The Simple 2020 Gift Guide

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Consider this your one-stop-shop for buying gifts for everyone on your list.

I’ve already bought gifts for nearly all the people on my list, and I’ve been thoroughly delighted in the number of gifts I’ve purchased from small, ethically-run businesses I love— gifts I know my friends and family will love!

In the past, it has felt like it’s been an either/or decision— get people something they’ll really truly like OR get them something from a shop that supports artisans or gives back to nonprofits to support hunger relief or environmental protections.

But I’ve found several shops that carry such beautiful products (at affordable prices!) that my friends and family either 1) explicitly requested (thanks to those to put together detailed lists), or 2) didn’t request, but would love!

Of course, I added some gifts from Etsy and Amazon that are either on my personal wish list or the list of gift ideas I have for others. I LOVE supporting small businesses, but sometimes Amazon is more convenient, especially this year as we’re trying to shop more online and not go to as many stores, am I right? I prioritize small businesses and ethical shopping and then go to Etsy or Amazon, personally, but you do you!

A note on affordability: I know that it’s subjective. What’s affordable looks different to all of us. Please know that I took into consideration different income levels and tried to keep gift ideas pretty inexpensive. I do believe in good quality, so none of the items are cheap for cheap’s sake, though some are great deals! None of these items are objectively break-the-bank types of items because that’s not what I look for during the holidays, and I don’t think that’s usually what people come to gift guides for. In my experience, people typically peruse gift guides for those inexpensive-to-middle of the road gifts, so that’s what you’ll find here.

Bombas gift set for her (available in other colors/sets).

Bombas gift set for her (available in other colors/sets).

Gifts for Everyone

Bombas socks — these are my new favorite! They’re constructed with such fabulous quality, and they come in various designs, heights, and colors. I’m loving the festive sets right now and may have just ordered some for several people on my list (shhh, don’t tell). You can get 25% off through this link.

Chocolate bar set - Who doesn’t like good chocolate? And you could divide up the set to put in stockings (as long as the fireplace doesn’t melt them!) to gift these to multiple people (and maybe keep one for yourself!).

A great-smelling candle - Mercy Candle Co. has some amazing candles, and the titles are so creative as to evoke certain feelings and celebrate seasons, holidays, and occasions so well. They have some holiday ones that are currently on sale, too! Check out this Thrill of Hope one I have my eye on.

A funny mug - Like this “Jesus saves. Coffee helps.” one that I laughed out loud at. Start someone’s morning off on the right foot!

Theo Peppermint Cocoa Cups - these just sound delicious and would make a great add-on to anyone’s gift!

Cloth napkins - I’m a huge fan of reusable things, and cloth napkins are a fave of mine. This company has several fun prints to choose from.

Lake Life glasses from Northern Glasses.

Lake Life glasses from Northern Glasses.

Gifts for Him

Grill tools - These are the kinds of things they might not buy for themselves if they think they can get by with just one tool instead of the whole set, so spoil them and get them all!

Sweatpants - I love everything I’ve gotten from Pact, and if you’re looking for some good-quality essential clothing items, look no further! These sweatpants look so comfy!

A new knit hat - Have you heard of Krochet Kids? They have so many cozy things that you’ll want to buy for all your people! You can start with a cozy beanie or slouchy hat for any guy on your list.

Lake Life glasses set - How great would these be for a guy who loves chilling by the lake or at the cabin?

Mountain Pass infusion kit - What a fun way to make your own custom drink! Alcoholic or not, it sounds like a great gift!

Coffee-scented soap - For any coffee-loving guy who’s averse to “girly” soap, there’s this one that smells like a cup of coffee!

End War coffee - What a great cause to support with a coffee purchase!

Bulldog beard oil - I gave my husband some Bull Dog products last year, and he was a bit skeptical to deviate from his familiar products, but it went really well! And I love everything I’ve ever gotten from Grove.

Gratitude bracelet from Mercy House Global.

Gratitude bracelet from Mercy House Global.

Gifts for Her

Earrings from my sweet friend Soo Lin at Simply Lin— She makes these all in small batches, and they’re so adorable! I bought a couple pairs for friends this year, and it was fun to be able to support her in the process.

Gratitude bracelet - We could all use some reminders to be grateful this year, right? In the midst of the hard things and the crazy things, there are still things to give thanks for, but we might need a little reminder to look for them. What better way than with a bracelet we can wear?

Tote bag - Because who can ever have enough (and certainly never too many) tote bags? This one is so pretty!

Gold and wood drop earrings - I can’t get over how beautiful these earrings are!

Gold arrow stud earring set - For those who aren’t big on dangling earrings or anything too complicated, these simple studs are so lovely! And far less likely to be a target for babies and littles to tug on.

A beautiful scarf - The colors in this one are just lovely, and it’s even called wine and chocolate— how perfect!

