A Hungry Musician’s Holiday Guide 2020
We’re approaching the holidays, which means that not only is 2020 almost OVER (
!!!), but it’s almost time for gift giving!
Even the smallest act of kindness has the potential to make someone’s day, and that rings especially true as we approach the weirdest holiday season in recent memory. Regardless of how we may be celebrating this year, a thoughtful gift is one of many ways we can let our loved ones know we’re thinking of them.
Here is a roundup of some of my favorite things (and wish list items!) from this year. I’ve divided them up into categories and tried to include as many small businesses as I could on this list. Remember – if you’re shopping small, shop early! – to give small businesses the time they need to easily and effectively deliver your orders in time. All small businesses have been marked (**).
Let’s dive in!
{this post contains affiliate links}
As our world hurts, there are so many organizations working hard to make it better. If you are looking for ways to give back this holiday season, consider a donation of money or resources to a cause you support. If you’re not sure where to look, here is a small selection of food- and arts-specific organizations to consider.
- THE OKRA PROJECT: The Okra Project is a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing them home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources.
- THE FOOD EMPOWERMENT PROJECT: The Food Empowerment Project seeks to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one’s food choices. Causes they support include farm workers’ rights, food access, sustainability, and more.
- NYC COMMUNITY FRIDGES: For my fellow NYC residents, if you are in a position to donate extra food, check out this map to find a community fridge in your neighborhood. This effort is being powered by A New World In Our Hearts – read more about their mission and get donation information on their Instagram page.
- FEEDING AMERICA: Feeding America’s mission is to get nourishing foods to people in need. Their long-standing efforts to combat food insecurity have also recently included research and action to help communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’d rather donate canned or packaged goods, their website can also help you track down food banks in your area!
- ARTIST RELIEF TREE: The Artist Relief Tree is a relief fund for artists affected by cancellations due to COVID-19.
- THE SPHINX ORGANIZATION: The Sphinx Organization is dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. During the pandemic, they have provided grants and relief funding to alumni, created virtual performance opportunities, and continued to provide crucial music education resources to the communities they serve.
- OPUS 118 HARLEM SCHOOL OF MUSIC: The Opus 118 Harlem School of Music, whose story was featured in the film “Music Of The Heart,” is dedicated to making quality music education affordable and available to the children of East Harlem in New York City. I am proud to teach with this organization, and encourage everyone to support their wonderful mission! They accept monetary donations as well as donations of gently used instruments and items for students, including violins, violas, cellos, guitars, and violin cases.
- HEDLEY & BENNETT – THE SMOCK IN “BLUE SALT”: ($80) I didn’t know there could ever be such a thing as a “luxury apron,” but this apron proved me wrong. Not only is the cross-back design super stylish, it’s just so COMFY, and features professional touches like a towel loop and pockets. At an $80 price point, it’s certainly a splurge, but worth every penny considering that the chef in your life will never want to take it off.
- LODGE – 6 QT. ENAMELED CAST IRON DUTCH OVEN: ($69, Amazon) Do you know how I know this is a great holiday gift for a foodie? Because it was gifted to me about 6 years ago, and still functions like it’s brand new. It is extra versatile, making it perfect for soups, stews, braising, and baking all of that sourdough your favorite foodie recently took up as a hobby. It has truly stood the test of time as my #1 favorite kitchen item! Did I mention the price point is under $100, making it one of the most affordable of its kind on the market?
- **TRADE ST. JAM CO: ($15) This Brooklyn-based small-batch jam is SO tasty, and comes in individual jars and gift sets. All the jams are vegan and preservative-free, making them purely delicious, and come in a variety of unique flavors like Smoked Peach, Blueberry Lemon Basil, and Blackberry Mulled Merlot (to name only a few). The jams are great in cocktails, mixed into marinades, or simply spread on biscuits. (P.S. they sell biscuit mix, too!)
