The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide 2021
This has become part of my holiday tradition now - piecing together my favorites from around the interweb for you dear readers! This is my ultimate list of giftable goodies this year - and we’re featuring everything from small biz, to sustainable, to Amazon, to even big ticket items and more!
My take is this, and this is just the way I personally view gifting for my friends and family - when I can, I use my dollars to support small business, B-corporations, or companies who demonstrate sustainability efforts. BUT, on the other hand, I don’t always have the immediate funds to invest in a gift that checks all those boxes, OR I simply can’t find what I’m looking for on a small business scale. The reality is that there are many many people who rely on Amazon, whether its because of financial necessity, or accessibility to certain goods and I do consider it a personal privilege of mine to avoid Amazon if I choose to. Not everyone has that option, and so to make this as inclusive as possible, I’ve tried to provide a variety of gifts, price points, and access!
I hope you find inspiration from my lists this year, and if you want MORE, check out guides from years past here:
Coming Soon…Kids Holiday Gift Guide 2021
The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide 2020
The Ultimate Guide to Kids Holiday Gifts 2020
Small Business Focused
Fun Accessories
Personalized Leather Dopp Kit: Love the unique style and look of this with a feminine twist!
Grateful Heart Gratitude Journal: a beautiful journal to help inspire your daily gratitude practice.
Customized Leather Cup Sleeve: For your reusable coffee cup, a beautiful personalized stocking stuffer!
Travel Journal and Planner: For the wanderlust, plan out your adventures in this gorgeous journal!
Jewelry
Simple Turquoise Hoop Earrings: I’m loving simple jewelry with an interesting twist, and this multisized hoop set is perfection.
Gold or Silver Circle Hair Clip: Another minimal and classic embellishment - this is in my cart!
Noonday Jewelry and Accessories: If you want ethical and fair trade jewelry AND to support a small business, this company is amazing.
For the Foodie
Vintage Cake Stand: This is not only a functional part of your kitchen, but a beautiful vintage piece for display! Pair with your favorite cake cookbook for a complete gift.
Ceramic Mortar and Pestle: For the home cook who wants to up their game, grinding your spices is next level! This is a beautiful mortar and pestle anyone would want on their counter. Pair with some organic whole spices for a complete gift.
Copper Spoon Rest: Love mixing and matching textures and finishes in my home design. Copper is always a hit! Pair with a handmade wooden stir spoon and a really nice jar of pasta sauce for a complete gift.
Salt Pinch Pot: Beautiful hand made pinch pots for your alt - another functional AND beautiful gift. Pair with a really nice luxe salt as a complete gift
Around the House
Handmade Trinket Tray: Beautiful handmade trinket tray for your bedside table to add a pop of style!
Color Art Print: A beautiful happy print to brighten any pace in your home or office.
Cloud Blue Double Wick Safer Candle: With a beautiful matte cloud blue vessel, two wicks, and the scent of your choosing, it is the perfect candle to display in your home this Fall.
Turkish Towels: I absolutely love the look and lush feel of turkish towels - you can even personalize them if you want!
Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket: Love me a a weighted blanket, and even better if its cozy!
Personal Care & Beauty Products
Beautycounter Holiday Collection: Literally something for everyone here!
Primally Pure Safer Skincare Products (use the code JESS10 for 10% off your first order!)
Gifts with a Sustainable Side
These gifts are from the company Uncommon Goods - which is a B-Corporation that cares about people and the planet! If you want to shop exclusively from B-Corporations, download my FREE B-Corporation guide for inspiration.
Experiences
Classes/Kits: Absolutely obsessed with Uncommon Goods, a B-corp with incredible gifting options. They have a whole section on gifting experiences! Sign me up for the macrame class!
Personal Care & Beauty Products
Shower Steamers: For those of us who aren’t into baths, but still want to feel pampered, I love these shower steamers - great ingredients too!
100 Things to Do for Your Well Being Bucket List: a really fun scratch off poster with tons of inspiration for caring for yourself!
For the Home:
Pollinator Garden: Love the uniqueness of these 3 gift set! We planted pollinators this year and love to watch the birds, bees, and butterflies hover.
Vintage National Park Topography Map: A really cool piece of wall art for any collection!
Plant Propogation Bookends: NEED. Never not reading or propagating over here!
For the Foodie
Mexican Kitchen Towels: I love the fun and bright colors of the Mexican style, these would look beautiful in any kitchen!
