Gift Guide 2023: Greatest Hits, Upgrades, and Nifty Gifts

This edition of the gift guide will be a mix of some of our favorite purchases over the past year, along with upgrades and nifty gift suggestions for people on your list. Let’s get to it!

NB: some of these links are affiliate-coded, which means a portion of your purchase comes back to us at no extra cost. Our affiliate sales are one of the revenue streams that keep the hot pink lights on in the hot pink palace, so shopping through our links is much appreciated!

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Straw Cup Upgrade: 

I carry around a straw cup with a lid most of the day, in part because I find it easier and more pleasant to drink water with a straw. I think I’ve had ice cascade into my eyeglasses too many times to forgo a straw!

My last cup was probably 4 or 5 years old, and it was time to upgrade.

30oz Insulated Tumbler, $19

This insulated tumbler will keep my ice water icy AF and also works marvelously for coffee or hot drinks (which I don’t use a straw for). The lid can accommodate the straw, but the hole for it also has a plug attached, and a snap-closed cover for a drinking or pouring spout. My favorite thing is that it fits in all the cup holders!

If you know someone who likes to sip a beverage all day, or who drives around to a LOT of sporting events, clubs, errands, or does a lot of travel, this would be a nifty present.

And speaking of beverages, Amanda still loves her Single Cup Iced and Hot Coffee machine:

Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker, Single Serve, $45

Amanda says it’s a little tall so if your mug is short, there may be some splash. You can either use a tall mug or carafe to transfer, or keep a dishtowel nearby. Splash-coffee aside,  it’s pretty nifty.

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This Footrest RULES. 

LML recommended this footrest in the comments in October, and oH MY GoSH it is incredible. I have very short legs, and the correct alignment for my arms at my desk leaves my feet dangling, but if I set my chair height to allow my feet to hit the ground, my arms and back will suffer.

ErgoFoam 2-in-1 Foot Rest, $40

LML was right that this is the perfect footrest. With the flat side down it’s a soft curved surface, but I love flipping it over so I can use it as a rocking footrest. I’m so much more comfortable at my desk. Which is where I am right now. THANK YOU LML.

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I like organizing things inside other things. 

Another thing I did this year: clean out and organize closets. I think this winter my clothing will be the big project, especially since I don’t have two conferences that I go to each year.

I’ve featured this set of bins before and have ordered yet another set. They come in two sizes, and are stackable. I use one set in the pantry, and the other in the linen closet:

Utopia Home Clear Organizer Bins, $16

They would make a great easy gift for one of those holiday gift exchanges, because I would totally want these if I were participating. Anyone who likes organizing would probably like these, too. And if you’re thinking, eight is not nearly enough, there is a set of 16 for $34.

I’m thinking about what shelf organizers or folded-clothing-corralling-tools I might want to try for the clothes closet cleanout – so if you have suggestions or recommendations, please let me know!

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Zap!

I have told everyone on my street about this gadget, and I am planning to give a friend one as a birthday gift, but for the holidays, this works, too. This would be a fantastic gift for anyone you know who camps, spends time where there are biting insects, or, who, like me, is very allergic to all those biting insects.

I didn’t think this would work, but holy cow does it ever.

If I can use the Beurer on a bite in the first few hours (which I will absolutely notice because I am so allergic and so itchy) it stops the itching, and stops the bite from becoming a big swollen mass (I have skeeter syndrome – did you know it had a name?). I love this thing so much. The heat lasts for about 6 seconds, and it’s so effective. I named mine Jürgen.

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vroom vroom. 

Because Freebird has gone off the college, we’ve visited and rented cars more times this year than in the past 10. This universal car mount has indeed worked for every car model and make we’ve had:

Car Phone Mount for Car Windshield, Dashboard, or Vent, $15

I set it up so that it attaches to the air vent, because I didn’t want to deal with adhesive suction cups on a rental car. We have used the phone mount on three visits to see Freebird, plus a family vacation where we were driving and navigating a lot. It’s very handy, very cheap, and very easy to tuck into the corner of our luggage for easy access. It lives in my luggage now, ready for our next trip.

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Someone always needs a charger. 

And speaking of travel, you can never go wrong with extra long USB cords as a gift, especially for stocking-sized presents:

USB C to C Four Pack, 10, 6.6, 3.3 and 1ft lengths, $15

I order a set of these every year because they keep disappearing!

The 10 foot one saved my bacon on a trip this summer where there was no outlet near the bed (HOW) and I needed my phone to wake me up. I didn’t think a 10’ or 6’ cord would be useful but I love them and never want to be parted from them again.

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I’m a fan. 

EasyAcc Portable Battery Powered Rechargable Fan, $20-25

This is probably the item I discovered this year that made my life so much more pleasant. I usually sleep with a ceiling fan on, so when I’m traveling, having the air moving helps me sleep better. This battery-powered fan is very lightweight, charges with a USB micro, and on medium speed will go all night long.

Everyone in the family has one now for travel, and mine lives in my suitcase alongside the car cell phone mount. They’re friends, but I haven’t named the fan yet. I probably should.

Maybe I’ll call it Featherstonehough.

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I’ve got the power.

Every year I take a peek at the new power banks that are available. We each have one, but they’re bar-sized, about the size of the phones themselves, and while they’re excellent for long trips where we don’t have access to batteries or power, they’re a little unwieldy. They can also get very heavy in my bag!

The new Ankers look really nifty and very unobtrusive!

Anker Nano Powerbank with Foldable C Connector, $30

I love that the connector is built in so I don’t have to remember (or find) my tiny wee USB C cable. I can think of several people, including some who aren’t related to me, who would love one of these.

What about you? What are some of the nifty gadgets and tools you love giving – or receiving?

(And yes, you need the footrest. It’s incredible.)