- GLOBAL 2 PC. KNIFE SET: ($99, Amazon) In my opinion, the only knives you really need to be successful home chef are a good chef’s knife and a good paring knife… And this set comes with both! Of all the knives in my kitchen, Global is one of my favorite brands for its lightweight, easy performance. And, considering that Global knives usually cost over $100 each, the price for this set of two is a steal.
- **A VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS: (price varies) This is the perfect clutter-free gift for the foodie in your life! Click here to check out my classes and cooking class gift certificates. For other awesome options, check out my friend Helen’s classes at Roots For The Soul, and browse the The Institute of Culinary Education‘s virtual recreational offerings.
- A BUTTER CROCK: ($12, Amazon) What is homemade bread (or any bread, really) without a slathering of soft, creamy, spreadable butter? If you’re constantly waiting for your butter to come to room temperature, or even worse – spreading it on cold (the horror!) – you or your favorite foodie are only $12 away from having butter that’s always spreadable and feeling like the fanciest person ever. You’re welcome.
- MAGIC SPOON CEREAL: ($39/pack of 4) When we were kids, our annual Hanukkah gifts always included packs of sugary cereals since we didn’t often have them in the house. Magic Spoon is like that, but better. It’s a high-protein, low-carb cereal that tastes JUST like the cereal of my childhood. It comes in tons of flavors, and each one is better than the last. My favorite flavor combos are Peanut Butter and Cocoa for a Reese’s Puffs Cereal nostalgia moment, Cinnamon and Frosted for a snickerdoodle situation, and Peanut Butter and Blueberry for a PB&J in a bowl.
- **FOOD JEWELRY FROM @CRAFTYLITTLEDREAMS ($10-20, Etsy) I mean. ARE YOU KIDDING??!?! I am crying at the adorableness of these mini polymer clay food accessories. The pretzel earrings – which you can customize with different DIPPING SAUCES (!!!) – are just the beginning. India Domenque’s incredible creations also feature mini tacos, pie slices, donuts, fried eggs, grilled cheeses, and so much more. Goodbye, all of my money!
- iPAD PENCIL SKIN: ($9, Amazon) If the musician in your life uses an iPad, this adorable silicone pencil cover makes a perfect stocking stuffer. Not only does it improve the grip on the Apple Pencil while still preserving the charging capabilities and double-tap functionality, the “real pencil” look is super charming.
- RETRACTABLE ADJUSTABLE PHONE TRIPOD: ($28, Amazon) With musicians everywhere increasing their online presence, a sturdy phone tripod is a great, budget-friendly addition to our growing tech collections. It’s great for filming videos, livestreams for social media, or even holding your phone up to use your metronome or tuner app while practicing!
- BLACK LACE COVER UP: ($19, Amazon) I love unique concert clothes on a budget, and this is one of my favorite finds – I get a compliment every time I wear it, and am always excited to share that it is in fact a BEACH cover up! In pre-COVID times, it kept me cool on stage while elegantly meeting my dress codes. Even at the moment with live concerts limited, it’s a great piece to have in my wardrobe and an easy way to dress up just my shoulders on Zoom calls.
- **MIGHTY MASK IN “CARBON”: ($10) This incredibly comfy mask is a product of Mighty Well, a company dedicated to supporting individuals with chronic illness. It’s one of my favorite face coverings, and my go-to for playing violin masked. It’s breathable, moisture-wicking, lightweight, and feels like a second skin. If you aren’t sure what size to get, I recommend sizing down. It comes in a lot of great colors, but black is perfect for socially distant gigs.
- **HANDDRAWN ART PRINTS AND STICKERS BY @INKERMEZZO: ($2.00 – $280.00, Etsy) These beautiful, unique pieces drawn by cellist Megan Chartier include portraits of celebrated musicians and figures, drawings of famous bowholds, and a Black Lives Matter series from which all of the profits go to a variety of organizations. Her art is available on a wide variety of products, making it great for all budgets.
