Treats and Treasures for Your Holiday Pleasure!

Managing Editor Aly Sarafa and I have joined forces to bring you our recent obsessions.

It’s gift guide season, friends, and to jump on that bandwagon—because, obviously, why wouldn’t we? We LOVE this kind of bandwagon—our managing editor, Aly Sarafa, and I have compiled a list of things we’ve loved, gifted, or pined over this year, from the best shippable shmears to one-of-a-kind vintage photos. Enjoy!

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Amber loves SALTLICKERS

Jennifer L. Knox, one of my favorite writers, is known for her punchy, sharp, brilliant lines of poetry, and so it would make sense that her award-winning spice blend shop, Saltlickers, would create blends just as punchy and exciting as her poetry. These spice blends and seasoning salts—all with their own cheeky names and descriptions—are fantastic on literally anything: tacos, the rims of cocktail glasses, barbecue, or even just to spice up your favorite chips and dips. (And you KNOW how I feel about dips!) Some of my favorite Saltlickers products include the Feather Duster, which is described as “Thanksgiving in a jar” and made with sea salt, parsley, dried celery, shallots, and sage. For grilling veggies, there’s Das Bigfoot, and for dazzling up some popcorn, try French Tickler made with sea salt, parsley, onions, marjoram, lavender, tarragon, and vinegar. Her gift boxes are perfect for the home cook or grab a single jar to add into your gift basket to a loved one. And while you’re at it, add one of Jen’s amazing books—you won’t regret it.

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Aly loves READ RECEIPTS

I panic-purchased the Steve Kornacki “Map Daddy” t-shirt while waiting for election results last year (midterms matter, yall!) and it is the best election-stress-related purchase I have ever made. (As you may have guessed, I have made a lot over the recent years.) Read Receipts is a small business based in Austin, TX. and founded by Chantal Strasburger. Fellow lovers of the “Big Board” will be sad to know that the Map Daddy tee is now sold out, but do not fear! Along with many other political and pop culture-inspired designs is this brilliant addition to Chantal’s (unofficially named) “Men Being Dumb” collection:

The shirt is also available in the “aging and alone with a cat” variation, as seen above.

Let us wear this shirt like the badge of honor it is, especially since a portion of the profits from this shirt will be donated to the Texas Equal Access Fund.

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Aly loves PAIR OF PLANTS

Born from a very pants-less time in all our lives (2020), Michelle Sieg is only a few years into her pants-for-plants business of selling her handmade ceramic vases that resemble pants. I don’t have anything to say about the below except for that it’s amazing and I want it. (Other, non-Bowie pant vases are also available.) Pre-orders for this vase, called Starry Icon, close on Dec. 18 at 12pm PT so don’t miss out if you’re looking to order one.

Left, the Starry Icon vase by Michelle Sieg; Right, the original outfit worn by David Bowie and designed by Kansai Yamamoto

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Amber loves POCKET HOSE

Listen. I know what you’re thinking: Did Amber see the guy from Home Improvement in the Pocket Hose ads that were sprayed across the internet recently (pun intended) and think, I SIMPLY MUST HAVE THAT? Yes. Yes, I did. Pocket Hose is the expandable hose made from an exclusive biaxial braid outer shell. And yes, I did copy that directly off their website because otherwise I would’ve just called it “a better, less annoying hose,” which is also true, but not very informative. Basically, this is a hose that naturally expands to regular size during use and then contracts down to a small, compact size when you’re done, saving you space and hassle. It’s almost like a thick rope that you can easily coil up and put away. It also makes gardening or other hose-related activities easier in general. Unlike stiff rubber hoses, it never gets kinks that block the water and drive you slowly to madness. Get your dad a pocket hose for the holidays and thank me later. (And by “your dad,” I mean me.)

Photographic evidence that Richard Karn loves this hose.

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Aly loves OBSCURA

My most selfless act of the year is telling you about Obscura on the very day they are having their 24-hour flash sale to celebrate their ninth anniversary. Founded and curated by Rebecca Weisberg, Obscura primarily sells one-of-a-kind, vintage found photos; so once a photo is sold, it’s gone for good. Rebecca posts the unique photos on Instagram (the IG account is worth a follow even if you’re not in the market for found photos) and has made prints from some of the images that have received the most interest over the years. I’ve purchased single images, vintage photo grab bags, and the two prints below and the quality, kindness, and care that goes into the curation, promotion, and shipping of the photos is exceptional. (Rebecca sometimes throws in extra photos or handwritten notes too. Just another delightful bonus of shopping small.)

