Present and Correct
Hello! Today I’m continuing my tradition from last year, where I suggest extremely particular presents for a very narrow subset of people that may or may not have some relevance to my real life. Nevertheless, despite the specificity, I hope this gift guide is helpful for at least a few people. Hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving!
For your mom whose plants are perhaps too prosperous:
Let’s say, hypothetically, that while taking a stroll around the local pond, your mom noticed some broken horsetail reeds, pocketed a couple cuttings, and planted them in her front yard, expecting nothing to come of it. Let’s also presume that they’ve taken to their new conditions like a duck to water and are now taller than her, plus they’re popping up in places beyond the official boundaries of your house. If this situation is at all familiar to you, do your mom a favor and get her a good pair of pruning shears, like these award-winning, made-in-Switzerland ones from Felco, before a warning letter from the Homeowners Association arrives in the mail.
For your dad who has a hankering for sweet treats:
COMPARTES X SALT & STRAW PECANS AND COFFEE CHOCOLATE BAR - SALT AND STRAW
Every time he comes back from the grocery store he’s got an array of exotic chocolates or a peculiar ice cream flavor in hand (lemon and marionberries??) Of course, he never ends up eating any of it, because, he says, he’s saving it for you. This chocolate bar collab between Compartés and Salt & Straw will be right up his alley; just make sure he actually takes a bite before insisting you have the rest.
For your friend who’s picked up tie-dye, embroidery, knitting, film photography, and knife twirling:
TEN DAYS HABIT MAKER NOTEPAD - KURU731
Got an, ahem, friend who’s enthusiastically thrown herself into 50 million different hobbies since the start of quarantine? A habit maker might be just what she needs to get one of them to stick. Streaks, or the reluctance to break one, can be a very powerful motivator; just look at the tactics of Snapchat and Duolingo. This habit maker seems to be more geared towards establishing healthy practices like flossing and jogging, but it works just as well for those of us who pick up pastimes left and right but have trouble scaling a steep learning curve.
For your friend who watched “Queen’s Gambit” and fancies herself the next chess prodigy:
VINTAGE 1970S HANDMADE WOODEN MINI CHESS SET - BITAKA VINTAGE
She’s been honing her skills on chess.com, but clicking and dragging virtual pawns just isn’t the same as picking up a solid, physical piece in your hand. This wooden set’s got some more heft to it than the cheap plastic ones, but it’s still light and portable enough for practice on-the-go, and it’s even got a bit of Russian scrawled across the lid. Etsy is a treasure trove of vintage chess sets, but don’t wait — according to the NY Times, vintage set sales have increased seven times thanks to the show’s influence. So act fast!
For your friend group’s Secret Santa exchange when you got the person you don’t really know that well:
STANDARD BAGGU SET OF 3 - BAGGU
So the recipient you drew for the squad’s Secret Santa exchange is the person you sometimes send memes to but have never hung out with one-on-one. Jewelry is too personal, bath products run the risk of allergic reactions, and notebooks have a 99.9% chance of going unused. But you can’t go wrong with some reusable grocery bags, like this 3-pack from Baggu. They’re cute yet practical, good for the environment, and very easy to integrate into your weekly errand run — which, unlike most gifts, means they have an actual shot at fulfilling their intended purpose.
For your girlfriend who listens exclusively to KOST 103.5 during the months of November & December:
DEDICATION, LOVESONGS WITH KAREN SHARP - KOST 103.5
I don’t usually tune into KOST 103.5, an LA-based radio station that plays a mix of 80s, 90s, and current songs. But the minute they switch to their annual holiday programming, serving up a steady stream of Honda, Progressive, and Kohl’s ads interspersed with Christmas songs, I become a KOST devotee. My favorite DJ is Karen Sharp, whose dulcet tones have been gracing the airwaves for over 33 years; Sharp hosts “Lovesongs on the Coast” between 7pm-12am, often reading dedications sent in by fans shouting out their loved ones. Anyway, it sure would be nice to be listening to the radio and suddenly hear Karen Sharp let me know that someone is thinking of me, hint hint.
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!