The search for the perfect holiday gift can take you to the mall, an Amazon search bar or Google—and often ends with last-minute hints from friends’ shopping successes. But no one knows your special someone better than you.
This season, instead of a new tool for Dad, a kitchen gadget for Grandma or clothes for your teen—which may end up in the return pile—try these inventive ideas. Customize them to suit everyone on your list.
Refresh & renew
Create a gift basket with favorite stress relievers—bath salts, a cozy blanket, slippers, herbal teas and dark chocolate. Top it off with a gift certificate for two to a salt room. A relaxing day is even better when shared.
Get growing
Winter can be dreary, so bring life indoors. Gather gardening gloves; one large planter or several smaller ones with drainage holes; organic potting soil; and herb seeds such as basil, thyme and oregano.
Feeling adventurous? Try mustard greens, which mature from seed in about 40 days, or micro tomatoes such as Tiny Tim, which mature in about 60 days. Include care instructions: place pots in a sunny spot and water three times a week, or when the soil feels dry. Add custom plant labels so your giftee knows what to expect.
Teen tour
Start by taking inventory of what your teen loves.
Basketball? Visit the NBA Store in New York City, grab a quick bite and catch a Knicks or Nets game—you might earn parent of the year.
More of a theater fan? Score tickets to a Broadway or off-Broadway matinee and spend the day exploring the city—ice skating in Bryant Park, shopping at the Winter Village, museum hopping or walking the High Line. End with a drive through Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to see the world-famous holiday lights.
Bonus: This gift to your teen is also a gift to you. When was the last time you spent the entire day together?
Something old, something new
Sometimes the best gifts are hiding in plain sight.
If your kids love dress-up, create a playroom zone with a hanging bar for costumes, a mirror and a storage bench filled with cowboy hats, princess shoes and other accessories.
Have a little car enthusiast? Build a miniature parking garage using a wooden spice rack. Spray-paint it, hang it on the wall, add a sign and fill it with toy cars. They’ll be racing in no time.
Presence over presents
While it’s fun to have something to unwrap, the best gift is your presence.
Make memories your loved ones will treasure—build a pillow fort with your kids, take your parents to lunch or create a keepsake such as a family recipe book or photo album. For the cherry on top, do it all without looking at your phone.
Giving someone your undivided attention beats anything you can buy this holiday season.
About the Writer
Allison K. Lim is a Bergen County–based writer and editor with 19 years’ experience in print and digital media. Detail-and deadline-driven, she blends polished storytelling with proven leadership from professional roles and local community volunteer work in Ho-Ho-Kus.