Welcome to This Is Cute. We’re Jenna, Jayna, and Verena. We text all day about cute stuff so you don’t have to. If you're interested in seeing the previous and equally unhinged editions, they’re here. This edish is all about… PRESENTS! May kicks off a serious slew of gifting occasions (Mother’s Day, Jayna’s birthday, Verena’s birthday—um, does this feel disproportionately stressful for Jenna? Yes.). So, today we’re focusing on what to buy for, well, everyone. Moms, dads, tinies, randos, even…each other. We hope it helps take the stress out of gift giving, year-round!
Gifts for Moms
JW: Ok, NOT revolutionary, but I feel like moms always need a good bag (I strong-armed Jenna’s husband into getting her this Rachel Antonoff bag with Tony Soprano all over it because the idea of it being her go bag for the hospital filled me with boundless joy, lol). I looove Barrineau bags because they’re roomy but not insane, they come in great colors, they’re monogrammable and they feel like the cool daughter of the LL Bean tote who, like, learned from the best but is also her own person.
VVP: I truly don’t think I’ve ever seen chocolates as beautiful as Deux Cranes. Inspired by Japan and made with French tradition, their seasonal, limited-edition bon bon boxes are honestly almost too stunning to eat. Seriously, I got a box and had to work myself up to it and it was extremely stressful. You could also gift a set of the bars, or make your own combo. Having tried them all, I would go with the Konbi Hojicha Caramel (which was sold out for a while and is back, thank GOD), Matcha Strawberry Chocolate, and the Dark Chocolate with Miso Almonds. Think how cute they’d be all wrapped up and with a little ribbon around them? Oh, also they taste incredible. Just realized I left that part out.
JG: No, I know, flowers, for mom… groundbreaking. But these tiny drieds from NYC-based Pop -Up Florist put a long-lasting spin on the go-to Mother’s Day move. A preserved arrangement feels more special than the average bunch (they last for years…YEARS!), and this particular daisy bouquet’s mini-ness is so very [squished smiley face emoji]- inducing. On the bigger ticket side—and because it’s my second-ever Mother’s day as a mom—I’m going to throw something out there that’s on my personal wishlist: this Rachel Comey necklace, which has the right amount of heft, and is in the perfect timeless tarnishy gold.
Gifts for Dads
VVP: So, full disclosure, I have never in my adult life purchased a gift for a Dad, which probably means no one should listen to me, but I was introduced to the New York Times’ custom book offerings by Nick, who got one for his dad a few Christmas’s ago. You can do a Birthday Book—which opens with the front page of the paper on the day and year they were born, and is followed by front pages for every birthday after that—or a Sports history book, which compiles all the notable coverage of their favorite football, baseball, or basketball team. (This is also a pretty heteronormative Dad Gift, so if you want to go a little less DADS LOVE HISTORY AND SPORTS with your pressie, vintage music merch is always fun.)
JW: I’m a very big blanket-as-gift person (ask JG) because who on god’s goddamn green earth doesn’t like being cozy? Jen Mini introduced me to Apparis’s Shiloh blankets (I think via Anya?) and they’re honestly almost too cozy and soft and pettable. It’s also something I think a lot of dad’s would never get for themselves (do dads get anything for themselves??) but would love very much to nap under. It’s like those videos of dads who said they didn’t want a dog but then are obsessed with the dog, except way lower maintenance.
JG: Dads are dudes, and dudes LOVE T-shirts. This one from Alex Crane is in a super soft, breezy linen. Meaning, it feels (and looks!) more luxurious than the average cotton crewneck, but can be worn just as often. Gift one—or two, or three (we love a bundle!)—for a super sneaky way to step up his style. Another thing dudes love? HATS. This corduroy one from Drake’s is SO good (and adjustable, so…shareable. Omg am I so selfish?).
Gifts for Tinies
JW: I get every baby I know a stuffed animal at some point, probably because I want to be a baby who gets stuffed animals. There are a bill trill options out there but my friend Coco introduced me to this Etsy shop and I can pretty confidently say these are the best stuffed animals of all time. Like, WHAT?? Are you KIDDING ME?? They are definitely pricey but honestly so cool and well made and I think have more staying power than a jellycat (absolutely no disrespect to jellycats).
