Ep. 561: Need Some Fresh Ideas for Gift-Giving? Here Are Many Great Suggestions

Summary

Podcast Summary: Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Episode 561: "Need Some Fresh Ideas for Gift-Giving? Here Are Many Great Suggestions"

Release Date: November 19, 2025
Hosts: Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode is dedicated to brainstorming creative, practical, and thoughtful gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season. Gretchen and Elizabeth share their own favorite picks, listener suggestions, and advice on making gift-giving more joyful and less stressful. The tone is upbeat, practical, and warm—with frequent asides on how gift-giving ties into happiness and personal connection.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Gift Lists and Thoughtful Giving

Timestamps: 05:20 – 06:24

• Family Tradition of Lists: Gretchen emphasizes the family practice of making detailed gift lists, noting that knowing what to get brings more satisfaction than surprises.
• The Happiness of Sharing Suggestions: Both hosts discuss the “rush” of finding the perfect gift for someone else.
  • “It gives you a rush.” – Gretchen Rubin (06:12)
• Gift List Procrastination: Gretchen scolds family members for making personal purchases during gift-list season to save ideas for gifting.

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2. Gretchen’s Gift Suggestions

Timestamps: 06:30 – 14:11

Unique, Practical, and Fun Ideas:

• Florist wire: Extremely handy, like “the wire equivalent of duct tape.”
  • “It’s just a handy thing to have in a drawer. But I didn’t know it existed.” – Gretchen (07:10)
• Electric foot warmer: Encouraged for those who need cozy comforts, with a strong auto-shutoff safety reminder.
• Uncommon Goods Pop-Up Escape Room and Subscription Boxes: Perfect for fans of puzzle games or food/beverage aficionados—personal anecdote about whiskey-of-the-month.
• E-reader clear case for stickers: Stylish, customizable, and fun for book lovers.
  • “Stickers are having a moment.” – Elizabeth (09:18)
• Makeup Artist Recommendations:
  • Briogeo Sleek Stick (for flyaway hair)
  • SK-II facial mask (“celebrities insist on this”)
  • Seurat makeup brushes
  • La Mer lip balm (“super luxe”)
• Pet Gifts:
  • Snuffle mats for dogs,
  • Toys for active pets (long stick with rope and toy).
• Muscle Pain Gadgets:
  • Trigger point cane, back/neck massager, heating pads designed for necks, TOMU nine-wheel muscle roller.
  • “Maybe that’s not the most romantic gift, but it can be very useful.” – Gretchen (12:49)
• Photo Gifts: Shutterfly mugs, customized calendars, blankets, etc. Elizabeth notes that “customized” always feels special.

Giving Tuesday Reminder:

• December 2 is Giving Tuesday—a prompt to give to charities, sometimes in others’ honor.
  • “Something that can be done at any time is often done at no time.” – Gretchen (13:18)

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3. Elizabeth’s Gift Suggestions

Timestamps: 17:30 – 21:53

• Tom Cruise Cake: Coconut white chocolate cake from Doan’s Bakery, celebrity-endorsed treat.
  • Referenced as a pop culture icon (18:11).
• John Kelly Chocolates: LA-made, superior to other fancy chocolates.
• Birkenstock Boston Big Buckle Shearling: Cozy, colorful, and luxurious slippers.
• Numoa Portable Light: A non-ring, paddle-shaped, rechargeable clip-on light for Zoom/video calls.
  • “It’s very handy… you can have all different strengths of lights and types of lights.” – Gretchen (19:36)
• Lumify Eye Drops: Makeup-artist recommended for brighter eyes, great before events.
• Sea Scooter: Underwater vehicle for pools/lakes—big hit for families.
• Echo Noor Steering Wheel Tray: Desk for a car—perfect for working or eating in the car while waiting or during sports practices.

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4. Lightning Round — Listener Suggestions

Timestamps: 22:03 – 26:41

Numerous creative ideas from listeners highlight personal touches, traditions, and niche favorites:

• Replacing Tried-and-True Favorites: (From Erane) Buying new versions of loved, used-up items.
  • “Just more of the same is just exactly what some people want.” – Gretchen (22:36)
• Ped Egg: A beloved foot file, now a podcast in-joke.
• Custom Pet Puzzle: Puzzles made from pet pictures (from PuzzleU).
• Touchland Hand Sanitizer Trio: Whimsical, sparkly, elevated hand sanitizer.
• Family Escape Room Tradition: Experience-based gifts for family bonding.
  • “Maybe this is turning into a holiday tradition. Elizabeth because we do an escape room every holiday too.” – Gretchen (24:05)
• Memory Books: Compiling stories and photos into a keepsake for milestone occasions.
• Sibling Experience Gifts: Siblings (and partners) go on special outings/trips together, arranged by parents—builds relationships.
• Four-Gift Rule for Kids: (From Denise) “One thing you want, one thing you need, one thing to wear, one thing to read.”
  • Adds structure and reduces excess.
• Flower Shares from Local CSAs, Advent Calendars, Amaryllis Bulbs: Fun, sustainable, and timely.
• Edible Baskets & Practical Gifts: Food baskets with local items and gift certificates for real-life needs (oil change, Uber).
• Secondhand Gifts: (From Charity) Highlighting resale apps (like Vinted) for bargains, nostalgia, and sustainability.
  • “It’s sort of a win, win, win.” – Gretchen (34:22)

