I hope you all had a marvelous Thanksgiving! We had dinner with dear friends and their parents, and the food was phenomenal – juicy turkey, stuffing, creamed corn, brussel sprouts, a sweet potato and caramelized onion tart, peas, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and chocolate pecan pie… YUM! We also got to go for a walk in beautiful 70 degree weather and watch the Macy’s parade, so it was an all-around stellar day.

And now it’s Black Friday! Which often gets a bad rap, but as a frugal person, I really appreciate the chance for such steep discounts. I’ve been planning purchases for weeks, and am looking forward to checking many Christmas gifts off our list as well as snapping up some items for myself, like new jeans (40% off!!!) and note cards.

I know many of you are the same way, so I hope this last gift guide is helpful! I’m sharing a few of my best picks for husbands, dads, and brothers. These gents can be notoriously hard to shop for, so I’d love for you to share any slam-dunk ideas in the comments!

AAA baseball tickets | We are so lucky to have the Durham Bulls as our home town baseball team, but choose a team that’s near you! Going to games in the spring and summer is one of our favorite outings, so tickets are always welcome.
Rock Me Archimedes | We gave this fun little game to two brothers-in-law last Christmas, and it was a big hit with both families! A great two-person game. (Thank you to Jo’s gift guide last year for this suggestion!)
The Road to Character | I’ve recommended this book to so many people since reading it last year — it’s perfect for a wide audience, making it a great gift!
A cooking lesson | A few years ago John’s sister gave him a gift certificate for a cooking class at Southern Season. We had SO much fun and are eagerly looking forward to the next time someone gets us this gift! :)
A National Parks tee | Hat tip to Philip for wearing one of these cool shirts! They have tons of designs, and I think John wants 75% of them.
A pocket monkey | A nifty little multitool (screwdriver, wrench, bottle opener, letter opener, orange peeler, etc.!) that slips in a wallet.
Three Jerks Jerky | It seems like beef jerky is universally beloved by the gentlemen in my life, and this stuff is the filet mignon (literally – it’s made from filet mignon :))
Herschel wallet | We are big Herschel fans in this household, and there wallets are no exception (John carries one every day!). Stylish and affordable!
Cats desk plate | This desk plate literally makes me LOL every time I see it, and I desperately want to buy it for my brother-in-law (I think it would make him laugh, too!), but John has flat-out refused to get behind this gift idea. Maybe one of you has a cat-lover in your life?
Hudson Bay axe | This beauty is a splurge, but it seems like the kind of heirloom that would be swung for generations.
Striped socks | John’s absolute favorite gift to get– no joke–is socks. I think he’d appreciate this pair :)
Print their Instagram photos | We’ve done this as a gift for several people, and it’s a reliable hit! Our favorite service is the 4x4s from Social Print Studio.
Corknet ping pong set | A beautifully designed game that can be played anywhere.

Happy shopping, friends!!

P.S. More gifts for guys and this year’s gifts for kids and gals

The most successful gifts, I think, are little luxuries the recipient wouldn’t buy for herself – maybe upgraded versions of things she uses every day. They also have a personal touch. Here are a few ideas for sisters, moms, and best friends, several of which I own myself, have already given, or am planning to give soon!

A beautiful linen guest book | Time spent with family and friends is at the top of my “treasure” list, and I love that my guest book (that I started in our first apartment!) lets me look back on years of happy memories. I’m switching ours out for the teal one this year.
Tortoise link necklace | Modern in feel, classic in style. Goes great with stripes :) I own and love this piece!
Floret wall calendar | Erin’s photos of her farm’s flowers are stunning (she’s one of my favorite Instagrammers to follow!). Whether or not your loved one is a gardener, she’ll love flipping the pages of this calendar each month.
Shorts pajama set | These jams are blissfully soft and beautifully soft. A perfect splurge.
How to Celebrate Everything | Every piece of advice I’ve ever read from Jenny is genius, so I’m sure her book is the same. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one!
Buffalo check stocking | I’m going to assume that all of your loved ones already have stockings, so this would be more for decor! Stuff it with something else small to round things out.
Notecard set | Stock someone’s stationery stash for the coming year. Beautiful cards can be a bit painfully expensive, but are universally beloved.
Letter board | Almost everyone I know either has one of these, or wants one. (Count me in the latter camp.) Even if they’re becoming ubiquitous, I think they’d add so much fun and whimsy to a household!
Puff vest | I bought this navy number this year and love it! Perfect for gifting, since the fit is easier than, say, a top or pants.
For the Love | Jen’s universal-feeling essays will make you laugh until you cry, and just straight-up cry — or at least, they did for me. I’ve already gifted this to my mom!
Beach sheet | No more scrunching up to fit on your towel at the beach! Would be perfect for picnics, too.
Lindsay Letters’ coloring book | I know there are a million and one coloring books available now, but I’m eagerly anticipating Lindsay’s! Her lettering is undeniably unique, and I think it would be so fun to work with. Plus, I love the scripture focus!
Playing cards | Again, it’s all about elevating staples. These colorful cards also make a perfect hostess gift.
Cookbook | Gift a favorite volume to a friend who loves to cook, and put sticky notes on your favorite recipes.
Pretty socks | Because everyone’s sock drawer could probably use a refresh, and these ones are adorable :)

