Gift idea burnout
December 30, 2020 11:18 AM Subscribe
My wife's birthday is right around the corner. I had some great inspiration for Christmas gifts and now am feeling all used up. Things she likes are listed inside.
She likes: super comfy loungewear, gluten free cooking and baking, yoga, meditation, crafting, reading, and herbal medicine. She is about a year and a half into an MS diagnosis and is very passionate about finding ways to figure out her body and expand upon her self-care routines.
If anyone has some gift inspiration I would greatly appreciate it!
She likes: super comfy loungewear, gluten free cooking and baking, yoga, meditation, crafting, reading, and herbal medicine. She is about a year and a half into an MS diagnosis and is very passionate about finding ways to figure out her body and expand upon her self-care routines.
If anyone has some gift inspiration I would greatly appreciate it!
Subscription to some online yoga stuff, like Ekhart Yoga or the paid version of Yoga with Adriene, perhaps?
posted by diffuse at 11:32 AM on December 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by diffuse at 11:32 AM on December 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
On Ask's advice, I bought my wife an LL Bean Wicked Plush Robe. It's super soft and cozy. So, if she would want an upgraded bathrobe, I can totally endorse this option -- we ended up buying one of their blankets which is made from the same material, too.
posted by Alterscape at 11:33 AM on December 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Alterscape at 11:33 AM on December 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
Just some random ideas off the top of my head-
King Arthur has a gluten free section: https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/essentials/gluten-free
A yoga wheel
Cricut machine
Ottolenghi cookbook
posted by brilliantine at 11:37 AM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
King Arthur has a gluten free section: https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/essentials/gluten-free
A yoga wheel
Cricut machine
Ottolenghi cookbook
posted by brilliantine at 11:37 AM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
One of those super huge 10x10 blankets I keep getting ads for?
posted by joycehealy at 11:47 AM on December 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by joycehealy at 11:47 AM on December 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
If she doesn’t already have a Silpat (or some generic equivalent—I got mine at Costco) or two, that is definitely something I love for baking/roasting veggies and wish I would have gotten years ago.
posted by lovableiago at 11:58 AM on December 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by lovableiago at 11:58 AM on December 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
Here are things I have or want, my interests are very similar to your wife’s:
-cashmere lounge set, from Everlane (or a soft lounge set, from Aerie or Abercrombie if Everlane is too spendy)
-an infrared sauna blanket
-a weighted eye mask, good for yoga, meditation, and naps
-a gift card to Mountain Rose Herbs and a book or two
-an electric blanket for the car, helps keep my feet and legs warm
-does she have or want a Kindle or e-reader? I have one now and wish I’d gotten one sooner.
-an acupressure mat, so good for (my) body pain and meditation/breathing exercises
-CBD bath bombs and/or edibles, a bath tray, and some nice candles
-cozy outdoor boots, like these shearling-lined Birkenstocks
And finally, people make fun of it but Goop has great gift guides. Obviously some of the products are more ~ out there ~ than others but it’s fun to browse and I always get good ideas that I can pass on to my partner or family (or give to girlfriends).
posted by stellaluna at 12:19 PM on December 30, 2020 [10 favorites]
-cashmere lounge set, from Everlane (or a soft lounge set, from Aerie or Abercrombie if Everlane is too spendy)
-an infrared sauna blanket
-a weighted eye mask, good for yoga, meditation, and naps
-a gift card to Mountain Rose Herbs and a book or two
-an electric blanket for the car, helps keep my feet and legs warm
-does she have or want a Kindle or e-reader? I have one now and wish I’d gotten one sooner.
-an acupressure mat, so good for (my) body pain and meditation/breathing exercises
-CBD bath bombs and/or edibles, a bath tray, and some nice candles
-cozy outdoor boots, like these shearling-lined Birkenstocks
And finally, people make fun of it but Goop has great gift guides. Obviously some of the products are more ~ out there ~ than others but it’s fun to browse and I always get good ideas that I can pass on to my partner or family (or give to girlfriends).
posted by stellaluna at 12:19 PM on December 30, 2020 [10 favorites]
Response by poster: stellaluna oh my god that sauna blanket
posted by sewellcm at 12:21 PM on December 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by sewellcm at 12:21 PM on December 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
I have very similar interests/dietary restrictions/a partner with a recent MS diagnosis who does a lot of this stuff also. Related things I/we like: an air fryer (allows for recreation of a variety of gluteny foods), an instant pot, a subscription to Yoga Selection and/or relevant props such as a yoga bolster or yoga chair (this would all vary depending on what kind of yoga she's into, though), a meditation cushion, a weighted blanket, blank journals, the book The Paleo Approach (about autoimmune disease and diet) by Sarah Ballantyne, a Joovv light (again, would probably want to figure out if she's into this specifically, but it helps me and my partner feel better, especially during winter). I could probably recommend more books and crafty stuff, but that would vary even more depending on what specifically she's into.
posted by lgyre at 12:59 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by lgyre at 12:59 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
A bit out there but I just got a muse meditation headset (monitors your brain during meditation) and it’s so much fun!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:22 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:22 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
You would probably have to check with her, but Ployes buckwheat flour is gluten free, and can be made into delicious crepe-like pancakes (more recipes on their website). They sell gift boxes with things like maple syrup and blueberry jam. I've made them before, and they are very good.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 2:21 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 2:21 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Underbelly Yoga subscription (lots of accommodations for different body needs)
Someone upthread mentioned a giant hoodie; I have The Comfy and it's been my favorite thing since receiving it last Christmas.
