Each year I try to avoid doing a gift guide, quick on the heels black Friday and cyber week, those things are overwhelming and do we need to spend more money? Plus I’m lazy and I often leave things to the very last minute hence the Lazy Girl’s Gift Guide. So here goes my one and done:
FOR MUM
When it comes to mum, we want something a lot less mumsy so please no home appliances or anything of the sort, let’s class it up a bit eh. Girls trip with her girlfriends to Lake Como. Why Lake Como? Because in the winter it is easy on the eye and the mind, and you get to see its true beauty without the crowds, you can take a boat to the other islands and have one of the best meals of her life in Bellagio. In addition, you can board the train to Lugarno for the day, two countries in one weekend, is as perfect a weekend as they come. And its more affordable during off season as is everything during off season. There isn’t much to do, but there is enough.
Alternatively, I’ve seen these book retreats popping up in Cornwall and the likes and I think this is a fine idea for anyone especially your mum, she can put her feet up and simply read and if it comes with a wine tasting, even better.
FOR DAD
Tickets to the cricket, football or if you can hack it, the world cup. Give dad a day off from the couch and the garden, take him out to the ball game, and spend the time with him. If you can swing a couple tickets for his mates, then go right on ahead. If sportsball is not their thing, then a car show? I once visited Blenheim Palace, home of one Winston Churchill, you might have heard of him, and there was a parade of vintage cars on show. There’s a lovely restaurant and lovely grounds to roam. Perfect day out.
FOR THE SISTER
A spa weekend. I have never been a lover of spas; I don’t like places that feel wet or can be wet… I know, I know… but I know people who love spas, love a massage, love the indulgence of it all. South Lodge in Horsham Sussex is absolutely that place. It is perfect for you, the family, with your girls or guys or to get lost away from the world. I know someone who makes it a weekly ritual come hell or high water.
FOR THE BROTHER
Boys love comfort, much more, in my opinioin that girls do, and I get, the allure of slipping into something without much fuss or fussing with a zip or a button a belt. For the holidays give the gift of comfort. I love cashmere, I love the way it feels on the body, how soft and calming it is to the touch and there is nothing I love more than wearing an oversize hoodie and jogging bottoms made of cashmere, and I love gifting these too. If you have a brother that you really love, because let’s face it, siblings can be arseholes sometimes, then this is a good shout for a gift because they’ll wear it maybe never wash it but it’ll be their go to for lounging.
As an alternative, I don’t know what it is, but men love a robe, a chunky house robe again, even more I find than women, I dunno but I tend to see them more often in robes lounging at home so when in doubt gift a luscious robe.
FOR THE BESTIE
I love champagne and love gifting champagne to my mates because it is such a happy drink, it represents some of the most wonderful moments with your friends I find and what’s better than gifting a set of flutes or coupes to your mate and a bottle of very good champagne, Dom Perignon if you can swing it, or Ruinart as the next best in my opinion which you know you will enjoy with them.
I love Macallan and this year I got to play with it in a cocktail whilst up in Gleneagles and it was the perfect cocktail. We are gifting the 12yo because that is how long the money is, but if you can spring for an 18, you will be loved; it is as magnificent as it is iconic.
FOR THE KIDS
Books and legos, these are two things I gift children, nieces and nephews in abundance, books because they can never read too many books and Legos because minds always need to be expanded beyond the page to bring things to life. Or because I have become accustomed to seeing my nephews complete complicated Legos with a dash of aunty pride. Seek out books by little known authors, I love these series from Foluke Oyeleye whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the Black British Book Festival, an indie author creating a very important storyline. See the rest in the series so far here.
FOR THE TEACHERS, AND CARERS AND CARETAKERS
Because when a teacher is good, they are really, really, good and we have some angels in our schools; I’ll tell you that. If you can, a voucher to a lovely neighbourhood restaurant for two, would be nice. If you cannot, then baked goods from your home to theirs is a lovely touch; some cookies, brownies, banana bread in a basket with a bow tied around it and you are good to go.
I have had way too much contact with doctors, nurses, and carers this year than I would ideally like, and all of them, every single one of them has extended such care and grace in any situation. We often forget that these people are just like us, dealing with the same struggles compounded by a work life that is nothing like ours, much more intense and demanding because contrary to the popular saying, they are saving lives. So, when you can, and you should, give something back for the holidays to the ones who see to our health and healthcare system. A basket of little beauty things, lip balms, hand creams, pocket sanitisers, food scrubs etc. take a box of cupcakes too if you can because what is happier than a cupcake? For the ones who care for us, it is a reminder for the to take care of themselves.
