Holiday Gift Guide 2017

This book has been my cookbook hero of the year. I have made a huge number of the recipes in it with fantastic results.  Of the rest, I legitimately want to make about 99% of the recipes. I have gifted it to several friends who love it just as much as I do. Everyone needs this book!

There are many excellent reasons why Deb Perelman is and always will be the best food blogger, period, the end, but chief among them is that she makes the food we want to eat. She isn’t trying to create some hybridized recipe based on popular Pinterest search terms. She is practical, down to earth, and makes food that is both specially and totally approachable at the same time. I am head over heels for her latest book and so far, the recipes I have made have been spectacular. I can’t wait to cook my way through this one.

If I were the sort of person who was organized enough to have an actual bucket list, dining at Mozza would be on my list for sure. Nancy Silverton captivated me in the Chef’s Table episode about her L.A. eatery. This book lets me continue marveling over Nancy’s perfectionism from the comfort of my own home, and nicely illustrates her talent for making what can sometimes be mediocre fare (pizza and pasta) a culinary adventure.

It’s never a surprise when America’s Test Kitchen publishes another mouth watering, well executed cookbook. They have authored many of my very favorite books, which still see regular action in my kitchen. Their mediterranean release this year has been such a fabulous addition to my collection and I love everything I have made from it so far. I always find menu planning inspiration within its pages.

Delicious recipes with a side of social justice? You know that’s right up my alley. I have so appreciated seeing various members of the food community doing their part in many big and small ways to counteract the evil cultural currents running through out society at present. This book beautifully features recipes of diverse origins and backgrounds woven in with meaningful stories, while also providing practical tips for getting involved and making a difference. Proceeds from book sales go to the ACLU. Thank you Julia Turshen for being so freaking awesome.

It seems to me everything Elisabeth Prueitt does is gold. Her most recent cookbook is no exception. Beautifully photographed with a wide range of highly crave-worthy, highly delicious recipes for every occasion, it’s a staple book you will reference again and again.

This year I had the distinct pleasure of dining at Husk in both Charleston and Nashville. Sean Brock’s restaurants are fully deserving of all the hype and praise they receive, and both were truly memorable meals. When I came across Heritage at the library a couple of months ago, I couldn’t resist checking it out. I have checked it out numerous times since. The photography is out of this world, the voice and stories are compelling, and the recipes are as lovely as everything else about the Husk establishment is. While this isn’t really an every day sort of cookbook, I imagine I’ll be making some of these recipes with best girlfriends when we decide to cook something special together.

Give a woman queso, and she’ll eat happily for one meal. Give a woman a cookbook full of queso recipes and she’ll happily make a variety of amazing queso forever. Thank goodness for Lisa Fain, this adorable cheesy book, and of course, for queso.

I learned about this book after hearing an interview with the author on the Bon Appetit podcast. This is definitely not your typical cookbook. It has hand drawn illustrations but no photographs and recipes don’t begin until more than halfway into the book. The aim is not to simply provide a catalog of recipes, but to help readers become better home cooks through understanding of these key elements of the cooking process. I haven’t fully explored my copy yet but each time I open it, I learn something new.

This is almost like a cookbook, but not quite! Sift magazine is a production from the always talented and engaging folks of King Arthur Flour. Each issue is truly a feast for the eyes and the belly, bursting with stunning photography and the sort of recipes that make you want to drop what you’re doing and make them right this instant. While subscriptions aren’t available (boo), you can buy back issues online.

When I learned Liberty of London and Anthropologie were collaborating, I was thrilled! Two things I already love…put your hands together! Of all the items they made, these cheese spreaders are my favorite. So cute and sure to brighten up any cheese board!

No one does ice cream better than Jeni’s. Having a box of Jeni’s delivered to your doorstep…amazing! Perhaps subscribing to the Pint Club and having four boxes of Jeni’s delivered to you over the course of the year…I can hardly think of a better gift. In fact, I gift it to myself quite often! Hey, self care is important right?!

A knife roll is the kind of thing that I am unlikely to purchase for myself, but would totally use the heck out of if I had one. Being able to easily transport knives when traveling to crappy rental kitchens or bringing over your favorite knife when cooking with friends is much more convenient with a good case. That’s it, I’m getting one. I convinced me.

A bamboo steamer is a fun kitchen tool that can be used for lots of delicious things like dumplings and steam buns. A great option for family or friends looking to expand their kitchen skills and repertoire.

I’m a sucker for pretty glassware and I have a full fledged obsession with Suite One Studio creations, so Suite One Studio glassware gives me all the heart eyes. I am 99% sure a gin and tonic will automatically taste better in one of these glasses. I can’t decide which color I love more, so I probably need both sets!

