Holiday Gift Guide 2021

We’ve been building this tradition for quite some time now...

Happy holiday season and welcome to our 11th annual Holiday Gift Guide! Below are our team’s carefully selected gift ideas for everyone on your list this year. We hope you enjoy browsing our guide as much as we did creating it.

Morgan Reining's Picks:

Buffy Breeze Comforter

If you're anything like me, a good night’s sleep consists of remaining cool all night long. Buffy's breeze comforter is a temperature-regulating, plant-based comforter designed to keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night.

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Kozy Kandles

A small, woman-owned business based in Southern Indiana whose specialty is natural, soy candles that are phthalate-free, toxin-free, and carcinogen-free. My top holiday scent recommendations are: Holiday Spice, North Pole (for my peppermint lovers), and Pine + Bergamont.

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Cooking at Millie's

I would much rather receive an experience than a material gift. Cooking at Millie's offers a range of engaging cooking classes and date nights that allow you to learn new skills in a "home kitchen" environment. Check out their event calendar for upcoming offerings and classes!

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Ajla Bedzetovic's Picks: ​ ​ ​

Kentucky Refugee Ministries

KRM is a non-profit organization that provides a wide variety of services to refugees resettling in Louisville. When my family came to the United States as refugees, we were connected to many people from our home country because of KRM — and that was just one of the many services they provided us. I can't say enough about how impactful this organization is. Please consider donating/getting involved this winter to help refugees resettling to our Louisville community.

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Blue Dog Bakery & Café

We're so lucky to have a bakery that makes some of the best bread in the country right here in Louisville. You can't go wrong by bringing someone fresh (Pugliese) bread as a gift. But, if that feels weird, grab an assortment of their pastries and maybe even a pint of the Louisville Cream x Blue Dog ice cream instead. AH.

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Green Eclipse

All the skincare lovers out there need Green Eclipse. This facial scrub will make your skin look and feel fresh, hydrated, and glowy. In my opinion, it's hard to find a soothing exfoliant — but this one does it for me. Plus, you're supporting an eco-conscious and vegan-operated brand. Grab a 4oz jar for less than $20!

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Nick Wunderlin's Picks:

YETI Rambler 20oz Tumbler

Best tumbler I have ever used. It keeps my coffee hot all day, my other one keeps my water cold all day. They won't spill if knocked over as long as the sliding lid is closed. 10/10 would recommend.

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Nike Air Max Sneakers

Air Maxes are my all-time favorite type of sneakers. Comfortable, sporty, stylish. With a wide variety of styles and colorways, these sneakers work with just about any outfit or occasion and are sure to get you compliments.

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Guestroom Records Gift Cards/Merch

My favorite local record shop. The perfect gift for any music lover or audiophile in your life.

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Alec Robertson's Picks:

All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told

Whether you're someone who grew up reading comics or who just wants to know how it came to be that every other movie that comes out is an increasingly obscure superhero, this madman's journey through reading (nearly) everything Marvel has ever published is an enlightening and entertaining work of criticism.

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Glow Worm Play Cafe

Full disclosure: my partner owns this business, but I don't think any of your friends and family members with little ones will mind when they finally have a place to relax and let their kids run around when it's too cold for the park or they just want to drink some coffee. Check out the gift cards and gift someone a set of play sessions!

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Georgia's Sweet Potato Pie Co.

Tiny pies! (Also, normal-sized ones.)

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Ravnn Thornton's Picks:

Steff & The Playground

A clothing store from an artist who does handmade garments and accessories like mufflers, hats, ties, bags, scrunchies, and masks. The designs are pretty and are a nice gift for gifting something playful and quirky.

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Open Spaces

Open Spaces has products that help with organization and storage. I got some of the bins and baskets during the shift from college to full-time work when I was doing a complete overhaul of my room and they’ve been really nice and sturdy so far.

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Maí Accents

Maí Accents has a whimsical vibe with products ranging from jewelry, pottery, and clothes — but mainly crafts that are created for a variety of things. Since it’s hand-crafted, items are very limited, but the designs are one-of-a-kind for each craft she makes.

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Mark Biek's Picks:

Game Engine Black Book: DOOM Edition

This book takes a deep dive into the code and hardware behind the classic 3D first-person shooter.

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Waterproof Handheld 2-Way VHF Marine Radio

Looking to take your kayaking (or other small watercraft) to the next level (eg, the OCEAN)? You're gonna want one of these!

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Heaviest Cable Organizer

Tame the rat's nest of cables on your desk with this cheap-but-useful cable organizer.

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Keena McCarthy's Picks:

Westport Village

Anything from anywhere in Westport Village — they have over 40 locally-owned boutiques, restaurants, fitness studios, and services. If you get a chance, be sure to attend any of their live events while grabbing dinner on a patio or browsing the shops. So much fun!

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Portable Chargers

If you are a family of tweens, teens, and young adults, portable chargers have a tendency to disappear. Having more than one on hand is a necessity.

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Jason Clark's Picks:

Sticker Mule Stickers

As someone with a few hobbies that involve gear that I'd rather not lose, I had the idea this year to get some stickers printed to put on said gear. This is a way to be funny, but also to not confuse ownership if I let someone borrow something. Sticker Mule regularly runs specials (50 stickers for $29!), so get on their mailing list and wait for the deals.

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Gamechanger Audio Plasma Distortion (Pedal or Eurorack)

Any guitarist or synth geek in your life would appreciate this amazing distortion pedal. You're playing a lightning bolt! 🤘 Their other products are equally as interesting and innovative.

