To begin, THE MOST FUN FACT about this particular edition of The DM is that tomorrow is our 3rd birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, THE DM! You were born from a mutual love of eclectic newsletters, quirky subject matter, pretty objects, and unusual (but specific and excellent) tastes.
For our birthday this year (as every year), we simply suggest a fun forward to a friend to share us amongst the many delightful Substacks that you are probably already reading. It’s the golden age of Substack, after all.
Where was I? Oh yes. I liiiiiiive for gift guide season. Breathe for it. Did you have D.E.A.R. in middle school? Drop everything and read? That’s me with a gift guide. Today’s to-do list? Out the window. Sleep? Backlogged. Health and wellness? On pause. Gift guide season is here and if there’s anything I love more than reading other people’s, it’s writing my own.
So thanks everyone for giving me the gift of gifting you our gift guide. Your presence is a real present.
Without further adieu, your annual serving of our deepest wants and desires, with a side of the Olsen twins. Bon app.
Meg’s List
For my guide, I did two sections: 1- things I have bought this past year that would make great gifts/and that I use almost daily. 2- My dream Christmas list. Cost isn’t much of a consideration, but some very fun pretty things to look at. Ok bye!
The best five things I bought this past year:
Substack memberships (price varies): I calculated all my ‘substack memberships’ the other day and whoa Nelly, I am paying a pretty penny for high-quality content. While it would be easier (and more economical) to subscribe to big media houses, I am also a believer that the future of cultural content lies in individual contributors. So naturally as a Substacker myself, I find myself wanting to read and support them all! All of that said, I do have my favorites which are: Mon Review (Fashion, but also culture), Jenny Sais Quois (Same, same), Feed Me (Startups, M&A, where culture and business meet), and A La Carte (Creativity, one of my absolute favorites!).
ChatGPT Pro account (Monthly, $20): Can’t count the ways that CGPT has improved my existence. There are so many endless uses for it and paying for the pro version has made elements of my job, and my personal life better. Just this past week I used it to help me write a talk track for a presentation, build out imagery for a dinner party invitation, answer questions for me like it was Socrates, and boil down whether I was overpaying a contractor on some housework. Single best monthly purchase I have made.
Set of three iittala tiny spoons ($60): To know me is to know I eat everything with a spoon. These are the perfect I just want one little bite spoons.
Portable Xmas tree candle ($70): I have bought this candle every year for three years now and it’s my holiday treat to myself. D.S. & Durga is such a fun brand and they redo the design on this candle each year. It smells amazing, looks beautiful, and is my little way to kick off the holiday season. It sells out quickly so if you’re curious, I’d suggest purchasing it soon!
G.H. Bass Weejun Loafers ($175): I’ve been a loafer fan long before they became cool and I’ll be the first to say you don’t have to spend a ton of money to find a pair of really good ones. G.H. Bass is an OG and very quality. I wear these babies all the time and they just get better with wear.
And nine things on my wishlist:
This perfect tiny croissant charm ($78): The ideal token to my six amazing weeks in France.
Anastasio Tray in Cherry Gold ($270): My Roman Empire. I think about this tray probably once a week ever since I saw it on display in Athena Calderone’s home in June 2020. Is it ludicrously priced? Perhaps. But this is my Christmas list!
Pigeon Toe porcelain butter dish ($70): I just leave my butter in the wrapper on the door of my fridge but maybe this is what I need to really elevate my lifestyle into the Nancy Meyers film aesthetic I just know I’m capable of.
Babaa sweater ($265): I want to raise a family in one of these sweaters. Just burrow, go into hiding, and live inside. As I was writing this, I spent a good ten minutes zooming in and looking at the details of the knitting. A sweater trance, if you will. They are 100% wool, one size fits all and come in a variety of colors and lack of colors. A better sweater rarely exists.
A purse hanging ring ($17.99): Simple. Brilliant. The most economical, practical, and useful item on my list.
The Jolie Showerhead ($165): Is anyone else out there getting mad Tiktok ads for this showerhead? It’s already the best-looking one I’ve ever laid my eyes on and then they’re telling me it will make my hair grow faster and shinier? That my skin will be better? Is this allowed?
An extremely extra hair clip ($175): Listen, I can’t tell you WHY this hairclip is $175 but I can confirm it is the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen. I would, of course, break it immediately and lament the loss for years to come. Still, though. Still.
A simple solid gold set of stud earrings ($125): You’ve heard me talk endlessly about paying attention to your fabric ingredients, and now I’m going to take a minute for jewelry content. Not all gold is made the same. Feels like a good opportunity for me to also say ‘Not everything that glitters is gold’. You can’t go wrong with 14K however, and you also can’t get much more timeless than a pair of simple studs. These are beautiful, well-priced, and cool-girl (me) approved.
