The A&W Holiday Gift Guide
Welcome! You’ve found the ho-ho-home of the A&W Holiday Gift Guide, your one-stop shop for all your seasonal purchases this year! Because we’ve heard from a lot of our readers that you really enjoy our “What’s in the A&W Shopping Cart?” section in our newsletter, we thought we’d go all-out for the holiday season and guide you during this time of Big Purchases. Every single product in this guide has been tested by us, A&W, and we strived to pick a lineup of gifts that strikes a balance between things that are pretty and things that are actually really useful. So let’s get to it! Below, see our suggested gifts for the A&W Couple, the A&W Homemaker, the A&W Chef, the A&W Bookworm, and some A&W-Style Relaxation.
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A Blue Apron subscription: We are grateful for Blue Apron for so many reasons. Firstly: Buying groceries? What a hassle. Save your weekend meal prep for your lunch. Secondly, it helps cut down on food waste. While we couldn’t open the link he emailed us about this, reader Matt S. (W’s friend who spends his weekends doing ecoterrorism) assured us that it is actually more sustainable than buying groceries. Lastly, Blue Apron meals are seriously delicious—and we’re not just talking about the recipes. Because Blue Apron uses locally-sourced ingredients, we can absolutely taste the upgrade over the usual minimum-price-per-pound ingredients. (Note: If you want to try Blue Apron for yourself out first, just let us know, because we can send free boxes. Then, you in turn can send your gift recipient a free box. Now that’s what the holiday season is all about!)
Home town maps pint glass: Perfect for the long distance couple, or a couple with long distance origins. The great thing about these is that they’re each made to order, so they’re hyper-personalized: where else are you ever going to see a Ridgewood/Weldon Spring pint glass set like ours?
Tile: Tile is commonly understood as tech you add to your keychain so that you don’t lose your keys. This is true; maybe once a month I ring my keys from my phone. But what’s most helpful about tile is that it works both ways, meaning the tile on my keys has a way to make my phone play a tune. For couples in which at least one partner is like me, and literally tosses their phone away haphazardly only to lose it for an hour: this purchase will save couples precious hours digging through your blankets looking for misplaced phones.
My advice: go for the Tile Pro. The basic lasted a year, and replaceable batteries for the pro are cheap. -W
My Beauty Diary Ultra Repairing sheet masks: Every couple needs to self-care. While W still screams any time a sheet mask comes near his face, I would highly recommend these masks for couples in which both partners are open to skincare. This box comes with 8 whole sheet masks—that is, enough stock for 4 couple’s spa nights—and this formula has never made my sensitive skin break out. -A
Uniqlo Heattech t-shirts: To keep your favorite cold climate twosome warm. These tees are slim enough to fit beneath a sweater and not make you look like the Michelin Man, but they’re seriously insulating, and comfy to boot. A must-have for any pair that loves a romantic wintertime stroll!
Set of 4 Amysen smart plugs: We’re going to level with you: we haven’t actually found a use for our smart plugs outside of lights. That being said though, we appreciate the perks that come with app-controlled lights every day. We’ve scheduled our lamps to turn on at sundown, we use them as part of our morning alarm, and we’ve turned off our lights from miles away when we realized we forgot.
Costa Farms Chinese evergreen: #jungalo. We love how reliable this plant is; when it hasn’t been watered, it lets you know. Read: unlike other succulents, issues don’t snowball after the first dry leaf. Most importantly, though, it’s beautiful! So while it may feel like you’re gifting someone a responsibility, it’s really going to help them grow a green thumb.
Obvious State literary art print: You could buy a generic literary poster that says something about boats beating on against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. Or, you could gift your favorite book lover one of these literary posters from Obvious State, an independent press run by Evan and Nichole Robertson, a husband and wife team based in New York. When we met and chatted with Nichole at the Boston Book Festival this year, we learned that many of the quotes featured on Obvious State items are drawn from passages the couple (both English majors) highlighted in the books they read in college. We love that there are quotes featured in their shop that we haven’t seen much of elsewhere.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Sick of getting stuck at a game night that submerses you into an overly complicated board? Gift your game night host One Night Ultimate Werewolf! Werewolf blends the social aspect lost with some intense board games with the strategy your diehard gamer friend will love. It’s a game that requires masterful deceit, and may teach your gift recipient a thing about gaslighting, so beware.
Mulberry silk pillowcase: This is a little luxury that goes a long way. I’ve had a silk pillowcase for a couple years now, and I have noticed a huge difference: I break out less, my hair is smoother, and best of all, my pillow stays cool all night long. -A
Myers and Chang at Home: One of our most beloved cookbooks from one of Boston’s most beloved chefs. This book contains some of our standby simple stir-fries, but also includes really clear instructions for some more ambitious techniques, like velveting chicken and folding dumplings. We’ve found that this book has introduced us to ingredients and dishes we wouldn’t have tried otherwise, but it’s still approachable enough that we don’t have to take a special trip to the grocery store every time we crack it open.
