2021 Holiday Gift Guide to Spark Joy in this Endless Pandemic: Practical, Useful, and Great Gifts to Keep Loved Ones Warm and Cozy
Hi friends! Here is the 2021 Holiday Gift Guide, the Phil and Mama Edit. We have a wonderfully curated list of gifts for you this year, and we’re sure you’re going to find something here to please even those with everything in their lives! They say the best gifts are from the heart, but let’s be practical for a second. The best gifts are those with purpose and use! So without further ado, let’s get started!
gifts for WFH folks
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Comfy Slippers and Footwear for all day comfort at home
Allbirds Wool Dwellers or Slippers (Super comfy, warm, and soft, and great for all-day wear at home)
Allbirds beautiful fluffy wool loungers, perfect for those who work from home
Folks who work from home spend a majority of their day at home. Still, they shouldn't neglect the comfort of their feet, and a good pair of slippers can be a game-changer. It's no wonder the Allbirds wool dwellers (or slippers) sell out quickly. They feel like clouds kissing your feet and are so soft, comfy, and warm. Wear them with or without socks and feet will be happy all day long at home. (The husband is super happy with his gift!) We at Phil and Mama purchased two pairs before they sold out, and hopefully, they'll be back online soon! (You can also try finding them at a local Allbirds brick and mortar store!) An excellent alternative to the slippers would be the comfy wool loungers. (Be sure to size up if you're normally at 1/2 sizes and your feet are wide.) Whenever I'm feeling lazy, I just slip into my wool loungers, sans socks, and go.
Allbirds also has a great collection of apparel and gifts like hats and scarves (all under $75!), all planet-friendly, and perfect for the holiday season, so be sure to check out their gift sets!
Allbirds Runner Up Mizzles and Trino Socks
Our friends at Allbirds were kind to send is a new pair of Allbirds Runner-Up Mizzles and a pair of my favorite socks (the only socks I wear these days) Allbirds Trino socks. (They’re thin and moisture wicking, so I really love them since my feet tend to get sweaty.) You can read our full honest review of Allbirds Runner Up Mizzles here. The Runner Up Mizzles are warm and water resistant and perfect especially during Pacific Northwest Winters when we’re hit with months after months of rain. The outer soles are also nicely slip resistant. Size up if you’re at half sizes (so choose a 9 instead of an 8 if you normally wear 8.5 in Women’s. These are also my mom’s (she’s 72) favorite daily sneakers. She walks about an hour a day in her pair of runner up mizzles.
And come springtime, I can’t wait to run and jog in my Allbirds tree dashers again! So if you’re thinking ahead of the season, consider gifting Allbirds runners or dashers. They’ll be perfect in warmer weather!
A good cookbook
I’ve authored a cookbook friends! While it won’t be out until June 2022, check it out and preorder today to show support! #representationmatters
Portions of proceeds from sales of this book will go help #stopasianhate
A good food storage system
Face it, we’re eating and cooking at home a lot these days, and we can’t keep using single-use storage and containers like plastic sandwich bags, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. It’s time to move on to more permanent and eco-friendly solutions. Instead of using plastic storage containers, use glass storage (like glass Pyrex) and try this amazing storage system from Stashers.
A cozy weighted blanket
Last year, my husband surprise-gifted me a silver topaz Bearaby Velvet Napper weighted blanket made from Eco-velvet which is sustainably made from 900 plastic bottles fished from the oceans. (100% upcycled, OEKO-Tex 100 and Fair Trade-certified 100% recycled Polyester.) It’s a thoughtful gift. Now Bearaby also have tree nappers, made sustainably from plant materials.
When we were in Kyoto, I slept very well on a tatami while under a heavy kakebuton quilt. Usually, it takes a while for my mind to quiet down, but it only took minutes for me to fall asleep while under a heavy blanket. My new Bearaby Velvet Napper is very helpful, bringing me a sense of comfort and allowing me to sleep longer hours. I love how soft and luxurious this blanket feels, and how it’s made from marine plastics. My only qualm is that it curls and rolls up just a little bit at the edges. They are heavy— starting at 15 pounds.
A “fidget toy” to calm nerves of any age
When we learned about the Purrble, we just had to get one for ourselves. It’s like a Furby but quiet and less annoying, and has a beating heartbeat that can be calmed when someone pets it. The Purrble may be the best “fidget toy” of the year and can help children learn to self-soothe and self-regulation emotions. Phil, who is eight now, fell in love with his Purrble, now named Pebble, at first sight and touch. We overheard him saying, “Calm down, baby,” hugging it to sleep, and saying good bye to it when leaving the house for school this morning. According to Phil, his Purrble is now a part of the family, like any real pet.
Tools to ease back and neck pain (especially from “tech neck”
When I unboxed the Aletha Hip Hook, Jake (my husband) raised his eyebrows. You could definitely tell he was perplexed. “What’s that?” he asked, the puzzled expression on his face still priceless. And adorable!
“A PT’s tool,” I replied, wiggling my eyebrows. “It’s designed to mimic the pressure and angle of a PT’s hands.” I demonstrated how to use the hip hook on myself. I laid on top of the Hip Hook and allowed my own body weight to press against the short and thick hook part (not the handlebar) to release tension in my iliacus muscle.
“Want to try it?” I asked Jake.
“Uh…maybe next time?” He shook his head and walked away. Jake’s not one to warm up to novel things quickly. That’s OK. We can’t both be super adventurous and crazy. That’s how we balance each other out.
As a physical therapist, I can say the Hip Hook works. It digs in deep to specifically release tension in the iliacus muscle, which in turn helps eliminate hip flexor tightness (a common condition most of us who sit suffer from) and helps ease lower back pain.
When using the Hip Hook, locating your psoas and iliacus is the first step. It’s common to have doubts about positioning the hip hook when you’re first using it. I mean, I had a tough time because one, I’ve gained belly fat thanks to the pandemic and staying at home and noshing on junk and comfort foods, and two, I love doubting myself! This is definitely a great gift for people who work from home and sit all day! Also check out the new Nuckle from Aletha; it’ll help you ease neck, pec, and other pains without having to visit a physical therapist.
Some fun Holiday decor (gnomes!)
Cute cuddly plush gnomes from our friends at Christkindl.Live
At first, we didn’t think we’d be into plush gnomes, but the kids in us fell in love as soon as we unboxed a pink glittery and cuddly gnome gifted from our friends at Christkindl.Live. The box our gifts came in had a pretty ribbon and we got a hand-written note. The cuddling plush gnomes are high-quality and sorta magical! You just want to squeeze and hug them, and take care of them, beyond Christmas time! Our gnomes will permanently live on a window sill.
Check out all the amazing gift baskets, Christmas stockings, handmade nutcrackers, and gnome-themed gifts available from our friends at Christkindl.Live
Other gifts we love
A fancy box of handmade chocolates and truffles https://www.recchiuti.com/
High-quality olive oil https://brightland.co/collections/shop
Check out the merch we have for sale (all net proceeds go to help #stopasianhate
Welcome to Chinatown Holiday gift sets https://madeinchinatownny.com/collections/holiday-collection