Lovely lavender soap - Let your friend, family member, or yourself enjoy a soothing bath or shower with this lavender-scented soap!

100 Days of Joy and Strength book - I love Candace Cameron Bure, and a book like this would make for a great gift!

Cozy pajamas - these pajama pants (there’s also a coordinating top) look so soft and cozy, you’ll want to gift a pair and get one for yourself!

Convertible mittens - for those who need their fingers to type and swipe on their phones but also need them to be kept warm in between, these are the solution.

Mixed metallic coin purse - Such a stylish way to carry money (or whatever small items you’d like; I think cosmetics could work, too!).

A beautiful bandanna - These come in several lovely designs and colors, you could pick one out for each woman on your list!

A unique ring - These coil wrap rings are so beautiful and not like anything I’ve seen anywhere else. Delight a friend or treat yourself with one!

The Hoot hat for kids from Krochet Kids.

The Hoot hat for kids from Krochet Kids.

Gifts for Kids

A portable tic-tac-toe set - How adorable is this travel-friendly tic-tac-toe set from Mercy House Global?! It’s on my list of ideas to gift to kids for a fun twist on a classic game, and I love the heart-shaped pieces!

Sea friends soap - These are so cute and would make bath time so fun!

The cutest owl hat ever - I can’t get over how adorable this owl hat is!

Narwhal rattle - Amma’s Umma is my favorite ethical boutique of all time, and they source a bunch of adorable kids’ toys, including baby rattles like this narwhal one!

Be Strong and Brave canteen - I love the idea of kids sipping from this and being reminded on a daily basis that they, too, can be strong and brave!

Prayers to Share cards for kids - What a sweet idea to stick a note in a kid’s lunchbox or have them give to a friend or family member they’re praying for!

Elephant rattle - These come in a few colors (girl, boy, neutral) and would be a great addition to any baby gift!

Noah’s Ark puppet bag - What a fun toy this is, and it doubles as a way to carry other toys around.

Creative games - I like things that encourage kids to think outside the box, and this activity kit encourages kids to turn garbage into science— it’s fun, creative, and environmentally-friendly!

Cactus-building wooden toy - This is adorable, and I think little ones would really enjoy it! Bonus: it’s sustainably made.

Personalized wallets from Etchcraft on Etsy.

Personalized wallets from Etchcraft on Etsy.

Personalized Gifts

Leather wallet - Add a sweet note inside and/or initials to the outside of a nice wallet for one of the men on your list.

Initial necklace - I like these for a stocking stuffer to add some delicate bling for any of the women on your list. Understated and beautiful, anyone would love them!

Photo blanket/quilt - You can upload photos to design your own custom photo blanket for a loved one, and I’m sure they’ll treasure it for a long time to come.

Cutting/grilling board - I think this would be a great gift for the grilling master in your life— it’s practical, but it could also boost their ego!

Acacia cutting board and serving tray from Amazon.

Acacia cutting board and serving tray from Amazon.

Gifts for the Host

Wooden cutting/serving board - Nothing compares to a wooden cutting board and/or serving board in my book. They look so classy and simple without anything fancy added to them, and they hold up so much better than plastic.

Cheese knives - A common component of serving is a charcuterie board, and you can’t have one without some nice utensils like these.

Beautiful coasters - If your friends or family members host get-togethers, they really can never have too many coasters to protect their furniture. No matter what their style, these simple stone coasters would make a nice addition.

A metal serving tray - This could be used to either serve food or just as a centerpiece or countertop piece to wrangle other decorative items. I love having trays to keep my spaces clear of clutter, and I think they make great gifts!

Salt and pepper grinder set - There is nothing like freshly ground salt and pepper, my friends. And you can be the kind of person who gifts a beautiful set of grinders to friends or family who like to host; I assure you they’ll get a lot of use.

A gender-neutral apron - I can’t even tell you how much I love this apron! I don’t have it yet, but it’s in my cart. It’s simple and clean, and I love that it’s not girly like so many other aprons are.

A personalized baking pan - I have one of these from my grandma, and I really love it! Bonus: it’s hard to lose or forget at a get-together because it has your name on it!

A cozy blanket - A great addition to anyone’s home, especially in the cold winter months. Who wouldn’t love a cozy blanket?

Little Women rainbow mug from Carrot Top Paper Shop.

Little Women rainbow mug from Carrot Top Paper Shop.

Gifts for the Reader

Book-themed socks - Because why not? These make a fabulous companion for a good book.

Pencil set - Whether your reader friends like to write or underline in books, take notes in a notebook, or jot down grocery lists, these look so pretty!

A pretty journal - Because it’s so much better than a kid’s school notebook or the back of receipts for jotting things down.

A book-themed mug - This one from Carrot Top Paper Shop on Etsy currently has my eye, but they have others, too!

Personalized stationery - I think this would be great for a middle grade or high school reader, but it could be great for any reader on your list!

