Feisty (adj): Full of spirit or determination; plucky or spunky.
I think the word was invented because I hadn’t been born yet and the Universe knew I was coming.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m almost middle-aged, or because I have lived through a pandemic, or because I grew up watching Lethal Weapon and can completely identify with the statement, “I’m gettin’ too old for this sh*t”.
But whatever the reason, this December, I am looking damn forward to the year coming to an end.
Now. With that little piece of sarcastic negativity aside, I am actually excited to find and give the perfect gifts to my friend (sometimes I even have more than one), and family this Christmas.
If you are like me, gift-giving guides are a saving grace. I love to give gifts, but dang it all if I don’t obsess over JUST the right thing. So when I see gift guides dancing around the internet, they always grab my attention.
And so I’ve put together my own gift guide. Some of these items I’ve already purchased. Some I plan to purchase. Some I wish I could purchase. But all of them I love.
And if you are wondering “what about her writing? when is she ever going to give me something about writing?” well, the answer is: I’m working on it.
It’s a slow process. Painfully slow because, well, life just turned upside down in 2020 and it’s taking me some time to get back on track. But please know I write every day.
Well, I try to write everyday.
Sometimes it’s two sentences. Sometimes it’s an entire chapter. Sometimes it’s kept, and other times I delete it all the next day. So I guess I’m saying thank you for sticking with me and for giving a sh*t about what I love to do.
Now, on with the gifts.
For Your BookWorm Bestie
Domestic thriller lovers will adore this page-turner by Alice Feeney. Rock Paper Scissors is a twisty, creepy, guessing game that consumed me for two days. I carried it everywhere I went and couldn’t wait to dive back in each time. 5 stars!
A romance but not at all a romance. A heart-wrenching punch to the gut that you will willingly ask for. Characters you will root for, hate to death, and cry over. This is Colleen Hoover at her core. As one person said, “Everyone with a heartbeat should read this book.”
It Ends With Us. Get it.
If you love Keanu Reeves as much as I do (even though he stars in a movie that was a legit stolen manuscript from moí), you will want to get or give this book. I haven’t read it yet so I can’t say if it’s good or not, but dang, what a cute idea. The title alone sold me. How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days is the rom com we might ALL need right now.
For Your Hippie Friend
Essential oils are both heralded and laughed at, sometimes in the same breath. I don’t purport to land at one end of the argument or the other. I just like the way they smell, and I do believe that certain scents can change your mood, your experience in the moment, and your level of perceived stress. I also love that they are natural. Man-made chemicals are something I’m coming to really detest as I get older, and I love that essential oils are plant-based.
Anyway, this starter kit from Young Living has been so good. The diffuser is unlike any I’ve ever seen both in design and use (it has music, colors, and bluetooth capabilities), and the oils (all 12 of them) included with the kit, are the BOMB. My favorite right now is Valor.
Plus there are samples of all natural cleaning products, hand sanitizer, and an antioxidant drink.
Young Living is a multi-level marketing situation, but I don’t sell it. I’m just really impressed with their product and think it’s good enough to share.
Here’s a link to the website. If you are interested in buying something though, let me know. I might be able to get you a discount somehow.
For Your Teenage Daughter
This fleece jacket from Columbia is something any teen will love. And it’s on sale for $29.99 right now right here. As cozy as Patagonia, without the outrageous price tag. And don’t forget to size up at least three sizes. 1) kids love anything oversized these days, and 2) Columbia runs small.
For Your Best Girlfriend
Niacinamide Serum with Zinc, by Naturium ($15.99)
Trust me, this is the one skin care product you need. And I should know, I’ve spent a fortune on skin care products, always looking for just the right one. I usually try one until it’s gone and then never buy it again. With this product, however, I am on my third bottle. And I can tell when I haven’t used it. I don’t know why it works, but it does. My pores look smaller and my wrinkles and fine lines look less defined. If I were in a study group for this product, I would definitely say I saw noticeable results. And, best of all, it’s totally affordable.
For Your Chef
Spiceology makes the best spice blends, hands down. Yes, they are a little on the spendy side, but I have had their starter kit for over a year now and am just getting to the end of it, so it’s definitely worth it.
This Maple Bourbon blend is an easy way to test out their products, and it is truly supreme. Pair this with a cool apron and gift it to the man, or woman, who likes to cook.
For Your Camping Friend
Okay so maybe this is more for the camping friend that likes to have electricity just at times. Not full roughing it, but not hotel either.
This electric car blanket plugs into a car outlet source and voíla, instant warmth. If nothing else, it can be kept in the vehicle as a spare.
Your Plant Loving Fiend (I mean friend)
Yes these were popular in the 70’s, but guess what? All the good stuff is coming back. Macrame, wallpaper, bodysuits (ok, not so great for some of us), and allll the plants you can get your hands on. Give this plant stand along with a Snake plant and you’ll be BFF’s forever.
For Your Furry Pal
Meet Lamb Chop.
Lamb Chop may look like a standard stuffed animal toy for a dog, but Lamb Chop is much, much more than just that. See Lamb Chop is the kind of soft and squeezy that dogs go crazy about. Their jaws don’t have to work so hard to hold on to Lamb Chop, and they don’t have to bite the entire animal to find the squeaker. But best of all, Lamb Chop is the size of most small dogs so carrying Lamb Chop around will make your dog feel like a total stud, or queen.
My dog Henry loves this thing. He even showed it to the owner of the kennel we use, who thought it was hysterical.
For Your Health
These are the supplements I personally take. This is not medical advice. This is just what I take.
- Shilajit
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C (whole food only)
- Dessicated Oyster
- Probiotic
- Turmeric
- Vitamin K
- NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
Some of them are weird, like Shilajit, (read more about it here), but after I started feeling better health-wise, I haven’t looked back. Some of them can be found on Amazon and some are found on the website Mitolife. Often they are sold out on Mitolife, however, so I supplement via a great company called Just Thrive, and I use Doterra for Turmeric.
The Oyster is brings in bioavailable copper, selenium, zinc, and lots of other needed essentials to the body. Read more about why we need desiccated Oyster (or the real deal) in our diets, here. It’s actually really interesting.
Anyway, lots to read up on about health and vitamins. These are the supplements I use (along with Pine Pollen and also sometimes Fulvic Acid powder in a glass of water), and so far I feel great. I leave them in a cute basket on my counter so I don’t forget to take them every day.
For Your Mom
(who happens to have a sense of humor)
This fowl language cup is hilarious. Who knew the natural science world could be so funny? Give this and record the reaction. 🙂
And this concludes my slightly inappropriate holiday gift guide for 2021. All jokes aside, however, I wish you all the best this season; love, laughter, great big hugs from friends, kisses under the mistletoe, and hot cocoa spiked with Amaretto.
‘Tis the season!
xo xo xo
M