It is time for my annual Holiday Gift Guide. Unique, interesting, pretty, fun and useful gift ideas for anyone on your list this holiday season. Also some weird stuff of course.
If you've been following along with The Christmas Pledge you have no need for this post because all of your presents are purchased and you're positively berserk on an accomplishment high.
You people can just spend the next 10 minutes staring blankly at the computer screen. Or you could make use of this time and do something important like scroll through the list I've composed and pick out a perfect gift to give yourself.
Before we get into it I have some guidelines on buying presents:
Table of Contents
Christmas Present Buying Tips
- If someone lives in a small space DON'T buy them a large present that'll cause them stress and eye bleeds trying to find a place to put it.
- Check to see where something is being delivered or supplied from. This is especially important on Amazon. If it's being delivered from China then it's going to be a month to get to you if you're in North America. If it says "supplied and shipped by Amazon", then you're good. You'll get it in a few days normally.
- If you're having trouble thinking of a gift for someone think of their hobbies, and then get them something for that, that they wouldn't buy themselves. Very expensive knitting needles for a knitter for example. Or a signed copy of a book by a favourite author for a reader. That sort of thing. Hobbies are always the best place for inspiration.
- Want to cut down on shipping costs if you're shipping presents out of town? Change the shipping address in Amazon to ship directly to the recipient's house and choose the gift wrap option. The present will be gift wrapped in a moderately pathetic way with a personalized card and gift receipt inside the standard brown Amazon shipping box.
And to reiterate as I've said before: If you can shop local SHOP LOCAL. Instead of clicking and buying here see if you can get these things locally first. I'm willing to give up my Amazon commissions to make sure local stores stay open.
Ready? Here we go, this year's gift list.
The 2022 Holiday Gift Guide
Some things on this list contain affiliate links. That means if you buy something, I might make a commission.
If you're in Canada and you're having trouble with the right items coming up, just click here and search for the item on Amazon Canada. All other links should work fine for you.
Some of these things I own and love and that's why I'm recommending them.
Other things I've selected are based on how much I like them AND the ratings they get.
ITEMS I PERSONALLY OWN AND LOVE ARE MARKED WITH A 😀
ADVENT CALENDARS
EVERYONE loves an advent calendar. These ones are a step up from your regular $2 advent calendar filled with almost inedible chocolates from the Dollar Store.
These advent calendars are filled with fun experiments and activities for the first 24 days of December.
CANDLES
I'm a sucker for candles and burn them all the time. Always have, always will.
Mandarin Orange Candle (perfect for in the toe of a stocking)
Bubble Cube candle (tons of colours to pick from)
10" long Dough bowl candles (I'd pick the Apple Maple Bourbon scented)
OR for the DIYer, a DIY dough bowl candle kit from Etsy
New Years Eve (truth candle, lol)
Frasier Fir votive in gold jar (This is my candle scent of choice for December) 😀
CLOTHING
Remember the Upper East Side coat?
Philip ate it. So I bought this long Orolay coat as a replacement. It looks really good, isn't skimpy in size and I assume it will wash in the washing machine as well as my first one. 😀
THIS is the Upper East Side coat I got it in white (which my dog ripped on walks when he was a puppy). It now comes in allll the clours. Army green, red, bright yellow, black, navy blue, silver blue ... 😀
DON'T FORGET - IF IT HAS A SMILEY FACE THAT MEANS I OWN AND LOVE THE PRODUCT
I bought both of these last minute to take on a trip to the Dominican Republic. No need to size up, the fabric is pre-shrunk. 55% linen, 45% cotton.
I also bought the black and white striped cover up below which is WAY nicer than I thought it was going to be. Wherever I went in it at the resort people stopped and asked me about it.
If I had known it was going to look so good, I'd have bought the one on the right as well.
COOKING
Flame Birch French Rolling Pin 😀 This hand turned French rolling pin from rural P.E.I.'s Brenda Watts was one of the first things I recommended here on my site 10 years ago. I bought one for myself then one for almost everyone in my family. You can see me using it in my pastry recipe post.
Vekaya Mandolin 😀 (this is the best mandolin I've owned, plus it comes with cutproof gloves)
from Michelin starred vegetarian chef Jeremy Fox.
