2020 Holiday Gift Guide
This is a list of things that I own and would recommend as a gift for one reason or another. I have found that after putting it together that the quality I seem to like across objects is “durability” and I’m a bit surprised by how much things tilt towards cooking/kitchen.
I keep a longer, running list of gift ideas here as well…
In some of the posts below - the ones that link to Amazon products - if you buy the item I’ll receive small kickback that I’m going to donate to the local food pantry. I am mainly setting this up as an experiment/learning experience.
If I had only one gift idea in the gift guide, this would be it.
I love my ratchet belt and have given it twice as a gift (dad, brother-in-law) and they both still tell me how much they love it. Being able to make micro adjustments to your belt is more life changing that you might think. I have no allegiance to a particular brand so am linking to this review site.
Best picks I’ve ever used.
Love these picks. Forget how I discovered them, but they are not expensive, and they are so easy to hold onto because the blue part has a sandpaper texture.
For big yogis, like me.
Never before have a found a yoga mat that I comfortably fit on. This one I do. Also very comfortable, but has a bit of a smell… maybe all yoga mats do?
From the company, “Darn Tough”.
I am super hard on socks. I think I have four pairs of these now, and have yet to rip through even one. Pretty remarkable.
If you know someone that doesn’t have a pair, they’ll love them.
Kitchen shears are my favorite kitchen tool.
Suit up.
You can see mine in action in my cooking video. Mine is from this company Hedley & Bennett. Previously I had a less durable one, and this one just feels a lot better.
I got this for my parents last year, and it has been a great success.
Very easy to upload photos to their frame from my phone or laptop. Makes it easy to share what we are up to with them.
Better coffee.
I changed my coffee process up during the pandemic - I have had more time to fuss over it, so I put away the Nespresso pods, and picked up one of these. Noticeable difference when you grind your own beans plus it is a fun ritual and mini workout.
Laugh out loud. Cringe. Repeat.
Took me more than one reading to really appreciate all the humor (and it isn’t even all that subtle!), but it is now the book on my nightstand that I pick up when I need a laugh.
Beyond the kettle
Unlike everything else on this list, this is something I GAVE as a gift rather than received or bought for myself. If you have someone in your life who drinks tea every day, this is pretty great. Maybe the best gift I’ve ever given, as my wife has used it every day for the last 5 years or so.
I’m a very casual tea drinker, mainly because it is just a bit too fussy to measure the tea, water, temperature and time. This tea maker takes care of setting the time and temperature… so you can reproduce settings time after time. Easy.
Sharp knives are more enjoyable to cook with
I couldn’t find the one that I use - the one pictured above - online. I think it was discontinued. But I found something that seems similar. Once in awhile I’ll cook at a friend’s house, or an AirBnB or something, and work with knives that have never been sharpened. It is more fun to use sharp knives, and using a sharpening stone is meditative and satisfying.
