Thanksgiving has come & gone and everyone is suddenly in full-blown Christmas mode! I can be the worst last-minute shopper if I have to actually go out to stores, but online shopping saves me from myself.
Turns out I don’t hate shopping: I’m just very much a shopping-from-the-couch kinda girl. Just hanging out with Scout, wearing my fuzzy robe, sipping homemade cocoa from a friend. And ordering online is like a little mini gift to yourself when it’s delivered!
So here’s a collection of my favorites this year in five sections. Do any of you practice the want, need, wear, read system of gifting? I love the simplicity & functionality, but as my list was coming together I just had too many drink-related favorites!
So this is Want, Need, Sip, Wear, Read. I hope you find the perfect something!
Egg Carton Shakers. These are just too cute! I love the freshness of grinders but sometimes you just want the convenience of shakers, so they might as well be adorable.
Salt Box. Keeping a salt box on the kitchen counter is such a nice convenience. This marble box is nonporous and protects your salt from exposed air while keeping it within easy reach.
Golden Bundt Pan. This bundt is so gorgeous I practically want to display it on the wall! Using a beautifully shaped, interested pan lets you keep the glaze & decorations simple.
Mortar & Pestle. For grinding whole spices, crushing nuts, and pounding pesto. Freshly crushed cardamom is one of my favorites that makes the whole kitchen smell delicious.
Stand Mixer. Definitely a splurge but I can’t not include it – nothing does double-duty for working hard and looking gorgeous like a stand mixer. Mine is a luscious candy apple red but I’ve got a crush on this champagne beauty.
Jambox Speaker. Every kitchen needs music! Personal Pandora favs: Imagine Dragons, Dinner Party Radio, and Spice Girls. They cover 99% of my life.
Dutch Oven. If I could only have two items in my kitchen, I’d choose my cast iron skillet and this dutch oven. Nothing gets more use, love, or appreciation than these two workhorses.
Glass Water Bottle. We all need to drink more water, yeah? Keeping a water bottle by my side all day is a good reminder.
Meat Thermometer. No tricks can match absolutely knowing that your meat is fully cooked. So important to keep on hand for peace of mind.
Sous Vide. Need might be a strong word, but this little machine will completely revolutionize your meat game. Completely perfect edge-to-edge steaks? Never-overcooked seafood? Tender-but-never-soggy veggies? Check, check, and check.
Metal Measuring Cups. Everyone could use a fresh set of measuring cups, and this durable metal set is the perfect balance between cute and functional.
Rolling Pin. French pins make rolling doughs so much easier. Ditch your old handled rolling pin for smooth, elegant waxed wood.
Stovetop Espresso. My moka pot is a shining beacon of caffeine when I stumble bleary-eyed into the kitchen. Creamy espresso in less than five minutes, right on the stovetop so there’s no big machine sitting on the counter? This is living our best life.
Pineapple Tumblers. Hand-crafted solid copper mugs for my favorite Moscow Mule – and when they look this cute, they’re never getting hidden in a cupboard.
Camping Mugs. I like metal mugs for everyday coffee at home, but we especially love having the carabiner handles when we’re camping. We just clip ours onto our camp chairs between meals – or onto our backpacks – and they’re handy whenever we’re thirsty.
Propolis Honey. Björn’s collects an incredible creamy propolis honey that the bees make from tree & plant resins. Propolis is extra-healthy and it elevates any warm drink with a little something extra.
High Powered Blender. The biggest splurge on this list & the one I’m secretly wanting for myself: a super-strong crushes-everything blender. From smoothies in the morning to cocktails at night, I don’t know a single home cook who wouldn’t love one of these.
Old Fashioned Glass. Beautiful enough to leave out on the bar cart, monogrammed so you won’t lose track of whose drink is whose.
Cosy Sweater. Literally wearing mine as I type this. Love, love, love this soft sweater! It’s as perfect for cozying up on the couch as it is for staying warm at the office.
Cross Back Apron. My favorite apron ever. Easy to slip on, easy to slip off, lots of hands-wiping coverage, and two ever-important pockets. It’s simple and no-frills; you won’t feel bad when it’s splattered with red sauce because it’ll wash right out.
Slippers for Her & Him. I bought a pair for myself and then went back to buy a pair for Kirk the very next day. These are super-soft and incredibly warm without feeling sweaty. They also have sturdy rubber bottoms so you can walk outside.
Knit Scarf. This scarf + my cosy sweater keeps me just warm enough to walk into town without a coat, plus it feels like wearing a fluffy blanket. I have one in burgundy and one in oatmeal that goes with everything.
Grilling Gloves. Because grilling in the winter shouldn’t mean choosing between freezing hands and risking your favorite gloves over the flames.
Heated Blanket. If you’ve seen me in winter, you know that a heated blanket can absolutely be included in the ‘wear’ category! I resisted buying one for years, but now it’s a couch necessity.
Half Baked Harvest. The gorgeous pictures on every page are drool-worthy and the recipes are perfection. Tieghan wrote a completely genuine, heartfelt cookbook that became an immediate favorite of mine.
Cardamom Candle. Candlelight makes every reading session a little cozier and better. I’m in love with the cardamom scent of this new pillar candle from Target.
Kindle Paperwhite. I used to be a die-hard paper-books-all-the-way girl, but it’s hard not to adore the Paperwhite. The screen is basically not a screen and I can carry 1,729,321 pages in my pocket when I’m traveling.
Treat-Yo-Self Chocolate. There’s nothing better than curling up with a fancy mini chocolate bar to nibble while you read. Chocolove is making amazingly smooth chocolate right here on the Front Range in lots of seriously delicious flavors.
Meathead. For the science nerd chasing the perfect fall-off-the-bone grilling technique. Part cookbook, part textbook, this can guide anyone to create just the right levels of fire, heat, and smoke.
Succulent Candles. How cute are these little tealight candles? I want a little row of them lined up in my kitchen window.
I hope you’re waking up stuffed full of mashed potatoes and holiday spirit! I can definitely be a grinch right up until Thanksgiving, but now it’s time for full-on Christmas. Get ready for peppermint, chestnuts, and aaaaall the cookies. Cheers!
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