It seems like it is probably TOO LATE to take advantage of any gift ideas at this point; so many gifts, even on Amazon, are marked “arrives after Christmas.” Fortunately, we live in an area that has a large number of stores, so we can buy things in person. But I don’t particularly like going into stores. I suppose this is the tax I am paying for procrastinating.
Anyway. Here are some of the items we are getting for family members, items I’ve asked for, and items I’ve considered. In case you need inspiration – or in case, like me, you enjoy looking at gifts lists and feeling consumeristic panic build inside your soul reassuring yourself that you have done a decent job after all.
Also, if you know me in real life and we tend to exchange gifts: This is the point where you should stop reading, because I am going to spoil the surprise. (All images below from amazon or the website linked in the product name.)
Stanley Tumbler: This was Carla’s number one most fervently requested gift. EVERYONE has a Stanley, she told me. I did notice, when I volunteered at her school’s Book Fair recently, that quite a lot of kids have one. And it seems like most parents I’ve spoken to are getting their fifth grader a Stanley for Christmas as well. One of my friends said that her daughter’s teacher even suggested having “a Stanley day” in class, since so many of the kids had one (which is problematic in a lot of ways, but hopefully the teacher realized that after the fact and will not bring it up again). So I think this is a case where Carla has a fairly realistic read on the situation. (As opposed to “everyone has a phone!” which is patently false.) I will just say: I think this is an impractical and ridiculous item. The thing is enormous; it has a straw, which means it will be prone to leaking and also prone to molding; it is much too expensive for what it is. And yet I also understand the joy of receiving a thing that is completely on trend. So Carla is getting one. If it arrives in time for Christmas, which it may not.
Straw Covers: The Stanley requires accessories. Sigh. Fortunately, these are adorable and may help prevent leaks? At least they will provide a tiny bit of germ protection for the straw.
Puzzle: My husband is an enthusiastic puzzler, so I always like to get him a new puzzle for giftish occasions. This one seems like the perfect intersection of difficult but not too difficult. We ended up not getting this one for him, because my daughter wanted to order a custom puzzle that featured a photo of her with her dad, but this would have been my pick if she hadn’t felt so strongly.
Disney Puzzle: My sister-in-law requested a Thomas Kinkade Disney puzzle – I guess she and my niece have a collection of them, which I think is so sweet.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman: This book is on my own wish list. I adore this series.
ASL Flash Cards: I haven’t yet done so, but I’m leaning toward ordering these American Sign Language flash cards for Carla. (And for me to share.) One of our family members is losing their hearing, and we’ve discussed learning ASL so we can all continue to communicate. I feel like a class would be a better method, but these flash cards get good reviews and we all need to start somewhere.
Derwent Watercolour Pencils: My mother recently started learning how to paint with watercolors. She is so talented, it blows me away. I think she has all the supplies she needs for painting, but I came across these pencils and they sound like a fun way to add detail and texture to one’s watercolor art. Not sure if these will be something she ends up using a lot, but hopefully she will have a good time experimenting with them.
NeeDoh Cats: Carla has loved the NeeDoh balls in the past, and these cats are CATS, so I know she will love finding these in her stocking. Oh my gosh: there are PIGS too. Now I’m not sure what to do.
Slow Horses by Mick Herron: My husband specifically requested this book, so I’m getting it for him. (I really wanted to get him The Bee Sting by Paul Murray, but my local bookstore doesn’t have it.)
Stuffed Owl: My niece is really into Harry Potter and requested a white stuffed owl. An easy thing to say yes to!
Hogwarts Robe: As long as we’re on the subject, this dress-up robe would be perfect for my niece or other Harry Potter fans.
Harry Potter Sweets: We also got my niece some HP candy for her stocking.
Truff Hot Sauce: The regular Truff was a hit last year, and this year I’m getting the white truffle version for my husband. Or maybe I will buy mini bottles and give one to everybody.
