2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Notecard Sets I Make with My Original Photography

One Set of Travel Cubes I Own

For my travelers or travel-loving gift recipients, this is where I shine. I’ve been traveling the world since I was 20 years old, and while I keep it simple with accessories, I have practical gift ideas that could come in handy for anyone who enjoys traveling, to any degree. Plane, train, or car, there will be things on this list you will find helpful and meaningful to your recipient.

• Portable charger - by far the most valuable item I have on trips. I'm never without a charge.
• Universal travel adaptor - if you travel inside or outside the USA, this is a fantastic charger, as it has all the ports you need.
• Travel cubes - the best way to save space in your luggage and organize your things. I have two sets.
• Travel journal - I take my regular journal with me, but I love receiving travel journals for carrying with me and taking notes when I'm traveling.
• Reusable water bottle - a must! Whether traveling domestically or internationally, a reusable water bottle is a lifesaver when it comes to hydration, which you want to stay while traveling.
• Birdie noise maker - just in case, and especially for the female solo traveler. I carry this in my purse for any occasion, and especially when I'm traveling alone. It rings a high pitch noise when you pull the plug.
• Mini tripod - another for a solo traveler, this is so helpful when it comes to taking photos and not selfies all the time. It can double as a selfie stick.
• Carry on luggage - my AWAY bag is the only way to go, and I have a $40 code you can use. Pricey, but worth every penny.
• Backpack luggage - I have the larger backpack from this brand, but I recommend this smaller one, which I am eyeing and want.
• Compression socks - my Bombas compression socks are great for long plane rides. They keep my legs comfortable and the blood circulation going.

Clipper tea from set

One of my favorite categories, food and beverage is one that (in some cases) I have lots of good ideas and opinions. I love anything from teas to coffees to candies. I’m excited to share what I have bought for myself and been excited about eating and drinking. If you know someone who loves food and drinks, this is the right category for a gift from you.

• Brazilian coffee - one of my favorite things I discovered after being married to a Brazilian was the delicious coffee the country produced. Good news - you can buy it on Amazon.
• Herbal tea set - after going to Paris and perusing the supermarket selection, I picked up Clipper tea, which I drink in copious amounts. It's organic and delicious.
• Nespresso milk frother - LIFE CHANGING. My morning coffee is so good that I feel sorry for everyone else. This is a coffee upgrade for not very much price-wise.
• Breville hot water kettle - since I drink so much tea, I had to get myself a tea kettle, so I picked up the Breville. I use it at least twice per day.
• Ceramic tea pot with infuser - when I drink tea that is not in a little sachet, I use my tiny tea pot, which I absolutely love.
• Coffee subscription - a nice gesture for a coffee lover is to get a coffee subscription that will send a new coffee each month for a year. I would also like someone to gift me this.
• Ceramic initial mug - can anyone really have too many mugs? I don't think so. A beautiful ceramic mug with the initial of the recipient is exactly what he/she needs.

New Orleans Notecard Set

Because I’m from New Orleans, I attract a lot of readers who are from here or love the city, so I must do a gift guide for the New Orleanian lover. Even natives can’t seem to get enough of New Orleans themed items, so any of this can be for that person or the one who is always longing to be here. There’s so much to choose from, so I’ll pick some unique items.

• Notecard sets with my original photography - my original collection of notecards is New Orleans. This is a perfect gift for anyone who ever writes any type of note. It's for any occasion.
• Cookbooks - Cooking up a Storm, Mosquito Supper Club, Modern Creole. All excellent choices for a New Orleans food fanatic.
• The Big Book of King Cake - king cake is my biggest weakness in life. The second epiphany comes, I am in line for a king cake. This book is a natural for fit for anyone similar to me.
• New Orleans tea towel - tea towels are a low key obsession for some people, and I am one of them. It's a nice way to display your personality, so why not one from New Orleans?
• Streetcar Socks - the iconic streetcar is a favorite, and a pair of socks by a New Orleans brand with streetcars on them is a perfect gift for men or women.
• T-shirt from Dirty Coast - Dirty Coast is one of my favorite t-shirt shops in the city, if not my favorite. Their cheeky shirts let you show your personality and represent New Orleans.

Don't Be a Tourist in Paris Book

Of course I have to include the Paris lover here. I, as many of you know, am a lover of Paris and am always looking for cool things to purchase while I’m there or that remind me of Paris. With the way of the world, we are able to get so many things that once you had to cross an ocean for, so I’ll give you some guidance as to what those items are and how your Paris-loving recipient will enjoy them.