I bought this set of gorgeous mason jars with wooden lids when we finished up our kitchen renovation because I’m fairly certain they take away your Pinterest-y blogger card if you don’t meet the mason jar quota. Thankfully now I’m all set and my dry goods look especially cute displayed in these lovely things.

This may not seem like a very exciting gift, but I would honestly be thrilled to receive it. My mesh strainer is a major work horse in my kitchen and I think I use it at least every other day. I also wish almost every time that I had more strainers in more sizes so they would better suit the various tasks I use them for and then mine wouldn’t be dirty every time I needed it.

Have a wine lover on your gift list? Let me highly recommend purchasing them some bottles from Cruse Wine. You have to sign up for their mailing list to be able to purchase online, but it’s super quick easy to do. There are some amazing bottles in their recent fall release and I have been thoroughly enjoying mine. While my favorite, the Pét nat, is sold out now, you can still obtain it through their selection option. This would be such a nice gift for someone special.

Candles are a wonderful gift for just about anyone, but not just any candle will do. I am picky highly discerning about scents, and when I find something I love, I stick with it. I have been loving Wax & Wool candles for quite a while now and the scents are perfect. These are hand poured, clean burning, and I love that they come from a wonderful small business of a friend. Kjerste has offered 10% off your purchase with the code ANNIES10 now through Saturday night December 2, 11:59 pm PST.

How freaking cute are these rose gummy bears people!?! I came across them online recently and was intrigued. Then just days later I wandered into a pop up shop by Sugarfina and had to work pretty hard to play it cool. I did buy a variety of cocktail gummies, purportedly for friends. Fingers crossed that they share!

This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about Marissa A. Ross’ book and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I cannot stop telling people how much I love her and her book! This book takes the snooty sense of exclusivity out of wine and makes it approachable and just plain fun for anyone who wants to learn more about it. I read it cover to cover and now that I am enjoying exploring wine, I find myself referring to it constantly. If you are easily offended, skip on to the next item but for the rest of us, this book is f*cking fantastic.

Who doesn’t love a good personalized item? Maybe I’m #basic like that but I love things like that. These mugs are so cute and I love the little cartoon likenesses on them. I want to get these for everyone. “You get a mug! And you! And you! Everyone gets a mug!”

I love a good art print and this one highlighting a handful of key female figures from history to present day is one of my favorites ever! It’s visually stunning, playful, and most importantly, adds another little crack in the patriarchy.

Coasters are one of those things that we probably all should have, but how often do you ever actually want to buy them? When they look this bright with a hint of sparkle, I totally do! You could buy a coordinating set in the same color, but personally I prefer this mix and match look.

A beautiful soft throw blanket is always a welcome gift in my world. This one is handwoven, goes with pretty much everything, and seems like the perfect thing to curl up with by the fire.

For friends and family that love to plan and stay organized, these lovely meal planning notepads from Rifle Paper Co. are ideal. It really does help to see your weekly menu visually laid out this way, and they are cute as can be.

These vibrant peacock blue taper candles along with their golden candleholders are on my own wishlist in the category of things I probably don’t really need but really, really want. And isn’t that often just the right thing to gift to someone else? Something a little bit special that they are unlikely to buy for themselves. These tapers could make an ordinary day seem a bit more elegant.

This necklace is a new favorite of mine and I’ve been wearing a ton. As with so many of Erin’s pieces, it is a simple and beautiful way to add a touch of sparkle to any look. The dangling center strand is sexy and elegant. Love love love!

I think it’s fair to say that am a lip color addict. I love trying new colors and I find small gift sets to be a perfect way to do just that. This set has been a favorite of mine for months now and I find myself reaching for these constantly. The four colors included are a wide enough variety that one of them is bound to go with nearly every outfit.

For anyone who wears a lot of rings, these resin ring cones are a must have! A beautiful way to store and display rings and they always make me think of unicorn horns in the very best way. This ombre is my favorite of them all but there are so many whimsical options to choose from.

Druzy jewelry with its subtle sparkle is always a favorite of mine and this black rectangular necklace gives me all the heart eyes. I frequently find myself looking for black jewelry to go with various outfits and I know this would be a welcome addition to my collection.

Probably the only good thing about having all of my makeup stolen along with my bag this summer was that when I replaced it, I discovered this shimmering highlighter. I am obsessed with it. Hands down my favorite makeup item (sshhh, don’t tell my eyeliner or lipstick), this is the perfect way to finish off my look each day. Champagne pop is the shade I use and love but I think it would be fun to experiment with others as well!

Cashmere may sound like a total gift splurge but from Everlane because of their unique approach that will hopefully lead the charge towards a more ethical, sustainable and transparent fashion industry, you can understand how they are able to keep prices lower than traditional companies. I recently shopped Everlane for the first time and I’m totally into what they are doing. This soft wardrobe staple is a luxurious piece you can feel better about.

