Gift Guide #6: Your Adoring Wife Who Never Met a Cheese She Didn’t Love.

I ordered the Maude candle for my sister who is a massage therapist. I got it in the mail yesterday and it smelled so good I just ordered two more :)

I’d also love to hear more about non-skiing options (since you can’t ski with a baby! At least not downhill…)

You just saved my partner’s life. xo

I don’t usually comment, and I can’t take issue with the product advertised (I am crossword obsessed and love puzzles of all kinds!) but I am really taken aback by the casual reference to phrenology, a branch of pseudoscience that has been used to endorse the idea that racist beliefs have a scientific basis (specifically in a misidentified link between skull shape/size and brain capacity). I can see that it’s meant as a ‘brainy’ prop, but I mean… ick.

That lodge looks amazing (Scribners). Have you been?

I’d love to see a post on traveling with a young baby. My husband and I would love to get away somewhere for a few days with our infant (10 months). We’re having a hard time figuring out what’s a good idea–partly because it’s hard for us to imagine a vacation with the constraints that come with a little one–two naps a day, early bedtime, etc. (Cities are walkable, which is great with a kid, but not in the winter maybe? A least because of diaper changing. A warm beach sounds great this time of year. But a long flight doesn’t! And anyway, are all-inclusive resorts a good idea? Are they all cheesy? Are they better with older kids? AirBnB type rentals seem nice–not stuck in a dark room after the early bedtime because can sit in living room–but also don’t come with someone to take away trash, change sheets, bring food, as a hotel does.) I’d love to hear your wisdom, as well as that of your readers!

The flowers you link to are beautiful, but I had a really negative experience when ordering from Urban Stems a few years ago for valentine’s day when long distance with my boyfriend (yes, I bought him flowers too!). I don’t know if they have gotten more reliable but I was really disappointed back then.

I’m totally getting the 365 puzzles for my husband. Cup of Jo to the rescue for last-minute Hanukkah gifts I can go buy at Target right now! Yes! :)

Thanks for the tip on the weighted blanket! Just sent one to my friend who is struggling with anxiety and this blanket is the closest I can get to a real hug for awhile. XOXOX, Happy Holidays!

Those reading glasses, lol! I will be giving those to everyone I know – such a great price for something so useful! Also, the lodge looks amazing for the price!! What great deals, thank you!

I’ve never met a cheese I didn’t love and I want all of these things! Now I just need to find a husband so I can be the adoring wife…or just save my money to buy myself gifts ha.

Can you post a white elephant curated list? We have multiple and it’s tough coming up with clever, funny gifts. Would love to see it on here!

It seems like the gift guides have more affordable/accessible ideas than in years past. I would imagine that it was a conscious decision. It’s noticed and appreciated!!

That perfume sampler is such a great idea! And those glasses are hilarious. Could use them right this second.

This gift guide has so many great ideas for my spouse! I was wondering if you might consider doing a gift guide for “them” (gender-neutral singular pronoun). There aren’t a lot of gift guides for non-binary people. Thank you for writing such an inclusive blog!

That key chain! I just ordered three for my besties (and one for me.) It gave me a lump in my throat and hope in my heart. Thank you!

I gave these glasses to a friend with a neck injury after a rough car accident and they were fabulous!

OMG this is brilliant. I wanted everything on this list! Thanks for writing my list for me this year =)

Cup of Jo! This is my first ever comment. I love these lists but wanted to point out that I had such a terrible experience purchasing a gravity blanket (and have heard the same from other online reviews) to the point of wanting to advise that others avoid the company entirely. Please take a look at the reviews online before making the plunge if you’re interested! x

My husband and I decided that this year our gift to each other will be a new mattress. Ours just is not firm enough! We’ve had much better sleep on the Sleep Number owned by the people we dogsit for regularly, so this weekend we’re going to the store to test some out.
Of course, I also got him a sweater because he hates clothes shopping and I like dressing him :) If I want any small thing for myself I’ll probably need to give him a hint!

Hi! I’ve read all the reviews for the blanket…..can you tell me if it really, really helps? It is so expensive but would be worth the price if it helped me get to sleep. I usually lay awake for at least an hour fretting about every single thing my mind can think about.

Mail ordering banana pudding from New York City? Isn’t that like mail ordering a bagel from Birmingham? I know the ingredients for banana pudding don’t exactly scream “terroir,” but I still can’t endorse this idea. Even if it’s the stuff of legend.

Those reading glasses are cracking me up, but I also kinda want them!!!

My husband took me on a romantic weekend getaway for my birthday, spending a night at a fancy hotel with a hot tub and pool. We brought our dog Scout, and the hotel was so dog friendly, it was as though it was Scout’s birthday! He was greeted by the dog concierge (who was a dog), and received a gift bag, a “dog on vacation” door hanger, a special bed, a bag of treats, and a welcome sign at the front desk, to the Very Important Pet. I was like, hey, where’s MY birthday present? Haha. It was a great weekend.

We are trying to cut back on gift-giving in our family, but I saw that design book and it is calling my name, ha ha.

Just a tip for anyone interested in the weighted blanket: weighted blankets are really wonderful, but the Gravity blanket (linked in the list) has some pretty negative reviews online. Many of Gravity’s Kickstarter backers haven’t received blankets they ordered over a year ago, and people who have received blankets report issues with the seams ripping. There are several other weighted blankets on the market, so I’d recommend giving one of those a shot!