2025 Holiday Present Ideas – Sharp Eye

For the Kitchen and Pantry:

One of my favorite French bakery items is Kouign Amann. They are meltingly sweet and delicious and would make a special holiday present for just about anyone. $37.50.

High Lawn Farm is a third generation Jersey cow dairy located in the Berkshire Mountains.  The milk of Jersey cows contains up to 20% more protein and 17% more calcium than other breeds.  The sweet cream butter is slow churned in small batches and contains up to 87% butterfat.  It is extra smooth, spreadable, and delicious.  $16.00 for 8 oz.

These Piedmont Pennies, in the original Sharp Cheddar flavor are the best.  They are a great present for friends, or to take as hostess gifts.  Buy eight 9.6 oz jars for $120.00.

Dash hot air popcorn popper is always a hit.  It will make 16 cups of popcorn and has a measuring cup for melting butter while the corn is popping. $18.98.

Keep your fingers safe with the ceramic Grate Plate.  It is handmade and allows users to grate garlic, ginger, peppers, nutmeg, parmesan, and much more right on the plate itself. The Grate plate is made in Oregon by a mother daughter woman owned business. $39.99  and includes a garlic peeler and brush. It comes in 17 colors.

This site, Noon & Moon, has appealing items for the home – beautiful vases, dinnerware, glasses and more.  I like this pretty 11” Artisan Rose Plate, pictured above.  I would use it for hors d’oeuvres, mini cupcakes, or cookies.  It is microwave safe but should be handwashed.  $58.00.  15% off your first order.

I also love this Lotus Flower Bowl.  It is handcrafted and ceramic.  It is 9” in diameter and safe for the dishwasher and microwave.  $78.00. 15% off your first order.

The Swedish brand Aarke makes carbonators that are getting great reviews.  They are more expensive than other brands but there are differences I find appealing.  One is that they have a very sleek look.  Many people leave them on their counter tops because they like their design. The Carbonator Aarke III, pictured above, also comes in a choice of finishes – matte black, brass, sand, stainless steel, matte white, matte grey, copper, and  gold.  The machine is easy to wipe down to clean.  $199.99.    The refill pack of CO2 cylinders is $59.95.

I’m in the market for a new sauté pan because the Teflon on my old one began to flake off.  That alarmed me so much that I decided to investigate non-Teflon sauté pans.  Ceramic pans would be great because they are also non-stick, but many reviews say that they cease being non-stick quickly.  I went to The New York Times’ Wirecutter website to get their recommendation for the best 10” non-nonstick sauté pan, and it did not let me down.  Their pick is the OXO Obsidian Carbon Steel 10” pan.  Don’t be alarmed that it says, “nonstick with use”.  It develops a patina with use that seems to prevent food from sticking, but no plastic coating.  Wirecutter likes it because it is lightweight, balanced, will work with induction units, and can go in the oven or under the broiler.  Its handle is removable to help with storage.  59.45.

Pavilion paper plates are lovely and festive. Their designs are inspired by classic china patterns and the designers’ favorite contemporary art. I like reusable, unbreakable, melamine plates when eating outside at home, but I don’t like the weight they add when you’re carrying everything to the beach or a picnic.  These paper plates will be perfect for those kinds of meals. They are sturdy enough to hold a full plate of food.  Dinner plates are 10.5” in diameter and dessert plates are 8” in diameter.   An 8-pack of dinner plates is $8.50.

SENSARTE Nonstick Crepe Pan with Spreader is a 12-Inch natural ceramic non-stick coating pancake flat skillet griddle with stay-cool handle. is compatible with all stoves including induction.  It is lightweight, safe, and easy to clean.  $30.39

This is the Ohuhu Cake Carrier.  It has a lid tall enough for a three-layer cake, but that’s only the beginning of its virtues.   It has three different bases.  One holds a nine-inch cake, one is a cupcake holder, and if you flip that over, it becomes a serving tray with four different compartments and a center circle for chips and dip. $22.52

This pretty butter plate has a green wavy base and a clear glass dome.  It has a single round knob on the lid.  $50.00.

