas they offer: tangerine almond, cherries jubilee, raspberry cream caramel? They’re almost desserty enough to make you think you don’t need REAL dessert with your tea. I sent a sampler to my sister as an accompaniment to the teakettle we bought her for her bridal shower…so many possible gift ideas on their site.
Have a Drink On Me
Everyone should have a stainless steel water canteen by now, dontcha think? L.L. Bean has the “SIGG” designs.
For Your Inner Bookworm
For the readers in your life, here’s my list of books: for the traveler or vicarious adventurer, Amy Tan’s Saving Fish from Drowning; for cynical friends and family members who appreciate sarcasm, Jincy Willett’s Jenny and the Jaws of Live; for someone who’ll read poetry on his/her nightstand from time to time, Frank O’Hara’s Collected Poems (for the record, I have given away and replaced this book too many times to count…open to any page and read. Awesome poems). Two magazines I love, which would make great subscription gifts: Brain, Child and The Sun, a magazine for lovers of literature, essays, poems, and photography. There are no ads in this publication, only soulful writing. Buy it for the writer/thinker/reader you know.
Everyone Needs New Music
Okay, I will admit that I would also like an iPod Shuffle for Christmas this year (because I still have my first-generation iPod, and it’s like taking along a hand weight on my runs!). Some of the music I would load it with or that you could buy for others—better yet, buy the shuffle AND load it for someone else. Wouldn’t that be a sweet gift for a friend going on a trip, or to the gym, or who has to sit through long waits for doctor’s appointments?: John Mayer’s Where the Light Is (Live in Los Angeles); The Weepies’ Say I Am You; and Sara Bareilles’ Little Voice.
On the Practical Side: How About a Lantern?
I bought a Coleman battery-operated lantern, kind of on a whim, last summer. I don’t know how we lived without it! We used it at every outdoor summer party, and it came in SERIOUS handy when we had a lengthy power-out this fall. Every family should have one. Since the last power out, we also think we should stock up on some headlamps; here are some very reasonable ones from L.L. Bean. I can picture nighttime bug-hunts, carolling, and fort-building with these!
Giving for life: Heifer International
Our favorite charity gift in others’ names is to Heifer International. Here, you give a gift of animals that help families around the world sustain themselves and build healthier communities. You can buy a flock of geese or ducks for $20 all the way up to a heifer for $500. Download and print a great card to represent your gift.
Missy's Favorite Pressure Cooker
Let the pressure build up and then BLOOOOW! When Missy was pregnant with her second baby, instead of a bunch of new baby gear, her pals got her this totally groovy Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker. She uses it at least twice a week to make easy and yummy meals for her family. You can even sterilize bottle parts in it! Get the Pressure Perfect cookbook and off you go.
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December 10, 2008 @ 5:46 PM
bombaygirl said:
love your ideas. I have a pressure cooker and love it. We use it a lot in indian cooking…so its sort of a staple in indian kitchens. I saw the price on the one you linked too and almost fell off my chair! You can get a great one at any indian grocery store for about $50.