I haven’t shared a proper gift guide yet this year; I thought I’d share instead a more tactical list of what I’m really gifting to the people I love in my life…

If you’re a sibling, spouse, parent, etc of mine, please avert your eyes 🙂

YSE UNDEREYE MASKS // UNIQLO COMPACT VEST // LESET POINTELLE HENLEY // CHAPPYWRAP BLANKET // HELINOX FOLDING CHAIRS // RECHARGEABLE HANDWARMERS // SOFT SERVICES HAND CREAM // FLYLOW SKI BIBS // HESTRA SKI GLOVES // CADETS CARDIO SHORTS // WINGSPAN BOARD GAME // WATERCOLOR BOOK

SISTERS: Soft Services Hand Cream (10% off when you add to cart), Leset pointelle henleys (30% off), Uniqlo layering vests (most magical invisible layer of warmth – I’m obsessed with mine). My mom is giving Alice Walk cashmere wraps to all of us this year — they are 20% off right now and such an epic gift! These are the kind of thing you reach for in your closet constantly. Great for over shoulders at a wedding, proper scarf in winter, and I never travel without something like this — on the plane, doubles as a light top blanket.

IN-LAWS: Aura digital frame ($40 off!). We got one of these for our kitchen over the summer and I cannot tell you how much joy it brings to us on a daily basis. Nearly every single day, we pause and chat about one of the photos in the frame. Our kids love to reminisce, ask who people are / where we were living, and comment on “how cute they were.” Frankly, I thought I wouldn’t like having a digital screen in my kitchen but this one is chic/minimal and you can control its brightness — and I absolutely love the way it has brought family memories into our daily conversation. Usually, we gift my in-laws separately, so I’m trying to think of a small gift for each of them to give them on the side of this joint gift. Pretty sure I’m going to also get my MIL the Uniqlo layering vest and those rechargeable hand warmers I’m so obsessed with. She goes on a long walk every morning and I feel like these will be good companions for her. For my FIL: some Virginia peanuts (a variety – chocolate-covered, etc). He’s a Virginia gentleman and he loves his Virginia peanuts. (Last year, I got her an Alice Walk sweatshirt (20% off!), which are the absolute best. They are polished and refined and silky-smooth-soft and I love the slightly longer length.)

BESTIE: Rothy’s clogs, Lake Relax set. (Her birthday is a few days before Christmas so technically this is birthday and Christmas. Both on sale right now, for 30% and 25% off respectively.) My usual formula for selecting her gift: what’s something I absolutely love in my life? These made the cut; both are RWIs. Last year, I got her my favorite Crown Affair hair care — towel, dry shampoo. I noticed they have a really good value mini bestsellers kit here, which would also make a great gift — $48 instead of $80!

BEST FAMILY FRIENDS (WHOLE FAMILY GIFT): Chappywrap blanket! (I believe these will be on sale later this week, so might advise you to wait until that promo goes live.) This is a great “for the whole family” gift. We’ve also given our favorite games — Wingspan, Azul, Klask — as family gifts in the past.

BROTHERS-IN-LAW: Helinox chairs. The coolest gear for an outdoor guy or a dad who might be sitting on the sports sidelines. (My mom is giving Rhoback q-zips to all the boys — they’re all into golf! 20% off right now! Last year, she gave them all Smathers and Branson belts in different motifs.)

MOM: I’m still on the fence about this. Debating getting her The Hatch (I so love this but can’t decide if she’ll get a ton of use out of it? I will admit there is some set-up involved and I wonder if it will just be another thing for her to figure out? She is a light sleeper, though, and I think it would be helpful! I’m so evangelical about this tech I just want everyone to experience it) or a couple of new beauty discoveries. We love testing beauty and are constantly swapping new finds. On my list for her right now: I want her to try these eye masks I love so much (I love that they actually stay put on your face / don’t slide down or off) and this bond repair nail treatment, but I also think she’d love this Westman set (we both love this brand!), which is 20% off an already discounted bundle.

