Christy Moody - November 26, 2022
Holiday Giving (and Getting) Guide
Although we’re “back” from the pandemic and our collective nerves are somewhat soothed after a tense primary election season, the holidays come with their own set of inflammatory pressures. Gift buying, travel planning and end-of-year work demands foist a trio of challenges that can feel like juggling kittens (or something less adorable).
That’s why I’ve chosen PINK (and some silver) for this year's holiday gift guide. It’s the color of calm, hope, warmth and comfort. It’s playful and sensual. It wants you to take a bubble bath and chew bubble gum. It purrs. Pink is downright mirthful.
Below are 10 of my favorite things to do over the holidays and 12 purchasable ways to make them great gifts to share. I hope they will bring joy to some of the people on your gift list. Your name is on there too, right?
1. Go on an (urban) adventure
I have super sensitive feet and am always moving so I only wear comfortable shoes. Even for work, I pair sneakers with just about every outfit. These adorable retro-stylish New Balance sneakers come in three colors but I’m partial to the light aluminum with pink.
2. Unburden yourself
Whether you’re out exploring the world or heading to the farmer’s market this adorable rucksack by annello is the perfect travel companion. I bought one while abroad a few years back and it gets so many compliments. It’s adorable, lightweight and functional, with front and side compartments for your keys, water bottle, phone and sunscreen. It comes in tons of colors and right now it’s on sale at Balma Home.
3. Warm up your sun protection
Everyone who has ever gone on a walk or hike with me knows I live in these ultra light puffer vests by Uniqlo. They come in a ton of colors and I have one to match every Soleil Hoodie I own (which is all of them), since sun protection is a season-less! They come with drawstring bags that you can pack them into when your body temperature rises on an uphill climb, making them incredibly convenient too.
4. Bring on the good vibes
Scent and beauty are a magical pairing. I’m particular to a wintery woodsy vibe, despite living in the perennial sunniness of Southern California. This Palo Santo/Selenite bundle makes a great gift and is said to help clear negative emotions, thoughts, and feelings while creating a warm and welcoming space. Get yours at Fable Rune – they have amazing candles too!
The eponymous owner of Ele Keats is a real gem. Though I’ve visited her unicorn-dream-of-a-store on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica for years, I recently met her in person and can see why her store simply glows with good vibes. If you can’t visit the store in person, a beautifully curated selection of jewelry and crystals are available online. This pink amethyst is just stunning and said open you to love and guidance while discharging negative inner energy and emotions.
5. Revel
My friend Kelly turned me onto the monthly subscription program from Dry Farms Wine. Despite the name, these wines (which come in red and white, too) do contain alcohol though less than most, along with lower sugar and additives than commercially available wines. They are grown in healthy soils from family farms and tested for purity. Each order contains a curated selection of rare vintages that are not sold in stores.
6. Get festive
I love silvery tinsel pack-away trees that you can use year after year, especially with vintage decorations like those made by Shiny Brite, founded in 1937 by German immigrant Max Eckardt in collaboration with Corning. These can be found on a couple of Etsy stores, including Pretty Vintage Linens and Acorn and Alice. To learn about the history of Shiny Brite ornaments check out this blog.
Photo credit: attagirlsays.com
7. Read
As a longtime Francophile I was thrilled to see Annie Ernaux be awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in literature. This prolific 82-year-old author is the first French woman to receive the prize, which feels auspicious for the future of gender politics after an especially trying year. Les Années, considered her masterpiece, is available in French here or in English anywhere books are sold.
To learn more about Annie Ernaux’s life and work, read this New Yorker interview.
Podcasts and a change of address made me stray from printed publications during the pandemic but there’s nothing quite as satisfying as curling up with a New Yorker magazine and devouring it cover to cover. Right now they are offering great deals on printed and online format subscriptions and throwing in a complimentary tote bag with their iconic circa 1925 logo. Also check out the New Yorker Store where they have these awesome Bubble Gum socks.
8. Rest
Together with these incredibly light and moldable earplugs, this silky eye mask from Manta makes sleeping a superpower. The eye cups are perfectly shaped to spare your peepers from pressure and preventing the undereye creasing that other masks sometimes cause.
9. Start planning your best year yet
Are your left and right hemispheres constantly fighting it out to get things done? This 8”x10” 2023 planner has several track-it-all options include a monthly calendar with monthly goals and reminders, a weekly calendar section, and lined note pages. It also comes with a 5"x8" journal so that your more free-form, non-date-delimited ideas can freely flow.
10. Wear sunscreen!
While the temperature may drop in the winter months, UVA rays (the primary cause of premature aging) do not. In other words, sunscreen is essential, every day. I love SKN by Dr. Vicki Rapaport. Her Daily Sheer and Clear Sunscreen is smooth as silk and can be easily reapplied without clogging your pores. The Trutone Tinted Antioxidant Sunscreen gives you a flawless, shine-free finish. And don’t forget your hands with these UPF 50+ shortie gloves – great for driving or anywhere the sun’s rays find you.