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Hi friends,
Thanksgiving is hot on our heels; with it, larger holidays are looming—the kind we need to shop for. I have had running collections of gift ideas in my head for years— for Mother’s Day, summer birthdays, and, of course—winter holidays.
This year, I realize if I want the same things for Christmas and my birthday (usually a massage!)—the people on your list probably do, too. My friend who loves pretty brass trays will love them on Mother’s Day and Hannukah. My sister will always love perfume and essential oils, and my neighbor will always appreciate that lovely box of dates. So consider this your EVERYTHING, ANY SEASON, ALWAYS IN-VOGUE GIFT GUIDE for sophisticated folks who love food, home, fashion, and entertaining. There are gifts for men (but let’s face it—mostly women), your mother /mother-in-law, sister, clients, neighbors, teens/tweens—and you.
I don’t promise these are the newest offerings on the market—but all have stood the test of time and are my go-to gifts for giving and receiving again and again.
FIRST, A FREE GIFT:
This newsletter has well over 10,000 subscribers, which is incredibly flattering. Roughly 250 of you are paid subscribers (you have my eternal gratitude!!). While I dearly wish all of you could be in that camp, I know it’s not always possible to support all the work we love, even if we’d like to. To thank you and bring more of you into the paid subscriber club, I’d like to give away 30 free full-access subscriptions THIS WEEK to anyone who truly can’t fit the annual subscription cost into their budget but would still really appreciate and like to engage with the full-access subscription (i.e., read, access archives, leave comments and share).
There are two ways to let me know that’s you! You can comment here on this post with one thing you love or are grateful for about this newsletter and one thing you’d like to see more of next year. OR—if you’re a more private type—respond directly in an email about why you’re here and why a full subscription would be meaningful to you.
If you’re already a paid subscriber (again—thank you!), there will be other perks and first-dibs-access content/events in 2024, along with tons of travel guides and recipes; thank you, thank you, and please stick around.
Now to my gift guide.
xo,
Sarah
BIG IMPACT GIFTS
I have received many Dutch ovens over the last 20 years, some as gifts and some from companies I work with, but only one has sat on my stove for the last five years solid—THE DUCHESS. I love to bring it to the table to serve soup or stew, and I love how yummy cooked brown foods look against the crisp white. It’s excellent for cooking corn in summer (due to its shape) and stew in winter—and it looks stunning with a whole poached chicken and vegetables, as in pot au feu.
We have a pretty sweet espresso maker, but I’m always eyeing the latest version; The BREVILLE BARISTA IMPRESS would be a shiny new (expensive but long-lasting) toy for any coffee lover—especially for the person who loves to host and entertain. And finally, my eyes are on THE LOMI, a big-impact way to compost more neatly, cut back on food waste, and amp up the nutrients in my garden, all rolled into one (right now, it’s 50% off online).
LITTLE FOOD GIFTS:
Food (especially breakfast!) aficionados will appreciate the luxury of Laurel & Ash’s Very Dark Maple syrup (which reads like a fine whiskey) from Hudson Valley duo Ashley Ruprecht and Jeffrey Schad's family farm. We’re addicted. Boxes of these delicious hand-picked, hand-packed California dates (the kind you must hide from your partner if you want to get any!) are great to keep for a holiday hostess gift or a great alternative to caramel popcorn tins for teachers. I’m a huge fan of chocolate-covered orange peels, which offer the right mix of bitter and sweet: the ones from Andres, a Swiss Chocolatier in Kansas City, are the best I’ve ever had. Meat lovers and hosts who are fond of cheese-boarding their way through the holidays will love this three-pack of high-end salami from Fra' Mani, in Berkley, CA. I also love the gorgeous and restorative herbal teas from Re:Chi, elixirs for all who crave and seek self-care.
STYLEMAKER GIFTS:
For your boss, client, and the friend who has everything, this stunning graphic throw made in Portugal will have a major impact without a major price tag. With soft brushed wool—it’s top on my list for special folks. Everyone is always asking about my sweaters from Eleven Six, which are a worthy splurge if you want to feel like floating on a cloud all winter. Hand-made with sustainable Alpaca, they are meant to be worn for years and years (bonus: they’re currently 30% off.) All the ladies in your life will love Lake & Skye’s elevated, wellness-focused fragrances—especially those sensitive to other scents. My favorite— 11 11 body oil (snag it for 20% off this week). Or, go big with a stunning hand-built piece from Doris Josovitz of Lost Quarry.
SMALL GESTURE GIFTS:
My dear friend Rebecca—stylist and tastemaker—collects all kinds of things (perfume collections, vitamins, jewelry) on brass trays, like these beauties from Shop Fog Linen. In the kitchen, they hold olives and nuts; at the desk—a stylish home for notepads, pencils, and paper clips. On the other end of the price scale, this Picco solid shampoo bar comes in three gorgeous colors, including blush and charcoal (perfect for gents). These are easy to stick in a stocking or slip to someone special who insists on no gifts but appreciates a small gesture. Finally, here's a bitty book that packs a big punch: EAT by Nigel Slater. This classic never leaves my desk.
GIFTS FOR TEENS + TWEENS:
Say the tween/teen in your life already has all the skateboards, Taylor Swift Merch, and dangling jewelry they can possibly need; I’m here for sophisticated staples that up the cool factor on their everyday like these socks (unisex), perfect beanies, this classic T, and this wool cap. Or how about this cheeky lips trinket box?
GIFTS FOR THE TABLE:
Consider this your miscellaneous section if any of the above don’t quite fit your crowd. I love these sweet linen napkins (a splurge), a stack of these charming plates, these playful paper napkins, or this kitsch and nostalgic garland tablecloth from Food52 (did you catch this year’s theme? A pop of red).
GIVE BACK GIFTS:
This year, one of my favorite organizations, EVERY MOTHER COUNTS, did an incredible holiday gift collection with brands that are easy on the eyes, like Clare V and MQuan Studio. Each has a give-back component, and every gift feels touched with love. FEED Foundation remains one of my favorite, most impactful organizations, and their bags and home goods are high-quality, well-resourced, practical, and have a strong sense of style. Finally, this sweet and slender gold cuff sends a good message and a donation to support mental health.
GIFT THE UNEXPECTED:
All four of my cookbooks are jam-packed with seasonal recipes, strategies, and tips for delicious living—and I’d love it if you’d consider giving one of them to your friends and families this year. Now, you can gift something even more personal to go with it—a one-on-one VIDEO SESSION WITH ME, live from my kitchen. Whether you have a friend, daughter, or child/grandchild who wants to do a kitchen design consult, talk about family meal strategies, get advice on writing their first cookbook (or any kind of book), chat about feeding kids, explore writing/cooking as a career choice, or get practical tips for living abroad—I’m here for all the topics. I’ll be offering sessions twice a week throughout December and January! Sign up here (see the gift box for how to purchase as a gift). I love spending time with people face-to-face and look forward to meeting some of you!
*This post does not currently include affiliate links. There is no personal gain for me if you buy these products via these links or any others. While some of these products have been sent to me gratis for consideration and inclusion (the dates, Andre’s chocolates, and Re: Chi tea), all of these pass my personal standards, and I readily buy them for family and friends.
I enjoyed Sarahs' newsletters so much I finally decided I needed to support her work financially so she can keep at it. I have 3 of her cookbooks and use them every day. Her writing is interesting, thoughtful and filled with her love for all things travel, food and her family. The quality of her writing is captivating. Sarah, thank you. Hope all who can afford to, subscribe.
I can’t resist a good gift guide! Love these ideas, even the lip 👄 box for tweens (and I’m far from a tween). Thanks for the recs! xx