Holiday Gift Guide - 2023

‘Tis the season - the season of gifting. …or it’s coming up on us pretty quickly. Fairly regularly, I go through these (what some may consider manic) clean-out sessions. You know, the ones where you walk in your laundry room to put something back in its place, then realize the laundry room needs an overhaul? Yea, that happens a lot. But, I’ve noticed through the years the amount of time it takes to tackle those clean-outs are less and less.

That’s because I’ve been very intentional about what I allow to enter the doors of my home. I’m MUCH bigger on quality versus quick-wins these days and would rather invest in pieces of any kind that are going to last …from bedding to toys for the kids. With gifting season upon us, I rounded up a curated list of shops and products I’ll be shopping for or adding to my own list.

Enjoy, friend.

cheers to game night:

In my house, game night is a thing. It’s a way to get off of screens and enjoy each other's company. Are there fights over who gets to hold the spinner or who gets the green pawn? Sure. I just hope when the kids are older, they’ll remember the time mom smoked them in Go Fish.

I can’t tell you how many crummy games I’ve had to trash. Anthropologie and Amazon have some GREAT quality (yes, some more investment style) board games that are made to last the test of time and feral little kids (just mine?).

for the cook, hostess & mixologist:

If you’re going to do something - cook, mix drinks, sip your coffee - do it well. I could have, any maybe should have, made an entire catalogue of favorite gift ideas for the cook, the one who loves to bake (me), the coffee connoisseur, tea drinker, brunch lover, charcuterie maker, and parter thrower. For now, I’ve rounded up the gifts I’ll be gifting and I’m DEFINITELY adding that toaster to my own list.

for the little ones:

As much as I want to say this list is JUST for the kiddos, I can’t. A few of these items, like the Sunprint Tea Towel Kit or the Floral Paper Making Kit are definitely things I’ve dabbled in. Nonetheless, the same approach to quality and intention with gifts for kids applies here. …if not more than any other category. The kids section at any big box store gives me anxiety over the amount of everything under the sun.

I am all for sweet little toys scattered throughout my house as a shuffle my feet through the building blocks and stacking cups …but at least the colors are muted and on brand, right? Right.

hail to the homebody:

There’s no better gift than a pretty coffee table book for the homebody at heart. I have every single one you see below, plus dozens more, and I’ve bookmarked and dogeared them all. These are interior-design specific, but think about craft-related books for the artist at heart or cookbooks for your foodies. Books are easy, inexpensive, and personable.

for the art collector:

There’s no one that will convince me that the best art is the handprint of a child or a handwritten note from your great-grandfather. Mixed in with my priceless momentos of motherhood, family heirlooms, and original pieces, I love mixing in prints from other artists and funky typography. Artwork and art prints are great places to support local artists too!

Story and connection are everything when it comes to collecting pieces. So whether that’s a misspelled note from your four year old, a concert poster from someone you got to see live at The Ryman, or just something you saw and loved from Target, commit to loving it intentionally and it’ll mean so much more to you.


THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

personalized gifts:

Sure, you can put a monogram on anything and have it personalized. But think deeper than that. Think about the person you’re buying for and what ways you can go a custom route. On my list of gifts to gift, I’ll be creating a custom pennant from Oxford Pennant and using Artifact Uprising for photos of the kids as gifts.

companies that give back:

When my kiddos were babies, Toms shoes were the only ones that fit those club feet. Those single or double strap velcro shoes were what Finn, Isla, and Reid all learned to walk in. I love this company because I mean, duh, the shoes are super cute. But also, this company has a big sustainability and give-back mission. There are lots of companies that have wonderful missions to reduce the carbon footprint on the earth and give back to those in need. Bombas donates a pair of socks with every purchase. Thrive Cosmetics is where I shop for most of my skin care and makeup. Their product line is vegan and cruelty-free and on a mission to support a number of causes.

think experiences:

My two older kids are nine and eleven years old. They’re not so much into toys anymore as they are experiences. Some people hate on gift-cards and feel that it’s not the same as a well-thought-out tangible gift. Those who associate themselves as a gift-giver for their love language struggle with this. But my kids LOVE a good gift card stash. It’s an experience they get to have later or on their own time. Gift cards can be monetary, specific to a place like the zoo, movie theater, etc.

If you feel like you need to pair it with something tangible, pair it with something relevant to the experience. For example, some of my older nieces and nephews got a gift card to the movie theater and I tied it to a stove-top popcorn making kit. The note said “for a Netflix and Chill movie night at home or a movie night on the town.”

shop small business:

As MUCH as I can, I shop locally or small business. If you shop locally, this supports both the local business AND the town you live in (those tax dollars have to go somewhere). If not local to your town, look for small businesses online or on Etsy to support. I promise you, some business owner, new or seasoned, is working overtime and doing happy dances as you support their entrepreneurship dreams.


I’d love for you to comment different shops and products you might be purchasing that aren’t on this list! Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy the season of gifting thoughtfully and intentionally as we, more importantly, celebrate our time with our nearest and dearests.

xx,
Hope

 
 

by Hope Johnson | inspired by nostalgia and comfort


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