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5. Further Resources & Toolkits

Timestamps: 35:27 – 36:09

• Gift-Giving Toolkit: On Gretchen’s website—includes quizzes, idea-spurring worksheets, and extended gift guides (“five senses,” gifts for Gen Z, and people you don’t know well).
  • “I put together a new gift giving toolkit on my website. It has the gift appreciation quiz…” – Gretchen (35:27)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I have started badgering you to give me a gift list for you.” – Gretchen (02:57)
• “We enjoy knowing what to get more than we enjoy the surprise.” – Elizabeth (05:48)
• “It’s like duct tape. It is the wire equivalent of duct tape.” – Gretchen (07:10)
• “Florist wire and stickers: two things I never knew were so useful!” – Elizabeth (09:18, paraphrased)
• “Every time I see a Pet Egg in a store, I send you a picture.” – Gretchen, on their inside joke (22:49)
• “Stickers are having a moment.” – Elizabeth (09:18)
• “Customized gifts really feel more thoughtful and special.” – Gretchen (13:25)
• “Maybe that’s not the most romantic gift to give, but it can be very useful.” – Gretchen (12:49)
• “Something that can be done at any time is often done at no time.” – Gretchen, on Giving Tuesday (13:18)
• “The first time you went, you did it only for good fellowship… And you were the biggest convert.” – Gretchen, on escape rooms (24:14)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:20 – How gift lists work in their family
• 06:30 – Gretchen’s gift picks (gadgets, subscriptions, makeup recs, etc.)
• 09:26 – On makeup tips and luxury upgrades
• 10:45 – Pet gifts and gadgets for muscle pain
• 13:25 – Customized photo gifts & Giving Tuesday
• 17:30 – Elizabeth’s gift guides (Tom Cruise cake, chocolate, Birkenstocks, more)
• 19:19 – Gifts for video calls, makeup, and sea scooters
• 21:11 – Steering wheel tray for car work/lunch
• 22:03 – Listener suggestions (practical, sentimental, experience-based)
• 34:22 – On the value of secondhand gifts
• 35:27 – Gretchen’s online gift toolkit

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Resources & Take-Away

• Full gift list, listener suggestions, and links are available in the show notes at happiercast.com/561.
• Gretchen’s gift-giving toolkit can be found at happiercast.com/giftgiving.
• For more ideas, check the Happier in Hollywood Facebook group, where more listener lists are shared.

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Conclusion

The episode is a treasure trove for anyone seeking fresh inspiration for holiday gifting—from practical gadgets to sentimental experiences, luxury splurges to sustainable choices. Throughout, Gretchen and Elizabeth keep the mood light and the focus on thoughtfulness over extravagance. The episode closes with the encouragement that gifting, at its best, is about knowing others and making them feel appreciated.

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“Let us know if you try some of these gift suggestions, how they went over. Do you have other gift suggestions? We can’t get enough of these.” – Gretchen (34:56)

(Links and deeper resources in episode show notes. For further happiness insights, check out Gretchen’s website or join the Happier in Hollywood Facebook group.)

Transcript

[Elizabeth Craft]

Did you know that infants are ready to learn sign language, 2 year olds are ready to learn the basics of science and three year olds are ready to learn coding. Your child is ready to learn and at Primrose Schools, teachers make the most of this time by creating a joyful, purposeful learning experience unlike any other.

[Gretchen Rubin]

