Gift Ideas, Holidays / Entertaining, Products, To Buy / To Try

An Erin Cooks Holiday Gift Guide

Wine Tasting KitBuying gifts for friends and relatives during the holidays is never easy. I tend to over think every possible permutation, run out of time, and end up giving hastily purchased gift cards. If it’s the thought that counts then I guess I’m the Queen … just not in the good way. If you have a hard time coming up with unique gifts for the people in your life then hopefully this list will be of some assistance, or at the very least serve as the first step down a path to finding the perfect gift for that persnickety person on your list.

Bodega in a BoxDoes your loved one drink wine, get giddy when the Beaujolais Nouveau is released each fall, and prides themselves on being Gary Vaynerchuk’s #1 super fan? Then you might want to encourage their inebriated pastime with a Wine Tasting Party Kit. I can actually speak to the greatness that is this gift as last year my cousin Amanda gave one to me on my birthday.

Gingerbread Lobster ShackPerhaps you have a city dwelling brother who lives on Trader Joe’s rice bowls and considers Doritos to be one of the five food groups?  Instead of discouraging his questionable eating habits why not encourage him to branch out a bit with the Bodega Party in a Box kit. This colorful guide will show brother dear just how to explore and utilize his local corner store beyond the Cracker Jack’s aisle. In addition, you can read some of my thoughts on this entertaining present as well as view images of the contents here.

Not a Paper CupI grew up in Maine. I just think this Gingerbread Lobster Shack from Stonewall Kitchen is hilarious. You can buy the house pre-decorated or you can assemble the shack all on your own. Unfortunately, butter and bibs are not included.

Snack and Stack UtensilsYou could passive aggressively suggest that your co-worker stop using 15 paper cups a day from the break room by wrapping up an environmentally friendly I am Not a Paper Cup reusable mug as their Secret Santa gift. Or better yet, stuff their stockings with Snack and Stack utensils and cut down on that pesky plastic silverware bill.

Animal, Vegetable, MiracleI’ve been reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver during my commute for a little while now and every night I come home and pounce on CK as soon as I walk in the door. Then I unleash my new found knowledge on him and make impassioned promises to only buy local and organic foods. We’ll see how that goes, but even if you aren’t ready to only eat asparagus for the few weeks in May that it’s actually available from the farmer down the lane, the information in this book is outstanding and incredibly eye opening. Truly a must read i.e. your mom and dad, and your sister taking her first Women’s Studies class will be all over it.

I Like You!For that awesome hostess with the mostess, who always invites you back even though you dropped a whole tray of mini quiche on the floor that one time, I’d suggest I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. It’s been around for a while now, but please trust me when I say that this cookbook is not only comic genius but it’s also functional. How can you not love Amy Sedaris? Especially when she’s combined with cake making shenanigans and recipes for to die for Spanakopita.

Mrs. BeetonThere aren’t any horse and buggy chases. This is Masterpiece Theater after all, but for the Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, Charlotte Brontë loving person in your life might I suggest that The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton make an appearance under your tree? She’s the original Martha Stewart you know, complete with period appropriate scandals.

Mmmh Good I don’t think I can be any more direct then to point out that the Mmmh…Delicious Tee from Threadless is available as a onesie. Also, it should be required that all babies come equipped with this shirt.

Sprinkles RingI mentioned this Sprinkle Heart Ring on XoXoErin the other day as part of a “Pink Links” roundup and I just feel that it screams, “Buy me! Buy me! I’m cute!” So if you have someone on your list who’s equally adorable I’d highly suggest that you invest in this cheeky little thing for them.

Still not satisfied? Then please consider checking out the ErinCooks Store. It’s full of items that I love and use on a daily basis. Happy shopping!