The Best Christmas Gifts and Sunday Morning Coffee

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is finding the perfect gifts for the people I love.

Not the biggest gifts. Not the most expensive gifts. But the right gifts … the ones that feel thoughtful, personal, and meaningful. The kind that makes someone pause and say, “Oh… this is so me.” As I got a good start on my shopping this week, I found myself thinking a lot about what actually makes a gift good.

Thanks for joining me for Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.

Season 5 Volume 47

About Me

The Best Christmas Gifts

We put so much pressure on ourselves during the holidays to find something spectacular, when in reality, the best gifts are rarely complicated. They’re simply thoughtful. They show that you paid attention.

And they remind someone that they matter to you. And yes—sometimes the best place to find those simple, meaningful gifts is Amazon. Fast shipping and endless options? Yes, please!

But how do you give a good gift? Here are a few of the things I always keep in mind.

Start with the person, not the product.

Instead of scrolling and hoping something pops out at you, think of the person first.
• What do they do every day?
• What do they love?
• Do they have a problem you could help solve?
• What makes them feel special?
A cozy throw for the friend who’s always cold. A great book for the sister who reads every night. A kitchen gadget for the coworker who brings the best lunches. When you start this way, the perfect gift almost always reveals itself.

Lean into small luxuries.

The holidays are the perfect time to give the things people rarely buy for themselves, cute slippers, a good hand cream, beautiful dish towels, or a luxe candle. These don’t have to be expensive. They have to feel indulgent. Small luxuries make wonderfully “gifty” gifts because they elevate the everyday.

Add a personal touch.

I made this ribbon for my granddaughter with my NIIMBOT label maker and pink ribbon, and it made her first gift from me extra special! Of course, the ribbon will be saved for quite some time!

Even if the gift comes from Amazon (and many of mine do!), add something personal:
• A handwritten note
• A personalized ribbon in their favorite color
• A small ornament attached to the wrapping
• A little story about why you chose it

Presentation goes a long way, and it makes even the simplest gift feel intentional.

Think about experiences, not just things.

Some of the best gifts aren’t tangible at all. Think about…
• Movie night baskets
• Coffee or tea samplers
• A puzzle and a bag of peppermint bark
• A cookbook with one of your favorite recipes marked

These little “experiences” turn a simple gift into a moment.

For coworkers or acquaintances, keep it thoughtful but simple.

Not every gift has to be deeply personal. For coworkers, neighbors, teachers, or hosts, stick to timeless favorites:
• Gourmet treats
• Candles
• Pretty notebooks
• Cute kitchen linens
• Hot cocoa kits

These always feel useful and appreciated without being overly complicated.

Holiday shopping doesn’t need to be stressful. With a bit of intention and a few thoughtful touches, giving gifts can actually be joyful. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite Amazon finds this year, great for family, friends, coworkers, and everyone in between, and I’ll link them all below.

Here’s to giving gifts that make the people in your life feel truly seen and loved. 🎁✨

My Latest Project

Christmas Party Prep — Six Days to Go!

Every year, around this exact moment, six days before our Christmas party, I have what can only be described as a tiny, festive panic attack. Not the kind that sends me spiraling, but the kind that makes me stare at my calendar, whisper “oh my gosh,” and briefly consider ordering everything from a catering company.

Because if you’re new around here, let me remind you: I cook 17 hors d’oeuvres and 7 desserts… for 200 people. Yes, two hundred. Yes, I’m still standing.

Barely.

This is the week when my kitchen turns into a full-scale production kitchen, my refrigerator becomes prime real estate, and the dishwasher runs like it’s being paid overtime. I chop, bake, sauté, roll, whisk, and assemble like a woman possessed. And somehow, somehow, it all gets done.

My saving grace?
My beloved, deeply nerdy, utterly essential color-coded spreadsheet.

It’s not pretty, but oh, does it save me. This spreadsheet contains everything I need to make, broken down by day into tasks. What gets prepped today. What gets baked tomorrow. And what needs to chill, marinate, freeze, glaze, garnish, or rest.

I swear this spreadsheet could run the party without me.

And every year, even when the panic threatens to creep in, I look at that spreadsheet and think, “Okay. I can do this.”

Over the next six days, trays of appetizers will start lining the freezer. Cookie dough will be portioned. Sauces will be prepped. My dining table will slowly disappear under serving platters, labels, and lists. And by the time guests arrive, sparkly and hungry, everything will look effortless, warm, and very merry.

Because behind the scenes? It’s chaos.
But on party night? It’s pure magic. ✨

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My Biggest Challenge This Week

If I had to name the most significant challenge I’m facing today, it’s one simple word: health.

Not the dramatic, life-altering kind, but the day-to-day balance of taking care of my mind and body while juggling all the things. This week is always my busiest of the entire year. Between the intense Christmas party prep, the mountain of gift shopping still to do, and the endless list of holiday to-dos, it’s far too easy for my brain to slip straight into panic mode.