• Two books: Joie and Don’t be a Tourist in Paris - I've met and know both of these authors, and each time I go to Paris I try to see at least one of them in her shop. Both of these books are worth a purchase.
• Subscription to Messy Nessy’s Keyholder Club for one year - Nessy holds virtual (and in person in Paris) book events, and you get a percentage off when you buy something from her store!
• Paris mug - I want this mug myself, so I put it on this list. Anyone who loves Paris would also love having this cute coffee or tea mug.
• My Paris Kitchen cookbook - David Lebovitz is a talented chef and cookbook writer, and his memoir of buying an apartment in Paris sold me on his cookbooks. For the Paris cooking lover.
• Notecard sets with my original photography - Paris was my second notecard collection set that I made, as I have hundreds of photos from Paris. I chose a few that were iconic and not so obvious, all of them beautiful.
• Paris sweatshirt - J.Crew always has cute stuff. I'm constantly eyeing their site for what's new and what's on sale. This Paris sweatshirt is on my own list.
• Mariage Frères tea - almost every time I go to Paris, I buy Marriage Frères tea. Mostly I purchase the sachets, but loose tea is delicious too. I love going into this store, and they have multiple locations in Paris.
• Diptyque candle - I'm recommending something that I don't personally love myself, which is a candle. I'm very sensitive to smell. But most people love candles, and this French company makes some delicious smelling candles.

Cat Mug

Pet lovers are wild people. I’m one of them, so I know. I have so many animal themed items, from purses to brooches to scarves to dresses. Most of them are cats, because I wear my crazy cat lady status with pride. You can go all out for pet lovers because we truly cannot get enough of anything animal-related. Except possibly an actual pet. Most of us have too many of those to begin with, but feel free to load us up on anything else. Here are some fun ideas.

• Cat purse - I own a cat purse myself. A crossbody. I absolutely love it, as it expresses my cat-loving personality and is extremely functional.
• Cat mug - pictured! I broke the handle of my original one and re-bought it because I loved it so much. Any cat mom would love this.
• Custom dog mom sweatshirt - kind of dorky, but pet lovers are kind of dorky. Dog moms love to be represented, and getting the dog's name on the sweatshirt is an added bonus.
• Portraits of a pet - this one I don't have a link to because I only have known local artists from where I am. It would be a nice present to get if you can find someone who does portraits of pets.
• Pet name necklace - just like our own names or people who have children, you can get your pet's name in the form of a necklace. I'm actually tempted to get one of my pets.
• Animal tea towel - I absolutely love tea towels, and I love getting new ones, as they tend to get dirty and turn into rags. A new animal-loving tea towel will never disappoint an adult receiving it.

Outside Blanket

I’m a self-admitted homebody who loves more than anything to be at home, and sometimes hosting my closest friends. Mostly I just like hanging out and relaxing, and sometimes that’s tough to find gifts for people who are like me. I’m also a minimalist and don’t like a lot of stuff, so I’ll be sure to recommend things that won’t feel like you’re gifting just to gift, and won’t make the recipient feel like more clutter is coming. Your gifts will hopefully not end up in the re-gift pile, though I make no promises.

• Slippers - my favorite thing to put on the second I walk into my house are my Quince slippers. They fit my feet perfectly and I'm low key obsessed with them. I want 10 more pairs. Perfect gift for a homebody.
• Paddywax candle - candles are so nice to light on a peaceful evening at home. For a homebody, that's 99% of the time. I found this candle and bought a second after I burned through my first. It is divine and everyone that has smelled it is obsessed.
• Cozy blanket - there is no such thing as too many blankets, so you can rest assured another blanket for your homebody will be welcome. Whether it's for them or a guest, another blanket can always be used.
• Comfy robe - I cannot express enough how a comfortable waffle robe can change a mood and a night. The cozier the better, and this Quince one is just what the homebody ordered.
• Pajama set - pajama sets are one of my guilty pleasures as a homebody. I love a nice pajama set, so this would be high on my list of things I'd love to receive. Hint!
• Outside blanket - a friend gifted me the blanket I linked, and I am super into it. I love sitting on my grass on my blanket with my dog and reading a book. It's foldable and can be brought anywhere, even the beach.

I hope this gift guide gave you some...guidance. These are items I either know because I own them or I would actually purchase myself. They're a wide range of prices, so whoever is on your list, I've got you covered. Enjoy your gift-giving this year, and know that your thoughtfulness will shine through in these gifts. Happy holidays!

If you liked this blog, you might also like the one I wrote about essential items for traveling on a plane.

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