This Holiday Gift Guide is sponsored by The Honest Company.
And please note that I use all of the products listed below, and please note that they are things that I find cute, lovable, useful, crush-worthy, delicious, and very giftable. And please note that I ♥︎ your awesome self.
So Merry Christmas! um whatta?!
How did that happen? Thanksgiving’s gone by, the corn pudding is all gone, the sweet potato casserole with pecan crumble will not be seen again until dinner on December 24th, and I’m already very behind on my gift buying.
I am super excited to have the opportunity to share my first ever Pinch of Yum Gift Guide with you and get your input on what you like to buy for the peeps you love most. This year’s gift guide will come in three parts:
- Fun gifts for foodies
- Pretty gifts for fashion lovers
- Cozy gifts for bookworms
Some of today’s gifts might be a wee bit outside of the foodie box, but I assure you, they have a place in making my cooking adventures happier and I hope they can do the same for you and yours.
Fun Gifts For Foodies
I got my Swiss Diamond Induction Braiser a few months ago and it has been a snap to use. It’s just like a Dutch oven and it cooks evenly, has a nice tight fitting lid, and puts out some reeeally flavorful food like Sweet Potato Chicken Chili and Pasta e Fagioli. Yessum.
This gem comes from one of my favorite gift shopping sites, the one and only ETSY. The owners of this little Etsy shop called Hurd & Honey sell all kinds of rustic and beautiful home stuff using materials like reclaimed wood and mason jars. I have this gorgeous, and I mean GORGEOUS, chalkboard in my kitchen to write down upcoming recipes and other lovey notes, and it just makes my eyes pop every time I see it hanging there.
My best friend Angela introduced me to the Honest Company a few months ago with her purchase of the book The Honest Life, and I’ve since become a very very big fan. These chemical-free kitchen products use natural, friendly, plant-based, honest ingredients which just plain feels (and smells) good. They make great gifts because, first and foremost, they are a-dor-able, and secondly, they’re the kind of extra-special daily use product that people might not necessarily buy for themselves, because, you know, they’re a little more special. After you order some of your faves for your fellow foodies, this would be a good one to gift yourself, too. My faves are the Fruit and Veggie Wash, Bamboo Dish Brush, and Dish Towels.
PS. If you have a new mom on the gift list, you MUST check out some of the baby products. Like this yummy little bear hat.
Imagine something you don’t really need, and probably wouldn’t buy for yourself, but would love to have. That’s a mini donut pan (affiliate link) for foodies who like to bake. You will probably be repaid for this gift in donuts x100, so IMO, it’s a no brainer.
If I could only live with one kitchen appliance for the rest of time, it would be a blender/food processor. And Blendtec is the winner for me! It kind of does both blending and food processing. Well, to be more exact, it kind of does everything in the world and comes with a fun little cookbook with creative ways to use it. Plus it has a touch screen. This is a fun gift for the foodie at the top of your list.
Bjork and I have been to lots of cooking classes and it’s a great date or activity or gift for food lovers. The latest cooking class we attended (per a gift certificate, thank you very much) was at the North House Folk School in Northern MN and we learned all about Scandinavian holiday baking with spunky cookbook author Beatrice Ojakangas. ♥♥♥ So much dough. I mean, fun.
Lunch is fun. Lunch is MORE fun with this perfectly sized lunch bag that is also a cooler. I take lunch pretty seriously, and I lovey this bag very much. Easy to gift with lots of cute colors. Go wild.
This is the friendliest little speaker ever called the Jawbone Jambox. While it’s not really exactly a kitchen product, I have the b-e-s-t time with this little thing in the kitchen! Cooking is such a rich experience and the mood can change so drastically with just a little music. Suddenly just making spaghetti and garlic bread becomes a party. Or soothing, or romantic, or… anything you want. I control all the music right on my iPhone and then just tuck it on the window ledge while cooking. During dinner, it travels to the table with us, and it spends the rest of the night out in the living room. May I also recommend Spotify for your tunage? We have a really good time thanks to this portable speaker. Instant mood boost.
A cookbook is a great way to give your foodie a personalized, thoughtful gift that says: “I know you love this kind of food and I like that about you.” If you know someone who loves Macaroni and Cheese (hi, Ang), go ahead and gift them a cookbook about Macaroni and Cheese, like this pretty one called Melt. And then throw in a gift card to a matching restaurant. Do Mac and Cheese restaurants exist? I have a good feeling about that. Find one.
Check out Bountiful for garden eaters, Memories from a Philippine Kitchen for people who ♥ the Philippines, America’s Test Kitchen 6 Ingredient Solution for speedy cooks, and Best Ever Indian Cookbook for spicy food lovers.
My mom got me a small CUTCO knife for Christmas a few years ago and it was the best gift for a cheapo foodie who wasn’t about to go spend money on a knife. I remember the first time I sliced through a bell pepper with it, I thought that the pepper was rotten because the knife went through it so easily. But no, that was just me experiencing the JOY of a supersharp knife for the first time. *eyes pop* Kitchen knives are fancy and they making cooking oh-so-much-more-fun. Find a good one and get your foodie stocked up.
Fun Little Stocking Stuffers For Foodies
I got one of these in my stocking a few years ago and I’ve been using it for the last four years. Yes, that’s right, I used the same reusable teensy purse-able pocket-sized grocery bag for one-two-three-FOUR years. After a year of grocery shopping in the Philippines, I’d like to add that this is excellent for groceries on motorcycles, just in case that applies to you. PS. How cute are these ones? My favorite thing about these kind of bags is that they can go over your shoulder, which is way more comfortable and convenient than a regular plastic bag anyways. Plus they can fit into a small little bundle for easy storage. Hey fun.
