Holiday Gift Guide

Happy holidays, friends!

Usually, around this time every year, I haven’t even begun to think about the gifts I’m giving. I come from a family that loves the holiday season but waits until the last minute to do everything. We never get the tree until two weeks into December (but we DO leave it up until mid-January, so there’s that), admire all the greeting cards at the store for weeks, but don’t buy any until there’s mere days left to send them before the deadline, and wait to purchase gifts because no one tells anyone what they want in enough time for the shopping experience to be anything but stressful and panicky. But not this year, ya’ll! This year, I am on TOP of things. I officially finished my shopping on Saturday, have at least ordered my cards (progress!), and have even started the long process of tracking down the decorations that were hastily thrown into boxes 11 months ago. The 2019 version of Sydney wouldn’t even recognize 2020 Sydney, and it’s a beautiful thing! Of course, the thousands of emails I’ve gotten from every store I’ve ever placed an order with telling me that I need to order my gifts ASAP or risk having nothing under the tree probably helped push me along... but I like to think that’s it’s just me finally growing. (Time will tell. Check back next year.)

Since I got such a blessed head start on getting gifts this year, I actually got a chance to take my time and see what cool new things are out there. If you’ve still got a few people to shop for on your list but don’t know where to start, don’t panic! I’ve put together a little guide of some of my favorite finds this holiday season that you may find helpful. Most of the items on this list come from independent businesses, and I encourage you to shop small as much as you can. You’re guaranteed to find unique items of excellent quality, AND you’ll be directly impacting the lives of small business owners everywhere.

Scroll down to see my top gift picks for the cooks, book lovers, co-workers, and best friends in your life, plus some excellent stocking stuffers!

Hedley & Bennett Carryall Apron, $85

Perfect for the serious home cooks in your life, the Hedley and Bennett Carryall Apron has deep pockets to keep essential tools close, strong stitching to withstand years of wear-and-tear, and handy towel loops so that wipes are always on-hand for inevitable workspace spills. If you ever watch baking competition shows on Food Network and wonder who makes the snazzy, colorful aprons the contestants wear, now you know!

Stasher Reusable Sandwich Bags, $11.99

Help your friends save the environment and cut down on waste with these reusable storage bags made of non-toxic platinum silicone. If you happened to read my review a few months ago, then you’ll know how much I love them! They come in beautiful colors, are easy to clean, keep food fresh, and have already saved me quite a bit of money on single-use sandwich bags.

Diaspora Co. Build Your Own Trio pack, $36

Founded in 2017 by Sana Javeri Kadri, Diaspora Co. is a single-origin, small-batch spice company based in Oakland, CA that works directly with spice farmers in India to provide extremely high quality spices to their customers, and ethical pay to the farmers. Disapora Co. specializes in aromatic spices like Pragati turmeric. Nandini coriander, and Baraka cardamom, and can guarantee that each batch sold has been harvested within the year. If you know a home chef who enjoys flavors that pack a punch, why not give them a trio of these amazing spices sold by a person-of-color and woman-owned company?

In Bibi’s Kitchen by Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen, $35

Written by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen, In Bibi’s Kitchen focuses on the cuisines of eight African countries that all touch the Indian Ocean: Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, and Comoros - specifically chosen for their rich histories and the vital role that each plays in the spice trade. What makes this cookbook so special, and one of my all-time favorites, is that it provides the opportunity to meet real women, all grandmothers, who tells stories of love, loss, and resilience through absolutely phenomenal recipes. (Read my full review here!)

Ideal Bookshelf “Read.” shirt, $24

Help the book lover in your life spread the word that literacy matters with this super cute, VERY soft cotton t-shirt designed by Jane Mount, author and owner of Ideal Bookshelf! This unisex t-shirt comes in sizes XS-2XL.

Art of Tea French Lemon Ginger Tea, $18 for a 4oz zip pouch

Name a more iconic duo than a good book and a nice cuppa. This soothing organic loose leaf tea blend boasts tasting notes of citrus, grass, and spice.

RatherKeen “Night Owl Book Club” enamel pin, $10

Who hasn’t said “just one more chapter” with half-closed eyes in the wee hours of the morning? Now your favorite bibliophile can wear their around-the-clock dedication to reading like a badge of honor with this lovely enamel pin!