For instance, have you heard of the Primrose Friends? In every Primrose School classroom, teachers use these 12 lovable puppets to make character development joyful, meaningful and memorable. From exploring generosity with Benjamin the Bear to practicing honesty with Peanut the Pony, every friend plays a special part in helping children learn important values while having plenty of fun along the way. We can all use some friends like that. You can learn [e-mail] now enrolling infants through children age 5. That's primroseschools.com for more information. Elizabeth, you know I love this time of year, but one thing I do not love is how short the days are. I feel like I'm always trying to cram so many things into a limited number of daylight hours, but one thing that's helping me really stay on top of my routine during this busy time is the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus. Powered by Peloton iq, the Peloton Cross Training Tread plus is Peloton's most elevated equipment yet. With features that help you plan, stay motivated and achieve peak performance. You can let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push and go while Peloton handles the rest.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Peloton IQ creates a personal workout roadmap with weekly recommended classes led by instructors who match your mood, vibe and personality. Go on a 45 minute run on the tread plus or do a five minute stretch routine off of it. With just one smooth spin of the swivel screen, it offers endless ways to train for a well rounded routine. No matter how busy you are, this is cross training reimagined. Let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push and go Explore the new peloton cross training tread [e-mail] lemonade.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast where we talk about how to make our lives happier. This week we will talk about suggestions for gifts. We are entering the season of gift giving and we are suggesting gift ideas from us and also from listeners. I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habits, secrets of adulthood, human nature. I'm in my little home office in New York City and joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister, Elizabeth Craft. And Elizabeth, I have started badgering you to give me a Gift list for you.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in la. And Gretch, you gave me the best gift ever, which was my treadmill desk.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I take enormous pride in that gift, I must say. But before we jump into our suggestions, we got a few updates. This one came from Jessica and it's about making a tough decision. She writes. Just a happier story to share. When my husband and I were deciding whether or not to have a baby, we, we talked it out, made a pros and cons list, overeducated ourselves, went to therapy, everything. And it didn't really help us decide what was best for our life. We only came to the conclusion that both lives would be good. I remember at the time re listening to older podcast episodes and came across the choose the Bigger Life episode. I think when you were talking about whether or not to get a dog, I just knew that for us, choosing the bigger life meant have the baby. And so we did, and he's now 17 months old and the best part of our lives. Looking back on it, it seems silly that we tried to approach it logically when having a baby to me feels like an emotional decision. But I just wanted to thank you because once you said it, I just knew that was our answer. And I've never looked back. Isn't that a nice story?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Oh, I love it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This is the funny thing about choose the bigger life is over and over I hear this experience where you, you feel like you are absolutely poised with two things in balance and then you say choose the bigger life and one is obviously the choice. And so that's why it can be so clarifying. I love hearing that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, congratulations on the baby.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And then also many people wanna make 2026 their year of happiness. Every year should be a year of happiness. So I have decided to bring back my popular course, the Happiness Project Revisited. But this time it's gonna be a self paced on demand course so you can design your own year long happiness your schedule. So it is inspired by the Happiness Project book and this course offers a structured but also flexible framework for exploring various aspects of how we can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive and more creative. I am offering the lowest prices of the season. Right now you can get 40% off if you sign up. All November long just go to happiercast.com.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Course well, speaking of gifts, that would be a great gift for someone else or for yourself.

[Gretchen Rubin]

That's right. Excellent. Well, and speaking of gifts, this week our try this at home suggestion is to start making your gift Lists for other people and for yourself. And to help yourself come up with those ideas, consider these gift suggestions. Elizabeth, as I alluded to, in our family, there is a lot of pressure to make a list to give to other people so that they have lots of ideas of things to get for you. It's a little bit artificial, but it works for us.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. We enjoy knowing what to get more than we enjoy the surprise.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. So it's considered to be a duty to make your list.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I will announce, like, at this point, you can buy nothing for yourself. I scolded Jamie for buying a book. I was like, that's a gift. You don't get to buy that for yourself. And listen, one thing that makes me happy is to share a good suggestion. When you find an idea of something to give and somebody is like, oh, that would make a great gift for my brother in law, you're so excited. It gives you a rush.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It really does. I love hearing that people have gotten gifts based on our suggestions.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

All right, so let's dive in. Gretch, what are some of your suggestions this holiday season?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. First is florist wire. This is a very thin, bendable wire that's green. It's easy to cut. It's very bendy. It's one of these things when you're like, what is exactly is it for? But then it's really handy. I got this as a stocking stuffer last year, and it just comes in handy for us. Taffy figured out how to unzip per carrier at one point, and so we used this wire to wire the tabs of two zippers together. So she couldn't just unzip herself. What is it for exactly? It's just very, very handy. So this is, this is a good thing for somebody who just would like something generally useful.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's like duct tape.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's like duct tape. It is the wire equivalent of duct tape. It's just a handy thing to have in a drawer. But I didn't know it existed. I was like, what is this?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I never did either until you got it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I also want to mention the electric foot warmer. The exact one that I have is no longer for sale, but I found another one. We're going to put links to all this in the show notes, by the way, but I found a link to another one. One thing you really want to have if you're buying an electric foot warmer is you want to have it to have an auto shut off feature so that after two or three hours, it will automatically shut off because it is under the covers and you wouldn't want it to just be on all night. But I have to say, this thing has made falling asleep for me so much easier and more comfortable. I use it all the time. I love my electric foot warmer.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Excellent. And then, Gretchen, I love this idea you have for the Uncommon Goods pop up escape room. You know, I love an escape room.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. Yes. This is something that you can get in Uncommon Goods. Eliza loves an escape room and she loves pop up books. And this is a pop up escape room. I got it for her. I haven't opened it yet, but I am just so intrigued by the sight of it. I also wanna mention subscription services. If there is something that somebody in your life is a big fan of. Potato, bacon, cheese, wine, anything. There are all these super fun subscription services. I got whiskey of the month for Jamie. I'm not gonna get it for him again because he hasn't managed to get through all the whiskey. But he really did enjoy getting it and trying different ones. So I think that can be a good resource is the subscription.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That is a great idea.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Now this is an idea that I got. I was doing an event and somebody showed me their E reader and what they had done. And apparently now this is very popular, is if you have an E reader, you get a clear case for it and then you cover it with stickers as a way to make it your own. My daughter Eliza. I hope Eliza's not listening to this because these are several ideas of things I'm getting for her. I'm going to get her a clear case for her E reader because she loves putting stickers on things and I know she doesn't have this yet. So that's a clear case for an E reader. For some of who would like to put stickers on it would be really fun. Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Stickers are very big right now.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Stickers are huge.