A nice yoga bolster if she doesn't have one (or a different shape if she has one already)
A really good throw blanket...my UnHide lil marsh blanket is so beloved I bought a second one to keep at my boyfriend's, but if your budget is higher then Minky Couture is supposed to be really delightful, or Bearaby which is weighted.
posted by assenav at 4:14 PM on December 30, 2020 [4 favorites]
Someone upthread mentioned a giant hoodie; I have The Comfy and it's been my favorite thing since receiving it last Christmas.
A nice yoga bolster if she doesn't have one (or a different shape if she has one already)
A really good throw blanket...my UnHide lil marsh blanket is so beloved I bought a second one to keep at my boyfriend's, but if your budget is higher then Minky Couture is supposed to be really delightful, or Bearaby which is weighted.
posted by assenav at 4:14 PM on December 30, 2020 [4 favorites]
Therabox subscription. I don't subscribe but hear good things- self-care, something positive and soothing to look forward to. A lot of the suggestions above are things you'd find in the box. There are easily found reviews and examples of past boxes to get an idea. There are usually discounts to be found as well.
posted by maya at 5:12 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by maya at 5:12 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
Natori Calm Pants are wonderful. No more nervous pants!
posted by BibiRose at 5:44 PM on December 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by BibiRose at 5:44 PM on December 30, 2020 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: There are so many things that she'd love in this thread, you are all incredible!
posted by sewellcm at 5:47 PM on December 30, 2020
posted by sewellcm at 5:47 PM on December 30, 2020
If she loves reading, would she also like a deluxe Scrabble board? I got a very nice timber one for Christmas that came with it’s own turntable and everything. Jut my 2c.
posted by Jubey at 6:47 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Jubey at 6:47 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
You could get her a subscription to Dave Asprey's biohacker box. She'll get a selection of health/wellness items to try, and the next box won't be released until March, so her gift fatigue will have a chance to wear off!
posted by Hermes32 at 9:08 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Hermes32 at 9:08 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
Don’t remember what gift guide I got these slipper socks from but I requested them for Christmas and immediately got more for my friends
posted by wowenthusiast at 9:10 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by wowenthusiast at 9:10 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
Make your own wellness basket with stuff from Dollar Tree? :)
posted by kschang at 9:53 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by kschang at 9:53 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
I received the Amy Pullover from Universal Standard for Christmas. Even among my 2020-expanded comfy clothes collection, it’s immediately the most comfortable thing I own. They have lots of comfy clothes (and normal clothes too) and are a rad company in terms of being inclusive.
For self care things, I’ll go the opposite direction and suggest: are there any tasks you can take off her plate via outsourcing? Meal prep, cleaning, dog walking, whatever. You may already have this covered, but as someone with chronic pain and other ailments, gifts in this vein are always hugely appreciated.
Or, for more stuff to ponder, I present the website for the podcast Gee, Thanks Just Bought It. Many gift ideas, lots outside the typical gift guide fare.
posted by bluloo at 11:37 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
For self care things, I’ll go the opposite direction and suggest: are there any tasks you can take off her plate via outsourcing? Meal prep, cleaning, dog walking, whatever. You may already have this covered, but as someone with chronic pain and other ailments, gifts in this vein are always hugely appreciated.
Or, for more stuff to ponder, I present the website for the podcast Gee, Thanks Just Bought It. Many gift ideas, lots outside the typical gift guide fare.
posted by bluloo at 11:37 PM on December 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
You might have this covered already, but in addition to a thoughtful gift, the planning of a birthday dinner and cake is really wonderful. Perhaps there's a favorite restaurant meal you can preorder or a cake from her favorite GF bakery that you can get to surprise her with. Not having to plan or make things for your own birthday is really a treat that (often) women don't get to enjoy. I love that you're thinking about this ahead of time!
posted by LKWorking at 7:13 AM on December 31, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by LKWorking at 7:13 AM on December 31, 2020 [4 favorites]
my nordstrom pajamas are my favorite gift, they feel so lux
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/nordstrom-lingerie-moonlight-pajamas/3757610
posted by monster_a at 9:37 AM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/nordstrom-lingerie-moonlight-pajamas/3757610
posted by monster_a at 9:37 AM on December 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
I love the Core - it's like Fitbit but for meditation - and it has daily guided meditations uploaded a la peloton.
posted by egeanin at 2:56 PM on January 2, 2021
posted by egeanin at 2:56 PM on January 2, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by littlegreen at 11:22 AM on December 30, 2020 [2 favorites]