Gift Guide #2: Your Beloved Brother Who Brings You British Candy and Takes Your Kids on Nighttime Runs.
Green hoodie, blue fleece, or cream rollneck that was conceived in the 1980s, just like he was. From $40.
A 2026 calendar with photos taken inside musical instruments, $32. (Above is an acoustic guitar.)
“Cat ears,” which attach to a bike helmet to cut out wind noise (but not people) — it feels like you’re inside a quiet car. $16.50.
I don’t always love gift boxes, but this one is small and perfect and exactly what he’d want: cabin socks, hot cocoa, and an enamel mug. $34.
A mini puzzle of a place you both love, $12.
A Portugese body soap, $24, that smells woodsy, warm, and just the tiiiiiniest bit sweet. One reviewer described it as “resolutely masculine.”
The new John Grishman whodunit, since you grew up watching The Firm together on repeat. $30.
Handy popcorn popper, $25, for movie nights. Sooooo much better than grocery store bags.
The old-school peg game to play with your kids. $8.
A donation in his name to No Kid Hungry, where $50 can provide up to 500 meals for a child. xoxo
P.S. The 2022 gift guide for brothers, the 2023 gift guide for brothers, and the 2024 gift guide for brothers.
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Tags: 2025 holiday gift guide, gifts, gifts for brothers, gifts for men
Comments
88 commentsWell after the weekend post from Joanna I just had to swing by & check out the hot brother. Definitely hot & definitely not my brother!!
Every year I read this and chuckle about how we have VERY different brothers. Just now I realised I married your brother!! Heck! I have been sleeping on these guides, ordered the calendar just now for my husband who is not my brother.
Love the calendar. Immediately bought it for my husband. Thanks for the great idea
Our drawing group made popcorn that way. It was so fun all of us waiting by the microwave chatting then nerdfest drawing session.
Not me falling in love with the JCrew model pretending he’s Joanna’s brother and since I know her on the internet perhaps this brother and I will meet and possibly kiss and nevermind I’m married with kids and my testosterone levels may be a bit high with all these fluctuating hormones ok bye.
S A M E
How weird that another CoJer has direct access to my brain
Same again. I had this thought when this was posted last week and just saw this comment highlighted in the weekend post, and had to come back and second (third, fourth, 100th) this comment! This guy is someone I want to meet, but shouldn’t meet, because I too am married with kid, and can not go there.
Yeah it was cool to be highlighted after reading this blog for 15 years but sharing the good news with my husband was kinda sticky!! Hahaha To be fair, he is the beneficiary of my haywire hormones though so he wasn’t cranky with my public lusting for long. At this point (presidents, teens, inflation )aren’t fantasies the only thing helping us put one foot in front of the other?
Omg BEST comment Cheryl lolol
I have brothers and this one makes me think of my little brother. I would add Lego set to the list because even though he is in his 40s he still loves to make stuff. I also try to think of nice things to get my brothers like my mum would have now she’s gone. You know, things that mum’s can get away with giving that they wouldn’t go and get themselves like a nice towel or blanket or cups.
So sweet Ceridwen.
That guy in a green hoodie doesn’t look ‘brotherly’ at all.
Unless he’s someone else’s brother. I mean…..
this was my first thought too! rawr!
Glad to know I wasn’t the only one. I keep joking that my ovaries are having a going out of business sale now that I am premenopausal. I read about women’s desires flagging at his phase, I seem to have quite the opposite condition.
Came here to commiserate about this, THANK YOU!
yeah that guy is more for the crush that makes you think you’re still early 30’s and totally into each other even though you are happily coupled and nah you won’t but dang!
Great list! The “brother” list is always one of my “productive” lists for a wide variety of people and this year is no exception. Now that my brother looks exactly like our father did when we were kids, I desperately need to get him an LLBean Classic Anorak to complete the transition. bwahahaha
oh my gosh, that would be so cute, peach! you should!
I love my silicone popcorn maker. It’s a great gift idea, I use mine nightly
Yes, highly recommend! We have a Propper Popper (lol) to make school snacks for my popcorn loving seven year old.
I, like others, live for these gift guides, especially the finds from smaller businesses! However, as a Canadian, the shipping is often exorbitant (or unavailable). Does the CoJ hive have any leads to Canadian creators whose gift guides are of the same vibe as CoJ?
Hello Liz, here are some ideas: a) https://makerhouse.com/?, especially these :https://makerhouse.com/products/maple-leaf-lapel-pin?variant=37567921810 b) https://spacingstore.ca/ c) https://www.secretplanet.ca/
I’m Canadian too and just riff on the ideas. I especially find the Brother list on CoJ the most helpful for everyone on my list! For example, thinking about map puzzles for my British geographer dad, I found the Ordnance survey map books which I think he will love
XYZ that’s a great list – thanks! A fav site of mine for gifts for friends and family is: https://www.bellegeneral.ca/
Thanks all! And XYZ, Maker House is local to me and so always a go-to! Great recommendation.
If a family member loves maps, or exploring – the outdoors or cities – in Canada or elsewhere, you can get customized maps from any corner of Canada (or elsewhere) from https://custommaps.worldofmaps.com/ in Ottawa.
