Gift Guide #7: Your Best Friend Who Reads Her Horoscope Every Day and Gives the Best Pep Talks.

Our children are now young adults and they said they have everything they want right now so no gifts this Christmas.

It warms my heart – we did not spoil them at Christmas time when they were growing up (well maybe just a little).

They are not materialistic and understand the value of the $, and it is lovely.

Our youngest (20 years) asked if we could play a game together instead of giving gifts. Time and laughing together – best gift ever!

Totes Amazing

I’m enjoying these suggestions however finding them a little bit sexist.
Dad can drive on icy roads and gets a subscription to The Atlantic…. and the friend reads her horoscope every day and gets tarot cards….. really???

I’m not a gift giver nor are my friends. My friends and I have grown old together, most of them. Cancer came and took another of my lovely, dear friends a few weeks ago. Just like my other friends, there were no gifts in the world that I could have ever given her that would have meant anywhere near what we felt for each other. We are gifts to each other. We treasure each other, care and love each other beyond measure. We don’t share gifts, never have. No need to. What we do need is each other. I love them and there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for me. We are more than enough for each other.

Anyone else think a tote that invites questions or chit-chat from strangers sounds like their worst nightmare? Ha! And I’m not even an introvert – just a weary public transportation commute-soldier, I guess. I want a tote that says “Wear deodorant and give me 18 inches of space, please. And no talking.”

May I please recommend the Spolia tarot deck? It is collage art and so incredibly beautiful and creative. My absolute favorite deck.

Has anyone read both Nothing to See Here and the Family Fang, and if so, how did they compare? I read the latter on an airplane a few months ago and found it really bleak and depressing… I was excited about Nothing to See Here until I learned it was the same author! Would love to hear a comparison or thought from anyone who’s read both.

A truffle!!! What a great idea!
I really do love your gift guides. So original. A couple years ago I got my now 4 yr old son a red ukulele, per your guide, and he still loves it. This year I will get him the sound machine.
Thanks for the ideas!

loooove adamjk and all he is / makes /stands for — but it would be great to link right to his shop vs going thru madewell.

Another comment for “I don’t want to be that person” – but am I the only person who would never spend $50 on a candle, no matter how much money I make? I would actually love to give it to my cousin because she loves figs and Brooklyn and it’s all around perfect. But then…all I got her was a candle…and she wouldn’t even know it was a 50 friggin dollar candle. Ha

As someone who LOVES reading gift guides and giving gifts, I’d like to thank the entire Cup of Jo team for continuing to produce charming, thoughtful, accessible/affordable, inspirational gift guides year after year.

For people looking for holiday gifting options that are more “ethical” (though really, under a capitalist system there is no true ethical choice so perhaps we should focus on changing that rather than shaming people for wanting a joyful holiday) – there are many other blogs producing brilliant gift guides this time of year: https://jesswithless.com/under-100-sustainable-gift-guide/; https://readingmytealeaves.com/; https://petraalexandra.ca/2019/11/21/the-affordable-thoughtful-sustainable-gift-guide/; https://www.stylebee.ca/2019/11/18/gifts-i-love-to-give-all-under-100/

I love all of these gifts, especially the Dior lipstick! And i also wanted to say i have a friend who is going through a very difficult time, and really thanks to all of your posts about grief and how to help, i was not at a total loss about what to say or do, so thank you very much ❤️

Strand Books sells zipper tote bags! Great bookstore and a great option. https://www.strandbooks.com/tote-bags-pouches/large-tote-denim-indie-script/_/searchString/ <— This is just one of many options

That fig candle is exacccctly what I needed to find for my fig-obsessed friend. And I cannot WAIT to read Nothing To See Here! I have two kiddos (4.5 years and almost 1 year old), and made a goal to read a lot in 2019. I am on book #21 for the year, which feels awesome, and am already stacking up my books for 2020. I hadn’t heard of it, but it’s now on the top of my list – so, thank you!

Now I remember who recommended that book :) YOU! I listened to it on audio and loved it!!

Love a Best Friend necklace! I got the one you all listed before – maybe last year (the one where each of you have a part of a circle) my bestie lives states away so its our little reminder when we are a part and like a special secret, I get compliments on it all the tome and you’d never know it was a BFF necklace- thanks for all your great ideas!

Oh that pb caramel pretzel chocolate candy looks soooo good!

Nothing to See Here is SOOOO good! Such a unique, fun story!!!

Ooh I’m intrigued by that lipstick! What a great gift for a girlfriend.

I would like one of each please! That Cluedo set, bagel necklace and pot plant look like perfection.
Also – have bookmarked the art tour for our New York visit next year.

I’ve gotten into giving serums or fancy face moisturizer. It feels extra special (especially since we’re all new parents).

I love experience gifts from my best pals!!! It’s always fun to have an extra-special hangout

Yes! Experience gifts are the best for friends, because ideally you do the experience together! I always give a friend a gift of a show we go to together, which is fun for us both.

Here is the thing about totes: There are so many witty-worded,
cool-designed totes! BUT most of us who are already using them to avoid plastic or paper bags are inundated with them.
And in a depressing, interesting environmental twist: landfills are now filled with them :(
May I suggest that we give presents that are eco-friendly or at least
have minimal packaging? I would say “sorry to be THAT person” for this comment but I refuse to apologize for sticking up for this planet.

That art tour experience is a fabulous idea and makes me so jealous of my NYC resident friends. I’d LOVE to give or receive something like this. Thank you for such a fun, creative suggestion.