With Thanksgiving behind us, I’m officially in the Christmas/Hanukkah spirit and prepared to up my gift buying game. Here’s my gift guide for the adults on your list.

Gifts-For-The-Grown-ups-On-Your-List

1. Parker Thatch Personalized Tote

A high quality tote is a utilitarian item that every person needs. Parker Thatch has perfected the tote and offers a line of personalized products. My favorite is the large monogrammed makeup bag. Pair this gift with a Birchbox beauty subscription. Birchbox is a monthly subscription of personalized beauty, grooming and lifestyle samples, delivered to your front door. They will send you 5 samples tailored to your profile for $10 a month. It is a great and inexpensive way to explore different brands and products.

2. Audible

The gift of making mundane chores a little more fun. You can always tell if Mr. Ice Cream or I am listening to a really good audio book because our house will be spotless and there won’t be a single unlaundered item in sight. With hectic lives we don’t always have the luxury of spending hours curled up with a good book, that’s why an audible gift subscription is an amazing gift for the busy people in your life. Elevate your gift by pairing it with these Bose noise cancelling headphones. I borrowed these from my father in-law for a trip and was blown away by the sound quality and noise cancelling ability.

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3. Bluelounge Cableyoyo

Being married to a tech geek has elevated my cable management game in a major way. Mr. Ice Cream and I have gone to great lengths to hide and organize all cables in our home – including running cables from our living room down to the crawl space, up through the kitchen wall and into the ceiling. Among the products we love, include the cord management product line from Bluelounge. The company offers elegantly designed solutions for simple problems. One of our favorite items is this newly redesigned Cableyoyo for earbud storage. It’s the perfect gift idea for anyone who casually throws earbuds in their purse (ahem…me), and then spends a lot of time later trying to untangle them.

4. Amazon Echo 
The gift of home automation with Alexa. The Echo is Amazon’s bluetooth speaker that let’s you access their Alexa Voice Service. You can ask it about the weather or request the latest news updates from NPR, which is cool, but it also let’s you control your smart home gadgets and that’s my favorite part because the commands are simple and it works seamlessly. Alternatively, the smaller Amazon Dot is also a great gift. It has the same basic functionality as the Echo except with smaller built-in speaker. But the Dot can connect to your speakers over bluetooth.

5. Contour Key Rings

I snagged this cool key ring at a boutique in Richmond. I love how it strikes the balance between edgy and chic. The weight feels substantial without feeling too heavy or cheap. It’s also available on Amazon for a slightly higher price, but free shipping. It’s a simple gift with a major cool factor.

 

6. Muji

I’d read about Muji, the minimalist Japanese retail store, but only got around to visiting for the first time when I was in San Francisco earlier this year. The store was simple and sophisticated and basically how I want everything in my life to look. From this minimalist toothbrush holder to their line of simple travel accessories, it’s easy to fill a checkout basket with an assortment of items you didn’t know you needed.

7. Logitech harmony universal remote

This has been one of the most successful gifts I’ve ever given my parents. With the increasing number of media streaming devices, it is easy to amass a heap of remotes. The Logitech universal remote is awesome because it is easy to set up, easy to use and very reliable. If you already have this remote and are looking to upgrade, Mr. Ice Cream and I have this Logitech remote and we absolutely love it. It has an upgraded touch screen and a slightly sleeker design. And if you are in a really giving mood, pair the remote with a Roku or Apple TV.

 

 

8. Socks

Socks are not only a practical gift but also a style conscious one. Lately I’ve been noticing a major trend happening involving socks worn with heels, booties and slides, where the socks are made to be seen. Whether you like the look or not, the trend has given rise to a ton of fun, patterned socks available in stores. I love these for her and these for him.

9. Champagne Gummy Bears

These magical concoctions by Sugarfina are the ideal treat to delight your friends. Box these champagne infused gummy bears with a bottle of your favorite sparkling wine and you have a hostess gift that everyone will remember.

10. Sequence the bacteria in your gut!

Everyone has a list of people that are perpetually hard to shop for. Whether they already have every thing, are incredibly picky, or have no easy hobby to shop for, a uBiome kit is a great and unique gift idea for the inquisitive mind. The kit requires you to collect a stool sample (don’t worry, it’s not gross!) then send it back to the company. They will then sequence the bacteria that was in your sample and provide you the data within a few weeks. The data is presented in a user friendly manner and shows how your profile compares against their database of participants. You can read about my gut bacteria here. It’s fun to compare your profile against your family and friends! Use this link to get 15% off your purchase.

 

 

 

 

11. Stendig Calendar

Thanks to technology, most of the things I used to see as necessities, like day planners and notebooks are now obsolete. But one thing I still like to have is this bold, oversized calendar by Massimo Vignelli. It’s featured in MoMA’s collection and endures as a powerful example of excellence in graphic design. I’ve given this as a gift several times and it is always loved by the recipient. It’s sophisticated and simple and looks fantastic in any room. And as a bonus, it doubles as really cool wrapping paper.

12. DIY Indigo Tie Dye kit

Nothing is more satisfying than a successful DIY project, which is why this Indigo Tie Dye kit is the ideal gift for your maker friend. The instructions are straightforward yet the possibilities are endless. Pair the kit with these beautiful white cotton napkins and your friend will have everything he/she needs to elevate their tabletop.

13. Chemex

A good cup of coffee is a luxury everyone deserves. The Chemex coffeemaker is a timeless one-piece hourglass design that has remained unchanged for more than 70 years. It consistently brews a delicious, high quality cup of coffee. Not to mention this vessel is a work of art that you won’t mind sitting on your kitchen counter. Pair the Chemex with a coffee delivery subscription from Blue Bottle Coffee and your coffee lover friend is sure to love it.