Chocolate Tasting Kit: My husband sent me a link to a bar of chocolate, and since he has been terrifically difficult to shop for this year, I immediately went to the website to buy it. I noticed that there was a $55 threshold for free shipping, so perused the other options to see if there was anything else I needed to get him, and indeed! there was! I found this chocolate tasting kit, which would be so fun to do with guests OR with a daughter who loves chocolate as much as her father does. I also got a second kit for my parents, because I think they might enjoy doing a chocolate tasting party with some of their new friends. Long and boring story with a really great payoff alert: When I placed my order, I forgot to add the second tasting kit to my cart because I am an idiot; thinking about buying a gift is not the same as BUYING THE GIFT, you heard it here first. I immediately emailed the company to see if they could add on another kit to my existing order but did not hear back, probably because it was a Sunday. The next morning I got a notification that my order had shipped, so – worried about getting things in time for Christmas – I ordered a second tasting kit separately and paid a dumbass tax for shipping. THEN I got an email that they were going to send me a tasting kit and waive the shipping! So I had to call the company and ask if they could cancel the order I’d placed. And they did. I spoke to a real human being, who answered the phone after one ring, and who was completely lovely to speak to. So even though I do not like chocolate, this company has won my undying love and affection right out of the gate with their superb customer service.
Comfy: My daughter and husband bought me a leopard print Comfy a few years ago. My daughter adopted it and wears it all the time. Lately, she has been wearing it to sleep in so that she can get away with sleeping on top of her covers, which means she never has to make her bed. Gotta love a loophole. Anyway: my mother-in-law admired Carla’s Comfy when she visited recently, and so we are getting her a Comfy for Christmas.
Karaoke Microphone: Carla loves to sing and has been asking for a karaoke machine. This microphone seems like a good bet. Despite the complete disinterest of the children in the photo, whose hands look fake to me and also why are they wearing wigs.
Guitar Strap: This is one of the few things my husband specifically requested for Christmas, so he is getting one.
Leopard Print Heart Pillow: I am resisting buying this with all my might. Carla would LOVE IT. But… we just got her a bunch of new throw pillows. BUT IT IS SO CUTE. AND SOFT. AND LEOPARD. Do you need it? Does someone you know need it? It should be boughten.
Super Mario Wonder: This would be officially for my husband, but it’s a game he and Carla could play together.
The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel by Douglas Brunt: This book was specifically requested by my father-in-law, so it’s exactly what he’s getting.
Temporary Tattoo Pens: We have not had good luck, in our house, with things like makeup and face paint. But I know Carla would love these. Sigh.
Glitter Tattoo Art Kit: Oh wow. This is even better (and more potentially problematic for my particular kid) than the tattoo pens.
Friends Socks: My best friend needs these.
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett: My daughter loves graphic novels and Mac Barnett and cats, so this seems like a no brainer.
Ember Mug: My sister-in-law is getting this keeps-your-coffee-warm mug for Christmas. My husband has one and LOVES it. I guzzle my tea before it has a chance to cool, but for people who sip their coffee over long periods, this would be perfect.
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin: This book is on my own wishlist, but I’m also getting it for one of the avid readers on my gift list.
Bean Bag Chair: I am really wishing we waited for Christmas to buy this chair. Carla loves it SO MUCH and it’s big enough to have a real impact on Christmas morning. WHY did we not wait???? (My husband is of the opinion that a chair is not an appropriate Christmas gift, that’s why.) Anyway. Maybe you have someone who needs this chair. It is GREAT.
House Plant: This was one of the things I asked for this year. I would love to get a new house plant, especially if it’s one that requires very little in the way of attention or care.
Puck Sling Game: I am on the fence about this one! I think my husband and child would like it, and it might be fun to have another game that Carla can play when the neighbor kids come over. But… will it be fun enough to play more than once??
Tea Light Raclette: This may be something I have thought about for my mother-in-law before, but if so, I am thinking about it again. She loves raclette, and this takes up so little space.
Dogtown by Katharine Applegate: We got this for Carla for Hanukkah and she LOVES it. Has already finished it. If you have a kid who likes animals and stories told from the perspective of an animal, this is a good one.
Pet Adoption Truck Clay Craft Kit: This is another Hanukkah gift that was a huge hit. So many tiny clay dogs being made around here. We will probably get Carla another kit from Klutz for Christmas (maybe the candy cart?) because she loves them so much.
