My yearly roundup of holiday gifts is here! I’ve gathered favorite items that I’ve been given and things I am gifting this year to my loved ones. There are also a few selections I may end up gifting mySELF. I ‘decorated’ the blog with my home holiday trimmings to get you in the mood. Put some holiday tunes on and start shopping! Click on the bold type and you’ll get to the links and websites.
Fables in the Air Gum Ball Rings
My friend Marti Heil is one of the coolest people I know. She is a Super Mom to her talented children Paris, Zane, and Reeve Carney, but she is a Super Artist as well. Look at these rings!!! They are ELITE. Marti’s sense of humor matches her sense of style. They are both TOPS. If not these rings, go to her site and find some incredible piece of jewelry for the perfect person in your life. Or just treat yourself for the holidays! (Also just go to her site to see her gorgeous kids who are her jewelry models.)
Aromatic Shower Steamer Tablets
I read a celebrity interview a while ago and the interviewer asked, “What is your favorite self care practice?” I don’t recall who the celebrity was, but his answer stuck with me. He said shower steamer tablets transport him. They create a new environment in his personal space that evokes a spa or a luxury hotel experience.
Years ago, I put a stool in my shower for when my mom would come to visit from Missouri. Little Rita has no use for it anymore, but I sure do. Sitting on that stool after a long hard day of cooking with a shower steamer tablet is transporting indeed. Safely enveloped in steam and the invigorating aromas — I cry, I meditate, I close my eyes and rest underneath the falling water. It’s bittersweet, but it is one of the main ways I feel close to my mom and I feel like I’m taking care of myself in her absence.
Ardent Goods has a lot of beautiful self care items so take a gander. And check out the other steamer tablet aromas they have.
Lisa Congdon Wall Calendar
It wouldn’t be an All Good Things blog without including the artwork of Lisa Congdon. This calendar is the perfect way to blend organization with inspiring words and illustrations. They usually sell out by this time, but quick, hop on to grab one! Lisa’a online shop is heaven. You’ll find SOMEthing for SOMEone, I just know it.
And while we are in the Pacific Northwest, another AGT favorite, Mark Leary wrote a book!
Mark and I haven’t met in person yet, but we are linked through so many things, I truly feel like we’re dear friends. God bless the internet for keeping our spirits connected. From our first exchange, I asked Mark when a book was coming. And it’s here!
On. A book By Mark Leary
Mark’s book description:
When you look back on your life, can you see how all the years fit together? I couldn't.
So, I started piecing it together. And this book is the result.
If somebody asked you who you really are, would you know how to respond? What do you value and why? How did your childhood experiences shape your hopes and fears? What are you still afraid of, inspired by, curious about?
For me, I wondered why I found it so difficult to see the throughline in my life.
Was there even a throughline?
I felt like I was missing something. Lots of somethings.
So, I began the task of excavating my past in order to make better sense of my present.
Can you relate?
My guess is you can. And that's why I'm sharing this collection of stories with you.
My hope is that, in reading this book, you'll also find a piece (or many) of your self and your own story here; that you'll find a safe place to reflect on who you are, how the pieces of your own life fit together to form a whole; and a space to consider what a life lived with more grace, and more self-compassion, and little more tenderness might look like.
********
Um… I think we could ALL benefit from this book, right? If you didn’t commission a mobile from Mark years ago when I featured his work, he’s still making those, so get an order in!
Acorn Vase
I have been obsessed with this acorn vase since the beginning of the year. I think it was the first thing I put on the gift roundup list I keep in my phone. It’s just darling. The colors it comes in are perfect — but it also comes in clear glass. Who wouldn’t like to watch something grow and track the progress through a sweet little glass vase? This is a gift for children, adults, elders, teachers, coaches, anyone on your list. Oh! It comes with an acorn! And it sprouts a little tree that you and your child/parent/partner can go plant in the yard. Obsessed.
“Innovative and beautifully designed the Acorn Vase allows you to witness a simple acorn you have picked grow into a magnificent oak tree.
Perfect for urban dwellers, tree lovers, inquisitive children and design enthusiasts to bring the magic of nature into their home and hopefully oak trees for future generations.”
Last January, I went to visit friends that live in Oslo, Norway! That trip also included Sweden and Denmark. Have you been to that part of the world? If not, scoot it a little closer to the top of your list. I dream of my return trip!
As you can imagine, once back in the states, I was targeted with all sorts of Scandinavian products on Instagram and Facebook. Maybe YOU were somehow targeted with this gorgeous salt situation too, and it wasn’t special to me, but it’s worth taking a second look. Minimalist, purposeful, luxurious, unique, enjoyable to look at even when you’re not using it.
RIV Salt
The rasp sits in a groove on the wooden pedestal and the Himalayan rock salt leans against it. There are a bunch of other salts and spices you can grate too. Go to their site and treat the food person in your life!
Quince Cotton Tiered Dress
Compared to the Anthropologie dress of the similar cut and style but a zillion times cheaper, the website said, “Flattering on all body types.” So I settled in to read about 172 online reviews and every sized person pretty much said they felt like their best selves in this dress. SOLD! I bought this orange one and I even wore it to NOMA when we were in Copenhagen on that Scandinavian trip. Yes, this dress is casual and comfy but good enough to wear to the number one restaurant in the world! I also bought it in black and it just came out in baby blue and navy blue. When I find something that I love I buy it in all the colors they make it in. I will own the navy one soon.
SOS Chefs Trip To Tokyo Sesame Seed blend
If you live in New York City and you have the slightest interest in cooking, food, or global ingredients, you must go here! If you live somewhere else, this is my favorite thing in the shop and you can buy it online!
Ingredients: black sesame, roasted sesame, white sesame, plum sesame, wasabi sesame, kimchi chili, yuzu zest.
This house made sesame blend is comprised a blend of different sesame seeds carefully blended with yuzu zest and kimchi chili. It elevates any rice, fish, roasted vegetable dish. If you’re in need of a savory crunch for bread or pizza it works beautifully there as well. It is versatile, fun, and will make you feel like you’re traveling to Japan for a little while.
Kolkata Chai
For my friends missing India and you’ve run out of your chai spice, I think you will like this!
For my friends who have never been to India, but enjoy their tea, I think you will like this!
For my friends in NYC, they have Kolkata Chai cafés in NoLita and the East Village, let’s go have a chai date in the New Year!
It’s an authentic Indian spiced tea made with respect and tradition - you just add sweetener and milk.
100% Organic Black Assam Tea
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Cloves
Black Pepper
Kitschy Housewives
A friend in St. Louis creates holiday masterpieces! Theresa Grabau and her collaborator Leslie Pate collect vintage decorations and repurpose them into modern day works of art. They call themselves Kitschy Housewives (Theresa is wife to one of my hometown bests, Chris.) They’ve been selling their wares in holiday markets around STL, but hit them up on Instagram to see what inventory they have left. I own this beauty. They design decorations for all sorts of occasions, not just Christmas. Give them a follow on insta to see their genius at work.
Happy Holidays! I appreciate everyone’s support this year. I only wrote two blogs for all of 2023. I can’t believe that I wrote every single Monday for over EIGHT years. Hopefully I’ll find my voice again and have lessons, observations, and some All Good Things to share.