2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Ideas from and for Real People

The Best Gift Guide Available

If you’ve been listening to our Premium Episodes this week, you’ve heard from some of our Executive Producers about why they've chosen to support Pantsuit Politics in such a meaningful way. They support Sarah and Beth’s work in every way: They are a focus group. Their financial support makes it possible for us to have professional audio editing and a full team to make our work better. They give us ideas and feedback on our episodes. And today, we are delighted to share some of their best ideas for holidays gifts.

Some of the Executive Producers are small business owners like Sarah and Beth and we’ve given them some space to share their work here. Unless marked, these are not affiliate links. Most of all, these are thoughtful gift ideas from generous, giving people. We’re grateful to them for sharing their ideas and would love to hear your go-to gift ideas in the comments.

For the Foodies

• Barton Springs Mill - Heirloom Grains & Flours
  Recommended by: Susanne Texas-grown heirloom and heritage grains that make a difference in your baking.

• La Terza Coffee - Pantsuit Politics Blend
  Recommended by: David Gaines (owner!)
  David reached out to us last year to talk about brewing a Good Morning blend of Pantsuit Politics coffee in partnership with his roastarie, La Terza. He’s also written a book Radical Business. A portion of the proceeds from the Good Morning blend support the show. La Terza also offers coffee subscriptions!

• Rancho Gordo Beans
  Recommended by: Stephanie and Kimberley A huge hit with foodies and home cooks! Gift certificates let recipients make their own selections, and you can get a lot of beans for your money. They also offer pre-assembled gift boxes. 20-something foodie kids absolutely loved this gift.

• Small Axe Peppers
  Recommended by: Angelyn Great hot sauce with a great mission! Perfect for the hot sauce lover on your list. Hot tip: “Once I got a hot sauce subscription and that was really good.” -Norma

• Kate Weiser Chocolates Recommended by: Jess, seconded by Kimberly Beautiful artisan chocolates that look like little jewels - as stunning as they are delicious! Carl the Snowman is always a hit. The 2025 holiday collection is available now.

• Lake Champlain Chocolates
  Recommended by: Stephanie
  High-quality chocolates that make excellent gifts.

• Grandma’s Coffee Cakes
  Recommended by: Stephanie Available in full size or 6 minis (which can be frozen - great for single folks who might not be able to eat a whole one).

• Penzey’s Spices and/or The Spice House

  Recommended by Kimberly, seconded by everyone Both great sources of quality spice packets or gift cards perfect for foodies.

• Zingerman’s Recommended by: Kimberley An Ann Arbor legend offering high-quality gift bundles and subscriptions. A bit pricey but very reliable delivery. The 3-month bacon subscription was such a hit, one dad is still talking about it a year later!

• Make-Your-Own Kits from Uncommon Goods
  Recommended by: Community member
  Limoncello kit (used every summer!) and hot sauce kit both winners!

• 12 Days of Cheesemas Advent Calendar
  Recommended by: Janille From Cheese Bros. Perfect for those of us for whom cheese is a love language.

• Goldbelly
  Recommended by: Jess, seconded by Maggie Specialty food delivery from famous restaurants across the country. (I once got a Piecaken from Goldbelly for my family Thanksgiving that I thought was the GREATEST dessert ever)

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Homemade or Simple DIY

• Homemade Salsa in Small Jars - A thoughtful, budget-friendly gift that’s “highly prized” among colleagues! - Danielle

• Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix in Mason Jars - A thoughtful DIY gift idea - make a big batch and package in mason jars. Great for staff gifts! -Sarah

• Travel Souvenirs Throughout the Year - Collect little things when you travel throughout the year and put them all in a canvas tote - local treats, t-shirts, or whatever souvenirs you would buy them. -Liz

• Handknit Socks The ultimate labor-of-love gift if you can finish them on time! - Liz

• Personalized Stationery (Canva makes it easy to print these yourself)

• Movie Night Box One aunt made everyone movie boxes - a cute bowl filled with microwave popcorn flavors, candy, and gift cards to the local theater. -Karen