[Elizabeth Craft]

We're having a moment.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. And if you go to bookstores, they will often sell tons of stickers. So there is a connection between stickers and readerly people.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Gretch. I know every time you get your makeup done by a professional, you ask the makeup artist for tips. So you have several items from makeup artists on your gift list.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. So these come from a makeup artist. The first is the Brioggio Brioggio sleek stick for flyaway hair. And I actually bought this for myself. It's sort of a, you know, something in a tube. You rub it on your hands. And then because I have a lot of flyaways. And so that Works really well for me. These other things I have not tried myself. But she swears by one is the SK II facial mask. She said that she works with a lot of celebrities who insist on this because it really freshens you up. And especially she said if you're hungover, Seurat makeup brushes. She says these are very expensive, but they are the best. So if you know somebody who literally loves makeup and would appreciate a really fine makeup brush, those were her favorite, Seurat. And then she was saying that if you want to give somebody something expensive, that's the luxury version of an ordinary thing that they wouldn't buy for themselves, but that you would like to give them. Sort of the super luxe version of which I think is often what we give to people as a present. The thing you wouldn't buy for yourself, she swears by La Mer lip balm, which is expensive. I think it was $65 for lip balm. But she says that it's really, really nice.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And then there's also the idea of getting things for people's pets. Everybody loves getting things for their pets.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Everybody loves getting things for their pets. This is great, especially if it's somebody who has everything. I would mention snuffle mats, because this was something I didn't know existed. And Taffy and Barnaby really love a snuffle mattress. And then there's a thing that a friend gave it to me because her dog didn't like it, and I just brought it home, and Taffy loves it. It's a long stick with, like a rope off of it with a toy. And you dangle it in front of a dog or a dog. Growing up, Paddy Whack would have loved this. She loved chasing things around like that. And so I don't even know what it's called, but it's cool. I'll try to find a link and put it in the show notes, but I'm sure people can find it. And then I have a bunch of things related to muscle pain. Jamie went through a period where he was having a lot of muscle pain. And so we were acquiring a lot of things. All were really useful. One is the trigger point cane. This is like a long, hard S shaped cane that you can dig into knotty areas. It's very satisfying and really lets you target those places.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I got that for Adam for his birthday.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yep. There's a back and neck massager, which is like a kneading pillow where you put it behind your back or your neck and it kneads it. This thing Feels so good. I almost gave myself bruises because I was just leaning into it so hard for so long. So use it with care. But it's very, very satisfying. One thing is a heating pad for a neck. It can be hard to get it to heat right against your neck. It turns out they make things that are almost like neck capes. They're shaped to go around your neck, and so that can be really good. If you're somebody who has a lot of neck or shoulder issues, that might be more convenient.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And then finally, Jamie got this weirdo thing. It's like a clamp with balls on it. I can't even just. I saw it. I'm like, is this a dog toy? What is this? But you put it around your knee or your calf or your thigh, and it helps relax the muscles. It's called a TOMU nine Wheel Muscle Roller Massager. Oh, so that was also good.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Lots of ideas for muscle pain.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. And maybe that's not the most romantic gift to give, but it can be very useful. And a lot of times, you don't even know these things exist. So it's really handy for, like, oh, I didn't know that there was a trigger point cane. Then I would also say anything that can be customized with a photograph. You know how I make Shutterfly mugs all the time? You can make calendars. You can buy mouse pads. You can make Christmas ornaments. You can make blankets. There's so many things that you can customize with photographs or catchphrases. Elizabeth, you were the one who taught me that anything customized really feels more thoughtful and special, which is super fun.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I love a customized gift.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, you're really good about giving customized gifts. And then the last thing I would say is if you feel like, oh, my gosh, there's all this gift giving, remember that December 2nd this year is Giving Tuesday. And so you can give to others. And one of my secrets of adulthood is something that can be done at any time is often done at no time. And I love the fact that Giving Tuesday, it's like Black Friday Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday, it's a reminder to give. And sometimes people like to give in honor of others, and then that's something that you could do. You could tell somebody that you gave a gift in their honor, or you could just do it yourself because you're remembering. I also want this season to be an occasion for me to put my values into the world by giving to others. So giving Tuesday, December 2nd.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yay. Okay, Gretch. Coming up, I'm going to share my gift suggestions. But first, this break.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Elizabeth Holiday season is just around the corner. Everybody is scrambling to get their space ready and I am using Wayfair to get ready to host. I have had my eye on Julisca acrylic tumblers because I've used them at your house and I'm so excited. I got them from Wayfair. Wayfair is the place to shop for all things home. It's everything from sofas to spatulas. You name it, they have it. And you can get up to 70% off during Wayfair's Black Friday sale.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, Wayfair has everything you need for your living room, for outdoor areas, for bedrooms, seasonal decor. They've got that too. Don't miss out on early Black Friday deals. Head to Wayfair.com now to shop Wayfair's Black Friday deals for up to 70% off. That's W A Y-F-A-I R.com sale ends December 7th. With the Aura frame, you can share photos or videos from any device and they will instantly appear on the frame wherever it is in the world. No memory card required. I am obsessed with my Aura frame. I gave one to my sister in law. She loves it. What I love to do is after a family gathering I immediately email like four or five photos to the frame and then people can react with emojis. It's so much fun.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, it's a way to bring your favorite holiday traditions and memory to life every day. For a limited time, visit auraframes.com and get $45 off Aura's bestselling Carver Matte frames named number one by Wirecutter by using Promo code Happier at checkout that's a U R A frames.com promo code Happier this exclusive Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best of the year. So order now. Before it end. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply these days.