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Bureau of Digital Membership

As my career evolves, I look for professional development opportunities through outside organizations. The Bureau of Digital is for leaders in our industry. I'm happy to say I've developed more through this organization than pretty much any other I've been involved with. If you or someone you love is advancing in their role and would value a resource to help them achieve their goals, the Bureau is it.

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Ben Wilson's Picks:

Tru-Tone Christmas Lights

"Superior LED Christmas bulbs that look just like vintage incandescent". For those of us who get our holiday stuff out in September and don't stop until the new year, these high-quality, low-energy-use lights shine. Every aspect from the plug to the shine is amazing. Also, their branding, marketing, and packaging are ✨ lit ✨. The box smells like pine when you open it!

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The Criterion Collection

For the film lover in your life. Criterion is "dedicated to publishing important classic and contemporary films from around the world in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements." Streaming is all well and good, but nothing beats the incredibly immersive experience that is the Blu-Ray, 4K Criterion treatment of a favorite film. My first? Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. Find a favorite film for a friend in their ever-growing collection.

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Yousician

Yousician and a Casio SA-76 Keyboard. Get back to the analog and make some music this winter. I never learned to properly read music or play songs when I was young, but I've had great success as an old man with "Yousician" - an app that teaches you how to read and play music on a number of instruments. I've used it with guitar and keyboard, but the cheapest (and most fun) option is the workhorse Casio SA-76 keyboard.

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Morgan Plappert's Picks:

Hanging Fake Fern

Might get made fun of for this one but I am tired of buying ferns to hang on the front porch every year and then them dying... I do not have a green thumb, I can admit that. A one-time purchase, bust it back out in the spring, and let her hang sounds IDEAL.

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Stained Glass Class

An intro to stained glass class at Preston Art's "leads students through the creation of the example project. Students will cut, trim, shape, and solder their own stained glass! All supplies included!"

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Embracing Resilience Meditation Course

I took the intro to meditation course at Earth & Spirit Center and loved it. I've since let it slip, but I would really like to bring mindfulness and meditation practices back into my daily routine. This class sounds perfect — "In this class we will explore the science of stress, resilience, & mindfulness as it supports our personal wellbeing by understanding and practicing the Pause for our Resilience."

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Mitch Wiesen's Picks:

Gaudmother Time Isn't Real // Enjoy Yourself Socks

These past two years, time has felt even less real than usual, and I love that I can let everyone around me know just how real time feels with these socks. (Gaudmother is a textile experiment led by Britt Rodriguez that challenges the idea of work under capitalist standards.)

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Gentle Thrills Cowgirl Boot Tea Towel

I'd buy pretty much anything Isa Beniston (the artist behind Gentle Thrills) makes, but this tea towel is a top pick for sure.

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Ecclesia Sleeping Moon Necklace

I've had my eye on this whimsically wonderful piece by Jadie Hanley for way too long! It's the perfect gift for all the witchy art lovers on your list, but you really can't go wrong with anything Jadie makes!

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Chelsea Neal's Picks:

Payne Street Pottery Classes

Learn something new together! Payne Street offers introductory "Try-It" classes that walk you through the basics of pottery throwing before letting you go wild on the wheel. They're even BYOB, if you'd like to make it a fun holiday date night.

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CSA Share

Who wouldn't love a whole growing season's worth of fresh, local fruits and veggies? Some farms allow you to split your own share with another household, making it a great gift that will keep on giving. Local options with awesome missions include Black Market or Hope Community Farm, or check out options all across the state at KY Proud.

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Monthly Hand-Delivered Flowers

Another gift to keep the spirit of the holidays alive well into 2022! Der Bauernhof is a local flower farm that will deliver beautiful, locally-grown seasonal bouquets every month during the growing season.

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Christal Glover's Picks:

House of Tulip

House of Tulip works to provide zero-barrier housing to trans and gender-nonconforming people in New Orleans.

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Bvlbancha

Bvlbancha is a collective that works to support Indigenous populations in a variety of ways - including a shop.

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Imagine Waterworks

Imagine Waterworks is a powerhouse Mutual Aid network.

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Shayne Brill's Picks:

Bend & Zen Yoga

I have been a hot yoga practitioner for 20+ years and can honestly say it has made a huge impact on my life - physically, mentally, and spiritually. I love this studio and the yoga instructors are fantastic!

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Work The Metal

Love this local store that has something for everyone, especially that hard-to-buy-for person on your holiday list!

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Be The Match

The cure for blood cancer is in the hands of ordinary people. Be The Match is a global leader in bone marrow transplantation. Learn how you can donate, either financially or be a stem cell donor.

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Nick Stewart's Picks:

Wyze Color Bulbs

Pick up a pack of cheap, wifi-enabled light bulbs that don't need any sort of additional hardware - just the bulb and the app. You can control the color of the bulb from your phone.

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Indoor Grill & Air Fryer

This device grills, air crisps, bakes, roasts, boils, and dehydrates all in one device. We've used it a ton since getting it and it has made dinner an easier time.

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Xbox Game Pass

If you are into gaming and have either a PC or Xbox, you need to check out Game Pass. It gives you access to a ton of games, like Halo and the new Age of Empire, for one monthly cost.

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Past VIA Studio Gift Guides

2020 VIA Gift Guide

2019 VIA Gift Guide

2018 VIA Gift Guide

2017 VIA Gift Guide

2011 VIA Gift Guide