2023 Holiday Gift Guide Part 2

gifts for quirky, hobby-prone friends and gifts for cozy-lovers

Hello and welcome to Part 2 of my 2023 Holiday Gift Guides.

As I mentioned in Part 1, I am a gift guide enthusiast. They are one of my favorite things to read, browse, shop from, and critique. Gift-giving is one of my love languages, and I take great joy in selecting gifts for people I love.

This year, I am offering my take on gift-giving inspiration for the people who play important roles in our lives and whom we love very much.

Part 1 included:

• Gifts for the literary genius, book-lover, or aspiring writer in your life

  AND

• Gifts for the fun-finder and group organizer in your life, who always rallies the troops to do something fun, and is always up to hang out

Today we have:

• Gifts for your most loyal friend, who is a little bit quirky, and loves to take up a new hobby

• Gifts for the introverted homebody / cozy - lover who throws a great intimate dinner party & mixes a mean drink

If you are looking for more inspiration - there are some other amazing gift guide roundups here on Substack - a few favorites:

• A Book Gift Guide for Readers 10 and Under from

  Sarah Miller

• Luxurious Gift Ideas (with a lot under $100 and $500) from

  Rachel Cohen

• Gifts for the Host & Stoner Bitch (this made me cackle & now am obsessed with the idea of custom matchbooks!) from

  THE LOVE LIST

• Joanna Goddard
  who writes Big Salad, has posted amazing gift guides on her website for years! Always love the sisters one!

If you have other great gift ideas (or people you are shopping for), leave a comment and let me know!

If you haven’t noticed (if you haven’t, where are you because I actually might like to join you there!) the sales have started. Next week I will be publishing a Cyber Week Roundup — some of the best sales & a small selection of things that are catching my eye. If you aren’t already, be sure to subscribe to get it in your Inbox next week. If you’re ready to shop, I have been adding great pieces to my ShopMy page. My advice for right now? Make a list! I am looking for a pair of everyday black boots, a grey sweater, underwear & a WARM winter coat, plus my kids need a few winter things + there are a couple of Christmas gifts for them that I know will go on sale. I will share what I find for myself + other great things (focused on things that can be worn in fall + winter, maybe resort if I see anything particularly enticing.)

And if you’re not shopping for anything, DELETE THE EMAILS.

Okay, let’s dive in!

Gift Guide #3 - Gifts for your most loyal friend, who is a little bit quirky, and loves to take up a new hobby

1: Backgammon Set - that is as fun to play as it is to display in your home

2: Cowboy Boot Vase - a fun vase to display live or dried florals, or just place somewhere special in her home.

3: Serving Spoons - To make whatever she is cooking or serving up that much more special.

4: A Fabulous Cookbook - For the friend who loves to cook (or loves the look of a cookbook in her home! I am coveting Molly Baz’s latest, or Dan Pelosi’s Let’s Eat.

5: Customized Sezane T-Shirt - maybe with their initial or a favorite icon or kind phrase

6: Gold Hoops - Beautiful, unique, but wearable earrings

7: Monogram Mary Everything Case - to store all her bits and bobs

8: Bracelet Making Kit - Don’t knock it until you try it, stringing beads is extremely therapeutic.

9: Personalized Stationery Set - Personalize something fun with their full name or initials for thank you notes or sweet snail mail.

10: A bouquet of flowers and a note that reminds them of how special they are to you.

Gift Guide #4: Gifts for the introverted homebody / cozy - lover who throws a great intimate dinner party & mixes a mean drink

1: Wiggle Frame - Having framed photos around your phone takes a lot of work, but is something you will cherish. These frames are so fun. Bonus if you print a fun picture out to put in the frame. 

2: Helenita home piece - This woman-owned business sells unique, handmade ceramics from Mexico. They are colorful and beautiful and so so so happy. I love this pitcher, but I also love the idea of gifting a set of cereal bowls in a fun color!

3: Estelle Home Glasses - I love all the glassware Estelle Colored Glass makes. We have a set of champagne coupes and rocks glasses. I actually like to drink my martini out of the champagne coupes! A set of glasses (even just 2) makes a fantastic gift!

4: Trivet Set - Okay, bear with me on this one, because if you have a friend who loves decorating, entertaining, or things for their home, sometimes something really unique that they wouldn’t normally spend money on is a great gift. These would look so beautiful on your table and are highly practical!

5: Shell Hair Clip - Just a fun little accessory!

6: Biscuit Home Tray - Can never have to many places to coral things in your home, and this doubles as a great way to lay out food or drink.

7: Material Kitchen Resting Stone - Something that looks nice on the kitchen counter and can be used to rest utensils whilst preparing a delicious new dish!

8: Filthy Food Martini Kit - I am newly obsessed with Filthy’s Olive Brine to make dirty martinis (much more economical than just using jars of olives which never have enough juice!!) and this set would make a great gift for a martini-loving friend!

9: Bilboquet Carafe - Such a beautiful and functional piece for someone who loves to host!

10: Parachute Home Clogs - a divine gift for a homebody! Plus, they come in S/M/L sizes, so hard to get wrong! Also love these slides.

Check back in a few days for the last few gift guides, and be sure to check out part 1 if you missed it!

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I am so glad you are here. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy creating it. If you like what you’re reading, please consider:

📱 Screenshotting your favorite part of this newsletter and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @ct_shopguide and I’d love for you to follow!

💌 Forwarding this email to a friend

👩‍💻 Commenting and liking this post on Substack!

All products highlighted are chosen by me, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated!