I read in this in my morning NYT email last week and thought it was pretty good advice. When looking for the prefect gift for someone, think less about the recipients’ main hobby, as they likely have many of those items already.
Instead, think about their secondary interests. Do they love bookstores, great coffee, tech gadgets, playing with makeup, planning holidays? Those are the interests and hobbies you want to hit for great, unique gifts.
Here are a few gift lists to take advantage of on this last day of sales, things that I love, use, or someone in the family really likes.
Crafty Things
You absolutely need micro pens to make your watercolours, drawings, everything pop! Pic them up today, while they are on sale, and I will show you how I use them in a couple of days.
Watercolour Set with paint, paper, brushes, and watercolour paper pad.
I love how many paint colours this kit has as I only have half this many!
In addition, pick up some watercolour postcards to make your own greeting cards, Christmas cards, etc… A paper making screen for making your own seeded paper to gift or use for making gift tags, and this package of double-sided colourful markers for your garden journal.
Garden Ideas
This has absolutely nothing to do with shopping… except for picking up some small tropical plants, but I love this gift for the gardener.
If you are a bit handy, or know a handy man/woman, build a ‘window box’ and fill it with some pots of indoor plants. In summer they can take it outside and plant it up or fill with pots of flowers.
This is one of my most favourite idea for the gardener. It has meaning because you made it, or had it made, especially for them. You can, of course, paint the planter box, if you like, rather than allowing it to weather, as I did. Either way, it will last for many years.
These items below are a few of my favourite things for the gardener, things that I use and love. Check out a larger list of ideas, here or on my Amazon Shop page.
Thermometer with 3 sensors / 2 pack of Fiskars garden snips / Small pruning shears / Auger drill bit / Soil blockers / Hand dibber
My Best Seller!
These cooling sheets are a best seller with my readers. You all love them as much as I do! I have these blue striped sheets, both hubby and I think they are the best sheets we have ever had… especially in summer as we have no a/c, it gets toasty.
They are 50% off right now. Even if you don’t want to use them till summer, get them now! Buy a set for everyone, they are that good.
If you are a hot sleeper (can anyone say hot flashes, eh?) these sheets are soft, cosy, breathable, perfect for both winter and summer.
For The Foodie
My son is quite the foodie. He started doing most of the cooking while he was getting his degree in history, going to school in the mornings and studying at home most afternoons. He is currently crazy busy at law school, with less time than ever before, but still like to cook when he has the time. These are some of the items on his wish list, and some of my favourite items, too.
These appliances that looks as good on the counter as they work. I’ve heard such great things about them. I’m loving this Blue Salt colour, but they also come in char, lavender, steam, spice, and sage.
Our Place Wonder Oven / Our Place Non-Stick Ceramic Pan / Our Place Dream Multi-Cooker
A few months back, I was asked what hubby (a chef) recommended for cookware. He said that chef’s will always choose stainless steel because it conducts heat the best. It is not fancy looking but is safe, non toxic, lasts a life time. Scrub clean with steel wool soap pads when you burn the oatmeal to the bottom. (I may do that ; )
However, he also also loves a good non-stick pan, especially for frying, so we have one like this. If you prefer all non-stick pots and pans, this ceramic set (in the photo) is on sale at a great price, and gets rave reviews.
These cute Swedish Cloths. I give these as gifts all the time! They are odor free and can be used for all your kitchen uses, including as reusable paper towels.
I also love these scrubbing pads for everyday scrubbing, cleaning the sink, etc… but these non-scratching steel wool dishcloths have been getting great reviews on TikTok and in Wirecutter, so need to give them a go!
Coffee Frother / Matcha Latte Powder / Latte Mugs
*As an Amazon affiliate, if you buy any of the items through one of these links, I make a small commission to support my blog, but rest assured that it does not cost you a penny more than it would if you went without the link.
Feeling Retro
We have kind of a retro vibe at our house, a little bit farmhouse, a little bit vintage, and little bit Scandi. It all seems to work nicely together though.
As always, I like to end with this vintage entertainment center that we have and absolutely love.
The sound is amazing all through the house, never tinny or scratchy. We got it because of the cassette player. Most all of our Christmas music (and more) is on cassettes! I need my Boney M for the holidays.
It also has a 3 speed turntable for all your records, an AM/FM radio, cd’s (we also have quite a few of these!), stream with bluetooth or listen with headphones. This is the best household purchase we have ever made!
Retro portable bluetooth radio speaker / Retro Studebaker portable radio / Retro radio and bluetooth speaker
These ones are a little bit smaller, if you do not need the cassette player. Super cute retro look, great for anyone who likes to stream with their bluetooth.
That’s it for this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. I hope you got some great ideas for great gifts!
The Marigold Potager - A Zone 3 Prairie Garden 
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