A Non-Amazon Holiday Gift Guide Part I: The Hosting Type

Great things to give and receive this season without the taint of corporate toxicity.

My first Substack post is not meant to come from atop a soapbox, I assure you. But when I posted something to this effect of, “I’ll be judging people very harshly if they engage in any kind of Prime Day or Amazon haul this holiday season” on my Instagram Story earlier this week, the reaction was overwhelmingly, “YES. Thank you!!” I mean you, Influencers and Creators. Amazon sucks, ethically-speaking. They laid off 30,000 people right before the holidays despite a record $35 billion in profits in Q1 and Q2, and many of those people they just required to relocate due to arbitrary return-to-office mandates. They’re helping fund The Ballroom. Their founder is a tasteless, tactless, bored and boring little man. I’m over all of it, and I’m over acting like any of it is the price we pay for convenience. That’s B.S..

And guess what? I have an Amazon problem. I am a hypocrite. I have found myself ordering two, three, maybe four times a week. Toilet paper. Drill bits. Printer ink. Soy sauce. Tampons. Literally anything. My spending revolves heavily around their breadth and convenience. I can’t be pissed about the ethics of a company and not meet that gut reaction with some kind of solution, so I’m going to challenge myself to start shifting these habits step by step.

In this spirit, I have put together some great gifts recommendations and ideas that are decidedly not from The Everything Store. I hope it inspires some diversified spending, and support of small and medium businesses who need all the help they can get—especially these days. Even if these items aren’t checking your boxes, I hope it introduces you to some new places to shop. Enjoy!

This first guide hits closest to my own desires and a few things I have and recommend for anyone who likes to entertain, cook, or simply treat themselves:

Gifts for the Hosting Types

1. Set of 2 Acacia wood cutting boards by Sonder LA $60 (I have and love these)

2. French bistro cheese knife via Ark Elements $37

3. Toss Your Phone Into the Sea 11x17” print by Mr. Boddington Studio $25

4. Bitty bowls & Breakfast bowls by East Fork $48 / $95
   I use these for kitchen prep and condiments all the time!

5. Tomato Sauces by Alison Roman via First Bloom $30
   She says they’ll be back in stock soon! They’re delicious.

6. To the Bar brass sign via Etsy $25

7. A Screaming Blast book by Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties $46

8. Mini original olives painting via Etsy $86-146

9. Very long matches via Independent Goods $23

10. Some nice wine from Scribe Vineyard $38+/bottle

11. A trio awesome condiments by Cabi via Big Night $36
    These are so good and flavorful.

12. Brass clementine pieces placecard holders via Food52 $99

13. Copper Greek salt mill via East Fork $105

14. Concha (shell) candle holder by Carolina Irving & Daughters $55 each

15. Something from Nothing cookbook by Alison Roman via Bookshop.org $32

16. Funny cocktail napkins by Houses & Parties $60

17. Having People Over by Chelsea Fagan via Bookshop.org $27

I hope you like the first batch of goodies. More to come!

*AI police: I have always written using em dashes. I know the keystroke like I know how to control-S save, and I have since middle school circa 1997. I do use AI at work sometimes, but this is my sanctuary, and no such tool is being employed here. That would frankly be pointless. Kisses!