Gift Guides
7 MOMS ON WHAT THEY’RE GIVING (& HOPEFULLY GETTING) FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Dec 10, 2021
What do moms want this holiday season—to both give and receive? We’re going straight to the source today, asking 8 mothers from coast-to-coast to spill the beans on their personal wishlists, plus what they are looking to purchase for their loved ones. Putting their values first, many of them have lists filled with items from small companies, businesses owned by people of color, women-owned businesses, and even gifts that have no price-tags at all. Check ’em all out (including a list from yours truly!), below.
Beyond theses great gifts for women and the whole family, be sure to peep our 2021 Gift Guides for Big Kids, Babies & Toddlers, Tweens & Teens, New & Expecting Mamas, The Homebody, Self-Care Gifts, and Gifts For Guys. Plus, Must-Haves For The Kitchen, The Best Magazines for Kids and 30 Subscription Boxes We Love!
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For Me: New Fredas. "I have 4 pair of these and wear them almost every day, so this style has become a staple in my wardrobe that’s versatile, comfortable, and functional for shop days and mom days." Eda D'Orsay Shearling Sneaker, $350, Freda Salvador.
For Emery: A Pikler Triangle. "I love watching her discover and learn and try to do the things her big brothers do, so I’m looking forward to all of them discovering an all-ages toy and play thing together." The Triangle, $219, ROAM Creative Play.
For Everyone: Shopping Small, Shopping Black, and Shopping Handmade. "I’ve been consciously thinking about making this holiday special because, you know, the times are crazy, small businesses and designers still need all of the support, and everyone can appreciate a thoughtful and unique gift. This is partly a gift for me because gifting and creating memorable experiences for people is my love language."
For The Family: New Dining Chairs. "My dream job has always been to be an interior designer, but I think there’s a reason for it—I love creating spaces for people to use, for people to connect, and for people to feel comfortable. There’s something about community and a person’s experience in how spaces are designed. So, I say that to say, spending these months in our home, with people in our immediate circle, has really pushed me to think about how I can make our living spaces more comfortable and more beautiful. These chairs are it." Black Wishbone Chair, $249, Rove Concepts.
For Me: Lauren Manoogian Capote Coat. "This is a splurge and I’m aware of my own privilege in even asking for this, but I’ve learned that, for me, it’s important to have things you love and things that will last you years. This is one of those pieces that, in theory, I could share with a generation following me." Lauren Manoogian Capote Coat in Buff, $590, Vestige.
For Me: Signature Perfume. "Have you smelled this?! It’s incredible—soft, earthy, beautiful, warm. It’s just comfort in a bottle and I love a signature scent." The Center Of The World Perfume, $190, Mondo Mondo.
For Everyone: Time for Presence and Pause. "For the first time in a decade, the majority of my side of the family will be together, celebrating together with all our kids and I just want to be present and savor it while we’re in it."
You can follow Bonkosi and her family online @bonkosi and @freedom.apothecary on Instagram.
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For Me: Earrings. "I wear a pair of gold hoops everyday. This pair is chunky without being heavy and the perfect size." Curve Earrings, $110, Laura Lombardi.
For Me: Rosehip Oil. "I found Haldi early on in the pandemic and they helped demystify my skincare routine. This face oil was one of my favorite recommendations, it feels luxurious and smells wonderful." Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil, $44, Pai.
For Everyone: Boon Sauce. "I put hot sauce on everything and Boon Sauce is my chili oil of choice. We always keep a jar in the fridge and it makes a great stocking stuffer." Chili Sauce, $18, Boon.
For Friends: Ceremonia Frida Headband. "Perfect for that Zoom life. I keep it in my office, just in case I need to look a little fancier." The Frida Headband, $28, Ceremonia.
For Ari: Wooden Food Play Set. "Eating is a huge part of our family life. This set is sweet and celebrates some of our favorite foods." Wooden Play Food Set, $35, Keiki Kaukau.
For My Drinking Buddies: Pét-Nat. "I drink rosé year-round and I’m late to the Pét-Nat game, but this bottle sparks joy. The color, the bubbles, the label—it’s beautiful." Pét-Nat of Pinot Noir, $26, Gilbert Cellars.
For Everyone: Pieometry. "We love this cookbook! It’s accessible, stunning, and includes sweet and savory recipes. Ari’s favorite recipe is the Berry Ombré Tart." Pieometry, by Lauren Ko, $29.90, Bookshop and Amazon.
