Each year, I share a few of my favorite gift ideas. I hope you enjoy this quick round-up, newly updated for 2025. These range from free to just under $300. Some are tech-related, some are for genealogists, others will boost your self-care. Other random products are here just because I love using them. (Sorry, guys, if lip plump balm is not your jam, but there’s plenty of tech and genealogy stuff in here).
Note: If you order using any of the Amazon links, I make a small commission, which helps fund this newsletter. It’s a tiny part of our income, but every bit helps keep the lights on.
Cord management organizer kit
Last month, I tackled the tangle of cords under my desk and instantly wished I had done it sooner. Ordering a kit was the way to go because it had a copious mix of helpful supplies Now, the cables and cords neatly run along desk legs, and they are wrapped, tucked, and secured in a tidy manner. This kit had so many great pieces, and there were enough left over to do my daughter’s room and the living room electronics. These pieces made the job kinda fun because the engineering is ingenious. The kit would make a great stocking stuffer. Get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3Ks0FKL
Wireless foldable bluetooth keyboard
After I suffered an overuse injury in my hands from too much thumb typing on my phone, this foldable keyboard stays in my purse. It connects to my phone via Bluetooth and allows me to quickly type texts and emails. It’s faster, more accurate, and ergonomic than thumbs. I find it especially useful when I am waiting for an appointment and want to return messages. People often comment on how neat it is when they see me using it. You can compare brands, but I’ve had this iClever one for several years, and it has held up to heavy use. https://amzn.to/4oww4tr
Sherpani Lima Crossbody bag from REI
Before we went to Italy this fall, I went in search of the perfect small cross-body bag with anti-theft features. I wanted something smalll enough to be carried all day, but big enough for water, sunglasses, lipstick, hand sanitizer and my credit card holder. It also needed RFID protection, and should look nice without drawing attention. This one from REI made the cut, and I LOVED for our trip. It worked great for multiple 20,000-step days in Rome and New York. Here is the link to REI (it no longer comes in black, which is what I got).
https://www.rei.com/product/230778/sherpani-lima-shoulder-bag-womens
If you don’t like the color, here is a similar one on Amazon with more color options. The dimensions are almost identical to what I bought, but the design is slightly different. https://amzn.to/48rqVgh
Kindle Scribe
I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate this device. In previous years, I used paper journals (see below) for each of my projects. But for Christmas in 2023, my husband gave me a Kindle Scribe, and it has forever changed my daily workflow. The stylus feels like a pen, only better. You can change the ink thickness, highlight, cut and paste, and use their powerful engine to convert handwriting into text. My handwriting is not very neat, but it does a great job in the conversion, so I don’t have to retype anything. It also contains all the books I’m reading, and it’s a slick way to mark up PDFs without printing reams of paper. I have now edited several books using my Scribe, while curled up in my comfy chair.
These days, I do my morning pages and journals on it, take project notes, and use it to manage my task lists. It goes everywhere with me and has greatly cut down on the paper waste in my office. It’s on sale now. Check it out here.
Journal Notebooks
Before my Kindle Scribe, I bought these these in bulk for journaling and project work. I had one for each project I was working on. I still have many of them neatly lined up on my desk, but have not been going through them very fast lately since I’ve gone digital. I label the spines with a silver Sharpie. Here is a link to Feela notebook 10-pack.
Olympus device to record phone interviews (TP-8)
This is an ingenious gadget I use at least once a week to record oral history interviews. It is an analog wire that records phone calls onto my Olympus digital recorder. It’s easy to use and doesn’t rely on an app or paid service. Here is a link: https://amzn.to/41fW1pu
While we’re at it, here is the latest model (currently the least expensive) digital recorder from Olympus. I’ve owned at least six of these through the years. Love, love love.
(At risk of leading you down a rabbit hole, here is a tutorial I recorded a while back on how to record phone calls and other equipment hacks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj1D6iGsLO4&t=1s
Frasier Fir Candles
These are the best Christmas candles in the world. They’re a splurge, but they make the house smell wonderfully of Christmas. I like them because they have a natural scent that doesn’t reek of Pine Sol, ya know? I now often share these as gifts after someone else first gave me one. Here’s the one I like best this year: Thyme Frasier Fir candles
Books!
May I take this opportunity to insert a shameless plug for my two new books? I’ll be brief:
A Child in Berlin (Available in hardback, soft cover, eBook, and audiobook.)
Creative Insecurity: Lean into the Unknown and Unleash Your Inner Misfit
My favorite productivity books – a bibliography: Here is a page where I’ve compiled books that have greatly influenced my professional work. Many of these deal with productivity and mindsets.
