The Ultimate 2022 Gift Guide!!
The Ultimate 2022 Gift Guide!!
for 9 types of very different people, all less than $200!
Hi! Welcome to “good mood food” from Kale Me Maybe’s Carina Wolff. If you’ve made it here and aren’t yet a subscriber, come join! You can expect recipes, thoughts, and faves in your inbox every Tuesday!
Hi my friends! Happy Thanksgiving week!
This week’s newsletter is going to be a little different — in lieu of the usual “catch up” and recipe, I’ve put together a holiday gift guide for you!
I wanted to include some generic, fun categories, but I also did a question box on my Instagram asking who the hardest person is to shop for, and I created some categories around those types of people! So part one of this gift guide is for people who are easier to shop for, and part two is for the difficult people in your life, according to my Instagram followers!
Shopping for people is HARD, but I tried to include things I already own and enjoy or things I want myself. I hope this is helpful! I spent so much longer on this than I expected, haha, so I really, really hope it helps someone!! Let me know if it does :)
The Easy Ones
For The Foodie
Beans may not be your first thought for a holiday gift, but I actually received Rancho Gordo Beans as a present a few years ago, and I’ve never looked back. These heirloom beans truly change the bean game. There are so many varieties you have likely never heard of it, and DANG do they taste INCREDIBLE. Each has such a unique flavor, and they have really brought a newfound joy to my cooking, especially if you like to eat vegetarian meals.
Diaspora Co Spices Bestseller Gift Set, $200
Have you ever eaten food that’s such good quality, that after you eat it, you think to yourself, “Wow, THAT’S what it’s supposed to taste like?!” That’s how I feel about Diaspora Co Spices. They’re so potent and flavorful, the packaging is gorgeous, and the company is woman-owned with amazing ethics. They have multiple gift box sets, including this bestseller which features their most popular spices.
Speckled Ceramic Matcha Bowl and Whisk Tea Gift Set, World Market, $39.99
Preparing matcha is an art and a ritual, and what better way to get someone excited about drinking it than getting them this gorgeous little set that comes with a bowl, a bamboo whisk, a whisk holder, and a bamboo tea scoop. You can even throw some of my favorite Ippodo Matcha in there to round out the gift!
For The Home Obsessed
Aesop Soap makes the bathroom feel luxurious. I can never justify being it for myself, but I LOVE when people give it to me as gifts. It makes my house feel fancy, and they just smell and feel amazing. I like the Duet gift sets, which come with hand soap and hand balm! I’m telling you, these scents… Whoever receives this is about to be spoiled.
Mushroom Cocktail Glasses, Amazon, $15.99
These mushroom glasses are SO fun and adorable. I’ve seen these online and watched people make iced coffees and cocktails in them. You can leave them out for decor too! I think this one would also be perfect for a Secret Santa gift so it’s so inexpensive.
Sin Wyn Candelabra, West Elm, $70
When hosting dinner parties, candles can add elegance and appeal, and I’m particularly obsessed with this sculptural candelabra handmade by Virginia Sin. It would also look super cute on someone’s shelf or a wood credenza. I just love the wavy shape — it’s so whimsical.
For The Stylish Lounger
Ziggy Denim Overalls, Free People,$98
No matter their style, I think anyone can pull off a pair of overalls. These Free People Overalls come in 10 different colors, and the fit is the perfect balance between slouchy casual and fitted cool.
Mockneck Pullover Sweater, Madewell, $58.80
‘Tis the season for cozy sweaters, and I love a mockneck because it’s chic and cozy, but not as stifling as a full turtle neck. This sweater from Madewell comes in 5 gorgeous neutral & earth-tone colors.
Two-Piece Waffle Lounge Set, Amazon, $47.99
I’ve been very into waffle material these days, and I find it especially cute for loungewear. I love the henley long-sleeved tee paired with the relaxed, flared pant! Perfect for work-from-home or even going out to run errands! There are a ton of other color options, too.
The Hard Ones
For Your In-Laws
Healthier Together Deck, $29 ($20 with code BLACKFRIDAY)
My friend Liz Moody created the “Healthier Together Deck” to help encourage people to have REAL conversations and get to know each other. One of the examples she uses in her description is “Get to know your parents as real people,” and I think it’s an amazing way to connect with your family by talking about deeper thoughts that so rarely just come up in everyday conversation. Plus, even if you don’t play it with your in-laws, they can play it with their friends, and they’ll view you as super thoughtful for gifting it to them!
Who doesn’t love the gift of self-care? If you’re not sure what you’re in-laws are into (massages, saunas, facials, etc.), give them a gift card to Spafinder, where they can choose exactly the type of service they want in their area.
Sur La Table Cooking Class, $89 per seat
I am a big fan of gifting experiences over physical objects, especially for adults who buy themselves stuff all the time! I love the Sur La Table cooking classes because they have something for everyone! Whether you want to learn to make a steak dinner, homemade pasta, Thai food, you name it, you can let your in-laws pick the best class for their ultimate date night. I would just buy them a gift card to Sur La Table, and let them pick their optimal class on their own.