Book Light: I had zero ideas – ZERO – for what to get a friend of Carla’s for her birthday, so we went with a bookstore gift card, a bookmark, and a book light. Carla was very envious of the book light, so now she will get one in her stocking.
Bier Stein: We have an honest-to-goodness bar in our new house, and I think my husband would really like some fun beer steins from European breweries.
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Fountain Pens: Listen, I do not know why Carla wants these. All I know is that we saw them in a store and she said, with intensity and fervor, “I have always wanted a fountain pen.” They will fit in a stocking; done
Little Live Guinea Pigs: I feel like Carla is aging out of toys like this, which makes me want to buy her ALL THE TOYS. She loves these ridiculous Little Live Pets so much. So. Much.
Wordle Game: My sister-in-law turned me on to the existence of this game; she’s getting it for my mother-in-law. And I am in turn getting it for my parents, who do Wordle religiously. (Don’t we all?)
Walkie Talkie Robot: I hate robots. HATE. Carla is obsessed with them, and asks for them constantly, and yet once she owns one, she uses it five times and then it languishes forever in a closet. But. She put this item on her Santa list (does she still believe in Santa, or is she humoring me???) and added a note that said, “Please! Please!” so this is what Santa is getting her. I cannot wait to become super annoyed with it and then watch as she forgets about it in a week. (I know Elisabeth would say, “Just say no to a gift you will resent,” with her typical gentle zen, but I am not there yet, Elisabeth!)
Decanter: My father is getting a decanter this year. I liked the simplicity of this one, and the wood and leather accents add a nice masculine touch.
Taylor Swift T-Shirt: My kiddo is, like everyone else, obsessed with Taylor Swift. I like the positivity of this sweatshirt featuring a Bejeweled lyric. Or this T-shirt, also featuring a Bejeweled lyric.
Warmie: I feel like my daughter and my niece and everyone (including me) needs a warm-up-able stuffed animal.
Jog Belt: It seems a little weird to be thinking about the pool when it’s 30 degrees outside, but I think it would be fun to have a jog belt to wear in the pool. I don’t really like to swim, but I’ve heard that aqua jogging can be really good exercise.
Kendra Scott Gem Pendant: This is another “all the kids have one!” item on Carla’s wish list. Fortunately, her grandmother is buying one for her.
Pikachu Squishmallow: While my child does not need another stuffie, like, at all, she did request a Squishmallow… and she loves Pokémon, still, for some reason… so Santa is bringing her this. Please read this entire bullet with the concentrated resignation that I felt when placing the order.
Opopop Discovery Kit: I have a family member who is a HUGE popcorn fan, and this variety pack would be such a fun way to honor that passion.
Nodpod Sleep Mask: I have been having such a hard time sleeping in our new house because the lighting situation is so different from that in our old house. And I wake up so easily. Maybe this would be the solution?
Clip On Earrings: Carla still doesn’t have her ears pierced (topic for another post), but has been Very Interested in earrings of late. Her grandmother bought her a pair of these clip ons, and she wears them ALL the time, I think specifically because they look like they could be real earrings for pierced ears.
Hot Sauce: My husband loves these hot sauces. We lost them all in a power outage earlier this summer, and I know he would love a new set.
Pink Scrunchies: Carla is wearing her hair in ponytails or up in a clip lately, and pink is her new favorite color, so I think these would be a massive hit.
Claw Clips: She is also very much into claw clips, and this is a nice variety of colors and shapes for not a whole lot of money.
One More Chapter Sweatshirt: Pretty much everyone in my family could relate to this sweatshirt.
Bonne Maman Gift Box: For your jam loving bestie. (Or, in my case, husband.)
Soup Bowl with Handles: This was a request from my mother. How could I resist Snoopy??? Although I have to admit, I was strongly tempted by this set of colorful polka dot mugs, which would work well as soup bowls. I have a set in a more regular size, and I looooove them. So cheery. I also really like this soup and sandwich combo.
