My Christmas List

Seeing at the blog is only 5-ish months old, I’ve never had the space to do an official ‘gift guide’. As an enneagram 2, I’m here for helping others with gifting ideas, as for a formal gift guide, I’m not so sure that is my lane. I will leave that to the professionals.

Welcome to my very unofficial, official Christmas list. I’ll be sharing KPW’s and the Babies’ list along with a few other ideas for friends and family over the next few days. Remember that Christmas lists aren’t like to-do lists. I am not expecting all of these things to get crossed off. They are simply ideas that I have collected over the last year or so.

Speaking of collecting ideas, the brilliance of my Christmas Gifting Spreadsheet (at least IMHO) is I keep these ideas at the bottom of the active year tab and can reference them year-after-year, both for myself and for our family and friends.

And because one list is never enough, I also have a “Gift Ideas” list on Alexa so I can easily say “Hey Alexa, add fleece jackets for the babies to the gift ideas list” while I’m standing in the kitchen making pb&j sandwiches and an idea comes out of nowhere. I update it all year long.

My Alexa list compliments my running ‘gift ideas list’ in the Notes app on my phone. If you don’t have a running list, start one now, you will thank yourself for upcoming brithdays, holidays and next year for Christmas.

KNW’s 2020 Christmas List:

1. Bearby Blanket: Remind me to add this to the discussion list for TMS. I wish I had filmed KPW’s reaction when I casually mentioned that I was putting this weighted blanket at the top of my Christmas wishlist. The promised more restful sleep and the gorgeous design have me smitten. If I were betting, I’m thinking this will not be showing up this year which means I can put it back on the list next year 😉
2. Half Baked Harvest Cookbook: I love to cook and while it doesn’t happen that often in this current season in life, I have been drooling over this set of cookbooks and recipes friends have shared over the last few months. I’d love to add both her cookbooks to my collection.
3. Lake Pajamas Cozy Robe: Leave it to Lake to introduce a new, more ‘wintery warm’ robe just before the holidays. My pima cotton lake robes are my forever favorite and I have to think that this would be a welcomed addition to my ever-growing robe collection.
4. Hill House Dress: I feel like 2020 was the year of the house dress and I’m committed to helping usher this trend into 2021. I have multiple friends who snagged a dress in the last drop and say they live up to the hype. I would be quite pleased to find one under the Christmas tree.
5. Julie Vos Pearl Bracelet: My love of Julie Vos jewelry is well documented. To me it is timeless, classic and approachable. The price point isn’t crazy but it feels luxurious. I’d love to add the pearl bracelet to my stack.
6. Dagne Dover Combo Wallet: A dear friend introduced me to this brand and I’ve had it on my radar ever since. I haven’t pulled the trigger on anything but fell in love with the multi-purpose wallet meets clutch meets cross-body bag (among a few other gorgeous pieces). I am not in the handbag season of life, but could 100% see the value in this combo wallet piece. And that blue color is gorgeous.
7. Toaster Oven: KPW and I have started a habit of asking for some sort of household appliance as a together gift from our family. I’m 100% aware that this is an absurd price to pay for a toaster oven but we use our current one at least once a day and the back coil is breaking and needs to be replaced. I have wanted an air fryer for a while and love that I can also use as a secondary convection oven. It seems like a home run multi-use appliance that is also smart enough to keep me from burning the toast, which I do about once a week. (Last year we got our cordless Dyson and I wonder daily what we didn’t before we had it.)
8. Woven Rainbow Clutch: Everything in Mimi’s shop is gorgeous but I’ve had my eye on this clutch for months. It hasn’t been in stock in ages but I keep checking. A girl can dream about this clutch restocking and a vacation plan in 2021 so I have a reason to use it.
9. Uggs: I am kind of laughing at this addition to my list. It’s 2020 and I am almost 40, yet here I am putting Uggs on my Christmas list. Not sure if this is the most fashionable choice but I think they would be perfect warm winter shoe to wear when playing outside with the babies. Then I saw my friend Emily list a different version on her Christmas list for the same reason and feel even more validated by my choice. Update: So the pair I have been eyeing is already sold out in almost all sizes so I guess I will be substituting these instead.
10. Drinking Glasses: The set of 10oz juice glasses have quickly become a house favorite and I would love to add the larger glasses to our collection. I was shocked at the heft of these glasses when I opened the box for the first time.
11. Cool Sneakers: I am not a cool sneakers girl even though I want to be a cool sneakers girl. KPW has strong opinions on sneakers and he signed off on these being ok. With his confirmation of credibility and my love of the white and copper color way – these immediately made my short list for this year. Polished yet practical. A double win in my book.

