Welcome to new subscribers! I’ve been largely awol but more people than normal have signed up to this newsletter, which suggests not writing/sending anything is what people appreciate the most.
And yet, here I am.
Gift Guide With Hardly Any Gifts
I have long imagined that I’d be great at a Christmas gift guide and yet, no one has ever tapped me on the shoulder to make one. So I’m tapping myself.
These are some top-ranking gifts, IMO.
Firstly, for yourself: This blow-up gingerbread man costume. ($37.50 from Spotlight)
I’m going to wear mine for family Christmas, which we’re doing early. Things to note: Generally, the problem with a blow-up costume is your head is stuck on the inside and you slowly swelter and suffocate, but this one cleverly manages that situation. I’ve chosen not to be Santa in the hope that come Halloween I can re-purpose and be the gingerbread man from Shrek (maybe?).
I’ve mentioned this before - Give someone a gizmo that projects stars and clouds onto their ceiling. Doesn’t have to be this one specifically but this is one I got (Target $49).
I gave it to my eight year-old for his birthday and it was a huge hit. My 10 year old also loves it. I would like one myself. It’s appeal spans a weirdly large age continuum—it’s like a lava lamp basically. It’s great in a big room, great in a small room. Honestly, it’s just great.
For the person you only want to spend $15 on: Fancy chilli oil. In case you missed it, chilli oil is the new salad dressing/craft beer. Suddenly there are all kinds of small batch, interesting ones. I like this (below) and this. But even this one from the supermarket is excellent (FYI - the best of the Laoganmas is crispy chilli).
Name Necklace from MYKA - I mean if it’s good enough for Carrie Bradshaw, it’s good enough for me. I’m giving it to a 10 year old but would like it myself (Are you sensing a theme here?) Note – there’s a cheap company that does them called ‘name necklace’, best avoid.
Goggles — These are the ones you want, ($54.99, Rebel) i.e. NOT the ones that suction onto your individual eyeball.
This movie projector ($206, The Gadget Collective). I got it because I saw this Instagram post. Only problem was, the one I purchased was from Amazon and it came all the way from America. It not only took FOREVER to arrive but also had a US plug. I had to get an adapter to use it — annoying but unbelievably I managed to get one at 8pm at night at Woolworths! You connect the projector to your laptop to make it work, it won’t run off a phone. It’s idiot proof to set up. It really is — I tested it on actual idiots.
For a family - Dixit ($50 but you can probably get it cheaper). It’s the best board game ever. Carney (husband) HATES board games but even he likes this. It’s picture based, not a game of skill or smarts, doesn’t go forever (approx 30 mins), you can play with pretty little kids AND it’s still fun. Basically, the holy grail of board games.
One Interesting Thing
I’ve been sitting on some news re: The First Time podcast. It’s explained at length in our season 6 finale (listen here) but the short version comes in two parts:
1) Kate Mildenhall and I are taking an extended break! No more The First Time for a while, which feels weird and sad but also right(?!!). Don’t delete the feed just yet though because:
2) I’m working on something podcast-y that I’m very excited about. It’s similar but a little different (i.e. interview based but not only with writers) and I’ll be releasing it on the same feed from March.
So watch that space (and this one) and in the meantime:
Beware the banality of a busy life — Socrates
Katherine xx