Welcome (back) to Arroz con Mango! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I wfh-ed through the holiday, so I’m hopelessly behind on my reading and reviewing, but I ate enough food to more than make up for it.
Am I more chronically online this year, or has everyone and their mother suddenly decided to make a gift guide? They started popping up soon after Halloween and they haven’t stopped, so naturally, I thought… I should make one.
There will be no themes or profile types because frankly, I want to share with you things I want to get and I’m not here to psychoanalyze myself. Without further ado, let’s get (browser) window shopping!
Kitchen/Homeware
Kinto Glass coffee ware set
SCS-S02 coffee server 2 cups & SEPIA cup & saucer 270ml / 9oz
Glass may be impractical for holding hot drinks, but how cute and luxurious does this set look? It comes in a beautiful amber color with a wooden saucer.
I can’t recall the last time I threw a dinner party, but I’m dying to buy this bird-shaped lemon squeezer. I saw it on Instagram and feared it was going to be wildly overpriced, but at $28.00 this is a great small gift.
Nice olive oil and vinegar
Not all olive oils are made equal; if you have the kitchen space for it, it’s worth investing in a nice olive oil for dressing or drizzling. You will taste the difference! The same goes for vinegar, which comes in all sorts of flavors and can balance out salads, sauces, and soups. The following can be picked up at most Whole Foods
Graza Co. Squeeze "Drizzle" and "Sizzle" Olive Oil Set
Acid League Strawberry Rosé Living Vinegar
Donna Wilson Throw Pillow/Decorative Stuffed Creature
They are all so adorable I couldn’t choose so you’ll have to scroll through them yourself. I discovered Donna Wilson through her Sonny Angel collab; you could get one that matches the stuffed creature!
Watering can
Watering cans are not only very elegant but also helpful for the precariously placed plants you don’t want to move to the sink every week when it’s time to water them. I like this one from the MoMA design store but there are plenty of cute ones out there.
Clothing/Hair Accessories
Ballet flats are in again! Whether you’re going for a more Indie Sleaze Megsuperstarprincess look or twee Alexa Chung vibe, you can’t go wrong with patent red. I recently bought a pair of baby blue repettos from a SSENSE sale and they are so precious. These Lolo ones are next on my list.
Rain Clogs!!!!!
I have been blabbing about clogs becoming popular for years! They’re easy to put on, super comfortable, can be dressed up or down, make you look easygoing and cool…I could go on forever. To avoid the whole guide becoming clogs, I’ve chosen the “rain clog” category to narrow it down and also because these are great for gross post-snow weather. Here are some of my favorites.
Plasticana Gardana Hemp Plastic Clogs - a fun rainboot alternative
Hunter Play Clog - these come in so many colors
Super Birki Vegan- a fun Boston clog alternative, much cheaper, and I love the “butter” color
Camper Traktori - on the more expensive side, but super unique
They have all sorts of beautiful designs, but I particularly like the Poppy/Pink Cadillac combo as it reminds me of a candy cane and makes me want to eat it- yum!
Girly Hair Tings
I said I wouldn’t talk about “types” but all the coquette, balletcore, and blokette girlies are wearing hair ribbons and I was immediately smitten. They make any outfit look cuter and put together. The following are so expensive, so I went to the garment district and picked up a bunch of ribbons, but these were my influences.
Merrma Earth Crochet scrunchie + lace ribbon and Velvet bow with lace trim
Bath/Skincare/Makeup
Le Labo hinoki sesame body gel- I will recommend this over the Aesop body washes any day. In my opinion, it lathers better, leaves your skin hydrated and soft, and lasts longer for basically the same price. Hinoki sesame is my favorite scent, but I also like the mandarin one.
Glossier You candle- A nice mid-priced luxurious candle. It’s very trendy, but the bright red glass is perfect for the holiday season. I’d recommend the You scent over the light pink one.
Spa headband- so many cute ones you can’t go wrong 1, 2, 3
Aprilskin carotene clarifying Vita Pads - these saved my skin from my pandemic stress/mask-induced acne. They smell very nice and help exfoliate your skin, and after you’re done you can leave the residual liquid on as a toner. Right now it comes with a free facewash which I also love.
Ere Perez carrot color pot - a buildable, creamy balm for your lips and cheeks. Comes in a cute glass pot and applied with your fingers for a casual, everyday look.
Subscriptions/Experiences
Corepower Yoga gift card - my boyfriend got me 4 classes for my birthday and I absolutely loved the gift for a couple of reasons. For one, hot yoga is excellent in the winter especially if you don’t have access to a steam room. It’s great exercise but also super relaxing. The best part is you get a free class if it’s your first time with the studio!
Artforum Subscription - When I subscribed there was a student version for $34 if I remember correctly, but when I checked to make this, I only see the $60 annual one. Nonetheless, I still think it’s a great deal; you get 10 print magazines, unlimited access to their digital archive, and a subscription to their sister magazine Bookforum and their digital library. Artforum is the most academic art magazine I’ve read, but it’s also often funny, informative, and a great way to keep up with what’s on view, where. Bookforum is also amaaziing to find new reads and honestly one of the few places I actually enjoy reading reviews.
Miscellaneous/Gag gifts
Cult Classic TV Show Box Set
Your friend’s favorite show is going to be taken off Netflix someday! I also think they make for fun decor. The Gilmore Girls Box Set has been on my to-buy list for quite some time…I love to rewatch it every fall/winter, and what feels more Lorelai Gilmore than owning a box set? I’ll wait.
Quirky Cookbook
Whether it’s an Urban Outfitters classic like the Cannabis Cookbook or the less gimmicky, but still unconventional Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, “quirky” cookbooks make for fun gifts. Here are some other good ones I’ve come across.
Leaked Recipes is the“result of a rigorous and systematic investigation by Demetria Glace through the major leaks of the past 15 years, focusing on the theme of cooking.” It features Wikileaks, Hillary Clinton’s emails, Pizzagate, and email exchanges between execs at famous companies.
Snacky Tunes- Part recipe book, part music guide, part chef bio, Snacky Tunes features famous chefs and their connection between cooking and music. Plus it’s a Phaidon book so the design is tre chic.
If you’ve made it this far, hopefully, something has struck your fancy or at least got your imagination going. Keep your eyes peeled for my next review: the Door by Magda Szabó.
If you like Arroz con Mango, please consider sharing it with your friends. I’d love to build a community and hear from more of you!