Simple Holiday Gift Guide 2021
We stopped giving gifts for the holidays in my family many years ago - pushing 10+ years, I would guess. I’m the youngest of five (by a lot), and until Marin was born, we had no grandchildren in the family. Gift giving became more of a pain than a joy, so we gave it up and, instead, started going on a big family trip every other year. The memories from those trips far outweigh any physical gift I’ve ever received. I would highly recommend creating a similar tradition if your friends and family are looking for a different way to celebrate!
Now that Marin and Zoe are part of the family, we’ve had to broach the gift topic once again. I love holiday traditions and value so many of my own growing up. I want the same for our girls! I just don’t think those traditions need to be tied to an abundance of gifts. It wasn’t a big deal the year Marin was born because she was just five months old at Christmas, but a plan suddenly felt much more pressing last year and more so as she and Zoe get older.
We decided to continue with the “Four Gift Rule” again this year. Have you heard of this? Parents give each child just four presents: something they WANT, something they NEED, something to WEAR, and something to READ. We had a positive experience with it last year, so we’re giving it another shot. While I plan to uphold a number of holiday traditions that have nothing to do with presents, I do think a few nice gifts under the tree on Christmas morning is a sweet surprise for little ones. I actually think the “Four Gift Rule” is a great way to think about gifts for children and adults alike.
If you want even more gift ideas, feel free to check out the 2019 and 2020 Gift Guides I’ve shared in the past. I would still recommend any of these items!
W A N T
Magnetic Wooden Toys - These are seriously the COOLEST and most BEAUTIFUL toys! We own these and are obsessed. I think this would make a wonderful gift for kids of so many ages - and maybe adults too! I also really like the “Forest Animals” and “Nordic Woods” collections.
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Frame TV - We’ve talked about buying one of these for our living room for ages. Now that we’re spending so much time in that space with two little ones, this is climbing higher on our wishlist.
Play Kit Subscription - Subscribing to the Lovevery Play Kits has been one of the best decisions we’ve made as parents since having Marin. They have been a huge hit, and I never have to think twice about what activities are most age appropriate or challenging - they just show up at the door! Plus, the quality is top notch and we’re not inundated with STUFF. Extra bonus - we’ll be able to reuse them in the months/years to come with Zoe.
Le Petit Chef Knife Set - We almost bought this for Marin’s second birthday but decided to hold off just a little bit longer. I definitely think she’s ready now and loves to help in the kitchen, so this is on our list this year.
Coffee Subscription - Tyler is the coffee snob in our household, but I love a great cup of joe too. Coffee subscriptions like this one from Trade are such a fun and unique way to try a wide variety of roasters. I think this is such a wonderful gift idea - please feel free to send our way. :)
Bow - The bows from Acre Goods are so beautiful. I’m planning to purchase one for Marin’s stocking. They should be restocking their selection around the end of November!
3in1 Bike - I’ve had my eye on this 3in1 Bike from Wishbone Design for quite some time. We actually bought Marin their Flip Bike for her first birthday which has been a huge hit. She’s definitely ready for a tricycle/balance bike now though, and I’ve heard wonderful things about this one.
Barn / Tractor - I know, I know. This isn’t really a “gift idea”, but if you ask either of us what we REALLY want? This will be the answer. Every single time. We’ve been saving up and planning for several years now. Thanks to sky rocketing prices and crazy timelines, we’ve had to push this off a little bit longer (oh, and having a baby. Ha!), but we’re really hopeful to get this ball rolling in 2022. We would much rather save all of our pennies and live with less in order to get what we really want in the long run. For us, that’s a tractor and a barn!
N E E D
Wash + Lotion - We've been using Tubby Todd products for quite some time and love them. You can never go wrong with a super useful gift like this. If you’re feeling the need to make it a little extra special, throw in the bubble bath. Marin loves it!
Dyson Vacuum - I know some people would hate the idea of receiving a vacuum as a gift, but I am not that person. Ha! We currently have a Dyson and really like it, but it is on its last leg. We’re going to need a new one sooner than later.
Wine Glasses - We are in desperate need of some new wine glasses. My brother recently bought a set of these, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much we liked them. The shape and size are great and they aren’t crazy expensive.