For the Rest of the House:

The Lazy Duck Night Light is lit with rechargeable LED lights. He can sit up, lie down, or hold a smart phone with his flexible legs.  Just looking at this light makes me laugh.  $13.59

These are beach towels with backgammon, chess or checker boards on them.   $195.00.

These linen Hand cocktail napkins are hand-embroidered, and they strike my fancy.  These are on sale for $92.00.

This Mini Hexagon Twist Lamp is compact and portable.  It has a fun shape and soft ambient light.  It has a rechargeable USB-C battery which gives 6-8 hours of use.  It is made from strong durable paper and turns on with a simple twist.  It is useful for desks, bedside tables, reading nooks and more. It is available in 5 colors. It is on sale for $31.96.

A fun collection of hand-painted doorstops.  The Wedgies as they’re called, are British designed, handmade in Sri Lanka, and made ethically. $26.19.

Send in a high-res image of the family pet and choose your furry friend pillow height.  You will receive a stuffed polyester velvet All About Vibe Custom Pet Pillow.  Very realistic. $55.

This is a clip-on ring light for your phone, laptop, or tablet.  It will improve your photographs by adding a stable, soft light source.  It is rechargeable and a charge lasts 2.5 hours. It has three light modes and five levels of brightness.  It measures 4.8” L x 3.8” W x 1.4” H.  The upgraded model is $26.99.

The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing by Adam Moss, is a book of almost 50 interviews with people who create things.  Moss is a former editor-in-chief of New York Magazine and some of the creatives he interviews are his friends. Most of those interviewed are well known.  The creatives range from authors and artists to chefs and a crossword puzzle editor, all world-class in their fields.  At the end of the book, he sums up the common traits he found among the people he interviewed which is very interesting.  $24.74.

This bedside table lamp by Macally has a touch-sensitive top that cycles through three brightness levels with a tap.  It is perfect for nighttime access in the dark. It also has four built-in USB ports for charging devices. It’s small so it doesn’t take up much bedside table space and has a stable base to prevent tipping. It can be used as a nightlight, a charger, or an additional source of light at your desk or on your bedside table for reading at night. One would also be appreciated by guests in your guest room.   It comes with a white or wood base.  $39.99.

This is a portable reading lamp that has a battery life of 12 hours. It comes in three colors The light swivels, has a dimmer, and a rechargeable LED.  It measures 9”H x 2.4” diameter. $140

Rooms with calm neutral backgrounds like grays, beiges, and various shades of ecru, have been popular decorating preferences for a while.  They create a calm, uniform, spacious atmosphere, which is the goal, and is quite lovely. I am a color person, but I appreciate the blank canvas they create into which one can insert some color. This pair of rib planter sleeves are modern and stretchy and would do the trick.  They were originally designed for houseplants but would also suit appropriately sized vases.  There are four colorways to choose from.  $38.00 for a pair of the sleeves, one short and one tall.

The Better Battery Co. has carbon neutral, alkaline high-performance batteries with a built-in recycling program and a zero-landfill commitment.  When your batteries are used up, print a free return shipping label, and ship the used batteries to be recycled – all for free. The batteries have a 10-year shelf life. This is a combo pack. $19.99 with free shipping for Amazon Prime members.  If you’d like to select your own battery types, go to https://www.betterbattery.co/collections/shop.

These personalized compression packing cubes are in a six-piece set. There are three color options  $54.99 if not personalized.  $84.99 if personalized.

Mark and Graham offers a six-piece set of 4 packing cubes, 1 laundry bag and 1 shoe bag. These are not compression.  There are 10 colors and patterns to choose from. It is $15.00 dollars extra to monogram.  Monogram is embroidered. $79.00

For Him and Her:

The Classic Boot from Rothy’s is one of my favorite Rothy’s styles.  It works for any kind of weather, is easy to clean, is very comfortable, and is made from merino wool and recycled plastic bottles.  There are four colors and patterns to choose from.  It is on sale for $239.00.

I already own these clogs in the merino-wool blend, but this bouclé version looks perfect for the colder months. They’re so comfortable and require zero break-in period. I also appreciate that my feet never overheat, even when I wear mine with thick, slouchy socks. There are two colors to choose from.  $139.00.

Lukymiro Rechargeable Travel Makeup Mirror with Lights is 7” x 9.5” with a 10x magnifying round mirror inset. It charges with a USB-C  and has 78 LED lights.  It is a table mount.  $19.19.

