Technically, Christmas is less than two weeks away—and counting.
With that in mind, here are just a few suggestions for gifts, including some for the budget-minded.
Sleep impact: Available on Amazon, the Yanser Silk Sleep Mask will ensure to enter dreamland in style and comfort. Perfect for travel, sleeping and napping, this mulberry eye mask will help you enjoy a comfortable and restful sleep wherever you are. You won't even notice the turbulence on your next flight—maybe.
Go exploring: Explorer Coffee, founded by "Explorer-in-Chief" Cason Crane—the first openly LGBTQ+ and fifth youngest person to climb Mt. Everest and the Seven Summits—has a variety of tasty options, especially if you like iced coffee and chai concentrates. However, there are other choices, such as elixirs (for immunity, sleep, relaxation and more) and even accessories (from travel clutches to frothing wands—which is not a term I thought I'd ever use). See explorercoldbrew.com/ .
Basket case: Harry & David is known for its incredible food, and you can't go wrong with its Classic Favorites Gift Basket. Items in this trove include six Royal Riviera pears, Moose Munch Premium Popcorn, white cheddar cheese, three-seed crackers, chocolate truffles (multiple varieties) and more—enough delicious food for you to go through until 2024, and that New Year's resolution. (At least you'll be going out in style.) See www.harryanddavid.com/ .
Bring the noise: The Sony WH1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones are the Cadillac (or Range Rover) of headphones. Among its features are dual noise sensor technology and next-level music, courtesy of Edge-AI co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo. You might wonder how you survived without these headphones.
Skin game: Founded by couple Josh Kilmer-Purceland Dr. Brent Ridge, Beekman 1802 has become known far and wide for its clean skin products and its use of goat milk. (Don't scoff: The products are amazing, including the vanilla-scented hand-sanitizer/moisturizer wipes.) You really can't go wrong with anything you choose. Check out beekman1802.com/ .
Feel the heat: A sauna in the form of a sleeping bag, the Higherdose Infrared Sauna Blanket is the perfect gift for the fitness person who loves a deep relaxation session in between physical activities. This infrared sauna blanket is great for your skin, and helps to revitalize you. Visit higherdose.com/ .
Cool runnings: On the other end of the temperature scale, the Sukeen Cooling Towel (which measures 12" by 40") is composed of hyper-evaporative breathable mesh material that makes it easy to activate when you simply soak, wring out and snap it. The towel stays chilled for up to three hours (depending on conditions) and it's perfect for everything from outdoor activities to hot flashes. It's available on Amazon.
Charge it: The ChargeCard ultra-slim portable phone charger is just the size that's indicated: It can actually fit in a wallet, making it extremely convenient. You can get a full charge for iPhone and Android phones on the go—and no cables are needed since they are built-in to the smart Charge Card design. You can get it at theaquavault.com/ .
Material girl: Your favorite Madonna fan will certainly appreciate The Celebration Tour Tan Charity Tote Bag. The bag's made of 100% certified organic and fair-trade cotton, and it was developed by Ministry of Tomorrow for The Celebration Tour. Moreover, proceeds from sales will be donated to Raising Malawi and the Ministry of Tomorrow's Chema Vision Children's Center in Kibera, Kenya. It's at https://shop.madonna.com/collections/the-celebration-tour/products/the-celebration-tour-tote-bag.
Fry times: Air-frying has swept the country as a clean, quick way to cook foods. And the sleek Chefman 5 Quart Digital Air Fryer (available at QVC) offers that option for a low price: $39.99 (marked down from $89). The Chefman has adjustable time and temperature features, and even has an LED shake reminder.
You're such a card: And, of course, gift cards are always an option, especially if you're considering restaurants. Fortunately, Chicago has so many wonderful spots to dine, including The Dearborn (co-owned by Amy Lawless, a member of the LGBTQ+ community), Lexington Betty Smokehouse (owned by LGBTQ+ chef Dominique Leach) and Big Jones (helmed by gay chef Paul Fehribach).
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Another option is to go shopping in person, which brings its own advantages—and one place to certainly consider is 900 North Michigan Shops.
Some people call it the Bloomingdale's building, and that store is definitely a cornerstone of the shopping complex. However, there are more than five dozen places to shop—like Teusher (which has some wonderful chocolates).
And although people may think the shops are not budget-friendly, that's not necessarily so, according to 900 North Michigan Shops Director of Marketing Taylor Stucker. She told Windy City Times that shops ranging from J. Crew to Sur la Table and the luxury consignment store North Shore Exchange offer discounts so that you don't overspend this holiday season.
But stores are not the only reason to go there, especially during the holiday season. As always, the holiday tree is a wondrous sight—and Santa Claus is currently there, ready to pose for photos. Also, there's Aster Hall, where you can eat a $10 burger on a $10,000 chair (year-round).