FOR THE HOME BUDDY
Now we are veering into niche territory and sometimes this is where we shine because its that one unique or cliché gift for that person, we know loves something a little too much and in these cold winter months, its staying indoors for me. In the winter months, hibernation is my only situation; I want to be left alone to be indoors wrapped up warm. Candles make a wonderful gift for people like me, or diffusers or wax melts.
FOR THE HOST & HOSTESS
A case or wine or a half a case will never go amiss. I love gifting wines because not only do I have a mini cellar in my apartment but I enjoy the stories each bring. So be it in an alley in Rome, or walking past a pokey little store in Paris, if I can, I always come home with a bottle or two of wine on my travels and these make an excellent gift. If you cannot hop on a plane here are some damn fine wines you can curate in a box:
- Chateau Musar: this will never not be in my rotation, it is wonderful blend from Lebanon.
- Boekenhoutskloof: the chocolate block a bold and beautiful red; a popular one and a mighty good one from South Africa.
- Cipriani Bellini: who doesn’t love a good bellini for breakfast. This one is possibly the best.
- Domaine Jean Paul Balland Sancerre: a friend once told me that Sancerre is one of the best whites, because whites have their moment and sometimes it can be like drinking warm beer so a Sancerre followed closely by a Pouilly fumé or Pouille fuisse is always a good option for white.
- Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape: when in doubt buy a du Pape. Did I just make that up? Yes. Do I know if it’s a true saying? No, but it is now because one can hardly go wrong with a Chateauneuf du Pape. The white is really good too.
- Meerlust Rubicon: another wonderful wine option from South Africa and this one is an absolute crowd pleaser.
- A Sweet Sauternes: a dessert wine will not go amiss in a mixed basket, and this is one of the most interesting and delicate sweet wine. I once had a wine so sweet it tasted like Ribena laced with whisky I flew over 10 hours to buy ten more bottles, La Fantasia from California but when I cannot reach it, I opt for this.
Oils and Vinegar: because extra virgin olive oil is the unicorn tears of today so a bottle of the good stuff will never not be appreciated in a host or hostess’s kitchen. Balsamic vinegar from Modena and a good extra virgin olive oil. If you are in London head to Debraggio in Richmond to buy some, best Italian best food in Richmond best owners.
FOR THE BOOKWORM’S HOME LIBRARY
The Personal Librarian, I am very partial to the Harlem Renaissance, it is an era I wish I was born in when Black writers and artists were coming into their own in their safe enclaves and blessing the world with their talent and pizzazz. This book about Belle da Costa Greene is a fantastic history lesson of a life so beautifully rich and full, it deserves a place on your bookshelf. Follow this up with a book about her life story, A Librarian’s Legacy I recommend this to everyone.
La Vie En Rose: I am still on the hunt for this book on Malick Sidibe a most formative photographer from Bamako. It tells not only of his story but a unique revolution and a giant of spirit in determination.
Air Jordan: as a kid who grew up in the 90s in Lagos, Michael Jordan touched my life in unbelievable ways, he was one of the first true legends I can remember so vividly growing up. He is one of one, a true icon who showed us the power of simply going for it and existing in your own skin regardless… so this book is an ultimate gift.
FOR THE TRAVELLER
Luggage: Because one can never just see the world, we have to be a part of it and as we journey from place to place, we need something that sees us right the way through. I have tried most every luggage out there, and keep coming back to Away; they take a bashing good especially with baggage handlers being how careless they can be, and they have a wonderful repair policy. Away is perfect.
Travel gudies: When you want to see the world see it with eyes wide open; a travel guide that delves deep within that gives your information about and around places is best places. Here I have my French Riviera travel guide which is the perfect gift or Monte Verdi in Italy a slice of heaven. If you would prefer to have this with you always then shop from a range of Assouline travel books.
Personalised travel journal: lets make notes on places and look back on them fondly, lets curate our travel notes to our taste but also seek out the rough edges, let’s poke heads in holes in walls and eat cuisine that awakens our palette let’s write it all down and pass it along to the next traveller because in life we are all traversing through but hoping to leave the world a better place for the future selves.
FOR THE YOUNG ADULT
When it comes to young adults I am determined to remove their mind from the screen, I type this as someone whose nose can either be buried close to a screen or in a book, but when it comes to young adults I would like them to be outside where the real world resides a lot more than on screen where keyboard warriors take up too much air and server time. So membership to the British Library and museum passes, the gift of art and travel, maybe even take a class together. Make a list of the most incredible libraries and go visit with them… anything to move them off HD.