really good gifts

the best things I've ever gifted and been gifted

I truly love this time of year, and I also know that it’s a LOT for a lot of people.

I’ll keep this fairly streamlined. I compiled all of our holiday traditions in the swipe file post below, and am sharing my favorite gifts (that I’ve received, and that I’ve given).

swipe file: our holiday traditions

My favorite gifts I’ve received:

• Oleada Anchor bag: it’s got Loro Piana vibes while being one of the roomiest, well-designed bags I’ve ever owned. The dark gray (Ash) pairs beautifully with every outfit, and it’s just one of the best bags I have. HITHAOL gets you 30% off!

• Mor Amor book subscription: the best book subscription out there (and a romance one, of course). I’ve loved every single book I’ve received, and love that they prioritize authors of color.

• Another bookish gift I love and use every day is my Book Nook. I’m trying to read more physical books and it keeps everything I need (water, my reading glasses, and my book right where I left off) within reach.

• A museum membership: I love a midday wander around a museum, and I’m beyond blessed to live near so many. I treat myself to a membership every other year or so, and think my 2026 one will be to The Frick.

• A Kindle Colorsoft: my husband bought me the Colorsoft last year, and it’s been a gamechanger for my aggressive annotation. Kindles, in general, have been great gifts for our family (my husband, father, and older son all love and use theirs daily).

• Chord cap: I had no clue a baseball cap could be such a luxurious item while staying functional, but I also never doubted Mary Orton and anything she does. These are the ultimate gift for the person who is impossible to shop for—stunning baseball caps that are as comfortable as they are stylish.

• A new craft or activity kit (a Coco Wyo cozy coloring book, a Wooble kit, or a small needlepoint kit): I buy too many of these for myself, but have never regretted a purchase.

Gifts I’ve given to my parents

• A new Dagne Dover Dopp kit with their favorite products in travel sizes, or a tech case with a set of their usual chargers. Many of my Dagne Dover bags have ended up in my parents’ closets, and these gifts have been winners.

• A daily use beauty tool with a standing call on the calendar to do it together. I got my mom the HigherDose red light cap, and she’ll wear it while I do my red light mask or Ziip treatment and we’ll chat over FaceTime a few days a week.

• Pistachio pedestal: my parents love snacking on pistachios with their evening wine, and this gift was a hit.

• I notice what my parents love whenever they stay with us, and file them as future gift ideas. Some of the items are:

  • Earlywood flat sauté set

  • Splendid Spoon subscription (I manage the orders for them, picking out the soups and scheduling the delivery)

  • A personalized blanket to drape over their armchair (personalized with Ammamma and Tattaya, respectively)

  • This cereal bowl (my mom loves it)

Gifts I’ve given my husband

• Seinfeld Lego set: enough said. This set was retired by Lego, so eBay is your best bet.

• Murder mystery game: this was a huge winner! He spent a few hours last Christmas figuring out the mystery and truly had the best time. When I asked him which gift was his favorite, this was the first thing he mentioned.

  • I also got him this Murdle activity book (because he loved the mystery box so much, and plays his NYT Games every single morning without fail)

• Porto Rico coffee: Sri is a coffee snob, and he regularly buys beans from this company (which I thoroughly enjoy as well).

• HigherDose infrared PEMF mat: I originally bought this for myself, but it ended up on his gaming chair and he swears he’s less sore and achy because of this mat.

Gifts I’ve given my kids/the kids in my life

• BaubleBar bag charm & bracelet making kit: a hit with my kids and every kid I’ve gifted them to. If you personalize them, you’ll get really fancy beads for your name’s letters!

• Crash car unicorn/dinosaur (though it looks more like a dragon): exactly how they sound, and they are a goddamn delight. If you fill your stockings with fun toys (instead of toiletries, like we do), these are perfect.

• Make your own video game handheld: video game time is a bit of a battle in our household, but I’m more generous with that time if they’re getting some engineering skills (and fun!) out of it.

• Comic book kit: I can’t tell you how many of these we’ve bought (as gifts and for the kids, to refresh their stash) I love that you can mail in your comic and receive a finished book.

• Press Start: this book series helped my kids fall in love with reading, and I really enjoy them as well. I also love that the Press Start! show on Peacock features an Indian family. Representation has come a long way since I was a kid (where Apu was all we had).

• KiwiCo standalone kits: I much prefer these kits over the subscription, and there are some great ones right now! The light-up wire kit, domino robot, and dinosaur fossil dig kit have been huge hits.

White Elephant

• Battery Daddy: I have Catherine to thank for this recommendation. It’s been a great gift to Sri and to my dad, and to any White Elephant party I’ve attended.

• Hot dog toaster: I use this every Friday night for the kids’ weekly hot dog dinner. It is the best — perfectly cooks up the dog and toasts the bun, and really just brings me a lot of joy whenever I use it.

• S’more maker: this was one of the best gifts Sri ever gave me, and has always been stolen every White Elephant party I’ve been to. We bring this out for dessert anytime we host, and do s’mores after Christmas dinner every year.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received or gifted?

Catch up on the latest:

the plan - november 2025

would you live at the mall?

'it's almost a meal' smoothie

setting up my week

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Wishing you a wonderful week.

xo,
HPN