My 2023 Holiday Wishlist™
If I'm on your list this year...this is for you
From the minute the first leaf fell in New York City, my mind immediately was stuck in the holiday mood.
Let’s be real, I’ve actually been collecting and crafting a mental Christmas list since my birthday was over in June. But, I genuinely do love this time of year for more than just the opportunity to expand my wardrobe or get cute things for my apartment. On a rare anecdotal and sentimental note, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love meal prepping with my mom in the weeks leading up to it, I love eating amazing food and watching TV all day, I love spending time with my family and friends from home throughout the weekend, and fall in Connecticut is simply undefeated. Christmas is just the cherry on top of this warm and fuzzy season for me, and as someone who loves watching their beloved family and friends open gifts that I hand-selected for them, it’s hard to think of a more enjoyable time.
Kicking off this year’s round of Coffee Order Gift Guides™, here’s what I’ve had my eye on for myself, but the people I plan on gifting.
This has been my favorite thing to give people for the past few months. Nothing brings me more joy than watching one of my friends open their mystery, Sonny Angel. From birthdays to stocking stuffers, to just simple silly gifting needs, give your loved ones undeniable happiness with a Sonny Angel.
Jewelry can be a difficult gift, because often it’s too expensive to buy, and you don’t want to cheap out and gift jewelry that’ll tarnish or cause someone to have an allergic reaction. As a disciple of hers, Sandy Liang’s jewelry is just another reason why I justify spending money on her. It’s a great price, very unique and individual, and made of great materials. I’ve worn the hoops I got for my birthday from her almost weekly to both work and out, and always get compliments.
3. Funny/Kitschy Candles ($10+)
Candles have been a great gift for hundreds of years now. Set your candle apart from all of the candles being gifted this holiday season by making it in the shape of something weird, rendering it useless. Coming Soon New York is one of my favorite home decor stores/websites, and they have great ones such as a baguette candle (linked above), funky candlesticks, a candle in the shape of a wine bottle, and even in the shape of fried chicken.
4. Fancy Olive Oil ($37 for the set)
This olive oil has taken over my TikTok. I cannot justify spending $18 for the Sizzle, let alone $37 for the set of Sizzle and Drizzle on a regular trip to the grocery store, so getting it gifted would be a beautiful surprise! This is also a great gift if you’re trying to impress someone’s parents, or family, for someone who loves to cook, or just moved and needs a housewarming gift.
5. A Vintage No-Name Watch ($40+)
I’m currently obsessed with this account on Instagram, she has the best vintage watch finds that are one-of-a-kind, timeless (no pun intended), and stackable. The only thing I’m not obsessed with is that her Sunday drops sell out almost instantly, and if you log on even five minutes late, you’ll miss the good stuff. While a Rolex would be awesome, that’s just not realistic for me right now (and if in your case it is, I’m beyond happy for you), so I’m making no-name watches trendy in 2024 with the help of @bejewelledbaby.
I guess giving someone bedding is kind of a weird gift, but buying it yourself is a pain, so I’m tossing it on the list. I love having a plain duvet with secret fun printed sheets when you fold the top over, along with matching pillowcases as a way to make a small room (especially in New York) a bit more lively. Amazon has great options too if you have a lower budget, or want additional options to swap out on wash days.
Hence my last post, did you really think a gift guide on this blog would go without naming Skims at least once? I love a huge, fluffy, hotel-esque robe, but recently, it has made the getting ready process a bit clunkier. A shorter, thinner dressier robe is tres chic, great for all year round, and makes you feel like you’re in a Vogue Beauty Secrets video.
8. A Cute Trinket Dish or Coasters ($10+)
If you haven’t realized, I love a trinket. And I need aesthetically pleasing places to put my trinkets. Hence, a trinket dish! Vintage (or vintage-inspired) dishes or coasters make great table decorations for yourself or someone on your list who loves to constantly refresh their space. It’s also not just junk, and serves a purpose, such as making drinks or your actual junk look a lot cuter on the table.
Slipping into a matching pajama set at the end of a long day is my idea of heaven. They can get pricey, which makes them a great gift for the holiday season. Cozyland has been endorsed by some of my favorite influencers, and for good reason. The material is insanely soft, they have adorable prints, and they come in a variety of short sleeve and long sleeve styles that you can mix and match.
10. The XL Baggu Crossbody ($62)
Per last year’s gift guide(s), I ride for Baggu so hard. My wonderful roommate gifted me the medium-sized crossbody last year, and I think I’ve used it for 300 (if not more) days since. It holds everything I need no matter where my errands take me, and a secure bag is priceless while living in New York. I’m looking to upgrade to the newer large size for things like gym clothes, my laptop, as a carry-on for traveling, just to name a few reasons.
Cheers to gift guide season, everyone. To the first of many blog posts that excuse my addiction to online shopping for a reason to tell you all what to buy for the holidays!
Send this to someone gifting you something so they can catch a hint.