Hi, Liz! I’m super late to this chat, but in case you’re still searching, I wrote about how I’m trying to buy Canadian this Christmas: https://myfinelines.com/2025/11/23/shopping-canada-this-holiday-season/ (I’m Ontario based, so the recommendations skew toward Ontario and Quebec!).
Thank you! Calendar ordered for Dad and Cat Ears for my cycling bff. (My actual brother only wants gift cards and I’ve decided it’s not worth it to fight him on it)
Love these recs! The Boston General Store site has so many fun little gift options.
Yes! Second this. My got for stocking stuffers!
This is probably my favorite store ever. I walk around for way too long every time I am there.
Everyone’s just here for that brother. C’mon, don’t gatekeep, Jo!
Bahahaha I thought the same! Dreamboat!
Totally, to be looked at like that!!
I totally clicked just for that face I MEAN
100% filing that gaze away for future…use
But the “brother” caption next to it!!! Gahhh — a little sister
Exactly! I came straight to the comments to gush with everyone else!
Calm down…that’s the j crew model. I mean, you can swoon all you like, but just know the direction of the swoon? 😊
The direction of the swoon doesn’t matter 🙃 that’s why he’s a J. Crew model!
Haha I came to say that as well. He is maybe SOMEONE’s brother, but he’s not mine, and he’s freaking hot.
He *may be* someone’s brother…see, I’m flustered.
one hundred percent! so dreamy. (Does he *kinda* look like he could be my husband’s brother? Yes. Never said I don’t have a type! 😂)
On the website if you select the red hoodie there is a picture of him smiling and a video of him petting a dog (!!!)
Oh my lord Sarah that dog video 💀 He has the nicest eye crinkles just like my husband’s – underrated feature for real
The speed at which I ordered the musical instrument calendar for my little brother (aged 35, forever my little brother), who teaches my kids violin and guitar lessons once a week! Thanks COJ, the best!
Just bought the Architecture in Music calendar for my guitar teacher (I tried to learn again as an adult and I can do it now… because this teacher is wonderful!). Thank you, you recommendations are always *chef’s kiss* xx
I swear by this popcorn popper! It’s the easiest way to make popcorn from scratch and no oil is needed! It was my go-to gift last year for friends and family, including one for myself.
Paper bag // 1/4c kernels // 2mins in the microwave and you’ll wonder why you are only learning this now
Paper lunch bag / quarter cup kernels / 2mins in the microwave (or til there’s 10am of a between pops) and you’ll wonder why you ever did anything else
I’m tempted to buy the green hoodie for myself. Or my husband and then I’ll steal it:)
I’m tempted but the guy in the green sweater
Lol to Marie’s comment below 🤣
Marie, same. I’d like the guy in the green hoodie for Christmas please!
That calendar gives me full body goosebumps! Should I quit everything and build instruments?
YES – we need more luthiers! It’s a dying art but a beautiful one and so in demand!!
I haven’t read The Widow but I usually recommend The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles to the gents. https://www.amortowles.com/the-lincoln-highway-about-the-book/
Love this book!
Fabulous book.
Every single year I end up buying multiple gifts from the brothers list! It is just chalk full of goodies for many different roles and identities. Bonus for this year: I especially love the exceedingly handsome man in the photo. If anyone’s brother looks like that please direct him my way. Cheers for another great list!
But … why is my brother so sexy???
😂 I thought the same thing!!
Right?!
Hahahaha
::FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC has entered the chat::
HAHAHAHAAHAA!!
Haha!! I need that laugh. Thank you.
Sexiest brother I’ve ever seen.
hahahaha you guyssssss! on the floor!
hahahahaha
Hahahahah love, love, love this!
LAUREN hahahahah
He keeps looking at me!! 😂😂
The Michigan puzzle made me think of these mittens https://www.citybirddetroit.com/products/mim99?variant=31344580198449&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2020-10-13&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACXFqLHkoUSqZDSfryu7XzerJNoFt&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyc67BhDSARIsAM95QzupE0YyUw0LYt7KdmnuEQXZhfbwfizk3ozFEivwL1Ggmfs0U7-WlpwaAhG9EALw_wcB
No affiliation to Michigan but i want these
YESSSSS
The inside of the guitar looks like the most beautiful wood-paneled room ever…this should be in someone’s house with a wall of windows behind the photographer. What a stunning photo.
I wish to gift your hot brother MYSELF this holiday season! I’d be the gift that keeps on giving. And that’s good, right?!
Whose brother is just casually looking at me like that?! 👀
Ok, honestly I expected cat ears being attached to the helmet, like in a cute way. But, what WON ME OVER COMPLETELY and why I will purchase these for all people I know who bike, is the design of the website: I really adore it, when a company decides that their product is simply very good. No need for a “new recipe”, no insta handle. Thank you for this really helpful recommendation!l
same! I love all the noise research! Nothing frilly, just seems like science fans figured this out and are sharing. Just ordered from the website and can see my hubs reading all their data and really enjoying it.
The fact that they very confidently come in “Black only” lol. I ordered for my husband.
The first photo… *fans self* … wow. Great list! I ordered the calendar for my music-loving-FIL!
Ugh, so handsome…thank you for sharing : ).
Just finished The Widow — it is so slow! Doesn’t hold a candle to The Firm.
Ah, good to know. Thank you. I will adjust my expectations.