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.
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:
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 with a personalized card and gift receipt inside the standard brown Amazon shipping box.
And to reiterate what I’ve said before: If you can shop local SHOP LOCAL. This year it’s more important than any other year for the survival of your neighbourhood stores.
Ready? Here we go, this year’s gift and stocking stuffer list.
The 2020 Holiday Gift Guide
The items on this list contain affiliate links. That means when you buy a present for someone else, you give a present to me as well in the form of a commission from what you buy. The best part is it doesn’t cost you or the individual sellers a penny. Amazon, Etsy and other stores pay the commissions.
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.
Christmas Gift Guide 2020
Something for everyone on your gift list this year.
🎅🏽FOOD LOVER PRESENTS🤶🏻
French Rolling Pin
I've featured these flame birch french rolling pins by Brenda at Cattails Woodworking for years. She works out of her home in Prince Edward Island creating beautiful, useable wood pieces of art.
I own this rolling pin and it literally glows.
Modern White Breadbox
A good old fashioned bread box is made for pandemic days of sitting in the kitchen making bread for hours on end. This clean white design would look good on almost any kitchen counter.
Eat Here Tin Wall Art
In case the person you're giving the gift to is always confusing their bathroom from their kitchen, this Eat Here sign will remind them. Unless they install it pointing towards their bathroom.
Excalibur Dehydrator
The dehydrator that most serious dehydrator's use for drying herbs, making jerky, dried fruit and even incubating yogurt.
I own the larger version of this one and use it a lot more than my mother (who gave it to me) thought I would.
Sourdough Starter Kit
Helloooooooooo winter during the pandemic. If you don't already know of someone who makes sourdough bread you will.
This kit has all the necessities other than the actual starter. These bannetons are oblong, but they also come in 9" round. It also comes with a bench scraper, liners, a lame (for scoring bread) and more.
Dehydrated Organic Sourdough Starter
Yes! You can buy someone pre-started sourdough starter! It's active sourdough starter that's been dried and can be mailed easily in a thin envelope. Once you get it you just add flour and water and within a few days it'll be a fully active, ready to go sourdough starter.
This one is from Homestead & Chill in the US.
If you're looking for a good starter from Canada I can recommend the Kensington Market Sourdough starter which you can get here.
Mini Toaster Oven
I dunno. I just think it's really cute. Don't you? Good for small apartments, little counter space and college students.
🎅🏽FUN STUFF🤶🏻
Pop-Tarts Variety Pack
I understand this seems ridiculous. Maybe even absurd. But as an adult I eat good things. I eat oatmeal for breakfast and I LOVE it. I would never in a million years think to buy pop tarts. But you know what? I'd love it if someone bought some for me.
Moose in Canoe Watercolor Painting Print
Ontario artist Carolynn Elshof creates these curiosity paintings that all give a heartfelt ode to the Canadian wilderness.
Rainbow Balls
This ring of rainbow coloured balls can be twisted and moved into different shapes. Which is addictive.
I have this, put it into a shape I like I use it as an objet d'art in my bookcase.
Cotton Candy Machine
AN ACTUAL COTTON CANDY MACHINE!!! Not a tiny kids one, but a genuine cotton candy machine. I mean, you probably couldn't go into business during fall fair season, but I'm thinking it would be fantastic for my annual block party.
Anyone who has kids or grown up parties would get a kick out of this.
It's a bit pricey but I also think it's a great idea for an entrepreneurial kid. I'd buy a bag of cotton candy from a sidewalk stand over lemonade ANY day.
Custom Model House
These custom painted wood houses are done based on a photo that you send the artist. The 3 dimensional house stands on its own.
These are made in Poland and sold on Etsy and I love them.
Popcorn Maker
Remember those things I said about the cotton candy maker? Ditto for the countertop popcorn machine.
🎅🏽CONSUMABLES🤶🏻
Sometimes we get a present and even if we love it, trying to find a place for it in our home can take 1 day and 4 Xanax.
These gifts are all things that are eventually used up or take up no space at all.
Masterclass
For anyone who likes taking classes, learning and being entertained. I can't recommend Masterclass enough.
I've had it for several years now and I absolutely love it. I've learned writing tips from David Sedaris, really good cooking tips from Gordon Ramsay and make up (real makeup not ridiculous YouTube makeup) from Bobbi Brown.
At the time of writing this post, Masterclass hadn't announced any holiday sales yet, but last year they had a buy one year, get one year free sale so watch for that!
Toot Diffuser
I have no idea if this works or not. But who cares. Pads you stick to your underwear to diffuse farts.
This will be the MOST fun gift you give.
The Naked Bee Lotion
I had this on my list last year and I'm including it again because it's so good.
The Naked Bee hand and body lotion. My favourite lotion smelling and working hand lotion EVER.
