Hi friends! It’s hard to believe another year of adventure is coming to a close. I thank you all so much for sticking with me and reading through all my adventures. For this newsletter I wanted to mix it up and compile a list of gifts I think any adventure seeker would like. Obviously these are things that could be given for any occasion so if celebrating Christmas isn’t your thing, then save these ideas for another monumental occasion.
I link many of these items below, but I also have items not mentioned in my amazon store for easy browsing.
A camping stove: The truth is, if someone is into the outdoors, they probably have a camping stove, however, I have two and I use both of them. If you know someone is planning to get into backpacking or camping, then these stoves are fabulous. If you are car camping then you can use it for coffee, I use it on hikes with my daughter for making ramen on the trail and if you backpack these are perfect for dehydrated meals. You can also grab a few dehydrated meals and fuel canisters and make it one big set. The question is, which one to get? The biggest difference between MSR and JetBoil is that with MSR you’ll need a lighter and the JetBoil has an ignitor built in. I actually got a knock-off JetBoil stove for free and I gear tested both that you can see in this video here. I have the APG stove listed in my amazon storefront here.
A paddle board: This can be a pricey gift, but it is also perfect for someone who loves the water. One of the downsides is that if you purchase this as a Christmas present, then the receiver can’t use it until the spring or summer. If you know someone who already has a paddelboard, but doesn’t have a state parks pass, you could purchase them a pass so they can bring their board to these state parks to paddle. I personally love our iRocker Blackfin XL which comes with a variety of accessories you can purchase as well. One of the best accessories I own is an electric pump, so if you know the receiver doesn’t have an electric pump then you could purchase one as well. The inflatable paddle board or kayak is great because it saves space in your car and is easy to transport. If you’re looking for an inflatable kayak, I purchased this one on amazon several years ago and have never had any issues with it. My husband even floated it down the Gunnison Gorge (which is no joke!) and survived. Other gift ideas for the water lover are a life jacket and a NRS quick release SUP leash.
The Magic of Surrender: for the person who loves to read, this book has been my go-to for years. I was actually sent a copy for free from the author’s publisher, and if you’ve been on a retreat with me the past few years, you know I read passages from this book at almost every yoga session.
Kanga Cooler- I actually got influenced to buy one of these for my brother and decided it was such an awesome gift I’d get it for my neighbors as well in the backpack version. Full-disclosure: I haven’t used it yet, but it was on the Shark Tank so I have to hope it will be awesome. The premise behind this is it’s a cooler that goes over a 6,12 or 24 pack of beverages. The cooler keeps your beverages cold 7 hours without needing ice or you can always add ice and the drinks separately. Basically you unzip it on one end, slide the cooler over the package, then open it from another end, break a hole in the box, and enjoy your beverages. I thought this was genius, because it saves the step of having to get rid of the box, use an ice pack, etc. I also love their option of buying now and spreading out the payments later.
Custom earrings: This gift comes from a small business I love, Color and Quill. I had actually coveted a pair of her earrings for some time, because I loved her use of beading and porcupine quills. Even though they look heavy, they actually are very light when you are wearing them and I can dress them up or I’ve worn them hiking. I know they are on the higher end in price, but if you visit her shop in Our and see the work that goes into each pair, you’ll realize you are getting a steal! I also make feather earrings that I now have up on an Etsy shop if you’re looking for something unique, but I really would love for you to have a pair of Keeton’s earrings as they are so beautiful!
Anything from Stio: I followed Stio long before I became an affiliate for their brand and after trying several of their items, I became hooked. They have the same worn-wear program as Patagonia and quality, but a lot more variety in colors. They also ship very fast and I’ve been happy with everything I’ve purchased from them from their leggings to jackets. They are known for their outdoor gear, so if you’re looking to get someone new ski wear, I highly recommend them. You can also use my code yogimagee for 20% non-sale items.
This year I also found myself at my local thrift store, purchasing and giving new life to old items. I found Christmas plates that I will add baked treats to for my neighbor. You can get old tea cups and gift them with some local coffee or tea. I found two jewelry boxes that I re-painted and added Barbie clothing and accessories to gift to my nieces. I also found some cute little bowls and added crystals and earrings for my older nieces and even an un-used board game to send them. So certainly don’t think that you have to go out and spend a fortune on an adventure gift for it to be meaningful. You could also go on recreation.gov and make a campsite reservation for someone as a gift, buy them a National Parks Pass or gift a hiking date where you have a picnic at your favorite overlook. For our Ireland trip we used an app called Get Your Guide where we found all sorts of experiences to book. This would be a great addition to a trip you or a loved one is already planning or you could book something local in your area. I love running adventure retreats, but you don’t have to spend a week somewhere just to have a blast!
Thank you so much for your support this year and I hope to adventure with you in 2023! Feel free to browse my amazon site for my kids book and more recommended items for the adventure seeker in your life. Remember, you don’t have to spend money you don’t have to make an impact, just make sure the gift comes from the heart.