A Small Gift Guide 2023
Another year, another gift guide. I put together a few different categories this year but of course things are interchangeable! As usual, I tried to focus on small businesses and brands. Hope this helps! Happy holidays xx
*Click the image or titles for direct links to products. Some are affiliate/commission links.
For your pal
Madre Linens
I personally love getting table linens like napkins, placemats, and tablecloths and have been eyeing Madre Linens for a while. They’re a small business based in Portland and have the most gorgeous shades of linen! Perfect for your friends who love to host. $90
Best Friend Necklace
Charms are trendy again and what cuter and more classic charm necklace is there than a little BFF heart necklace! Etsy has quite a few cute options, like the one I have linked. $12
Risograph Art Print
I feel like you can never go wrong with a cool art print, and risograph prints feel like the perfect vibe these days. They’re colorful and retro-feeling - and tons of cool options are available via google or etsy if you search ‘risograph print’. I’m linking one example here. Get it framed if you want to add something a little extra. $12.47
Rabbit Brush Goods
I’ve gifted a few friends a small shag spray and think it makes such a rad gift! I swear by their spray and dry shampoo, they’re the only products I use in my own hair and are also a rad small Portland business! They sell things individually or in a bundle as pictured. $60 for the trio bundle
Kodak Mini Photo Printer
A tiny wireless photo printer! Perfect for your friend who has way too many iphone photos on their phone (me). I bought this earlier this year for myself because I wanted to be able to print out little pictures of Fran for her baby book. And it works great! 10/10 recommend. $109
For your partner
Tintype Photo
A tintype photo is such a unique and cool alternative to a traditional portrait in my opinion. They’ve been gaining in popularity, so do a lil google search to see if someone does them in your city but I’ve linked someone who does them locally. And enjoy this one of Cassidy and I from 2019. varies
Parachute robe or slippers
A nice robe or pair of slippers is one of my favorite gifts to receive! They get a ton of use because I’m such a homebody and add such a cozy element to my daily life. I’ve had my cloud cotton robe for just about 4 years and still use it everytime i get out of the shower. $39-129
Solios Watch
A solar-powered eco-friendly watch! They come in many different sizes and styles, the bands are vegan leather, and i love that they don’t require a battery! I have the mini one pictured and i forgot how much i love wearing a watch. And don’t worry - it only takes 2 hours of sun to power 6 months of charge, so you don’t need to even think about charging it! It’ll get enough from your day to day. ~$250-300
Chatbooks Yearbook
I’ve been getting chatbooks this year and they’re such an affordable and easy option for memory books. I love the idea of doing a yearbook at the end of every year - or you could do a standalone book for a special trip or memory that occurred this year (e.g. Denmark Trip 2023). I’m always a sucker for printed photos and physical keepsakes :’) Starts at $17
Caraway Kettle
I think a cute fancy tea kettle is one of those kitchen items that makes me feel like a real adult. And I think this could make such a sweet gift paired with a few assorted loose teas & reusable tea bag! $175
Mate the Label Sweatsuit
My absolute favorite sweatsuit brand is mate the label! I bought a sweat suit a few years ago and still wear it at least once per week. I love Mate’s quality and that they have womens & mens styles - they’re a bit of a splurge item so I think it would make a great gift! ~$150
Kobo eReader
The Kobo Clara is the eReader my partner and I both have and we are so into them after being hard-copy purists for so long! But the convenience of the eReader, especially with borrowing eBooks from the public library for free, is unmatched. And this one is hooked up to the Kobo store, so a great alternative to buying ebooks from am*zon! $140
Forever Eye Mask
A reusable eye mask! Just add some moisturizer or eye cream and slap these on to feel so refreshed and help those dark circles/puffiness go away. My partner and I each have a pair and love doing them together but this would also be the perfect gift for a friend (especially for any new moms out there). There’s a few different brands out there but I am linking the ones we have - and they have held up great! $25
For your parents
Aura Digital Frame
This is a gift we bought for our in-laws last year in preparation of sharing baby photos - a digital art frame! So we can add photos of ourselves and our baby and they will automatically show up in the slideshow! Such a sweet gift. $150
Caraway Bakeware or Cookware
Caraway makes my favorite plans, which are ceramic-coated, but they recently also launched stainless steel ones! They also make my favorite bakeware set that comes with this handy storage - there’s something for everyone! $220 for 4-piece bakeware
Candle Warmer Lamp + Candle
I think candles are always a great gift for parents/in-laws because they’re something they can use and not something that will take up space in a closet for years. And a candle warmer like this kind of elevates the gift imo and warmers are a great alternative to lighting because no smoke and they last way longer! Pair this with a nice candle, like Byredo if you’re feeling fancy or PF for something a little more affordable. $32
Graza Olive Oil Set
Consumables are my favorite thing to get the folks that are hard to shop for because it’s low stakes, useful, and won’t take up space for too long! And fancy olive oil is one of my go to’s because who doesn’t love olive oil. This is my current favorite brand - it’s not too pricey and the quality is so good! $37
For the kids
Hazel Village
This is a customizable doll brand with all sorts of cute woodland creatures and things! Think animal crossing meets build-a-bear meets cute woodsy folky vibes. I’ve wanted to make one of these for her since before she was born so i figured now is a great time! You can buy customize their outfit or buy different ones over time! Good thing Fran can’t read yet because I’m spoiling all of her gifts this year. $48+
Embroidered Cap
I am a sucker for monogrammed items like these cute vintagey style hats. Such a cute gift for a kid of any age and it doubles as cute nursery decor until they grow into them! $42
Custom Name Puzzle
Again - a sucker for anything with name customization :’) I think these little name puzzles are so cute and classic, they’d be such a sweet gift. There are a ton of listings online, but I liked this one which has a ton of different color and animal offerings. $40-60
Throwing Tiny Fits
One of my favorite kids clothing brands is a locally-owned business called Throwing Tiny Fits. They make mostly toddler clothes but have a few baby items and even a few adult items from time to time! varies
Yoto Plater
A little audio player! A great option for storytelling without screens. This is on my own personal Xmas list for Fran this year - I’ve heard great things about these Yoto players. They essentially play audio stories with little cards you can buy. It seems like something they can get a lot of use out of for many years! $130 for full size, $70 for mini
LovEvery Subscription
Toy boxes! These makeup 99% of Fran’s toys and I love them, particularly the first box for newborns/young infants, but they organize them by age so you can buy something for a kid of any age! Fran still plays with those contrast tubes from the first box and are maybe her favorite toys of all time. These make an excellent and long lasting gift because you can set up a temporary subscription and get as many or as few boxes as you’re wanting to spend! $80 per box