Gift Guide #4: Your Outdoorsy Sister Who Whistles for Your Kids on the Phone and Makes the Best Burrito Bowls.
A giant alpaca scarf to keep her cozy all winter, available in 14 beautiful colors, $105; or a gift set of the scarf plus a beanie.
A French butter spreader, $19, (or a cute standing one, $10) with a block of small-batch butter. (This would make a great signature gift.)
Or a nice bottle of wine, along with an Italian bottle stopper, $15.
A 40-minute scalp massage and hair wash, $48. (I went with my mom this fall, and it’s amaaaaaaaaazing.)
Or a sandalwood scalp massager to use while watching Only Murders, $12.
Striped, tartan, or classic pajamas, for padding around the house over the holidays. From $75.
An olive tree to green up her home, $40. (And how gorgeous is this amaryllis planter from Vermont?)
One of the year’s best cookbooks, like Good Things, What Can I Bring, and Let’s Party. From $26.
And a stunning stand for displaying a favorite book or one of those cookbooks, $120. (These $28 ones are also cool.)
The Black Honey lipstick you obsessed over as teenagers, plus mascara, $20. It really does look good on everyone you’ve ever seen.
A social battery pin to make her laugh, $11. (Thanks for the find, Marian!)
A donation in her name to the Trust for Public Land, a non-profit founded in 1972 that helps communities create and expand parks, build greener schoolyards, and protect public spaces, so everyone can have access to nature close to home. xo
P.S. The 2024 sister gift guide, the 2023 sister gift guide and the 2022 sister gift guide.
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Tags: 2025 holiday gift guide, gift guide, gifts, gifts for sisters, gifts for women
Comments
97 commentsA STANDING BUTTER KNIFE? I honestly gasped out loud. I had no clue these exist – I’ve been living with a metal knife laid across the butter dish (and constantly getting knocked off or getting butter on things) for yearrrrrrs due to my husband’s homemade-bread-and-butter habit. Time to try a standing butter knife! Who knew.
Thanks for these fantastic gift ideas. I just ordered a cardigan and the scarf and hat from Sézane for my 26 year old daughter who has moved to Ireland recently for her studies. Such beautiful clothes. I think she will love it.
I got excited about that lipstick and then was disappointed to find it’s Clinique – their parent company Estee Lauder is on the Palestine boycott list (and also conducts animal testing). It would be good to have a BDS-aligned gift guide this year.
oh I didn’t realize, thank you for flagging, Nina!
Instead of black honey, you could get “The Black” by Finding Ferdinand. It’s cruelty-free and I’m totally obsessed with it– one of my favorite makeup products I’ve ever used!
Thank you!
Does anyone know which book includes the recipe for that salad? Looks so good (and easy)!
Hi Victoria! It’s from Good Things, by Samin Nosrat. :)
Anyone know if the Marianne scarf by Sezane is itchy? Have had this issue with many of their sweaters unfortunately.
I had to send it back because I found it a little bit itchy and because it didn’t drape well. It’s a shame, I’ve been looking for a scarf and hat combo of the same colour for so long.
LADIES, WEIGH IN PLEASE!! I want to give ONE GIFT this year. In the past, the one gift has been a bathrobe. What else would work ($50-$100) for men and women??!?!? Practical, please!!
Um, obviously a wall calendar of glamorous show chicks… https://www.etsy.com/listing/4390910321/chic-chicken-calendar-2026-wall-monthly
beanies!
Rechargeable hand warmers and mittens? https://www.walmart.com/ip/OCOOPA-Hand-Warmers-2-Pack-Magnetic-Electric-Rechargeable-Hand-Warmers-Portable-Pocket-Hand-Heater-Electronic-Gifts-for-Men-Women-UT3-Lite/17145653714
I tend to be practical: Massage gun Car trunk organizer Ryobi 1 gallon vacuum Packing cubes Malin + Goetz set Glass snapware Nice umbrella Comfortable camping chair Anything from yeti! Small Marshall Bluetooth speaker
Thanks! We have given both beanies and the hand warmers in the past! A nice umbrella is a great idea!