JG: When Sam was born, he was gifted a sweater from Lulu Knits—a teeeeny company with a very bare bones website, zero social media presence, and the cutest-ever handmade monogrammed pullovers. I have ordered and sent many of the brand’s custom designs since (usually facilitated via email with luluknits100@gmail.com). Other favorite gifts include adult things I would wear but in tiny sizes, because—as Baby Yoda and those extra tiny hot sauces prove—there’s nothing cuter than a mini. So: baby Levi’s jacket (tons on Etsy!), baby Nikes, baby Patagonias. Okay I’ll stop.
VVP: Oh, god, I think I am universally terrible at this. (SORRY SORRY SORRY TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS WITH CHILDREN.) Usually I text my friends with kids in a panic for recommendations. (UGH SORRY AGAIN. Not only am I terrible at baby gifts, can you believe that on top of it, I then turn around and then ask all my friends with kids to do my gift-idea labor for me??? Why is anyone friends with me.) Anyway, the last time I did that, my friend Emily suggested a personalized blanket from PB Kids, which turned out great for everyone involved. Honestly, the current knit on offer is even cuter than the one I got, and now I kind of want one for myself. Is that weird? Sorry, Jayna, I know you’re the biggest baby in this group, but I am sometimes a small one.
Gifts for Sorta-Close Friends/Cute Coworkers/Randoms You Want to Impress
VVP: A few years back, a sorta-friend gave Nick an Astronaut Ice Cream sandwich for his birthday, and it’s stuck in my head ever since. Since food is my love language, even for strangers, I would probably try to put together a somewhat offbeat bundle of cute candy. Actually, I did this recently for an acquaintance's birthday, limiting myself to my favorite bodega. Everyone likes candy, and everyone likes being introduced to new candy. Don’t be afraid to go international with it, like the super sour Swedish stuff or the always incredible offerings at your local Japanese market, like these chocolate-topped mushroom biscuits. (I love to do a supermarket sweep at Tenichi Mart on Smith.) Actually, I just realized that this is one of my go-to kid gifts. A bounty of fun Japanese candies! (SORRY AGAIN, FRIENDS WITH KIDS. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME.)
JG: I’m pretty sure fancy stationery is low on the list of things people tend to splurge on for themselves. Which is why a set of notecards from fantastical stationery purveyors Mr. Boddington is such a FUN give. I swear I chose to spotlight this cherry set before I saw Jayna’s cherry pick (SB!!!—or ‘same brain’—as the two of us like to say). [VVP Note: Ugh, get a room!!!!]. Custom is also a very cute and thoughtful cute move—these initial cards from Orchard Letterpress are especially refined.
JW: I’m an absolute freak for Baggu, as in, one time I made JP retrace my steps with me back and forth from the Trader Joe’s in Downtown Brooklyn twice to look for the pouch one of my favorite baby Baggu bags came in—the POUCH! Not even the actual bag—and then later found it in the pocket of a pair of shorts and cried with happiness. They make the cutest everything, so for a coworker I think a cherry laptop sleeve is a fun and functional and maybe slightly unexpected gift? And if they’re a nerd who wears glasses, you can pair it with a matching case!
Housewarming Gifts
VVP: You can’t go wrong with a Fredericks & Mae cutting board, which comes in a bunch of different funfetti-style colors, because people can always use more than one cutting board and when buying a cutting board for oneself, people tend to go for classic wood and boring plastic, so opening up one of these guys is just SO FUN. I also think a bath mat would be cute, and for the same reason. Most people only own one bath mat per bathroom, and variety is the spice of life! (Plus you need to wash them, so this way they have a back up.) One more option: a pair of these gorgeous two-toned pineapple tiki glasses by Andrew Iannazzi. Who doesn’t love some festive drinkware?
JW: When we have people over, we’re not a shoes-off apartment, but we are a use-a-coaster apartment, which is weird. But I love coasters! They’re a little pillow for your drink! Cute! And there are so many options. I love the felt ones from Graf Lantz because they come in a bill trill colors. But I also love a marble option, like these from Soho Home (who knew you could turn your own house into a Soho House??). And vintage is always great too!
JG: What exactly IS a tea towel? Technically, I have no idea. In practice, it’s a multipurpose cloth that can play the part of napkin, dish towel, or oven ornament. I love to gift a pair (current recs: these, these and these), because they always, always come in handy, and are often afterthoughts for new apartment occupants.
