Each year, I post a blog that no one asks for, but a weird amount of people seem to like.

So, here goes again … the annual list of things I’m buying for people, some things I hope people get for me and a bunch of stuff you should/could buy for someone else! Hurray!

The New Milk Street Kitchin-to Knife

If you aren’t familiar with Milk Street, it’s a blog site for kitchen nerds––presented by the ultimate kitchen nerd, Christopher Kimball. He and his staff travel extensively and bring home recipes from far-flung places like Mogadishu and Eastern Burma. Then, they come back to the test kitchen, find swaps for the weirder stuff you cannot find stateside, and they recreate and recreate until what’s left is great recipe for those of us who love exotic spices and far-off places, right at home. Look at this tomato soup situation?!

They also have a fantastic store for kitchenwares on the site. This is their latest knife, and the video here really sells it. Someone buy me this. I want it.

Anything from Imogene + Willie

This store out of Nashville is the epitome of artistry meeting functionality meeting fun. The shop owner, Matt Eddmenson, is one of my favorite artists. You can check out his Instagram here. From really great smelling candles to cool zippos, like the one below, to these incredibly soft scarves, like the image below that, everything they make has this worn-in, cool vibe, but will last you a lifetime. If you come to my house, and Fernando has a scarf on––it’s almost always from Imogene + Willie.

The Goonies Escape Game!

Again, here is something I would be totally STOKED to open and start playing on Christmas morning. I don’t own this. I know nothing about it. Maybe it sucks? But … hey … even if it sucked, it would still make an excellent gift in the moment. You will win someone’s heart with this one. In fact … I’m going to proclaim right now that if you are casually dating someone over the age of 35 and you really want to lock it down … this is the gift that makes that happen for you. Goonies Game. Dude is going to probably propose right next to the tree after unwrapping this.

A Practical, Indoor-Plant Water Meter

Not every gift is super sexy. Not every gift is a Goonies Game. Some gifts are really well-thought-out, and they are something useful for every day. Sometimes, a great gift is one that makes the recipient think of you fondly on ordinary Tuesdays in August. If you have a friend who kills houseplants … get them a few of these. You stick them in the soil, and they tell you when it’s time to water. Don’t get me one, obviously. I can grow houseplants easier than I can grow the hair on my head. Get this for your other idiot friends, okay? Stocking stuffer win! You can get 5 of them for $25.

Herbsaint … or Some Other Cocktail Modifier

I say this all the time. Everyone gives whiskey or wine, tequila or fancy beer. Sometimes, it’s a cute bottle of bitters or even glassware. You know what no one ever gets people for their home bars? Modifiers. Want to make a proper Sazerac? Want to make a Rattlesnake? You’re gonna need Herbsaint, and I bet no one ever gifted you Herbsaint. Well, I possibly have. I’d also get you a bottle of Jeff Berry’s Mai Tai Mix or a bottle of Lillet or a 750ml of Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur. Everyone gives whiskey. Gift the minor, majorly important, other cocktail ingredients, and you’re going to be a hero the next time someone has Happy Hour at home.

Cool Salad Plates from Etsy

Again, this is something I’d love to receive, and I’d venture the hosts or hostesses in your life wouldn’t disagree. Salad plates are super fun if you like entertaining, because they add a big moment to your table, without taking up a lot of space. You can never have too many fun ones. (Don’t ask Chris if I have too many fun ones, because he’s alarmed at the amount of plates we already own, and we just got engaged …. sooo more are probably coming our way). I found these ones on Etsy. Aren’t they fabulous? First person to get me 2 of these and that Goonies game is getting taken out to Bayona for dinner.

Give Gift Wrap (No, I’m Serious!)

I HATE big rolls of gift wrap. What a nightmare. It’s curling and I’m trying to cut it (Pro-Tip: this year I’ve moved on to an exacto-knife because the scissors keep tearing the paper) and the tape is stuck to it and I cut WAY too much or not enough and suddenly the Christmas music is jarring instead of sweet and I want to scream. Last year, I discovered these amazing booklets of gift wrap in folded sheets. You tear along a perforated edge and out comes a neatly folded sheet that measures roughly 24″ by 24″. Then, you can easily wrap things or even cut small portions to create gift tags. Storing it? No problem. It’s a flat book, and not a pain-in-the-ass roll. There are a million designs, and the paper styles are useable for any holiday or season. Locally, you can pick them up at Papier Plume, in the French Quarter. Or, be a dick and buy it on Amazon here. No judgement here!

Give the gift of not wanting to stab someone this year!

Well folks, that’s it.

I hope your holidays are merry and bright and filled with all those hugs you couldn’t have last year.

Get your booster, buy some Herbsaint and send me photos of your tree, your sticky children or your dog is a Santa hat. I love you.