Welcome to my 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!
Below, you’ll find gifts for everyone on your list, from moms and dads to tots and teens! There’s even a section for pet gift ideas!
Note: this page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my gift guide, I earn a small commission. I also received many of the products below in exchange for inclusion. However, I hand-pick which items to add and never include anything that I wouldn’t buy or use myself.
Gift Ideas for Adults
Looking for the best gifts for her? How about the perfect present for dad? Either way, I’ve got you covered below!
Authentic German Nutcracker
Nutcrackers originated from the
Smartass and Sass
This holiday season, give your favorite smartass the gift of snark that keeps on giving! Smartass and Sass offers three options: just a month shirt subscription, a box full of sass, or a shirt and a box. I’d go with the box, it comes with 5-7 totally sarcastic and cynical goodies! Orders ship out on the 18th, so order before then. It could still be close with all of the shipping delays, but if it doesn’t arrive in time for Christmas you can always wrap up a picture of it, along with a sarcastic comment about the post office. 😀
Stargaze Diffuser from Scentsy
Scentsy has so many gorgeous diffusers but this one really takes the cake! It’s on the pricier end of their collections, so it’s really a “go all out” gift, but wow, is it stunning or what? It features 16 different LED light effects and works with any essential oil.
Disney Villains: All the Rage Warmer
Speaking of Scentsy, I am absolutely in love with their Disney Collection, and this tart warmer with all of their top villains is just SO much fun, isn’t it? The dish works with any of Scentsy’s tarts.
Anchor Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets are still one of the most wished-for gift ideas, and this one from Plush Beds is really fabulous. It comes in 3 different weights (5, 12 and 20 lbs) and three sizes (throw and queen for all, and an extra “petite” option for the 5-lb blanket). You can also grab it in either ash or driftwood colors.
Yeah, I know, I’ve recommended this in almost every holiday gift guide since 2018, but that should tell you something! I think everyone needs one. I used it to jump my car battery every single day for over a month (I was broke at the time so I had to wait for some money to come in to get a new one), and it never failed me. I also use it to charge my phone when the power goes out!
Bodum Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Need an affordable gift for coffee lovers? I have this highly-rated and totally budget-friendly pour-over carafe on my own wish list! It’s perfect for camping, making coffee when the power goes out, or even for everyday use. With 4.5 stars across over 26k ratings, it’s safe to say it’ll be a huge hit with your favorite coffee snob!
Extract Labs Muscle Cream
Extract Labs’ CBD Muscle Cream is the perfect gift for adults with achy muscles. I use it on my back, my carpal tunnel wrists, and more. It’s currently the ONLY thing that’s relieving my plantar fasciitis, which gets so bad that I can’t even walk. The company is veteran-owned, and they even offer discount programs for other veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, low-income individuals, and more.
Cooluli Skincare Mini Fridge
These mini-fridges (more like mini-minis, really) are all the rage right now, thanks to TikTok users sharing how they use them. This one by Cooluli is small enough to fit on your desk and can either run off AC or DC power. It’s super quiet and even eco-friendly. If you don’t love the pink, it comes in 5 other colors, including just plain black or white.
Ninja Foodie
5-in-1
This was my big tax return splurge this year, and I’m so glad I decided to buy it. We use it at least four times a week! It really does everything, and it does it FAST! Steaks for my son take like 7 minutes, and chicken for the whole family is ready in about 20. Plus, it’s perfect for air frying quick snacks (I made perogies in it pretty much every night for a month). Totally worth the splurge!
Gift Ideas for Kids
I’m combining “Little Kids” and “Older Kids” this year, so use your judgement (and common sense). This section is a work in progress. It’ll be finished by Black Friday, though.
Spot It!
Need a game with great replay value to keep the whole family occupied while we’re all stuck indoors? Grab Spot It, the classic game of “who can find it faster?” It’s perfect for ages 6+, but even younger kids can play along with help.
Pandemic: Hot Zone – North America
Real life pandemics? Not fun at all. Pandemic: Hot Zone, however, is a blast! It’s a cooperative game- meaning your family works together to beat the bugs and find the cures (there are three different viruses, so the game has great replay value). It’s appropriate for ages 8+, and for 2-4 players.
Unicorn Dream Box
Unicorn Dream Box is a monthly subscription box full of magic and pixie dust! Depending on the size that you choose (there are three options), your unicorn-loving recipient will get 3-9 fun surprises each month!
I know it’s not a new game, but it’s still a great gift that the whole family can enjoy. Plus, now you can play it with Alexa! Ticket to Ride explores 20th century America’s industrial expansion, discovery, and growth. Build railways to explore new frontiers and become the ultimate explorer.
Stargazer’s Journal
Encourage kids of all ages to look to the stars with this beautiful illustrated journal. Along with space for jotting down their own notes, they’ll find intriguing astronomy facts, mythology stories, and tips for identifying constellations. It even includes a list of reputable websites to help budding astronomers learn more. Check out more great ideas from Usborne here!
Give your kids a classic from your own childhood with this super cool Evel Knieval stunt cycle! The screen-free toy is actually a re-release of an iconic toy from the 1970s. Wind him up and watch him go! With a few twists of the crank, he’s powerful enough to pull off leaps up to 10 feet! I can’t wait to watch my nephew play with it on Facetime this Christmas!
