Holiday Gift Guide For Those With No Time To Go Out And Shop

I generally have very little time to go shopping. I’m not a big fan of shopping at a mall, either, even if I had the time. Here are some surefire gifts that will make you the hero… once again. Most of the items below can be bought on Amazon with most on sale, so it’s one-stop shopping, too. Some might be gifts for yourself, too. Go ahead, admit it, you deserve it.

One thing not on the list is to help others in your own community. Secret Santa letters from the Post Office for less fortunate kids, and helping people with food donations go a long way. I hope you and your families all have a happy holiday season. Peace, love, and gratitude.

Men

1. In 2011, I met the founder of a new custom shirt maker based in NYC called Proper Cloth. I wanted to invest in the company, but he turned me down. Proper Cloth did not need my money, as they have done extraordinarily well since. Made-to-order is a nice luxury, but having all your measurements online so you can order any shirt, pants, or suit in any fabric sent directly is perfect. They have expanded to everything that doesn’t require measuring, including sweaters, socks, etc. I couldn’t be happier, and I get compliments all the time asking where I get my shirts. Go to Proper Cloth and use the code INTRO-INVITE and get 20% off your first order. I am buying a lot of stuff this year for my sons-in-law and am giving them gift cards, too.
2. If you like wine and good wines that are sometimes produced in limited quantities at reasonable prices, Wine Access is a cool wine club to get emails from. During Covid, I think I was their best customer, as a case of wine arrived every day, which I stored and still give as gifts for dinner parties. Click through to Wine Access for $50 off your first purchase of $150 or more. That’s a good deal.
3. Riedel Vinum Bordeaux Crystal Wine Glasses, Pay 6 Get 8. These are the only wine glasses I use and recommend. I like the larger Bordeaux size vs the smaller Chardonnay white wine size. White wine tastes actually better in a larger glass.
4. Tag Heuer Formula 1 X Red Bull Racing Special Edition Chronograph Blue Dial Men’s Watch I like this watch with the Red Bull Tag Heuer collaboration it is a good value. Will Max Verstappen steal the F1 championship in 2025?
5. GoSports Tri-Turf XL Golf Practice Hitting Mat – Huge 24 Inch x 24 Inch for Optimal Practice. I bought one for myself and my two golf-loving sons-in-law. Three levels of grass to practice hitting balls, so you don’t destroy your lawn.
6. TheraGun Therabody Relief – Quiet Deep Tissue Therapy Massage Gun. This works well for those of us who work out and/ or if short Tesla as it works well on a tight back.

Women

1. U Beauty The SUPER Hydrator Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Cream Lee Ann uses U Beauty products and told me anything they make is a very nice gift, essentially giving me a big hint of what she wants.
2. NEST New York Scented 3-Wick Holiday Candle Lee Ann recently brought the small ones home, and I bought her this one to last through the holidays, and they are simply lovely. Great hostess gift too.
3. Cozy Earth Waffle Bath Robe – Lightweight Spa Robe with Pockets. A man can’t go wrong buying this luxurious robe for a woman. Get a matching one for yourself if robes are your thing.
4. Anker MagGo Power Bank, Ultra Slim Magnetic Battery Pack. My wife works away from power sources at times, including construction sites. She’s not the best at keeping her phone charged (she’d admit it). I have a couple of these, and she loves them.
5. Cotton Cable Knit Sherpa Throw Blanket for Couch (51″x67″), Soft Warm Fleece Knitted Throw for Bed, Sofa, Chair – Extra Cozy – Pottery Barn sold these and no longer sells them, so I found them on Amazon. I bought a few of these for my wife, daughters, and dog, too.

Kids

1. LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Space Shuttle Toy. My grandson is obsessed with building LEGO sets. He’s learned to follow the instructions and takes pride in doing these with his parents and, of course, with his favorite grandfather.
2. LEGO City Race Buggy Transporter. We made this one, too. As a Land Rover fan, it wasn’t hard for Charlie to talk me into buying this one.
3. LEGO Speed Champions Ultimate Formula 1 Collector’s Pack – Contains 10 Sets in 1. This year, he’s getting the full F1 grid. Protip: Since kids tend to build and then break them after they are built, I use some thin glue to keep them together (unknown to him).
4. Vilebrequin boys’ swim trunks with sharks. I will have three grandsons come next summer. They need to rock it at the beach.
5. LED Drawing Note Board for Kids. My youngest daughter said young girls would have fun with this. I might need to buy this for her… even if she’s 26.
6. American Girl, Truly Me 18-inch Doll with Brown Eyes, Wavy Dark-Brown Hair. Considering all three of my daughters had American Girl dolls, I know how popular they are and a sure thing gift. Just like boys with Hot Wheels, you can never have enough.
7. Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds. These are not the top-of-the-line earbuds, but since my youngest daughter has lost one a few times a year, which I replace because I can’t say no to her, these get the job done at a reasonable price.
8. RAZ Imports Vintage Traditional Christmas Ornaments, 2-inch Height, Glass, Set of 12 I have three daughters all out of the house with two married. We love our ornaments, and until we’re dead, they are not getting them. I was at the local nursery in Greenwich that sells a lot of holiday decor, and found the name of the ornaments they sell for $50 each. This set of 12 ornaments is available at the same price. I sent them to all three daughters, and they really liked them since they would never think to buy them on their own.