My favorite books on writing, storytelling, and memoir
Tech pouch for chargers, earbuds, and more
I was tired of my cords and earbuds getting tangled and damaged in my backpack, so I got this nifty travel bag. It is the right size to carry my laptop charger, a power bank, earbuds, and charger cords. Now, it stays packed, so I just grab it and go, and it is interchangeable between various bags I use. I feel like everything finally has a place. It’s attractively crafted from recycled fishing nets. You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3MdAyrC
You can get it at REI here: https://www.rei.com/product/243294/peak-design-tech-pouch
Arc Plasma Rechargeable Candle Lighter
Have you seen these? Electronic candle lighters are rechargeable, so you just click them on and the electric charge lights the wick. So cool! No fiddling with chemicals or matches. Link: Arc plasma electric candle lighter
Canva – free resource for designing Christmas cards (and anything)
This is a free resource that I can’t imagine life without. I now have a paid plan, but had a free one for years. Canva’s beautiful templates and intuitive design tools make it so easy to make flyers, book covers, and more. That’s how I design my personalized Christmas cards each year. I do them as post cards which are less expensive than traditional Christmas cards to print in bulk (I ordere a LOT of these). I had them printed through FedEx printing for same-day turnaround and no shipping costs. Check out Canva here.
Elete Pure Electrolytes
I am biased because this is my family’s business, but I don’t know how I would survive utah’s dry air without this. These electrolyte drops have no sugar or other flavorings, so they go into into water (or any beverage) for max hydration. As long as I keep up on it, I never get leg cramps at night, which used to be a big problem for me. Link: elete Electrolyte Add-in
Lion’s Mane mushroom powder
This is one of those superfoods that is well-researched, low-risk, and I’ve personally noticed a difference in mental clarity since trying it. I have about a half teaspoon every day. It takes a couple of weeks to kick in, and the result is subtle, but I have noticed a marked difference. Link to the lion’s mane mushroom powder I use.
MyHeritage DNA kits
Did you know that MyHeritage’s DNA kits are on sale for the lowest price ever for CyberMonday? As you surely already know, DNA has been a game-changer in genealogy, and I’ve enjoyed comparing results with family and learning more. Also, I like MyHeritage as a company. They hire and partner with great people, and they give back to the genealogy community. I like working with them, and I’m not making anything off this plug. Here is a link to their DNA kits
Legacy Family Tree Webinars annual membership 50% off
I have felt fortunate to teach several classes for Legacy Family Tree Webinars, a MyHeritage company, with two more coming next year. It has always been a terrific experience. Their membership gives an astounding value, with over 2,500 genealogy classes on demand. They do an amazing job attracting top names and fresh topics. Through December 7, they are offering half off for new members. You can sign up here: https://legacyfamilytree.com/checkout/
ConferenceKeeper – free resource for family history events
This is a totally free resource, and it’s one worth signing up to receive the email updates. They aggregate all the genealogy-related classes and conferences. Tami does all this work purely as a volunteer service. This past year she partnered with National Genealogical Society, which took over some of the administrative work so she can keep doing the part she enjoys. I’ve been grateful for the support they have given us by sharing our events. I also watch the calls for presentations to see where I want to speak. If you have thought about doing some genealogy speaking, this is your go-to resource. Here is their home page: https://conferencekeeper.org
Palm-sized solar charger power bank
We own two of these power banks becasue they are small and can power up items like phones several times on one charge. I keep them on the ready for unexpected power outages, but mostly I use them to grab on the go if I don’t know if I’ll have an outlet to charge my phone. They’re great for camping, too. I can’t begin to tell you how often I end up using these. I just ordered three of them as gifts because the Cyber Monday price is the best I have seen. Link to Solar Charger power bank.
Lip plump
Lipstick is kind of my thing, and I’ve been using the same stuff for years (Cover Girl Outlast all-day lip color). But this year, my daughter showed me this, and it’s a marvel! It has become a special occasion go-to for me. Try it, and tell me what you think. https://amzn.to/4rtXjrk
All Evalogue.Life online classes are 40% off through Dec 8
This holiday season, we made our holiday special super simple: we did a blanket 40 percent off all our online classes! That’s a heck of a deal that we’ve never done before. Take advantage of our in-depth instruction and supplementary materials. Browse here: https://learning.evalogue.life
Rhonda Lauritzen is the founder and an author at Evalogue.Life, where we tell personal and family stories that inspire. (Let us help you tell yours!) Rhonda lives to hear and tell about people’s lives.