I'm deeply attracted to the cover of this cookbook. It's beautiful.
The Pizza Bible I've learned more from this book about making pizza than any other. 😀
Cast iron skillet the perfect size for making Cast Iron pizza. I own a wood fired pizza oven and I STILL make cast iron pizza sometimes because it's so good.
GARDENING
Books from my own collection that I think any serious gardener should have.
BED & BATH
A shower cap that isn't ugly Because you really shouldn't wash your hair every day. Comes in multiple colours and patterns! 😀
Mini bidet! I bought this just to test it out for this Christmas Gift Guide. I nearly blew a hole through my intestine the first time I tried it. I also shot a stream of water moving at about 150 mph across my bathroom the first time. But with a little practice these things work astonishingly well to clean your bum. 😀
Refillable Shower Bottles for the person who likes things to be just so.
100% linen bath sheets from Rough Linen. They come in 8 colours including natural and black!
Bath Slippers I'm picking these terry bath slippers because they come in ALL sizes. Including wide!
Indoor/Outdoor Bootie I'm including these North Face indoor/outdoor slippers because my neighbour who owns them BEGGED me to include them. He just got them and says they GREAT. Comfortable, non slip, cozy ... and perfect if you have to go outside to let the dog out or bring in the paper.
A Different Bath Mat This bath mat is kind of like mouse pad material. It absorbs water better than fabric, is easy to clean, and completely non slip.
CROSS BODY phone holder Know someone who always has their phone with them? Or is always losing their phone? This case is the BEST. You wear it like a purse so it's always where you want it to be. The one CON to this is you can't charge it with a magnetic charger while it's in its case - you have to remove the case to charge. It comes in multiple colours and I own it in black. 😀
LUXURY (FOR CHEAPER)
I realize I spend most of my time in jeans with dirt or grease stains on them, but the truth is I LOVE good things. I'm one of those people who would rather own 1 good purse than 12 cheap ones. But I don't buy new. If I want something nice I buy authenticated used.
You just have to make sure you're buying from a reputable reseller like The Real Real. I buy from my friend Lauren Baker who runs the site Lab Consignment. All items are guaranteed authentic, the quality and any marks or scratches are pointed out.
ALL CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR IS 25% OFF BUT JUST UNTIL SUNDAY
HERMES card holder I wish I owned this. I really really wish I owned this.
CHANEL ballet flats These too. Plus they're my size. Alas ...
THE MENOPAUSE KIT
These two things will change their life.
Cooling Pad Put one on your mattress under your fitted sheet. INSTANT cool and it lasts all night. Yup. It's actually made for keeping dogs cool. 😀
Magnesium for Sleeping All magnesium isn't created equal. It can make you have to poop and create general stomach distress. This brand and type of magnesium eliminates those cons of Magnesium but has all the PROS - which means excellent sleepy time. 😀
Buy these two things for anyone who sleeps hot or has trouble sleeping in general.
TECH
The Frame TV from Samsung The Frame is a television that is incredibly flat with a very small bezel frame. You can buy different coloured frames (white, wood, brass) to give the tv the look of different frames.
There is only one tiny wire that hangs down from the tv so you don't have a multitude of messy cords.
Then you can choose from their selection of artwork to display on the TV when you aren't watching it. Both Betty and I own one (I own a small one she owns a HUGE one). My mother keeps floral artwork on her large tv which is hung on her living room wall. You would never know it wasn't actual artwork.
Fire TV Stick What makes a TV smart? The ability to load apps onto it. You can turn any TV that has an HDMI port into a smart tv by inserting this FIRE TV stick. Load apps, watch YouTube, surf the web ... all with a fire stick on your tv.
Eufy robot vacuum with mapping! Last year I recommended a Eufy robot vacuum. I loved my Eufy so much I upgraded to this one for my downstairs, and moved my more basic Eufy upstairs.
Tech Travel Storage Kit I just got back from a trip to Dominican Republic and I really wish I'd had this. The amount of chargers, cable and crap you need to take with you now is astonishing. Keeping it in one spot like this would have been very helpful.
Finally - if you're looking to save money (and who isn't) buy refurbished!
Amazon Renewed!
Amazon has an ENTIRE category dedicated to guaranteed refurbished products.
