Simple Holiday Gift Guide
Truth be told, Christmas has to be one of my least favorite holidays of all time. I know, I know. I’m such a scrooge! I just really don’t enjoy all of the hoopla that seems to coincide with the entire month of December. I much prefer Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and even Thanksgiving! Traditions based solely around great food and the people I care about most far outweigh the stress of decorations, gift giving, and endless social gatherings.
I know I’m probably in the minority when I say all of that, but I wanted to preface this post with the truth. We actually stopped giving gifts on my side of the family several years ago. I’m the youngest of five (by a lot), and it just turned into more of a hassle and stress than it was worth. Instead, we started going on a big family trip every other year. We’ve visited Palm Springs, southwest Utah, Hawaii, and northern Michigan to-date. The memories from those trips far outweigh any physical gift I’ve ever received. I would highly recommend creating a similar tradition if your friends and family are looking for a different way to celebrate!
With all of that said, I’m also entering into a whole new season of life now that we have Marin. She will only be five months old during this holiday season, but future celebrations will likely look a whole lot different than they have in the past. I’m still not quite sure how we will celebrate, but I do know one thing for sure, traditions are extremely important to me, so we will establish something perfect for our little family when the time comes.
For those instances when I do still need to have a gift on hand, however, I treat it like I do most everything in my life - SIMPLE. We own just about every single item shown below, and they are some of the most well loved pieces in our home. I like them so much that I would gift them to those closest to me, and I think your friends and family might like them too!
But if you’re really in a pinch, stick with my favorite go-to in any situation… head outside, snip a few branches, throw them in a vase, and deliver them with love.
s i m p l e g i f t s
Baja Backpack : Backpack, diaper bag, purse - whatever you want to call it, it’s seen a ton of use around here and I would recommend this bag to anyone. Relatively small yet holds a TON of stuff. If you’re worried about the natural color getting dirty, the Black and Ochre options are sleek too.
Salmon Lover’s Box : We buy just about all of our seafood from Sea2Table, and I would be more than happy to receive a giant box of salmon for the holidays. The quality is top notch and I love supporting a great company.
Western Boot : I’ve mentioned my love for these boots several times, but I just can’t get enough of them. Comfortable, easy to get on and off, sturdy, and sleek. They are my ideal fall/winter boot. I’d say they run true to size although a little narrow right out of the box. My tip? Wear some thick socks the first time or two and they will stretch out perfectly.
Wool Pillow : Territory Design is run by two amazing women who work with independent craftspeople to create the most beautiful home goods. The wool for this pillow is sourced locally and the dying and weaving is done in a family-run workshop in the Sierra Norte Mountains.
Linen Sheet Set : I’m a lover of all things linen, but no more so than linen sheets. They are the perfect all-season fabric, and this set from Parachute Home is my favorite. We have a set on our bed as well as our guest bed. Marin even has a linen crib sheet!
Day Market Tote : This is a wonderful everyday tote as well as work bag. It looks incredibly polished but functions for the every day. It could be a great diaper bag as well.
Fleece Better Sweater : The perfect addition to anyone’s closet, this quarter zip fleece is nice enough to be worn out and about but cozy and comfortable for lounging around the house. Tyler and I both have one and wear it several days a week.
Local Honey : My mother-in-law gives us a big jar of local honey every single year, and it’s one of my very favorite gifts. I would highly recommend searching for a honey local to you, but if that’s not possible, Bushwick Kitchen is a great company to support. We have their Sriracha and it’s fantastic!
Stasher Bags : I bought several snack-size Stasher Bags and am gifting them to the college girls at Marin’s daycare. I’m throwing in an Eos lip balm and a gift card to our local coffee shop. Simple but super practical!
Blundstone Boot : Tyler and I both have a pair of these boots, and they are the ultimate everyday footwear option. Paired with a great sock, they are perfect for just about any winter day in Indiana.
Stacking Toy : Toys that are simple and beautiful are always my go-to. I also like supporting small businesses on Etsy!
Bison Trail Socks : Tyler and I have both worn United By Blue socks in the past, but their new Bison Trail Socks are the BEST. It’s basically the only sock I’ve worn since they arrived in the mail. Anyone on your list would love these.
Knives : These knives are both beautiful and incredibly well made. We love ours and would recommend to anyone.
Lip Balm : Like I stated above, I’m throwing one of these lip balms and a gift card to our local coffee shop into a Stasher Bag for the girls that take care of Marin every week. Simple, sustainable, and a practical gift for anyone on your list!
Origami Vase : You can’t go wrong with a great vase!
Octopus : The CUTEST stuffed animal for the little ones in your life. I haven’t bought this for Marin yet, but it’s only a matter of time…
French Butter Keeper : We fill ours with local Amish butter and use it almost daily. I love how beautiful the container is and having soft, spreadable butter on hand feels like the ultimate luxury.
Beanie : Tyler and I both wear these beanies and they are the best. We get ours at the local farm supply store for less than $10. They just can’t be beat.
Phone Case : It’s tough to find a great phone case, but Tyler recently purchased this one and it looks great and functions well.
Play Mat : Form and function meets yet again. I bought one of these for Marin and love how beautiful yet simple it is.
Baking Mat : Instead of parchment paper, this reusable mat is a wonderful kitchen staple. I love using ours to bake bread!
Spice Set : Oaktown Spice Shop is one of our very places to stop whenever we’re in Oakland, CA visiting my sisters. They have the best spices, and this set would be the perfect gift for anyone on your list.
Arizona Sandals : Tyler and I both have multiple pairs of Birkenstock Arizona sandals, and they are the most comfortable footwear I own. Pregnant in the summer? These shoes are your lifeline. :)
Hand Lotion : I’ve been using Aesop hand lotion for years, and it is still my absolute favorite. The scent is fantastic - Tyler even uses it.
This post is not sponsored or in partnership with any of the aforementioned brands but the article contains affiliate links. When you shop via the links above I may make commission on a sale at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.