A Small Gift Guide
Yet another gift guide, I know. BUT! The way I’ve approached gifts in the last few years is prioritizing shopping small and local. So please use this as a starting point but don’t feel limited to the exact items or websites they’re linked too. Go shop your local toy store if you can, your local book store, local stationary store, etc. I have linked mostly Portland small businesses (because that’s where i live) when possible or other smaller online shops, but some are more midsized brands and some of the kids toys are hard to find from a small online toy store!
Gifts for Myself
aka the most expensive section lmao and mostly things on my actual wishlist that I don’t own (yet lol)
Matching PJ set
I’m in my comfy mom, postpartum era and there are many days I stay in PJs all day and a matching set always makes me feel good and like I have my shit together. I am eyeing this set from Cozyland but I also have a sweat set from Mate the Label that I love and a couple waffle PJ sets from Noble that I love and have been washed hundreds of times and still look new (and make great base layers for my cold girlies). Plus there’s a new cute gingham print coming out soon 👀 These all have up to 3X options!
Rain Boots
These Merry People boots are my current obsession. I don’t have them so I can’t vouch for them but they are so cute and I will probably get them for myself at some point soon. Other boots I love - Blundstone boots! I have worn my vegan Blundstone boots nearly every day in the fall-spring since 2022 and they’re still good as new and keep my feet dry in the very wet Portland rain.
Lip Treatment
Between the dry winters here and breastfeeding, my lips are SO dry and I am craving some good lip balm or lip masks. I’ve heard amazing things about this Tower 28 one that comes in clear or colors!
Engraved Signet Bracelets
I am slowly building my jewelry collection and would love some personalized gold bracelets with my kiddos names on them. Sezane has a personalized option that’s more affordable (it’s recycled brass not gold) or if someone is really wanting to splurge on beautiful quality (solid 14k gold) I would opt for this Catbird one.
Graphic tees and long sleeves
With all the bullshit going on politically, I think another great option is a graphic statement tee from a small maker. I am obsessed with the graphic tees and long sleeves from Stay Kind Company - I actually bought myself the one that says “The only dangerous minority is the rich” but I also love the soup season one and the All Cows Are Beautiful one :) The bumper stickers and pins are also so good for more affordable or stocking stuffer options!
Wine pack or club
I am a pretty occasional alcohol consumer at this point in my life and I really only enjoy drinking wine, so I think a wine club subscription or multi-pack from a small indie wine label would be amazing. I love skin-contact wines and this winery has a great selection of those. While I was pregnant, I did try the original Ghia bevvy and I thought it was really delicious mixed with iced tea - so that’s a similar option if you’re looking for a treat but don’t want alcohol!
Handmade serving platter or other handmade ceramic good
I have been collecting handmade ceramics for my kitchen since 2020 and they really elevate my space in my opinion and I truly enjoy using them every day. I love the look, texture, and weight of small batch / handmade ceramics and it’s a great way to support small local artists. This scallop edge serving platter is soooo stunning, but honestly anything from Martina Thornhill would be amazing - butter dishes, soap dishes, or the lamps that made cute shadows!? Alternatively find your own local ceramicist to shop from! [check lead times - the platter is 6 weeks but some of the other items are less! if it’s not coming in time, you can always include a print out of the photo for xmas!]
Waterproof hat
Okay a pal I follow posted the most adorable rain hat and I desperately want one as someone who doesn’t like using umbrellas, lives in rainy Portland, and owns too many coats without hoods. They also make a hood version if that’s more your style!
Month planner
I have been wanting to get a larger month view planner to help my toddler start learning the days of the week and this one is such a fun color. Bonus points it’s from my favorite local stationary store, who no longer has a brick and mortar but you can still do local pickup or they offer shipping anywhere!
Gifts for friends and family
Everything is under $100!
Travel game
I am actually getting a family member travel backgammon because they recently got back into playing and i thought it would be fun for them to have a travel version! Could opt for a travel chess or other game if that’s more appealing to your giftee.
Vegan cookbook
I got this cookbook this year and it’s not only stunning to look at and display but it’s also got amazing recipes for vegan Mexican food! :) I love pairing a cookbook gift with either the ingredients for one of the recipes or at least some relevant spices and a nice cooking oil!
Fancy olive oil
I love gifting consumables for people that “have everything” or are hard to shop for because who doesn’t love something that doesn’t last forever and is super practical. One of my go to’s is nice olive oil and this small batch maker from Northern California looks amazing and I love the packaging.
Salad servers
My salad servers are one of my favorite kitchen items and it honestly makes me want to make more salads because they’re so fun to use lol. I don’t have ones as cute as thesebut I did recently buy these for my friend and they’re sooooo cute!
Ceramic matcha set
I have a mud witch mug from a few years back and have loved following them ever since. For your matcha loving pal - how cute would it be to gift either this whisk holder and/or matcha bowl. If you want to go all out, also include a whisk and a nice matcha powder to go with! Truly anything they make is so funky and fun.
Cloth napkins
Honestly one of my favorite gifts to receive is cloth napkins. I feel like we can never have too many and we exclusively have used cloth napkins for like 7 years now and have a bunch of different sets. I’ve been eyeing Madre Linen ones for a long time - they’re local and I have heard they are amazing quality.