Book of the Month gift subscription, $50 for 3 months

You’ll never hear the words “I have nothing to read” from your loved ones again when you give them the gift of Book of the Month. Here’s how it works: each month, a curated list of 5 new releases ranging in romance to non-fiction is announced, and members are invited to choose one from the list to make their book of the month for $15. If more than one title catches their eye, they can add up to two more books (either from that month or previous ones) to their box at a deeply discounted price. if they don’t like any of that month’s books, they can always choose to skip, won’t be charged, and their credit rolls into the next month. I’ve been using this service for almost a year and absolutely love it!

Raaka Chocolate 3-Bar Gift Box, $25

What’s better than delicious, high-quality chocolate in gorgeous packaging? Treat your favorite co-worker to chocolate bars with unique flavors like “Ginger Snap,” “Pure Cacao & Strawberry & Coconut,” “Bananas Foster” and more!

FlowieStyle Camila Zipper Pouch, $26

This beautiful floral pouch is perfect for the co-worker who likes to keep all her belongings just-so. It’s a great size for storing make-up, tech cords, small office supplies, or even some out-on-the-town essentials!

LOOK Cotton Candy Stripe Mittens - Mint, $24

Depending on where you live, the weather might not be all that chilly yet, but summer’s still a long ways away! Make sure your work buddy’s hands are protected from the elements with these soft, pastel-hued mittens.

SugarSpoonMugs “Creative Juices” mug, $11.25

Nothing like a morning coffee to get that brilliant mind of theirs firing on all cylinders during your daily brainstorming sessions. Let your other co-workers know that the secrets to success lie within this “creative juices” mug!

7Sages “Woman Up” tote bag, $15.95

Make sure your favorite feminist has a vessel to carry everything she needs to smash the patriarchy with this awesome “Woman Up” tote bag made out of 100% cotton canvas.

Otherland “Daybed” candle, $36

Perfect for a self-care spa day, this pretty and pink candle from Otherland, made out of a coconut and soy wax blend the burns for 55 hours, boasts the irresistible scents of rosebud, peony blossom, and pear water.

Runcible Studios Cyan Grid Face Mask, $18

A gorgeous cyan-colored mask like this one will help your bestie stand out in the crowd and stay safe at the same time. Made from 100% quilting cotton, this handmade non-medical mask features two layers for extra protection, and a pocket for a filter. Best of all, for each mask purchased, a mask gets donated to a healthcare professional working tirelessly on the front lines!

S’Well Rose Jacquard Bottle, $35

Whether she likes to stay hydrated with an ice-cold flavored seltzer or piping-hot green tea, this rose-patterned, stainless steel, triple-layered, vacuum-insulated bottle from S’Well will become her constant companion.

McCrea’s Single Malt Scotch Caramels, $24.95 for a case of 6 boxes

I stumbled upon McCrea’s caramels last summer when I was visiting a gourmet kitchen store on Martha’s Vineyard. These caramels are rich, decadent, whiskey-forward but not too overwhelming, and totally addicting. Plus, they’re made right here in New England, which to me makes them extra special!

Beetle Ink Co. Peach Sunnies enamel pin, $12.95

Perfect for warm-weather days or when you just want to remind your favorite person of how cool you think they are, this adorable enamel pin goes with everything: backpacks, scarves, and even jean jackets.

Amplified by Adrielle sunflower coasters, $35 for 4

If you're looking for a great housewarming gift for a person who brings endless sunshine to your life, look no further than these hand-knit sunflower coasters from Ampified by Adrielle, a Black and female-owned business out of Atlanta, GA!

Areaware Little Puzzle Thing Series 5: Ice Cream, “Affogato,” $15

Who doesn’t love a good puzzle on a snowy day? Help your friends keep their minds sharp with this quirky ice cream puzzle from Areaware! Part of a series, this 70-piece puzzle is ideal for someone who doesn’t want a big commitment but still wants a big payoff.

What are some of the gifts that YOU are excited to give this season? Sound off in the comments below!

