Nostalgic Gifting
Holidays can stir up a lot of feelings, and there is comfort in memories that connect us to people and places of the past. We are feeling particularly nostalgic these days and have assembled a Gift Guide to celebrate fond memories and a few things we grew up loving. Decorations that are reminiscent of holidays spent with grandparents, toys that occupied so much free time (remember free time?), books and characters you grew up learning from. There is magic in remembering and celebrating treasured times of years past.
Red Barn Mercantile is rich with nostalgia. A puzzle featuring a colorful collection of over 40 vintage cookbook covers, wooden rotary phone, gumball machine ornaments, and vintage-inspired decorations galore. They also just added some new cocktail items, including swizzle sticks and holiday rocks glasses for festive sips. And while not abundantly holiday-esque, I could not exclude the E. Frances Trapper Keeper notebook. If you know, you know.
Main photo: Santa Rocks Glass, $20. Nostalgia Trapper Keeper Notebook, $29; Gumball Machine Ornament, $22.50; Vintage Lighted Tree, $28-$59; Vintage Wooden Phone, $34; Bright Vintage Dotted Garland, $68; Santa’s Beard Gift Tags, $10; Santa Notepad, $12.50; Holiday Splendor Icicles Box, $48; Snowman Cottage, $68; Christmas Holly Vintage Napkin Set, $30; Swizzle Stix, $25.
Over at Penny Post, a resurgence of Snoopy paraphernalia has landed and we are here for all the Peanuts. Candles, hats, bags, key tags, laptop sleeves, and more. Also not to be missed are a variety of ornaments for 80s babies – ring pops, mix tapes, and the beloved retro color
Gelly Roll Moonlight Pastel Set, $12.50; Ring Pop Ornament, $22; Mix Tape Ornament, $17; Retro Color Click Pen Ornament, $15; Sparkling Merry & Bright Card, $6.50; Snoopy Puffy Coat Key Tag, $12; Snoopy Hat, $32; Coin Pouch, $10; Eat It Too Cake Sticker, $6; Snoopy Candle, $36; Typewriter Puzzle, $30; Holly Jolly Christmas Card, $6.50; Address Book, $34; Date Stamp, $15; Kaweco 50's Rock Student Rollerball Pen, $68; Decorative Labels, $12.50; Patisserie Baggu, $16.
And Duckhead Umbrellas! They continue to be one of our most popular items and no one is surprised. They’re adorable and are a darling reincarnation of duckhead umbrellas from way back when.
Check out Penny Post’s full nostalgia collection here.
Pippin Toy Co. has also managed to pull off big waves of nostalgia. A Lite Brite ornament, a Madeline tea set, classic books, games, and candies that will delight kiddos to no end. While they won’t fully appreciate the time we’ve all spent with Max or Peter Rabbit or Winnie-the-Pooh, it will become a shared thread of joy that will continue on for generations. Ditto for the Pop Rocks. Check out Pippin’s full guide to nostalgic gifting here.
Peter Rabbit Ornament, $25; Toy Phone Ornament, $20; Madeline 23-Piece Tin Tea Set, $50; Madeline Doll, $48; A Madeline Treasury, $40; Lincoln Logs, $22; Winnie the Pooh Ornament, $28; Lite Brite Ornament, $20; Candy Land Nostalgia Tin, $32; Max Sticker, $6; Butterscotch Candy Cane, $4; Pop Rocks, $2; Smarties, $5; Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape, $3; The Polar Express, $21.99.
We hope this gives you some good gifting ideas for everyone on your list and that the new year is one you’ll delight in looking back on.