Colorful Tights: Carla has been really into wearing shorts over black tights this year. I wonder if she would be interested in adding some colorful tights to the rotation?
Bar Glasses: This is me really stretching for gift ideas (my husband’s family sends wish lists around to one another, so I have to come up with SOMETHING), but it might be fun to have some new drinkware for the bar. We don’t have any old fashioned glasses. I like these elegant beer glasses as well. These are fun (they feature the Rockies!) but seem hard to clean.
Bananya Card Game: My daughter has become recently enamored of a ridiculous “show” on TV about these little cats that live inside bananas. I think it is targeted to a MUCH younger audience, but she thinks it’s adorable. She would love this game, and cards always make for good stocking stuffers.
Mini Espresso Machine: My husband has been talking about getting an espresso machine… but then explicitly told me not to get him one… but he keeps talking about wanting one. So I am fretting a little about whether I should have bought him this or not. Will I panic buy it at the last moment? Who’s to say.
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent: Birchie recommended this book to me and I loved it and now I am buying it for one of the book-loving people on my gift list.
Waffle Maker: What I DID buy him is a waffle maker. He has fallen in love with Liege waffles and this waffle maker supposedly makes nice, fluffy waffles.
Pearl Sugar: My (very limited) understanding of Liege waffles is that they contain pearl sugar, so I got a bag of pearl sugar for my husband’s stocking.
Woodworking Kit: My dad and Carla have been doing a decent amount of woodworking together. My dad showed her how to use a drill and a saw and they made some elaborate creations together. So Carla circled a bunch of woodworking kits in the Mindware catalogs we get biweekly this time of year. I think my dad is putting together his own version of a kit for her, which I think is so adorable.
This list feels incomplete while at the same time being overly long, but this is what I have! What are the hot ticket Christmas items for the people in your life?
I have a Yeti which is quite large, but I fill it with ice and my flavored water. You remind me that I need to scrub it out periodically. I’ve heard good things about Cronin (haven’t read him yet) and enjoy the Thursday Murder Club mysteries. The glitter gift though, oh, my! I do not like glitter at all. These look like creative and wonderful gifts. I’m lost in admiration since I don’t gift give except to my grandsons. Note: my boyfriend and I always agree not to give gifts (we need to get rid of things, not accumulate more) then he presents me with a bag of goodies from Trader Joe’s. While I’ve stuck to the agreement and have nothing to give him. Sigh.
Well, isn’t that always the way! Sweet of him to think of you, but he should stick to the agreement!
I, too, have a 5th grader who asked for a Stanley. I AM SO TORN! It’s so pricey and she “forgets” her (bought in September, still usable) Owala water bottle on the regular. But, then I think about when I bought myself a Hydroflask (and one of those giant water bottles with the time and sassy sayings on the side) because I was jealous of everyone else’s.
I always love your lists and get such great ideas from them! I am about 85% complete – but what I have left is teacher gifts, which I am dreading.
Why is this such a popular thing among the fifth grade set?!
Good luck with the teacher gifts. I 100% only give money, and to the class parent who arranges a gift card. It is not personal at all, but it is something!
Your list of gifts is AMAZING! I am obsessing over the “comfy”. I’m pretty sure I need one of those! And the heated cup sounds wonderful. What lucky people to get such unique, fun, delightful gifts from you!
Thanks, Michelle! The comfy is amazing. I hope you find someone who needs it!
For learning American Sign Language, https://lifeprint.com/ is a great site with videos. I keep meaning to learn ASL, maybe 2024 will be the year!
The Wordle game looks perfect for my mom and stepdad, who are notoriously hard to shop for, thank you for this list!
Thanks, Charlotte! I will check out that site!
And yay for Wordle!!!
I actually really like my Stanley but I wash it obsessively and generally only use it at home because yuck.
Dorothy is getting one tonight for Hanukkah but a smaller one because SHE is smaller and loses everything.
