It’s holiday shopping time, and we’re back with weekly (I hope) guides to excellent gifts for other people, and more importantly, for you. You are a gift! Don’t forget!
We have gathered some cozy and useful items in this edition, so let’s get to it.
NB: Some of our links are affiliate coded, which sends a portion of your purchase back to us, and no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance for using our links, and if that’s not your thing, no worries!
Amanda: I have a giant snuggie hoodie called The Comfy that I love when it gets cold:
The Comfy Wearable Blanket, $50
Good grief that looks luscious. It also comes in a full length version, and there are a TON of colors:
The Comfy Floor Length Wearable Blanket, $65
I kind of want one. No, I definitely want one, right now in fact, and have bookmarked this for family members (if you’re my family and you see this, no, you didn’t).
And while I’m speaking of hoodies (which I do frequently)(Not really) this hoodie was perfect for my neurospicy child who hates tags and loves soft clothing:
Hanes Men’s Zip-up Hoodie, $15
They’re inexpensive enough that we got several.
Shana: For candle lovers, I’m obsessed with my candle lighter, it’s rechargeable by usb and lasts a LONG time:
Electric Candle Lighter, $9 for one, $16 for two
Sarah: I also bought this based on Shana’s recommendation, because I love lighting candles when it gets dark early, or when it’s a bleary grey morning and I’m having coffee.
It does last a LONG TIME. And I use it constantly because it’s so much easier (and less burny) than matches. Now I have candles burning after the sun sets, in the morning, while I’m cooking, it’s lovely and cozy.
And if you’re looking for a lovely candle, Ely in the comments to a gift guide last year recommended Whiskey River Soap:
“My favorite candle/soap company, with my all-time favorite candle – A Candle for Zero F**ks Given. Smells sweet, but not overpoweringly so, long burning time, not smoky. They have a lot of other fantastically named/scented options.”
A Candle for Zero Fucks, $27There’s also this one, which is perfect for so many people I know:
Smells like it’s going to be a long night of reading candle, $23
The “Smells Like” candle is available in several scents, including Clean Cotton, Sea Salt & Orchid, and White Sage & Lavender.
And (I’ll stop after this because I could list candles for days) the Romance Novel candle by Menel27:
Romance Novel Candle by Menel 27, 7oz. ($20)
This candle has a more floral and fruity scent with notes of cherry blossom, peach, grapefruit, and vanilla.
We usually do a pet-focused gift guide, but this is the most cozy bed, alongside the pet beds to which we’ve added heating pads. We got this and put it by the back windows for Katie, our murderous feline who loves to nap in the sun.
Cozy Soft Pet Bed, 20″, $20 This bed is Katie-approved:
“Photos of me whilst I am sleeping? Rude.”
I mentioned this necklace before:
I wrote at the time:
I bought this as a gift for myself, and I wear it almost every day now. It looks a lot more expensive than it is, with a little gemstone charm on the clasp and an adjustable length. I’ve worn it in pools and in the ocean, and it’s doing just fine, with no signs of tarnish or wear. I really like it.
Because the length is so flexible, I pair it with a shorter necklace, so if you’re into necklace layering, this might be a fun option. And there are two styles of zodiac engraving!
About that necklace layering: I learned that my necklaces winding themselves together into a tangle made me absolutely twitchy with discomfort so I bought this:
Necklace layering clasps, $10I wear the two-necklace option and it’s perfect for keeping them from getting tangled and twisted, and there’s just enough space between the two.
Speaking of other useful items: I bought these car trash cans for both of my children, with extra bags, and my GOSH they hold a LOT of car trash!
HOTOR Car Trash Can, $12Alas, they do not come with Snickers bars, but they do have magnets at the top to hold the trash bag in place so it doesn’t fall in.
I also got a package of 50 refill bags and put a few in the bottom of each trash can so they’re easy to change. The trash can comes with a few bags already, so refills aren’t necessary, but, well…teenagers. I got more bags.
Elyse: Our car wouldn’t start the other day and this little guy jumped it right away. This would be a great gift for anyone in a really cold weather area or kids who just started driving:
NEXPOW car jump starter, $60Shana: I bought this air purifier for my office and it’s small and super effective.
