MarketStreet Lynnfield challenged me to put together my holiday gift guide with items available at their lifestyle center and it was a piece of cake. It’s the place where I do a lot of my shopping and I’m often there hanging out with my son, Crew (we love the little children’s play area and all of the dining spots). The suggestions below are my ideas for her, him, the kids and even the folks who are a little tough when it comes to finding an item that they’ll really like (and don’t already own).
For Her
1. & 2. The Marble & Copper Monogram Board ($39.95) and Marble & Copper Cheese Knives (Set of 3 for $49.95) at Williams-Sonoma totally caught my eye at the store. The copper accents are different from other sets you’ve seen around. Would make a great gift for a mother-in-law, in particular!
3. The Getaway Packable Tote Bag ($68) at Pink Parkway is a cute idea for a friend who is always traveling or at the beach. It’s nylon and waterproof.
4. The Kate Spade Tomato Soup On the Go Insulated Container ($20) from The Paper Store is a cute stocking stuffer for the gal who always packs her work lunch or is always eating on the go.
5. & 6. The Deana faux fur eye masks ($18.95) at Soft Surroundings are insanely soft – I’m currently using a beat-up airline mask and would love one of these! Also, I got my mother the Blissful Bamboo Sheet Set (Queen: $189.95 or King: $228.95) last year. They are a splurge gift but truly one of the highest-quality and softest sheet sets you can sleep on.
7. It may seem a little crazy to buy someone a swimsuit for Christmas or Hanukkah but when I saw this raisin-colored Becca one-piece swimsuit in Everything But Water, I immediately thought of my sister since she loves this brand and it fits most body types really well. Fun pick for a female family member who is going on a warm-weather vacation soon after the holidays.
8. Athleta‘s Responsible Down Vest ($148) in the pink shade is a good choice for the gal who likes to be comfy but stylish while out and about.
9. I’ve had these black Original Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses ($153) from Lunette Optic on my wish list for awhile now. There’s something about the black lens with a black frame that just looks good.
10. If you have a friend on the North Shore who wants to start working out in the New Year, a series of barre classes from Pure Barre Lynnfield would be a good gift. I don’t know many women who don’t enjoy a challenging barre class and I’ve heard great things about this particular location.
For Him
11. The men’s Lunar Force 1 Duckboot Low ($140) shoes at the NIKE Running store are unique because they look somewhat like a sneaker but are totally waterproof.
12. My husband likes this men’s Breakwater Jacket ($120) from FatFace. It looks great on and has a waxed texture. The store also has an array of great casual shirts from its new Copper & Black collection.
13. The Kailua Chronograph Watch ($225) at Tommy Bahama is another item my husband personally picked out. A lot of guys I know are pretty picky when it comes to what they want in a watch but this one has a classic look for a sports watch – it’s hard not to like!
14. Amazon Books sells “The TB12 Method” by Tom Brady ($20) and I have a feeling that this is going to be a top gift item in a lot of New England households!
For the Kids
15. My son has a bunch of pajama sets from Hanna Andersson; they are the highest-quality out there, wash really well and come in so many fun designs (including glow-in-the-dark!). I love the abominable snowmen pattern on these “Are U Yeti” pajamas ($40).
16. Every time we’re at MarketStreet, I take Crew into the Learning Express so he can play with the Wooden Railway Set by Melissa & Doug ($129.99). If you know a little toddler who doesn’t have a train set yet, this one is a classic!
17. We have an animal rocker from Pottery Barn Kids in Crew’s nursery and it’s such a nice accent piece. I like the idea of gifting a newborn one of these and the new Faux Fur Plush Fawn Rocker ($151) is particularly adorable.
18. & 19. For the little girl who is showing an interest in cooking, the American Girl by Williams-Sonoma Cookie Baking Set ($39.95) at the Williams-Sonoma store is all boxed up and ready to be wrapped! I also love the Star Wars Pancake Molds (set of 4 for $19.95) for a little Jedi Knight who loves to eat pancakes for breakfast.
20. Sometimes a tablet can be a life-saver for parents traveling with kids and Amazon Books is selling the new Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet with Kid-Proof Case ($129.99), which comes with 1-year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, a 2-year warranty in case it breaks or cracks, 12 hrs of battery life and a ton of storage space.
For the Ones Who Have Everything
21. & 22. Amazon Books also has the best selection of hardcover coffee table books – my favorites right now are Gray Malin’s “Escape” ($28.46) and Benjamin Grant’s “Overview: A New Perspective of Earth” ($25.92).
23. My family often dines at Gaslight restaurant – the space has really high ceilings, a nice vibe and great French-inspired dishes. A restaurant gift certificate to this spot is a good pick for anyone who likes to eat out.
24. The Grove store is selling a selection of already-made holiday gift crates and can customize them for you if there are specific items you want to include or if you have a certain budget in mind. They even have some sets for your favorite pooch!
25. I always pop into Tuck’s Candy Factory for some homemade chocolates and this season, they’re offering holiday-themed chocolate boxes, as well as jumbo hand-pulled candy canes.
Thank you to MarketStreet Lynnfield for sponsoring this content (all opinions are my own)!
For those in the Boston area – specifically near the North Shore – MarketStreet and its retailers have an array of special events coming up (and an outdoor ice skating rink!), including a family-friendly New Year’s Block Party from 5pm-7pm on December 31st. There will even be a confetti-filled countdown for the kids and their families to enjoy (and that happens way before midnight, which is great for the little ones who need to get to sleep!).
