This is a great list! Thank you. I appreciate the generosity nudge, too: one of the great gifts of coming out of graduate student poverty into two incomes was the chance to give more generously while still living fairly simply.
And I'm with you: so many of my pleasures aren't buyable. It's the first sip of tea in the morning, the sunrise walk to school with the kids in the winter, the feel of a freshly inked cheap fountain pen. (Maybe a cheap fountain pen would be my thing?) But it's also nice to share tangible goodness, and I appreciate what you've curated here!
I want those overalls! And for plant lovers with good intentions but little time I recommend building terrariums. I search resale shops for interesting glass containers (all sizes), and for glass things that might make good terrarium toppers. Then I find the plants that fit. (This summer I gathered moss and tiny ferns from our yard in Montreat, along with tiny but interesting river rocks, and brought Montreat home with me. It is magical!) The point being I’ve had some of the terrariums for 8 years and only watered them once or twice a year. Anyway, I always love reading your thoughts and hearing them on Sunday. Mom does, too. “Reading/hearing Amy” would be the gift I would give if I were going to such a gift exchange.
This was so much fun to read! You're right that it's a great conversation starter :) Can't wait to see what you bring and to be with y'all. My first thought when I learned about the gift exchange was that my ADHD medication is my favorite thing from the past year lol. Obviously not going to wrap that up and not everyone would use the Ilia lip and cheek stick i fell in love with this year, either, so TBD for me too!
"After its founding in 2011 as a free, outdoor group workout, its popularity exploded during the pandemic, expanding to some 3,400 groups across the country from 1,900, aiming to solve, as John Lambert, a.k.a. Slaughter, the network’s chief executive, put it, 'a problem that society at large and men definitely didn’t even know they had: middle-age male loneliness.' ”
Barring that, a Lodge cast iron skillet. Made in the USA, cheap, durable, only gets better with time. I assume everyone already has one (or five), but if you don't, what are you even doing with your life?
I should clarify, I've had Lodge cast iron for a long time, but just bought a smaller 10" skillet this year specifically for camping and cooking over campfires, hence the 2023 designation.
I hope you're bringing those dish towels to the exchange! And I'm thankful for you anchoring my Substack experience this year. And for you, just in-general-like. A wonderful season to you, Jack, Rosie, and Owen!
This is a great list! Thank you. I appreciate the generosity nudge, too: one of the great gifts of coming out of graduate student poverty into two incomes was the chance to give more generously while still living fairly simply.
And I'm with you: so many of my pleasures aren't buyable. It's the first sip of tea in the morning, the sunrise walk to school with the kids in the winter, the feel of a freshly inked cheap fountain pen. (Maybe a cheap fountain pen would be my thing?) But it's also nice to share tangible goodness, and I appreciate what you've curated here!
I want those overalls! And for plant lovers with good intentions but little time I recommend building terrariums. I search resale shops for interesting glass containers (all sizes), and for glass things that might make good terrarium toppers. Then I find the plants that fit. (This summer I gathered moss and tiny ferns from our yard in Montreat, along with tiny but interesting river rocks, and brought Montreat home with me. It is magical!) The point being I’ve had some of the terrariums for 8 years and only watered them once or twice a year. Anyway, I always love reading your thoughts and hearing them on Sunday. Mom does, too. “Reading/hearing Amy” would be the gift I would give if I were going to such a gift exchange.
That is so sweet. And I love the terraria!
I agree about those kitchen towels, and my dream writing project is to re-write the Bible from the women's point of view.
I always enjoy reading your work.
This was so much fun to read! You're right that it's a great conversation starter :) Can't wait to see what you bring and to be with y'all. My first thought when I learned about the gift exchange was that my ADHD medication is my favorite thing from the past year lol. Obviously not going to wrap that up and not everyone would use the Ilia lip and cheek stick i fell in love with this year, either, so TBD for me too!
I started using Ilia this year too... I think you could get away with that :-)
It's the best!!
Oooooh I love gift-giving, this is right in my wheelhouse.
Maybe this isn't the right audience, but my favorite thing from 2023 that I would give away would be F3.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/24/us/f3-workout-men-texas.html
"After its founding in 2011 as a free, outdoor group workout, its popularity exploded during the pandemic, expanding to some 3,400 groups across the country from 1,900, aiming to solve, as John Lambert, a.k.a. Slaughter, the network’s chief executive, put it, 'a problem that society at large and men definitely didn’t even know they had: middle-age male loneliness.' ”
Barring that, a Lodge cast iron skillet. Made in the USA, cheap, durable, only gets better with time. I assume everyone already has one (or five), but if you don't, what are you even doing with your life?
https://a.co/d/47b92F0
Merry Christmas to you and Jack and the family!
I should clarify, I've had Lodge cast iron for a long time, but just bought a smaller 10" skillet this year specifically for camping and cooking over campfires, hence the 2023 designation.
Love this! And I'm currently looking at our...four 😬 cast iron skillets...
I hope you're bringing those dish towels to the exchange! And I'm thankful for you anchoring my Substack experience this year. And for you, just in-general-like. A wonderful season to you, Jack, Rosie, and Owen!
Grateful for you and Regan too!