The Extra Credit Gift Guide
25 gifts that are actually great.
It’s gift guide season, and I can’t let you down.
Shopping is always optional, so please consider this Extra Credit, of course.
I’ve spent the last decade living in small New York apartments, so I’m pretty intentional about only keeping the things I genuinely use and love. Everything on this list has earned its place in my home, which means it’s been tested against New York’s limited counter space and closet real estate. These are the things I reach for constantly and tell everyone to buy for themselves.
Little Treasures ($11 - 30)
I love all things sushi, and these Sushi Fridge Magnets ($11) make my fridge feel more fun. They’re much sturdier than I expect them to be, and they’re the perfect addition to my collection of travel magnets and photo booth pictures that fill my fridge.
Hearts always make me smile, so I try to use this Heart-Shaped Silicone Mold Tray ($15) for ice year-round instead of just breaking it out on Valentine’s Day. It’s a cute and inexpensive way to make your drinks more fun and tell someone you love them.
Sometimes the best things come in small packages, and that’s certainly the case for the Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte ($22). I use mine for salt, but it can certainly be used to melt down chocolate or make a really small portion of something. It’s also perfect for someone who’s dying to own a Le Creuset but doesn’t have the space for a big one.
Persian food has a special place in my heart, so it’s no surprise that I’m totally in love with The Saffron Tales Cookbook ($23). This book is filled with so many cozy and delicious recipes, and I was so excited to receive it as a gift for the holidays last year. I use it all the time.
The Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Apron ($30) has become a piece of art in my kitchen just as much as it’s become something I use. It hangs next to my fridge and feels like a classic, fun staple. It says “a chef lives here” even if I order takeout more than I’m willing to admit.
Go-To Gifts ($39 - $58)
When I came across the West Elm Jewelry Tower ($39) at West Elm’s Dumbo store, I knew I had to have it. Traditional jewelry cases haven’t been the best fit for me, and this fun little tower takes up so little space on my nightstand. It’s been incredibly useful for my rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces (which I drape over the top), but it also looks decorative and fun.
I firmly believe that it’s important to have little things that make you smile sprinkled around your home. For me, that’s the Happy Organics candles. The Happy Organics Chestnut Maize Beeswax Candle Set ($46) is very seasonally appropriate, and while of course, they’re meant to be burned — they are candles, after all — I love them too much to do so. Maybe I’ll force myself to do it one day when I’m hosting friends for dinner.
Winter smells like Pine trees, and the Nest Birchwood Pine Classic Candle ($50) brings that to life in my apartment. It lasts for an impressively long time, and it’s the coziest smell (without being too overpowering). I want to gift it to everyone I love.
The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor ($50) is my sidekick in my kitchen. I use it to grind up walnuts and make a paste for my favorite Persian stew recipe, and it’s perfect for when I’m looking to clean out the herbs in my fridge. I just toss them all in this food processor and make chimichurri.
I’m a big sock girl, and I’m a Bombas loyalist. It’s actually wild how much they outperform other socks. They’re super comfortable and I love that they donate a pair of socks to someone in need for every pair you purchase. Since it’s getting chilly out, opt for the Bombas Woman’s Vintage 4-Pack High Stripe Socks ($55).
I keep my Mejuri Tube Huggie Hoops ($58) in at all times. They’re just chunky enough to be fun but simple enough to go with anything. I keep them in my second hole, and they’re perfect with every pair of earrings I own. Sturdy. Beautiful. Affordable. Highly recommend.
Cozy Season Staples ($80 - $100)
The Kane Recovery Shoes ($80) are my go-to shoes to wear when I walk my dog, and they’ve become my errand-running shoes, too. They’re essentially Crocs’ cool little sister, and I have them in two colors.
Beanies are a necessity when it gets cold out. I have a huge collection of them, but I always find myself going back to the same one. The Naadam Cashmere Ribbed Beanie ($88) is super cozy and warm (but not overheating) and I know I’ll have it forever.
I’ve been living in New York for 10 years now, but I still try to occasionally remind myself how magical it is. The incredibly cozy PJs by PJ New York Pant Set ($95) is a perfect reminder — complete with little drawings of taxis, pretzels, coffee cups and the Brooklyn Bridge.
A simple turtleneck is necessary when it gets cold out, and the Cashmere Relaxed Ribbed Turtleneck ($95) is ideal. It’s great for layering but also cute and super cozy on its own, and it’s pretty affordable for cashmere. I have it in black and wear it at least twice a week in the winter.
I am totally obsessed with the CULTIVER Silk Linen Flip Pillow Case ($100). It’s brilliant. The price is steep, but investing in your sleep is always worth it. One side is silk and the other is linen, so you can switch off depending on the season and what you’re in the mood for.
Worth the Splurge ($140 - $448)
I’ve been searching for the perfect rain jacket for a long time, and when I saw my sister-in-law wearing her Rains Long Jacket ($140), I knew I had to get one for myself. It’s perfectly light but still protective and chic. I’ve been stopped on the street twice because people wanted to know where I got it.
Traveling seamlessly is the dream, and your carry-on bag accounts for a lot of what makes the process smooth or rough. I’m a big fan of the AWAY Everywhere Bag ($148) because it’s super durable, it carries way more than you’d think it would and it slips over a suitcase handle really easily.
I’m usually not a big cardigan girl, but I knew I needed one, so I took a chance on the Anthropologie Juliet Cashmere Cardigan ($158) — a splurge of sorts — and it was so worth it. It’s cozy, cute and has a really nice fit. Now I want it in every color.
My husband convinced me to get not one but three Era 100 Sonos Speakers ($169) for our small New York apartment, and I’m glad he did. They make the music listening experience so much more satisfying than it would be if we just had a traditional Bluetooth speaker. I’m a big fan, and the design makes the speakers blend in instead of sticking out, which is great.
Middle school is back. But really. The UGG comeback isn’t new, but they’re popular for a reason. UGGs are the best. You might as well treat yourself and get UGGs Women’s Classic Mini II Boots ($170) — unless you kept your pair from 2005.
I still don’t understand how Quince gets away with magic, but I’m not going to question it. I really love my brown Quince Double-Faced Merino Wool Scarf Coat ($200), which very strongly resembles this $1,200 TOTEME jacket.
If you like to cook, investing in your kitchen setup and tools is also always worth it. I use my Staub Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven ($300) for everything. I know it’s expensive, but it’ll last forever. It heats things up so evenly, and it’s ideal for stew season, which is fully here.
I use my Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro ($300) more than I use my full-sized oven. If I want to roast vegetables or warm something up, it’s ideal, and believe it or not, it fits an entire chicken. It also has air fryer capabilities so you don’t need a separate machine taking up a huge chunk of your kitchen counter footprint.
The Rachel Antonoff Parker Puffer ($448) is the perfect winter jacket. I have it in two different patterns — a floral pattern and a caviar-themed pattern — and I get at least two compliments from strangers every time I wear one of them. It keeps me super warm without getting overheated, and I am just totally obsessed.
Thank you for being here. Happy shopping.