56 Comments

i am literally currently shopping for presents AS I TYPE, so once again, i'm kind of convinced you're a little bit psychic. this is so perfect. thank you rayne, queen of gifts and the internet

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Inspired (sort of) by last year's list, i am currently trying to put together a cookbook email advent calendar with personal stories and messages mixed in. Last year, I was the first of my circle of friends to move out from my parent's house so this is pulling double-duty as older sister how to live advice content. I am also knitting up a storm and trying a little embroidery design.

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two things:

1) incredible guide, thanks so much for gifting it to us!!! it’s the quite the serendipitous happenstance that you posted this right after i hung the driable flowers that my friend brought me at our last dinner - i sent them a picture of those flowers in their new spot earlier today! we were both very excited, so thank you for solidifying the significance of that shared moment ❤️

2) this isn’t for the holiday season, but my mom’s birthday is coming up in a few months, and i’m already thinking about the gift i want to give her. for about five years now, she’s been leading this community project of well-building in our home country. i was thinking of asking my graphic designer friend (who also happens to love my mom) to create an artistic map with pinpoints on all the wells’ locations, then i’d have it framed!

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Most joyful gift I have given (to multiple loved ones in my life) is a copy Devotions by Mary Oliver with a heartfelt note and a sprig of some flower stuck inside to dry out over the years. Also a pinata filled with makeup, baubles, and handwritten notes.

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i think the best gifts are ones that are very specific to a person, even if they aren’t that complex or expensive. one of the best gifts i’ve given was to my dad and it was just a box full of black cherry kool aid mix. it’s his favorite flavor and he would always be disappointed if we didn’t have it, he found it hilarious but, he also ended up using all of it so it wasn’t purely comedic. so something as simple as their favorite food or drink is great. i also thing homemade gifts are awesome, especially if you don’t have a lot of money to spend. one of my brothers is a great artist and always gifts someone a drawing, another one of my brothers is great at building, so he often makes personalized furniture for people as a gift.

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PLEASE share your etsy favorited items!!

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love love love these ideas im gonna think about that grape soap for weeks... its perfect. i literally love receiving any gift but specially music from ppl who let me ramble about it, some GOOD good food or just a personal detail r my faves. i like to gift just cute lil assortments of what ppl say they love when we hang out so i write those down whenever i can to build later. ty for another lovely post ♡

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Can't believe I made the gift guide 😭

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For home cooks, I've sometimes gotten spice mixes from a local spice-and-tea shop that does their own custom blends. I have some family members who like trying out different international cuisines, so last year I assembled little gift baskets of four or five spice mixes based on different cultures' traditional foods.

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the tayste in that playlist makes me wanna cry and throw up I love girl community

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ty for the cool list!

I once made my sister a christmas calender of bags of tea. I made this calender drawing on an big piece of paper, and then stabled tea bags to each day. I still think it was a great (and quite cheep) gift!

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Nov 28, 2022·edited Nov 28, 2022

I always do handknit gifts every year, but honestly these are great for birthdays and such. Other easy gifts I've done in the past are locally roasted coffee, loose leaf tea (and a steeper if they don't have one!), and spice mixes. If they live close, home baked goods are great too. When all else fails, I offer to plan and pay for a night out - usually for my sister or parents. It's nice to not have to think or worry about plans for the evening, so I'm happy to do it for them. And the added bonus of spending time with them :)

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adding onto the fine foods, fancy fruit! a set of three perfect korean pears for $20 from hmart? amazing

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I just gave my bf a Stevie Ray Vaughn, Slightly Stoopid, and Modest Mouse CD as just an everyday gift. It’s great because the CD covers are really pretty as wall decor and the CD’s were all untouched!

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I love this list so much!!! I have super complicated feelings about gift giving in relation to my family, so I forwarded it to my younger sister to read too, cos I thought she'd relate.

My birthday is coming up next weekend, and I've asked my friends to write me a letter instead of going for a traditional gift. I have a lot of long distance friends, so it's perfect for them, and as a college student it's super budget friendly! I'll also be moving countries again soon, and I know I'll feel less guilty about keeping something like a letter. My artist friends usually include a small drawing too, or stickers, paper hearts etc. It's also a great reflective exercise where we can write about gratitude for friendship, share memories, and our wishes for the future :)

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The Janie Korn custom candles are so fun to get a loved one/friend/parent, you can get pet portrait ones or human portrait ones. They are a little on the pricier side for a friend gift, but they’re beautiful and great quality! The other thing, is the Susan Alexandra zodiac necklace collection - very fun and personal. OR I love giving sonny angel babies as gifts because they’re so silly and cute

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