This year, my holiday gift guide for women in midlife is full of things that have either brought me joy or made my life simpler or easier in some way. It includes cooking/food related gifts, wearable gifts, books I loved, and random gifts/stocking stuffers. Use this as inspiration for gifts for perimenopausal/menopausal women in your life or in coming up with your own wish list.
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Gift Guide for Women in Midlife (2024 Edition)
Last year, I made a shift from my usual gift guides that were focused solely on food and cooking (check out my edible holiday gift ideas and my gift guide for every kind of cook) and created my first holiday gift guide for women in midlife. It was such a hit with readers, that I thought I would share a second edition filled with things that either I found inspiring, meaningful, or helpful, as well as some items that are on my own personal wish list after many friends have gushed about these products. Some are cooking and food related, some are practical, and some are just fun. And make sure to go all the way to the end for a incredibly unique gift idea for women midlife! So, whether you are looking for inspiration for yourself or one of your loved ones, I hope you’ll find some fun ideas here.
Cooking-Related Gifts
Silicone Spatulas
A few years ago, Elihome sent me some silicone spatulas to test out. I really liked them, but had another spatula that I was in the habit of using, so I barely used the silicone ones. Then, earlier this year, the non-silicone one I had been using gave out, so I decided to go back to the Elihome ones and, quite honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking for all those years – these babies are so much better than the old one I had been using. They stand up to heat, fit nicely into the corners of pots, and having three spatulas, each with their own shape and size, is super-duper helpful.
Cuisinart Immersion Blender
I’ve been a huge fans of immersion blenders for basically my entire adult life. About 15 months ago, my beloved Cuisinart immersion blender finally bit the dust (after 15+ years of use). When buying a replacement, I decided to change brands. Sadly, within six months the new one had died and I had to buy another immersion blender. I decided to go back to Cuisinart and I am SO glad I did! It blends better, is easier to clean, and is standing up to everything I throw at it (which is a lot)! So, if you are in the market for an immersion blender, this is the one I love.
Burlap & Barrel Spices
I shared about Burlap & Barrel spices in last year’s gift guide, but I honestly love them so much I wanted to highlight them again. I love their spice club, but have now become so attached to some of their spices (the cinnamon, cardamom, herbs de provence, and ginger are just some of my favorites) that I wanted to share them again. They truly elevate your cooking.
Breville Air Fryer/Toaster Oven
This is not something I have, but it is on my own wish list! Both my best friend from college and my brother (both of whom are AMAZING cooks and take their kitchen appliances very seriously) have this air fryer/toaster oven combo and absolutely love it. One of the reasons I have been reluctant to invest in an air fryer is that I just couldn’t find one that felt like it would be big enough to make it worthwhile for my family (two teenage boys = needing to make LOTS of everything). But this Breville one is big enough to be worthwhile AND serves multiple purposes, so I can feel good about it using up valuable countertop real estate.
Wearable Gifts
Black Boots
Last year, the black ankle boots that I had been wearing for years finally got to the point where I had to acknowledge that they needed to go. Picking out a new pair that would serve me well felt really overwhelming, so I asked my brother and sister-in-law to pick out a pair for me for Christmas. They gave me these Lucky brand boots and from the moment I put them on for the first time I knew I had a winner! They are beautiful, light-weight, and incredibly comfortable. I have walked miles and miles and miles in them in a single day without any issue, which for nice looking boots is definitely saying something!
Bamboo PJs
Hands down these are my favorite PJs ever. I love them so much that I have given pairs to many family members and friends. They are soft as butter and cute, but the best part is that they are warm and yet incredibly breathable, which for anyone like me who experiences night sweats, is an absolute game-changer.
Beanie
Last year, I shared my favorite fingerless gloves, but this year I’m sharing my other favorite winter item: my beanie. I love this winter hat because it is nice and warm, but also super soft because it;s lined with fleece (which means no itchy-ness!). I also like that it feels a little more stylish than a regular stocking cap.
Books I Loved
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
I absolutely loved this book! Ishiguro somehow managed to create a world that is simultaneously deeply familiar and yet otherwordly. It takes place in a magical version of post-King Arthur Britain where, now that the wars have ended, an elderly couple sets out to find their son. But, thanks to a strange mist that causes amnesia, they can’t remember much about him. On their journey, they encounter a knight and his charge. It is a story about the power of memory, the strength of love, and the brutal destruction of war.
When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd
I don’t know that any book has ever moved me and made me think the way this one did. It moved me so much that I took to reading it with a journal next to me so that I could copy down passages that especially resonated. In it, Sue Monk Kidd (author of The Secret Life of Bees) reflects on her journey through midlife (one might even say a midlife crisis), as she struggles to determine who she wants to be and what she wants the next stage of her life to look like. The writing is stunning, the imagery gorgeous, and the descriptions of her struggles, at least for me, were deeply familiar.
One note: she identifies strongly as a Christian and there are some passages that definitely reflect that. As a Quaker, who identifies more as someone who is spiritual than Christian, these passages didn’t bother me, but I could imagine that if you are from a different faith or are agnostic or atheist, they might make you pause. I still believe, though, that you can get a huge amount out of the book, even if that part is not your thing.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
This is another beautiful novel! It centers around the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store in a poor neighborhood called Chicken Hill on the outskirts of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. In it, we follow a Jewish couple, Chona and Moshe, who own the store as the neighborhood around them changes. It is a fascinating look at the isolating nature of bigotry and distrust, but also the immense power of community.
Random Gifts and Stocking Stuffers
Quartz Rollers
My sister-in-law gave these to me for my birthday when I asked for her advice on skin care (something she researches very carefully). She and I both agree that while we aren’t sure whether they actually reduce lines/wrinkles, it doesn’t really matter because each night, rolling these cool stone rollers over your face feels like a mini-spa treatment you can give to yourself in mere minutes.
Message Candles
I am not much of a candle person, but this year two of my best friends gave me awesome candles that make me smile because the messages on them are so perfect. One, is acerbically funny and the other lifts my spirits when I’m feeling down.
Jade Plant
I am not the best gardener. I wouldn’t say that I have a black thumb, but I definitely don’t have a green thumb either, but I really wanted some plants to decorate our living room, so my mom sent me a beautiful jade plant and I love it. Because jades are a succulent, they are really easy to care for, but also are interesting to look at. Other plants that have worked for me are Tradescantia Zebrina, Aloe, and Bay Leaf.
The Ultimate Gift for Women in Midlife: Clarity About Life
For many women, midlife is a time of major change and challenge from career stress or concerns, to sandwich generation challenges, to changing bodies with perimenopause, to relationship shifts – a lot is going on! If a woman you love is struggling with any (or all) of these issue, a package of starter coaching sessions with a coach who truly gets the issues that are most relevant to women in midlife might make a truly meaningful gift! Learn more about my coaching approach and then, if you would like to set up some sessions as a gift, email service@thescramble.com so we can get you set up!