John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged holiday · everything

www.cbr.com

Calvin and Hobbes Debate Exactly How Santa Claus Defines the Term 'Good'

This piece introduces the first day of an Advent Calendar feature spotlighting Christmas-themed strips from notable comic strips, beginning with Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes. The entry examines how Calvin navigates the seasonal pressure to appear good enough for Santa by philosophically debating the nature of goodness with Hobbes, even attempting to get a reference letter, while also featuring strips where Santa and his elves deliberate Calvin's worthiness and Calvin dreams of a poem convincing Santa to reward naughty children instead. The piece highlights Watterson's skill at blending clever wordplay with strong visual storytelling to explore Calvin's characteristically twisted imagination.

Permalink philosophycomicsholidaychristmas

www.nytimes.com

The 22 Best Alcohol Gifts for Cocktail Lovers

This is a curated gift guide featuring approximately 20 cocktail-related products and books, ranging from barware and spirits to garnishes and cocktail recipe collections. Each item includes recommendations from industry experts like bartenders and spirits specialists, along with details about quality, design, and specific use cases. The selections emphasize craft, aesthetic appeal, and thoughtful curation rather than gimmicky bar accessories.

Permalink holidaycocktailswhiskeygifts

www.nytimes.com

How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree Like a Pro

Rather than discussing holiday magic philosophically, this practical guide offers specific strategies for making Christmas tree setup and takedown easier, from investing in a quality tree stand like the Krinner (which one person can operate alone) to stringing lights vertically for better coverage and leaving the back of the tree undecorated if it's against a wall. It also includes concrete storage solutions such as using winders for lights and keeping ornament hooks attached, plus a surprisingly effective hack of wrapping the tree in a fitted sheet before removing it to contain needle mess. The piece combines product recommendations with time-saving tricks to reduce the genuine frustration involved in holiday decorating.

Permalink holidaychristmassmart homehome

www.remodelista.com

www.esquire.com

42 Best Gifts for Men Under $50

This is an Esquire gift guide listing products under $50, with brief descriptions of items like speakers, passport holders, turntables, coffee cups, massage guns, knives, and kitchen tools positioned as gift suggestions for men. The guide emphasizes durability, practicality, and value, claiming each item offers quality that belies its low price point. It's organized by product category with repeated advertisements interspersed throughout.

Permalink holidaymentravellifestyle

www.esquire.com

The 26 Best Gifts on Earth, According to Esquire

Esquire's editors curated a gift guide featuring 26 of the year's best products across categories ranging from tech gadgets like the Boox Palma 2 e-reader and Xgimi Elfin projector to luxury items such as Hermès wallets and Métier weekender bags. The selections span multiple price points from $80 gourmet snacks to high-end watches, organized by gift-giving scenarios including tech enthusiasts, homebodies, travelers, and those seeking impressive or understated luxury pieces.

Permalink holidaytravellifestylefashion

camillestyles.com

Gifts for the Wellness-Obsessed: Little Luxuries That Nourish Inside and Out

A curated holiday gift guide built around wellness as the throughline, grouping picks into categories like self-care essentials, cozy rituals, nourishing treats, and stocking stuffers rather than by recipient type alone. It targets specific personas—the matcha devotee, the spa-bathroom sister, the breathwork-obsessed coworker—to help readers match products to particular habits and vibes. Worth keeping mainly as a shoppable reference list for 2025 holiday gifting, with affiliate links baked in.

Permalink wellnesssleepholidaybeauty

www.foodandwine.com

Skip the Wine: Here’s What Ina Garten Brings to a Dinner Party Instead

With the holidays approaching, Food & Wine editor Katie Brown highlights what [[Ina Garten]] prefers to bring to a dinner party: thoughtful, non-immediate-use host gifts. Rather than a bottle of wine or a charcuterie board, Garten opts for items the host can enjoy later—examples include [[Graza Glass Duo Gift Set]] with cooking and finishing olive oils, the decorative [[Bialetti Dolce & Gabbana Blu Mediterraneo Coffee Gift Tin]], the Brooklyn-roasted [[Nguyen Coffee Supply The Original Vietnamese Coffee Trio]], cozy [[Art of Tea Festive Chai Bundle]], indulgent [[Fran’s Chocolates Smoked Salt Caramels]], and a whimsical [[M&S Luxury Gold Tea Light-Up Tin]]. The piece lists price points and retailers, suggests options for coffee, tea, and sweets lovers, and rounds out recommendations with additional curated gift boxes and specialty food brands.

Permalink foodholidayhostingcoffee

camillestyles.com

Hosting for the Holidays? Here’s a Stress-Free Guide to Prepping Your Home

A personal, reassurance-heavy take on holiday hosting that pushes back against the urge for a spotless, magazine-perfect home, arguing instead for focusing on coziness, cleared high-traffic areas, and small welcoming touches like candles, fresh towels, and a stocked coffee station. It includes a practical day-by-day cleaning checklist for the week before an event, framing early, spread-out prep as the real key to a relaxed host and a good gathering. Worth keeping mainly for that checklist and the permission-giving mindset shift away from deep-cleaning perfectionism.

Permalink holidayorganizationhomeentertaining

the Guardian

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