Hot Sauce Making Kit
This is the one other thing on this year's list that was also on last year's because it was one of the most popular gift ideas from the whole list last year.
A hot sauce making kit when everything someone needs to make bottles of sauce.
🎅🏽POT STUFF🤶🏻
Yep. Because Canada, eh?
Kush Candle)
Cannabis and Suede scented candle. For those people who maybe don't smoke pot but want their house to smell like they do?
E-Lighter
This is good for anyone really. A flameless lighter that never needs to be refilled because it works with electronic energy. Rechargeable for years of use.
Joint Case
A discrete, pretty wood and brass case for a marijuana cigarette (as my mom Betty insists on referring to them as.)
Cannabis Candy & Desserts
How to make your own CBD or THC infused gummies and candies.
The cookbook for bookcooks. I'm almost positive if you were high that would either a) be funny or b) make sense.
🎅🏽PRACTICAL & PERFECT🤶🏻
Kindling Cracker
This kindling chopper can get bolted to anything (or not bolted at all) and used to split kindling with ease. Yup. Yes, yes I do want one as a matter of fact.
Eufy Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum. It's like giving someone a computer, a maid and and amusement park ride for cats all in one.
I haven't been quiet about my love of the Eufy. I was compelled to write an entire love letter/post about it which you can read here if you need convincing.
Beetle Boot Jack
If you've ever pulled a muscle trying to remove a rubber boot that was suctioned to your foot, you NEED a boot jack. Most are boards of plastic or wood, but this one is an iron beetle.
Not to be enticed by its beauty alone, I made sure this boot jack got good reviews for how well it works. It gets great reviews!
To any of my family members reading this, I would like one of these for Christmas.
Bird Bookends
I'm partial to these gold bird bookends but there are so many styles of bookends that it's easy to find a pair that match a person perfectly.
Mid Century style Space Heater
I came across this space heater late this summer and immediately knew I'd be putting it on this year's gift guide.
In case you didn't know, space heaters don't normally look like this! They look like ... space heaters.
I bet you know someone who would appreciate the design of this.
If you're in Canada you can get it with this link here.
🎅🏽 ECO FRIENDLY 🤶🏻
Gifts for the receiver and the earth.
Kicking Horse Coffee
Kicking Horse coffee beans (roasted in Canada available everywhere!) is my new go-to coffee (Three Sisters thank you very much). Any coffee lover would appreciate bags of delicious beans.
The company is 100% Organic, Certified Fair Trade and voted Best Workplace™ for Women, a Best Workplace ™ for Inclusion and a Best Workplace ™ for Manufacturing in Canada.
If you're in Canada you can buy Kicking Horse at many grocery stores. To buy it on Amazon Canada for around $10 a bag, you can click here.
( Apparently the link is wonky if you're in Canada claiming that the coffee is over $100. It's not! )
Allbirds Wool Running Shoes
Allbirds brand takes sustainability and their carbon foot print seriously. The standard sneaker emits 12.5 kg CO2e. Allbirds' average shoe emits 7.6 kg CO2e. With their ultimate goal for that number to be 0.
Made with wool instead of synthetics, castor bean oil and recycled bottles for laces, they're warm, durable and eco friendly.
Quip Metal Electric Toothbrush
Sure you gave up plastic straws but what about your toothbrush? This beautiful, metal electric toothbrush from Quip will last forever, with small heads that can be changed every 3 months (delivered automatically if you order through Quip).
I own a Quip toothbrush and I love it. For added eco friendliness you can charge it with their windowsill solar charger.
Rolling Market Basket
Do you know someone who walks to get their groceries?
A rolling cart like this makes it SO much easier to lug shopping bags. Pull it behind you like luggage on wheels.
I own one (not this particular one) and the first time I used it I was amazed at how much easier it made my walk from the grocery store.
🎅🏽MASKS🤶🏻
If you don't know why masks are on the 2020 gift list then I'd love a quick letter from you describing what it's like to be a stuffed animal. These are just a few of my favourites.
Floral Face, Face Mask
Handmade and from an Etsy seller this seller has quite a few really nice patterned masks.
Sequin Face Mask
Sequins for New Year's Eve, weddings or to dress up jeans.
It is hard to believe that we're discussing formal masks for more elegant events - but we are.
Sports Face Mask
For a fitness freak.
I did some research and for anyone who has to wear a mask while working out, running or doing sports this is the best mask.
🎅🏽PRETTY STUFF🤶🏻
Brass Hair Pins
I *just* ordered these for myself from a maker in Canada on Etsy. (she ships worldwide though) Brass, gold, copper or silver hair forks to keep a messy (or neat) bun in place.
Stella & Dot
I've never been a "dainty" jewellery person but my niece gave me this charm holder necklace a while ago and there's something about it that I love. I've worn it almost every day since then. I think it feels very "Hallmark" movie to me which I like, lol.
