Gift Guide #01: a pick-me-up for a friend on the mend
And we're off!
You may have noticed it’s not Tuesday morning, the usual time this newsletter hits your inbox. Surprise! I recently opened up submissions for my gift-giving expertise (https://forms.gle/DMuc3SPag8Vj6VSv7), and I’m going to publish my advice and recommendations as little bonus posts whenever I finish them.
Here’s our first…
Genius Gift Guide #01
What occasion is this for?
A friend recovering from an injury!
What are the parameters?
Something that I can send from the website as a nice gift to her house - she lives in SF! Let's say $50-$100?
Tell me about the recipient and your relationship to them…
She is my best friend from high school, she's jewish and cool and likes musical theater. she has celiac disease so food gifts are sort of a no-go, and she had a big hip injury that she's resting and recovering from and I want to send something sweet to cheer her up. Like sending flowers or chocolates but chic-er.
Dear Bestie…
You’re a good friend and I think I get what you’re going for. You want something to show her that you’re thinking about her that can spruce up her living space or provide immediate enjoyment/relief.
To be honest, when I injured my back a few years ago, the thing that got me through it was a) my heating pad, b) an adult color book and c) watching all of Game of Thrones. But let’s get a tad more sophisticated, shall we?
My first thought was “ooh, cozy stuff” for while she’s on the couch/in bed. This plush blanket from Pottery Barn is currently on sale; also on sale is this silk pillowcase from Anthro, which you can get with one of her initials on it. These cotton pajama sets from J. Crew are cute and discounted.
On the self-care side of things, this company will send your friend a “sheet mask bouquet” that looks fun, but having never used that company I can’t 100% guarantee it’ll arrive as pictured. If you want to err on the safe but less celebratory side, a couple SK-II sheet masks from Sephora will do the trick. My cosmetic pick might be “The Mani System” from Olive & June because a) recovery is a great time to practice self-manicures b) you can have fun picking out colors she’d like.
Then I thought, if she’s going to be stuck inside recuperating, maybe a craft? This knockoff Lego set looks fun and, per Amazon, comes in a gift box, if that’s the type of activity your friend is into. Here’s a pretty Paint By Numbers Kit from Etsy. And you know I love a wooden jigsaw puzzle.
Finally, if your pal is immobile, she may not be able to clean her living space. A gift card for a cleaning service would be thoughtful but not that fun to give. Still, you can always make her home smell better with a diffuser! The Prosecco scent from Antica Farmastica is my personal favorite.
Hope your friend feels better
xo
Lizzie, The Gift Guide