2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Happy holidays!
I hope that you are enjoying the start to the holiday season. If you’re considering gifts or experiences for the people in your life, here are a few ideas.
for the PERSON WHO LOVES TO LEARN
To start out, may I joyfully suggest a copy of Expansive Impact: An Invitation to Lead in Everyday Moments? Here’s what a recent reader said. “This is the best leadership book I’ve read in 7 years .”
The book is currently in stock via Amazon, and via a number of favorite local bookstores. It is currently backordered on Bookshop, but they promise they will get more copies in soon.
Money or a gift certificate for coaching or other personal development opportunities (coaching circles, retreats, therapy, courses, or learning experiences). Note: we’ll likely have another women’s circle starting in early 2023, if you’d like to offer someone a gift certificate to apply to this experience.
A list of your favorite podcasts.
A subscription to Harvard Business Review.
A pack of the very best pens (Pilot G2s, .5) —and perhaps an extra pack for the person in the household who steals all of them…
Note: if you are leading a team and would like to buy a copy of Expansive Impact for others on your team, please feel free to drop me a note, and we can talk through the most affordable way to do so. Each bulk purchase of Expansive Impact comes with a facilitator’s guide and a participant guide.
FOR THE PERSON WHO LOVES TO READ
A digital gift card to Bookshop, an online book shop that supports independent book stores around the world.
A gift card from your favorite local bookstore.
A copy of your favorite book - perhaps with a fun sticky note stuck to a favorite page or passage.
This book light, which is perfect for late night reading, camping, dark early mornings, or if you’re staying somewhere that doesn’t have a lamp next to the bed. (thank you, Jenny, for telling me about this!)
These highlighters in the perfect muted colors, for your friend who shares your love of marking up the pages, Alexis style.
These page flags, for your friend who is horrified by how much your write in your books (and who is extra horrified by the fact that you dog ear the pages, even in hard cover books . . .)
A beautiful box from Reese’s book club.
FOR THE PERSON WHO LOVES TO TRAVEL & GO ON ADVENTURES
An AirBnB gift card.
Some of your leftover airline miles.
Money or a gift card to apply to an upcoming adventure.
A list of your favorite coffee shops, restaurants, and destinations in a place that you love.
A subscription to Adventure Journal.
A Homesick Candle, representing their favorite destination.
Hand and foot warmers, for staying warm during cold weather adventures.
The very best base layer of all time.
Some fun sunglasses for adventuring in style.
A notebook for keeping track of adventures and destinations.
These fun coasters - aren’t they adorable?!
A gift certificate for gas, to fuel their upcoming road trip.
Athletic Greens, for a boost of greens on the go.
The very best Wellness Formula, for staying healthy while traveling. Thank you, Dana, for first telling me about this amazing herbal supplement!
FOR THE PERSON WHO LOVES TO BE COZY AT HOME
A pair of flannel sheets from LL Bean (these are a total game changer for anyone who lives in cold climates, holy smokes!)
A pair of slippers from LL Bean. So warm and cozy.
A pair of UGG fleece lined slipper socks. (thank you, Jenny, for introducing me to these magical warm foot hugs in sock/slipper form)
Tazo Lemon Loaf tea, the most magical tea of all. (thank you, Amanda, for getting me hooked!)
Or, a cute bundle of assorted teas.
Your favorite candle.
The best joggers of all time (they really do live up to the hype).
A fuzzy vest, because what is better on a cozy cold winter morning?
A puffy vest, a fashion staple for many of us who spend time during the winter in the midwest.
Beeswax candles, which actually purify the air. (You can often find these at your local co-op or natural grocery store, as well.)
A stash of bamboo toilet paper in fun packaging, to save them a few grocery runs on cold winter nights.
FOR THE PERSON WHO LOVES TO COOK
Photo by Bobbie Harte
A box of Maldon Salt. It really is the best.
A fun set from Jacobson Salt Company.
A beautiful jar to put the salt in.
