! GIFT GUIDES !

kellyn's picks

Happy Holiday Season, readers!

How lucky are we to have people in our lives to give gifts to? When the stress of gifting inevitably hits me this year, I’m going try and remember this and thank my lucky stars.

I’m also sending so much of my love to people who feel the gaping hole of those they’ve lost, which can be extra deep and dark during the holidays. I’m here for you all and just a quick message away if you need an internet shoulder to lean on.

In Telluride, we have this one magical evening called Noel Night. Everyone bundles up and takes to Main Street, mulled wine and cider in hand, to stop in every shop and buy their Christmas gifts. The town Christmas tree is made of locals’ donated skis and everyone pauses their shopping to watch it light up magnificently. When kids throw snowballs and run around a 17 foot tall beacon of holiday cheer…. it’s a little on the nose, but I feel confident in saying that my heart grows three sizes.

green statement collar inspo anyone?

As if in on the town event calendar, fat fluffy snowflakes fall right on schedule, stacking up on the brims of hats and lids of hot chocolate. The lights from the shop windows bounce off the low clouds and give everyone that warm winter glow that Hallmark movies consistently screw up. You can hardly make it 10 feet down the bustling street without seeing friends and getting pulled off in another direction. By Noel Night, the shady side of the street will already have a thick layer of ice that will last until spring and shoppers waddle like little penguins holding bags out sideways in hopes to balance themselves. The seasoned locals have miscrospikes on and help right some earmuffed second homeowners after they go down. It’s a sight to behold! I’m often so busy with all the festivities that by the end of the night, I realize I haven’t bought anything. But I’m so filled up with cheesy holiday spirit that when I say to my friends “Maybe Christmas,” as I look down at my empty hands, “doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more” ...they beg me for the 5th time to stop quoting the 1966 masterpiece that is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Are we really going to live in real life Whoville and not acknowledge it?!

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I have made some gift guides for today’s letter! Now if you’re anything like me, you probably have a whole inbox of gift guides and social media full of people telling you what to buy. Ah consumerism. But I try and stick to 3 things when buying gifts.

1. Trying to shop small and buy from good companies. Even if the thing you want is from a big brand, there’s a chance an independent brick and mortar shop carries it.

2. Only buying things you know the giftee will use.

3. Less is more & quality over quantity.

Bonus point #4. Put effort into the wrapping/presentation! A pack of pens with some showmanship > a nice sweater wrapped 5 minutes before. No slapdashery this year!

(more on low waste and plastic free wrapping ideas in my next letter!)

Without further ado- here are some gift guides for those lucky enough to be in your lives 🤍