It’s been a big, busy year, and though the holidays often require a good deal of planning and work to make festivities come to life, there’s also time to rest, relax and enjoy the home.
That’s the theme of these gift ideas — good ideas for grown-ups who want to dabble in some self-care now they have some time off, get stuck into the kitchen and finally use that cookbook they got last Christmas, head to the beach, or simply park up on the couch with some fancy chocolates.
Whatever you have planned, we have some presents that should help.
An underappreciated category of present, we think there’s an appetite for gifts that can be nibbled, drizzled and devoured. And with people cutting costs when it comes to supermarket shopping, sharing a special version of a pantry staple is a treat that can be enjoyed every day.
Apostle Kiwifruit and Kawakawa hot sauce. Photo / Apostle
Everyone knows a chilli fan, so why not splash out on some fancy hot sauce. This one’s from a small local company, Apostle, and the label’s quite lovely.
A cool way to keep clutter out of sight, baskets proof particularly useful during the holidays. This is hand-woven from kaisa grass by the talented women at Dhaka Handicrafts in Bangladesh.
A popular gift that comes in handy during the holidays, take this to the beach or the pool, the backyard or the park, in the car (but probably not the bus) and wherever you’re going this summer. This bundle includes two speakers, so you can set up two-channel sound.
Cast iron is coveted by cooks around the world. An impressive present for under the tree, this new heavy, high-quality pan is made locally from 100 per cent recycled iron, and when properly looked after it will last for decades.
This colourful kitchen item makes cooking a joy, and each one is unique. For an extra positive, this pot holder is made from recycled cotton saris by a fair-trade initiative.
Nothing says relaxation more than applying a soothing sheet mask, and this hydrating option from Essano has an added calm factor: made locally from 100 per cent cotton, these masks are biodegradable.
For a cleansing, cathartic Christmas gift, consider a dry brush. A handy tool that helps get the blood flowing while also exfoliating, this one is from Gwyneth Paltrow’s brand Goop.
Know someone who’s looking to create some boundaries during the summer break? An alarm clock doesn’t go amiss, and means they can charge their phone in another room.
Seasonal change and an admittedly stressful year can take a toll on skin. This travel-size pack of hydrating favourites from Dermalogica is handy for handbags and holidays.
A physical way to foster a sense of relaxation, weighted blankets work by creating calming pressure. A good gift for someone with stress or anxiety, this is handmade from 100 per cent cotton, which means no artificial weights.