I’m sure it goes without saying, but if you’re thinking of purchasing from any of these shops, hold tight until Black Friday! Most will likely be running sales. Also, make sure you’re signed up for Ebates if you’re planning to do any online shopping!

I’m planning to pop back in on Friday with a gift guide for the gentlemen – sometimes the hardest people to shop for. Until then, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

P.S. 14 great gifts for kiddos

Affiliate links are used in this post!

After doing them for five years in a row, last year I took a break from sharing gift guides. It takes a good amount of time to prep and post them, and if I wasn’t all-in, I wasn’t interested in throwing up a few J. Crew links and calling it a day. (Though let’s be real, most people I know would love a gift from J. Crew! :))

That means I have an overflow of ideas stored up, and I’m excited to share a few this week! One of my favorite parts of gifting is getting to support independent brands, and to share them with my loved ones. Today, I’ve rounded up 14 gift ideas from Etsy shops and small businesses, all perfect for the sweet, stylish kiddos and parents in my (and your!) life. Several of them we already own, several of them I’m planning to gift this year, and several June and I would love to receive! All the details are below…

Tiny Dancer tee | Soft, snuggly, and perfect for the baby of this former-ballerina.
Poppy bow set | These are our favorite mini bow headbands! My June has the two solid pinks shown here.
Teepee | NOT CHEAP. However, the detailing is incredible (pom poms! swiss dot!), and I think this is a plaything the whole family could love for a long time.
Great Day plate | I love gifts that are experiences, and these plates by my friend Emily Ley are a perfect compromise – they offer something fun to wrap, as well as the promise of lots of sweet “great day” memories for years to come!
Pearl the Mermaid | With the sale of each Cuddle + Kind doll, 10 meals are provided to kiddos around the world. Plus, they’re adorable!
Soft bib set | A comfy and stylish solution for teething drool. Yes, I just used the word drool in a gift guide :)
Buffalo check bow | The bows from this line come in the best patterns (including Rifle Paper Co!!), and the oversized scale is aww-inducing.
Knot headbands | One more bow favorite! We loved these thick, soft headbands when June didn’t have much hair, and I know they’ll be back in the rotation once she has enough for a ponytail! :)
Patterned crib sheets | It was nearly impossible to stop at just three patterns (peach, flamingo, floral) – this shop has dozens of them, and they’re all gorgeous! I’m partial to the crib sheets, but they also sell swaddles and pillow covers.
Buffalo check bell sleeve dress | This is way more than I usually spend on baby clothes, but for photos or a special occasion, I love this stylish shop! Give me all the buffalo check, please.
Bunny-print bin | Again, so hard to choose just one Pehr pattern to share. These soft bins are perfect for nursery storage!
Felt pennant | I love the old-school styling and Southern flair of these pennants.
Classic silhouette | We had June’s silhouette made locally this year, and I think it would make such a sweet gift! Try A Family Print Shop, Heart Paper Scissors, or an artist in your community.
Simple pushwagon | This is a toy that would have totally captivated me as a kiddo. I hope my girl feels the same way, because I’m pretty sure it’s in her future! :)

I’m sure it goes without saying, but if you’re thinking of purchasing from any of these shops, hold tight until Black Friday! I’m almost certain they will all be running sales.

Any other favorite kid brands I should know about? I have lots of nieces and nephews to shop for this year!

Like so many lovely and marvelous things, I was introduced to Farmhouse Pottery via my friend Meredith – and immediately put one of their pieces on my wish list. Their elegant, rustic pottery is deceptively simple, but instantly recognizable. (I think it’s that unglazed bottom!)

I’m not even sure if they knew about my wish list, but when my in-laws visited Farmhouse’s workshop and store in Woodstock, Vermont a few months ago, they came home with a beehive crock for me! I probably looked like the heart-eyes emoji when I unwrapped the box :) It’s been the most beautiful spot for cut flowers, like the prettiest leftovers from the V9 launch party, above.

Fingers crossed I’ll get to visit their workshop myself some day, but in the meantime, I’ll follow along with their GORGEOUS (but also real-feeling) Instagram feed and add more pottery to my Christmas list! Starting with this and this :)

Any marvelous discoveries y’all have made lately?