2018 Holiday Gift Guide for Grownups – Grownup Dish

You won’t find anything here that I was paid to endorse. I’ve personally bought, own, use, and love every single item in the 2018 Grownup Dish Holiday Gift Guide. After all, if it’s not something worth spending my own money on, I shouldn’t be recommending it, right?

SPLURGES

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer– Yes, it’s expensive and a splurge, but if you blow dry your hair, it is the gift that keeps on giving. I’m grateful every time I pick it up and I can dry my hair so much faster. Dyson is such a high quality brand! I also like the Dyson Airwrap Styler, but if you can only buy one I’d opt for the blow dryer first.

Simple Human Lighted Mirror – This is another product I use every single day. You charge it via a USB (about once a month) and the mirror has a sensor so that it automatically lights up as your face approaches and then turns off as you walk away. The Tru Lux light simulates natural sunlight allowing you to see subtle variations in your makeup color so you’ll always know when your makeup is color-correct and flawless. It has 5x magnification providing exceptional detail while still allowing you to see your entire face at once. It’s also fully adjustable so you always have a clear, comfortable view — even while standing up. And, it comes with a 5-year warranty. (This mirror is actually selling for $20 less now than what I paid for it 3 years ago.)

Apple Smart Keyboard for iPad – This keyboard is amazing and if you have an iPad, you NEED one. It’s a full sized keyboard that is integrated with an iPad cover. When the cover is closed it looks exactly the same as my old iPad with the cover on it. But when you open it … it’s magic! The cover flips into a stand and the keyboard makes it so easy to type, even in really tight spaces.

The best part? No bluetooth to connect. No need to charge the keyboard/cover (it pulls its power right from your iPad). Once you snap it on there for the first time, you just charge your iPad like normal and the keyboard is always available if you need it.

Monat Blow Out Cream – I love this product so much I wrote a whole review about it. All of the Monat haircare products are terrific but if you forced me to pick just one, this one would be my favorite (followed closely by this and this and this.) Monat’s Blow Out Cream gives my hair a silky, smooth feel while restoring softness and shine. It contains Dermafeel Sensolv, a  silicone alternative that is 100% natural in origin. The Blow Out Cream also reduces styling time and conceals signs of damage.  I’m a HUGE fan.  If you want a Monat recommendation for your specific needs, message me or take the Monat Hair Quiz.

STOCKING STUFFERS

M-Salt – If you’ve been following my recipes you know that I discovered this spice blend a few months ago and now I’m completely obsessed with it. I use it on everything from grilled meats to roasted veggies to eggs. It’s a super simple mix of kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder. It has no MSG, it’s non GMO and gluten free. I bought sample bags to my girlfriends the last time I saw them. It would make a great stocking stuffer for your favorite foodie.

Kleen Kanteen Reusable Straws– I’ve tried a bunch of reusable straws and these are my fave because (confession) I’m a lifelong straw biter. To me, part of the “joy” in drinking from a straw is being able to bite on it and control exactly how much liquid is entering my mouth. This habit means that nobody usually wants to share a drink with me.  I know it’s gross, but it’s what I do.

The plastic tip of the Kleen Kanteen straws comes off for cleaning and the rest of the straw is made of aluminum. The set comes with a specially designed small brush for cleaning. I’m still using the same package of six straws that I bought over a hear ago and they’re holding up beautifully.

Blender Bombs – This is another life-changing product for your favorite smoothie lover. Little healthy bombs of goodness that you drop into your blender to give your smoothies a nutritional boost. Check out my full review and order a bag (or two) of these today.

Essential Oil Diffuser and Essential Oil Variety Pack – This is one of my favorite gifts to give as it’s inexpensive and super useful. I have this diffuser next to my bed and I use it every night. It has a bunch of settings so you can adjust the lights and now often it mists. I bought this for my niece last year and I’ve already ordered a few more to give as gifts this year. You can get both the diffuser and the oils for around $30. Or you could split the oils into several gifts.

GAMES

Suspend Game – We loooooove to play games, and this is our new favorite. We’ve played it with young kids, millennials and old folks and everyone enjoys it. You can play with 2 – 4 players and it’s a sure-fire hit for less than $15. –

Taboo is our other favorite game. It’s an oldie but a goodie. And this version from Amazon comes with 450 game cards, including food and drink category cards for even more unspeakable fun.

CLOTHING

The Happy Givers – I love this company! They have super cute apparel, totes, hats, and gift items (phone cases, water bottles, coffee mugs). Their message is religious but INCLUSIVE. And, all 100% of their profits are donated. They directly manage and assist a children’s home in Peru, a ministry to prisoners in the United States and an assistance fund for adoptive families in East Africa… plus, relief work when there are natural disasters (Puerto Rico). I have purchased their shirts as gifts and I own several. I’m planning to buy more as holiday gifts. I love their message. USE THIS LINK TO SHOP.

Comrad Compression Socks – I swear by these when I’m traveling as they really reduce swelling. They’re also great for runners, nurses, or anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet. And they’re cute as hell. You can read my full Comrad Socks review here. Use code LOYAL for 20% off and free shipping.

BOOKS

Reading is my favorite form of self care. I do a book review every month and all of my favorite books from this year are listed here. But here are my top non-fiction picks (ideal for gifting or for yourself). Use this link to see my fiction recommendations.

Body Love by Kelly Leveque – Celebrity favorite health and wellness consultant Kelly LeVeque shares her secrets for losing weight, attuning ourselves to our bodies’ needs, and freeing ourselves from food drama in this essential wellness guide, which includes 88 delectable recipes! I refer to this book all the time.

First We Make the Beast Beautiful – If you suffer from anxiety, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It made me stop and think about anxiety in a whole new way.

Whole30 Slow Cooker Cookbook – Over 150 easy and healthy recipes for your Crock-Pot or Instant Pot. Every recipe I’ve tried has been a winner.

CLEANING

Branch Basics Starter Pack – Do yourself a favor. Use this link to save $10 and and order the Branch Basics Starter kit for yourself. Start the new year by cleaning your house without harmful chemicals. Read my full review for all of the details and why I love it so much.