[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

First up, Gretchen, is the Tom Cruise cake. I think we've talked about this on the podcast. It's a delicious coconut white chocolate cake that Tom Cruise sends to his friends, and it's available at Doan's Bakery in Woodland Hills, and you can have it sent to a loved one.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So that's available all over the country then. That's great.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, delicious.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I think many people are intrigued by hearing you talk about it, Elizabeth, so. Well, they're eager to try it out.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And I mentioned it, and we heard from our listener, Jessica. She said I was laughing about the Tom Cruise cake because the show hacks had a whole bit about it in an episode last year, and it's the only reason I knew about it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, that's funny.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So that's fun, Gretchen.

[Gretchen Rubin]

That's. That's fun. What else?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, next. This is a perennial for me. John Kelly chocolates. These are chocolates made in la and they are next level. I am telling you, if you want to send someone chocolates, go to John Kelly Chocolates.

[Gretchen Rubin]

They're really that much better than just the ordinary fancy chocolate.

[Elizabeth Craft]

They really are that much better. Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Interesting.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I also want to recommend a pair of Birkenstocks. I got these for Eliza and Eleanor last year, and I think they were a big hit.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So these are the Boston Big Buckle Shearling Birkenstocks. They have lots of fun colors. They're super comfortable, a bit whimsical, depending on what color you get. Very cozy. They're. They're pricier. But, you know, if you want to get someone just one really nice gift, I think this is a good way to go.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, they were a big hit.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, next.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Gretch.

[Elizabeth Craft]

This is a gift for those in your life who zoom a lot or who to content and have ring light needs.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I am recommending the numoa Portable light. It's a rechargeable clip light that's like a paddle as opposed to a ring. I'm always talking about the bane of my existence is ring light reflections. And this is a paddle. So it's better than a ring.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I was at your house and I saw yours, and I immediately ordered one for myself because it clips on. It's just. It's very handy. And you can have all different strengths of lights and types of lights. It's just. If that's what you need, it's very, very handy.

[Alice Ackerman]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And affordable. It's under $30.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And then, Gretch, speaking of gift ideas from makeup artists, when you and I got our photos done in Kansas City, I had a recommendation from our makeup artist for Lumify eye drops, which make the whites of your eyes whiter and brighter. And then, Gretchen, now, this is a really expensive gift, but you did get this and love it as much as I do, I think.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Which is a sea scooter.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

These are things for your pool or lake. Or lake in your case. Yes. Little motorized scooter that can go underwater. And they really do live up to the hype. Anytime Jack ever has someone in the pool, they want the sea scooter.