Manitobah Mukluks
Indigenous owned company in Canada specializing in mukluks and moccasins. The site also has a section called "Storyboots" which features items (boots, jewellery, hats etc) that are made by indigenous elders and artisans using the traditional methods. If you know me, you know why I like this.
Custom Birthstone Rings
I always include a piece of this Israeli jewellery maker's collection in my gift list. I own several of Inbal's pieces myself and love them all. These custom birthstone rings can be made with anywhere from 1-4 stones. (more stones to include family members, spouse, etc)
🎅🏽BOOKS!🤶🏻
Growing Under Cover
I can't wait for this book!! Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden from my friend Niki Jabbour. The latest in her series of vegetable gardening books comes out in December.
Cut Flower Garden - SIGNED COPY
This book has been more helpful to me than any other for growing flowers. It covers every single thing you need to know about growing just about every flower there is. From when to plant, whether they need to be pinched to bloom prolifically, how to harvest and arrange them. It's everything. Floret books are available on Amazon, but this link goes directly to the Erin's site so she gets allllll the money.
Thug Kitchen: Vegan cookbook
The cookbooks you should own whether you're vegan or not. It's just GOOD food. Plus as an added bonus there's as much swearing in it as a Quinten Tarantino movie.
Home Apothecary with Ashley English
Ashley English has been brewing up books on food, beverages and homesteading from her North Carolina cabin for over a decade. Her latest book, Home Apothecary, will introduce you to TONS of home remedies.
Before you say it, I know. Christmas shouldn’t be about the presents. We’d all live better, happier, more boast-worthy lives if we gave up Christmas presents and instead spent Christmas day in a sweat lodge hallucinating our way to a better world.
But I like getting presents once a year. Don’t you?
Speaking of presents. I’m going to be updating this list a couple of times before now and the beginning of December! I’ll let you know when I update.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
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!
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 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
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!
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
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 $$ for me. It would be awesome though…..
What?!? There are loads of these on line (Northern Tool, Amazon and more) for less than $100. We bought a couple from Amazon that were about $80. Maybe more in Canada, but surely not that much more.
They’re great, incidentally.
You’d probably spend that on a good axe, that’s my reasoning. Can’t decide myself if I want it that badly or not. Do I even need a new axe? How big a piece can I fit in there?What if the piece has knots, will it just get all knotted up in there and impossible to split or get out of the whole contraption. Could end up being just one more thing to add to the pile of stuff. Then again, could be a big time saver. Hmmm, wonder what the 92 year old David thinks about this item?
Uch. It must be a glitch with the link converting from American to Canadian. You can look at this one on Amazon.ca https://amzn.to/2HwUXqB I tried to find local smaller Canadian stores (even independently owned like Canadian Tire or Home Hardware) that carry something similar but didn’t have any luck. ~ karen!
Hi Karen,
Thanks for this list! Did you tell David about the kindling cracker or did he tell you bout it?😉
Ha! Neither, lol. ~ karen!
My heart bear faster when I saw that Fire and Wine cowl neck thingie! Alas, just a tad too much $$ 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!
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
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!
Ordered a bag of Kicking Horse to be delivered tomorrow because I have a caffeine emergency on my hands, and then set up a monthly subscription (to join my cat food delivery.) Huzzah!
Caffeine emergencies are the WORST. Hope you like it! What kind did you get? ~ karen!
I ordered two of these items as gifts (one for me, one for them hehe) and already had them sent. Couldn’t wait for Christmas! Thanks for a great list of ideas!
You have to tell me what you got now! ~ karen!
Just tried to order the beautiful facemask on Etsy. The mask was $21 CA, but the delivery was $55!! No thanks.
Did you message her to ask if there was a different option? ~ karen!
Soooo I had never heard of a “boot jack” before and have apparently been living my entire life in the dark ages of muddy hands and wet socks. I immediately bought that beetle boot jack for myself (and my husband will use it too so it’s like basically a gift right?).
I immediately bought it too…. I am getting too old to wrestle with boots that don’t want to come off.
I wanted one too, but they are no longer available! Lucky you for ordering quickly. The Canadian Amazon has one similar (a tad smaller) which I’ve ordered so we’ll see if it measures up. Arrives Thursday.
Thanks, Karen, for another intriguing list of things I can tell people to buy me :-) Thank you, too, for urging people to buy local.
I’m totally shopping small businesses and Etsy this Christmas. Thank you for the recommendations for Etsy–I’m skipping Amazon this year.
Karen – Thank you so very much for including our (Homestead and Chill) organic sourdough starter on your gift guide this year! I am honored and tickled and SO very appreciative. Thank you for supporting our small business, and cheers to healthy homemade bread! (and we do ship to Canada too!) I also concur on the Excalibur dehydrators; we use ours non-stop. Anyways, you’re the best!