Kiehl’s Overnight Hydrating face Mask for men and women.  It is good for all skin types, is fragrance-free, lightweight, and contains Squalane, a skin barrier replenisher. $31.50 for 3.4 oz.

Everyone needs new winter leather gloves.  These are cashmere lined, have full hand Touchscreen for texting ability, and are pure soft leather.  Seven colors to choose from.   $33.99

Opal cool ice packs is a collection of premium cold therapy products that are skin-safe and uniquely designed for women’s wellness needs. Above is the Cool Cap which tucks inside a hat and is designed to cool down heat stress, heat exhaustion, headaches, and migraines.  It cools within 30 minutes in the refrigerator or in a cooler.  $29.00.

There are many other products to check out.

Fernida electric heated pants for men and women.  They have 8 heat zones housed in thick comfortable fabric.  They come in 5 sizes, are made from polyester and can be machine washed. The pants are designed with a high-quality carbon fiber heating sheet.  The pants have three temperature settings.  These pants are suitable for outdoor activities, walking, hunting, skiing, fishing, mountain climbing, camping.  $51.67

Katydid quilted sling bags, totes, and weekenders.

These bags feature vibrant colors, high-quality fabrics, and thoughtful designs. This quilted hobo tote bag is 20” x 7” x 15”.  It has a zipper closure, a 27” long strap, a water-resistant inner lining, two interior pockets and two exterior side pockets.  It comes in several colors.  $48.00.

This is my new hair dryer, and I am loving it!  It is the CNMSGM professional 1500W hair dryer.  It dries my hair very quickly, it is small and lightweight (under a pound), and it is quiet.  It uses negative ion technology and claims to dry hair 5x faster than other dryers.  It has a temperature control system that is easy to use, with four temperatures – hot, warm, soft, and cool.  It is good for all hair types.  $45.04.

Softies high-tech sleepwear truly lives up to its name. Their Luxury Sleepwear has their trademark Wellness Fabric embedded in it and is designed to keep you cool and dry all night. They sell pajamas, nightgowns, sleepshirts, robes, loungewear, and ‘snuggly accessories’. They have products for children, women, and men. These products have been an Oprah’s Favorite for the past eight years. The Aria Slim Notch Collar Capri PJ set pictured above is $139.00.

Everyone loves the Comme Si Egyptian cotton socks. The Yves sock for men is an easy style made from Egyptian Cotton. They are wide rib with stretch so they stay up all day long. $100.00 for 3 pairs, 9 colors selections to choose among.

For Kids:

476-piece Lego Creator 3 in 1 Birdhouse, recommended for ages 8+.  Offers three different builds of creatures in play scenes – a birdhouse and 5 birds, a hedgehog and a squirrel with a branch or a beehive with 4 bees.  $41.55.

This award winning Shashibo Shape Sifting Box is a sensory fidget box for kids. It has 36 rare earth magnets which allows multiple magnetic cubes to be connected to build over 70 shapes.   It is a STEM skill builder, and a great travel toy.   $17.99

National Geographic Microscope for Kids has a science kit with an easy-to-use kid’s microscope, Up to 400x Zoom, blank and prepared slides. A great gift for ages 6 – 10. It is a STEM Project Toy $37.98.

National Geographic Light Up Terrarium Kit for Kids lets users build a dinosaur habitat with real plants & gemstones. In addition, it contains a science kit and dinosaur toys. $29.48

This is a remote-controlled housefly and it makes me laugh.  It crawls on walls, floors, and the ceiling.  The wings buzz and wriggle, and the feet have powerful suction to stick to surfaces.  Recommended for ages 5+.  $20.99.

This is an Otamatone, a Japanese electronic musical instrument that is most like a portable synthesizer.  It is enjoyed by kids, teens, and adults. Users touch or slide their fingers along the stem to play.  There is both volume and pitch control. It needs 3 AAA batteries which are not included.  It is about 10.6” tall. They come in different colors and several sizes, some research is a good idea.  $31.99.

For more ideas check out our 2023 and 2024 Holiday Present suggestions.

And, our 2024 Holiday Presents for Kids.

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