NFL cheese and charcuterie board: Wine and cheese night is a celebration. So don’t let your friends use a cutting board as their cheese platter: upgrade them with this nifty charcuterie board and tool set that’s extra special on game day (J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS).
Nordicware bundt pan: Every baker secretly, or not so secretly, wants one. Yes, it is basically impossible to effectively grease all the little nooks and crannies on these intricate bois, but the spectacular cakes they produce are worth a bit of extra sticking. And, as added bonus, the pan makes for great countertop decor when it’s not in use!
Crema.co subscription: It’s easy for us to pick up freshly roasted George Howell (read: elite Boston coffee roaster) or Counter Culture (a Blue Bottle alternative) at our local coffee shops. However, neither of these can touch the bean quality you get from crema.co. This site subscribes you to receive single origin beans every month directly from the farm. Those who really push the envelope on their coffee will be thrilled!
Chemex coffee maker: Deep breathing, five minutes of acupressure (see below), and pouring boiled water over freshly ground beans. These are the three pillars of my morning ritual. While I advise this exact thing for everyone, the Chemex is perfect for any person who likes to enjoy their morning doing zen activities. The best part: at the end, you get a steaming cup of mud brewed by a steady hand. -W
Legends of Zelda coffee poster: While ours sits above our coffee station, I think this is a cute poster for anyone with a bland kitchen. It’s also a great reminder that coffee is more than your caffeine; it’s a restorative elixir that cures hearts and heals status ailments. -W
Stainless steel spider: The ultimate tool for your friend who loves frying up a batch of potato chips. Or, more traditionally, for fishing out dumplings, gnocchi, or ravioli. Please don’t let your friends dump these delicacies into a colander; get them this spider, which will nicely cradle their delicious treats from boiling water to sauce.
Something Wonderful, Todd S. Purdum: For the person who won’t stop talking about sexy Oklahoma. A really fascinating biography that doubles as a crash course in musical theater history.
The Lost City of Z, David Grann: For the adventurer. This book may look like a straightforward investigation into El Dorado, but it goes much deeper, becoming a reflection of the northern hemisphere’s war to consume the Amazon.
Arabia Felix, Thorkild Hansen: For the non-fiction lover who enjoys a dark comedy. This road journey starts in 1761 and follows our protagonists from Scandinavia to the Arabian Peninsula. A team of academics, they’re at each other’s throats before they set sail and fail to deliver their full potential due to Sueco-Danish tensions.
I Like to Watch, Emily Nussbaum: For the person who’s always trying to get you to watch their shows. This collection of reviews from New Yorker TV critic Emily Nussbaum not only breaks down some of the most beloved shows in recent history, but also solidifies that TV should be considered an art form.
Trick Mirror, Jia Tolentino: For the person who’s wondering why millennials do what they do. You’ll never look at a barre class, wedding Instagram or sweetgreen salad the same way again.
The Vagina Bible, Jen Gunter MD: For the person who’s always WebMDing. A new, comprehensive and easy to read guide to women’s health that answers questions you never even thought to ask.
The Gastronomical Me, M.F.K. Fisher: For the person who’s never not watching a Bon Appetit video. M.F.K. Fischer’s dreamy 1943 memoir of her young life in Europe is a staple in food writing.
Faithful Place, Tana French: For the person who’s always sharing true crime stories on Facebook. A gripping mystery set in Dublin.
Marketspice cinnamon-orange tea: I usually don’t like caffeinated tea, but Market Spice has such a full body, herbal flavor that some mornings just call for it as a trustworthy alternative to coffee. For a relaxing night in, I could also imagine mixing it with sake for a classy aperitif. -W
Yogatoes: The high-heels wearer in your life will be eternally grateful. I first discovered these toe stretchers while I was still dancing, and they really do offer so much relief after a long day on your feet. Yes, they can be a little uncomfortable at first—but so are all good stretches! -A
Acupressure mat and pillow set: Not only do we include this item in every other newsletter, but we bother people IRL by singing the praises of this mat. For a friend withneck and back pain, bad hangovers, period cramps, or anxiety: their lives will be better with this mat. We promise!
Katamari Damacy Reroll: While many video games increase stress levels, playing this delightfully quirky Japanese game is the perfect way to unwind. The concept is simple: as the tiny Prince of the cosmos, you’re tasked with filling the sky with stars. To build a star, you roll a katamari—a weird sticky ball—around your world, growing larger as you pick up every object you roll over. It’s hard not to forget your troubles as you listen to the game’s soothing soundtrack, rolling up everything from playing cards and batteries to humans, ships, and buildings.
Baby Foot exfoliating foot peel: Have a friend who calls attention to themselves after taking their shoes off? Get them Baby Foot; it’s a gateway product for great foot care. A made me get it. But maybe you should pretend you’ve done it yourself so that your friend doesn’t think you’re sending a message... -W
See items from the A&W Gift Guide in action!
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