gift guide for the ladies

Hi, hello. It’s been awhile.

Christmastime is coming, the shopping feels like it creeps earlier and earlier every year, and while this is self-serving––an influencer posting a gift guide with affiliate links at Christmastime––I’m hoping that it is, like a lot of my gift guides in more recent years, one that sifts through a lot of the crap, and gets to the heart of the good stuff (or at least the good stuff in my humble opinion). My own purchases in a year’s time have gone way down. I buy little these days, and I buy only what I really, really love, will use frequently, and will last. Or at least come pretty close to checking all three of those boxes. If it’s not something that taxes the environment, that’s a serious bonus but, admittedly, not everything falls into that category (and I am well aware of how incredibly expensive it can be to shop that way and only that way). And so, with that and more in mind, I do hope this is a gift guide worth browsing. I will also do my best to update the links as Black Friday sales go live because money doesn’t grow on trees.

01. Henry Rose perfume in Dark as Night: this is a clean perfume that I really like; I used to wear Burberry Brit sometimes, had babies, and stopped wearing perfume. Well, they’re not babies anymore, but I didn’t know clean perfume was really a thing until this one. It smells so good.
02. Faherty Sweater shirt: admittedly, I don’t have one of these yet but every time my friend MaryJo wears hers, I’m touching it and asking her where she got it and it’s this one. So soft and such a perfect staple.
03. A lovely clean candle I’ve found: there’s a few things that make a candle clean. The fragrance they use, the type of wick, and what makes up the wax. Unless I’m missing something, this one fits the bill and smells so nice. Like those zen vibes when you come into a nighttime yoga class. Here’s a really cute candle holder for it.
04. My favorite skincare lineup: no more dry skin in the winter issues, brighter, happier skin… this line is so moisturizing and also great for mature skin. It’s all clean and free of ingredients that are harmful to your health too. (It still works though!) I’ve been using it for a few years now, and still going strong. Note–put each piece in your cart separately to take advantage of the sale. This gift set is one of my favorites too. Would be great for you or your daughter just getting into makeup. Bonus: their Black Friday sale begins today. Up to 30% off sitewide.
05. Do Walk: I believe that there is immeasurable healing to be found in nature and in movement. This inspiring book combines both. Bonus: the author, Libby, is absolutely lovely and a favorite follow on Instagram.
06. Matcha: it’s nice to have a cup of something hot and nourishing (especially in the colder months) and it doesn’t always need to be tea or coffee. I’ve heard good things about this brand. Organic and ceremonial-grade––two things to look for when shopping matcha.
07. A beautiful mug: speaking of a hot-something, it’s extra delightful to sip it out of a beautiful handmade mug.
08. The Walker Goods Louie Sling: I never knew how useful a sling was until I started wearing one a few years ago and then I never took it off. They are so functional, and you’ll wish you’d gotten one sooner.
09. Hiking boots: after crowd-sourcing, and price-comparing for far too long (meanwhile, considering whether my sneakers would be sufficient to do whatever White Mountains fill-in-the-blank hike I was thinking about), I finally got a true pair of hiking boots and I wish I hadn’t waited so long. These are really comfortable, no break in period, and now I know that I at least have the right footwear… now whether I am physically up to some of the hikes I want to tackle is another story…
10. Socks: again, Bridget, with these socks? They’re just the right kinda sock is all. When you find a good thing, you share it.
11. A perfect sweater: Sezane’s knits are all just the best. The colors, the fit, the quality. Love this blue one.
12. A waffle knit robe: Because robes are awesome.
13. Slippers: Because slippers are awesome too.
14. An outdoor speaker: it’s waterproof too. Music everywhere and always is my goal.