Forever35 Podcast: Episode 379 — The 2025 Gift Guide

Hosts: Doree Shafrir & Elise Hu
Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In their annual gift guide episode, Doree and Elise dive into recommendations spanning home goods, beauty products, cozy clothes, unique items for kids and pets, and some luxe travel picks. The conversation is lively, self-aware, and peppered with humor—the hosts don’t just offer shopping ideas but chat about what’s truly bringing them and their families joy, coziness, and care this season.

The aim? To inspire listeners with thoughtful, practical, and indulgent gift ideas—while keeping the warm, candid Forever35 style front and center.

Main Topics & Key Recommendations

1. Holiday Feelings and Seasonal Prep

(01:12–05:19)

• Hosts discuss holiday overwhelm: Doree’s relief at Hanukkah not falling right after Thanksgiving this year. Elise shares her family’s upcoming NYC adventure and muses on whether her kids are ready for East Coast winter.
  • Memorable Moment: “I still have pumpkins on my porch.” – Elise (03:45)
• Listeners are reminded about show notes and full lists in the Patreon newsletter.

2. Home & Kitchen Gifts

(05:21–13:01)

Favorite Gifts Mentioned:

• Owala Smooth Sip Slider Tumbler (12-ounce)

  • Doree recommends this as “the perfect size for morning coffee… compact, doesn’t leak… really a fan” (06:49).
  • $24.99 (no handle), $27.99 (with handle)

• PF Candle Company’s "Golden Coast" Candle

  • Elise’s go-to for teachers and collaborators: “It’s an inoffensive, subtle scent… perfect as a thank you gift.” (08:05)

• Target Luxe-Looking Candle Warmer

  • Paired with a candle, “that’s a really nice gift” for under $60 (08:37).

• Ninja Combi All-in-One Multi Cooker Oven and Air Fryer

  • Doree lusts after it: “It does so many things… crispy french fries, a rotisserie chicken, Rice Krispie treats…” (09:42).
  • Price fluctuates ($169.99–$249.99)

• Geometry Tea Towels

  • Elise says: “I just cannot stop buying… so many great colors and patterns” (11:19).

• Etsy: Tree Man Studio Shop

  • Unique, hand-turned wooden bowls, trays, and jewelry boxes by a friend’s father: “Everything is one of its kind because he has personally hand-making these.” (11:34)

3. Beauty: Self-Care and Make-Up Picks

(16:18–21:31)

• Evolve Together Mini Hand Cream Set

  • Elise: “Three of its hand creams… sized for travel, so cute. You can figure out your favorite scent.” (16:28)

• Sulwhasoo First Care Serum Travel Kit

  • Tried and true Korean beauty: “Discovered through a trial kit I got for someone else but then kept.” (16:55)

• Pixi On-the-Glow Blush

  • Easy, purse-friendly cream blush: “You just, like, pop off the top… it’s cream blush, essentially. But you can just keep it in your purse, in a pocket even.” (18:12)

• Prose Custom Hair Conditioner & Shampoo

  • Doree’s holy grail: “My hairstylist was like, ‘Your hair is so shiny!’… I finally started using enough conditioner… and that conditioner that I use is Prose.” (19:06)

  • Quote: “I had always thought that my hair was too greasy for conditioner, but that turned out to be a lie.” – Doree (19:48)

4. Clothing, Shoes & Accessories

(21:47–27:42)

• Teva Women’s ReEmber Camp Slip On

  • Doree: “They’re kind of like slippers, but they are outdoor shoes… do I like being cozy because I’m a Taurus? Yes.” (22:57)

• Papa Sweater Sheep Midi Robe-Jacket

  • Elise’s wishlist pick: “It looks like a robe with a hood, but also it’s sleek enough to be a jacket… I might just wear it around the house.” (24:21)

• Latico Leathers J Tote

  • Elise: “Super cute… all the pockets are outside… there’s a sleeve for your cell phone.” (24:57)
  • Also mentions the polka-dot Tulum Leather Wallet.