Like Apple laptops, Frame TVs (yes you can get a refurbished Frame TV the same as the one above, but about $100 cheaper!), ice cream makers with a compressor and just about anything else you could think of.
Buying refurbished products is cheaper, just as reliable and prevents things from getting chucked in the garbage. A lot of refurbished products are just products that have been sent back or had minor issues.
I buy refurbished technology ALL the time and have never had any problems or issues.
That's it for this year, and before you say or think it, I know Christmas is about more than presents.
It's about having gingerbread sweats and filling your pockets with expensive chocolates on your way out from holiday parties.
→Follow me on Instagram where I rarely post because I hate Instagram now←
I bought an Eufy on your recommendation, I love her so I bought two. Thank you!
Isn't it great?! I'm really happy you like it. ~ karen!
New guy here. Loving the blog/site/whatever.
Here’s a great local source for masks. (Local meaning Rockwood, ON)
hidesinhand.com
3 layer masks with separate polypropylene inserts. Apparently as effective as N95 masks.
And literally hundreds of patterns/fabrics.
Wow, they're great (I haven't even got to looking at the masks yet, just the leather goods, lol) how have I not known about them all my life?! ~ karen
My heart bear faster when I saw that Fire and Wine cowl neck thingie! Alas, just a tad too much $$ but it sure is putty!
Ok 🙄. That would be “beat” not “bear” and “purty” not “putty”! Shoulda checked before hittin’ the send button but why start now eh?
It is a lot, but let me tell you, good yarn is EXPENSIVE. Just the wool alone probably costs $150. ~ karen!
Hi Karen,
Thanks for this list! Did you tell David about the kindling cracker or did he tell you bout it?😉
Ha! Neither, lol. ~ karen!
Oh man, I was all over that kindling chopper gizmo, thought hubby would love it. But it's $282! Not to sound like a cheap bitch but that's a bit too much $$ for me. It would be awesome though.....
What?!? There are loads of these on line (Northern Tool, Amazon and more) for less than $100. We bought a couple from Amazon that were about $80. Maybe more in Canada, but surely not that much more.
They're great, incidentally.
You'd probably spend that on a good axe, that's my reasoning. Can't decide myself if I want it that badly or not. Do I even need a new axe? How big a piece can I fit in there?What if the piece has knots, will it just get all knotted up in there and impossible to split or get out of the whole contraption. Could end up being just one more thing to add to the pile of stuff. Then again, could be a big time saver. Hmmm, wonder what the 92 year old David thinks about this item?
Uch. It must be a glitch with the link converting from American to Canadian. You can look at this one on Amazon.ca https://amzn.to/2HwUXqB I tried to find local smaller Canadian stores (even independently owned like Canadian Tire or Home Hardware) that carry something similar but didn't have any luck. ~ karen!
In 2016 my sister and I learned for the first time that we had a half sister born in 1944—9 years older than me. We never had a chance to meet her but we get together with her kids all the time. Niece Marleen found the Kicking Horse Three Sisters and sent me some for obvious reasons-/we are three sisters, not two. I love it that this is on your list.
That's a great story! :) ~ karen
I purchased one of the space heaters after your first post and hubby kept taking it to his office. Today I saw your post again and decided that we each needed one. The next one should arrive this week. Thanks for the great list!
You got the fun space heater?! I'm so glad. I wish I had a place for it. ~ karen!
I got my Eat Here sign in the mail yesterday! So glad as it is perfect for my daughter. Every Christmas Eve, we play Bingo with prizes. I try to find really odd but cheap things to add to the pile of 'pick or take someone else's' prizes. Now it seems I need Toot Pads! I gave a dried flower wall vase one time that was made from a bull's bag. No one knew what it was for the longest time. I sure do enjoy Bingo.
LOL!! ~ karen
Love your list, Karen! I ordered hair pins for my daughters with their long heavy hair and am thinking about a couple of other things.
What do you all do with the dehydrators that makes them worth while? I don't get it. :~?
We grow tons of tomatoes, and once I learned that dehydrated, powdered tomato skins deliver deep flavor, I bought a dehydrator and stopped composting them. Since I don’t can, I’m also dehydrating potatoes for storage. And the dark tops of leeks, etc. oranges and apples to hang for the birds and squirrels.....
