adults
A towel
23rd November, 2023
Beware: This is advanced gift-giving. Everybody owns a towel already, and nobody is excited to unwrap a towel on Christmas Day. But an unusual day got me thinking. The day had two showers, with two towels. The first was with an Ikea towel, and it was fine. Utilitarian. The second, though, was fluffy and soft: fluffy and soft enough for me to notice the contrast. That fluffy and soft towel was a gift for my first Christmas in Canada, received from a wing of my partner’s family.
A PS4 Controller
12th March, 2023
This gift suggestion is for the casual gamer, not a console owner. Someone who likes to play a game occasionally on their laptop, phone, or iPad. You can use a PS4 controller with a PlayStation, of course, but it’s also a bog standard Bluetooth device. They’re robustly built and have decent battery life. They charge via micro USB, so you probably have a suitable cable already. They’re officially supported in the Apple ecosystem - so you can game on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV.
Chopstick Rests
17th January, 2022
Many things in life fall on a continuum, and crockery is no exception. Consider the axis of “required” to “unnecessary”. Do you need plates? Yes, absolutely, you need to own plates. If you eat off paper plates every day you’re a monster or a student. Do you need to own champagne flutes? Hmm; not necessarily, but they’re nice. If an occasion calls for champagne, the correct glassware would not go amiss.
Incense
3rd January, 2022
Incense is a perfect token gift: inexpensive, consumable, and it smells nice. What’s not to like? Well, “smells nice” is subjective. It’s definitely bad for your air quality and potentially your brain. But so’s alcohol, so: live a little. Incense is a good housewarming gift. It’s a way to make a space feel like your own without altering the space itself. Perfect for renters. Buying incense in person has advantages:
Hanabi
30th December, 2021
Hanabi is one of my favourite card games. It’s got a lot of good points: It’s a cooperative game - all the humans versus the game itself - which removes the stress of player-versus-player competitiveness. The game owner will not dominate the other players, both because it’s co-operative and involves some chance. There’s little setup required and the rules are easy to understand. The game feels different depending on the size of the group playing.
Cat Wine
13th December, 2021
Reisling in a cat-shaped bottle. It’s wrapped in plastic, but the bottle is glass underneath. And the reviews say it’s surprisingly drinkable, though make no mistake: this wine trades on its container, not its quality. It’s also not vegan friendly. You can find better wines for $13, but its an unusual gift at a reasonable price. Available from the LCBO. Reasons to buy Reasons not to They love cats They're wine buffs They drink They're vegan
Brutal London
13th December, 2021
I wouldn’t describe myself as a fan of brutalist architecture, but I’ve always appreciated its intent. It’s straightforward and functional. It wanted low-cost housing to be available to everyone. And when a building focuses entirely on functionality, the emotional warmth comes entirely from the family and the community. The utopian shine hasn’t stuck to the buildings, but the style still has some fans. Maybe your gift recipient is one of them?
A Jigsaw Jigsaw
7th December, 2021
I’m not convinced that jigsaws are good gifts. A jigsaw seems like something that’s better when borrowed, rather than owned. I can’t imagine they have a lot of repeat value. And this won’t click with everyone: a jigsaw fan friend of mine says she hates ones with repetitive patterns, gradients, or solid colours. She uses jigsaws as a way to spend time immersed in artwork, studying the details rather than just looking at the whole.
A Travel Mug
25th November, 2021
A travel mug is a very practical gift, as long as the recipient doesn’t own one already. Sure, you reduce waste when grabbing a takeaway coffee (and save 10-25¢ each time), but that’s an entry-level move. The real power: take a hot drink with you at other times. Going on an autumn walk or hike? Attending a parade, a fireworks display, or wandering around the shops? Going ice skating? If you’re outside for a couple of hours in chilly weather, a hot drink is a godsend.
A Buff
18th November, 2021
This is a boring, unexciting gift. There is no universe where a buff produces an ooh. I love my buff, and even I wouldn’t be excited to receive it. But I love my buff. It’s small and light, so lives in my bag permanently. It’s surprisingly warm when worn as a neckscarf: ideal to slip on when the temperature drops after sunset, whether you’re sitting on a bar patio or around the campfire.