• This year I legit asked for 6 weekends home alone without my family. Basically, I asked my husband to take the kids to his mom’s for the weekend every other month... it was a feeling of let down (in a positive way) and peace I just can’t ever get living with a bunch of loud, busy people. -Lisa

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Bookish Gifts

The Bookshelf on Church (Lisa McLaughlin, owner - Lisa is a FOUNT of great recommendations, so she gets her own section)

• 12 Days of Merry Bookmas Advent Box
  Recommended by: Lisa (The Bookshelf on Church)
  A curated box of 12 amazing items including books and bookish accessories. Available in two options: $150 (full version) or $80 (smaller items). Note at checkout which option you prefer; shipping calculated separately.

• Gifting Concierge Service
  Perfect for book lovers in your life, especially if they have different reading taste than yours! How it works: You purchase the service on our website, fill out a survey about your Giftee, set a budget and we do the rest!

• Gift Ideas from Bookshelf on Church
  Additional curated book and gift options available.

Other Bookish Gifts

• Personalized Book Stamps Recommended by: Emily
  Personalized stamps for book lovers - unique and practical!

• Journal and Pen sets. (Our friends at Flecks of Gold¹ make a gorgeous one sentence per day style journal)

• Coffee Table Books and Cookbooks

• Indie Bookstore Gift Cards “A gift card to an indie bookstore is my perfect gift!”

• Meditative Art Books Recommended by: Sabrina These books scratch the meditative/soothing/creative itch better than adult coloring books - no supplies needed other than the book, and you basically can’t fail! Available for adults/tweens with easier kid versions too.

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FOR NATIONAL PARKS ENTHUSIASTS

• US National Parks Annual Pass
  Perfect for 30-somethings who don’t want “things.” The passes are $80 from the US Parks website (but shipping is an extra $40), or you can pick them up or have them shipped FREE from REI. Pair with a national parks book for a complete gift!

• National Park Passports
  Recommended by Liz and co-signed by Susanne A meaningful way to track park visits and create lasting memories. One member shared that her parents’ passport from their full-time RVing days is now a treasured keepsake on her coffee table - making it a perfect gift to create connections across generations.

• National Park Page-a-Day Calendars Recommended by Caroline Perfect for daily inspiration from America’s beautiful parks.

• Roaming America by Renee and Matthew Hahnel Recommended by: Danielle A stunning coffee table book on the pricier side, but the photography is absolutely worth it.

• National Geographic Complete National Parks Book a comprehensive guide covering 400+ parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, and scenic trails. Nat Geo always makes nice things!

• Subpar Parks by Amber Share Recommended by Karen and Lisa a hilarious coffee table book featuring the artist’s paintings of each national park paired with the worst internet reviews she could find.

• Beautiful National Parks Coffee Table Book
  Recommended by: Caroline Available at Bookshelf on Church - a stunning visual celebration of America’s national parks.

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FOR KIDS

• Camp Snap Digital Cameras Non-phone digital cameras perfect for kids. -Beth

• The Week Junior Great for littles up to tweens - still loved by niece and nephew! -Jess

• KiwiCo Subscription Educational and creative subscription boxes - still loved by kids years later! -Jess

• For their parents: Milestone Memory Box A beautiful keepsake box for tracking baby’s milestone - a “game changer” for new parents. -Emily (and also, less new parents who need help organizing things)

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Great Stocking Stuffers

• Natural Life - Bohemian Gifts & Accessories
  Recommended by: Susanne
  Perfect for stocking stuffers and bohemian style items. “The girls in my family love everything from this place - the quality is great.”

• Uncommon Goods
  Recommended by: Rachel and Becca
  Great for unique gifts including make-your-own kits, creative home items, and more.

