Monday, November 28, 2016

6 Perfect Gifts for Practical People

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Do you have someone on your gift list who is so practical it's almost impossible to buy anything for them?

I feel your pain, because I'm that person. I know how hard it is for my friends and family. I don't ask for much and I hate it when anybody "wastes" money, even if it's on a nice gesture like buying me flowers (hello, they just die!)


Do you have a very practical person on your gift list who's impossible to shop for? I understand your pain, because I’m that person. I only want useful gifts, if I even want anything at all! But I personally own and love all of these useful gifts for the home, and I know one of them is certain to be the perfect practical gift to buy for the hard-to-shop-for people you love. #giftsforwomen #christmas #giftideas

But there are certain gifts that are just so darn useful that I have absolutely loved them. If you know someone who's as practical to a fault as I am, you should definitely give them one of these 6 perfectly practical gifts. And then maybe get them some professional help.


I own and love each of these products personally, and I've linked to each one with my affiliate link. When you buy through these links, I get a small commission but it doesn't affect the cost for you.



What can you get someone who never asks for anything and only wants "useful" gifts at holidays?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}


Silicone Baking Cups


I asked for silicone muffin cups for my birthday for years, and no one thought I was serious. I was. Finally someone took the hint and these things are my all-time favorite gift, ever.

Practical people hate waste, and buying silly paper liners to throw away always killed me. Now the muffins pop right out of the silicone cups once they've cooled (my kids love doing that part.) As a perfectionist it always bothered me when my recipe didn't make a perfect dozen and left empty cups in the muffin pan, but now I can put the exact number of cups I need on a baking sheet.

There couldn't be anything more efficient or perfect, really. Silicone cups are also easier to wash and take up less space in the cupboard than the big metal pan.

What can you get someone who never asks for anything and only wants "useful" gifts at holidays?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}

Fels Naptha Laundry Bars


I can hear you rolling your eyes right now. Soap? I am not giving anybody soap for Christmas, you say. But this isn't just any soap. This soap is magical in its stain-fighting properties. Your friend will think you're a wizard.

You know how some people swear by coconut oil and use it in place of toothpaste, deodorant, and gasoline? That's me with Fels Naptha, almost. I grate it up and use it to make my own laundry detergent, but I also keep a bar by the washing machine to pre-treat stains.

It can take out almost any stain, even set-in ones. If my family has to listen to me regale them with the story of how I used Fels Naptha to remove a pitcher of red Crystal Light from our beige rug one more time, they're probably going to scream.

What can you get someone who never asks for anything and only wants "useful" gifts at holidays?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}

Oreck XL Vacuum Cleaner


My Oreck, how I love thee. Let me count the ways: one, you weigh 9 lbs and that's less than some newborns. That means my kids can even haul you upstairs and vacuum their own rooms. Theoretically, anyway.

Two, you are simple and therefore easy to fix. I don't need every type of feature, attachment, and indicator light known to man; I just want to be able to suck up dirt and the occasional Lego. My friends' huge, clunky deluxe machines need replacing every few years, but if you stop working I know that the bag is full or a belt is broken, and that's about all that can go wrong.

As a result, the Oreck vacuum we bought 12 years ago (I'll let that sink in a little) is still going strong.

What can you get someone who never asks for anything and only wants "useful" gifts at holidays?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}

Heated Mattress Pad


We've had electric blankets before, but the trouble is (aside from them dying on us quickly) that heat rises. If we wanted a warm bed we had to first make the bed (sorry, I don't do it in the morning) and turn the blanket on for 15 minutes to heat up the mattress. And who has that kind of foresight? Not me.

Getting a mattress pad warmer is skipping the middle man. Now instead of lying on a cold mattress with a warm blanket on top of us, we get a warm mattress AND a warm blanket. How could I not love this model of efficiency?

Also, you control the temperature separately for each side, which is great because I like to blast it up to inferno and then turn it to low once I get in bed and Phillip likes to keep it at medium all night.

What can you get someone who never asks for anything and only wants "useful" gifts at holidays?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}

USB Heated Fingerless Gloves


I can hardly think of a more practical gift than this, since my hands tend to get cold when I type and I'm almost always working at my computer doing practical things. (Watching funny videos on YouTube qualifies as research for a humor blogger, so technically speaking, it's practical.)

I've tried a lot of different solutions. Space heaters don't directly warm my hands, but these plug right into my computer and warm up a heated pad inside each glove itself. The fingerless-ness is awesome because it doesn't interfere with my typing, and I don't know what the material is (Amazon just says "soft plush") but it feels like the downy fuzz of the softest baby chinchilla in all the world.

What can you get someone who never asks for anything and only wants "useful" gifts at holidays?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}

Kitchen Aid Standing Mixer


We've had our Kitchen Aid for 10 years and I use it at least 3 or 4 times a week. Practical people are always making food because we can do it better, cheaper, and healthier at home.

This thing is as sturdy as a tank but so pretty you can just leave it out on your counter 24/7. It mixes flawlessly and enables my incorrigible multitasking in the kitchen since I can let it do its thing while I prep another part of the meal.

Kitchen Aid makes this thing in a bazillion colors, and even get me started on the number of attachments you can buy.