KNW’s Past Christmas List Favorites:

1. Julie Vos Pearl Studs: I have the smaller size and they are perfect for every day use. Great quality with a little extra pizzaz and not to heavy.
2. Hunter Rain Boots: I got these short rain boots for Christmas last year and find myself wearing them all the time. I think they’re a much easier option than the tall version for everyday use. Not as heavy/bulky but still keep your feet dry. Perfect for our temperate NC climate.
3. Foreo: This is cheating because I bought this for myself in October and didn’t get for Christmas. But for argument sake, let’s pretend it was a Christmas gift because if it was, it would easily be in my favorite 3 presents of 2020. My face has never been cleaner. It is anti-bacterial. And it holds a charge forever. I take it in the shower and scrub off all my make-up. I am obsessed and wish I could gift it to everyone I know.
4. Nespresso Machine: This item deserves it’s own post and I’m gonna try hard to make it happen before Christmas. I have lots of thoughts. To sum up, I love this machine for the ease of at-home lattes. I’ve had it for years and still use it all the time. When we replace it, I am going with this one only because it makes both single coffees and expressos. I know I will miss the automatic milk steamer but the allure of both coffee and espresso is enough to win me over specifically because KPW like single cups of coffee.
5. Lake Pajamas Robe: I just checked at I got my hydrangea robe for Christmas last year. I feel like I’ve owned it forever. It was a stable in my travel packing (for the 2 months of 2020 when I traveled) and I can’t remember not owning it. It’s easily a top-five favorite item in my closet. I would say it’s luxury but practical.
6. Monogrammed Tervis Tumbler: The MVP of The Morning Show. I got a set last year from my best friend and have used them nearly every day since. Yetis keep my coffee too hot and I love that I can microwave as needed to re-warm.
7. JCrew Coats: I have received multiple coats over the last few years thanks to a great Black Friday deal at J. Crew. The cocoon coat is even more beautiful in person. The puffer is darling and warm without being bulky. And the raincoat is pretty yet wildly practical.
8. Cookbooks: I think I ask for a real cookbook every year. I love flipping through them and also love supporting people who I have through a desperate google search or Pinterest rabbit hole – Skinnytaste, Joanna Gaines, and Crissy Teigen are a few favorites.
9. Apple Watch + Bands: I wear my Apple watch every day. I love that it can keep me off my phone but still connected in case someone really needs me. The tortoise band might be my most sought after accessory. Someone asks about it nearly every time I wear it.
10. Card Case: I am forever losing my credit card because I stick it in my back pocket. I have lost it fewer times once I received this leather card case. The darling monogram is the perfect touch of pretty meets practical.
11. Rothy’s: My forever most favorite pair is my white sneakers the camo points are giving my forever faithful sneakers a run for their money. I love that they are made from recycled plastic bottles. I also love how they are comfortable yet polished.
12. Monogrammed Sun Hat: It might be winter weather outside, but don’t blink on this hat. Your summer self will thank you. I pack it for every trip to the beach/pool/outside in our backyard. It is packable. It is darling. It protects my face without being outrageously large.
13. Cheese Board: KPW gave this to me for Christmas a few years ago along with this monogrammed version. Friday night as become charcuterie night around here so they get regular use. Be warned that they are heavy.
14. Diff Bella Sunglasses: Again, this is cheating because I didn’t get them as a Christmas gift, but I can comfortably say I would have been quite pleased to receive them and wouldn’t hate to get another color way for Christmas this year. I have said it before and I will say it again. These sunglasses are the sisterhood of traveling glasses. They look good on everyone.
15. Cozy Set from Loft: I’ve packed this set for the beach (for that post-beach shower change of clothes) in the dead of summer. I’ve worn on a chilly afternoon in February. I would say it’s perfect for both. I hit 37 and embraced the fully matching sweatsuit look and I am totally ok with it.

The hardest part of a gift suggestion list for me is the need to want to explain and provide background and details on every single item and the feeling of regret for leaving great things off. And in full transparency, I don’t really need anything. I’m overwhelmed at the abundance of blessings in our family. This overwhelm is balanced with a love of gifting (both giving and receiving).

For me, it’s a delicate balance. And probably the reason I’ve held off on ever attempting this before. But welcome to 2020 – leaning in and sharing this bit of my heart and Christmas list in hopes that you find it helpful.Have other ideas on your list for this year or favorite things from years past? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

xo,

KNW