Simply the best chocolate I’ve ever had. And this is not something I take lightly, friends. This rockin’ bar packs a punch of sea salt – the kind the sticks out of the bar and is a little rough on your tongue, which is basically heaven on Earth – and 70% cacao. It’s made for the bold dark chocolate lover but I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like it. Made by Minnesota peeps.
It just makes life in general more fun. YEA.
Enough For Us, More For Others
One of the things I appreciate about Christmas and the whole holiday season in general is that our internal give-o-meters go up a few notches. When I look at these pictures from my friends in the southern Philippines that were affected by the typhoon, the very place that I’ve called home for the last year, I feel a deep tugging at my heart to do better for others. The needs for food and water are overwhelming, and most of us have the ability to do something about it.
Let’s be challenged and let this reality make us uncomfortable a little bit so that we are moved to action. Enough for us, more for others.
You can click the image to donate to World Vision for disaster response. On behalf of our loved ones in the Philippines, THANK YOU.
Happy giving-season, friends! I literally just smiled because I like you so much.
Thank you for all these great suggestions and ideas. I especially like the last one for the Phillipines. I am currently doing a 25 days of giving project, similar to what I recently saw on I heart Naptime. I am having a lot of fun coming up with ideas.
I LOVE your gift ideas! I have the jambox and it is AWESOME!! I use it almost everytime I am in the kitchen. Urban outfitters has cute little things for around the kitchen…like a dinosaur mit!
Great list! I’ve been eyeing a mini doughnut pan for a while now. At some point I’ll just take the plunge and get one.
I’m dreaming of a CUTCO Christmas, if only in my dreams ; )
Since I’ve started shopping at some of these outlet type shops (Aldi) for cheaper goods I have the need for reusable shopping totes. I never thought much about it before because I always recycled the others. Great list! I have a donut pan, finally purchased one and it’s been amazing to be able to make healthy treats! yum yum.
That ikat lunch bag is AMAZING. Almost makes me want to go back to work…almost.
Ahh I LOVE this list, and totally want everything on it? Is it acceptable to buy one (of everything) for yourself too?!
I would love a donut pan for Christmas – I might have to forward this gift guide to my family! 😉 Also, I think it is great you are helping to spread awareness about how to help the Philippines.
I really love this list. Thanks for putting it together Lindsay! Just sent it to my husband 🙂
Great ideas! This includes gifts from me to me right? =)
Oh my gosh, I love all of these ideas! Chocolate – yes, cooking classes – heck yes, and those fun chalkboards??! I need one! Thanks for the gift inspiration.
Great list! Remember, if giving knives as a gift, you should always give a penny for good luck (so they don’t cut themselves on the knife!)
Love these recs, Lindsay! My lunch box has seen better days, and I just love the chevron one you put on here. Also, cooking with music is the best! I pair a song with each of my recipes on my blog, you should check it out for some new music inspiration!
Do Mac and Cheese restaurants exist? Yes! I visited one in Houston where they serve your food in small cast iron pans.
I have wanted to try the Swiss Diamond Sauté pan. I love all my cooking gear that have been gifts. Every time I use them I think of who gave them to me.
Can I ask… what is the font that you used in your graphics? I love it!!
And, btw, the chalkboard is beautiful!
Thank you! It’s called Znikomit.
This list is fabulous, and we are so pleased to be featured! Thank you :). I must must share this with my dad, he is a major foodie….you know, the kind that sneaks curry into pancakes or chocolate into chili. Yep, that’s him! I think he would love that cook book or perhaps the yummy chocolate you suggested. Thanks Lindsay! <3 <3 <3
Your board is gorgeous; I have absolutely loved having it in my kitchen!
Thanks so much for the shout out for Melt, Lindsay!! 😀
It’s sitting in my kitchen now, making me feel happy every time I see it. I was just flipping through it the other day again and realized how much I DON’T know about cheese. I must study.
And OMG I’m totally in love with your Christmas tree. And I have a few of Beatrice Ojakangas’ books! I had no idea she taught classes. The next time I’m in MN, I’m all over that!
She was such a doll.
First, I just want to say that I absolutely ADORE pinchofyum! I love reading your posts and trying out your recipes!
Second, I am looking for wireless speakers to play music from my iphone. I really like the Jawbone speaker you recommend, and have a few questions. Do you have any trouble linking to the speaker? How well does the speaker handle playing at higher volumes? Does the speaker come with a charging cord and a cord to connect to other mp3 devices?
Thank you!
Thank you Misha! The Jambox is amazing. We have no problems connecting (a few little glitches at first, but now it just pops right up on my phone and connects via bluetooth almost immediately) and we don’t usually play SUPER loud music but it does go pretty high and it’s great for parties because you can move it around, adjust song/volume right from your phone, etc. It does have a charging cord that you can use to charge er up every few days, but I’m not sure if it has a cord to connect to other devices. I think the only connection is via bluetooth (but double check on the product website)!
I love your list, especially the last item.
♥♥♥
I would love love love that donut pan and a blend tec! I couldn’t find a donut pan here and I’m still saving for a blend tec.
That donut pan has been moved to the TOP of my wish list!!! Great ideas 🙂
i absolutely love everything about this post. it’s adorns. thank you for introducing me to Hurd & Honey… I’m going to buy some stuff…… xox
One Mac and Cheese Restaurant, as requested, coming up…
S’Mac – Sarita’s Mac and Cheese – here in the East Village of New York City. Our go to place for the days my migraines defeat even my easy quick cooking arrangements.
http://www.eatsmac.com/
I like the specifically chosen cookbook – food you know the recipient loves, and wants to cook.
Excellent! Bjork and I are hoping to make it out to NYC in the next year so we’ll have to check it out. 🙂