Holiday Gift Guide to Give People What They Want (What They Really Really Want) — Including Local Austin Gifts

Thanks to the excellent podcast 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s, I’ve rediscovered the Spice Girls. While I really consistently enjoy two of their songs — the Motown-infused “Stop” and the, uh…Charlie’s Angels-influenced “Say You’ll Be There” — I do appreciate the music video for “Wannabe.” It’s shot in a way that looks like one continuous take and features things like back handsprings and a man losing his monocle. Amazing. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, which makes it the perfect intro for this holiday gift guide.

Every year, it can be a struggle to find a gift that resonates with the recipient. You don’t want a dead smile and curt “thank you.” You want genuine enthusiasm and excitement to use the product. Luckily, we’ve got your back. Here are five gifts anyone in the world can get, plus five local Austin recommendations.

Note: A few of these recommendations contain affiliate links, which means if you click on them and order something, I receive a small commission. Still, I only recommend products I use and trust. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and I use any income to help improve the site.

Anytime Occasion Gifts

Danish Style Baking Whisk

I’m not sure what the Danish translation of “baking whisk” is, but I assume it means “more efficient and less messy.” Any time a recipe calls for whisking something, I’m usually watching chunks of batter get stuck to an old-fashioned whisk, or maybe flour and sugar end up all over my kitchen counter. Instead, skip the silliness and just grab a pair of these whisks, which costs less than one of most other kinds of whisks. I literally used it TODAY (well, the day I wrote this, I don’t know when you’ll be reading this guide) to make waffles, and it was an absolute delight. Here’s the waffle recipe, too — a gem from Spend with Pennies.

Don’t Worry Be Ha-PEA: 101 Delicious Clever Food Puns

Wordplay might be one of my favorite things in the world. While others groan at puns, I applaud them like the creative beauties they are. If they’re paired with wonderful food photography? Even better! Marie Saba combines the best of both worlds with her book Don’t Worry Be Ha-PEA: 101 Delicious Clever Food Puns. Marie is a self-taught cook who’s been featured all over the place. Her goal is to use food and creativity to introduce more people to cooking. If you’ve got someone in your life that could use a few more smiles, this is the book for them.

Ask Me About My Podcast Wine Tumbler

Surely you know between one and 32 people who have their own podcast. How do you know this? Because they’ve told you about their podcast. A lot. And I say this as the host of two shows. Perhaps that’s why I’m uniquely qualified to create such a wacky gift. Not a fan of wine? There are also options for t-shirts and cork-backed coasters. Your friends and family can get the word out about their shows one way or the other.

Disappointed Sigh

Think about how often you sigh throughout the day. Sometimes it’s to center yourself. I’ll give a nice deep inhale in and a loud exhale out to pump myself up before a workout or run, or even just as a meditative breath in the shower. Far more often, however, our sighs are of the disappointed variety. And while it’s rude to loudly sigh at someone during, say, a meeting or birthday party, it’s less rude if a button does it for you. You don’t even have to open your mouth to say what we’re all thinking. If nothing else, I highly suggest clicking here to see the demo video of this product.

Wooden Cutting Board

Okay, I have to admit, this is the most expensive recommendation on here. But there’s a good reason for it — wooden cutting boards rock. The grain in wood brings out natural flavors in all kinds of foods, and the board is more versatile and durable than any other material out there. If you’re making the investment, you may as well get some support with it, so I recommend a board from a place like Fifth & Cherry. You’re getting a quality product, for sure, but the board comes with a lifetime guarantee. If something goes awry, they’ll fix it or replace it for free. It’s truly a gift that can be passed down between generations.

Local Austin Gifts

30 Minute Hit Austin

If you’re anything like me, you eat and drink a LOT during the holidays (just look at the other recommendations on this list). From a Christmas ham to eggnog to munching on 67 cookies per day, it can leave you feeling ho-ho-hopelessly stuck on the sofa. So give your recipient the gift of rejuvenation with 30 Minute Hit, a mother/daughter-owned gym that teaches concepts of boxing, kickboxing, and self-defense. This gym is for women only, but because I’m a cool cat, I got to sample the workout, and my goodness, it is EFFECTIVE. Book a free trial here to give it a test — I think you’ll dig it.

ATX Cookies

ATX Cookies is an Austin-based small business that makes custom cookies for every special occasion — not just holidays and birthdays but any reason to share a personalized sweet treat. They even offer their famous DIY Cookie Kits year-round, where you get a dozen themed cookies with packs of icings and sprinkles to decorate your own cookies with family and friends (please don’t judge how terrible mine look). Visit them on Instagram or check out the website at atxcookies.net.

Boxt Wine

Plenty of people like to drink wine, but fewer people know how to talk confidently about it. Sometimes you just want to sit at home on a Tuesday and watch an episode of Derry Girls or Hacks or Welcome to Wrexham or whatever and crack open some wine. Boxt is the gift for you in that case. Each flavor comes with a number, so instead of trying to memorize fancy words like “tannins” or “mouthfeel,” you can simply find the number(s) you enjoy and get them delivered right to your door. One box equals FOUR BOTTLES of wine, which is the type of efficiency I want. Grab a monthly subscription or a one-time purchase and get your drink on.

Teal House Coffee and Bakery

The best cinnamon rolls in Austin live at Teal House. They also have brisket kolaches, which are about as rare as a brisket unicorn. Both are phenomenal and perfect for sharing with a friend. That’s why a Teal House gift card is such a good gift. You can say something like, “Hey, I know you’re not going to be able to eat all that food. I could keep you company?” with a sly grin while raising one or both eyebrows. Works like a charm.

Parts & Labour Gifts

This is perhaps the perfect gift to give someone who doesn’t live in Austin. Parts & Labour features local vendors and artisans, letting “independent makers and small businesses show off Texas-sized talent!” No matter who you’re shopping for, you’ll find something to like amid the wonders. It’s like a super cool garage sale that happens to support several local businesses at once.

May your gift shopping be smooth and without worry. You got this!