Every time I use one of these practical gifts, even after years and years, I can't help but think to myself, "I love this thing." And that, for a practical person, really does make the best holiday gift of all.
Do you have a very practical person on your gift list who's impossible to shop for? I understand your pain, because I’m that person. I only want useful gifts, if I even want anything at all! But I personally own and love all of these useful gifts for the home, and I know one of them is certain to be the perfect practical gift to buy for the hard-to-shop-for people you love. #giftsforwomen #christmas #giftideas

Do you have a very practical person on your gift list who's impossible to shop for? I understand your pain, because I’m that person. I only want useful gifts, if I even want anything at all! But I personally own and love all of these useful gifts for the home, and I know one of them is certain to be the perfect practical gift to buy for the hard-to-shop-for people you love. #giftsforwomen #christmas #giftideas


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22 comments:

AnneMarie said...

I am so super practical and never know what to tell people who ask for my gift list, so this is perfect! Thank you for these awesome ideas!!!

Anonymous said...

I just bought two of the electric mattress covers for my adult children! Hope you get a big cut of the profits!!! Thanks for the great suggestion...they have both been complaining that their electric blankets are no longer working well. Great timing :)

Jenny Evans said...

I have loved all of them, you'll never regret it.

Jenny Evans said...

I'm sure they'll love them. And yes, I'm confident that at this time next year, I'll be sunbathing at my private vacation villa somewhere very tropical and very expensive.

PurpleSlob said...

" remove a pitcher of red Crystal Light from our beige rug" ??? WOW!! I'd be a believer too!!
Those muffin cups are just plain fun! PP loves to use them as mini bowls!
Heated mattress pad is genius! AS are the heated gloves!
Thanks!!

Jenny Evans said...

My 2 year old LOVES to play with the muffin cups, but I try not to let him so they don't get lost.

Angela @ Setting My Intention said...

I'm a practical person too! I laughed at your comment about fresh flowers because I'm guilty of thinking the same thing! Those muffin cups - I may need those. Have a blessed holiday! #happynowlinkup

Crystal Green from Sharing Life's Moments said...

These are ALL gifts I would love to have!! That kitchen mixer has been on my wishlist for ages now. I LOVED my silicone cupcake baking cups until they got ruined when my son didn't clean them right. (Lesson learned don't have him clean dishes that truly matter to me!)

Eileen @ Just Measuring Up said...

Might have to get that vacuum cleaner for myself! Never had one last 12 years! (Visiting from Happy Now)

Sarah Hynes said...

The muffin cups are great for lunch boxes too...we use them to put peanut butter or hummus or whatever else inside bento-style boxes.

Jenny Evans said...

When I looked them up on Amazon writing this article I saw pictures of people using them for lunches, which is a brilliant use I never even thought of!

Jenny Evans said...

People in my family who shall remain nameless have ruined many a dish/Tupperware by putting them in the dishwasher against my specific instructions not to!

Jenny Evans said...

We've replaced broken belts a handful of times (on our old model you have to unscrew something to get at the belt but on the newer models you don't need to) and got a new roller brush once, but that's it for maintenance!

Queen Mom Jen said...

I want the soap! like loads and loads of it. You just saved Jen's Guy a whole load of trouble :)

Katy said...

I totally want those baking cups! I had no idea you could use them without the pan. Bonus!

Rachel said...

I have an aunt like you and my Mom's a lot like you, although she has a few hobbies (we can always buy her jigsaw puzzles or Korean dramas--she'll never grow tired of them). I have not yet grown up enough to appreciate useful appliances as gifts. My Mom asked me if I wanted an oven for Christmas (ovens here are small counter-top appliances that can bake one 9X13 dish at a time) and I said, "No. If I had an oven, I'd have to bake."
Last Christmas, my parents got Angel a blender, because they always call him the "Smoothie King." It was a bit of a bad decision on their part, because before, he always brought fruit to their house and would make smoothies for everyone since we didn't have a blender. Now he can make smoothies at our house and we don't have to share them. :P But he still goes and makes smoothies for the family on Saturday nights.
This year, Mom bought him a steam mop, since he's been wanting one for a few years. She's so excited she wanted to open it up and use it first before giving it to him for Christmas, but Dad said she cannot. I don't know if I'll ever get this appliance-love thing. Our house is very light on appliances--I toast bread in a frying pan due to our lack of a toaster, I hang dry clothes because there's no dryer, etc.

Unknown said...

I am so going to check out that heated mattress pad! My husband would hate it, but I'm always too cold during the winter. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!

Jenny Evans said...

Sounds like me EXCEPT that I really hate to mop. Of course, maybe if I had the right mop it wouldn't be so bad...

My other two favorite appliances are my oven (convection oven that boils water almost instantaneously, it's like magic) and my Kitchen Aid blender. So I guess maybe I am your mom, after all!

Michelle said...

You know what's funny? I ALMOST asked for those silicone cups for Christmas! They just make it look so easy. We have an Oreck and love it, and I will forever sing the praises of my Kitchen Aid mixer.

Unknown said...

Those heated gloves look AWESOME especially for us folks in the north. Thanks for the great list.

Unknown said...

I have always wanted a standing mixer- I dont bake- I just think they are adorable!

Jenny Evans said...

I didn't mention that in this article - having one sitting on your counter makes it TOTALLY look like you have it all together.