The Holiday Gift Guide for 2017 is here, but you don’t need it.
I enjoy putting it together, so I do it, even though none of us needs more crap.
If you’re reading this, let me not be the first to tell you: you don’t need more crap.
I don’t. You don’t. The people you’re buying for don’t.
Since we’re all going to buy more crap anyway, here are my brilliant suggestions.
For Littles and Middles
Nesting houses or balancing blocks
For Tweens and Teens
Hydro Flasks are stupid-expensive, but all the teens at my son’s school have and love them, so this gift is a homerun.
A Multitool is our go-to graduation gift
Headlamps are always handy. My husband uses his for reading, cooking, home improvement, car work. These would be great for college students, too.)
Dry box for their gadgets
Cereal Killer spoon or t-shirt
A stocked toiletry kit
A strand of light up photo clips. For extra credit, print out a few photos from their social media account and hang it up on the wall for them to wake up to.
For Whimsical Friends (who love all things rainbow-sparkle-mermaid-unicorn-glitter)
Gluttonous (thanks Shari)
Print and frame or grab this mouse pad
A gorgeous platter Gah, it’s so pretty!
For Everyone Fighting the Good Fight
All things Emily McDowell. I want this, this, and this as well as all the other things.
Dumpster fire ornament
Boob stamps, because you can
Postcards, postcard stamps, and a sheet of pre-made labels with addresses for their government representatives
For Pretty Things Lovers
All things geode: ornament, coasters (thanks Diane), state-shaped trivets.
Anything from this store Her next shop update is November 29.
This tote bag couldn’t be more perfect
Penguin or Owl Tiny, adorable things are my favorite!
All I want is ardent admiration and love
For Friends (whose day jobs are smoldering piles of turds)
For Everyone Else on Your List
For the sweethearts that you are, complements with your coffee.
For when, even after decades of practice, someone still can’t fold a shirt.
For the parents, DNA testing kits. These are ½ off through Thanksgiving.
For anyone who doesn’t already have one, an electric kettle.
For anyone really, a ceramic bud vase phone stand or a wood phone stand or book ends from this great store.
For the sea lover, this wave necklace. Upgrade to the magnetic clasp and save everyone’s fingers.
For the perpetually cold, slipper socks or gloves.
For all the aunties and grandmas of the world, a copper planter filled with something pretty.
For the always sick and/or always on the go, a travel humidifier.
For all the dudes who don’t need another watch nor do they need more electronic gadgets nor do they need more grilling implements, whiskey glasses, a beard shaper, or Hamilton Paraphernalia.
For the traveler, or the person who loses everything, Tile.
For the athlete, trekker, trucker, a Road iD.
For the doomsday prepper, a mosquito net hammock. You know this is on my wishlist.
Stocking Stuffers
Card decks and a booklet of card games, as we’re going to need some way to entertain ourselves in the post-apocalypse.
Unscented lip-balm Those are my favorite, but these are good, too.
RX BARS The Chocolate Sea Salt are my favorite. These are very rich in flavor, but contain no added sugar.
Credits to print their social media photos
Soap for a good cause (I may order myself some)
The One and Only Gag-Gift
Books for Everyone
Her Right Foot (a cool video about the book)
The Smell of Other People’s Houses
Resistance, Rebellion, and Life
The Annotated African American Folktales
The Mask of Masculinity The more I think about gender, the more I think we need to focus first on deconstructing masculinity, as men will not change until they understand the full impact, on them, of all this bullshit.
Braving the Wilderness Buy all of her books for all of the people.
Love With a Chance of Drowning I am reading this now and it’s excellent. I can’t wait to read her most recent book.
Accidental Saints Cranky and tattooed Pastor Nadia; one of my favorite reads of the year.
Experiences Over Things
An experience is always a good gift. Give an adventure, a trip, a class, a museum subscription, a club membership.
Escape Rooms are all the rage, and families still Geocache.
Trampolines, bowling, laser tag and the like are all fun school break activities.
We gave my kid a flight lesson for his 13th birthday. For his 17th, his dad took him and two friends zip lining in the redwoods. A friend’s dad took her sky diving for her 18th birthday.
If you’re local to northern California, you could give the gift of a class at somewhere like the Sierra 2 Center, where I happen to be teaching a poetry workshop in January.
Money is Better
I have strong feelings against gift cards: corporations don’t need more of your hard earned money sitting in their assets columns. If you’re so inclined, just gift money. It’s better for people.
Worthy Causes
Together Rising is one of my favorite organizations as they get money and supplies on the ground very quickly in response to need. “One hundred percent of what Together Rising receives from every personal donation goes directly to an individual, family, need – not one penny goes to overhead, administrative costs, or salaries — unless you specifically request that we use your donation for those purposes.”
The ACLU has had a very busy year, as had The Southern Poverty Law Center.
Donate to a local election candidate.
Donate to local human and animal shelters, as well as local libraries.
Give the gift of a local newspaper subscription to someone who would enjoy it.
What are you buying this year? What’s on your wishlist?
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