Kith and Kin

Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!

I’ve got the third installment of my gift guide series for y’all today; after acquaintances and friends, it’s time to move on to family. I mentioned last year that I’m an only child, which means I really just have my mom and dad on my gift list — I padded out last year’s issue with a little cousin and a friend I’ve had since birth, and this year I’m going to add in my dearly-departed cat, who passed a little over a year ago but was a member of my family for 16 years. But if you’re stumped about what to gift a fussy sister or a wants-for-nothing brother, give me a shout and I’m happy to help you brainstorm!

For your mom who’s renovating her entire backyard:

CHEF & GARDENER’S TALLOW BALM - SUMMER SOLACE (FROM $26)

The Homeowner’s Association recently replaced all the fences in the backyard, and that was all the excuse she needed to give her garden a brand new makeover. She’s dug up the sickly persimmon plant, given the honeysuckle a substantial haircut, and is currently wrestling with the invasive bougainvillea. Problem is, she always forgets to wear her gardening gloves, and consequently her hands are all rough and scratched up from the plants fighting back. So you’re sure she’ll appreciate a jar of this Chef & Gardener’s Tallow Balm; the grass-fed, pasture-raised tallow is infused with healing oils and flowers, resulting in an ultra-rich formula that hydrates and soothes cracked, irritated skin.

For your dad whose new hobby is shell collecting:

THE SUPER SCOOP - PENDANTS BY PIERRE ($60)

All his weekends are now spent at various local beaches, painstakingly combing the sands  — he’s even researched the tide cycles so he can get there right at low tide, when all the good shells materialize. But he’s getting up there in age, and all that bending and stooping probably isn’t the best for his back. Get him this “super scoop” designed specifically for shoreside treasure hunting, no crouching required. Shop owner Pierre LaFoille, who describes himself and his wife as “serious rockhounds,” fashioned these scoops by hand for their rock-hunting expeditions around the Great Lakes, and promises that his design is far more durable and substantial than the flimsy ones on Amazon.

For your cat who preferred your bed over his own:

CHUNKY KNIT BLANKET - WOOL EXPERTS (FROM $83)

There wasn’t a quilt, throw, comforter or coverlet that he wouldn’t stake his claim over (and, of course, leave covered in fur). He especially loved kneading his paws into this soft, chunky knit blanket, which you bought after browsing 2016 Scandinavian hygge Pinterest one too many times. Since the merino wool is very prone to shedding and pilling, you’d always scold him and scoop him away whenever he started digging his claws into the delicate material. But now that he’s gone you’d buy him ten of these blankets, and once he’d destroyed them all, ten more.

---

Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!