BlueAir Air Purifier for Small Rooms, $100
My coworker accidentally left a meat burrito in my office ALL weekend long and it didn’t even smell when I came back Monday.
Sarah: This is something I’m thinking about buying so if y’all have recommendations, please share! I am always cold, especially in winter, so rechargeable hand warmers would be very nice:
Rechargeable Hand Warmers, $30
I’m also debating whether to buy a heated vest for when I walk the dog or am just really cold:
Women’s Long Heated Vest, $180
I’ve been researching these for awhile and am still on the fence. Do you have one of these? Do you recommend it?
What’s on your gift list this year, for you or other people? Please share in the comments! Happy shopping!
My boyfriend has a heated vest and heated gloves. He loves them. Looooves them. I have tried them and they make me feel all gross and clammy and it’s terrible. I absolutely do not understand non-breathable fibers. That “minky” texture fluffy blanket stuff that all my friends love gives me the horrors. And that was before hot flashes, and their corollary cold flashes. Now my life is divided into plant fiber season and animal fiber season. What I look for in thrift stores is 100% merino (or cashmere) that is around 3 or 4x too big for me (men’s sweaters are generally cheaper and better made anyway) that I can wash on hot to shrink and felt.
Anyway: if you can enjoy man-made fabric that doesn’t breathe and aren’t troubled with periodic sweating, the heated clothing is great.
kkw! My sibling in sweat!
(and also in neurospicy “textile textures are important,” so solidarity)
I’m joining team anti-minky. It feels so weird, and it’s SO staticy. Every piece of hair in the world gets attached to me is what it feels like.
Last year I bought my sister a heated car seat cover that plugs into the lighter socket in the car; it also comes with an adapter to plug into a household socket and fits her computer chair as well, so she can use it indoors or in the car. Bonus, it has an automatic off-switch that turns it off when your weight is lifted off it, so you can’t accidentally leave it on too long. I got it from Lightinthebox.com and I wanted to link to it but sadly I am not seeing that particular model this year. 🙁 cozywinters.com also has some good heated seating options.
The electric candle lighters look nifty. The problem with the 2 for $16 is that they come in one box so wouldn’t work well to give to 2 people. If you look through the color selection though, the black one is $8.
Also, the hand warmers you linked to currently have a 30% coupon offer.
Bring on the gift guides. I’ve barely started my Christmas shopping.
Amazon suggested this magnetic pickup tool:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08D6HBGZK?psc=1&smid=A1L86ZQYBAR9UV&ref_=chk_typ_quicklook_titleToDp
Thank you for the necklace layering clasps! I started layering two thin-chain necklaces and they’ve been tangling so this is a great solution. And I’m getting the hand warmers for a friend whose hands are always cold.
This origami inspired water bottle caught my eye 🙂 Super useful and portable, especially for traveling when you need to conserve space!
https://difold.com/collections/origami-bottles
Thanks for keeping my spirits afloat SBTB!
@Zileen: OH my gosh that water bottle is COOL. Thank you for linking to it!
@LittyN: You’re welcome! I really like that both necklaces are on one clasp, too.
I just ordered the necklace layering clasps for my daughter and me! Thank you, I’ve been so flummoxed when I try to wear two necklaces. I have a cute “The End” necklace from Vera Meat and I love to pair it with things, but they get tangled. Fingers crossed this solves my problems.
Thank you for these gift guides! I just sprained my ankle and getting around to the shops will be tricky this year. Electric candle lighter, necklace layering clasps, and car trash can – all added to cart!
You are so welcome, Eliza. I hope your ankle heals easily and quickly!
Sending healing wishes your way, @Eliza!
Here is a link to a gift thread that I started on another board ~
https://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/738541-2024-edition-~-have-you-encountered-a-unique-gift-post-it-here/
I have purchased multiple people in my life electric mattress pads for Christmas (including ourselves) and it really is the peak of winter luxury to get into a pre-warmed bed.
I’m also saddened to report that pottery barn’s faux fur ruched throw is indeed incredible, I bought it for myself two years ago on a black Friday sale as an outrageous indulgence and it is so lovely and heavy and cozy and ridiculous and I do not share from November until at least March (we live in Minnesota)