topic of the week

G I F T S

With the holidays here, everyone in the shop was talking about presents, of course. (Disclosure: My salon contains a small gift shop.)

I love that people are extra thoughtful this year. We need extra thoughtful right now.

Among other things, I'm giving my husband, Tony, an experience gift. Not to pat myself on the back too much, but I know he'll love it. I'll share what it is later (he was my first subscriber, of course, and I don't want to give anything away). Experiences—movies, concerts, games, travel—are at the top of the list for a lot of my clients.

This year we made less at the shop, and it's partially because so many of our clients traveled. They were bumping out appointments to save up or to plan around flights. July was much slower than it typically is because so many were out of the country. Wanderlust after the pandemic is a thing. My 2023 feed was full of my friends and clients smiling in Greece, France, Spain, Iceland, Poland, Italy, and Japan. Clients recently returned from Patagonia and the Galápagos Islands. 2024 looks like it will be an equally busy travel year.

We can't be mad when we're renewing our own passports and saving for our own big trip. Our daughter is planning a semester abroad in a year, and we hope to explore the area before she goes. I'm excited for her (and for us).

People are also being practical while having fun giving. We're making secondhand gifts special or creating something unique. A favorite record, vintage Pyrex, a year's worth of books off your own shelf—all thoughtful without breaking the bank or creating more trash. Last year a client gave me vanilla she made herself and another gave me dehydrated morel mushrooms she'd foraged. I loved them both and wish they'd do it again (hint, hint).

Sometimes, though, the best gift is cash. I know it used to be frowned upon, but with many people needing very specific things, a check isn't so bad. One of our kids is getting that because they joined the National Guard and won't need anything but a little extra in their bank account. I think knowing when people don't need “stuff” is just as important as knowing when they'd love it.

Whatever you're wrapping up these days, I hope you'll make space for some self-care in the midst of it all. If you can't, January through March is the perfect time to recharge. Until then, enjoy this cozy video with something warm: