Last year, each team member did a big ole gift guide of the things we had our eyes on/already owned and loved (Jess, Ryann, Caitlin, and Mallory). It was extremely fun and we may or may not have gently sent them out to our loved ones (ya know, just in case they wanted any ideas). This year, we thought to make things A LOT simpler and more digestible, we would each pick 5 all-star products that are high on our lists (and that likely someone in your life would love too). Honestly I couldn’t wait to see what each gal was going to send through. The options out there can feel almost never ending, amiright?? But I got to learn a super cool new thing about Ryann! As always we hope this is helpful and alleviates the stress of getting the perfect gift for even just one lucky person on your list. Let’s see what we’ve got cookin for ya.
Jess
1. Despite how cliche it is, all I want to be is cozy. Enter this sweater. I love how this both looks like a sweater and a light jacket with its faux fur collar! Plus it has that really cool shoulder detail that gives it more architectural structure than your average cardigan. It’s hip and yet simple enough to be timeless. O and if you have a Gen Zer in your life, Lisa Says Gah (the store where this sweater is from) is STOCKED with extremely trendy (but quality) things they would absolutely love.
2. I know I’ve talked about this candle before but it’s just my favorite and keeps selling out! The smell is intoxicating and really can work in any season because of its beautifully complex mix of ingredients. It’s the greatest, under $40, and I want a lifetime supply.
1. I’ve had this necklace pinned for months now! How cool is it?! I’m usually not one to go for color in my jewelry but I just love the subtle colorful stones. I would likely opt for the longer chain size (they have multiple length options) because I’m not a big fan of how chokers look no me. Otherwise, I think it’s just the right balance for bold yet neutral for everyday wear.
2. This one is a big splurge but it’s SO pretty (and vegan!). Aside from the beautiful color and texture, you can wear it as a belt bag, sling, or shoulder bag. Basically, it can go with any outfit and I really really want a belt bag (late to the party but got there:)). I just love the idea of wearing it with jeans and a white t-shirt. Effortlessly cool.
3. I’m a multiple wearing ring person but misplaced (or was robbed of, long story) most of my rings on a trip I took back in 2019. I really want to start building my collection back up because I love wearing both stackable and statement rings together. This one has my name written ALL over it but I would wear anything sold by this company. They have tons of options and really amazing necklaces too. I highly recommend you check them out!
Ryann
Cordless Vaccum | Service Gift Cards
1. I haven’t stopped thinking about Caitlin’s practical gift guide and want like 90% of what’s on her list. My top choice is of course the Dyson Cordless Vacuum. Our vacuum is completely toast and our living room rug is suffering immensely because of it. I need one that will be able to pick up the stubborn dirt and dog hair my pup tracks inside daily and rumor has it this guy can get the job done.
2. Again, Caitlin’s practical gift guide is absolutely fire. I love her idea of gifting a groupon gift card because you can get sooo many services and the older I get the more personal maintenance is both enticing and necessary.
Carry-On Suitcase | Riding Boot | Wallet
1. I am traveling out of the country for the first time next year so it is high time I get some proper luggage. I’ve done a lot of research and would be absolutely thrilled to get this carry-on as a present. It is sleek, has all the necessary compartments to keep me organized, and has a ton of raving reviews.
2. A few months ago I started volunteering at a horse therapy ranch and it’s my favorite thing I have done this year. I am a horse girl through and through so next year my goal is to start taking horseback riding lessons. Of course, this means I need a proper pair of boots and I have my sights set on these paddock riding boots but because I am such a novice, I’d love other recs or opinions!
3. I lost my wallet earlier this year (actually, I swear it disappeared) and have since been using a plastic bag in its place. No, I am not joking. I am at a place where I just want quality long-lasting things so I refuse to buy a cheap wallet that I’ll want to replace in a year. I’ve been looking for a wallet that I’ll keep for a very long time and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been coveting a Louis Vuitton for as long as I can remember. I’d never pay full price for one (or expect anyone else to for that matter) but this is on sale so in case Santa is listening, this is #1 on my wishlist!
Mallory
1. I’ve needed a curling iron with this width for forever but just have never pulled the trigger. So just so you know, hair tools are an awesome gift that people don’t always think to buy for themselves!! PSST, you could also give the mermaid hair tool as a gift because me and the EHD team agree it’s VERY fun to play with.
2. The best gift I’ve ever received is a GOOD cast iron, but the next gift I’d love would be a solid nonstick (pans are a weird thing to buy for yourself IMO) – this one has insane reviews and everyone is constantly talking about it, so I would LOVE to own one myself. Plus it comes in a bunch of cool colors. I love the blue one and the green one:)
1. I’ve linked this shoe before and I’ll do it again because it’s literally the ONLY shoe I wear. I’m not kidding. The APL techloom bliss. Unless I’m leaving my house to go out somewhere nice, I am wearing these shoes. They’re slip-on so they’re insanely easy to get on and off but they still stay on your feet if you’re working out. They’re truly the most comfortable thing I have ever placed around my foot so they put every other shoe to shame. I have the white ones (they’re all washable btw) so after a year and a half of wearing and working out in them almost on the daily, they’re doing okay but it would be nice to have another pair to give them a little break since they are working HARD. I love the shoes in this blue color.
2. I am a total sucker for patterned pants and I’ve been eyeing these for an eternity. I have a dress version (that’s much more colorful) and the amount of times I’ve worn is astronomical. So, it’s kind of a sure-fire bet that I would wear this pattern a lot because it’s SO fun and you feel very cool putting it on. Also honorable mention to these that just came out too:)
3. I know I already gave a sneaker link, but I also have been very into the white sneaker as a ‘going out’ shoe…These are super cute and I’ve had my eye on them for a while…plus they’re leather so they’re easier to keep clean:) Also, I’m very into these Madewell ones with this little pop of yellow – it’s my favorite color & these are only $50!
Caitlin
1. I recently discovered this brand and OH. MY. GOSH. I am obsessed! Jennifer makes lots of things (masks, dresses, accessories – I’m also obsessed with this bow) but her bread-and-butter offering is the “quick escape coat,” which is a printed swing-style masterpiece. This champagne print is so fun and happy for all occasions (brunch! Birthday parties! Bridal showers! New Years!) and I can totally imagine loving ANYTHING on her site for years to come. I’ve discovered a ton of cool female-founded and owned clothing companies over the past year but this one is at the top of my list – SO GOOD. 🙂
2. Speaking of female-founded companies…of course I need to include my all-time favorite shoe shop!!! I have too many pairs of Charlotte Stone shoes to count (and will happily vouch for the following styles: Paz, Marlo, Sal, Bonnie, Lenu, Gloria, and Dolly) but I’m a huge fan of these velcro sneakers. They’re fun and bright and they seem like a nice alternative to all the clogs I’ve collected. (I think this link still gives some $$ off if you’re interested in being my shoe twin!)
Sleeping Mask | Necklace Charm | Titanium Brush Dryer
1. That this mask doesn’t have a perfect five-star rating is BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION. My skin is like a desert (I have the sand flakes on my right cheek to prove it) and this is the only thing that REALLY works. It’s this awesome gel consistency and it leaves my skin feeling SO SMOOTH and hydrated. I know it’s technically for sleeping, but I also always apply it before plane rides or on days that I’m just going bare-faced and it’s made such a big difference in my skin texture. December marks my one year anniversary of discovering/using this product and I will never go without again!! STOCK ME UP, SANTA 🙂
2. I have been wearing the same two necklaces (this one and this one) for about 2 years non-stop (yes, I’m one of those weird people who never take their jewelry off) and I thiiiink I’m finally ready to change it up. I love literally everything Catbird makes – their website is so fun to poke around, even if you’re not in the purchasing mood – but their sweet and little charms just take the cake for me!! This one feels like a nice replacement for my fortune cookie, yeah?
3. YUP. Rolls Royce of blowdryers right here. When I was on my friends’ bachelorette trip back in May, another gal let me borrow hers and I’ve been eyeing one ever since. They’re currently on CRAZY sale ($119 + an extra $20 off, down from $179!) so I may end up just buying this for myself. Only good hair days ahead, baby!!!
It’s me, Jess! Again, hope this was fun and helpful and now we all know what an “Escape Coat” is:) We also hope you have a wonderful day off with your loved ones tomorrow and then see you back on Friday for our annual (and always entertaining, thanks to Caitlin) Black Friday Sale Roundup post.
Love you, mean it.
Opening Image Credits: Design by Arlyn Hernandez | Photo by Sara Liggoria-Tramp | From: Arlyn’s Warm (& Sort of Last-Minute DIYed) Holiday Reveal
Listen, I get it that this content is free, and you have to support it somehow, but of the last 22 posts (starting with the clothing haul from Target for a shoot), literally 5 of them were not ads or dumps of links of things to buy. I’m not coming here for recommendations for sneakers and wallets and face masks; I would love to see more about the farmhouse reno and your brother’s house or even spaces you admire. Could you tip the balance back toward the process of design?
So glad someone said this. I’m sure so many of us agree.
I get that you’re tired of gift guides, but this is their actual business. I’m sure that if traffic was falling, they’d reprioritize their content. They’re obviously posting these because the data supports it and because they’re MORE popular this time of year than design content, despite this chorus of complaints in the comments.
I thought this was fun. Hope everyone gets what they wanted.
I think a little feedback about the overwhelming majority of recent content is entirely appropriate.
EHD, like most blogs, puts out gift guides in November/December every year. If you don’t like gift guide content, I recommend staying off the Internet during the holiday season. I find these valuable to get ideas for the folks I’m getting gifts for!! Emily gives updates on the farm on Stories regularly; maybe you’d be better served by following along there.
I enjoy these posts. Normally I’m pretty out of the loop when it comes to what’s new/interesting, so gift guides are helpful for me.
i agree i’d love more design. it’s too much buy buy buy and it’s why i stopped reading many blogs and finally took the step of starting my own. i don’t post as regularly but i did share a few pretty inspirational places in my fall list here . hoping they can gear me up to style my home. also reading my tea leaves posts gift guides that are actually inspiring and latonya yvette just shared some decor pieces she’s thrifted. just some recommendations if you’re seeking inspiration 🙂
I will just say that I’ve had those Ariat riding boots since the mid-1990s, and they are still warm, comfortable ,and totally in circulation, for both riding and just wearing.
same… I’ve been riding in them for over 10 years and when they eventually wear out I’ll buy the exact same pair again.
Ariat’s are the best for riding and all around barn time.
Thirding the ariat recommendation! I personally prefer the terrain boot style (more like a hiking boot) because I do lots of barn chores but admittedly they are far less cute. Regardless, anything by Ariat is great.
This Ariat info is so helpful! I just bought my daughter paddock boots that look like a knockoff of these, but she’ll outgrow them in a year so I’ll go Ariat next time. And maybe get some for myself too, I like the shorter boots better for riding.
Oh yay! Thank you so much for confirming!
I’ll be the Ariat dissenter. The new ones are NOT like the old ones. Yes, they are comfortable, but they don’t last. I ride every day, 2 horses most days, and Ariats don’t last me more than a year or two.
If you want to invest in a nice pair that will last years and years AND support domestic manufacturers (which is usually a them at EHD!), I recommend Dehner. They have off the rack paddocks and they have an orphan room of sorts where you can always snag a good deal on someone else’s custom boot that didn’t work out. Just call the factory and tell them your size. They are all made in Omaha, Nebraska. dehner.com
I worked for Justin Brands for a few years. It pains me to see people buy boots made in Asia because the actual art of boot and shoemaking in North America is dying. 🙁 2 of Justin’s 3 domestic factories closed during COVID bc ppl want Ariat prices.
