For the Host

Like a bath ball but for soup! Truly delicious flavors. Just add hot water. (One caveat: Misomaru only ships fall through spring.)

Love this more modern take on birthstones, with the extra pop of color. Also love that you have so many base necklaces to stack them on. Feels a lot more expensive than the price point.

I always try to put out a carafe of water and a glass or two in my guest room when loved ones come to visit. this set would make such a stunning gift--or gift to yourself for your own bedside table! it's such a simple but luxurious touch. I love this one too for a more minimal look!

RESTAURANT-LEVEL CURRY IN A HURRY. Read that again! It’s a dinner party-worthy meal that you can throw together in under 30min. These are reminiscent of Japanese curry cubes, but with the layered spice of Thai cooking — turmeric, galangal, lime leaf, and green chilis. Just add protein, veggies, and BOOM! Edit: eating this right now with carrot medallions, zucchini, bell peppers, and broccoli. I swapped the water for coconut milk. SO GOOD!

my mum is an amateur cinephile (in that she loves to watch movies, but is constantly asking me what to watch), so for her birthday the sibs put our brains together and came up with a list of 100 movies and tv shows — of all genres and vintages — that we’d recommend to her. we created a flash card for each with the genre, which of her subscriptions she could stream it on, and a short description of the plot tailored to why she’d like it instead of the jacket sleeve blurb. we put them all in an old wooden recipe box and now anytime she wants to watch something, she files through until something strikes her fancy. we’ve added “expansion pack” sets of cards for future holidays to update it with more recent flicks too.

Did you know there's a map where you can look up almost any NYC address, see what it looked like in the 1940s, and then order a print of it? Between 1939 and 1941, the Works Progress Administration collaborated with the NYC Tax Dept to collect photographs of most NYC buildings, and there's a site that's made it super easy to order prints. It's the coolest thing in the world and makes a GREAT gift.

So many uses. One of my most reached for kitchen items..and a great housewarming gift!

This Japanese incense is my favorite - its so good, I don't know how to describe it. Maybe it smells like the coolest boutique shop you've ever been in? Get the Black box with the red incense. The box lasts forever, and you never get sick of it. It's been my only incense choice for 8 years!

While I've been sharing recs for gifts here for a while, the first BIG gift guide I put together every year is live on my Substack... enjoy!

I love gifting these with a bottle of wine. They come in lots of fun colors.

An absolutely delightful gift that you can build on by also gifting seasonal goose-fits!

Honestly: everyone needs a new kitchen towel, and consumables are something you can't have too many of. This is a great gift for people you don't know well, or people who have everything. If they (or you!) aren't alcohol drinkers, a fancy bottle of olive oil or duo of nice jams subs well!

I send this to family around the country for Christmas every year. It’s fun and special and something indulgent you’d never do for yourself— a bunch of ice cream in the mail?! They also have dairy-free flavors, which is important to me!

One of my absolute favorite cookbooks by Trinity Mouzon

Take Christmas morning to new hilarious heights by stuffing stockings with fake mustaches. Grandma in a handlebar is sure to get a giggle.

My dear cousin’s husband made this his first Christmas in the family and now I make it for my in-laws. It’s so easy, great for days and the perfect bite over the holiday season.

i <3 them (also welcome back areaware)

Gifting honey is an ancient tradition across the world, rooted in its historic value as a sacred offering, currency, medicine, and symbol of sweetness and prosperity. A monkey was even instantly reborn as a divine being for gifting the Buddha a honeycomb! These days, a gift of local raw honey combines pleasure, decadence, health, environmental sustainability, community care, and a unique, regional terroir that mass-produced grocery store honey can’t replicate. Why a big jar? Because humans are hardwired to appreciate this sweet abundance <3

absolutely one of the best gifts I ever got, a joy to witness lying around the house and even more of a joy to use.

Simple, classic, and always appreciated.

So juicy and delicious and refreshing and the perfect bevvy for the holidays. I don't drink much these days, so it's the perfect zero proof drink. I always feel like I've earned my seat at the adult's table at Thanksgiving with this in my hand, so classy!

Highly experienced incense girly here. if you can get to Japan go to Lisn and buy a lifetime supply Santa Maria novella papers are chic and burn fast (if you’re in a hurry) so! If you’re wanting to set a grounding, not super Smokey, I can confirm the Aesop incense sticks are the closest I’ve found to achieving that amazing, not overpowering “transport me to Japan” vibe Bonus they come with a little stand (very Lisn coded!)

can't quite describe how superior this maple syrup is - it feels indulgent, but light and the packaging makes it feel special enough to gift. well priced for a smaller scale stocking stuffer. i personally love using this as my sweetner of choice in my morning matcha.

A personalized gift goes above and beyond, like these embroidered cocktail napkins which feel charming and special.

A chef’s weapon. it measures, it assists in perfect plating and makes butter basting a steak a breeze.

I love a whimsical soap - on my chrismtas wishlist

This beautiful terracotta diffuser is guaranteed to impress. Especially for a friend who’s into art history. My favorite winter scent is also Melograno from SMN so I’m biased, but trust me, it’s lovely. Notes include: Musk, Patchouli, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Spices, Orange, and Bergamot.

I found this picture of this whimsical but chic wine decanter that I've never seen before AND THEN I found one similar on Etsy, linked it. Will be purchasing(!)