Slippers!
Please include some petite-inclusive pajama options. I don’t want to wear pajama sets where the top goes to mid-thigh and who wants to hem the bottoms? Thanks!
You can look it up…..
Soma sells some knit sets that have a choice of inseam lengths. Lands End has knit and flannel sets in petite (theirs will be shorter all over- sleeves, torso, rise) and they even sell petite pajama pants separately, which I’d never seen before. Good luck!
This may be one of my favorite gift guides ever! I keep going back to look at everything. That wine stopper is fantastic, even though I rarely drink wine and when I do I rarely have leftovers that need storage, ha. I may need to gift myself the Black Honey or the Glossier Lip Shine mentioned by another reader in the comments though!
Love these. And thankful every day for sisters, and friends that are like sisters. Yesterday my 9 year old daughter got hit pretty hard by a bully in her class and my mom was hospitilized. My oldest sister called to check on me then asked to talk to my daughter, which they did for half hour, then handed the phone to her daughter, my daughters cousin bestie. I felt so loved and surrounded. I bought her, my other sister, and closest girlfriends these wooden elephant ornaments to signify the female bond: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1827059596/sisterhood-elephant-ornament?ref=yr_purchases&variation0=4972076371
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. Glad she has such a strong community of sisterhood to bolster her. Sending good vibes to both of you and also your mom for a smooth recovery.
I just ordered SIX of those beautiful wine bottle corks……what a terrific item at such an affordable price. I have already earmarked three of them for sibling gifts (tied on to bottles of wine) and I’m sure the rest will make lovely hostess gifts. All the colors are beautiful but I ordered them in natural…..simple is usually best. Can’t wait to get them.
That social battery pin is going to be my white elephant gift for my family holiday party. Thank you!
I just tried to order it and shipping to Seattle was $40, so…bummer!
wow, we are on this! please stay tuned for am updated link.
You can just google “Social battery pin” and there are plenty online. Most of them from places like Temu and Aliexpress.
Andrea, just saw some similar ones in Etsy that came up under the one listed here and they are around 5 dollars to ship. I’m not far from you, so should be similar cost. I’d link ya but not that savvy. :(
PS sorry bout your name mis-spell :( Guess it autocorrected. Name mis-spellings are pet peave of mine. I’m sorry.
I know it might be a little late, but I have an elderly friend who is from Britain but lives here now (married an American many moons ago) and I would love to find something uniquely British to gift her. She’s in her 80’s, eyesight and hearing is poor so reading or audiobooks are not a great fit. She wants for nothing, but she DOES like good chocolate. Any recommendations?
Well the chocolate is an obvious choice, but what about a gift bag full of U.K. treats — lemon curd, orange marmalade, Walker’s shortbread, “digestive” biscuits, etc……at her age, probably the only thing she really needs (like the rest of us) is food. So it’s sure to be used. And it might cause a little trip down Memory Lane……come to think of it, that’s something else we all need, occasionally. Best wishes!
Some British Food! If she has a sweet tooth Cadbury chocolate or Walker’s shortbreads will hit the spot. Or some British Tea (PG Tips, Tetly, etc.). Check out World Market, or for more options: https://www.britishcornershop.co.uk/
Not sure how much she’s getting out, but the UK original Duckhead umbrella is a wonderful British souvenir/reminder of home. https://originalduckhead.com/
https://chocolatmoderne.com/ is a woman-owned chocolate shop in New York. The make the best chocolate I have ever had. This is my signature gift. A little bit of a splurge, but I would truly pay more if I had to. The owner is a gem too!