I second this. Just picked up a pair of Ariat paddock boots (finally wore out the old ones; past the point of repair) and they feel much cheaper than they used to. They’re affordable and they work, but won’t last the long haul like they used to. Dehners are amazing, I’ve also been happy with the more affordable Mountain Horse brand but it’s certainly possible their quality has slipped as well, I haven’t purchased their products in a long time.
I used to be a shoe stylist, and Ariat was one of the brands I worked for. As someone who has obsessed over the details of thousands of shoes, I was always impressed by the quality of Ariat. Far and away the best boots.
Agree with what everyone is saying about Ariats although mine only last a year or so now. I prefer half chaps (over my paddock boots) instead of tall boots!
Is the link to the carry on suitcase correct? It takes me to the sweetjuly.com homepage and I don’t have any success searching for it from there!
Oh no! Here is the correct link https://july.com/us/luggage/carry-on-pro/?charcoal&gclid=CjwKCAiA4veMBhAMEiwAU4XRr0ItjmCC8UV3l3UtVB2bHh9ZPuCZglHX3nnki996amC1d7yYeP3fVhoChpMQAvD_BwE
This link is doing the same thing – – going to the Sweet July website.
I have to chime in on the Always Pan. I got it for myself for Christmas last year and I have been disappointed in the last year. I put it in the dishwasher one time (it is dishwasher safe), but otherwise hand washed it and it still didn’t last. I wouldn’t buy it again. So sad! I know nonstick doesn’t last, but this one was a dud for me. I am now interested in Green Pans or Caraway. I hope they don’t disappoint like the Always Pan did!
I bought a set of 8”, 10” and 12” Cuisinart Classic Stainless Steel Nonstick Skillets from Target a year ago and have been happy with them (they all have 8322 in the title). I also made laminated signs to put in our nonstick drawer to remind everyone:
☠️
NONSTICK PANS
NEVER HIGH HEAT
☠️
☠️
NONSTICK PANS
NEVER HEAT EMPTY
☠️
I will check them out! Also love the laminated signs idea!
What is the suitcase brand? The link didn’t bring
me to a site that sold carry ons
My naturally curly hair needs that blowdryer!
I can really tell I’m not a Millennial…none of these appeal to me! 😛 So glad to not find anything to spend money on.
Like others, I miss seeing more of the design/reno focused content… but how about giving the EHD team and Emily some grace during what is a BIG transition time personally and for how the team works together? Running a large commercial blog is an enormous, complicated, never ending undertaking. I’m so glad this blog exists and really appreciate all the inspiration and I’ve received from it. Happy Thanksgiving!
Personally, if Emily had to make more sporadic posts to help with the transition of the move and all, I wouldn’t complain one bit. Take all the time you need. But this “buy buy buy” content for almost every single post just feels distasteful. =/ Quality over quantity…
I hear you. But posting infrequently isn’t a sustainable business model for a commercial blog with employees. Maybe because I’ve been in their position, including trying to do so while navigating big personal changes, I’m sensitive to the situation and willing to give it time to shake out without being critical. This team seems to be very passionate about what they do and I’m sure they’re working hard to evolve.
OMG, Mallory, those APL shoes are amazing! I’m in a walking team for the Pledge the Pink breast cancer walk. (Here’s my walk page in case anyone wants to sponsor me: https://pledgewith.me/2MR0zvP ). Anyway, I’m ordering the pink APL shoes right now for next year’s walk. They are so cute, and they’ll be perfect for the walk! Check them out here! https://www.athleticpropulsionlabs.com/products/womens-techloom-bliss-fusion-pink-white-bca )
Thanks!!!