You’re welcome Deanna! :) ~ karen!
I love to read your gift list every year. It helps me think of things I’d like people to buy me. ;)
My husband and I ended up talking about holiday gifts the other day when he mentioned that something he liked was currently on sale on Amazon. I asked if a local store we like would carry it, and he thought they might; I told him I’d rather pay twice as much and buy local this year. This evolved into us discussing how we would like to kindly suggest to gift givers in our life (namely parents who ask for “ideas”) that they shop for us at local retailers or make charitable donations.
Thanks for adding your voice to support the shop local movement!
Thanks for noticing it SF, lol. Some people missed it. And I just did that very thing. I wanted some 8″ bannetons but before I ordered any online I contacted my local kitchen store to ask if they had any. They did and I went and picked them up this afternoon. ~ karen!
While I found the list interesting, I am disappointed that you neglected to talk about shopping local.
You hit on that important point so hard previously but when it came to your list, it seems linking to online purchases was your go-to.
As you have previously said, if we don’t ship local this holiday season, local businesses will fail, employees will lose their job, people’s lives will be negatively impacted.
Have another quick read. You missed it. I did indeed talk about it in this post. ~ karen!
Better than Oprah, seriously and I love Oprah. Many socially distant hugs to you from me!
I’m having a very hard time not buying myself the cotton candy machine. A VERY hard time. ~ karen!
I also love Kicking Horse coffee, but Amazon charging $108 for 3 packages?!?! And that’s for a 10 oz. bag. You can buy 1 lb bags of this in the grocery stores in BC for $16.95 per package, and it often goes on sale – I have seen it as low as $9.99!
LOL, that sometimes happens when Amazon.com converts to an Amazon.ca link. I laugh, but in truth it makes me CRAZY. You can find Kicking horse on Amazon for $10 a bag https://amzn.to/3kf2pUH ~ karen!
Oh what a help this list was! It even helped me to think of a few gifts that weren’t on the list! As usual, Karen, you rock! By the way…I got my son-in-law the hot sauce kit last year and he loved it! Thanks for all you do for your readers!
I’m glad it was helpful Heather! ~ karen
What a great list! I’m also in Canada but can’t seem to order the Under Armour face mask. It’s not on amazon.ca but amazon.com won’t ship it here. Any suggestions?
Hi Patti. Local sports stores might have the mask. Otherwise you can order it from the Under Armour site (Canadian). https://www.underarmour.ca/en-ca/p/ua-sportsmask/195250918950.html ~ karen!
I love you dearly, Karen, however why are we supporting the monolithic Amazon when so many of our local stores are going bankrupt? This is where we should be spending our money.
It was a small paragraph in the middle so perhaps you missed it but Karen did say “And to reiterate what I’ve said before: If you can shop local SHOP LOCAL. This year it’s more important than any other year for the survival of your neighbourhood stores.”
You could always google where to find these products through a different (maybe even local) company. But Karen does need to make a living doing this and she gets a wee commission through the Amazon and Etsy links “The items on this list contain affiliate links. That means when you buy a present for someone else, you give a present to me as well in the form of a commission from what you buy. The best part is it doesn’t cost you or the individual sellers a penny. Amazon, Etsy and other stores pay the commissions.”
:)
Hi Susan. I think I’ve talked about shopping local quite a bit. Even in this very post “And to reiterate what I’ve said before: If you can shop local SHOP LOCAL. This year it’s more important than any other year for the survival of your neighbourhood stores.” I’ve also recommended Etsy and other small online sellers. The reason most bloggers recommend things on Amazon is because a) it’s part of our income through commissions and b) because it’s available to everyone. It isn’t possible for me to recommend things that are available in your local stores because … well I don’t know what your local stores are. Hope that clears things up. ~ karen!
More please
I MUST get that eat here sign but can’t find how to get it in Florida. It only shows Canada. But I am Betty’s twin and it hasn’t helped to yell at the screen. What do I do?
Hi Mary! That’s weird. Try this link … https://amzn.to/32tNu2M :) ~ karen!
Thank you – it works!!!
Hey Karen – for Canadian readers Lee Valley Tools has a Canadian made brass beetle boot jack. I don’t think it’s as pretty as the one you picked but made closer to home and from a company that has a pretty good reputation re conditions and pay for its employees.
So I’m thinking the e-lighter is kinda like a mini taser and might have even more applications than lighting a candle, fire or cigarette of choice.
I just thought of a 2020 addition to your list! A phone tripod (for zoom calls). This link probably doesn’t work, but we have one like this, only 13.99, and it works great.
https://amzn.to/3paWlQL
Thanks, I got a few ideas from you. This was great. Recommend more useful or not wonderful stuff.