55 gift ideas from LaTonya Yvette, Pandora Sykes and Youngna Park, like personalized sweaters, colorful toys and page-turning books. Plus, "I do not skimp on myself," says LaTonya.
Very fun to see Vinted in Pandora's recommendations! I live in Germany and love it for sourcing gifts. Recently I bought a couple of secondhand rainsuits with sweet patterns to bring back for my friend's toddlers in the US. They were a hit! I love thrifting in person, but it can be so freeing to find exactly what you're looking for on secondhand marketplaces like Vinted.
Oh gosh, it is crazy to say that the number one thing on my holiday wishlist is that because I feel overwhelmed by the stress of enforced gift-buying within a tight time-frame, I want to find one perfect thing that's easy to wrap, and that I can buy multiples of, and give to everyone on my list?!
Not at all!!! I love that idea. Last year a Cup of Jo reader commented about having an annual "signature gift." One year, she gave everyone red beanies, for example. Maybe you could do that with the Sisters body wash, or the Uniqlo socks? Would be a sweet idea of choosing a sock color for each family member:)
I desperately want/need a signature gift - and it must work for the teenagers in my life - my 2 kids + nieces. I just asked my son about socks and body wash and he told me "I already have socks and body wash." Ha ha ha
My niblings are all getting socks, but they have funny faces on them. https://smoods.com.au I’m going to fill them with lollies and trinkets and gift them like grumpy, flirty, sad christmas stockings. done!
I buy my sisters in law all the same thing and they all open it at the same time on Christmas day. It began one year where I was super behind and filled a basket with "things I love or can't live without". It was such a hit that we have made it an annual tradition with each other. Some things I've given are luxury facial cream, Costco shearling house slippers (big hit) & super super comfy sweatshirts. I have found that often I can find really expensive items on sale in the summer.
I have been combing through Big Salad and Cup of Jo because I swear one of the women profiled recommended a cute tote-like bag that she uses as a gift bag for gifts. She had an inexpensive option but there was a second option linked that was around $45 and came in a bunch of fun designs. The handles were cut-outs in the side of the bag. If anyone can link the post again so I can find this bag, I would really appreciate appreciate it!
I really, really love these recommendations and I always look forward to the annual gift guides. At the same time, I was a little bit bummed to find that there are still affiliate and commission links on Big Salad (totally understand why that’s necessary for cup of jo!). I would happily pay a bit more to receive content that is commission free and only your 100% best recommendations. Thanks for considering 💛
thank you for your note, Claire! I'm glad to reassure you, these are 100000% the best recommendations that come sincerely and directly from the women we interview. once we build the post, at the very end, our marketing director goes in and swaps some of the links to affiliate, when possible. it happens at the end of the process and doesn't affect anyone's recommendations. our thinking on affiliate is this — we sometimes get a small commission on purchases from some retailers (say, Nordstrom or Gap), and if we don't put an affiliate code on the link, that money just stays with the retailers. if we do put an affiliate code on the link, that money comes through to our business, and we can then use it to pay good rates to our employees, writers, photographers, designers, etc., host upcoming events for our readers, and grow our business. it feels good to be able to grow our business this way and support other women, while still keeping our recommendations honest and authentic. hope that makes sense!
Thanks for your thoughtful response, Joanna! That makes more sense if it’s coming at the end of recommendation process rather than as a starting point.
Very fun to see Vinted in Pandora's recommendations! I live in Germany and love it for sourcing gifts. Recently I bought a couple of secondhand rainsuits with sweet patterns to bring back for my friend's toddlers in the US. They were a hit! I love thrifting in person, but it can be so freeing to find exactly what you're looking for on secondhand marketplaces like Vinted.
I am ob-sessed with Vinted. I buy everything for my kids on it!
Bookmarking those markers, and I second Youngna's enthusiasm for the Kinto mug: It really is the best.
I had similar color-changing markers as a kid and they were SO COOL!
Me too! Such a throwback!
Oh gosh, it is crazy to say that the number one thing on my holiday wishlist is that because I feel overwhelmed by the stress of enforced gift-buying within a tight time-frame, I want to find one perfect thing that's easy to wrap, and that I can buy multiples of, and give to everyone on my list?!
