And just like that, it was December! It’s wild to me how quickly this year flew by. Just in time for the upcoming holidays is the third Holiday Gift Guide this season with gifts for Secret Santas, online options to gift loved ones far away as well as last-minute ideas for hostess gifts or a new colleague! I don’t think you have to buy a gift for everyone that comes to mind unless you want to and can afford it. No need to go broke over Christmas gifts, right?!
I always think it’s nice to bring flowers or wine for the host or hostess when invited, but I am also a firm believer in gift cards. If you know someone who loves audiobooks on a certain platform, why not get them a gift card for exactly that? They are only impersonal if they are not tailored to their preferences.
Here you can find all previous Holiday Gift Guides to browse through and peruse for inspiration, and don’t hesitate to message me on Instagram if you need more help for that certain hard-to-shop-for person this season. I am happy to help!
So who do you still need gift inspiration for?
The 2022 TMF Holiday Gift Guide For Secret Santas and Last-Minute Elves
ONE • Some people don’t like to gift candles but as someone who loves receiving high-quality ones – we’re talking soy wax and essential oils – I would always consider a great candle one of the best gifts. Italian Garden smells of lush orange, sage, and rosemary and instantly transports you to summer in Italy. It doubles as table decor for dinners outside once spring hits again since it keeps mosquitos and friends at bay.
TWO • A perfect Secret Santa gift or for that romantic-at-heart amongst your loved ones, Modern Love: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption is a book of short stories derived from the namesake The New York Times column. I love the two seasons of the show (and also their Mumbai and Tokyo editions) and the book was a lovely stand-alone-addition to read. You don’t have to be aware of the column or show, to enjoy it. An easy yet thoughtful gift!
THREE • I love gifting fun handmade jewelry and these fabulous Boho Brass Dangle Earrings are no exception! They are modern yet timeless and come in different color options. The electric blue ones would be my personal favorite to gift or receive.
FOUR • Another great gift idea is cookbooks, especially more niche ones. My friend Erin introduced me to Kardea Brown and her new cookbook The Way Home on modern healthy soul food. It’s so lovely to flip through and the recipes are easy to cook and crowd-pleasers for sure. Other cookbooks I recently gifted are Gennaro Contaldo’s Limoni teaching you vibrant Italian recipes surrounding the lemon, and Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski’s Let’s Do Dinner with simple and quick dinner recipes anyone can whip up.
FIVE • My love for enamel lapel pins is no secret and this Coffee For Life pin is just the best. Do you have a coffee lover you need a Secret Santa gift for? This is it!
SIX • Gifts that are a little bit out there are always high on my list. When I looked for gifts for tea enthusiasts I came across these Raw Crystal Tea Infusers and was immediately amazed. You can choose between rose quartz, amethyst, and orange calcite to name a few which would make such unique gifts, don’t you think?
SEVEN • A nice watercolor print is another gift that is special in my opinion. This Taxi in Spring art print is simple yet whimsical and adds a splash of color to your giftee’s four walls. City prints are the perfect gift for travelers or to remind someone of a special vacation they had.
EIGHT • The ultimate host(ess) gift for someone who is far too humble to treat themselves but loves a nice home spa session is this Rose Spa Gift Set. There are different variations to choose from like a rose-scented box for stress relief, or a citrus-scented energize box. Each box comes with its signature bath salts, face mask, lip balm, cream soap, and balm. You can personalize the gift set even further by adding a scented candle or bath bomb. This is such a lush gift idea!
And there you have it! This is my Last Minute Secret Santa Holiday Gift Guide this year. I made sure to include small businesses on Etsy from all over the world to support and to introduce them to you. Have fun browsing and let me know if any of these gifts made it into your cart for your special someone to gift to!
Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. I only share what I genuinely love. Thank you for supporting TMF!
(Cover photo by Olesia Buyar)
These are some great ideas for gifts. I like to be gifted candles as I love to light them all the time to feel relaxed. Thank you for sharing your gift ideas.
Lauren