I hate to be a horrible snob, but as a brit living a abroad I would have to just smile politely if I were given PG Tips or Tetley tea- Yorkshire Tea is the only giftable brand imho, maybe Twinnings if you want to get something other than standard English Breakfast Tea (their Lady Grey is very nice for example). Maybe you could make some flapjacks? Or Millionaire Cake? I fear many staple British sweet treats have had their recipes changed beyond recognition since she left the country but these are always winners. As you audiobooks wouldn’t be great for your friend, this is probably not for her but for anyone else thinking about gifts for people living outside of their home country, the best thing I bought this year was an internet radio- it allows me to listen to radio stations from across the world via wifi but without having to use my phone. Even really really local stations are available, I LOVE it, and Roberts Radio has some vintage style models, which I think are very stylish: https://www.robertsradio.com/en-gb/internet-radios
WOW! Thank you so much everyone. I spoke to her daughter (my good friend) this morning and settled on some lemon curd, black currant jam, homemade scones, and some non slip socks with the Union Jack flag. Thanks for all the suggestions, I may add some of the chocolates mentioned as well (even though it is not really within her “diet”, we are getting beyond a point of that mattering and all we want is to make/keep her happy. This is the best community!
Also, thank you to GRG for the info. She definitely has her “preferred” tea and I will not mess with that. This summer I brought her cucumber sandwiches with butter and mint and she was delighted so I am committed to making sure anything I give her is special. <3
If it’s not too late, how about some mince pies or a Christmas pudding? Or a jar of mincemeat (it’s sweet not savoury!) so that she can make her own mince pies with shop bought pastry. I can’t suggest where in the US you might find them though, sorry!
I would love to see a Gift Guide for the friend who loves things that are handmade. I am an artist, so I would say that, but I have always preferred gifts that are beautifully hand-crafted, and they invariably end up being the things I treasure the most.
Any suggestions, Karina (or anyone?). Between tariffs and boycotts, my commercial shopping this year will be limited; would love to see some new makers. I’m not super-handy, but I try to include something handmade every year–bonus points for handmade and consumable (snacks, drink mixes, candles, knitted socks). Craft classes at tool libraries or independent fabric stores can be fun for this.
Maybe look for the recent Cup of Jo post about readers’ favorite Etsy makers? I hope CoJ will highlight it again during this season.
In high school we had a friend gift exchange. The friend who picked my name knitted me a scarf that to this day is my warmest, favorite winter scarf. I graduated in 2001. So hand made for the win!
Seems like a great opportunity to get out in your hometown and support a local business vs looking for a gift guide online!
In case this is anyone’s cup of tea….. I make little felt creatures, custom, top resemble people’s beloved pets. They make lovely tree ornaments, or memorials for pets who have passed in. They have names stitched on back and initial on a heart tag around their neck. If a memorial, I include a string of rainbow hearts. Many customers have shared that their loved ones were incredibly touched to receive something so personal. Felties are $50 shipped in the US. You may order by contacting me via messenger Sasha Lindberg, or email, Bellabirthing@msn.com. I don’t use Etsy. I can also stitch up birthday or seasonal crowns for children or adults, or other favorite animal ornaments like bunnies, pandas, elephants etc. Everything i make is custom.
Black Honey lipstick: YES! I gave it to my besties few years ago and they loved it! it has a lighter pink version too
I have a service dog – would he be able to accompany me at the Blissful Headspace Spa? Sounds amazing and am wondering if this would be doable for someone with a service animal. Have any of your readers with service dogs been to spas?
That is the perfect pink armchair.
So happy to see the work of the amazing artist Corita Kent behind the bottles stopper. I am giving my sister this mug with Corita’s iconic love logo: https://store.corita.org/collections/for-the-home/products/yes-3-mug For those of you who may not know her, look her up. She created hundreds of vibrant silkscreens during the 50s, 60s and 70s. She was an art teacher who taught to see deeply and stay engaged through making and community, all during the dark times of the Vietnam War and the Social Rights Movement. Check out her Heroes and Sheroes series: her way to process the news at the time and create new meaning out of a world that made no sense inspires me everyday. So relevant today!
This year I am gifting my sister a few house cleanings. She loves to hosts, but stresses about a tidy house beforehand. We did Friendsgiving last week, and next up we have Thanksgiving and then Christmas. I’m on cleaning duty for all of them!
man, how I would LOVE to receive this gift. that’s wonderful!
that would be my most favorite gift ever!