Body Lotion
I got this Uni body lotion as a welcome gift from the Credo store opening in Portland but I keep it in the bathroom and everyone that has tried it has loved it - even cassidy who hates lotion in general and most scents lol. It’s got a cute bottle, the lotion itself is a cute minty green, it smells so good, doesn’t leave you feeling greasy, and has a great dispenser that doesn’t leave a little crusty bit.
Cute stationary
For the stationary nerds - I love getting cute office supplies as gifts. Things like a fun stapler and pens, or sticky pads / notebooks! You can’t go wrong honestly - I love having these on my desk at home or in the office.
35mm camera
I saw this zero-waste disposable camera that I think would be a fun way for someone who is just getting into it to try! They make it easy with sending it back to them and getting film developed and scanned or printed, so it makes it a little easier for someone who may not know where they can get film developed near them.
Fun jewelry
A couple of my fave jewelry makers - Natalie Joy (local to Portland!) for the more minimalist girlie. I own the doodle necklace and absolutely love it. Juice ceramics is a great option for the more quirky pal - they have the cutest ceramic charm necklaces (veggies, butter, hot sauce) and many are pretty affordable ($30)!
Gifts for toddlers & young kids
A mix of things I want to buy for my kids and things we own!
Projector toy
This has been on my to-buy list forever for fran, so i may get this for her this year! It’s a little working projector :’) Unfortunately a harder thing to find at a small business, but I’m sure they carry it at some local toy stores or could find it on FB marketplace! Perhaps the one at the Pioneer Place mall which tends to have more mainstream toys.
Upcycled clothes
I looove shopping for clothes for fran and i’m going to enjoy it to the fullest while I still have full reign over her closet 😅 I pretty much only try to buy vintage or upcycled pieces when i can - so here’s two of my favorite makers: Little Lawless and Playdate Vintage. I have a bunch of things from LL and all have been amazing and get a zillion compliments on and own one pair of pants from PV and love them too!
Board games
We got fran three board games just after she turned two and she’s been obsessed with them since and we play all three nearly daily - first orchard (my personal fave), acorn soup, and chutes and ladders (cassidy’s pick). They have really helped with learning to count, identify colors, follow directions, etc and also some days we don’t really get through a full game or play the intended way and that’s fun too! On our wishlist this year is sneaky snacky squirrel and the happy marshmallow game. These can be harder to find locally/small business but Pinwheels in Portland has a used game section and I saw several of these last time.
Kids camera
Fran is obsessed with our film camera and so I think getting her one of these kids digital cameras would be so fun for her! It’s on the list for this year potentially.
Stepping stones
They’re expensive - I know. I was skeptical, but we got them and they are so so fun and really nice quality. The weight limit is over 300 pounds, so Cassidy and I can play on them with fran too and they’re so open ended, i can see them being used for many years. I also love that they are non toxic. I believe there are dupes out there if you’re looking for something more affordable but i can’t vouch for those!
Ice cream set
We were actually given this set as a hand me down from my bestie and Fran has played with it literally every day for about a year and a half now. It stays in the living room and somehow she is meticulous about getting all the pieces back in there, so I had to include it on this list even though it’s not particularly a small business. Again - if you can find it at a local toy shop or even secondhand - even better!
Custom stuffy
I got fran one of these Hazel Village stuffies for her first christmas and it’s still one of her favorites (the mouse with the dress). They’re a small business in New York and my dream is to visit their store. She particularly likes stuffies that she can take the clothes on/off and you can add more clothes to their collection over time!
Art easel + smock
I have been wanting to get fran an art easel + smock to make painting less intimidating for us 😅 we’ve outgrown the high chair - where I used to set her up to paint, so I think this is a great way and something we can easily set up inside or outside. There are a ton of easels online - Ikea has one for $20 (plus a cheap smock!) but I like this onethat has both a roll of paper attached as well as a little tray to put the paints and brushes easily accessible. And this smock is soooo cute.
Microscope
It may be too early to get fran a microscope but Cassidy and I were talking about how fun it would be to get one for her at some point to look at things we’ve collected on walks. This one seems like a great option at a pretty good price point!
Stocking Stuffers
For adults
Hand cream
I am obsessed with this hand cream and it’s less than $15! Smells good, is hydrating, doesn’t leave your hands greasy.
Eye masks
I’ve loved these eye masks for years and they would make a perfect stocking stuffer - Cassidy and I both have a pair we still use! You can use them with any moisturizer or eye cream.
Cute pens
Can you tell I love stationary? I love filling stockings with little cute stationary things like pens :)
Snacks & drinks
You have to put treats in a stocking in my opinion and these local Portland vegan truffles are my fave. Support your local vegan chocolatier or buy from mine online (they ship!).
For kids
Knick knacks from Merci Milo
I get most of Fran’s stocking stuffers from Merci Milo - they have such cute retro-inspired toys and things imported from Europe. I particularly like things like the pull back cars, little stuffies, mini tops, and these wind-up toys.
TOOB animal figurines
I loooove these toob animal figurines. I’ve gotten Fran a few tubes already and will probably get one more this year and put them in her stocking :) They have so many different categories (even non-animals like trucks) to choose from so you can cater to your toddler’s special interests. And if you’re local - I have found these at Collage!
Embroidered colored pencil set
I got this colored pencil set for Fran a couple of years back and now we use them regularly and I think this set is so stinkin’ cute and the monogrammed touch just makes it extra special. I think I need to get Foster one this year so they can each have their own!
Hope this helps! Fuck capitalism and fuck am*z*n this holiday season >:)