Hosting Gifts
JW: Okkkk also maybe not earth shattering, but people often bring flowers as a hosting gift (cute!) but then what do you put them in? That’s why, I say instead of flowers, bring a vase (cuter!). Concrete Cat makes extremely cool ones, and I also love the amber glass ones from Maison Balzac. Oh, or cute salt and pepper shakers! JG got me these for Christmas and I looooove them, but these are also a classic.
JG: ‘Snackies’ (what Jayna and Verena adorably call little pre-meal cocktail go-withs) make great gifts. Think anything from olives to fancy potato chips to tinned fish that maybe no one will eat but comes in really cute packaging. I also hate to admit it but I am all in on the bougie fruit bonanza and would LOVE someone to bring Oiishi’s newest varietal to my next dinner party.
VVP: This one isn’t gonna shock anyone who knows me but … weed! Or, if you’re feeling ballsy, mushrooms, but the fun kind. (Actually, now that I think about it, you could pair some hallucinogenic ones with a chic box of the regular kind from Smallhold and be all theme-y and inclusive about it. How cute!) Everyone brings wine, but I’ve never gone wrong with some edibles, infused beverages, or psilly chocolate. Even if the host doesn’t partake, usually one or more of the guests do, and some psychoactive treats are guaranteed to make the weekend/dinner/whatever the occasion is that much more memorable. (Or not, lol, but in a good way.) A pack or two of Turkish Delights from California’s Rose Los Angeles are a surefire hit, and perfectly bougie. They work with cool chefs, like David Zilber, and use locally-sourced seasonal produce. (They are also launching in NYC next week!) You could double down with a pack of their CBD-infused Delights if you wanted to make sure everyone had something to nibble on. My other go-to are 1906’s chocolate covered espresso beans, or Dark Chocolate Gems, which can be found in Colorado, Oklahoma, and New York. I stockpile these whenever I can get my hands on them and then show up at people’s houses like a stoned Willy Wonka. If you’re in NYC and want to get your hands on some mushroom chocolates, go to Grand Leaners in Williamsburg and ask at the counter. You’re welcome!
Gifts For Each Other
Gifts for Verena
JW: This is tricky, because VVP’s birthday is THIS MONTH, so I don’t want to give anything away, but I think she’d love one of these cute little ceramic ghosts for a couple of reasons. One: we have matching ghost tattoos that make everyone jealous, so that’s sort of our thing. Two: these ghosts are impossible to get because they sell out so so quickly, and VVP, like me, loves an intense shopping challenge that requires setting an alarm on your phone (see also: Christine Tenenholtz mugs), so I feel like if I finally managed to snag one she would particularly appreciate my success.
JG: VVP is the most unicorn-like human I know (actually, that declaration is my first gift to her, because she is OBSESSED with unicorns—see: all previous editions of this newsletter). Anything sparkly and vaguely magical reminds me of her, like these amazing socks which are basically the accessories version of the puddle that Alex Mack transforms into. I also realllly want her to have a Chellfish creation because 1) the NAME 2) she is the world’s most joyful foodie and 3) my husband calls Verena the Canadian Cajun due to her zest for New Orleanian cuisine, namely shellfish.
Gifts for Jenna
JW: JG is, BY FAR, the most responsible shopper out of the three of us, but her one teeny tiny weakness (IMO) is a good beanie. Does she need more? She does not. Can she resist? Yes she can, because she’s responsible, but I feel like it’s very hard for her to do so. I also know she would never EVER spend this amount of money on a beanie, but I sure would (and have! I’m the worst!) so I would get her one of these cutie cute Suzie Kondi neon guys and she’d be the cutest little cute, and when we’re meeting up in the neighborhood for a palk (park walk and talk), I’d see her coming from four blocks away.
VVP: I think Jenna has maybe the most unimpeachable taste out of anyone I’ve ever met and it’s extremely intimidating, because she’s always just so nonchalantly cool but also classic, you know? To that end, I think the best gift for Jenna is something expensive and silly and frivolous, like some neon jewelry from Fry Powers, maybe an anklet or an ombre set of their enamel stacking rings? I am also on a personal mission to convert her to red lipstick, so I would use this opportunity to do so, by giving her one of Dries Van Noten’s extremely cute and chic refillable lipsticks. I would fill it with Midsummer Coral or Crafted Red or Favorite Red, and throw in a refill for a sheer nude or the lip balm juuuuust in case I am unsuccessful.
