The Christmas spirit has officially entered our household, and I’m here to deliver our best gift ideas for the whole family!
Don’t miss our guide for Kids + Toddlers, and Parents/in-laws!
Every year, I look forward to curating a list of our most loved, most used, and most wished-for items. Lucas and I handpick our top favorites, including things we’ve personally gifted or added to our own wish lists.
This year, we’ve also asked our closest friends and family members to share their must-haves. The result? Five different guides (for him, her, parents, kids and toddlers) including 95 gift ideas from well-known brands to small businesses, quick-ship items to personalized and handmade pieces, best sellers to one-of-a-kind finds. You’re sure to find something here for even the hardest person to shop for.
Today, I’m sharing Lucas’ and my favorites this year, along with why they made the cut. Let’s dig in with my picks!
1. Ododos modal lounge pants // This is the softest piece of clothing I own, and my new favorite lounge pants. They’re also flattering and stylish enough to dress up as well (I wore them for our last date night!)
2. Handmade pearl drop earrings // Pearl earrings are a classic wardrobe staple, and I wear mine nearly every day. Anyone would appreciate these handmade earrings with a beautiful pouch for gifting.
3. Warmies microwavable eye mask // My eye dr recommended a heated eye mask, and I’m not exaggerating when I tell you it changed my life. I pop it in the microwave before bed every night and fall asleep in minutes. The soothing heat and gentle weight create such a relaxing sensation—I can’t imagine my bedtime routine without it now.
4. Classic tweed baseball cap // I’ve been living in baseball caps lately, and this classic houndstooth pattern really elevates the design. The most stylish way to hide from the sun and bad hair days!
5. Monogram plaid throw blanket // This soft throw blanket makes a thoughtful and practical gift. The custom monogram detail adds an extra special touch, and it’s available in lots of colors/styles. I gifted this to a friend last Christmas!
6. Warmies microwavable slippers // Just like the heated eye mask, microwavable slippers have been a game changer in my evening routine. There’s honestly nothing more cozy than plush foot warmers, especially on a chilly winter day!
7. Poppy x CLJ lip balm gift set // I was gifted this set a couple months ago and keep one near me at all times. The balm is super moisturizing, and the flavors are mouth watering. Your home decor loving bestie/sister/co-worker will love this.
8. Londontown Kur illuminating nail concealer // For busy gals who need a long lasting at-home manicure, this nail concealer promises to give your nails a healthy glow with sheer color. I’ve heard great things and the 10k+ reviews speak for themselves!
9. Dae Stargloss Shine // This stuff is like keratin in a bottle! My hair felt so smooth and healthy after using it. I’m hooked.
10. Clinique Black Honey // My go-to tinted lip balm that never leaves my purse. Black Honey is Clinique’s best selling “almost lipstick”—it has been around for decades and is flattering on every skin type. Worth the hype!
11. Acure Brightening Scrub // I use this 2-3x/week and it leaves my skin feeling so soft. Clean ingredients, 28k+ reviews and you can’t beat the price at under $10. It’s the #1 best seller for a reason!
12. Nutrafol // I experienced significant hair loss after baby #2 and decided to try Nutrafol. It took 5-6 months to see real results, but I was surprised at how well it worked! I’ve been taking it for over a year now, and am still seeing new hair growth.
13. Shark FlexStyle Dryer/Multi-styler // This is at the top of my wishlist this year. It’s a popular all-in-one that replaces your bulky hair dryer, diffuser and curling iron. From my research, it’s the best product for the price (and half the cost of the Dyson!)
14. Retreat // You can never go wrong with a beautiful coffee table book. I was gifted this and enjoyed flipping through the pages of unique, inspiring homes around the world.
15. Leather + suede laptop sleeve // My laptop is my most used and valuable device, so keeping it protected is essential. I carry it in this sleeve every time it leaves the house for peace of mind. A must-have for anyone with a laptop!
16. The Laundress gift set // A beautiful set to gift that makes laundry day a bit more enjoyable. I just finished mine and have it on my re-stock wishlist.
17. Walli case // I’ve had this case in my cart for a long time, and finally pulled the trigger when I upgraded my phone. The finger loop and kickstand is a game changer and I’ll never go back!
18. Rifle Paper Co Passport holder and luggage tag // For the travel lover in your life, this fun passport holder and matching luggage tag brings a little extra joy to the ordinary. I would love to receive this as a gift!
19. The Loomia waffle weave towels // We use these turkish towels towels exclusively in our rental and our own house as well. They’re soft and absorbent, elevate the look of any bathroom, they’ve held up beautifully after 3+ years.
