2023 Holiday Gift Guide
Kitchen Favorites
Wustoff knife I’ve had my Wustoff chef’s knife for about a decade now and absolutely love it. I think it’s the perfect weight in my hand and it’s nice and thick compared to some thin Japanese knives that I’ve definitely broken the tip off of before! A good chef’s knife is an absolute essential and so worth the money.
Cast Iron Pan A well cared for cast iron pan will last longer than a lifetime and can be passed down to future generations, which is so cool. If you do a good job of oiling it after each use it’s an excellent non-stick pan and makes the perfect fried egg and a million other things. These bad boys are heavy, so you’ll get a little arm workout too!
Stanley Mug I’m a sucker for a big ass water bottle and the Stanley is my new fave. One thing I can’t stand about other 40oz bottles is taking them on the go and having nowhere to put them in the car without it rolling all over the place. I love that the Stanley fits perfectly in your cars cup holder and comes with a handle.
Stasher Bags If you’re on the hunt for a Ziplock bag alternative, check out Stasher bags. They’re silicone, easy to clean and come in lots of different sizes. I’ve been using them for years and recently got a drying rack from Ware (see Asheville Favorites below) that has really come in handy for drying Ziplock bags that we clean and reuse and Stasher bags.
Large Glass Infuser Perfect for making a batched infusions all year long. I love hibiscus tea in the summer with some fresh lime juice and sparkling water. In the winter, I’m a fan of chai or tulsi basil tea.
Milk Frother and Warmer One of my favorite kitchen gadgets ever. If you’re like me and hate putting cold milk into hot coffee, this one’s for you. I use this at least once a day and there’s just no turning back now. I’ve had mine for years and it’s one of my most frequently used items in the kitchen.
All-Clad Stainless Steel Pan I got my first All-Clad pan almost 20 years ago and was instantly impressed by its durability and versatility. I also love being able to easily go from searing on the stovetop to finishing off in the oven.
Instant Pot Another one of my go-to kitchen appliances, this pressure cooker really comes in handy for meal prep. I make bone broth, whole chicken (from fresh or frozen!!), and rice in mine often and everything always turns out perfect.
Kitchen & Home Essentials
9. AquaTru Water Filter This 4-stage reverse osmosis water filter is certified to NSF standards to remove contaminants, including lead, arsenic, PFAs, fluoride, chlorine, nitrates and many more. We’re about to install their under the sink filter and are so excited, but the countertop filter is a great option if you don’t own a home.
10. Food processor I love my Cuisinart food processor. Definitely a kitchen and meal prep staple.
11. AirDoctor I got an AirDoctor 3000 almost 5 years ago and noticed a difference in air quality immediately after turning it on. We keep one in our bedroom where we have carpet and turn the fan on high overnight for the perfect white noise. It comes with a light dimmer too so the bedroom stays nice and dark. I have my eyes on the AirDoctor 5500 next!
12. Branch Basics I love their non-toxic starter kit for all your household cleaning needs. I’m always surprised at how long a bottle of concentrate lasts even after refilling all the different bottles. It’s the only household cleaner we use. The Oxygen Boost powder has also been really effective for getting stains out of clothes.
13. Vitamix Blender I splurged on a Vitamix blender about 7 years ago and it’s still such a workhorse. I use it the most for smoothies, blending soups, and grinding up flaxseeds.
Wellness Must Haves
14. Queen of the Thrones Pack Castor oil packs are great for liver detox, lymphatic drainage and colon cleansing. A great addition to your wellness toolkit if you’re working on balancing hormones, improving sleep, improving gut symptoms like constipation and bloating, and lowering inflammation. I love wearing my pack to sleep and notice I sleep better when I use it. I always wear it after consuming any alcohol.
15. Higher Dose Sauna Blanket I got this sauna blanket for my birthday as a combined gift from multiple people (thanks guys!) and really like it so far. I just got their sauna towel insert so I can go in naked and throw it in the wash after.