[Gretchen Rubin]

But explain the word scooter doesn't conjure up what it is exactly.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's kind of like handles you hold onto, and then it's attached to a little motor, and when you push the buttons on the handles, the motor propels you through the water, whether you're on the surface or underneath the water. Yeah.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I was someplace where they had the sea bob, which is a more powerful version. So. But again, these are quite expensive, but they're really, really fun, if that's the right kind of thing.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And then finally, Gretchen, this was a hack we had on the Happier in Hollywood podcast that a listener sent in. And this is super useful for people who like practical gifts. It's the echo noor tray for the car, and what it is is a steering wheel desk. You attach it to your steering wheel, and then you have a little table. So for people of whom there are many who go out to their car during the day to eat lunch or just chill out as a break from work, this could be a really useful thing.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Excellent.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Or, by the way, a lot of people have to take their kids to sports, and then they want to get work done while they wait for their kids. This would be perfect.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Like a zoom call they have to have right in their cars. Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Perfect for setting up a laptop or an iPad.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Excellent. Okay, now let's start going through listener suggestions. And we got so many great ones. Let's just go lightning round.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Erane says, I used your gifting quiz last year and finally surrendered to what I already knew. My husband doesn't want surprises. He is tried and true. So I went into his closet and bought him identical versions of clothes and shoes he had but needed replacing. Same style, same color. So boring to buy. But honestly, he was thrilled and that's what matters. Gonna do the same thing this year. Yes. Take the gift giving quiz on my website gretchenrubin.com, and it will help you figure out what kind of gift somebody would want to receive. I loved hearing this example. Just more of the same is just exactly what some people want.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And then Wendy said, I appreciate this. The ped egg obviously needs to be on the list.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Wendy thank you.

[Elizabeth Craft]

If you listen to this podcast often, you know we talk about the PED Egg.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Elizabeth Every time I see a pet egg in a store I send you a picture. It's so funny. Connie Ann said. I ordered a puzzle of my friend's pets to give her when they host us in December. I can't wait. It is from Puzzle U. I ordered it on a Monday and received it on Wednesday. Just $42 with shipping and tax. That's customized. It's a fun thing to do together. That's a great idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Great idea. Sarah said. I'm closely eyeing the Touchland Hand Sanitizer Holiday Trio to gift and or to ask for. I received for my October birthday the limited edition confetti cake with frosted sparkle case set and it seriously made me incredibly happy. I hope I am never too old for sparkle.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Love the whimsy. And this is the thing is some people are just really into hand sanitizer. I have to confess I am not one of those people, but I know many people who are. And so this is fun. Again, elevate something that's ordinary that they're otherwise using, but make it more fun and special. Yes, Lisa said. My daughters and nieces stopped exchanging gifts several years ago. Now instead, we all go to an escape room together before we celebrate New Year's Eve. They range from 11 to and look forward to this all year. Maybe this is turning into a holiday tradition. Elizabeth because we do an escape room every holiday too.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And I love it so much. It's like an hour long straight adrenaline rush.

[Gretchen Rubin]

The first time you went, you did it only for good fellowship. You definitely were not wanting to go. And you were the biggest convert. Yes, I remember it well. Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Love it. Christy said. For my aunt's 80th I compiled sayings, memories and photos from family, friends and colleagues into a published book. She loved it. And Gretchen, I should mention that you have the I want to know you journal and your momento Keepsake journal, which are great for this kind of gift.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, exactly. Deborah says our three adult children and their partners live in different cities. My husband and I started giving them an experience of their choice to do as a sibling group. The first year, they booked a safari camping night at the San Diego Wild Animal park park, which included a day passed at the park. The next day. To our surprise, they enjoyed their time so much they booked rooms in San Diego and extended their time together to a two day weekend. Last year, they had the opportunity to attend an evening at the famed Magic Castle in Los Angeles. They wore formal attire and enjoyed a very special evening together. This year, baby was added to the mix. So we are offering babysitting along with the experience of their choosing. Watching our grown kids look forward to their yearly sibling plus partner experience is beautiful. This is interesting because people often say how, as a parent, can you help foster strong relationships among siblings? This is a lovely idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Great idea. And by the way, I have never been to the Magic Castle and I've.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Always wanted to go the next time I come. Elizabeth, let's go. I want to too.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, you have to find a way to get an invite though.

[Gretchen Rubin]

You can't just go, ooh, okay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's a whole thing.

[Gretchen Rubin]

All right.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Denise said, for my grandkids under 2 years old, I'm doing one thing you want first. Real baby doll. One thing you need PJs, one thing you wear, Cute sweaters and one thing you read. They both love books wrapped and collected in a big fabric bag. How fun.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. And just in case nobody knows that rhyme, it's one thing you want, one thing you need, one thing to wear and one thing to read. This is sort of a folk rule of how to give.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's fun.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Jen says flower shares from the local CSA flower farm. That's fun.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Judy said, a friend with adult kids is buying a big box of lost Ma packages. They're going to have fun opening them and seeing what they get. It's like a white elephant exchange without anyone knowing the gifts. I have never heard of this, have you?

[Gretchen Rubin]

No. This is bananas.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's fascinating.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's fascinating.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Coming up, more great gift ideas. But first, this break.

