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True to form, the ideas included in our 2019 gift guide are Berry&Grove owned and approved. Meaning these are all items we have, use, and LOVE, or items we’ve actually gifted others. They’ve all made our life better, and we hope you enjoy them too. Happy shopping!
A categorized list with explanations, followed by a condensed list sorted by store/purchase platform.
Considerations for inclusion:
- Useful and/or meaningful. You won’t find a single mention of generic candles or cologne here.
- Immediate use or handy to have — nothing that requires DIY on your part or ends up being a project (that collects dust) on their part.
- Something special – let’s assume folks buy themselves what they actually need. Gift something that is a level above necessity. Not too flashy, but also not socks.
Inexpensive (less than $20)
One Line a Day Journal. I know you’re not supposed to grab anything if your house is on fire, but I’m telling you — I’d grab this book. For five years I’ve kept it on my bedside table and wrote a very brief and boring note about the day. Each page is a day with spaces for five years on it, so with each passing year you can look back and see what you were doing that same day. It’s an incredible memory-keeping gift, with relatively little collective effort to actually journal or put together anything special.
Popcorn microwave popper. Sometimes the most random gift is the best. A dear friend got this for me when she witnessed me catch popcorn on fire while making it on the stove, and then dutifully mix popcorn/oil in a paper bag in the microwave, all in an effort to not consume pre-packaged microwave popcorn. This thing is a game changer for popcorn lovers everywhere. Pick however much you want to make. Relatively little cleanup. No oil/butter required. Sold. (I have this one, but this version appears to be more popular).
Cold brew maker. I like cold brew 365 days a year. Sure, I drink hot coffee when it’s freezing out. But what if I want a small pick-me-up at 2 pm and don’t want to brew coffee? Having a stash of cold, smooth, always-ready coffee is such a treat. Perfect for a coffee snob who actually brews coffee at home (it’s just enough effort to make/maintain that a regular Starbucks goer probably won’t be swayed).
Car window breaker and seatbelt cutter. For anyone, really. It’s a bit random, but unarguably practical. A unique gift that says “I hope you are never in a serious car accident, but if you are, here’s something that can help you escape.” Impersonal yet thoughtful.
Mini milk frother. For dressing up your brewed coffee without splurging on an espresso machine. This is high on my “can’t live without” list. 1. Pour half and half in mug. 2. Froth it! 3. Pour in syrup and regular brewed coffee. 4. Enjoy a warm caffeinated beverage reminiscent of a latte without the cost or effort.
Torani vanilla syrup and pumps. Speaking of upping your coffee game (and avoiding the weird ingredients in your coffee creamer) – your very own flavored syrup! Makes your coffee bar look super fancy for hosting brunches and gives you flexibility for the amount of flavor in your home brew.
Emergency night light. We use this as our hallways nightlight. It stays plugged into an outlet and always functions as a nightlight, but BONUS – is charged and stays on if power goes out. In the darkness of a power outage it’s a guaranteed go-to light source and walkway safety device. And DOUBLE BONUS it pops out into a flashlight so you can grab it and find other lights during said power outage.
Tobacco Cedar Candle by The Collection. Did we say no candles? This one gets a pass, as Mr. Berry & Grove insists this isn’t a normal, generic candle and promises it will truly spark joy in whatever home it enters.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf game. Almost universally appropriate (ages 8 and up), this role-playing game is perfect to have on hand for families or small groups.
[Not your average] Infinity Scarf. We *finally* found it! The perfect infinity scarf. The main requirement was actually fitting within the neck opening of a winter coat. This scarf is smaller/tighter than most infinity scarves, and not made of bulky material. Hooray! We’re in love.
Leather wrap bracelet (customizable). I got this for my husband as a Father’s Day gift, and to my delight and surprise, he wears it every single day. Intended to be personalized with scripture, I opted instead to customize it with a song lyric snippet plus our boys’ names.
Ice Scraper Mitt. If you know someone who has a car, parks outside, lives where it snows and does not have this mitt scraper, you must buy this for them at once. They will think of your and your thoughtful generosity every time they grumpily trudge out to clear their windshield. You will be a hero, of sorts.