She also is Very Into Kendra Scott, so I think this is a very accurate 5th grade girl read. Dorothy is also getting a phone. We got everyone a phone for their 5th grade Christmas **shrug**
It’s so much easier to drop them off in the dark (FOR ME) when I can also track their every movement
SARAH. I would never presume to say phones are right or wrong for anyone but my particular kid, and your reasoning makes total sense. I laughed at “because yuck.” RIGHT?!?! How many days before it is disgusting?????
Oooh I hope you get that yoga mat! You will never need another in your entire lifetime!
That chocolate story was a ride and wow, what great customer service. A chocolate tasting kit sounds really amazing, honestly.
I saw that Wordle game yesterday at Costco! Speaking of Costco, I found a huge snake plant there a few months ago for TWENTY DOLLARS. I love it so much and I put little gnomes in it, so it is a magical corner of the house.
Twenty dollars!!!! That is a great price! And a wonderful home for your gnome friends.
Also also also shorts over tights were totally my jam back in (I think) 1989-90, it was my LOOK. I’m excited that Carla is bringing that look!
It brings me great joy to think she is channeling 1980s/90s Nicole!!!
Also Coop has that robot!!!!! And I have the exact same relationship to it as the one you anticipate LOL LOL LOL
Gritting my teeth but going through with it!
You have so many good ideas here, and some I’ve already before reading (the silicone popcorn maker).
My daughters absolutely love the Comfy’s. They’ve had them for years.
Needoh is highly addictive. I could spend hours playing with it.
I have so many tabs open…time to go shopping! 🖤
Thanks, Kari! Isn’t the Comfy the best?!
Yes!
My niece got the comfy for her birthday last weekend and everyone wanted one. I’m not sure if she got it back at the end of the night.
For myself, I want the pasta puzzle and the Wordle game. We have a bunch of Wordle fans in the fam so I’ve course I’d be getting it to play with them.
I gave myself a good grease up with Bag Balm a few weekends ago and my skin is glowing. I definitely recommend it.
My final word is that you might think you don’t need the leopard pillow but that just means that you really need it. OK fine you can get it for Carla but you should definitely have one in your house.
Hahahaha – “a good grease up.” I love it. Cannot wait to try it out.
Any bottle with a straw is a no go for me. Straws are IMPOSSIBLE to clean! Ugh. Why so popular, Stanley?
My husband asked for a golf club. I can’t believe I have to go to Golf Galaxy and deal with this. How is this a thing?
Straws are awful! I have been purposely avoiding them for YEARS and all my work has come to naught!
Good luck at Golf Galaxy. That sounds… not fun.
I have asked for one of the travel/leakproof Stanley’s for Christmas. I bought a Yeti (for myself!) for Christmas 3 years ago and LOVE it and use it DAILY, but I really want one that I can toss into a backpack and have it not leak. I also have not been as good about drinking water lately – odd for me, I’m traditionally a big water-drinker – so I’m excited for my Stanley, too <3
What an impressive list.
And I am NOT zen, but I am trying very, very hard not to get gifts I might "resent" this year. But that rule works for me…and definitely not for everyone else (so you are a VERY FUN MOM! Go you!!!!).
You are also a fun mom. A fun mom who can ALSO recognize when things are going to make you into a grumpy mom. I have the recognition part down… but I’m in denial about my ability to mask my grumpiness.
My daughter wants a gift certificate to get a massage, so I will be getting her that, along with a basket for her room to put her hair curlers in. They are very big and she wants to be able to put them somewhere besides the bags they came in. My husband wants clothes. Pretty easy, assuming the store has anything in his style. Thanks for the Bag Balm suggestion, I hadn’t seen that one yet. I’m buying gifts for a young woman who lives in her car (to give via a local church) and I think that would be excellent to put in her gift bag, along with some fleece tights and a few other things.
Oooh yes the Bag Balm sounds great for your giftee! And the fleece tights. All the warm and anti-drying things.
My husband is a self proclaimed chocolate snob and I am so excited to get him a tasting box! Thanks for this post for the idea.
I hope it turns out to be great!
I just sent the link for the chocolate tasting kit to my mom, as a gift idea for Beth.
Oh yay! I ordered the first one on Sunday and already received it!