For The Person Who Buys Themselves Everything
Book of The Month, from $49.99-$179.99
Sure, this person buys themselves everything, but beat them to the punch by getting them signed up for new book releases before they have a chance to go shopping themselves. You can choose a 3-book, 6-book, or 12-book membership, and your giftee will get to choose their next read from 5-7 books new books that month.
Dwarf Fruit Tree, Four Wind Growers, varies
Not everyone has a garden or large yard fit for a full-blown fruit tree — but you don’t need it! Four Wind Growers is my favorite place to buy dwarf fruit trees that are small enough to fit into a pot and can even be placed indoors! Four Wind Growers has classic citrus fruit options like lemon, oranges, limes, etc., but they also have tons of harder to find trees like yuzu, kumquats, sour mandarin, and more! I keep a few of these on my front deck, and even though I just bought them earlier this year, a few are already bearing fruit!
My Family Cookbook, Amazon, $35
When someone has everything, you often have to go to the personal route. And because I don’t know your friends and family, I’m going to assume, if they’re anything like you, that they have an interest in cooking. I love the idea of this Family Heirloom Cookbook, where you have the space to fill in your own recipes or even meal plan. You can even take this gift a step further by filling out some recipes on your own before gifting it to your loved one!
For The Minimalist
Audible Membership, Amazon, $150/year; $90/6 months
I love an overflowing bookshelf… but I don’t think a true minimalist does? Give the clutter-free person in your life a subscription to Audible so they can enjoy all the literature they want without taking up precious space in their home.
Talk about sleek and organized! Everyone needs a good toiletry bag, and this one is definitely built to last! I love the shape and how it so easily fits into my suitcase between my packing cubes or snuggly in my duffel bag. It has multiple interior compartments, is water resistant, and comes in a few different colors!
Just Ripe Fruit Bowl, Uncommon Goods, $68
I know this gift might not be for everyone, but I personally think it’s so cool! This all-in-one fruit storage system has a bottom compartment where you keep everything you are trying to ripen. You rest the remainder of your fruit on top, and then hang your bananas from the hook! It’s very sleek and would look awesome in a minimalist kitchen.
For The Outdoorsy Eco-Conscious
Bindle Beach Day Backpack, $111.99
This easy-to-carry backpack has an insulated bottom, so you can carry your favorite beverages and snacks while you adventure! It’s perfect for not only a beach day, but camping, light hikes, picnics, bike rides, and more!
Patagonia Provisions 2 Day Camp Meal Kit for 2, $85
Filled with tinned wild fish, organic soups and organic breakfast grains, this camping meal kit is shelf-stable and easy to carry. Every meal can be prepared in 10 minutes or less, and they all sound so flavorful and delicious! The camper in your life will love this!
Aerogarden Indoor Herb Garden, Amazon, $99.99
Nothing says green like an indoor herb garden! You can fit 6 different herbs in this Aerogarden (it comes with pre-seeded pods), and the best part is: it’s very low maintenance! This herb garden uses LED lights that mimic the sunlight (that turn on automatically), and it’ll even remind you when it’s time to water!
For Dad
This gift is in the Dad section, but really, it’s something that also benefits mom (and you, since I know you’ll want to borrow it). Who wouldn’t want a handheld gadget that massages your body? The Theragun Mini has 3 speeds and provides a quiet, deep tissue massage.
Go Play Golf eGift Card, Virgin Experience Gifts, starting at $100
I know I’m playing into a stereotype here by suggesting that dads like to golf but… I know a lot of dads like to golf. If you’re like me, you probably have no idea what golf clubs are good or what outfit to get your dad, so just keep it simple and give them a Go Play Golf Gift Card, which they can redeem at $5,000+ courses!
Make a playlist of your dad’s favorite song, and get it printed on a custom vinyl record! Talk about a sentimental gift — you can even customize your own album cover! I got one of these for Grant’s 30th birthday, and he loved it!
For Mom
ClassPass Gift Card, any amount
Many of you on Instagram requested gifts for a mom who is picky, health oriented, and who always buys stuff for herself, and I think a ClassPass gift card fits this specific category well. This gift allows your mom to pick the classes she likes, and even if she isn’t into fitness, she can always choose a massage or a manicure or any of the other self care options on the app!
Revlon Hot Air Brush, Amazon, $39.87
Look, I’m sure we would all love a Dyson Air Wrap, but most of us certainly cannot afford that. However, the next best thing is this Revlon Hot Air Brush. It gives you the perfect, luscious blow out with just one tool so you don’t have to balance your hair dryer and brush in your hands at the same time. You can tell from the reviews that this product is worth the hype.
Brooklinen Waffle Robe, $79.20
Give your mama a little luxurious upgrade with a brand new Waffle Robe. It’s made from 100% Turkish Cotton, and it’s perfect for a post-shower or even just lounging, since it’s lightweight and quick-drying. I actually have this robe in yellow (which was a limited edition color), and everytime I post about it, people go nuts. They have some amazing limited edition colors right now: ocean, pine, and brown (all not pictured above, but click the link to see).
I had purchased the custom vinyl record from https://printyourvinyl.com/ after I saw it on your site, and let me tell you it was the best gift I've ever given! It got here so quickly, especially considering I ordered in the midst of their Holiday rush, the audio and image quality was amazing - this is the first gift that has ever truly brought tears to my husband eyes! Thank you so much :)