a gift guide of sorts

and an accidental lengthy list of things i'm loving + wrapping paper, thomas kinkade puzzles, my favorite cookbooks, 3.1 lbs of Maldon Salt, 3 liters of olive oil, and more

Nov 13, 2024

hi! it’s been a minute, but i’m back. it’s been an incredible couple of months here as i settle into my new routine and I have sooo much to share!! i realize this could be two or three separate posts, but i’m just going for it. i have another post ready to go, not list-related at all, and i’ve been cooking a lot and have fun recipes to share too. anyway, i had no intentions of making a holiday gift guide, but it turned into a small gift guide, a lengthy list of things i’m loving lately. but most importantly, i found my favorite ‘in preparation’ items we need to get started on the gifting frenzy — gift wrap, stationary, etc. my next article doesn’t have one link in it, so i’m doubling down here. enjoy :) xx

from 30 hrs in New York two weeks ago <3

in preparation. i am hellbent on being over prepared this year, so this is my gift to you. a few things that you’ll be happy you got now so you can actually relax in december.

holiday storage boxes. this one is for ornaments ($20), this one for garland and wreaths ($34), and this one for wrapping materials ($25).
wrapping paper. cute and festive finds. peppermint candies ($10), adorable christmas trees ($10), mistletoe ($14), penguin village ($11), countryside christmas ($10), christmas woods ($13)
gift tags. candy cane tag set ($22), golden branches tag set ($12)
stationary + cards. my friend jaymee makes the chicest cards over at jaymes paper.

puzzles. i cannot express my love and nostalgia for puzzles, especially during the holidays. my mama and i use to do thomas kinkade puzzles year round and it’s a memory i’ll never, ever forget. here a few old school ones and a few cute new ones. ‘tis the season for puzzles

holidays on ice ($34), winter lights ($25), tree shopping ($28), ice skating ($48) christmas in the city ($48), a christmas wish ($14), santa’s silent night ($14), lamplight village ($14)

pajamas + lounge. i plan on being in pajamas for a majority of december, so here you go

eberjey pjs — i get a new pair of these every year. they are softest, comfiest pjs, ever. iykyk and you’ll never go back. every other brand makes a similar style, but i’m telling you these are the softest by far. ok there are 4 things from the brand i love: the long pj set, the slouchy pj set, the sleepshirt, the robe
negative is (finally) having it’s moment! the entire ‘whipped’ collection is my favorite. and they just came out with the cutest holiday red!! the mini short, the long sleeve are so good, add a pair of pants while you’re at it. it ain’t cheap, but it sure does make me happy. perhaps the most expensive pair of underwear i own but again, happiness.
currently sourcing everyone’s favorite bathrobes. a few favorites are barefoot dreams ($140) and soho home ($150). i will report back!
a very cozy hoodie courtesy of Guest in Residence
i love uggs. always have, always will. i get a new pair of tasman slippers ($110) every few years. i’m a basic b who wants classic ultra minis ($150).

gifts! i wasn’t planning on putting together a gift guide, but here we are. just a few quick ideas:

journal. i used to gift my mom the monogram journal ($78) that anthropologie released each holiday. i always got her the one with an ‘A’ for Alice, no matter what <3
must have cookbooks: The Food Lab and The Wok by J. Kenji Lopez-alt ($31), Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan ($25), Japan by Nancy Singleton Hachisu ($38), Ottolenghi ($18), The Zuni Cafe Cookbook by Judy Rodgers ($28)
new cookbooks: the Cookie that Changed my Life by Nancy Silverton ($25), Sift by Nicola Lamb ($34), the Farm Table by Julius Roberts ($21), the Cookbook of All Time ($38), My Regenerative Kitchen by Camilla Marcus ($38)
candles. jenni kayne candles ($65) are my obsession, i lost count of how many i own. and i always gift these because the scents are almost fail proof. cedar, ash, musk are my favorites. cedar is the the best holiday sent, fyi. code: catchen15 for 15% off
Material Kitchen trio of knives + stand are on sale and for a good cause! i use these every day and get compliments on these all the time. such a great gift for anyone who loves to cook
monogrammed LL bean tote ($34). how cute to bring to a host, filled with hostess favorites like delicious westbourne avocado oil, fresh fruit from the farmers market, small batch marmalade,
cult fave biodance sheet masks ($62) this comes in a pack of 16. you can easily buy a pack and gift one to your bffs as an ily stocking stuffer
cuyana makes the chicest travel sets. i have the duo set ($168) that i use every day, and this mini heart shaped one ($98) is darling
T3 Aire 360 ($299) i remember how badly i wanted a straightener as a tweenager and i still feel that same giddyness about my T3 Aire 360. i’ve been raving about it since i met the owner, loved her story, and fell in love with her product. i already had the dyson airwrap, but i’m switching teams to T3 baby.
3.1 lbs of Maldon Salt ($24) my cousin brought this as a white elephant gift one christmas and we all fought over it. i made a deal with the winner who so luckily won the tub and somehow left with a ziploc full of maldon salt
3 liters of great olive oil ($67) is the best gift!!

homemade gifts. i love homemade gifts more than anything. my sweet mama used to make spiced nuts and gift them to everyone because buying gifts was too expensive. it was so kind and made with so much love. will share a few of my favorite homemade gifts + recipes in the next couple of weeks. <3

a few other things i’m loving lately. not necessarily a gift guide, but if you’re looking for any of these things, i endorse!

U Beauty’s Super Hydrator is wow. my skin is so moisturized and glowly but not oily at all. i can’t explain how good it is. it’s $55 for the 15ml size, which i’ve been using for weeks and haven’t run out yet. code: catchen for 20% off
RMS Luxe Creme ($55) is another wow product, and for $55 i’m pleasantly surprised. i’ve been looking for an alternative to augustinus bader (because i cannot keep up with the price tag) and this is as close as i’ve gotten. code: catchenny20 for 20% off
OSEA body butter + body oil combo is the only thing getting me through this dry weather. also, the pillow mist and gua sha. code: catchen10 for 10% off
Oak Essentials Renew Face Polish ($58) is so good. been using 2x/week in between 2x/week biologique recherche maks and 2x/week dr. dennis gross peels. code:
J.Crew black leather boots in black and embossed croc i wear multiple times a week, brushed cashmere sweater in grey, also available in cropped, and in leopard!
COS skirts are so good right now. i want this!
Chan Luu Cashmere Coat in the most gorgeous wine color is sooooo luxe and chic. i wear this and instantly feel like a million bucks
i’m finally ready to get birkenstock clogs in mocha ($160)
this Sezane trench coat ($350) in a perfect camel color that you’ll wear year round. i sized up to size 4 so i can fit chunky sweaters underneath during winter
this oversized Jenni Kayne coat that elevates every look, and it’s so warm. code: catc15 for 15% off
A few Doen picks this month: Sebastiane Skirt, Elowen Skirt, Hyeres Cashmere Sweater