Your favorite olive oil. Or, perhaps olive oil in a gorgeous container that adds a pop of joy to the counter.
A gorgeous ceramic bottle to fill with oil and leave on the counter.
An Our Place pan in a fun color. . . or, perhaps the new mini!
A Caraway Home pot or pan, also in a fun color.
A copy of your favorite cookbook.
A fun dish towel. (Tip: IKEA and Trader Joe’s both have great, affordable dish towels as well.)
An invitation to do a cookbook or recipe exchange.
An invitation to serve meals together at a local food pantry.
An invitation to deliver meals together via Meals on Wheels, or another similar service in your area.
An invitation to cook a meal together for a mutual friend who is feeling overwhelmed, or perhaps for a family in need in your area.
FOR THE DOG LOVER
These fun doggie doo doo bags that look like take-out bags (just be sure not to mix them up with your evening’s leftovers. . . ). Use code 25FORU for 25% off.
A gift card to your favorite local pet store.
A cool buff or bandana, for adventuring in style.
A headlamp, for dog walks before the sun is up, and during dark, cold, winter evenings. Bonus: it doubles as a reading light late, if you’re camping or traveling without a bedside lamp.
A gift card to a local groomer or local doggie daycare.
An invitation to do a dog walk together, or to do a dog park date.
FOR THE PERSON WHO COULD USE SOME REST & RELAXATION
The very best shower steamers of all time.
Some Rishi lavender tea, or some Rishi Valerian Dream tea for a lovely way to wind down in the evening.
An offer to come over, watch kiddos, or help with some house tidying or cleaning, to lighten the load.
A gift card to a local spa, or —even better—a spa experience that you can do to together (whether at the spa, or whether at home with face masks and popcorn).
An invitation for an at-home spa day, complete with calming music and face masks.
This sleep mask, which is weirdly amazing, even for those of us who aren’t usually sleep mask people. It really does feel like a cloud covering your eyes and is pure magic. Thank you, Amanda, for introducing me to this when I had the opportunity to stay in your amazing spa guest quarters.
This truly luxurious bath oil (you only need a cap full per bath, so it lasts a very long time).
A fizzy bath bomb from Lush, or some beautiful smelling bath salts (you can often find the bath salts at your local Whole Foods).
A beautiful, at-home mani kit, free of common toxins found in nail polish.
The very best face oil.
FOR THE PERSON WHO LOVES COFFEE
A gift card to your favorite local coffee shop.
A coffee gift box from your favorite local coffee shop (either prepared by them, or prepared by you).
Ayurvedic pour overs - delicious, creative flavors and great for on the go (thank you, Rebecca, for telling me about these!) .
Copper Cow individual pour overs - the best coffee for on the go.
A coffee tasting, either at a local roaster —or perhaps a DIY coffee tasting at your home.
Some fun superfood creamers.
A handmade mug, made locally. Or, a colorful mug with a mind blowing cult following.
Dandy Blend, for the person who loves coffee but is trying to cut back.
FOR THE GUY IN YOUR LIFE WHO IS HARD TO SHOP FOR
Mixed nuts, a go-to option for the trickiest-to-buy-for. . .
Athletic Brewing, the best non-alcoholic beer, from a company that has experienced explosive growth in the last few years.
Pizza dough and an invitation to do a pizza night in.
Local maple syrup (or some fun barrel aged maple syrup) and an invitation to do weekend brunch at home.
FOR SOMEONE YOU’D LIKE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH
An invitation to lunch, coffee or dinner —your treat.
A list of all of the things you appreciate about the person.
A framed photo of the two of you together.
A book that you can read together and discuss along the way.
Tickets to the movies (old school!) and an offer to buy the treats.
Or, an invitation to a movie night in, complete with PJs and microwave popcorn.
An invitation to run an errand together.
An invitation to take a walk, hike, or to do a local microadventure together.
An invitation to sit together in the warmth of your local greenhouse.
An invitation to take a yoga class together.
What would you add to the list? Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.
Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!
A handful of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a very small percentage if you purchase something via these links.