Absolutely love this suggestion. Some kind of help with a hated chore is the best gift ever! Reminds me of the time I organized my MIL’s junk drawers for her bday. She was so happy, she posted pics on FB. Why didn’t I do it sooner?
Another fabulous list! I would like to chime in about toast related items, as one can never have too many excellent things to start the day with, or for joyful snacking around 4 pm. American Spoon sour cheery preserves are glorious (and their salted maple caramel is transcendent on ice cream). Also Big Spoon Roasters is a fantastic resource for nut butters. I am personally crazy for the Pistachio Crunch Almond Butter and try to hold myself back from eating the entire jar with a spoon. They do gift boxes too.
With you on both brands, Claire!
I enjoy food gifts too. My fav jams/marmalades come from BRINS. https://brinsjam.com/ And a gift box of dried dates or fresh citrus always welcomed. https://ranchomeladuco.com/ https://www.halegroves.com/honeybells/p/honeybells/s/1C/
Big Spoon Roasters makes my favorite nut butter: https://bigspoonroasters.com/products/maple-cinnamon-peanut-pecan-butter?srsltid=AfmBOooDGGvScWjowLVbgLn8p8gYoTS0Rxt0Qumft__mu0TP_HnmGLpa
Thanks so much for this list that includes several options under $50. I was fired this year by Musk/DOJE and the arrival of gift-giving season has been stressing me out. Thanks for curating some unique, lovely, affordable options.
These gift guides are THE THING that gets my cranky pre Thanksgiving self actually into a happier, sweeter mood. Almost even approaching jolly! It’s such a fun to way to start to THINK about it all, without necessarily having to get up and DO anything about it all. I am a kinder pre Thanksgiving person because of this! I thank you , and my family thanks you even more.
I wish I could personally thanks the person who posted this sister story- Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein which I will also recommend it as a sister gift. Loved this novel so much. Related hard. So many pretty things listed above. The scarf, the olive tree! I’m hoping an opal ring is under my tree. My sister and I are heading to Austin to celebrate the holiday and her daughter’s engagement. (My “boyfriend” asked for concert tickets. Always does.)
Aw love these just voicing that I had a brief thought the olive tree was going to somehow be related to Palestine and was bummed to realize it is not — a bit hard to think of the US/Israel genocide there destroying groves (now and that colonization has also been happening since Palestinian land was taken to create Israel…) and buying an olive tree as though separate from that context. Though someone could gift an olive tree as a reminder of fighting for Palestine, and pair it with a donation to PCRF or Doctors Without Borders?
I thought about this too, in light of record levels of settler violence in the West Bank. Thank you for amplifying this. I really like your idea of pairing it with a donation <3
Thank you, Lll and Emily. Israel NEVER CEASED FIRE in Gaza. It’s not too early to be thankful for the world that now sees ISRAEL/ ZIONISTS/ U.S for what they are. Between Bush, Clinton, Obama and Biden- millions of lives were systemically butchered and lost forever.
I’m not a big lipstick person, but I recently became obsessed with Glossier’s high shine lipstick. It’s more like a glossy balm – but not in the overly shiny, teen-gloss way. It’s better than Clinique’s IMO. https://www.sephora.com/product/P504823
Amen! It turned me into the kind of person that wears lipstick everyday
Wow, so proud to see Trust for Public Land here! Thank you from a decades-long CoJ reader who also works at TPL helping kids design all those schoolyards and opening up the beautiful school greenspaces as neighborhood parks.
<3 thank you for your work!
Seconding this as a fellow TPL employee and long time CoJ reader!! So excited to see worlds collide. Thank you!
Another TPL employee and COJ reader here! It’s a wonderful organization doing wonderful work all over the country. Thanks for the support!!
