If you’re like me…and my sincerest condolences if that’s the case—the holidays are really sneaking up on you this year. Christmas Eve is in two weeks?!? That can’t possibly be right, can it? My calendar says it is. I think this is absolutely a function of my advancing age. Because when you’re a kid, Christmas seems like it will neeeeeeeeeverrrrrrr arrive. The wait is endless. Even during college, the slog to get through exams seemed interminable at times. But as an alleged adult, with responsibilities and duties and an endless array of things that desperately want or need your attention? The days following Thanksgiving feel like a time-lapse shot of one of those “Page A Day” calendars slowly tearing a sheet off, then picking up speed to indicate the rapid passage of time.
I have been told that I’m difficult to shop for. Which doesn’t make sense to me, because I like stuff. All sorts of things. I’ve got way too much junk, but does that curtail my desire for more? Rarely. In any case, I thought I would try to help you out in case you’ve got a similar “difficult” holiday gift-buying subject on your own shopping list this year. So I have personally curated a list of items that I’d love to receive for Christmas…or anytime, really. This is not a paid endorsement. I’m adding an Amazon wishlist because that was the easiest way for me to put this together, and it’s probably the most effective way for you to pick up anything that I mention below. I’ll let you know which listings are things I’ve tried, and which are just ones that look cool to me.
I have tried to assemble a list of potential gifts that can accommodate almost any budget. So fear not. You’ve still got two weeks left, so let’s do this!
Funko Pop! Star Wars: The Mandalorian
People tend to either love these or hate these. I’m a total geek and I even used to think that these were kind of weird-looking. Then I signed up for a Marvel collector subscription box and my first shipment included a slightly-oversized Hulkbuster Pop and I was hooked. You can collect a bunch and leave them in their boxes like a huge dork (me) or just open one to decorate your desk at work (also me). They offer them in all sorts of characters, from your favorite movie and TV franchises to pro athletes to politicians. Just pick an intellectual property that your gift receiver will like and boom, done.
MOBOSI Vanguard Armor Series Military AirPods Pro Case
I don’t own these, but I feel like I need to, because I am living on the edge with my AirPods. It feels like it’s only a matter of time until I lose them, because they are almost designed as if that is the intent—tiny case, white color, absolutely no identifiable markings of any kind. I recently misplaced mine at work and it was driving me bonkers because I knew I had them. It was the proverbial “they have to be somewhere” scenario. That “somewhere” ended up being inside a tear in a pocket of my 20-year-old messenger bag. It took me way too long to figure out that’s where they had fallen. This case seems like it would prevent that in the future. It looks sturdy and cool.
From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg's Kitchen
I’m not pitching this as a gag gift, but I do find its very existence hilarious. But I would be giddy if somebody gave me a cookbook by Snoop Dogg. The Substack content alone from trying some of those recipes and tasting the results would be priceless. I love how Snoop has slowly evolved into America’s cool uncle. I would not have predicted that, but I am completely on board with it.
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