[Gretchen Rubin]

On this podcast, we talk about strategies and solutions for making our lives happier, healthier, more productive and more creative. And we usually focus on topics that are within our control habits. We can make, books we can read, rituals we can try. And these suggestions have a lot to do with agency. If we have the power to try and make our situation better, even a little bit, at least we have a game plan. But some things in life are simply out of our control. Sometimes we get sick. Sometimes our body fails us or gets in our way. Sometimes, unfortunately, we don't have the resources to change our circumstances, no matter how much we may want to. What happens then? Today, we're thrilled to share some stories from ippf, which stands for the International Planned Parenthood Federation. IPPF is the world's largest and most enduring network of national civil society organizations for reproductive health, rights and justice. Today you'll hear from Alice Ackerman, a young activist, educator, former social worker and former board member of ippf, as she shares stories from around the world. They share a simple yet powerful idea that everybody holds a story. And when we can control our own bodies, we control our own stories.

[Alice Ackerman]

What connects all human beings is our bodies. In our bodies, we can feel and see our joys, our fears, our resilience. I started to be an activist when I was 15 years old. And since then, every day when I wake up, I have only one goal, to build a world where every person can make their own choices about their bodies and their lives. In the US I can see that women's rights are under attack and the rights that generations fought for are being rolled back. This is not an American issue. It's happening in so many countries all over the world. And this is why we really need to come together and show solidarity and support organizations like IPPF who are fighting for all women all around the world for them to have access to their bodily autonomy. Sexual and repetitive dignity is the foundation of a free life. It means having the power to make decisions about your body without fear, stigma or barriers. And so how do we get there? We get there by standing up, speaking out, and refusing to compromise on our rights. It's to build the perfect world for reproductive and sexual health where bodily autonomy is non negotiable. App have created this campaign. Everybody holds a Story because it's a reminder that when we fight for sexual and reproductive health care, we are actually fighting for humanity itself. That every person deserves to live in a body that is safe, respected and free.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This discussion makes me reflect on the fact that there's a special power in being seen and accepted by another person. Sharing stories like this helps us to see each other across differences, despite different countries, languages, cultures, religions. Everybody holds a story. Visit ippf.org everybody to learn more. Okay, more ideas. Joanna says, hands down, I can't wait to give the Sweet Paws Pup bag opener to all of my friends and family. It makes opening bags, whether it's produce bags, dog waste bags or garbage bags. So easy to open in a snap. No more licking fingers and it attaches to just about anything for ease of access. Great stocking stuffer too. It just so happens that my sister is the inventor. Oh, that's good. Little sisterly promotion there. That's nice.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I love it. Shelley said Dear New York the New Humans of New York book by Brandon Stanton.

[Gretchen Rubin]

A lot of fans of that. Brandy said, we have shifted from a stuff type gift to something edible. We make baskets of local goodies, coffee, candy, et cetera so people can taste our home. Or we buy tickets to the zoo, art museum, something to do in their area. Also, if you have a college student or young adult just starting out away from you, we've bought oil change gift certificates. Not very exciting, but it's very practical and helps a new adult keep on adulting. That is a very good idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Very good idea. That reminds me of I like to give high school graduates uber gift cards.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Mm yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Carolyn says I'm giving Advent calendars this year. There are some great ones. Last year I sent a lot of amaryllis bulbs with pots for planting. They were a big hit with both. Timing is everything.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh well, that's a good point, right? They have to be at the right time, Casey said. I'm giving my son a ski pass in the new city he lives in and my daughter a ski pass for our local mountain. For friends, we make basil salt from our garden and my daughter and I will bake bread to go with it. Oh, making basil salt sounds like something Sarah would do.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Elizabeth it sure does. It sure does. Jenny says your mention of scissors hit home today and she's mentioning that. We talked about having lots of pairs of scissors around because they're so handy, she said. Since then, scissors have become my go to gift for housewarmings, weddings and more. I give a big pack and suggest they be sprinkled all over the place. Recipients love this gift and then she said My other gift suggestion is a stocking stuffer, the Life Elements Healing Honey Stick. This is magical in helping heal cuts, burns, etc. I'm always amazed at how quickly things heal that I use this product.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Excellent Charity said. My idea is to consider buying secondhand this year. I know many flinch at this idea, but hear me out. All of us have experienced buying something we didn't end up using or receiving an unsuitable gift, and many people resell such items new and unboxed. Personally, I love the Vinted app. I can filter my search based on condition new with packaging and Tags, new without tags, very good, etc. Category, size, color, price, price, etc. Over the years I have found so many useful items, including gifts this way. For example, my son had a birthday coming up and he wants some more building pieces from a particular building set. This is often sold as different building models similar to Lego, but he mainly just wants more pieces to build larger things. I looked on Vinted and found multiple listings and finally got a great deal on some gently used pieces. I can clean them if needed, but my son won't recognize or care that they are secondhand because he'll have a whole box full of new pieces. This can be a great way to source things that are out of print, no longer produced or nostalgia items. For example, there's a local brand I like that went out of business, but I still find new items of theirs pop up in listings. Another example is that my husband saw a retro building set at a toy exhibition we went to and he commented that he'd never had it as a kid, though he liked it. So I went online and was able to source sets on their original packaging from the 1980s. Not only is this often a cost saving way to purchase things, but it also puts money directly into the hands of individuals, often parents like myself who may be struggling financially. A year ago we were on a tight budget and knowing I could get my sons a new Ninjango or Spiderman T shirt, half price from another mom was a huge blessing. In particular, I think enthusiastsshe's referring to the gift giving quiz might benefit most from second half gifts through an app like this as you can search out specific collectibles or brands, coins, band photography, sign books, et cetera. But I think there's almost anything out there for any kind of gift profile. Oh, that's very constructive. It's sort of a win, win, win.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Gretchen reminds me, you gave me the Hungry Hungry Hippos game from my childhood and I love it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, that's right. That's right. Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's a great way to get a gift that's a bargain and something the person loves.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Absolutely. Well, everyone, thank you so much. So many great ideas. Let us know if you try some of these gift suggestions how they went over. Do you have other gift suggestions? We can't get enough of these. Listen, you and Sarah did your gift guide on Happier in Hollywood and I was. I don't know, it's just so fun to hear people's suggestions. I don't know why that is.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It really is.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It really is. Let us know on Instagram threads, TikTok, Facebook. Drop us an [e-mail] or as always, you can go to the show notes. This is happiercast.com 561 for everything related to this episode. And yes, we will include links to everything we mention in this episode.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, and Gretchen, I should mention that in our Happier in Hollywood Facebook group, we also have all of the links for those items.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay, that's good. It's always very helpful to see the.