Not at all!!! I love that idea. Last year a Cup of Jo reader commented about having an annual "signature gift." One year, she gave everyone red beanies, for example. Maybe you could do that with the Sisters body wash, or the Uniqlo socks? Would be a sweet idea of choosing a sock color for each family member:)
Oh, this is brilliant!
I desperately want/need a signature gift - and it must work for the teenagers in my life - my 2 kids + nieces. I just asked my son about socks and body wash and he told me "I already have socks and body wash." Ha ha ha
I'll keep working on this 🤣
hahaha I think for teens, maybe it's more along the lines of these:
* tenzi dice game, SO easy to learn, fun to play: https://amzn.to/3G4y34v
* gift certificates to their local cafe or boba tea place
* a bouncy ball is always fun: https://amzn.to/47FpRUk
* red beanies! everyone looks cute in them :)
* this bird in a cage puzzle (coming up in our CoJ brothers gift guide): https://www.artofplay.com/products/bird-in-cage-puzzle
My kids would love the bubble tea certificate - or a certificate for a sushi dinner (veggie rolls only)😉 Thank you for these ideas!
My niblings are all getting socks, but they have funny faces on them. https://smoods.com.au I’m going to fill them with lollies and trinkets and gift them like grumpy, flirty, sad christmas stockings. done!
I buy my sisters in law all the same thing and they all open it at the same time on Christmas day. It began one year where I was super behind and filled a basket with "things I love or can't live without". It was such a hit that we have made it an annual tradition with each other. Some things I've given are luxury facial cream, Costco shearling house slippers (big hit) & super super comfy sweatshirts. I have found that often I can find really expensive items on sale in the summer.
Love this!
Gift cards to local bookstores are pretty grand, and even if they're not $$$ they are still good motivation to browse and apply toward a book!
books are always a good idea - and easy to wrap!
Love the book recommendations! Thank you!
Everything! Just love this.
What a beautiful curation - thank you! 😍🧑🏼🎄
I have been combing through Big Salad and Cup of Jo because I swear one of the women profiled recommended a cute tote-like bag that she uses as a gift bag for gifts. She had an inexpensive option but there was a second option linked that was around $45 and came in a bunch of fun designs. The handles were cut-outs in the side of the bag. If anyone can link the post again so I can find this bag, I would really appreciate appreciate it!
Is it problematic that I’m just sitting here contemplating Pandora’s suggestions of ceramic fruit and terracotta pomegranates for myself?
Then are gems. I was thinking about personalised holiday gifts and this just hit the nail 🥰
I really, really love these recommendations and I always look forward to the annual gift guides. At the same time, I was a little bit bummed to find that there are still affiliate and commission links on Big Salad (totally understand why that’s necessary for cup of jo!). I would happily pay a bit more to receive content that is commission free and only your 100% best recommendations. Thanks for considering 💛
thank you for your note, Claire! I'm glad to reassure you, these are 100000% the best recommendations that come sincerely and directly from the women we interview. once we build the post, at the very end, our marketing director goes in and swaps some of the links to affiliate, when possible. it happens at the end of the process and doesn't affect anyone's recommendations. our thinking on affiliate is this — we sometimes get a small commission on purchases from some retailers (say, Nordstrom or Gap), and if we don't put an affiliate code on the link, that money just stays with the retailers. if we do put an affiliate code on the link, that money comes through to our business, and we can then use it to pay good rates to our employees, writers, photographers, designers, etc., host upcoming events for our readers, and grow our business. it feels good to be able to grow our business this way and support other women, while still keeping our recommendations honest and authentic. hope that makes sense!
Thanks for your thoughtful response, Joanna! That makes more sense if it’s coming at the end of recommendation process rather than as a starting point.
This is such a fantastic list. (Why is it that every time I see gifts I might want for myself they are for children?)
Great gift guide, thanks!
No need for Secret Satan with these! 👏
https://open.substack.com/pub/katedarracott/p/life-hack-part-2-secret-satan?r=1nkhs2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web