For My Husband: Orba by Artiphon. "Paolo loves making and playing music. This little gadget is on his list this year!" ORBA, $99.99, Artiphon.
For Friends: Something Special Subscription. "I gifted this subscription to myself earlier this year and I love it so much. Every month you receive a sustainably and ethically made gift. It’s the most delightful surprise in your mailbox." Something Special, $35/month, Brother Vellies.
You can follow Jenn and her family online @jenmagofna and @thechickensupply on Instagram.
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"I absolutely LOVE the holidays. I tend to decorate the day after Thanksgiving, then add a little here and there all month long because more is more. I’m guilty of buying gifts early, hiding them, then accidentally buying people extra gifts when I forget where they are stashed. Nobody complains and I love spoiling people."
For Friends: Jewelry Case. "My strategy is gifting things I want for myself. Organizing my jewelry has been at the top of my mind lately. I won’t tell you how many 'hiding places' I misplace my jewelry in, it's embarrassing. These personalized jewelry boxes with shadow printed monogram and are the perfected starter box for any treasure collector." Small Travel Jewelry Case, $69, Mark & Graham.
For Friends: Estelle Colored Glass. "Estelle is a luxury brand of hand-blown glassware with an emphasis on jewel tones and soft pastels. I think about the gift recipients' home decor, favorite colors, favorite drinks, and then choose. It never fails, they are so pretty and I’ll be buying the green martini set for myself, too." Martini Glass Set of 6, $205, Estelle.
For Friends: Otherland Winter Woods Candle Set. "This set has feels of taking a tipsy winter neighborhood walk in the crisp mountain air. The padded gift box they arrive in is so stunning and each label is a work of art." Winter Woods Set, $89, Otherland.
For Friends: AM/PM Bath Care Bundle. "Nothing beats a good at-home bathing ritual. Invigorate your AM shower routine with True Botanicals' exfoliating and hydrating full body scrub. The blend of orange peel, cedar wood, and sandalwood essential oils are crazy intoxicating. Then, take a nighttime bath with the Vertly bath salts. Sooth and calm stiff muscles with colloidal oatmeal, magnesium, calendula flower, and 300mg of hemp. The scent of rose geranium and eucalyptus make your whole house smell like a spa, while the reusable glass jar makes for a sustainable gift." Pure Radiance Sugar Exfoliating Body Scrub, $38, True Botanicals. Floral Soak Bath Salts, $55, Vertly.
For Everybody: Rye Beauty Brow Grooming Serum. "Everybody has eyebrows, and brows look best when they are healthy and groomed. My new brow grooming serum has 12 ingredients for brow follicle health plus performance ingredients for invisible yet surprisingly great hold. The box is pretty enough to skip the gift wrap—just add a bow on top." Brow Growing Serum, $42, Rye Beauty.
For Guys: Goal Zero Yeti 200x Portable Power Station. "California fire season has me thinking of ways to be prepared for power outages and natural disasters. I love a GO bag gift that is equally useful for camping, hashtag van life, and summer beach outings. The Goal Zero Yeti 200x keeps your all gadgets charged in essential times." Goal Zero Yeti 200X Portable Power Station, $299.95, Amazon.
For Me: Harwell Godfrey. "I tried this on at a trunk show and instantly fell in love with the weight and cool/calming temperature of the beads. They feel like magic. Chrysoprase is known to have healing energy, helps with emotional balance, and can boost self esteem. Yes please." Chrysoprase Bead Foundation Necklace, $1990, Harwell Godfrey.
For Me: Cozy Throws. "We are renovating a mountain house right now and all I want are cozy throw blankets on every couch, bed, and chair." Tasara Heather/Ochre Woven Throw, $210, Burke Decor.
For My Daughter: Nintendo Switch. "I don’t play video games, but at least this model comes with two controllers so our little one can play with dad or a friend." Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Con, $299.99, Target.
For My Daughter: Bob Ross DIY Gummy Candy Kit. "I can’t wait to make happy little trees and squirrel friends with the kiddo over X-mas break!" Bob Ross DIY Gummy Candy Kit, $10.99, World Market.
You can follow Michele and her family online @micheleholmesstudio, @rye.beauty, and @gingerfawn on Instagram.