For the “fun DIY-dad” type-guys in your life, Lucas put together a list of his top 20 picks:
1. Cordless air compressor // I’ve used this more times than I can count for flat car tires, flat bike tires, and pumping up soccer balls. It’s fits with my Dewalt batteries, and is very compact and simple to use. Much easier than a hand pump, and great to keep in your car for emergencies.
2. 3M Worktunes // I’ve recommended this more than once and it’s still one of the best gifts I can think of. These bluetooth headphones provide hearing protection while allowing you to listen to your favorite music and podcasts through your phone’s connectivity. Amazing battery life and mine have held up great over the years.
3. Franklin Stud finder // This compact stud finder is a must have. It accurately shows the whole width of the stud as well as electric wires. An easy upgrade to everyone’s toolkit.
4. Greenworks 80V Chainsaw // This tool became a necessity for us after the hurricanes brought down a bunch of trees in our neighborhood, and I’ve been finding even more reasons to use it lately. It comes in several different lengths and is plenty powerful with the 80V battery.
5. Dewalt Cordless Shop vac // This is another repeat item on this list for good reason. It’s extremely portable, plenty strong, and the best way to maintain a clean work area. I keep it on hand during every woodworking DIY project.
6. Dewalt Cordless Reciprocating Saw // Another recent edition to my Dewalt collection. I love this version as it is small enough to operate with one hand, yet still packs enough oomph to get the job done. Highly recommend.
7. RAK Hammer multi-tool // This best-selling multi-tool is great to keep in a truck, junk drawer, or tool bag. The built-in hammer is a great addition to the usual knives, saws, and pliers you get with a standard multi-tool.
8. Portable Mini Fridge // Lightweight and portable—any garage, office or man-cave could benefit from one of these. I use this one daily at our current renovation while we’re without a working kitchen.
9. Little Giant Telescoping Ladder // The most versatile and useful ladder I own. The telescoping feature extends the reach to 22′ feet, allowing me to easily reach our gutters, install Christmas lights, and clean our second story windows.
10. Carhartt Legacy Tool bag // When I saw this bag I immediately wanted it. Not only does it look good, but it’s durable and has all the pockets and holders that I could need. It has 5-star ratings on Amazon and would be an upgrade for any DIYer.
11. Electric Wheelbarrow // A luxury item for the person in your life that needs to move heavy things without sacrificing their back (or their manliness). This definitely has a cool factor and comes highly rated.
12. Giraffe Retractable Garden hose // I bought this to replace our previous hose that finally called it quits. With a 130ft reach and a compact design, I’m kicking myself for not getting one of these sooner! Easy to install and easy to use, this would be an upgrade to any yard.
13. Tourit Cooler Bag // Between transporting food to friends’ houses and family outings, a large cooler bag is one of our most used essentials. This one is leak proof and stays cold for up to 12 hours.
14. Telestrations After Dark // This adult version of Telestrations is perfect for that game night after a couple glasses of wine that will leave you falling out of your chair laughing. This game honestly never gets old. Just don’t play with kids ;)\
15. Minimalist pop-up wallet // The card pop up feature makes it easy to access any card you need. No more fumbling around looking for that credit card you use once a month. This one is on my wish list.
16. Smartphone RC paper airplane kit – How cool is this? So cool. At least in my book. I immediately added it to my wishlist. Now it might only last a few flights with a toddler in the house, but it will be worth every minute.
17. Magnetic power bank charger // Our previous magnetic charger recently died and we replaced it with this one. It’s lightweight and portable, the kickstand feature adds a nice touch and feels very sturdy. It can charge both of our phones multiple times on a single charge.
18. Portable Apple Watch charger // The built in charging cord is the icing on the cake for this compact charger. It can quickly charge my watch 3-4 times. Great value and accessory for anyone with an Apple watch.
19. Goodr OG Sunglasses // I own these in two colors. Very comfortable and stylish. And at only $25-$35, they’re easy on the wallet yet still extremely well made.
20. Stainless steel bench scraper // Save your knives by using this to pick up chopped food or separate the dough easily in your latest batch of sourdough bread. Chefs agree it’s a must have for everyone, from professionals to the occasional kitchen dweller.
I hope these gift recommendations are helpful in your quest for the perfect gift for guys and gals. Stay tuned for our Kids & Toddlers guides tomorrow!
Karen says
Fun and interesting!
Thank you
Jenna Sue says
My pleasure always!