My favorite things gift Ideas – 2023

This is the time of year when my heart starts filling with so much extra gratitude. It’s also the time of year when that heart of mine starts pumping faster. I always get a little stressed out about finding the best gifts. So I love gift guides that give me great ideas. Every year I get several requests to make my own list here on the blog. So here I am with my favorite things gift ideas for 2023.

My girls are putting one together as well. It should be here next week.

I also may come back with more additions to this list…I’ll remind you to check back if I do!

Here we go.

Health & Beauty

Amazing Grace Perfume

My friend gifted me this perfume last year and it is my favorite.

Glossier Perfume

My girls’ favorite so I got some for myself too. I gotta say it’s pretty great.

Face Tanning Drops

Abby just told me about this stuff. You mix in a drop or two with your moisturizer
and it gives you just enough glow to give you that healthy light-tan.

Slip Silk Pillowcase

We gave this to Abby for her birthday a couple years ago, and she loved it so much
Dave gave it to me for Mother’s Day. It’s supposed to have great benefits for hair and skin.
There are 45,000 five-star reviews for this more cost effective option too.

Osea Body Oil

My friend gave some of this to me as a gift and I love it. So much more
moisturizing than lotion and we need that here in the desert! I think moisturizing
any way we can is the number one fountain of youth in my book.

Stanley Cup

I bring my Stanley cup with me pretty much everywhere, trying to get my water in.
I personally love this green color, but there are also some “exclusive colors”
you want to go fancy (and more expensive).

Stanley Copycat

Just had to include these “copycat” Stanley cups that are
more cost effective with great reviews.

Fitness

Exercise Bands

They have these at our gym and I really like them.
They don’t hurt your skin and give your legs the best workout.

The Best Tank

I just got this from Amazon and now I’m tempted to buy all the colors.
It’s just the right length and fit.

Pickleball Paddles and Balls

Since pickleball seems to have taken over the world, these puppies seem to make a great gift.
We gave them to Max & Abby, and also Elle & Carson for bday gifts and I think they have
been well-used. This particular set has thousands of really good reviews.

Yoga Mat

I have found that when I do yoga in the mornings, even for 15 minutes, it makes my day better.
And all it takes is a yoga mat and a computer or phone to play Boho Beautiful Yoga
(so good, and there are so many varieties to choose from!).
This mat seems to be the best bang for your book with almost 16,000 5-star reviews.

Foldable Yoga Mat

If you’re the type that wants to bring your yoga mat along when you travel,
try this foldable one that my sister Saydi gave me. She takes hers everywhere she goes.
(She is a yoga master!)

Games & Family

Our Top Ten Family Games

I outlined our favorite family games over in this link.
Games make the best gifts!

Modern Manners for Kids

I’m telling you, Brooke Romney is a wonder. I linked her other Modern Manners
books last year, but this one for kids is new, and it is AWESOME. I love this one because
it goes into the “whys” and even has role plays. Can’t recommend it enough.

Cooking

Lemon Zester

My very good chef sister Saydi got this for me for Christmas
a few years ago and I use it all the time.

Enamel Dutch Oven Pot

I love this thing with all my heart. Mostly to make home-made crusty bread. But I have a sourdough starter in the fridge I’m itching to get to. It’s also so good for soups and pastas. I love this pot!

Meat Thermometer for Grilling

I’m telling you what, this thing is a game-changer. I used to char my chicken on the grill
wanting to be sure it was cooked through. Then my friend Melissa at Modern Honey
told me all you have to do is have it reach 165 as an internal temperature.
This puppy tells me when it’s done and now it comes out so juicy and tender.

Immersion Blender

This thing is another game-changer. I “inherited” it from a friend, and it is a little
miracle worker. Especially for recipes like our family favorite Nichol’s Pasta we all love.
Cuts down prep time and mess like nobody’s business.

Home Helpers

Clothing Steamer

I am not an ironer. I didn’t grow up in an ironing family. But this thing? It is magical.
I can steam anything in a couple minutes and it does wonders.

Portable Charging Station

This is perfect for the nightstand as well as to pack in a backpack to take on a trip.
Dave has it and loves it.

books

50 Famous Paintings Book

While in Italy for our mother/daughter art history trip, we picked up this book
at a museum there. It’s also on Amazon and it is filled up
with incredible art that everyone should know at least a little about.

All the Light We Cannot See

One of my favorite books. It’s about a blind girl in World War II, which hits close to home for me.
I love that I overheard Elle and Lu talking about how they wanted to have a little
“book club” about this one. It’s also now a Netflix series.

The Moment of Lift

This is such an inspiring book, written by Melinda Gates who is such a wonderful example of workign to make a difference in the world.

Talking to Strangers

This one is so very interesting to help us try to understand how different we all are,
and how we are all coming from such different places. I love the audiobook since there are
several real-life recordings for illustration.

Ok, maybe I can’t even get started on the best books because this post would be a mile long.

There are so many I love!

The Best Book Club Discussion Books

Favorite Books for Young Readers

Best Children’s Books

Last year’s gift guides:

• My Favorite Things 2022
• A Gift Guide from my Girls
• Abby’s Baby Gift Guide
• Gift Ideas for Men
• Our 10 Favorite Board Games

**I am an Amazon Affiliate which means I get a small commission through the links included here. I only ever recommend things that are tried and true, and hope the ideas help you in your Christmas shopping! XOXO