Below, Laneia shares some of her favorite things that would make great gifts for anyone looking for a stylish, casual lifestyle. For more gift recommendations on things the Autostraddle + For Them team already owns and loves, check out Drew’s, MottiAnd at Kayla’s Favorite things.
Urban Anna Coloring Book: Enchanting Storefronts from Around the World + Colored pencils ($14 and $30)
Ok listen, this year I developed a new parasocial friendship with someone named Kennedy in Southern California, which is perfectly adorable and makes me want to throw on a matching loungewear set and head to HomeGoods. She colors in coloring books, which until very recently I found tedious and uninteresting, but that’s because I used crayons! Turns out I prefer colored pencils! This is a new thing I learned about myself at 43, so never give up on your dreams of personal growth etc. This specific book is so much fun and these pencils are BLENDED LIKE HELL and that’s what I did while Amanda and I watched horror movies every weekend in October so yeah thanks j I finally saw this scene in It follows and yes, I let out a wild scream and then continuation of coloring.
Nutcracker + Huge bowl of nuts ($30 and $21)
When I was little, so long ago, my grandparents kept pecans and raw inshell walnuts in this exact bowl, with this Henry Quackenbush nutcracker (feel free to call it a vise nutcracker, I do), which is superior to all other nutcrackers. This fall I said HEY, I want a bowl of nuts and a Quackenbush vise too! And so I got all these things and it improved my life by 40%.
Cloth books + Pens ($20 and $5)
Sometimes having a ~fancy notebook means you’ll never write in it because wow, it’s so perfect and intimidating! But these Danica notebooks manage to be both chic and casual. They fit well in the hand, look great on the nightstand, and are fun to write on! These Pilot pens are the only pens I recognize.
Dried flowers ($119)
Full disclosure, they smell strong when opened, but the smells don’t last forever! Do you know what it does? Dried flowers.
Measuring beaker + Lots of small pliers And Little whips ($10, $9 and $9)
I often need to combine one ingredient with another, but only in small ways. Or pluck one small thing from a sea of equally small things. Or, hear me out, I need to measure small amounts of liquids in a container whose measuring lines won’t deteriorate in the dishwasher. So these are the things I make these things with!
Cosrx Powerful Blackhead Liquid + Reusable cotton rounds ($25 and $18)
Oh here we go, ok yes, that’s really the only thing that has ever worked for me. In fact, I spent most of my life thinking that this problem would resolve itself? Baby no! This is not the case. You’ll need something to apply the liquid to and that’s obviously where cotton rounds come into play.
Laneige Lip Mask ($25)
This is all I use and never talk to me about using anything else!
Pure Breu Incense + Wood-free support ($20 and $39)
This incense started out as a Christmas gift splurge in 2023, but then it smelled so amazing that oops, now I have to keep it on hand at all times. But we’re not here burning a stick a day. More like once a month. And don’t use that wooden incense holder for these – they’ll just burn all the way through. Technically I don’t have this exact concrete stand, but I have something similar that is no longer listed and I love it!
Marcella Beans + Bay leaves ($8 and $2)
Good beans! Very good beans. Also, Rancho Gordo bay leaves are, I think, what bay leaves are supposed to be? As if I understand now. Combine the two, then continue to create a perfect pot of Marcella Hazan’s White Bean Soup. What a sweet little day you are having right now! Top it with a drizzle of olive oil and Wildbrine sauerkraut and don’t think about the fall of the American government for about seven minutes.