I don’t wear a ton of rings but when I do, I like them to be simple and elegant. I think these quartz solitaire rings are completely gorgeous and so stunning. These beauties are on my wishlist and I have a strong suspicion that I’ll be gifting them to myself soon enough.

Everyday dresses are always a welcome gift and this one is especially functional as it is reversible. It can be worn with a boat neckline in front, or turned around with a deeper V-neck wrap style. Offered in a few colors and with endless styling options, these are sure to be a major wardrobe workhorse.

Listen, I’m a crazy cat lady and I can’t help myself. I find my cats endlessly entertaining and adorable. (Sorry/not sorry about my Insta stories.) What better way to celebrate them and let the world know of my obsession than with this adorable hair pin? Short of wearing a photo of them – wait wouldn’t that be cute?! – this is the next best thing.

I really love these books because I think the author does a perfect job of explaining the significant accomplishments of the books’ subjects with just the right amount of detail. Often times I find children’s books about specific historic figures to be too superficial, but this series is thorough and engaging while still being age appropriate. The link above is to a set of four, but be sure to check the author’s listing because there are many many more of them. Caroline adores and constantly reads the one she does have (Jane Goodall) and has asked for quite a few more. I can’t wait to read them all with our kids!

This book is so important and full of meaning, both for little girls and for all people as we continue to work toward gender equality in a world still severely lacking. I think the first page hooks the reader perfectly: “Sometimes, being a girl isn’t easy. At some point, someone probably will tell you no, will tell you to be quiet and may even tell you your dreams are impossible. Don’t listen to them.” I’m glad to see there is now a second version featuring women and girls from around the world.

A hilariously fun game brought to us by The Oatmeal, Exploding Kittens is an easy card game that is sure to have everyone in stitches. We play this all the time and love to choose our favorite and least favorite cards (tacocat and beard cat, respectively.)

I think it’s hilarious that the product image makes these look like a useful adult organization item because I have witnessed firsthand what a perfect thing they are to keep kids occupied when there is time to kill (especially while waiting at restaurants.) A single touch of a button and the board is ready for the next artistic masterpiece or game of tic tac toe. Josie tipped me off to these and my kids are going to be super excited to get their own this year!

As a major bibliophile myself, I don’t think I can adequately articulate how much I adore the entire site Out of Print Clothing. I have already purchased many gifts from there as well as quite a few things for myself. Cute onesies, fun socks, Handmaid’s Tale gear… and a portion of their proceeds help fund literacy programs and book donations in areas of need.What’s not to love?!

I spend a decent amount of time trying to find books for Andrew to read that he will actually enjoy, with very mixed results. He isn’t drawn to reading the way that I am. Thankfully this fun series with a take on the Peter Pan story had him laughing and interested the whole way through. I highly recommend this for reluctant readers!

The Wild Robot was probably my biggest reading success with Andrew this year. He actually wanted to read it without being prompted, and asks me all the time when the next one will be out (March of next year, if you’re wondering.)

For those kids who would enjoy learning more about the queen RBG, this coloring book is a must have. Caroline already loves her thanks to the book I Dissent, so she’ll be receiving this coloring book this year. I can’t wait to color along with her!

I love crafting (obviously) but I especially love when crafting presents a learning opportunity. This color in globe is so fun and you could create lots of spin off activities with it, learning facts about each country as your child colors it in, perhaps going to the library to learn more or making a recipe from that cuisine. So many possibilities!

After recently finishing a book about the tech industry, I’m looking for ways to get my kids interested in coding and tech topics. Thankfully our school system offers lots of opportunities in this regard, but I’m also excited about the idea of toys that integrate these skills into play. This electro dough looks especially awesome and I’ll be getting it for Caroline. I will probably buy one of their other kits geared toward older kids for Andrew, but first I have to narrow it down from so many great choices!

Crafts that get kids excited are awesome, and I love the look of these little animal embroidery kits! There are so many cute ones to choose from and I love that they offer a range of difficulty. I’m hoping to start Caroline out with the level 1 and maybe over time she can form a collection of little buddies!

I recently discovered Making magazine via the wonders of social media and I have been enamored ever since. It is truly a stunning publication with gorgeous imagery and amazing projects. This would be a lovely gift for any maker in your life and if Santa doesn’t bring me this gift, I will.

How often do you see calligraphy and wish you were able to do that yourself? I think this would be such a neat skill to have and it’s definitely on my list of things to try (since I clearly don’t have enough hobbies yet…haha!) The online courses from this local to me artist would be a wonderful introduction. You could even take them with a friend so that you could learn together and make the gift that much more meaningful.