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For me: Nature Walks. "California has so many diverse, beautiful landscapes, and every time I get out to explore them I just want to see more! Besides the beautiful Bay, some of my favorite places to explore are Joshua Tree, Sea Ranch, Tahoe, and Mendocino!"
For Us: Bae-cation. "I’ve quickly learned that it takes intention and planning to stay connected with your partner through the mundane and day-to-day tasks associated with parenting. Connecting 1:1 only strengthens our connection with our kids and it’s something we must prioritize! In my dream world, we fly off to Oaxaca or Lisbon."
For The Kids: Kwanzaa Celebration! "The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve come to appreciate routines and traditions that celebrate my ancestry and culture. Kwanzaa is an amazing holiday to cleanse the palate after Christmas and prepare for the New Year. The principles emphasize focusing on family and community connection from December 26 to January 1."
For My Girlfriends: Quality Time. "Whether it's a dressy dinner with cute cocktails or a girls night-in, Waiting to Exhale style, it's missed and needed! My girls and I are all entering new seasons in our lives, and we need those moments to share space as women in community with one another."
For My Business: Growing Honeycomb Kids Club! "Like so many, one outcome of COVID for our family was a tremendous increase in digital consumption for our oldest kid. Watching YouTube over his shoulder illuminated the lack of people who look like him creating content for children. This inspired a friend and me to create Honeycomb Kids Club in October 2021—a digital hub where children can engage in content created by Black people that reflects the joy and positivity of Black culture. You can support our vision here!" HoneycombKidsClub.com.
You can follow Brittni and her family online @rebelintheglory and @honeycombkidsclub on Instagram.
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For Me: A New Watch. "I recently decided to let go of my smart watch and make the switch back to a simple time piece. I found Breda, a company based in Houston whose classic designs I love and are really affordable as well. I have the Esther watch on my wishlist." Esther Watch, $150, Brenda.
For The Kids: Good Books. "My kids are avid readers, so books are always on our list. This amazing children's book, Room For Everyone, has a beautiful message, is artistically illustrated, and was written by a woman of color. I called a local bookstore I wanted to support and asked them to order several copies for me, so I can also gift my friends' kids too." Room For Everyone, written by Naaz Khan and illustrated by Mercè López, $16.55, Bookshop and Amazon.
For Friends: Luv Scrub. "A few months ago, my good friend gifted me an amazing body exfoliator from Luv Scrub. It has become an essential part of my self-care routine in the shower and makes me feel like I went to a spa when I use it. I love it so much I am buying a bunch for friends for the holidays." Mesh Body Exfoliator, $18, Luv Scrub.
For Friends: Culinary Delights. "I usually gift wine or spirits to friends, but this year I've decided to give culinary gifts. I love these spice rubs from the Baconer, I have all three flavors and haven't been able to choose a favorite. Anything that makes cooking easier for me is a treasure and they are locally produced, so even better." Holiday Rub Gift Set, $39.95, The Baconer.
For Me: Roller Skates. "I have been looking for creative ways to socialize other than just going out for drinks with friends. A few friends and I have decided our next hang out will be roller skating. So now I have my heart set on these amazing roller skates from Moonlight Roller." Amethyst Roller Skates, $225, Moonlight Roller.
For Grandparents: Custom Memory Game. "As I was making our holiday cards with Paperculture, I noticed they make custom memory card games. I'm making a game for each of the grandparents with pictures of all the grandkids. I'm excited to get our parents using their memory and any pictures of the grandkids makes the grandparents elated." Personalized Memory Game, $19.99, Paper Culture.
For The Kids: Time With Friends. "After years of limited to no socialization, we wanted to remind the kids that spending time with the people we love should be cherished. So we decided to plan a date for each of the kids with a friend. Aneis will be going to see the Oakland Zoo lights with a friend. Mahla will go ice skating and out to lunch with a friend. Suraiya we are buying a few gift cards for and arranging for her to shop solo with a friend. I'm designing cute little cards on Canva for the kids to open up that detail their day of fun with a friend."
You can follow Tasneem and her family online @tasneemcherry on Instagram.
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For Friends: Bath Salts. “There is no time for baths in December, but I plan to make up for it in January. These calming bath salts are perfection and make a wonderful gift." Floral Soak Bath Salts, $55, Vertly.
For The Kids: Cheese & Cracker Toy Set. “I can’t resist faux food, especially when it’s done in such a clever way. Plus, it’s never too soon for children to develop their cheese palette." Cheese and Cracker Soft Toy Set, $63, Merci Milo.
