Let the Christmas cheer commence: Part 1 of our annual Family Gift Guide has arrived!
Every holiday season, Lucas and I sit down to reflect on our favorite finds from the year, what’s on our own wishlists, and the gifts our friends and family have loved most. While this guide is labeled “For Him & Her,” it’s really a roundup of things we personally use and love, have gifted, or would love to receive.
You can also shop dozens more of our recommendations for the whole family in my Gift Guide menu. It includes our most loved recommendations from past guides, so you can check back anytime you’re in need of gift ideas!
And with that, let’s get started with Jenna’s Favorites:
Gifts for Her
Personalized Ribbed Cotton Sweatshirt
Lightweight sweaters are practically my uniform this time of year, and this soft waffle knit checks all the boxes. The best part? You can add custom embroidery to make it more personal than your average sweater.
Tabletop Stoneware Planter
This would make a beautiful gift with her favorite flowers or herbs planted inside. I’d love one of these on my kitchen or laundry room counter all year!
Freshwater Pearl Earrings
Every girl needs a classic pair of pearl earrings, and these handmade freshwater pearls come in dozens of beautiful styles. They arrive ready to gift, and the price is hard to beat.
Printed Floral Enamel Frame
A pretty picture frame is one of my favorite gifts to give, especially with a meaningful photo already inside. This tapestry-style floral print is so chic, and feels like a little piece of art for her desk.
Monogram Throw Blanket
The blanket she’ll want to keep on her sofa all year long. Super soft and lightweight cotton, available in lots of colors, and personalized with her name or initials.
Book Cutting Board Set
For the book lover who also loves to cook, these clever cutting boards double as kitchen decor, with three separate boards for different food types. Practical and pretty!
Flax Heating Pad
This microwaveable heating pad is a lifesaver for sore muscles, cramps, or anyone who’s always cold. I use one on my feet every night in bed and fall asleep in minutes. I couldn’t imagine life without it (especially in the winter!)
Striped Hair Wrap Towels
A practical gift that feels like a little upgrade to her everyday routine. These cotton hair wraps are designed to absorb moisture quickly, and the classic striped design is much chicer than your average hair towel.
Owala Bottle
We made the switch to Owala a couple years ago and haven’t looked back. Apart from the superior chilling capabilities, they have the best designs, including the prettiest blue toile that I just bought for myself!
Birth Month Flower Necklace
I bought this for a friend’s December birthday as soon as I saw it. It’s a beautiful alternative to traditional birthstone jewelry, with real pressed flowers preserved in resin, and a bloom for each birth month.
Portable Wireless Printer
The gift that will make her life easier. My thermal printer has been such a game changer. It’s so easy and convenient to print return labels and documents right from my phone, I can take it with me anywhere, and I never have to buy ink!
Super Spa Set
Her favorite spa essentials, in one chic little tote. This one comes ready to gift and feels like a steal for the price!
Sutton Plaid Travel Tote
For the girl who loves a weekend getaway. This timeless plaid tote has such a classic, elevated look, with leather accents and plenty of room for travel essentials. Add a custom monogram to make it feel extra special.
Beast Countertop Blender
A blender pretty enough to leave on display! This compact little powerhouse is perfect for everything from morning smoothies to homemade dressings, and the portable cups make it even more convenient.
Striped Cardigan
This was the only sweater I brought on our trip to Europe this summer, and I used it on every travel day. It’s soft, stretchy, and the perfect weight. It also looks great wrapped around your neck or waist!
Laundry Sauce Bundle
Who knew laundry detergent could feel like a luxury gift? They’re known for their signature fragrances, which smell more like a high end perfume than a detergent. I use the Himalayan Cashmere on our bedding and it makes our sheets smell like they belong in a five-star hotel.
Full Body Float Duo
If her idea of a perfect evening involves a long, hot bath, this might be the ultimate gift. These soft, inflatable pillows create a weightless floating sensation, turning an ordinary bathtub into a little at-home retreat.
Gifts for Him
Lucas-approved gifts, including his tried-and-true favorites and top recommendations for the guys on your list.
Personalized Board Game
Family game nights just got a lot more interesting with this custom board game. It’s personalized for your own family with your names, inside jokes, and favorite places all worked into the board. The gift that keeps on giving!
Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
Every guy needs at least one great cashmere sweater, and this one is hard to beat at under $70. It’s 100% Mongolian cashmere that feels just as soft and luxe as versions that cost twice as much, which is why it has more than 7,000 five-star reviews.
Personalized Cast Iron Burger Press
Smash burgers are a staple at any backyard barbecue, and this press is the secret to those crispy edges you get at the best burger joints. It’s heavy-duty cast iron that works on the griddle or in a skillet. Best of all? You can personalize it with his name or initials.
Vacuum Beard Trimmer
If you’ve ever found beard clippings all over the bathroom sink (and heard about it from your wife), this one’s for you. The built-in vacuum catches the hair as you trim, so cleanup is basically nonexistent. Jenna considers this a gift for her too 🙂
Leather Weekender Duffel Bag
I try to find little things that elevate my life, and there’s just something about a good leather bag that does just that. This bag is roomy enough for a long weekend, built to last for decades, and develops more character every time it’s tossed in the trunk.
Aqua Vault Charger
This is the thinnest portable charger I have ever owned. It charges quickly and I barely notice it when it’s attached to my phone. Strongly recommend for anyone with a MagSafe compatible phone/case.
Dewalt LED Work Light
I recently added this to my tool bag. If he’s already in the Dewalt family, this one’s a no-brainer. It runs on the same batteries as his tools and lights up a whole workspace, from the garage to the attic to the job site after sundown.
Infrared Sauna Blanket
The aches and pains have increased exponentially this year, and I’ve become a big believer in recovery. This is the easiest way to get a sauna session in without a gym membership or a backyard build. It heats up fast, folds away in a closet, and is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of DIY projects.
Indoor Herb Garden Kit
Fresh basil for pizza night, mint for the cocktails, and zero chance of killing it for those of us with a black thumb (raises hand). This smart garden handles the watering and lighting on its own, so all he has to do is harvest (the kids love watching it grow, too!)
Celestron StarSense Explorer Telescope
This might be the coolest gift on the list. You dock your smartphone on the telescope, and the app guides you right to planets, star clusters, and galaxies, so there’s no astronomy degree required. Backyard stargazing with the kids is the kind of memory that sticks.
Premium Wooden Bird House Kit
I absolutely love building things with the kids. This kit is perfect as everything is pre-cut and ready to assemble. Once it’s up in the yard, the whole family gets to watch for new tenants to move in. Small project, big payoff.
The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization
Part survival manual, part history lesson, and all fascinating. This book covers how to rebuild modern life from scratch, from growing food and making tools to generating power and more. It’s a great conversation starter for the coffee table, and the kind of read guys get lost in for hours.
YETI Hopper Portable Cooler
We recently added this cooler to our stash because living in Florida, a good cooler isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. This is the perfect size for your casual trips to the park or beach. The soft-sided design makes it easy to carry. Definitely the best YETI that we own!
Red Light Therapy Mat
Red light therapy is one of the biggest wellness trends right now, and this mat makes it easy to fit into a daily routine. Lie back for a few minutes to help with muscle recovery and relaxation after a long day. It pairs perfectly with the sauna blanket for the ultimate at-home recovery setup.
Personalized Tool Bag
Every DIY dad needs a good tool bag, and this one is embroidered with his name to make it truly his. It’s durable, roomy, and has plenty of pockets for the essentials.
Titleist Pro V1 Custom Golf Ball
This won’t save his golf game, but it sure is fun. The Pro V1 is the #1 ball in golf, and you can personalize it with his name, initials, or a favorite saying. It’s a practical gift he’ll use every round, with a personal touch that makes it feel special.
Ridge Wallet
I’ve used slim wallets for years, and this one hits all the best essentials. Once he goes slim, he’ll never go back.
Japanese Chef Knife
For the dad who’s taken over the kitchen (or wants to), this is a game changer. I do most of our cooking these days, and a good knife makes cooking so much more enjoyable. This Japanese-style gyuto is razor sharp, well balanced, and built to last.
LED Headlamp
Huge upgrade to traditional head lamps. Whether I’m crawling under a sink, digging through the attic, or walking the cat after dark, this headlamp will light up everything that needs to be seen.
Coming up next: Gift ideas for toddlers, kids, parents & in-laws!
Leave a Reply