a very sweet gift guide

for the modern day ina garten, the homemaker, and the friend who already has everything

Nov 27, 2025

It’s that time of year again — when before you know it, thanksgiving day blurs into holiday parties, which blur into Hannukah and Christmas Eve, and suddenly you’re scrambling last minute for presents. At least that’s what I’m always doing, despite my best efforts to get my gifting sorted out in time for Black Friday every year. But sometimes it’s much easier to give advice than to take your own — so this year I set out to create a fun gift guide made up mostly of things I know and love, with some coveted items and sweet gift ideas for friends and family mixed in. Hopefully this exercise will help both of us get caught up on our gifting!

**this post contains affiliate links! if you shop with them, i will receive a small commission on your purchase, which helps to fund the passion project that is cucina mingrina. no pressure to buy anything here, but if you do, i’d be oh so grateful!

but first — some quick gifting rules to live by!

the monetary value of a gift doesn’t need to represent your love for the recipient — i fear we’ve started to lose the plot with gifting. if no one else is going to say it, i’m here to tell you that you don’t need to spend $150 on your best friend just because she’s your best friend. sometimes i need to hear it myself. a gift is meant to say “i see you, i understand you, and i love you” rather than “the money i spent on this represents how much i love you” and on that note —
handmade beats store bought almost every time — i’ve always found my handmade gifts to be the most loved. i’ve gifted my parents a scrapbook of their relationship, my secretary loaves of sourdough, friends and family boxes of christmas cookies, you name it. at least in my experience, 10/10 times I have been told that those gifts were more meaningful than anything i could have ever bought for them. at a time when most of us are feeling more financially strapped than usual, it’s important to remember that it’s the thought that counts.
quality time scares off gifter’s block — alright I phrased that poorly, but if you have absolutely no idea what to get for someone — it may seem silly, but might i recommend spending a bit of quality time with them or talking to them on the phone for a while? you’ll be surprised how quickly dreams, desires, and frustrations will reveal themselves. your friend feels their creative energy is stifled by their job? grab them a watercolor set or a ticket to a sewing class. your sister’s back is hurting? get her a gift card for a massage or the spa. your mom is trying to read more? how about a kindle or a set of teas and a cozy lamp? you get the idea.
shop small where you can — many of the gifts listed here will be corporate links because that’s the nature of the internet, but when you can, shop local and shop small! if you can’t find much around you, i’m a huge fan of using etsy for holiday gifts. a few minutes of scrolling will reveal some of the loveliest gifts you can dream up and they’ll be perfectly unique.

and without further adieu, I’ve separated some gift ideas into three categories below: the modern day ina garten, the homemaker, and the friend who has everything (each of which you can click on to shop more easily), but I’m happy to help with any requests so feel free to drop a comment below or shoot me a DM.

let’s get to it!

the modern day ina garten

the modern day ina garten wants every moment in the kitchen or garden to feel special and cozy. though perfection is the outcome it need not always be the goal. here’s a selection of items that make a day cooking at home or tending the garden all the more lovely.

the homemaker

the homemaker never turns down an opportunity to beautify a corner of their space, but beauty need not always break the bank. below are some stylish pieces at a variety of price points, for hosting, relaxing, and admiring.

the friend who has everything

when a friend or family member seems like they have everything, or where they tend to feel difficult to buy for, i like to ask myself “how can i make their life feel more special?” I like to answer this question with more beautiful or high quality every day items, new activities, and subscriptions to keep the gifting going.

I hope some of these gifts resonated with you! You can shop and browse them all more easily over on my shopmy and if you’re not seeing what you’re looking for feel free to drop a comment below with specific gifting needs and I’m happy to help you brainstorm! Happy gifting! xoxox

cucina mingrina

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?