Dads and boyfriends and husbands and brothers are impossible to shop for as far as I'm concerned and in my attempt to buy gifts that support my values, I've had to look a little farther afield than usual. Here is what I'm considering for the brother who just moved to Manhattan and left me in DC, the father who does more yoga than anyone else I know, and the husband who mostly just wants books and records.
Clockwise from top:
1. I've been obsessed with these amazing vintage Soviet oil paintings on Etsy this year. I'm tempted to buy this amazing river scene for David as an 'I want it and now it's yours' present.
2. My dad got one last year and my brother got one in the fall and this will be Dave's year. Lopapeysa are Icelandic sweaters and the Icelandic wool is warm and a little bit water proof and generally wonderful. I'm knitting mine with a pattern from Ravelry but there are tons of vintage and new on Etsy.
3. A backpack from United by Blue, for every item sold a pound of trash is removed from waterways and the company is B-Corp certified.
4. Nathan Miller Chocolate is made near my hometown in Pennsylvania and is decadent and delicious and perfect for everyone.
5. We've tried to do a lot of our shopping locally this year and to support local businesses. Two standouts are Swings Coffee, roasted in Arlington Virginia, and One Eight Distilling, who's Rock Creek Whiskey is an absolute fave. These are also perfect hostess gifts for holiday travel.
6. NeedlePainters helped me design a gorgeous belt for David last year with his school crest, our schnauzer's pretty face and other lovely personal things, it was a great experience and the belt is gorgeous. They also do card holders and flasks.
7. Usually I buy what NPR calls 'Eye Opening Reads' as Christmas gifts, instead this year I'm liking the look of Bearskins, a mystery perfect for short cold days and afternoons reading in front of the fire.
8. Speaking of short days, winter always seems like prime cooking time to me and Julia Turshen's Now & Again: Go-To Recipes, Inspired Menus + Endless Ideas for Reinventing Leftovers sounds like just thing for the men in my family, who all like to cook.
9. Something to better the world or themselves: a newspaper subscription or a donation to NPR in his name along with a mug or a donation to the International Rescue Committee or a membership to the ACLU. Can I say again that this has been a hard year?