I love Christmas and I also love practical gifts. I love everything about daily living that most of my gift suggestions will center around what we need to sustain a healthy and happy life. I love to give and receive things that I will use day to day for years to come. Here is a list of my top 10 suggestions for giving this year!
- Immersion Blender— For some reason, an immersion blender is the first thing on my list. I am not sure what I would do without this because it is so useful when making a blended soup, salad dressing, gravy or a sauce. I know that a blender works well but an immersion blender is so much easier and does not make as much of a mess. I have had my immersion blender for a long time but I am a big fan of the Breville which is linked here. It has 15 speeds which is a lot fancier than mine, which only has one!
- Vitamix blender— These have been around for quite some time and it took me until last year to jump on board and buy one. I have never looked back. It is unbelievable what this blender can do. I believe it is the most powerful household blender on the market. I just added to my Christmas list the attachments to make smaller quantity recipes such as salad dressings.
- A humidifier— This time of year is so dry and what better way to add moisture back into your life than a humidifier. When we become too dry in our nasal cavity we open ourselves up to all kinds of viruses and bacteria. So to stay well I add extra moisture into the air. We have a large humidifier in our downstairs and I have a very small one next to my bed which I use every night. I would definitely look for one that is easy to clean and operate or you may never use it…haha. Here is the one I like.
- Dohm sound machine— I love these sound machines. I use them in my office to drown out the noise that the neighboring engineers make during office hours. They work really well and also have a very soothing sound. I just added one to my Christmas list to use at home. I am slightly obsessed with white noise but it has to be the right pitch and these have it in my opinion. You can find these online and I also found it at Walmart.
- Instant-Read Thermometer— I am sure most of you have one of these but I found myself in a dilemma the other day when my handy dandy instant-read thermometer decided to stop working. I am heading out to buy another one and also am asking for one for a stocking stuffer. You do not want to find yourself without one of these when you are making homemade yogurt, ricotta cheese or a roast turkey. You don’t have to get fancy with these either. I like the digital ones and they are not very expensive. The last one I bought was from Sur La Table and it lasted me a LONG time! Here is a comparable one.
- Lodge Cast Iron Skillet— Wow!! Do I use this a lot!! A perfectly seasoned cast iron skillet is irreplaceable. From pancakes and bacon to my favorite Mediterranean Frittata, this skillet is perfect. I think I have the 10-inch and use it almost every day. They are for sale at Sur La Table but I think Wal Mart also sells them.
- Le Creuset Dutch Oven— 5.5 and 7.25 — I have both sizes and I use them all the time. They are both amazing for soups, stews, beans, rice or any one pot meal. They also stand the test of time because I have had both for many years. An investment but well worth it.
- “Tour” wine glasses from Crate and Barrel— I have purchased many wine glasses over the years but I really enjoy these. They make it very easy to swirl the wine so that it opens up before tasting and they also fit your hand very well. I have both the red and white wine glasses, they are both lovely!
- Furry Throws from Restoration Hardware— Winter is for all the snuggles and I think we have one of these throws on every seating surface in our home. The durability of these throws far surpass anything from Target or Walmart. I have washed them many many times and they still look the same. Sometimes spending a little extra pays off and in this case, these throws are worth it!!!
- Chemex pour-over coffee maker— Coffee can tend to be very acidic but I find when I make a pour over I do not struggle with stomach discomfort. Yes, it does take a little more time in the morning to make coffee but what are mornings for but to move slowly into our fast-paced day. I love my slow mornings and making coffee is part of that equation.
Happy shopping!!