Gift Guide

This is not your usual gift guide.

Usually when you hear the phrase « gift guide » you think of a list of things curated for a specific genre of person. I’ve been known to browse buzzfeed gift guides from time to time... but this is not that. This is a one size fits all process to get ANYONE in your life the perfect gift, tried and tested by all the women in my family (who are NOTORIOUSLY good gift givers)

1. Something Useful

People are always happy to receive something they can use. Do any of you have that family member that always sends the most random stuff that you know will either take up space, collect dust, wind up getting donated, or all three? One year I received a « waterproof » phone pouch that still had sand in it... I hate discarding gifts, or not using them, especially because I know someone thought I would like them and I wouldn’t want any of my gift recipients to feel the same. So, getting your loved one something you KNOW they will use is a sure fire way to make sure there are no hard feelings on either side, plus ! Each time they use your gift they’ll be reminded of you and your thoughtfulness :))

2. Something Sentimental

All those memories you have together? Now’s the time to put them to use! This works for any range of acquaintance, from best friend to colleague.

The closer you are, the more time you’ve spent together, and that the more “data” you have. Think about what they love and get it for them! Could be that they are tea addicts (like me) and so you get them a mug with their favorite tea(s). Or, even better, think about something you two did together. Think back to the first time you did things, or the moments in which you bonded, and turn those experiences into mementos.

One year I gave one of my close friends an Aesthetic Booklet, basically a real life Pinterest board of all her various aesthetics. I knew that was something we both payed attention to, and had become close through a photoshoot so it was a natural choice. Another idea is to annotate a book, I’ve done this on two occasions: one with a book about best friend-ship and one in a book of poems. It adds a personal touch to an otherwise potentially boring gift. too many times I haven’t gotten around to reading books I’ve been gifted, but knowing they’re annotated, with little surprises throughout makes me want to read on. Plus it’s extra nice knowing that the person who gave it to you has read these same words and thought about you.

For a coworker it can be less personal of course. Do you remember them mentioning that they like matcha lattes? What about struggles to be comfortable in their office chair? Try to retrieve any tidbits of information they’ve given you as to their likes and dislikes. My personal favorite is to bake their favorite food. It’s literally foolproof. Overall a sentimental gift should say “I know you, you’re important to me and I have fond memories with you”

3. Something Funny

No not a joke gift, well it could be, but it can also be much more. I’m talking INSIDE JOKES. Embroider it, personalize socks, flasks, whatever you can put words on, immortalize your nonsensical inside jokes on some (potentially useful) object. Usually that’s the direction I go, but it depends on the joke. Think about your inside jokes and how that could be transformed into a tangible object. I once started a tradition of giving my friend a watermelon on her birthday because that was our codename for her crush. Be creative!

4. Something Experiential

My mom’s #1 gift giving trademark is one tangible item and one experiential gift. This can be adjusted based on budget, ranging from a plane ticket to see each other (LDR type beat), a weekend getaway, a night out, or a coffee date. It could reference something sentimental like the first time you hung out, or their favorite park/happy place.

This type of gift can involve you or it can be a solitary event for the giftee. You could plan a day together, a scavenger hunt, or give redeemable coupons for fun things to do together. On the other hand, if you want to give them some alone time consider a massage or pottery class, maybe a workout class if they’re more into fitness.

Whenever I ask people about their favorite gift they’ve ever received, 90% of the time it’s something experiential, something that allowed them to make memories and that they wouldn’t have given themselves.

I do want to note that this can be difficult currently due to Covid social distancing rules, but there are work arounds. Consider sending them a cocktail kit and the having a zoom happy hour, sign them up for zoom yoga, or (weather permitting) send them a picnic basket of food and meet them at a park. Especially now, it’s important to find ways to connect with one another and make new memories so this kind of gift would feel extra special.

These four categories are KEY for finding the perfect gift, but what’s great about them is how they overlap. You can find something funny AND useful or sentimental AND funny, the options are endless! Some of this stuff is probably common sense to some of you but for people who were seriously stuck I hope this helped your gift giving wheels start turning. One more thing to mention is to BUY LOCAL if you can. Especially during Covid it’s important to support local businesses so go out and browse (safely!! With masks!!) or even better browse online using Etsy or this new app Miiriya that’s like Amazon for black owned businesses! If you think of a good gift see if it’s available in any local stores before you order it online. Happy Holidays to all and to all good gift giving luck (but you won’t need luck if you read this 😉)