I buy my own stocking stuffers, since my kids won’t and it’s a good excuse to indulge in some small things I wouldn’t get myself otherwise. A tube of Clinique Black Honey is going on the list this year! (Confession, I am nearly at the end of an ancient tube of Clinique lipstick in a similar color that they don’t make anymore …)
Genius mom move! Might have to steal that idea, depending on how my husband does this year haha
A few years ago I was saying how much I loved stockings and how no one fills mom’s stocking. And my friends decided we should do this for each other! So now I get together every year with 5 friends to fill each other’s stockings. $10 limit (ish) (so $50 per stocking). We gather for brunch and it’s just my favorite party of the season.
I started filling my own stocking a few years ago and love it. I get to pick out my own little treats and splurges. Would I love it if someone who knew me well surprised me? Yes, but while my husband is amazing, he’s not very good with gifting. He puts in a couple of food treats (he loves to feed), and we’re both a lot less stressed. And honestly, sometimes I’ve forgotten what I picked out, so it is a suprise, lol. Louisa, I love the idea of friends doing each other’s stockings! Perfect!
Once my siblings and I became “grown ups,” I suggested we do secret santa stockings. We pulled names and everyone had to buy that person 10 small things. My mom and grandma had stockings for the first time in FOREVER and it was my absolute favorite thing to shop for. I lives in NYC and went to so many museum gift shops for the best little treasures!
My adult daughter does the best job of filling my stocking. She really ups the bar for more meaningful stocking gifts overall.
Welp, I’m going to be pining for that $200 planter – it is SO gorgeous! But I’ll be getting several of these winners: the alpaca scarf! The scalp massager!!! And that adorable standing butter knife 💚, lol…thank you !
If you want, some gift ideas, no money necessary: + To be gifted a self-composed poem, swoon + To be invited to an evening stroll at 11pm without phones but a small lantern and a hot bottle of tea, oh my! + To get the first of many hints that start a Schnitzeljagd /scavenger hunt in the house, the garden, the street and for everybody to be involved and excited, full of giggles & loveliness! + A painted picture or photograph „this is how it feels to have you in my life, thank you“, I am tearing up + Any vase/box you can find: everybody can write or draw what not-money related thing they wish to do with you or vice versa (and all others). I think I would be amazed at the ideas and to do them right now. Not once a month etc. but right now! Don’t wait for beautiful things to happen! It will be beautiful! + If you have a T-shirt (second hand or not) paint on what makes you happy and what you want to share with others . Blissful to wear this gift full of good vibes! + Compose a song with a simple chorus so that everyone can join in. Like a new friends & family hymn. Lalalalaaaaaa! + Write a Christmas story where you all show up and read it out loud when you meet. Xoxoxo
There are lots of fun ideas here Charlotte – you must be a good friend!
These are so touching and special! How creative you are.
Charlotte, these a just so lovely. The night walk – one of my most soul feeding favorite things to do. A family hymn – incredible! You have given everyone who reads your comment a generous gift indeed. Thank you!
Just beautiful. Thank you.
These suggestions are BEYOND AWESOME!!!
My husband wrote a synopsis of my life til now in a poem for my 40th birthday. He included such detailed memories of places and people- it was absolutely one of the BEST gifts I have ever received.
<3
The second one sounds so dreamy (but maybe like 3 hrs earlier haha)
I love these artistic, ethereal ideas!
My toddler is obsessed with my BFF’s cat, so for her 3rd birthday, my incredibly creative BFF gifted her a small metal box with tiny coloring pencils and 10 blank postcards addressed and stamped to Lucy. They are now pen pals and I burst inside every time a postcard shows up or we write one back, it is truly such an “I see you” gift, which are so the best…👏👏👏
Okay everyone, mark “… for padding around” off your gift guide bingo cards! 😆
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH busted
So good, Betsy!
“for padding around” on COJ marks the official start to the holiday season!
I’m waiting for a “gripping” book rec 😉
hahaha YES :)
Hahaha too true and so cute!
On that note I think we all could make a post of Joanna-isms after years of reading! “Oh all things.” And “If you’d like to see…” come to mind, in addition to the classically cozy padding!
I’ve adopted “if you’re in the mood”
I have also adopted “if you’d like to see/read…” and think of Joanna every time!