DAD: Again, on the fence with a few ideas. The Stakt padded fitness mat is first; we do Peloton rides together a few days a week and have always bonded over fitness, so I think he’d appreciate this upgrade for his floor exercises. The second: a new fishing shirt. He’s a fly fisherman and I feel like he’d deeply appreciate this.

GODSONS: I’ll do a separate roundup of kids’ gifts / what we’re getting our kids for Christmas but the gifts on my mind this year for boys aged 8-12, which both of our godsons are, are all sports-oriented: a) these flag football gloves with a Nerf football (the way my son ADORES these items — he’s almost never without them); b) Commanders hoodie; c) Cadets cardio shorts (another of my son’s obsessions — Landon also has a pair!); d) Smith ski goggles (if they’re skiiers/snowboarders).

HOUSEKEEPERS AND NAIL TECHNICIANS: Quince cashmere gloves (bundled with their bonuses!)

A FEW CLOSE GIRLFRIENDS: I tend to give beauty gifts — last year I mainly gifted Crown Affair; this year, thinking YSE eye masks, the Westman Lit stick (I just got this in the new parla color and it is SO GOOD) and The Outset lip oasis. Two other more niche items I am gifting: these watercolor books to my art-oriented friends and my beloved Appointed notebooks to my writer buds.

NEIGHBORS: Cookies in gingerbread tins (how adorable?!).

TEACHERS: Gift card and paper products from my collection with Mamey! I think the habit tracker and the weekly planner are perfect add-on gifts, bundled with some great new pens (<< these are my favorites).

WHITE ELEPHANT: Last year, we did a “favorite things” party with my friends. I’m not sure we will do it again this year, but on my mind if we do: rechargeable hand warmers. More white elephant gift ideas (almost all under $25) here.

MR. MAGPIE: New ski outfit! I’m deep in research. He bought himself new skis, ski boots, and helmet this year and I’m rounding out the effort. Deep in the ski reddit community, I came across the brand Flylow, which dedicated skiiers seem to love (the brand’s tagline is “made by skiiers for skiiers” and their descriptions are very compelling and thoughtful) — these bibs are my front runner and seem to be the darling of Reddit. I’d originally been looking for ski pants but Redditors to the rescue: a lot of them said “why would you want a to be constrained at your waist, right where you’re bending? Bibs are so much more comfortable for movement!” Plus, no ski down your pants ever. Thinking of getting him a jacket to go with it from the same brand. Right now debating whether to do a shell or an insulated style. A lot of Redditors (serious skiiers) advocate for shell and then you layer up beneath, which is what Landon currently has, so probably will go that route. Intrigued by this versatile option, which has a fleece lining and a performance shell. Will be thinking of this! BTW, the other brand I read a lot about was Dakine if you’re also in recon mode. Falke base layers, and then gloves — narrowing down to either Dakine Kodiak or Hestras (probably the latter). Will need to evaluate how all of the colors work together for a full outfit! I have a couple of smaller gifts in mind for him, too — new ice molds (these, these) for his cocktails; a head covers for a new club; incense sticks.

BONUS: While we’re talking hair, I’ve given a few friends/siblings this PERFECT hairbrush over the past year or two. It’s the best, and everyone loves it. I actually discovered this from a few Magpie readers, who identified it as a top regrettably worth it item last year. Gives you a great scalp massage, detangles without snagging, and also I specifically love it after I’ve had a good blow out — you can get tangles out without killing the bend/curl at the ends of your hair! Anyway, the brush is included in Blue Mercury’s tiered sale!

As an aside, Landon bought me a pair of really fancy birding binoculars for Christmas, and I think this is one of my favorite gifts he’s ever given me. I know these were my Christmas gift because I accidentally tore into the box without looking at who it was addressed to when it arrived a few weeks ago…whoops. He was devastated! He’d researched and purchased so early! I felt horribly. But he let me have them early, and I love them. Such a thoughtful gift — they really showed me how much he listens to me and supports my interests. If anyone has a loved one with similar birding interests, he got me the Zeiss Terra EDs. Major splurge and very powerful. (P.S. – Some of the other best gifts he’s ever given me.)

P.S. More gift ideas here.

P.P.S. So lucky to have my lighthouse friends.

P.P.P.S. What drew you to your home?

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