Mentally, I’m trying so hard not to freak out. I know I’ve done this for years. I know it gets done. And I know the party will be wonderful. But those little whispers still creep in, the “what if you don’t finish?” and “how are you going to do all of this?” whispers that always arrive right on schedule.

Physically, it’s another challenge entirely. These long, full cooking days are no joke. Hours spent chopping, lifting, sautéing, frosting, assembling, and cleaning can wreak absolute havoc on my back and neck if I’m not careful.

So this year, I’m trying to be smarter. I’m taking breaks, stretching, working out with my trainer, and asking for help when I need it.

Because yes, the party matters.

But so do I.

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• Finish the party prep.
• complete the huge A Hanmade Christmas project for this week.
• Have fun.

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And what a week it was!

• 
  The Best Christmas Gifts and Sunday Morning Coffee
  One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is finding the perfect gifts for the people I love. Not the biggest gifts. Not the most expensive gifts. But the right gifts … the ones that feel thoughtful, personal, and meaningful….
• 
  Christmas Wreath Decorated Cookies
  I made these Christmas wreath decorated cookies with frosting and wreaths made from edible wafer paper cut with a hole-punch. I painted the paper with green icing gel and cut out the leaves with a leaf-shaped hole punch. These may sound…
• 
  Sweater Christmas Ornaments – A Handmade Christmas
  This week’s A Handmade Christmas project, Sweater Christmas Ornaments, is absolutely adorable and very easy to make. These little clay sweaters combine everything I love about holiday crafting: simple materials, cozy textures, creativity without stress, and that special handmade touch that…
• 
  To Die For Christmas Cookie Recipes
  There’s nothing quite like baking Christmas cookie recipes that fill your home with the smell of butter, sugar, and pure holiday joy. Every December, I find myself searching for new treats to share at our family gatherings and parties, cookies that…
• 
  10 Things You Shouldn’t Do When Hosting Christmas
  The holiday season is magical, but let’s face it, it can also be stressful, especially if you’re hosting Christmas. Between planning meals, decorating your home, and ensuring everyone has a wonderful time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, you can reduce…
• 
  Christmas Living Room Decor
  Every year, when December arrives, our living room decor becomes the heart of our home. It’s where we gather, unwind, sip cocoa, admire the lights, and reflect on the memories tucked into every ornament and garland. And this year, continuing my…

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I have lots of holiday content to share, and I will be cooking all week for the party! It’s crunch time.

• Christmas Morning Breakfast in the Family Room
• Christmas Clay Ornaments DIY
• My Christmas Decor in the Dining Room
• Handmade Christmas Gift Tags – A Thoughtful Touch for the Holidays
• A Surprise Centerpiece of Your Home – A Handmade Christmas.
• ‘Tis the Season of Giving Christmas Gifts Under $25

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• Christmas Decor in the Family Room – S5/V46
• Black Friday Shopping – S5/V45
• Handmade Mercury Glass Ornaments – S5/V44
• Christmas Decorating – S5/V43
• The Best Week – S5/V42
  The Holiday Season is Coming – S5/V41
  Creative Ideas – S5/V40
  Shopping Amazon Prime Big Deal Days – S5/V39
  Two Weeks in Portugal – S5/V38
  A Fabulous Bike Trip – S5/V37
  A Trip to Portugal – S5/V36
  Crunch Time – S5/V35
  Fall is Here – S5/V34
  An Amazing Summer – S5/V33
  A Fun Celebration – S5/V32
  Fall is Coming – S5/V31
  A Hawaiian Vacation – S5/V31
  Aloha and Sunday Morning Coffee – S5/V30
  Summer Beach Dinner Part Two – S5/V29
  A Time to Celebrate Friends – S5/V28
  Early Prime Day – S5/V27
  Summer at the Beach – S5/V26
  Why I Love Summer Travel – S5/V25
  My Favorite Summer Decor Finds – S5/V24
  A Year Older – S5/V23
  A Birthday Week – S5/V22
  Summer is Almost Here – S5/V21
  A Golfing Week – S5/V20
  Mother’s Day Memories – S5/V19
  Kitchen Garden Progress – S5/V18
  A Growing Family – S5/V17
  A Happy Easter and Crafting – S5/V16
  Heart Breaking Week – S5/V15
  Celebrating Family – S5/V14
  We are Filming This Week – S5/V13
  My Love for Spring – S5/V12
  My Love for Gardening – S5/V11
  The Inspired Home Show – S5/V10
  The End of an Era – S5/V9
  Spring is Coming – S5/V8
  East Coast Travel – S5/V7
  The Best Place to Dine on Valentine’s Day – S5/V6
  Is Needlepoint a Dying Art? – S5/V5
  Crafting and Sunday Morning Coffee – S5/V4
  My Love For January – S5/V3
  A Week to Remember and Forget – S5/V2
  A Good Year – S5/V1

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