If you are like me and survive the hellscape that is existence by romanticizing the hell out of everything you can, you are in luck. There is an entire section of the Obscura website dedicated to images that are altered, captioned, or have writing on the verso. The dates, names, tongue-in-cheek to straight up saucy captions, and (my favorite) love letters written on the backs of images, lend themselves to endless daydreams about the stories behind the images. (Perusing the website is also great for sparking some ekphrastic poetry or general creative inspiration.) Their sale is live now (Dec. 15) until tomorrow (Dec. 16) at 9am PT. Godspeed!

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Aly loves THE SILVER SPIDER PRINT SHOP

The Silver Spider Print Shop is my go-to shop for gifting . . . things to myself, if I’m being honest. They consistently design items that speak directly to my soul, including but not limited to: this pin inspired by a feminist slogan from the 1970s; this pocket knife inspired by The Handmaid's Tale; and this Instant Star bumper sticker. (Please someone talk to me about Instant Star; why does no one remember this show except for me and the owner of this store?!) Their hat collection is the real crowning achievement (get it?) of The Silver Spider, as evidenced by these two beanies memorializing two of the greatest moments in recent pop culture history:

I would like to personally thank Danny Pudi, Dakota Johnson, and the invention of talk shows and press junkets for creating these brief but perfect moments.

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Amber loves RUSS & DAUGHTERS

Russ & Daughters might be one of the most famous New York Jewish delis in the entire country. Known for their smoked lox, whitefish spreads, and delicious bagels, the New York institution started in 1914 and has been owned by members of the Russ family ever since. When I used to live in the East Village, it was always a treat to go in there and order a toasted everything bagel, fully loaded. Other bagels in other states cannot even compete with Russ & Daughters. (Fight me!!!) On the weekends, the line to order would be so, so long, but it was always well worth the wait.

Not in New York but want to taste the best bagel ever or send some to your friend on the west coast to prove NY bagel superiority once and for all? No problem. Russ & Daughters (no relation, by the way) ships within the U.S. and they make incredible gift boxes filled with bagels, caviar, latkes, smoked fish, and all different kinds of spreads.

Fun fact: Russ & Daughters is the first known business in the U.S. to have “& Daughters” in its name.

The Lower East Side location I used to frequent.

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Amber & Aly love LITD

To celebrate the holidays and our community here at Listening in the Dark, we’re offering 20% off annual paid subscriptions between now and December 22 at the link below. So if you’re looking for a great gift for friends or family (or looking to treat yo self), consider gifting one today! We’ve got some amazing things coming up for all our subscribers, but some special perks for our paid subs including our Further Ado video interview series with upcoming guests Blake Lively, Priya Parker, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, and more. Plus, readings, creative prompts, and monthly giveaways of items ranging from a Buffy the Vampire Slayer script to personal notes and items to limited edition books and broadsides.

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Aly loves PUZZLES

I realize that many people got out of the whole jigsaw puzzle game after 2020/2021 but some of us (me) have found a new, lifelong passion, and now own more jigsaw puzzles than a human person could possibly complete in a single lifetime. An unexpected perk of this hobby has been discovering some amazing artists whose work I may have otherwise never come across. So if you need some puzzle suggestions, check out the work of Janet Hill (warning: the “All Hallows’ Eve” puzzle is exceptionally tricky), the weird and wild work of Steph von Reiswitz and her murder mystery puzzles, and the intricate, beautiful chaos of the scenes Rachel and Jena create, photograph, and turn into Piecework puzzles. Their collection of mini zodiac puzzles for each star sign ($20.00 each) make for the perfect fancy stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift.

Now, you may be thinking, Surely, Aly is going to recommend a specific puzzle after all that? But no. Instead, I am recommending something to enhance your overall puzzling experience and/or the experience of the puzzlers in your life. Every puzzler knows the importance of puzzle piece organization and has their own preferred method of piece separating (only to begin after you find all the edge pieces, obviously). Instead of accidentally elbowing your piles of pieces onto the floor or taking up the entire dining room table with your scattered sections, get a set of puzzle trays instead! Could you use your other puzzle box tops to separate pieces into colors, shapes, or images from the puzzle? Yes. Could you use Tupperware? Sure. But will you feel fancier and like a puzzle professional using these stackable sorting trays instead? Absolutely.