Vanilla Chai Chocolate Truffles

On this episode of "Sydney Makes Easy Things That Impress Her Friends," we're talkin' 'bout chocolate truffles. But not just any regular chocolate truffles, oh no, we're throwing vanilla chai into the mix. Essentially, they're chocolate balls, but doesn't the word "truffle" just make it sound much fancier? Ya, I agree.

The bond that a woman of color has with her hairdresser is one that is sacred, and must be fostered and nurtured. I do this by surprising mine with edible treats at least once a month. And since the hot cross buns that I made a few weeks back were given to family and church members, I decided that my beloved beautician should get something specifically made JUST for her. And like many, many women that I know, she looooooooooves  chocolate. So, I thought, what better treat than just straight-up homemade truffles?

During the holiday season my television basically stays on Food Network and Cooking Channel, and I watched a special episode of Giada at Home in which she made chocolate truffles for some "guests" (more likely the production crew, but ya know, TV magic and all that) who were stopping by for a holiday party. She stepped it up by brewing a bunch of bags chai  in heavy cream, then taking it off the heat and pouring it over chocolate to melt it. Then she stirred it all together until it turned into chocolate ganache, refrigerated it for a few hours until it set, then scooped out the mixture by the tablespoon, rolled it into a ball, coated it in cocoa powder, and then wrapped a little gold leaf around each for a classy touch. They were so cute and elegant, so I logged the recipe away for an occasion when I would really, really want to make them. But when it came time to make these truffles, wouldn't you know it, I didn't have any gold leaf on hand (I'm not workin' with a Food Network budget here), and instead of brewing with classic chai, I decided to switch it up with my favorite bundling of vanilla chai tea bags. Was it a success? Oh yeah. She loved them!

These truffles are perfect for anyone who has a semi-sweet tooth. They've got a bit of an edge to them, with just the hint of sweetness to balance everything out. Basically, you get this intensely rich, deep chocolatey flavor, mixed with the warmth of spices that you find in classic chai, and finished off with the subtle hint of vanilla. The vanilla may just be a gentle whisper, but it definitely won't let you ever forget that it's there.

Best of all, they can be made wayyyy in advance, which works perfectly for me because I can enjoy leftover truffles that didn't fit in the gifted container for weeks to come.

Vanilla Chai Chocolate Truffles: Good for friendship, good for random chocolate cravings.

VANILLA CHAI CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES 

What You'll Need:

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 7 bags vanilla chai tea (I like Bigelow)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 9 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder

DIRECTIONS

Before you begin, tie all of your tea bag strings together in a knot. This makes it much easier to fish them out when you've finished with them.

Pour the heavy cream into a small saucepan, then add your tea bags. Place the pan over medium-low heat, warming the cream slowly; stir occasionally. You'll know when your mixture is heated through when you see little bubbles start to form around the edges of the cream, about 5-7 minutes. Simmer for 3 minutes more, then remove from heat.

Remove the tea bags from the sauce pan. Place the finely chopped chocolate and salt in a medium bowl, then strain the cream mixture over it using a fine-mesh strainer. Let sit for 3 minutes so that the chocolate begins to melt on its own. Slowly whisk the melted chocolate into the cream starting in the center of the bowl, then slowly making your way outwards. Remember to do this slowly and carefully so that the chocolate doesn't seize up! Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and completely blended. Place a piece of plastic wrap DIRECTLY on top of the ganache, and press down gently to make sure the surface is completely covered.  Let set in the  refrigerator for AT LEAST 3 hours, but the best is overnight. The mixture should be firm by that time, but still easy to work it.

Measure your coca powder, then place in a small, shallow bowl. With a tablespoon cookie scoop (or just a tablespoon measuring spoon), scoop even rounds of ganache into your palm, then very quickly but gently roll into a ball.  Next. roll the ball in the coca powder to coat; gently shake off any excess.. Repeat this process until you've run out of ganache. Place your truffles in an airtight container and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

Make Ahead: The truffles can be made several weeks ahead of time, kept refrigerated in an airtight container. On the day of serving, roll each in the cocoa powder.

SOURCE: Very, very slightly adapted from Giada De Laurentis