Oh, no it’s not too late to share Christmas gift ideas! I’m still shopping. One thing my daughter requested is sold out, and two others won’t arrive before Christmas, SIGH. So I’m looking for replacement items. And I still need gifts for my husband, arrg! I wish our daughters were a little closer in age, because some of these look awesome but are a little too young for my daughter. I’m actually thinking of the leopard heart pillow though! I can’t think too long since it comes from Anthropologie and I don’t know what their Christmas shipping schedule it. Btw, you still have time to get the espresso machine if you change your mind!
Jenny, SOMEONE needs to get the leopard heart pillow!!! I hope it’s you/your daughter!
The Stanley! My 12 year old has one and I expect it’ll go the way of the Figet Spinner eventually. It’s a pain getting my kids to clean their water bottles. They leave them sitting around in the kitchen and waiting for a magical fairy to take care of them. There is a set of straw cleaners just waiting to be used! Anyway, happy holidays! And thanks for the list!
We have a magical water bottle fairy, too. She must live in the car, though, because that’s where all our water bottles end up.
This has been so helpful. I’ve added the graphic novel to my cart. Kay is 11 and loves graphic novels. I’ve found a few other nuggest on this list. Oh, puzzled and maybe even the clay dogs. My biological kids will be opening almost nothing, because I’m so worried that the two newbies will not be happy with their gifts. I’ve never been so behind on my shopping. Ever. I’m trying not to panic.
I think there IS still time. Just maybe a more limited selection than ideal. But you will get it all done!
I have that same Stanley for work and I love it but it doesn’t seem like a good water bottle for school so I am surprised it’s all the rage among that group! I like that I don’t have to refill my water bottle during the day but I would never bring it with me anywhere since it’s so dang heavy!
We have all of our presents ordered and I’m planning to wrap them tomorrow on my day off. And then I’ll have to hide them since I don’t trust Taco to not unwrap things. But he keeps asking where all the presents are…
It seems very impractical for fifth graders, Lisa! My daughter is already terrible about consolidating things, always walking into school with a backpack, an instrument, her coat in her arms instead of on her body, juggling some sort of toy or book or project. Now she’s going to add a Stanley to the mix?!
Wait, is Bag Balm back again? My best friend’s Mom used to use it back in the 80s and she swore by it, but we used to always giggle because it was supposed to be for cow udders! I haven’t seen it since then and I guess I just assumed it was no longer around!
I have done something very similar to Paul in re the espresso machine. We had one in a hotel room on a trip this past summer, and he would bring me a teeny cup of espresso before I was even out of bed, and it was so nice to have coffee and scroll my phone before having to get up; and I started rhapsodizing about having a similar machine in our room so he could do the same at home! Then I looked into the price, and the machine itself was fine (I mean, expensive, but so is any appliance), but the cost of the pods made me realize I would not be able to enjoy it. And also I realized Paul always gets up hours before me, so the espresso-in-bed only works in a hotel room. So I told him not to buy me the machine. But I wonder if he’s wondering if he should do so anyway.
I was just talking to some friends about how the Stanley cup is THE GIFT this year for girls. Who knew?! Carla is going to be so excited about that present!
I bought a similar mug warmer for my friend’s birthday. I am someone who gets busy and forgets about my mug of coffee sitting in front of me, and suddenly it’s cold and disgusting to drink. Ack! Such a great gift idea!
I played that Wordle game with friends a few months ago and it’s so much fun! A great gift idea.
I don’t know why it tickled me so much, but Carla saying “I’ve always wanted a fountain pen” made me actually LOL. She’s amazing.
I… wow. I cannot imagine having a list this long. I am amazed you got anyone anything – I would be paralyzed by the sheer length of it.
Cannot wait to hear the outcome of the robot purchase, LOL.
Well, Christmas is long over and I finally get to read this post.
Anyway it’s coming up again, right.
I did gift that slip ng shot game to my godchild last birthday. I think he liked it. But I could ask if he played it more than once.
Books are always a great thing to gift especially when you know exactly what the recipient wants or if you have a good feeling about picks. Otherwise I find it difficult.
That chocolate customer service really came through, didn’t they. Did the chocolate taste good too?