16. Oura Ring This is my #1 recommendation for anyone looking for health optimization. The Oura Ring truly keeps me honest and reminds me when it’s time to rest and take it slow or ramp things up. It tracks my sleep, activity and stress response and helps me know how to best support my body on a daily basis. This is an awesome tool for showing you how your daily habits are affecting your body.
17. Beautycounter I’ve been using Beautycounter skincare for such a long time now. They’re trailblazers in the clean beauty industry and are the leading company advocating for more health-protective legislation across North America. I love their Countertime set and All Bright vitamin C serum. One of the best things I did to help with my long struggle with my skin and acne was switching to Beautycounter and safer skincare.
18. Pact I’ve been a longtime fan of Pact for organic cotton clothes. This would make a great gift for a health-conscious friend or relative!
19. Walking pad This walking pad is definitely on my personal wish list! Super easy to set up anywhere or under your desk so you can get some movement in while you work. A win-win situation for desk workers!
20. Exercise bands A staple for any home gym or when you want to stay active while traveling (I always throw these in my suitcase). There’s so much you can do with exercise bands and no matter how in shape I feel, I can always get a good burn going.
21. Kettlebell Kettlebells are a great addition to any home gym because they’re so versatile and are so easy to store, even in the smallest apartments or rooms.
22. Adjustable Dumbbells Not everyone has the space for a weight rack at home so, this is the next best thing. I’ve been using adjustable dumbbells this year and they’ve been super effective, easy to use, and I love how little space they take up. This is a great option for someone who doesn’t have the space for multiple pairs of dumbbells but wants to be able to use a variety of weight when working out.
Asheville Favorites
22. Botanist and Barrel I love the selection of natural wine and cider this local company offers. The ciders are crafted with local, sustainable, and organic fruits and apples from their organic farm. These traditional Southern heirloom ciders are dry, unfiltered, unpasteurized and contain no residual sugar. All cider and wine is raw, wild, unrefined, unfiltered, and with no sugar added. Their downtown bar and shop is such a cute place to stop by for a tasting, charcuterie board, brunch, or even some live music. They have an awesome selection of cider and wine to-go so you can stock up for the holidays or get something to bring the host of your next holiday party. If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic option, I highly recommend Marquee in the River Arts District - they have a huge NA selection and it’s one of my absolute favorite places to walk around.
23. Birth Chart and Astrology Reading by Shala I’m a big fan of personal development and love learning more about myself and my unique traits. If we have this in common then you’d love a natal chart reading with transits/progressions by Shala to help you understand how to utilize your unique gifts and characteristics while also getting a glimpse into what’s to come for you astrologically. You don’t need to have any prior knowledge of astrology to get a ton out of this reading, and Shala does an excellent job of explaining everything so you understand it.
24. East Fork Pottery East Fork is a certified B corp and an Asheville institution for pottery. I love gifting their mugs along with some local coffee to friends and family, and I usually end up getting something for myself in the process like another bowl or plate!
25. Appalachian Jules I’m a sucker for a nice candle and Appalachian Jules is my go-to option. The candles are made with soy wax, clean fragrance and a woodwick and just smell so damn good. The hardest part is not getting one of everything!
26. Evolve Skin Studio Treat yo’ self to the best facial of your life at Evolve. This holistic and integrative skin studio takes a whole body approach to skincare. Their impressive team of estheticians review your lifestyle, current skincare habits, and goals to provide personalized recommendations for support. Don’t be surprised if you show up for a facial and leave with recommendations for your skin, lifestyle, diet, personal care products, gut health, and more!
27. Embellish Jewelry I found this jewelry shop earlier this year and it’s become a spot that I bring anyone visiting me in Asheville to (mostly just for an excuse to get myself more jewelry). I just love their style and the price point is the perfect sweet spot that keeps me coming back for more.
28. Ware I love this West Asheville store for functional and responsibly-made household and personal care products. I really appreciate their commitment to low waste options and their refill station. I love the Stasher bag drying rack and cloth vegetable crisper that we got this year! Added bonus: it’s across the stress from my favorite coffee shop, Odd’s.
29. There There This new-ish shop specializes in consciously made items. I really like their home goods, especially cotton kitchen towels, throw pillows and mugs.