Work / Productivity

1. SAMSUNG 57″ Odyssey Neo G9 Series Curved Gaming Monitor. I like and need a lot of real estate with my monitors for all my charts and stuff. This is the one to get if you want to upgrade your view in a big way. I like the curved monitor too. Get two and put one on top of the other, and your PNL will already be beating the benchmark from day one. It’s on sale.
2. Anker Wireless Phone Charger Stand I have one of these on my desk and a few other spots around the house making it easy to recharge our phones.
3. BestSelf 13-Week Self Journal & Goal Planner. I have used this journal for 6 years. I write down my day’s to-do list, what I am grateful for, and my goals. Taking 15 minutes early in the morning, ahead of launching the Bloomberg terminal and writing down thoughts, has been a game-changer.
4. OBSBOT Meet 2-4K Webcam for PC I recently bought this webcam because the previous one was terrible. This one is tiny, and the lighting is a vast improvement.

Home

1. Solo Stove Bonfire with Stand | Smokeless Fire Pit. We have this up on our 2nd-floor balcony, which looks out over Long Island Sound. Feel free to stop by if you’re in the neighborhood. It’s pretty nice on a cool night or even a snowy day or night. I bought a protective floor mat since I have it on a wood deck and a screen to prevent sparks from igniting the house. It works flawlessly and is safe, and we’ve even brought it down to the beach as it’s lightweight and easy to carry. Works exceptionally well for s’mores, which I endorse whenever possible.
2. SnS Grills Original Kettle Charcoal Grill with Slow ‘N Sear Deluxe for Two-Zone Cooking. I have had various grills over the years. I bought an expensive Viking gas grill at the peak of the tech bubble in March 2000 – nicknamed “Nasdaq 5000,” and it lasted 20+ years. I’ve gone back over the past few years with old-school charcoal grills. I had a Weber, and it was fine, but I bought this SnS kettle grill that costs a little more than the Weber but is overall better with the two-zone separator. I purchased the cover too to keep it looking clean.
3. FOGO Super Premium Oak Restaurant Quality All-Natural Large-Sized Hardwood Lump Charcoal for Grilling and Smoking. One of the reasons I go with charcoal now is that the heat it generates is wild hot. This is the charcoal I use all the time.
4. Kaluns Grill Mats For Outdoor Grill, Non-Stick Grill Mat. This might seem strange, but I will use this grill mat at times. It limits fish or other things from breaking up, prevents overly charred food, yet allows for proper grill marks. I did some research, and it’s safe. I use a Teflon pan for eggs, and that’s deemed safe, too.
5. ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE, No. 1 Recommended Instant-Read Thermometer – Cayenne Pepper Red. You cannot cook any meat without using a good thermometer. Stop guessing if your steak or chicken is done.
6. ZAP iT! Electric Fly Swatter Racket & Mosquito Zapper. Flies and mosquitoes happen in the summer, and this electric fly swatter works. If you like killing pests quickly, this is a must-have. Lee Ann will even use it. It’s so satisfying to hear the spark of a dead fly or mosquito.
7. Kelamayi Upgrade Broom and Dust. DON’T buy this for your wife unless you have a divorce attorney on speed dial. But it’s a nice thing for a guy with a garage who likes a clean floor. It works well in the kitchen, too, or if you break a wine glass, which may or may not have happened recently.
8. Chemical Guys Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towels for Cars One can not have enough good towels for the car or in the home. Put these under the tree for yourself and sign the card from me
9. Ayleid Retractable Garden Hose Reel,1/2 in x 100 ft Wall Mounted Hose Reel. Who likes gathering up in a garden hose? Nobody. I bought one of these and love it. I bought one for my daughter after going over to her house, seeing her hose just tossed back near the faucet. Lazy son-in-law? Perhaps. He’s now loving this and me.
10. BLACK+DECKER dustbuster AdvancedClean Handheld Vacuum Cordless, Compact Home and Car Vacuum. Another one, not for the wife, but pleasant to have in the house or to pull out and do a quick car interior clean-up.
11. YETI Roadie 15 Hard Cooler with DoubleDuty Shoulder Strap. There are a lot of good Yeti coolers, but this one I have holds enough drinks (a couple of bottles of wine and beers). It can stay cold with ice for days. Weird how well it works.
12. Sonos Move 2 – White – Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker. I have Sonos speakers around the house. I bought the tiny speaker a few years back, and it sounded like I was playing music out of my phone. They figured it out with the Sonos Move 2: the sound is full and somewhat water-resistant, and it has a base stand to charge it.

I hope you and your families all have a happy holiday season. Peace, love, and gratitude.