FUNKO, the brand that brings you the coolest collectibles on the planet, just released the most adorable new line of toys called Snapsies! The Target exclusives feature mix-and-match figures for kids ages 6-11. Each mystery set includes 2 faces, 1 Head, 1 Body, 2 Butts, 5 accessories, 1 sticker sheet, and 1 checklist all bundled up in a closed ball container. At $9.99, they make fantastic stocking stuffers for kids!
Joyin Advent Calendars
Joyin Advent Calendars aren’t just perfect for counting down to Christmas, they make great gifts for under the tree as well. They have a huge lineup, ranging from arts and crafts sets to cars to building blocks and more. Each set comes with over 24 non-toxic (obviously) toys behind 24 doors. Grab one now and let kids catch up on the countdown, or just save it for a Christmas gift!
Gift Ideas for Teens
COMING SOON- For now, enjoy my top 4 picks from last year.
Crunchyroll Premium Gift Subscription
My son is a huge anime & manga fan, so we’ve had a premium membership to Crunchyroll for a while now. They have a massive selection of shows, including many that aren’t available on any of the other major streaming platforms. Plus, many shows are simulcast within about an hour of broadcast in Japan. The affordable premium membership gets your teen access to the entire library of ad-free HD anime as well as their manga collection. If you have anime-loving teens, Crunchyroll is pretty much an essential.
Crunchyroll also has its own store loaded with everything anime & gaming fans could ever possibly want, including plenty of exclusive merch, like the “One Piece” Hoody above. The Crunchyroll Loves collections are available only at the Crunchyroll Store and will not be restocked once items are sold out, so head over there now and snag your favorite merch. Bonus, if you are a premium member, you’ll score a 10% discount on regularly priced items.
Unstable Unicorns Base Game
One of Kickstarter’s top 50 most backed projects, Unstable Unicorns is a fun strategic game in which you build a unicorn Army and betray your friends…in a totally good way. The first player to collect 7 unicorns in their army wins. With plenty of cards designed to let your frenemies stop you from advancing, it’s not as easy as it sounds! It’s designed for 2-8 players and is ideal for ages 14+.
LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle 21313 Building Kit
Is this not the coolest LEGO kit for teens ever? The advanced fan-created set includes 962 bricks and an instruction booklet with details about the creator. It features a buildable cork and wax seal element, the ship complete with captain’s quarters, and a display stand with a nameplate and “compass.”
Gift Ideas for Pets
Check out some of my favorite gift ideas for pets as well as those of us who love them!
K9 Planet Adventure Box
This fun new subscription box for dogs includes two super high-quality toys and two bags of treats, along with a little surprise for humans. What sets it apart from other pet boxes is the theme. Each month, the toys and treats represent a different part of the world, making it as educational for humans as it is fun for dogs. It’s a great idea if you’re looking for a gift to help your kids bond with your dog!
TruDog is best known for their human-grade raw diet dog food, but they also make some pretty exceptional treats! This gift set includes 5 bags of real meat goodies, like bacon rolls, beef liver and more. They’re made with USA sourced and harvested meats and only the ingredients necessary. In other words, no fake junk or fillers!
Hostess, Secret Santa, and Gift Stash Ideas
Plush Signature Robe from Plush Necessities
From grandparents & aunts to coworkers to babysitters, I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love this oh-so-cozy plush microfiber robe. It is literally one of the softest things I’ve ever felt. I keep my house cool in the winter to save on energy costs. I almost can’t wait for it to get super cold so I can wrap myself up in my new Plush robe! It’s positively glorious!
Plush Signature Slippers from Plush Necessities
Like the robe, the Plush Signature Slippers are made with superfine microfiber plush. They make a great add-on to the robe or a perfect gift on their own. They’re so warm and fuzzy, my son has barely taken them off! We swapped, he likes the terry robe (above in the adults section) but plush slippers, and I like vice-versa, so it worked out great!
Bazodee
Whether you’re shopping for a novice cook (like me) or an expert chef, Bazodee gift sets are fabulous. The Caribbean-inspired line of sauces are natural, vegan, gluten and preservative free. Plus, they come from a woman-owned business!
There’s peanut butter, then there’s B.Nutty! This stuff is SO good that I’ve been eating it by the spoonful. The gift set comes with a dozen of their most popular flavors. My favorites are Sugar Cookie and Irresistible Pretzel. The Blissful Blueberry is also shockingly good considering I never would have thought to combine those flavors. Do yourself a favor and buy a second gift set just for yourself. You won’t regret it!
Given how often we’re all washing our hands this year, hand soap is always appreciated, especially when it’s as nifty as Gelo! Not only are the scents outstanding (I love the Lemon, Basil & Geranium), the ingredients super gentle on your hands. It’s also more eco-friendly than other soaps thanks to the unique pods and plant-based ingredients. Oh, and did I mention that it’s crazy affordable? One starter set comes with 4 bottles worth of soap for just $7.
Give a gift set that keeps their skin moisturized and hydrated even during the harsh winter season. This nifty IMAGE Skincare Hydrating Essentials Kit includes the Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum and Prevention+ SPF 50 Daily Ultimate Protection Moisturizer- all nestled in a limited-edition keepsake box by artist Carolyn Gavin. IMAGE also offers fantastic gift sets under $50.
Last update on 2024-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API