[Elizabeth Craft]

L. Okay, Gretch, what is our resource for this week?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, if you are still looking for more gift ideas after all this, I put together a new gift giving toolkit on my website. It has the gift appreciation quiz, which I talked about, which will help you figure out what someone else will actually enjoy. A gift idea generator worksheet to Spark Ideas if you need ideas for somebody on your list. And five extra guides that we didn't even get to talk about here, which includes gifts for Gen Z, Five senses Gifts, because, you know, I love a five senses gift. And gifts for people that you don't know very well because that's a special challenge. It's [e-mail] giftgiving there are so many ideas there. And Elizabeth, what are we reading? What are you reading?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I am reading Fried Green Tomatoes by Fanny Flagg.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I am rereading for the millionth time the prime of Ms. Jean Brody by Muriel Spark. And that's it for this episode of Happier. Remember to try this at home. Check out our gift guide. We hope it is useful to you. Let us know. What did you try? What did you get? What would you add? We want to know.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Thank you to our executive producer, Chuck Reed and everyone at Lemonada and your rhyming reminder.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Love the show. Leave a review to let us know. It really helps other people discover the show.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Until next week. I'm Elizabeth Craft.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I'm Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining us. Onward and on upward.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Hey, by the way, I got you covered at the Magic Castle.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Anytime you want to go.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Oh, you have a hook up there, Chuck.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, my good friend Rob Zabrecki is a magician there.

[Elizabeth Craft]

In fact, he's been magician of the year there, too. He's a really great musician that turned magician.

[Gretchen Rubin]

All right, we have to go, Gretch, musician to magician. Okay, we're gonna go. Listen, the next time I come, let's make a date of it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

From the Onward project.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Hi, Gretchen. Craig Robinson and my little sister Michelle here we host a new podcast called IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. We know you're the queen of giving advice, so we wanted to get a few tips from you. You know, Gretchen, a lot of our.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Listeners are going through some major life changes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

What advice do you have for folks who are trying to stay grounded in the midst of major life transitions?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Craig and Michelle, I am so happy to be talking to you. Here are a few questions that might help us gain perspective. So consider questions like this. What activities take up my time but are not particularly useful or stimulating for me? Do I spend a lot of time on something that's important to someone else but is not very important to me? If I could magically change one habit in my life, what would I choose? And here's a question. Would I like to have more time in solitude, restorative solitude, or would I like to have more time with friends? You know, just thinking about questions like this can help us start to figure out how we might make our lives happier. With greater self knowledge, we're better able to make hard decisions that reflect ourselves, our own nature, our own interests, our own values. In my own case, I have found that the more my life reflects my nature, the happier I get and the more grounded I feel when I'm going through a period of major change or transition. For more great advice, search for IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Wherever you get podcast, you can listen to Issa Rae on letting go of certain friendships, Keke Palmer on why disappointment is actually the key to career success, Seth and Lauren Rogan on caring for aging parents and so many more.