Holiday shipping deadlines are tighter than ever this year, but it’s not too late to find that perfect gift for everyone left on your list—and have it arrive in their hands before the holidays. When it comes to holiday gift-giving, the best gifts are the thoughtful ones that show you knew exactly what would make them smile or insert a little joy into their life. So, I’m here to help you nail it this holiday season. Here’s a list of thoughtful holiday gifts for every single person on your list—from the hostess to the busy bee to the tech enthusiasts. We’ve got you covered.
01
For The Busy Parent
Parents are the real life superheroes—somehow balancing careers, parenthood, entrepreneurship and everything in between all while making it look effortless. Only, we know it’s not, and anyone managing a household can use all the help they can get. Enter the Nest Hub from Google, which along with the ever-so-reliable Google Assistant, features an impressive built-in camera that follows you as you move around the room and recognizes which family member is using it and easy access and viewing for YouTube videos and other entertainment streaming —making it perfect for video calling, staying on top of that to-do list and getting inspiration for dinner tonight. Could you ask for more? Of course, and guess what, their Nest Hub Max will get it done.
02
For the Person Who’s Serious About Their Playlist
Music lovers won’t be able to get enough of the room-filling sound coming from their new Nest Audio Speaker, which takes listening to your favorite Rihanna playlist to new levels. Coming to claim the title of “the only speaker you’ll ever need, the Nest Audio speaker is a whopping 75-percent louder than the original Google Home device and the Google Assistant is still waiting to answer your every request. The sound quality is premier, yet it won’t take up any more space on your nightstand. Talk about small but mighty. Hey Google, play “Crazy In Love by Beyoncé” because that’s what anyone’s going to be if they unwrap this gem of a gift from you this holiday season.
03
For The Wine Lover On Your List
For your friend who’s serious about her wine—when it comes to both taste and presentation, The McBride Sisters Collections will never disappoint. Gift her The Black Girl Magic Trio (Riesling 2018, Rosé and Zinfandel), which is on of our editors’ favorites, or a Winter Vibes 6-Pack to cozy up to as the snow falls.
Starting at $61.72
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04
For The Person Who’s Always Cold
Weighted blankets have health benefits for days, but Bearaby’s Limited Edition Luxurious Wintry Gems Collection packs just as much style too. We’re obsessed with the softness, warmth and style—get ready to send them into a peaceful slumber in 3, 2, 1!
05
For Your Friend Who’s Always Bored At Home
What if you could give them the gift of wanderlust this holiday season, and still keep them safe? With the new Oculus Quest 2 VR headset they can travel the world (literally) from the comfort of their couch. The options for thrilling travel and adventure are endless—they can play with baby orangutangs in the grasslands of Kenya in the morning, hover over the world’ largest waterfall in a secluded jungle in Venezuela after lunch, then head have dinner in outer space. The options for solo adventures are unmatched inside this gem of a headset, but if they’re in the mood to be social, get fit or get into some gaming, the massive interactive app selections will keep them busy through 2021. This is a great all-around pick for your brother, hubby or that friend who’s always on the go!
06
For Your Friend Who Loves To Host
Here’s a gift that will keep on giving. The Barsys Smart Coaster is a hostess’ dream come true. With help from its complementary app, you place your glass on the coaster, follow the instructions and becoming a mixologist in the making. The coaster measures the exact amounts of each ingredient you pour to ensure that every time you play bartender you nail it. Seriously, we’re obsessed. This is really going to be a hit for a low-key New Year’s celebration. Go ahead and bless the party king or queen in your life with this must-have gadget and the ultimate conversation piece.
07
For The Wellness Enthusiast Who’s Always Trying Something New
Made with all-natural Himalayan pink salt, this SLS and fluoride-free Himalayan Pink Salt Toothpaste contains minerals that naturally detoxify your mouth, strengthen teeth, and protect tooth enamel—so give the gift of a brighter smile in 2021!
08
For The Woman Who’s All About Her Hair
Protective styles help when she’s out and about, but what about bedtime? If a silk pillowcase is her go-to for keeping friction away from her curls and coils, then she’ll love the Silken Pure Champagne Pillowcase, which is durable, soft, non-toxic, and um, fabulous!
09
For The Well-Groomed Gentleman
Brwn and Co.’s natural and non-toxic skincare line is just the pampering treat the dapper dude in your life deserves. It’s the Minted Sage Face and Beard Wash for us!
$16.00
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10
For The Self-Care Obsessed
If they know you can never be too good to yourself, then they’ll dig right into BeCalm Self-Care Kit With Self Love Coaching Workbook from Beloved Box which is full of little treats to indulge in “me time.”
11
For The Neat Freak In Your Life
Robot vacuum cleaners can be instant game changers for those who love to keep a clean and tidy home but rarely have time to actually devote to major cleaning. We love it because it climbs like a boss, seamlessly glides between floors and carpets, and isn’t intimidated by a low-pile rug. It uses high-precision LiDAR navigation to map your space as it goes, so it won’t clean where you tell it not to and knows precisely when it’s covered every inch of your floors. They’ll thank you every Sunday when they’re enjoying more “found time.”
12
For The Person Who Is Always Fully Coordinated
Getting dressed is much easier for a fashionista when she has a set of reversible masks in every color. This fun set is the perfect union of chic style and function and a must-have staple for anyone’s fall pandemic wardrobe.
