A Holiday Gift Guide that would make Santa Proud!
POSTED BY prbythebook ON December 2, 2011
by Emily Southard-Bond
It’s December 2nd, which means if you’re anything like me, then multiple lists are strewn about your office with names in black pen, names written over in red pen, re-circling of the circles, and only one name crossed out-Mom.
That’s right, I’m only one gift in and I’ve got a few more to go! But I’m not nervous, or in an Eggnog induced delirium awaiting the arrival of UPS. No, no, not me. I’ve got the perfect list and to keep you in a similar eerily calm state for the most frantic of months, I will happily share my Christmas list with you!
Mom: She taught you the value of goodwill, and how to clear out a trunk-show-while looking as if you stumbled from the stables. This is a woman who rips out images from Elle Decor of trinkets and tables, only to dig through junk stores of curiosities and wonder to find identical trinkets and tables for pennies of the originals. Mothers today are an anomaly. They juggle so many different hats, pots, checkbooks, charity events, and children, while miraculously remaining elegant and true to their own inspirations. A gift-card for Christmas, just wont do.
Design Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney: Grace, from the well curated and deliciously lovely DIY design blog, Design Sponge has collected her bests and bound them in her very first book Design Sponge at Home. And with a foreword by artist Jonathan Adler, you know this book has chic mommy cred.
Never Give Up by Ruthe Rosen: Because your mom is more than a beautifully designed kitchen. She’s the woman that gives you unconditional love and support and deserves a book about that same love and strength. Ruthe Rosen’s touching true story about the loss of her daughter to cancer and how she courageously turned her pain into good for families just like hers is the perfect book to share with your mom.
Dad: This isn’t a joke, this is terribly serious. Buying a Christmas gift your father will want, doesn’t have, and is worthy of the man who taught you how to shoot a woodpecker with a BB gun at 5 in the morning, is pretty important. But, again this is the no-stress guide to holiday gift giving and I’ve got you covered.
Amazon Kindle Fire: Because he still isn’t convinced that Apple products aren’t made by communists and because your bank account will be grateful for the less-expensive, but equally awesome tablet. Make sure to teach your dad how to use it, that’s an extra gift in the time you two can spend together this holiday season.
Raiding Forces Series by Phil Ward: This series is a fictional and historical romp through WWII with heroes, women of questionable intent and plenty of factual and fascinating details about the most valiant of missions, many in the air. The next time he’s taking aim at that woodpecker, he’ll be quoting his new favorite hero U.S. Major John Randal, Commander of Strategic Raiding Forces Series and remembering who got him that neat tiny computer thingy to read it on.
Spouse: For me, this is easy. The way to my husband’s heart is through charcuterie. And since it’s Christmas your average HEB find isn’t going to cut it.
Meat: Check out the finalists and winners from the Good Food Awards, created by a group of top foodies in the culinary world, with a mission to “celebrate the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic and responsibly produced.” Every year they pick the most outstanding American made delicacies to be awarded as the best of the best. With eight categories ranging from coffee to preserves, to of course charcuterie! This year I’m splurging on the man with a salami of the month club from Olympic Provisions in Portland, OR. Superior to the Griswald’s loathed jelly of the month club.
The Art of Beef Cutting by Kari Underly: To help him dream of bigger cuts of meat, in which he can one day hopefully dissect in a similarly elegant fashion as Kari, the author and a third generation female butcher. Kari’s book is a must for the meat-eater and chef of the family, this isn’t a book for the tiny chops at the table.
Siblings: I have two brothers who are absolute polar opposites with perhaps one thing truly in common, Bourbon. To ensure you put a bit more effort into this purchase than the bottom shelf, take some time to create two Bourbon Infusion Cocktail Kits.
Spirits: The blog, Le Partie Sugar has excellent DIY instructions for making these kits, and if you haven’t got the time-a bottle of Knob Creek with a bow, ought to do the trick.
Best Friend: What to give the friend that is always a step behind your flat tire with a spare and a joke about your ex? A thoughtful book and a bit of sweets, of course!
Well Written Words: Be sure to give this forever confident Dr. John Townsend’s book, How to Be a Best Friend Forever, not that she needs the tips, simply reassurance you’re both on track to being bff’s for the long haul.
Chocolates: Add a little sweet and sassy with a box of champagne infused “ooh girl, yes” chocolates from Pink Kisses, the ingenious company created Ellie Scarborough after a tough and public break-up. Pink Kisses, provides flowers, chocolates and encouraging digital notes to help women everywhere get over the duds and to start feeling like their inner bombshells. After all, he couldn’t be as rich as those chocolates, could he?
This season you’ll be more than prepared if you follow this list, and I hope this eases your Holiday woes into Christmas ho ho hos!
Tags: Design Sponge at Home, Good Food Awards, Grace Bonney, Jonathan Adler, Kari Underly, Le Partie Sugar, Never Give Up, Phil Ward, Pink Kisses, Raiding Forces Series, Ruthe Rosen, The Art of Beef Cutting
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