Gifts for Jayna
VVP: Ever since Jayna introduced me to Christine Tenenholtz’s aforementioned mugs, I’ve found myself in an algorithmic rabbit hole of handmade, drop-release ceramics and pottery. A few weeks ago, I found these darling little horse mugs that I think would be perfect for Jayna since she is currently galloping headlong into a horse girl era. Unfortunately, I saw them too late and they had already sold, but I have been checking this account daily to make sure I don’t miss a re-stock. In the meantime, I would love to be able to get her one of these gorgeous hand-stitched table clothes from French textile artist Sarah Espeute. Jayna loves Paris, crafty things, and hosting people for dinner. The Table Bernaise and Repas du Bistrot would looks so cute in her apartment and go well with her felt Graf Lantz coasters. If I were going all out, I’d get it customized with a cute little message, and maybe my own initials so that she’ll always remember I was the one who gave it to her.
JG: Jayna and I have a history of giving each other heart-shaped things, soft things, and weird quirky things that no one else understands and that Bradley looks at and instantly says “did Jayna get you that?” This falls under all of the above and also reminds me very much of the Little House on the Prairie side of Jayna’s personality. And if I won the lottery, I’d buy her this because she is a Gucci monster who deserves a bag to go with the rest of her collection, and I think the navy would be a very cool complement to her most hypebeasty outfits.
The Cute Catalogue
All the stuff we mentioned in one cute place.
MOMS
Barrineau Tote
Deux Cranes Chocolates
Pop-Up Florist Mini Daisies
Rachel Comey Pyrene Necklace
DADS
New York Times Custom Book
Alex Crane Woven Tee
Drake’s Cotton Corduroy Baseball Hat
Apparis Shiloh Blanket
BABIES
BigStuffed Sand Manatee
BigStuffed Big Albino Diplo
Baby Levi’s Jacket
Baby Nike Blazers
Baby Patagonia Retro-X Fleece
Personalized Blanket from Pottery Barn KidsVintage Prince Tee
Coworkers, People You Want to Impress, Etc.
Astronaut Ice Cream Sandwich
Sour Swedish Candy
Meiji Kinoko No Yama Chocolate Mushroom Biscuits
Mr. Boddington Cherries on Top Stationery
Orchard Letterpress Cards
Baby Baggu
Baggu Puffy Laptop Sleeve in Sherbet Cherry
Baggu Puffy Glasses Sleeve in Sherbet Cherry
HOUSEWARMING
Fredericks & Mae Cutting Board
Cold Picnic Bath Mat
Andrew Iannazzi Pineapple Tiki Glasses
Graf Lantz Coasters
Soho Home Marble Coasters
Hand-Dyed Tenugui Tea Towels
The Primary Essentials Cotton Tea Towels
Atelier Saucier Le Duet Tea Towels
HOSTING
Concrete Cat Vases
Maison Balzac Lou Lou XL Vase
Egg Shop S&P Shakers
Shrig Shop Porcelain Shakers
ROI Italian Ligurian Taggiasca Olives
Bonilla A La Vista Patatas Fritas
Fishwife Cantabrian Anchovies
Oishii The Koyo Berry
Smallhold Mushrooms
Rose Los Angeles THC and CBD Delights (avail in CA + NY)
1906 Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans and Chocolate Gems (avail in CO, OK, and NY)
Gifts for Each Other
Statues by ghostceramicsgbg
Christina Tenenholtz Mugs
Maria La Rosa Socks
Chell Fish Shrimpies and Lemons Platter
Suzie Kondi Bebe Beanie in Neon
Fry Powers Anklet and Ombre Enamel Stacking Rings
Dries van Noten Coral Ceramic Refillable Lipstick
Secret Gift for Jayna She’s Not Allowed to Click On
Toni Darling Frank Horse Mug
Customized Sarah Espeute Tablecloth in Table Bernaise and Repas du Bistrot
Gucci Blondie Top-Handle Bag in Navy