I have a pear tree that produces more than I can use fresh. I dehydrate pear slices that I acidulate in a mild ascorbic acid solution. Keeps them bright and light. My grandaughter has declared the pear slices better than candy....
I bet they are better than candy! What's your solution for ascorbic acid? (how mild) I'd love to know! ~ karen
I bought myself a present! The birthstone ring with a garnet for each of my boys and a pearl in the middle for me.
I’ve always wanted one and seems my sons have never gotten the hint...😊
Oh, I'm glad!! You'll love it. :) ~ karen!
Boo, the links are not working at all for me, just across the pond from you. I’ll have to dig around the old-fashioned way.
Weird. I can see from my end that they're working for most people. :/ I wonder what's causing it. ~ karen!
They are not working at all on my iPad either…Will try Chrome on my desktop because this is a really great list!
Try a different browser, that is sometimes the cause!
The fatigue mat is terrific looking. Have been scouting around for one this past week.
Good timing ! Canadian price on your link ??? Got bitten a couple of times when there was no indication ............ just checking. Thanks for doing the legwork on these lists of yours.
Hey I've been looking for a good budget projector! Thanks! Last year I bought the sourdough starter you recommended and my husband LOVES it. Like still using it, still tending that "very needy houseplant".
Anyway. Just saying. Your list never disappoints. Thank you !
Thanks for an entertaining list with some unique selections. My Christmas shopping is done, but I noted several items for next year's list.
I bought the hats with the lights in them a couple of years ago - USB rechargeable and invaluable for working on the snowblower in the dark when you need both hands free and you're a long way from the garage in the snowy Maine woods! Also, super for walking the dog in the dark, or getting the mail, etc. I gave a couple out as presents and everyone loved them. Another one of those, "why didn't I think of THAT!" things. Thank you for the list - saw a couple of good ideas for the future (yup, I'm done with the shopping like a bunch of your followers). Happy Holidays, Everyone! Let the fun begin...or continue...or whatever ;^)
Boy, so confusing! I know you don't really care because you want the new site for business purposes, but this list was a mess. Hard to distinguish and wade through the non-advertising picks compared to advertising. Plus the comments are from years ago and refer to previous lists! I've been looking for your 2022 list, and the only way I saw it was to search Christmas -- when i go to your site the Halloween stuff is on the 'homepage.' I hope this site can be improved and be made viewer friendly (clicks contribute to money after all). I've been reading your blog for years.
Wow, the list of assumptions in this note rivals Karen's Gift Guide. A word about trolling, if you can't say something constructive, don't say anything at all. You have no clue what goes into creating content and if you've been "reading this blog for years", you'd never go with "Karen is the problem" and look more at "user error".
Agree
I really wanted the accessories in the "Deer Advent Accessories" to be for deer. Also, I also wanted to buy the mandarin orange candle, but the link is messed up.
Hi Lois! I just checked and the link is working for me. What happens when you click on it? ~ karen!
The page blinks and I end up ... in the same spot I was when I clicked on the link.
Hi Lois! That's odd. Try this link and see what happens.
So......... I was thisclose to picking up that neato little Hermes card case, you know, as a nice early Christmas present, in the spirit of the season and all that. And then I saw the price tag. Suffice it to say that Amazon.ca will NOT be delivering said item to you next Wednesday..... subject to change pending my winning the Lottery of course, then I'll happily spring for a brand spankin' new one AND I'll throw in those ballet slippers -lol There will be a delivery, tastefully Amazon gift wrapped, just not Hermes.
I was laughing because I've been fan girling on a bunch of Kreg stuff and the algorithm put the Kreg Workstation and Kreg marking tool in between your items. You need more tools on your list anyways. I did all my Christmas shopping the last few weeks. What did I get? Tools to make Christmas gifts over the coming few weeks. Specifically accessories for my lathe. No need to buy one of those gorgeous rolling pins. I'll just make one. I already made a muddler for my mojito loving friend. Tree ornaments coming up for another. And then I have inserts for bottle stoppers and beer openers. I'll get to turn unique handles for them. So I "needed" the lathe accessories, yes, yes I did.
Bath mat link is pointing to the vacuum and unfortunately for me the vacuum link also goes the same place