It’s the time of year when the holidays sneak up on you, and you’re completely unprepared for
the multitude of gifts you have to buy. Friends, family, co-workers, significant others – the list
seems to grow every year, which means that you’re just getting more popular as time goes on.
Congrats! Here’s hoping your holiday bonus matches your increasing popularity. In the
meantime, we’ve done some of the leg work for you in finding off the cuff gifts perfect for
everyone in your life.
Fit for either a coffee connoisseur looking to expand his or her repertoire, or a novice seeking
an education in one of the most rapidly evolving genres of home food purchases, the Atlas
Coffee Club ($9+) makes the perfect gift. Atlas allows you to try single origin coffee from all over theworld, delivering exotic flavors and homegrown delicacies right to your door. An added bonus
for the socially conscious person in your life, Atlas pays over market price for the beans, which
promotes ethically sustainable farming of the highest quality. (We particularly loved the
chocolate, nutty notes of the options from Ethiopia). Subscriptions vary by price point, making
this is an absolute home run.
Any foodie on your list will be more than happy with a gift from Yummy Bazaar. This super affordable subscription box features curated gourmet food from around the world, allowing customers to shop by region, item and holiday. We love the World Sampler Box ($9.95), which gave us a little taste from everywhere. Best of all, you can use the code TWIST at checkout for 10% off your order! -Amanda Mactas
Tired of gifting the same old bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon to your boss who is obsessed with
Napa? Try a different route with a classy, small batch gin called Brockmans. Brockmans Gin’s
number one priority is sourcing the highest quality botanicals for a smooth, elegant flavor
profile. With a sexy, social-media driven presence that includes memes, Instagram photos of its
users, and a collection of finely tuned recipes, it’ll make your boss feel especially hip.
We all know someone whose hand is always attached to their phone and is always snapping selfies. And yeah, they probably already own a selfie stick or two. This year, help them take their selfie game to new heights (literally) with the ROVA Flying Selfie Drone ($149). Thanks to obstacle avoidance technology and a user friendly app, this fun new way to snap pics is easier than ever. -Amanda Mactas
If your target holiday audience aren’t big gin fans, this off-the-beaten path rum is something to
consider. Naked Turtle is a perfect conversation starter not only because of its name, but
because the sale of each bottle saves a baby sea turtle. If you’re looking to take a break from
Eggnog and Rumchata, you can find recipes for twists on classic rum cocktails on their
whimsical website. Naked Turtle comes in handy as a last-minute gift to bring to that ugly
sweater party you forgot about.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: League of Kitchens is a real crowd pleaser. It’s
thoughtful, creative, and a top notch “activity” gift that doesn’t involve a Groupon. League of
Kitchens is an immersive cooking class where immigrant women hailing from every corner of
the globe teach their native cuisines in every corner of New York City. Having personally taken
two classes with League of Kitchens myself (one with Yamini from India, and one with Damira
from Uzbekistan), I can’t rave about this program enough.
Some people just aren’t winter people. And I’m one of them. One of them few things that makes this cold season better is snuggling up to a fire with a cold beer. That’s why we love No Wake Zone Outfitters’ Let’s Get Toasted Koozie ($4.50), that makes for the perfect fireside companion. Plus, their shop is filled with lake-inspired gear that will get you thinking about the warmer months ahead. Bonus: use the code AMANDANWZ at checkout for 10% off your purchase! -Amanda Mactas
For the important men and women in your life, help them stay snazzy with a gift from the newly launched label Bello Belts. Super easy for the average person who is a little lazy with their clothing, these interchangeable buckles will make matching outfits so much easier. Plus, every month their ‘Benefit Buckle’ will be paired with a charity that will receive the profits of every buckle sold. Prices range from $100-$150 and the mix and matching options are endless!
Fashion designer Prabal Gurung recently launched his Love is Love Collection, and a part of the proceeds from their sale will be donated to Shikshya Foundation Nepal. The are obsessed with the Love is Love Hoodie ($295) made with black cotton fleece. It’s the perfect gift for this time of year, it makes a statement, and it’s super comfortable.