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FOR HOME & DECOR LOVERS

• A.B. Newton - City Prints & Home Decor
  Recommended by: Charisse
  A local Florida shop featuring city map prints (not just Florida-themed!), home decor, and unique gifts. “Half of my home decor is now from this shop”

• Stone Absorbent Dish Drying Mat Goes under your dish rack - gorgeous and practical! My in-laws sent this and I love it. -Karen

• Barefoot Dreams Blankets Pro Tip: watch for sales at Sam’s Club for great deals on these cozy blankets! -Jess

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GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK

• Mercy House Global Subscriptions
  Recommended by: Jessica A Texas-based organization supporting women leaving oppressive situations with ESL classes, career building, and skills training. They also support a maternity home in Kenya. Their quarterly subscription boxes make meaningful gifts while making a real difference.

• Ethik: Recommended by David Ethically sourced corporate gifts

• Women’s Bean Project: Recommended by David The Women’s Bean Project provides job training and employment to women facing significant barriers to work, selling high-quality food products made by these women to support their mission.

• Benevolence Farm: Recommended by David, seconded by Alise supporting opportunities for people impacted by the criminal legal system in North Carolina

• Thistle Farms: Recommended by David second chance opportunities for survivors

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KEEPSAKES & COLLECTIBLES

• Danforth Pewter - Bentley Snowflake Ornaments
  They create a new ornament each year based on one of the 5,000 photographs taken by Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley, the first person to photograph individual snowflakes. A beautiful tradition! -Stephanie

• Poorly Drawn Pet Portraits: I ordered pet portraits for friends and my spouse and they are delightful. They are affordable, and you receive a digital file that you can print or share. -Katherine

• House Portrait Painting: We recently gifted my grandmother with a printed drawing (sounds weird I know) of her house. After her partner passed last fall, she sold the home and moved into my parents’ house. The portrait was a welcome reminder of “Sheila and Petar’s home”. -Danielle

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EXPERIENCE GIFTS & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Annual Passes & Memberships:
Perfect for families and young adults who don’t want “things”:

• Annual state park pass

• Annual museum pass

• Zoo membership for a year

• Local restaurant gift cards for date nights

Instructional Experiences:
The options are endless! Consider:

• MasterClass annual subscription

• Cooking classes

• Knitting classes

• Pottery classes

• Stained glass making classes

Subscription Boxes:

• Vellabox candle subscription - “has been great”

• Fab Fit Fun boxes - GenZ niece “adores” hers

• Houseplant subscription or monthly Flower Delivery

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PRACTICAL GIFTS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

“Something practical that you might not think of buying for yourself, and a nicer version of what you might afford”:

• Nice soft-sided cooler

• Gift certificates for Jiffy Lube

• Fire safe for documents (Sentry Safe fireproof envelopes - Karen)

• Emergency Fire Blankets - A practical safety gift - Sarah gave one to each household in her family last year.

• Air fryer

• Freestanding, portable hammock

• Portable, universal phone chargers with adapters

• Travel mugs

• Engraved Stanley tumblers

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We can’t express how grateful we are for the generous spirit of this community and all the ways you contribute to our work and show up for each other. We hope this is a little inspiration for you to have the best holiday season available for you and your people.

The Gifts of Pantsuit Politics

For The News Avoidant Person in Your Life: A gift subscription to Pantsuit Politics Premium

For the Person Who Watches a Lot of News and is Stressed Out By It: A Different Approach to the Day Meditation Series (Get $10 Off through the end of November with code YOGAFRIDAY and an additional 10% off with the storewide code HOLIDAYCHEER)

For the Person who regularly starts conversations with “Sarah and Beth said” : A Personal Message from Sarah and Beth (Get 10% off the whole store with code HOLIDAYCHEER)

For the Person Who You Think is Wrong, But You’re Listening: A Book Box with Sarah and Beth’s Two Books

For other treats to get us through visit our print-on-demand shop and use the code HOLIDAYCHEER for 10% off your whole order through the end of December

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This Week’s Low Stakes Controversy

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What We’re Reading this Week

• Sarah: Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street? (The New York Times | Gift Link)

• Beth: Ten Thousand Light Years from Okay by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman

• Alise: Today’s Trash is Tomorrow’s Garbage (Sentimental Garbage)

• Maggie: When grades stop meaning anything: The UC San Diego Math Scandal is a Warning (The Argument)

Next Week on Pantsuit Politics: Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women by Diana Carlin, et. al.

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