For Everyone: The Rounds. “I love these chic and delicious sweet cookies from The Rounds. You can select a color palette to match a theme, mood, holiday, anything that moves you. The savory ones are equally delicious. You can go back and forth, popping a savory and sweet. There’s your dinner!” One Dozen Cookies, $38, The Rounds.
For My Husband: The Marfa Robe. “This robe really speaks to me. I love the rich colors and that it is made in small batches, using traditional techniques by artisan and sewer co-ops in India. I will gift my husband this robe and quickly make it mine." Marfa Robe by El Cosmico Hotel, $180, Sabah.
For My Family: Safe and Sound Donation. “Several years ago, my mother began donating to a nonprofit organization of my choice in my name as a gift. This year we will begin this tradition with our children. I like the idea of getting involved with a local organization where overtime we can build a personal connection as a family.” SafeandSound.org.
For Friends: Candle Set. “This Warm Glow Candle Set comes with two matte white candle holders and two sets of hand-dipped taper candles. It's both elegant and practical. A gift I also want for myself." Warm Glow Candle Set, $135, Union and Main.
For Me: Anything from Projekti Tyyny. “I find everything they make completely charming and irresistible! When things are difficult, what feels better than hiding under a Liberty patchwork quilt?!" Projektityyny.com.
You can follow Fiona and her family online @fionamontgomery and @dodobanana_ on Instagram.
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For Me & Others: Local Gift Certificates. "Now more than ever, local businesses need our support. I'm trying to consciously spend my dollars locally by buying—and asking for—gift certificates to restaurants and other businesses I want to be around for a loooong time. Some gift cards I plan on buying/asking for include Blk Girls Greenhouse, Excelsior Coffee, Morningtide, Friends & Family Bar, Donut Savant, Bombera, and Blythe Coffee."
For Everyone: Honey Mama's Chocolate. "A bunch of my friends and creative collaborators will be receiving a variety pack of Honey Mama's for the holidays. I was introduced to this brand earlier this year and I am utterly obsessed. My favorite is Tahini Tangerine." Multi-Serve Variety Pack, $54, Honey Mama's.
For Me: Jenny Pennywood Scrunchie. "A little daily delight from one of my favorite local artists/designers/friends." Scrunchie, $18, Jenny Pennywood.
For Diego: LEGO Set. "My parents are actually getting this for Diego. Luckily they scooped it up before the price doubled. Anyone else noticing major LEGO price gouging?!" LEGO Ninjago Legacy Overlord Dragon, $51, Amazon.
For Diego: Cat Wrapping Paper. "My boy is a major cat lover. Luckily, my friend Lana makes the most beautiful cat-themed, hand-drawn wrapping paper that he's going to lose his mind over." Santa Cat & Mouse Gift Wrap, $14, Lana's Shop.
For My Friends: Books, Notebooks, & Soap. "Some of the things I've gotten for friends include the book Life I Swear by inspiring mama Chloe Dulce Louvouezo, house plant-themed notebooks and a 2022 calendar by L.A.-based artist Carolyn Suzuki, and The Happy Skin Project soap by Good Juju Herbal, which supports folks who are undergoing or are recovering from radiation and chemo." Life, I Swear: Intimate Stories from Black Women on Identity, Healing, and Self-Trust, written by Chloe Dulce Louvouezo, $27.59, Bookshop and Amazon; House Plant Collection, $7.99 to $30.99, Carolyn Suzuki Goods; The Happy Skin Project Soap, $2 to $15, Good Juju Herbal.
For Me: Babaà Jumper "Clearly, I don't need another Babaà sweater in the exact same hue as the one I'm wearing in this picture (Summer Flame), but I never tire from this bold color and would love it in a thicker knit. Also, wearing these pieces always makes me think of their maker—Madrid-based mother of three Marta, whom I'm so lucky to know personally. If my husband feels like splurging, it's waiting on my list!" Jumper No18 in Summer Flame, $237, Babaà.
For Me: QT With Loved Ones. "I echo the wish of many other mamas in this feature—quality time with loved ones is actually (and always) at the top of my list. There's nothing that fills up my cup like gathering with my girlfriends. And hopefully I can get some IRL quality time with family and friends who are plane rides away once COVID settles down. It's been way too long!"
You can follow Katie and her family online @katiehintzzambrano, @mothermag, and @beingoodcompany on Instagram.
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