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to take a natural yarn and fabric dyeing workshop from the insanely knowledgeable Kristine Vejar. It was truly phenomenal and I am going to share a post about that experience soon. In the meantime, I wanted to suggest some of her prepackaged kits as a fun gift option for the crafty folk on your list. I think this indigo dye kit would be especially fun but be sure to peruse her full selection because there are so many great options.

For knitters in your life, often times the instinct is to buy them a skein or two of yarn. While that would probably make a nice scarf or hat and gloves, this knitter would be grateful to receive the supplies for a full project. Knit Collage has some truly unique and beautiful yarn offerings, and lots of patterns that showcase it so well. Browse the patterns in this section of the shop and maybe provide the yarn needed to complete one, or a gift card to cover a portion of it. The free flow blanket pattern above is so gorgeous and I’m dying to make one myself!

(If you are easily offended, just navigate to the next gift idea.) These cheeky cross-stitch patterns are perfect for your crafty boss babe friend. Take a look through her shop and see how hard it is to choose from all of her hilariously awesome designs. The Boo, You Whore one literally makes me LOL every time I see it. She offers some premade kits but you could also gift an individual pattern along with supplies you purchase or a gift card to a craft shop (hopefully local!) I guess I’m taking up cross-stitch next.

I’ve had this kit in my shopping cart nearly every time I place a Purl Soho order, but end up agonizing over which color I want the most. If you are better equipped than I to make this monumental decision for yourself, I think this would be a lovely gift for someone with a crafty side who also enjoys fashion!

Every time I read an article or essay by Lindy West, I am blown away. To me, she is one of the greatest present day writers, period. I want to say that she is wickedly smart, funny, articulate, and deeply good, but even those words feel inadequate for describing her. Shrill was one of the very best things I read this year (full recap coming at the end of the year as usual). I normally prefer physical books but I highly recommend the audio version for this masterpiece.

Like many people, when I first learned that this book was being released, I was skeptical and conflicted. I wasn’t sure I wanted or needed to read it. I am very glad that I decided to give it a chance because this too was one of the best things I read this year. Yes, it is heart breaking and painful to read, not just because it recaps the disastrous 2016 election and its ramifications, but also because it gives us a true look into this brilliant, caring, very real person who could have been our leader. It’s a travesty that this view of her wasn’t portrayed in the misguided coverage of the election cycle. As someone who wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what this book had to say, I really can’t recommend it highly enough.

I don’t know why I read short stories so infrequently because whenever I do, I tend to thoroughly enjoy them. This collection of stories from Ken Liu is breathtakingly beautiful. Many of the stories have a sci-fi or surreal slant, and while that is normally not my cup of tea, these were delightful (with a few exceptions – I found the first story very strange and it did not engage me, but press on!) I find myself many months after reading this collection still recalling many of the stories within its pages. It’s a true work of art and a good escape.

We have all come to love Trevor Noah from his witty and cutting commentary on current events via The Daily Show. I truly enjoyed this memoir about his experience growing up literally a crime as a mixed race child in apartheid South Africa. This book took me on a roller coaster of mixed emotions recalling the challenges of that time period, but the common thread throughout it all is his hilarious perspective and the rock solid love between this son and his mother.

I feel certain that if I have an author soulmate, it’s Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Her novels are irresistible to me and I feel utterly transported while reading them. They stay with me for long after the book is finished. This summer I read Purple Hibiscus and just like her other books, I simply adored it.

The Hate U Give is a fictional story that unfortunately seems entirely plausible about an unjustified police killing of a young black teen. This story masterfully examines the many nuances of this charged topic, and I think it is a very important read for all people but especially for white people to gain perspective they might otherwise lack. Despite the heavy topics addressed overall, this is a very enjoyable and highly readable novel.

Continuing in the vein of institutional racism comes Just Mercy, a powerful real life account by Bryan Stevenson about his experience as an attorney representing some wrongly accused and some done grave disservice by the structure and prejudices of the existing criminal justice system. This is a must read for all people, please and thank you.

I’ve mentioned this book before, but I love it so much I think it is worth sharing again, and I think it would be a perfect option for gifting. Elizabeth Gilbert talks about what it means to live a creative life and covers so many important aspects that often stand in the way of people following their creative impulses – fear, permission, and many more. Whether you are already in touch with your creative soul or are hoping to make progress in that area, this book is worth a read.

Admittedly, I have not read this book yet myself, but it is on my own wish list. My dear friend Gail is my reading hero and I trust in her recommendations completely! She strongly recommended this both for its listing of best books for children at each stage of childhood, but also for its insights about the research behind the importance of reading aloud to kids. This is definitely on my short list and I hope some of you find it useful as well.

I especially love their Rescue Gifts, with options such as a newborn baby kit for a friend who is a new parent perhaps? A year of school for an educator? You absolutely cannot go wrong with any of these ideas!