$65.00/set of 5
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13
For That Person In Your Family Always Asking You To Send Photos
When we said everyone on your list, we meant it. Here’s something grandma, mom or dad will love long after the holidays are over. With Google premium print series, for a monthly subscription fee of $6.99 you can have 10 high quality prints delivered right to their home and ready to slide right into the scrapbook or frame they always have handy. Send them as custom postcards with a note or just prints, but either way they’ll be waiting by the door for this care package.
$6.99/month
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14
For The Person Who Doesn’t Miss Their Bedtime
Haven’t you heard? Naps are the new downtime and for those loved ones in your life who put a good night’s sleep first, they’re going to adore you for adding the Layla Weighted Blanket into their bedtime routine. Weighted blankets are known to improve sleep quality by helping to reduce stress/anxiety with Deep Touch Pressure (DTP) that feels like a warm, snug hug.
15
For Your Friend Who’s ‘Scentual’
Sometimes it’s really the little things that mean the most. That feeling of walking into a clean space filled with a fresh scent that activates instant joy as soon as your nose catches the scent. With the Pura Smart Home Device you can customize your scent preferences and explore right from your smartphone. At a $44 price point, this gift is affordable luxury realized.
16
For the Dog Lover
The Pandemic has been just as hard on our pets as it has been on us, and they deserve a little holiday pampering too. Doggy self-care matters too. Honest Paws Wellness CBD Oil is the perfect stocking stuff for the proud pet owner in your life. It’s organic, full-spectrum and lab-tested so it checks all of their boxes. (They have oils galore, to promote other things like relief, calm and mobility too, so feel free to stock up!)
17
For That Person Who Loves To Cook
Hygiene is more important than ever before, and for that loved one who lives in the kitchen and is always cookin’ up something magical, they need a new toy this holiday season. The Fab Slabs cutting boards are naturally antibacterial cutting boards proven hygienic for all foods. They’re made from a single solid slab and each one is unique.
18
For Your Fancy Friend
There’s soda and then there’s United Sodas Of America, a colorful collection of low-calorie, organically sweetened goodness that will look as good on their shelves as it tastes over ice. This gift is sure to be a memorable one. (There’s even a subscription option!)
$34.99
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19
For The Dog Mom or Dad
A proud pet parent wants to give her furry little one the world. Now they can get to know their pet even more with the Wisdom Panel Premium Dog DNA kit. Yes, we said doggy DNA Kit. Geneticists and vets teamed up on this screening which promises to identify the breed mix down to 1% and tests for over 350 different types and varieties. The test even looks for genetic conditions they’ll want to know all about, like drug sensitives weight and mobility issues they may be prone to genetically. Can you find a cuter gift idea for the new dog owner? We’ll wait…
$159.99
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20
For The Busy Couple
Life’s busy, bustling pace rarely halts and sometimes couples can get bogged down with the day-to-day responsibilities of managing their shared life and miss out on ways to better connect. In walks the Fair Play Deck, based on the New York Times best-seller Fair Play, a conversation game for couples looking find balance and relate more deeply.
21
For The Person Upgrading Their Home Office
Everyone who’s been working from home during the pandemic is giving their home office space a little extra love to make it as comfortable as possible. For the music lover who’s also always on a conference call, the SOUNDFORM™ ELITE Hi-Fi Smart Speaker + Wireless Charger is like getting two amazing gifs in one. The wireless charger makes it easy to keep their phone charged and handy with then they need it, while the (Google Home enabled) smart speaker will pause their playlist on command, tell them the weather or which zoom meeting is up next on their calendar.
22
For Your Friend Who’s Always Down For A Game Night
You know that friend you never want to play Taboo with because they’ve practically memorized all the cards? Well, the deserve Pando this Christmas—the party game where the trivia is all about THEM. If you don’t know the person you’re playing with well, you can’t win this one. Sorry trivia buffs! This one’s personal. You can even play it virtually with friends. Get ready for the laughs.
23
For The Family Who Has Way Too Many Devices
Multi-tasking has new meaning these days. You can actually be downloading, streaming, emailing, printing, Instagramming and cycling at the same time—all thanks to the seemingly magical powers of Wi-Fi, unless you’re using too much. In steps the Velop WIFI 6 system, which will make whatever Wi-Fi they’re using feel like an old-school dial up connection. Talk about speed, and when they say entire home coverage, they mean it—they’ll be more tuned in than ever.
24
For The Hostess
Leave the corks behind with these sensible and fun Wine Condoms that will keep their holiday rosé fresh. Practically brilliant and an instant conversation starter for their next gathering.
25
For The First Time Homeowner
Everyone loves saving money on household bills—especially when you recently bought a new home! Give them the gift of an upgrade to their home thermostat with The Sensi™ Touch Smart Thermostat, which allows them to control the temperature from their smart phone whether they’re in bed or out and about. The chic visual display and case (with a backlight option) will seamlessly blend into any décor. (Hurry, it’s on sale and arrives by Christmas.)
26
For The Person Who Treats Their Dog Like A Human
We enjoy going out to dinner, so why shouldn’t our furry friends have fun eating their food too? For the dog lovers on your list, the PAW5: Wooly Snuffle Mat is the perfect holiday gift, because making their pet this happy is bound to get them smiling too. It’s machine washable and puts a dog’s sense of smell to the test and their nose and brain to work by mimicking the hunt for food in nature.
27
For Your Friend Who Likes to Give Back
For the person in your life who is always down to do a little good for their neighborhood, we know just the gift they’ll love. During the pandemic, author and playwright Sekou Writes started working with the homeless. He created a buy one/gift one drive to help keep the homeless warm. When anyone buys a HERO hoodie, he donates a second hoodie to the homeless.
TOPICS: Holiday Gift Guide 2020