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Aly loves CHNGE

CHNGE’s designs range from wildly eye-catching prints to childlike cartoons to my personal favorite (and a style that currently hangs in my closet): a simple, made-to-last shirt that makes a statement. Literally.

The quality and message of their products will be what draws you in, but it’s the fact that they are the very epitome of “If you talk the talk, you better walk the walk” that has made me a superfan. As of Dec. 2023, they have donated $748,862 to organizations such as Abortion Funds, The Audre Lorde Project, Southern Poverty Law Center, The Conservation Fund, and The Last Prisoner Project. They are also incredibly transparent about their labor practices (all products are produced in a Fairtrade Factory) and ecological impact (they are Climate Neutral Certified), something you rarely see with larger companies and pretty much never see with any of the popular fast fashion brands. (I’m looking at you, SheIn.) Plus, 5% of every sale from their “Women Don’t Owe You Shit” collection will be donated directly to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

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Aly loves ENAMEL PINS

In the past few years, I have become obsessed with enamel pins. What started as a random Etsy impulse buy during the pandemic turned into a few more impulse buys, which turned into a proper and ever-growing collection of pins. I have also now forced my love of enamel pins onto all of my friends and family. To anyone I know reading this: Surprise! You’re getting an enamel pin for the holidays. What can I say? They make great gifts. And if they don’t, everyone I’ve given them to already has been too polite to tell me that.

Millypins is the MILLennial dream. (I’m not even sorry.) You know when you remember something from your childhood and it seems like no one else remembers it? WELL, MILLY DOES. For example: Ouch! Bubblegum, those “Call Miss Cleo now” commercials, or that (literal) fever dream musical episode of Even Stevens. Something we all remember though? The unbridled joy we felt when this baby got wheeled into science class.

Pinultimate not only makes their own pins, but they also do a fantastic job of curating an incredible selection of other creator’s pins, like this retro TV pin by Smarty Pants Paper Co. (who also created this sticker which adorns my water bottle); this sliding Sasquatch pin by Pretty Useful Co.; and this beeper pin by V Coterie (iykyk, and if not, here’s a link).

I would tell you about Patti Lapel based solely on the strength of their company name alone. They also happen to make some damn good pins including this Clue pin and the perfectly nostalgic N64 GoldenEye game cartridge pin. In my opinion, their greatest accomplishment is the creation of their Chris Gaines pin. Did you grow up listening to country music? Well, I did. But somehow I just found out about Chris Gaines. This discovery led me down a wormhole and what I’m sure will be a lifelong quest to understand how country music star Garth Brooks sold this Australian rock star alter ego idea to his management team in the late ’90s. This is my Roman Empire. Anyway, here’s a super niche pin about that.

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What are your go-to gifts and small businesses to support? What about the best gift you’ve ever given or received? Your favorite handmade, homemade, handed-down, or otherwise special or sentimental gift? Let us know in the comments.

Coming up!

• Good Riddance: Join us in the Chat for a weekly space to let go of something that’s been bugging you. Every Saturday, I’ll share something I’m letting go of and invite you to do the same. It can be big or small, serious or silly—an interaction that left you feeling not so great, a piece of clothing you’ve been hanging on to for too long, or your anger over a tragically canceled TV show that ended on a cliffhanger. For All Subscribers.

• Further Ado: Our December installment of the video interview series will feature the brilliant Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering and expert on meaningful connection and conflict resolution. Next year’s Further Ado guests include Blake Lively, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Suleika Jaouad, and many more to be announced. For Paid Subscribers.  

• Readings + Prompts: A couple times a month, I'll share a new video made just for you reading something I've written over the years—a poem, an essay, an unpublished work (GULP)—as well as a unique prompt based on that work. Come get entertained and creatively energized. For Paid Subscribers. 

• Here, Take This, I Love You: Every month we will give away memorabilia and artifacts from the vaults of my office. A signed Joan of Arcadia script! Limited edition broadsides of poetry! Some gum Alexis Bledel once chewed! (I would never.) For Paid Subscribers.