Hand Crafted Wooden Salad Set: I’ve been searching for a wooden salad set for serving to friends and family, and this one is GORGEOUS.
These are clothing companies that have a sustainable or ethical side to the sourcing and manufacturing - I’ve indicated some of my favorite must have items from each!
The Bluebird Collective
Capsule Wardrobe: Order a custom secondhand capsule wardrobe with Caroline and I promise you will not regret it! You not only get clothing items picked especially for you, but you get to experience the really cool thrill of second hand clothing!
Patagonia
Worn Wear: Buy used gear or earn trade in credit on Pataognia gear here!
Athleta
Cozy Karma Asym Pullover: Never not on my list.
Bombas Slipper Socks: I’ve been covering these workout tights for over a year, and they’re also on my personal wish list!
Kinetic Waist Bag: Embrace it, the fanny is here to stay.
Able
Harriet Slouchy Sweater: An heirloom investment piece. I want to live in this sweater.
Elsa Trinket Tray: Perfect little bedside tray for your earrings, watch, wallet, etc.
Selma Stacking Ring Set: A while back I replaced my engagement/wedding set with simple rings from Able - I love this unique stacking set - so dainty!
Pact (use THIS link for 20% off your first order + Free shipping)
Sweater Dress: Absolutely want. no need.
Honeycomb Knit Crew: Classic style, super cozy.
Underwear: My favorite organic undies and bras for stocking stuffers!
United By Blue
The Responsible Flannel: Need one in every color tbh.
The Recylced Sherpa Sidekick: If a backpack could look cozy, this is it.
Stoneware Mugs: Love the gorgeous handmade feel to these mugs!
Gifts Available on Amazon
Kitchen and Home
Bluetooth Record Player: I’ve been very interested in creating a cozy home, and I love the classic look and feel of a record player paired with tech!
Noise Cancelling Headphones: for the noise sensitive parent who might need to decompress
Mexican Blankets: I really want to snag a few of these for our outdoor spaces. Love the pop of color and fun that it brings!
Botanical Wall Art: Eyeing this set for a neutral and calming addition to our wall art.
Geometric Metal Wine Rack: Pop this funky wine rack on top of your counter, and you’ll get endless compliments!
The 24 Hour Wine Expert: For the person who loves wine, wants to know about wine, but only just enough to get by.
Ceramic Waffle Maker: Bon Appetit and Amazon declare this to be the best waffle maker of all time, so who am I to argue?
Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug: You def don’t NEED an electric coffee mug, but now that I have one, I never want to go without it.
Glass Essential Oil Diffuser: Love the really upscale look to this diffuser - excited to snag it and make my house even MORE cozy!
Outdoor Enthusiasts
Hammock with Stand: Eying this outdoor hammock for our backyard oasis. Highly rated, and brightly colored!
Headlamps: We were just talking about how one of the major bummers of camping is not being able to see after dark - headlamps for all!
Glow in the Dark Playing Cards: Why stop the card playing when you’re camping if your cards glow in the dark!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs: This book looks so dang cool!
For Fun
Ukelele Kit: Been talking about starting a new hobby, and ukelele is at the top of my list!
Embroidery Starter Kit: Just call me Grandma, but I want it.
Portable White Noise Machine: Now that I’m an adult and need all my things to sleep properly, I’ll never go anywhere without white noise again.
Watering Can: I’m also a plant lady. Need this gorgeous and classic watering can for when I putz around and water my plants every morning.
Bigger Ticket Items
These gifts may be an investment, so meant as a family gift, or a good splurge if you find a good Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deal!
A new bike - I’ve been really wanting a bike now that all of us can ride one, this is definitely a bigger ticket item for us so it’s on my big wish list!
A Sleek Sparkling Water Maker: This has been on my personal wish list for quite some time now!
Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker: For the coffee lover - the ultimate gadget.
Other Gifting Ideas
For the Reader
I love the idea of these book boxes from Reese’s Book Club! Super easy for the reader in your life!
Orrrr, you could snag 12 of the past Reese’s book club books and gift them to the reader in your life for a book a month for the WHOLE YEAR!
For the Foodie
Bon Appetit Magazine - 12 issues is the gift that keeps on giving!
Sur La Table Cooking Classes - really affordable classes to choose from for the home chef.
For the Eternal Student
Masterclass - I always include this because it is so much fun to learn different things!