• Lingua Franca ‘I Read Banned Books’ Embroidered Cashmere Sweater

  • “Anytime I see it on somebody, I’m like, oh, I want that sweater… so soft.” (26:15)
  • Also, PBS logo sweater highlighted.

5. Jewelry

(30:10–31:30)

• Coach Tennis Racket Bag Charm
  • Doree: “Very bougie… but sort of this, like, little burst of luxury… really nice gift.” (30:56)
  • Elise: “Bag charms are lovely… I just, I’m not a delicate enough person to take good care of bag charms, so never gift me one.” (30:20)

6. Kids & Pets

(31:40–36:51)

• Jellycat Bag Charms: Clyde Capybara

  • “So cute… all kids these days are just obsessed with Jellycat.” (32:32 – Elise)

• Marbula One Hyperloop (from Jelle’s Marble Runs)

  • “They do Formula One for marbles… $149 and comes with all of the marbles in the Marbula 1 universe.” (33:47)

• Sensory Squeeze Squishy Toys

  • “Great stocking stuffer gift… super solid squish… $9.99.” (35:47)

• Bark brand Costco-Themed Dog Toys

  • “Includes a Costco hot dog, pizza, a chocolate chip cookie, a membership card, and the 20oz drink.” (36:04)

7. Travel and Luxe Gifts

(37:15–40:22)

• Lunya Sleep Masks

  • Elise: “I love sleeping with a sleep mask on the plane… looks very luxe, comes in a nice box.” (37:28, 38:14)
  • Weighted version available—good for kids or adults wanting sensory comfort.

• Away Carry-On Upgrades

  • “Away has a new bag… same carry on, but with gold clasps and aluminum edges. It just looks kind of luxe.” (39:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Kind of tempted by all of them. They range. Oh, yeah, the slip on. Okay.” – Doree on Teva ReEmber shoes (23:33)
• “Anytime I see it on somebody, I’m like, oh, I want that sweater.” – Elise on Lingua Franca cashmere (26:15)
• “Bag charms are lovely… I’m not a delicate enough person to take good care of bag charms, so never gift me one.” – Elise (30:20)
• “All kids these days are just obsessed with Jellycat. Like, it’s impossible…” – Elise (32:32)

Episode Flow & Tone

The conversation is relaxed and funny, with Elise and Doree riffing off each other—debating the merits of cozy slippers versus practical boots, sharing family anecdotes, and dropping real-world confessions (“…eventually she will buy them because she keeps clicking…” – Elise, 22:09).

They’re honest about not owning every product and about succumbing to Instagram ads. Doree is the queen of cozy (self-identified as a Taurus); Elise is always in search of functional but stylish gear for her busy family. Their recommendations feel like a chat with well-researched, trustworthy friends.

Timestamps by Segment

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------|----------------| | Holiday/Seasonal Feelings | 01:12–05:19 | | Home & Kitchen Gifts | 05:21–13:01 | | Beauty Picks | 16:18–21:31 | | Clothes/Shoes/Accessories | 21:47–27:42 | | Jewelry | 30:10–31:30 | | Kids & Pets | 31:40–36:51 | | Travel and Luxe Gifts | 37:15–40:22 |

Additional Resources

• Full guide and links: Check show notes and the Forever35 Patreon newsletter
• Listener engagement: Patreon live chat event December 10, 7:30pm Eastern; gift share thread launching

Final Takeaways

The episode is not simply a shopping list. It’s a heartfelt, very real conversation on what delight, comfort, and a little luxury look like at the end of 2025. Whether you want to splurge on a cashmere statement piece, discover homey upgrades, find under-$30 creative gifts, or discover the best Jellycat for your niece, this episode will leave you with a smile, a ton of tabs open, and a cozy urge—perhaps—for a slanket or a new candle.

Memorable Sign-off:
“Elise, you’ve given me some great ideas for things to get for people. Also things that I feel like I need for myself.”
— Doree (40:23)