LEGO Bonsai Tree ($39.99): Random, but I used to love Legos as a kid. LOVE them. Loved putting them together and staring at my creation for days like a narcissistic god until my brother inevitability destroyed them and anyway, I would make the shit out of this bonsai tree and the nostalgic zen I would feel…
Devon’s List
Welcome to my section, where you’ll find three little lists. Happy clicking, shopping, and gifting!
The Good Ol’ ‘Random Things I’d Love to Receive or Give’ List:
Indigo hand-dyed cotton napkins ($105): Having cloth napkins on the table is a small but mighty entertaining move I think we all appreciate - and, these beauties would certainly make even a regular weeknight dinner feel fancy.
Tinted lip oil ($24): Like the lip gloss of our childhood, but make it 2023 and not like, glittery goopy pink. Give it to all of your girlfriends, and add the mascara (my new favorite) to cart for yourself while you’re at it. It’s party season, after all!
Zab’s Hot Sauce duo ($20): Any self-proclaimed hot sauce lover who has not yet tried Zab’s needs these bottles in their kitchen ASAP, and you could be the one to help them fix this. I am a big fan of both flavors and use them on a lot of things, including breakfast tacos.
Dizzy martini glasses ($100): It wouldn’t be my section without a mention of a ‘tini in some fashion! These are on my short list of go-to gifts year-round (in fact, a few DM readers have been the recipients), and all the more festive to give this time of year.
Sendero Provisions Co. hat ($34): Perfect for the stylish guy (or gal!) who likes a good baseball hat with a Western twist and a little personality. I particularly like this one.
Pearl drippy beaded crossbody purse ($225): As a relatively frequent wedding guest and also a lover of a small yet majorly statement-worthy purse, I think I need this?
Hillary Sproatt blanket ($175): Ok, yes, I linked to a blanket in the last DM issue, but I will always and forever stand by blankets as being a stellar surprise to wrap up for just about anyone! I absolutely adore these whimsical, colorful ones. Denver folks - Calli has a few of the large ones at Miller Lane Mercantile, too.
Custom matchboxes (prices vary): File these under something for the *person who has everything*. I cannot take credit for this one - DM fave Jess Graves shared these - but now I’m constantly thinking of a reason to order some for myself and everyone I know!
Toiletry bag ($55): Because a lady can never have enough little bags to throw into her big bags, amiright?
‘Kinder Kitchen’ knife set ($29): I’m not a parent, but - if your kiddo likes being in the kitchen, these mini-me knives seem like they’d be a better (safer!) way to have them help with sous chef duties.
A champagne gun ($549): a completely ridiculous, expensive, and over-the-top gift that also would likely make for a REAL good time, I’ll let the product copy speak for itself - ‘As if a champagne shower wasn’t fun enough, combine the celebration with the excitement of a super soaker battle and watch the party go crazy for these amazing party essentials. Perfect for nightclubs, pool parties, boat trips, music festivals, and more champagne guns are the perfect combination of light-hearted fun and elegant style.’
The ‘Hey, Look at My Talented Friends!’ List:
Custom paintings by Samantha Lee Designs: Sam creates the most beautiful illustrations of the things you or your loved ones care about the most - pets, people, homes, destinations, whatever! - that can be then be turned into personalized stationary or prints to frame, i.e. beyond meaningful gifts.
Adventure register prints from Wanderwide: a truly knock-it-out-of-the-park choice for the skier, the surfer, or the football (or, T.Swift fan IYKYK) fan looking to keep track of the places they’ve been or the things they’ve done in a super nice lookin’, design-forward way.
Ceramics from Helenita at Home: I want alllll of these colorful ceramics handmade in central Mexico, but to help narrow it down for you - I’d choose a pitcher that the host-with-the-most can use for flowers or serving margaritas, a scalloped fruit bowl for newlyweds, or some cutie bowls for just about anyone.
Jewelry from Oxbow Designs and OXB: for when, on the fifth day of Christmas, your true love wants to send you five (or, like, two) golden rings or perhaps, just a necklace! On my list: calla lilly earrings.
The ‘Time to Wrap Those Presents’ List:
Sugar Paper wrapping paper = always the cutest.
Plaid wire ribbon = would be perfect for using with kraft or white paper, and the wire ribbon guarantees a lookin’ bow every time.
Dried orange slices = some California Christmas-inspired flair to add to the top of packages.
The BEST scissors = a Lynn Klug™ essential, these are both necessary and nice to look at.
Music to put on in the background = my ‘Festive Feeling’ holiday playlist or the vibe-y ‘Jazzy Christmas, Baby’ playlist.