Towels - We own a set of these towels, and they are the absolute nicest towels I’ve ever used. Seriously! We LOVE them. I think a set of these would make a wonderful gift - even if not for the holidays.
Sectional Sofa - We are in desperate need of a new sofa for our living room. While I wouldn’t expect anyone to actually purchase us furniture for the holidays, we often receive money from family to use as we wish, and we’re planning to put it towards a big purchase like this.
Bib - We like to refer to Zoe as the “spit-up queen”, so bibs are now our best friend. I’ll take all of them I can get!
Linen Sheet Set - I always save up and wait to purchase bedding items during Parachute’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. They only offer 20% off two times a year, so it’s a great time to purchase. Their linen sheets are a staple in our household, but I’d also recommend their Pillows, Quilt, and Down Alternative Duvet.
Yeti Kids Rambler - We have one of these for Marin, and it has been worth every penny. It washes well and is extremely durable to toddler abuse.
W E A R
Baby Booties - We have these for Zoe and absolutely LOVE them. I actually purchased two more colors because she basically wears them 24/7. They stay on far better than socks and are really warm - ideal for a fall/winter baby.
Field Jacket - Pareto is such a wonderful brand and the co-founders, Olivia and Jess, are SO nice. One piece at a time, they’re making the clothes you actually wear. I currently own the T-Shirt Dress, Crewneck Sweater, and the Field Jacket and would highly recommend them all. You’ll be hard pressed to find a brand more deserving to support!
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Leopard Mules - Expensive but another item I’ve had on my wishlist for a few years. High quality shoes are something I always feel comfortable investing in, but I do like to wait to see if I can find a great deal - like at the holidays.
Toasty Kicks - The shoes from Petit Nord are expensive, but they are SO nice. We have their T-Bar Scallop Boots and love them. I think the holidays are a great time to invest in a super high quality pair of shoes - especially if siblings can wear them later. Marin is in need of some warm shoes for winter, so these are on our list. If you’re looking for a less expensive option, these from Converse look nice too. We’ve had good luck with Converse shoes.
365 Slim Pant - Tyler owns a pair of these and wears them all the time - seriously. He needs a new pair because his are so worn and falling apart. He’ll be the first to tell you they’re his favorite pants, and he’d highly recommend.
Blundstone Boots - Tyler and I both wear Blundstone’s and LOVE them. They’re worth every penny and look great. I’m actually looking forward to buying Marin a pair when her feet are big enough. I currently have a pair of these 585s in Rustic Brown, but they’ve always been a touch small. I’m planning to sell my current pair and buy a half size larger. For reference, I wear a size 7 in every shoe I own but have to go up to a 7.5 in these.
Chunky Cardigan - This organic cotton cardigan would be perfect for babies and toddlers alike.
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Carhartt Tee - Tyler has both the long sleeve and short sleeve versions of these tees, and they have been such a hit. They’re a nice weight for fall/winter/spring, look nicer than your average t-shirt, and are durable enough for wearing outside to work around our property.
R E A D
Grist - I’m a cookbook-lover. I read them cover-to-cover and reference multiple times a week. I’m also a huge fan of Abra Berens, so this new cookbook is on my wishlist! Her Ruffage book is a staple in our household.
Sleep Tight Farm - I like to include a new seasonally-inspired book in our advent calendar each December, and this is the one I bought for this year. Looking forward to reading it come December.
Workstead - They make the most beautiful lights, and I’ve heard rave reviews for this book. It’s on my wishlist.
National Geographic Kids Magazine - One of my BFFs bought a subscription of this for Marin’s 2nd birthday, and it’s been a wonderful gift. We look forward to the new edition each month.
Grains for Every Season - I have the Six Seasons cookbook by Joshua McFadden and LOVE it, so I was thrilled to see him release another book this fall.
AirPods Pro - Tyler isn’t a big book reader, but he does listen to things while working. These are on his wishlist.
Where Are You, Agnes? - I’ve had my eye on this book for awhile. I think Marin would really enjoy it. The curated selection of goods at Shop Bitte is wonderful! You can’t go wrong.
Baby’s First Soft Book - We had this with Marin and it was a big hit. We’re looking forward to putting it to good use with Zoe as well.
This post is not sponsored or in partnership with any of the aforementioned brands but the article contains affiliate links. When you shop via the links above I may make commission on a sale at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.