Toasts book. Sometimes the Amazon description is better than anything we would write: “For anyone who will ever face a sea of expectantly raised glasses, or anyone who is fascinated by words and word-play, this rich compendium of toasts for every occasion will prove as entertaining as it is useful.” Get it for: anyone who throws parties, likes to dabble in bar tending, or enjoys having a thoughtful sentiment on-hand at all times.
Leather iPhone wallet case. For someone who wants to be extra fancy, yet functional.
Utter Nonsense game. A hilarious go-to game for any gathering. We’re huge fans.
Headphones headband. The ultimate treat for anyone who notoriously watches Netflix in bed and falls asleep with earbuds poking their head.
When I Pray for You. Try to get through reading this book without tearing up, I dare you. (And it’s a good cry, like “I love this kid so much!” cry, not a weird sad cry like when reading “I’ll Love You Forever.”) Our top recommendation for a general children’s gift. It’s a little long, so it won’t keep the attention of super little ones, but the sentiment will last for years.
Mid-Range ($20-50)
Men’s slippers. Fancy outside, fuzzy inside, no-fuss slip-on. For the male in your life who insists they don’t need anything more than athletic socks, but you know they’ll secretly love shuffling around in style.
Patent prints. A genius gift for a tricky person. This Etsy shop has patent drawings for a huge variety of items, printed in a huge variety of styles (or on a t-shirt!) This is such a unique gift that can honor the gift receiver without being over-the-top mushy or personal. We challenge you to find a person you couldn’t buy a patent print for. Soccer lover? Get the patent print for a soccer goal. Someone who enjoys crappy jokes? Get the patent drawing for toilet paper on a t-shirt. Endless possibilities, thoughtful gifts. (P.S. We bought the 8×10 print and purchased our own gallery frame from Target to complete the gift.)
Compass necklace. This wonderful Etsy shop pairs simple compass necklaces with meaningful packaging. The label for the gift receiver (birthday, nurse, mentor, teacher, “if you lose your way,” “you got this,” etc.) plus an uplifting message displayed in the box helps attach meaning and inspiration to the necklace. Received as a 30th birthday gift, it’s now an almost-daily staple in my wardrobe.
Portable car battery charger. Yes, I have AAA. Yes, I have a newer car that turns head lights off by itself. I *still* take this with me for peace of mind on long trips or if I’m going somewhere that I realllllly don’t want to get stuck with a dead battery. When my car battery was on the fritz, this device went with me every time I left home. I had to use it multiple times until I could get my battery replaced. Automotive endeavors are not my forte, but I felt capable and competent with this thing. Plus, I didn’t have to wait for AAA.
Top-Tier ($50 – $100)
Yes, my “top tier” is around $100. We are solidly middle class over here.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera (mini Polaroids!) If you fret about not printing any photos, introduce the opposite problem — printing every single one! Grab this nostalgic novelty for anyone in your life that loves snapping photos. Perfect for capturing the adventures of everyday life to special party moments and displaying them in real-time. *Don’t forget the film!* Available in a rainbow of colors (looks like “ice blue” is the cheapest at the time of publishing).
Retractable outlet reels. For the person in your life who likes doing projects in the garage/shop that require electric tools. No more extension cords strung across the floor. No more trying to *find* extension cords, or wrapping them up. Just reach up, grab the end, plug it in and get to work. When your done, the cord gets sucked up into the reel above your head and you feel so, so fancy. (We got our model at an estate sale, but the one linked here is similar has good reviews.)
Harmony remote and hub: All you need to know is that there’s a remote shortcut named “Good morning, Sarah!” that, when pressed, turns on the TV, switches the input to antennae, and turns the channel to the TODAY show all in in fell swoop. Also, my preschooler knows how to use the programmed Netflix shortcut on this fancy-pants remote to turn on Octonauts whenever he wants. AND I can pop into the Harmony app and turn down the volume from across the house when I’m feeding the baby and someone got ambitious with the volume control. Basically, it brings together all your TV inputs (antennae, app system like Roku) and allows you to create shortcuts to each, also controlled by an app when you inevitably can’t locate the remote. The whole thing is unnecessary yet so, so wonderful. If your family operates like mine, this will be a gift your husband buys “for the family.”
For parents/kids-specific ideas, check out out posts on nursing mothers and general “what I wish I’d put on my registry.”
