If there’s one thing I know about holiday shopping it’s this: Start early. But before you congratulate me on my responsible, forward-thinking nature, just know it took me 42 years to learn this lesson. I learned the hard way that the holidays have a way of pouncing on us unannounced, even with 12 months’ notice.
I come from a gifting family. Drawing names? Never! My family relishes our cozy evening by the fire, tearing into our presents while listening to a Motown holiday playlist and the cacophony of crinkling paper. We live for the look of surprise and satisfaction on each other’s faces. Christmas is our Super Bowl. But before we can get there, we plan.
When it comes to holiday shopping, I need a retailer that does it all. I’m buying for family members aged 2 to 78 (including a toddler, a musician, a lawyer and two teenagers), and being that I’m the resident writer––always scouring the Internet for what’s new––I look for top tech as much as possible. I need options, which is why I buy my gifts at Target.
From a spa-grade skin care device to cameras that keep us in the moment, these are the gifts I’m eyeing for the whole family this holiday.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ combination espresso and coffee maker
My husband and I are coffee snobs, which means we will go to the ends of the earth to procure a good cup of joe each morning. Lately, though, I’m finding myself craving just one cup of coffee, or even a small top-me-up. This Nespresso machine is one of the greatest gifts to give a coffee lover because it makes premium espresso and coffee. It’s compact, so it fits in a variety of spaces, and it offers a free recycling program that your sustainable-minded friends and family will appreciate. Plus, how fun are these colors?
Polaroid Go Everywhere bundle and Fujifilm Instax mini
I’m an 80s baby, so physical photos, especially Polaroids, will forever reign supreme to me. This led my husband and I to start a tradition: Anytime we have a party, out-of-town guests or friends for dinner, we take a Polaroid of them and hang it on the wall. Now we have several banners of Polaroids in the living room for everyone to admire. Even our four-year-old knows the drill, and has begun taking photos of her own. This is such a fun, easy way to document our memories without being stuck on our phones.
I also love the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo Instant Film Camera, which is a bit more compact, for taking pictures on the go.
Beats pill wireless stereo speaker
When I married a musician, I knew that I’d be relinquishing control over the party playlists––and honestly, I’m not mad about it. Whether we’re hosting friends on the back deck or taking a family beach trip, we’re always listening to something to jazz up (or simmer down) the mood. I love that this speaker has been thoughtfully upgraded for better acoustics while minimizing low-end distortion (i.e. better sound!). It also has one-touch Bluetooth pairing and can be synced to allow voice calls and instructions to your voice assistant.
Victrola The Kingfield bluetooth record player
While portable stereos have their place in every music lover’s life, a record player is the perfect gift for the serious audiophile in your family. The separate set of speakers ensures a high-quality listening experience (which is really what records are all about). Plus, this model also has Bluetooth capability, making it easy to play music from your phone. I also love the oak finish, which gives it timeless appeal for any age and stage of life.
Solawave 4-in-1 skin care wand
As a writer covering beauty and women’s health, I’m always on the lookout for the products and devices that not only deliver on their promises, but that are actually pleasant to use. After all, I’m the go-to beauty gift giver in my family. I love the Solawave wand, which I use at least three times a week, for its soothing effects and skin care benefits. It marries red light therapy, galvanic current, therapeutic warmth and facial massage to smooth fine lines, help product absorption and reduce puffiness and the look of dark circles. It’s generally tolerated by most skin types, which makes it a good gift and entry point into LED red light therapy.
Therabody TheraFace depuffing cold and heat facial treatment wand
Got a puffiness problem? For those who don’t care about LED red light therapy but are still interested in a snatched jawline, this depuffing wand is an optimal introduction to assembling a beauty device arsenal. The cold setting reduces puffiness, dark circles and the appearance of pores, while the heat setting boosts circulation for an overall glowing, more radiant appearance. Plus, gentle upward strokes with the angled tip can help with lymphatic drainage and facial sculpting.
SUGIFT back massager
I get it––not everyone has an interest in a nighttime skin care ritual. What most people do like, however, is a back massage. Whether you’re shopping for a fitness fanatic or a family member who spends long days on their feet, this massager, which features a heat shiatsu mode for added relief, is optimal for anyone looking for R&R. Place it at your lower back while sitting on the couch or prop it against your shoulders while you catch up on your shows.
Toniebox 2
My children only watch TV on the weekends and tablets are reserved for road trips, so audioboxes like the Toniebox are a lifesaver. Both my 20-month-old son and 4-year-old daughter can navigate the Tonies, which are little figurines that activate to tell stories and play songs when placed on top, making it a great addition to our family toy chest. The new version of the Toniebox includes a bedtime and a wake-up alarm, which is major, since my daughter often falls asleep at night listening to her tonies. Trust me, moms will thank you.
Yoto Mini
When traveling, we like to use our Yoto Mini, which is similar to a Toniebox, but smaller, and uses cards instead of figurines. It’s lightweight and packable, but it’s better suited to kids ages 3+, which is something to consider if you’re gifting someone with toddlers. Both audioboxes have auxiliary input, so when you just can’t handle another round of the Frozen hits, you can pass your little one the headphones.
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