The Sunday Soother Gift Guide
Welcome to the annual Sunday Soother gift guide! My goal with these is not to cover everything under the sun, but to share some ideas from my community and friends about things they’ve enjoyed in the past year, and to share my ideas about thoughtful gifts, experiences, and things you might like, too. I hope this holiday season is filled with blessings of all kinds for you, and that mostly, somewhere, someone makes you feel truly seen — and that someone could even be you.
This is broken into three sections: my own gift ideas; Soother reader gift ideas; and a few personal friends’ gift ideas they’ve shared with me.
Onwards!
My gift ideas:
Personally, I’m a big fan of packaging a few small gifts together that relate to a theme that you know your giftee is drawn to. So that’s how I picked my gift guide things this year!
For the person who loves a bath: 2019 will go down as many things but one of those things will be that it is the year I finally learned to love baths. A big reason was these Epsom salts that I swear to god help me sleep better; this Dr. Singha mustard bath for sore muscles; this filter that filters tub faucet water; and a nice stress-relief candle.
For the person who wants to sleep better: One, you can send this person my guide to better sleep. But you can also buy them the following: These little steam lavender masks that start heating up the second you open them and put them on; this magnesium oil spray to put on the bottom of your feet (it works!); and this cozy blanket.
For the person who loves to read: There’s nothing in winter I love better than setting up a cozy corner for all of my senses to read a good book. I love this spicy cinnamon tea that a reader bought for me; I’ll light a stick of this incense; and of late I tore through this series about, uh, faeries fighting a big old war and also making out a lot.
For the person who looking to get into Tarot: You can book them a session with me! I teach Tarot privately and also offer one-hour readings & coaching calls; book here. Other ideas: This beautiful deck, and Michelle Tea’s Modern Tarot book which is one of my favorites. Are they an artist or writer or creative who’s expressed an interest in Tarot? Jessa Crispin’s book The Creative Tarot is essential reading.
For the person looking to use their kitchen & cook more: A set of beautiful but casual glasses; a set of simple kitchen towels; and Alison Roman’s cookbook will get them all set up in the kitchen and on the Instagram.
For the person who gets dry & cold in winter: This humidifier (two of ‘em actually) are blasting in my house from November to March. These socks keep my toes toasty and this facial moisturizer and lip mask are also winter essentials for me.
For the person who loves to play around with skin care: You can’t go wrong with a set of these sheet masks, a gua sha tool, and if you want to get a little fancy, the Tatcha cleansing oil is one of my favorite skincare products.
For the person who has to start waking up early in 2020: A bag of their favorite coffee, these undereye patches and this whitening eye drop solution.
For the person who wants an astrology reading: Tracey L. Rogers is a local small business owner here in the DC area who does beautiful year-ahead readings (she’ll do them virtually/by phone, too!). She also has these great baby astrology books for new parents!
For the person looking to get back in touch with their inner artist: Get them a copy of The Artists Way, a nice pen, and a new journal.
Sunday Soother reader gift ideas:
From Saya:
I was skeptical about a vacuum cleaner with a price tag over a few hundred dollars but I have seen the Dyson light; life changing, I now look forward to vacuuming. Costco and Nordstrom Rack often have good sales on them, especially older models and refurbished ones.
Equilibria, CBD products for women
One of the most uplifting nights of my life, tickets to SIX, a musical about Henry VIII's six wives as told via a pop-concert/American Idol-like competition. It's on tour right now.
Gift certificates to spas, salons, a staycation hotel night, house cleaning, professional organizer. Bonus if it's for a small business and you can create a win-win scenario.
Gift certificates to classes in general (improv, writing, pottery, cooking, etc.) and to Dabble, which has offerings all over the country. It's a website where you can go to find a class in which to "dabble" — glass blowing, cocktail making, personal development, website creation, archery, and on and on. Fun, accessible way to try on lots of new hats.
I love the idea of getting someone a more expensive version of something they already have, e.g. if they have the free version of Pandora, Lastpass, Evernote, Todoist, buy a year of Premium for them.
I also love the idea of empowering someone to confront a source of stress or shame of theirs in a non-judgmental, warm hug way (that's what I do for a living). I turned my love of cleaning into such a tool via my eBook “Shrieking Eels, Cleaning, & Reply All — Someone Who Cleans For Fun (And Money) Convinces You One of These Isn’t The Worst”
From Claire:
For your sister/niece/anyone who loves a glow up: Cocokind highlighter trio set
For your 20-something relative who’s moving into their own apt: gift card to package free shop (www.packagefreeshop.com) or stasher bags in assorted colors
For your parents/in laws: a wreath from food52 (they last all year and come in many varieties - citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, and more)
From Michelle:
A Tarot or Oracle deck! I bought my bestie this tiny deck in a tin and it's gorgeous (and it's become her new daily ritual)
I am in love with SO many decks at this website that it's impossible to choose. Many can be found at Esty...
From Jo:
I love love love YayforEarth lotion!!
From Julia:
I think everyone should buy GOOD TALK by Mira Jacob. It’s a stunning graphic memoir, a quick read that I’m still thinking about weeks after I finished it, and a beautiful, worth-every-penny $30 hardcover.
My friends’ gift ideas:
Emily:
I really think a password manager -- getting one and really committing to using it -- is one of the best presents you can gift yourself.
Best gift for kids under 5: Wimmelbooks! The farm one is my favorite, every kid I've given this to has been obsessed
Arlene:
I think those glossier play glitter gels would make a great gift for a teen/tween/college age kid having their euphoria moment or 36-year-olds clinging to their youth, whichever
This travel sling (my friend Susan also endorses, saying, “This seems goofy but I swear it is great for flying long-haul and WORTH the little extra bit of room it takes up in your carry-on”)
This non-stick non-teflon fry pan has been great
Jake:
The beard bib for shaving
Camp shoes if you’re going car camping
This 3-in-1 charging cable is great for traveling
I just bought this bag and have garnered some compliments on it
James:
A Czech glass file is extremely useful; I have this one
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