My Favorite Things 2019: A Christmas Gift List

I feel like every email and every blogger I follow has list upon list of gifts (click here or here, for example). Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for the Home Cook, Gifts for {fill in the blank}. While I appreciate the lists and they give me ideas, but they also seem to send spirals of anxiety through me. I feel like I have to find all the gifts…on sale…right now. AHH! Then I always want to give thoughtful gifts and something the receiver would really enjoy, so I find myself online searching, reading, looking, deciding, and going down rabbit holes of random things. Top all this with all the emails about sales here, shipping deadlines, and I’m just going nuts. My brain is like a ping pong table. Or like a dog seeing a squirrel. Are you relating at all to me here? Or am I really just that nuts? Ha, don’t tell me.

So to further complicate things, I’ve got my own list for you. I’m taking the Oprah route and calling it My Favorite Things!

Raising Tacoma’s Favorite Things List

[1] Earrings from Splendor and Stone

Local Alert! I love my circle turquoise and mountain earrings from Splendor and Stone. I don’t see them on her Etsy shop, but she usually has them at the monthly Tacoma Night Markets or you could try to message her. They are both studs and are perfect for little hands that want to pull.

[2] Winter Chai from Tea Forte

This is my favorite tea this season. It’s rooibos so it doesn’t have caffeine, which makes it perfect for a chilly afternoon. I love to add a touch of sugar (or splenda) and milk and it’s the perfect latte. OR…local alert! Try Mad Hat Tea (my current favorite is the Cletus Blend) or Little Prayer Tea (just saw them at the Night Market and they all smelled delicious. I got “In the Garden” and it’s just perfect).

[3] Hunter Boots

An oldie but a goodie. I’ve had my Hunter boots for years. I have them in tall black, and they are perfect for our PNW rainy days. I really want a short pair, too! Splash in the puddles with your little one without fear of getting all wet.

[4] Klean Kanteen Water Bottle

I’ve had this since I was pregnant with Caleb! I fill it up throughout the day to ensure I drink enough water. I love the Sea Crest color and I added a Tacoma sticker to it. Sadly, I’ve had it stolen a few times, but I keep getting it again. My kids love to steal it from me, too.

[5] Peppermint Hot Cacao from Retreat Drinks

Local Alert! All I can say is yum yum yum. And it’s healthy-ish since it has raw cacao which is high in antioxidants and magnesium. I found it recently at Proctor’s Farmer’s Market. You can buy online, at the farmer’s market, or at the General Harbor store in Gig Harbor. There is regular and peppermint, but I love peppermint.

[6] Hobo Wallet

I love this wallet! It fits everything and is easy to open and close. I can just carry it if needed, or slip it into the baby backpack. Super-versatile and has lasted for years. I have it in black, so classic.

[7] Burt’s Bees Original Chapstick

This might seem small and insignificant, but it’s my favorite. I am dedicated to this chapstick. It goes on before bed every night. No joke. And if I wake up…eh hem, if I get woken up…I re-apply before going back to bed. Nothing else will do. I love the tingle and it feels so moisturizing. And in original, of course. Only original, don’t get sucked into their other “flavors” or colors. This would be a great little stocking stuffer.

[8] Nespresso

We love our little Nespresso machine. Ours is an original machine and we have a separate milk frother. I don’t see our exact model anymore, but this one is very similar. Don’t immediately shrug this off, it’s not even on the same playing field as the Keurig. It makes a great little latte for an afternoon pick-me-up!

[9] Candle from Enlight Candle Co.

Local Alert! Your house will smell so cozy and nice with these candles. I got a small one and it’s lasting a really long time and the scent really does carry throughout the house. I’ve seen them at Ruston Mercantile on 6th Avenue or Davenport Coffee in Gig Harbor.

Alternatively, I also love the Small Batch Good and Well Co candles, which also happen to be Seattle made.

[10] BSB 103 Bourbon from Heritage Distillery

Local Alert! I never thought I’d be a bourdon gal. In my 20s I was all about the foofy cocktails like Sex on the Beach (which always made me blush to order). Then I got to my 30s, had two kids, and now I love bourbon. My tastes really did change after kids. Is it that my tastes really changed or I’m just like I need something stronger. I kid, I kid. The BSB 103 is great - it’s on the sweeter side, but also has a good bourbon taste. The regular BSB is a little too sweet for me. Or, I’ll even mix this with regular bourbon. Cheers!

There are so many more favorites, but I’ll leave it at this for now. What’s a favorite of yours??

P.S. These are actually not really associated with 2019 per se as some of these things I’ve loved for years.

P.P.S Apparently I like beverages - tea, cacao, bourbon…ha!