I’d Rather Be Reading puzzle - Give your bookish friends another hobby that compliments their reading life!

Infusion water bottle from Amazon.

Infusion water bottle from Amazon.

Gifts for the Health & Fitness Folks

Yoga tee - Satva has a wide collection of yoga and athletic wear made from organic material you’ll want to live in all day long, like this yoga tee.

Staple leggings - We’re all living in more comfy clothes these days, right? So we all could use a great foundational pair of leggings, and these go-to leggings from Pact would be a great solution!

Non-rubber resistance bands - I love resistance bands, but do you know what the #1 problem with the traditional ones is? They roll. Ugh. I’ve had my eye on these fabric ones for a while, and I think they’d make a great gift!

An infusion water bottle - This one even has motivational markers on it to remind you (or your friends) to drink water throughout the day. The infusion part lets you (again, or your friends) put fruit or herbs inside to flavor water any number of ways!

An insulated water bottle - This one is eco-friendly and can keep your water cold all day long!

A foam roller - Mine has really come in handy when I over-work any muscles or lift heavier than normal, and it doubles as a great massage! This one is similar.

Exercise dice - These would be so much fun to keep your workout routine varied and interesting! They’re designed for group fitness classes, but they’d be a blast with a friend or even by yourself.

String of nanas plant from Amma’s Umma.

String of nanas plant from Amma’s Umma.

Gifts for plant people

How to House Plant book - a perfect guide for those just starting to grow plants or looking to grow (get it?) their relationship with their plants.

Starfish snake plant - I love snake plants, and this one is no exception!

Mini money plant - How cute is this plant?!

String of nanas plant - This plant looks so elegant!

Terra cotta hanging planter - We need options to clear off our counters and shelves and get all the sunlight for our plants, right?

Plant lady candle - Because candles are life, especially lovely soy ones that aren’t toxic and have a light, lovely scent. This would be a perfect companion to a plant or plant holder for a plant-loving friend or for yourself.

Love note stakes for plants - Sometimes you need some help knowing how to care for your plants, and these beautiful stakes have directions for care printed right on them! You’ll never stumble through plant care again, and they’re so elegant!

Plant lady tote bag - To carry all your tools, or just to proclaim your love of plants— either one works!

Microgreens grow kit - These plants can grow indoors, which makes it a great Christmas gift in the US, since many of us can’t use our outdoor plant beds during the winter.

Foodie Fight game from Amazon.

Foodie Fight game from Amazon.

Gifts for foodies

Fancy-sounding pour-over coffee - How decadent does this churro Vietnamese pour-over coffee sound?!

Cup of sunshine tea - Because we could all use some more sunshine this year, right?

Dark chocolate hot cocoa mix - We’re stepping it up from Swiss Miss, friends, and I don’t think we’re ever going back!

A popcorn set for at-home movie nights - How much fun would this be with the family? I think stovetop popcorn is where it’s at, and this pack has three different kinds of popcorn kernels and a variety of seasonings to add, which means everyone could have their own flavor!

Hot sauce set - For any of your spicy or saucy friends, there are so many options to choose from with these, but I like this set of hot sauces that would make for a fun gift.

A cast iron skillet - These things are fantastic for so many dishes, and true cooks can turn them into heirloom pieces to pass down in their families.

Balsamic vinegar set - Another fun way to give a friend or family member a new taste of something familiar and change up their cooking.

A food-based trivia game - This sounds like so much fun!

Foodie dice - To be used for making new and intriguing concoctions and combinations in the kitchen— count me in!

The Christmas box of oils from Revive.

The Christmas box of oils from Revive.

Gifts for the Family

Advent calendar (and candle) - I bought this from Mercy House Global for myself this year, but I love the idea of having a simple Advent card for each day and a soy candle to burn all month long.

Essential oils - Whether you’re looking for a single oil or a kit, you can find a wide variety and some creative sets from Revive. I recently bought some of these, and I’m loving them! They even have a comparison chart for popular MLM companies so you can find a comparable oil from Revive. This time of year, it would be great to have some cold and flu fighters like these. You can get $10 off through this link. There’s also currently a Black Friday sale going on!

Matching PJs - Hanna Andersson has some really adorable sets of cozy pajamas for the whole family (including your pup), and they look so fun!

Two-person tree hammock - this one comes with bark-protecting straps, a nice added touch for those who want to camp or hang out by the lake without damaging trees!

Forbidden Island game - I had a friend recommend this game when I asked for new game ideas, and it looks like so much fun!

In case these gift ideas weren’t quite enough for you, or if you just can’t get enough, you can check out my favorites list on Amazon!

Some of these links (mostly the Amazon ones) are affiliate links. That means I get a bit of a kickback from any purchases you make through those links, but it doesn’t cost you any extra, and all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting me!

Later, lovely!Jessie.png