- MUSIC PASTA BY PASTABILITIES: ($13, Amazon) This specialty pasta featuring treble clef and eighth note-shaped noodles is as tasty as it is adorable.
- **PRACTIZMA PRACTICE JOURNAL: ($20) Y’all know I love a good planner and a good practice journal… And this is both in one! Violinist Susanna Klein has created a journal specifically designed to take you on a journey through mindful practicing, and I am here for it. It’s available as a physical journal as well as a digital download.
- **100 DAYS OF PRACTICE CALENDAR AND STICKERS: ($25) If you or your students are partaking in a 100 Days Of Practice Challenge, make it pretty with this beautiful calendar and sticker pack. My friend Hannah Murray (The Active Violinist) also sells certificates for completing 30, 60, and 100-day challenges, and other great merch like stickers, notecards, and pencils that remind you to stretch!
- PASSION PLANNER: ($35) I love my Passion Planner, because not only is it great for time blocking and organizing all of my to-do lists, but it also contains powerful exercises for goal setting. The website also offers free PDF inserts for habit tracking. You can buy physical or digital Passion Planners in a variety of beautiful colors and layouts, and jazz up your pages with pens and sticker packs from their store. Use code SARAHK10 at checkout for 10% off your order!
- **LAVENDER NECK PILLOW – CAPE COD LAVENDER FARM ($38) In the year of “Zoom Neck,” this lavender neck pillow is the real MVP. You can heat it in the microwave or chill it, it has a nice weighted feeling on your shoulders, and the cover can be easily removed and washed. I received this as a gift years ago and use it all the time, and the lavender scent is still as heavenly as ever!
- COCOKIND SKINCARE: ($25 and under per product) Cocokind is the clean skincare line I waited years to find! Their products feel and perform like a luxury skincare brand, except with a conscious approach and an affordable price point. My favorite products are the Oil to Milk Cleanser, Rosewater Toner, Vitamin C Serum, and the Chlorophyll and Sea Kale Clay Masks for detoxing my skin (without overdrying it) after mask-wearing. Truly, though? I become instantly obsessed with everything I buy from them.
- **TAKE MY FACE OFF MITTYS: ($10-$66) Speaking of clean beauty, one of my favorite brands of 2020 is Take My Face Off. Created by Amanda McIntosh (a fellow musician!), the Mitty is a convenient, eco-friendly, reusable, and washable replacement for all of your cotton balls, cotton pads, and makeup wipes. You can purchase Mittys individually, in packs, or in adorable holiday bundles like the Snow Mitty, the Mitty Poinsettia (see above) or my personal favorite, The Mitty Menorah. Use code HUNGRYMUSICIAN at checkout for 25% off your order!
- GIRLFRIEND COLLECTIVE – COMPRESSIVE HIGH-RISE LEGGINGS IN “BLACK”: ($68) These buttery soft leggings are as supportive on a jog as they are comfortable on the couch, making them the IDEAL legging for 2020. All of Girlfriend’s products are beautiful and high-quality, but what makes this company truly special is their dedication to using recycled fabrics, ethical manufacturing, and reusable packaging. You can also purchase gift cards from them.
- LUSH – PINK PEPPERMINT CREAM: ($28) This luxurious candy-cane-scented lotion is one of my all-time favorites. While it’s intended to soothe sore, tired feet (which it does – REALLY well!), the arnica in it works on any aching muscles. It’s also incredibly hydrating, and because a little goes a long way, one container will last for ages.
- MANIME PRESS-ON GELS & GIFT BUNDLES: ($15-25) I love expressing myself through my nails, and ManiMe makes it easy to have professional looking manis at home! Their toxin-free press-ons are printed to your unique nail shape, and come in a variety of solid colors and patterns. One of my go-tos is French Moon Rising (pictured above) since it’s neutral enough to be subtle yet bold enough to be different. They also sell essentials like base and top coats, a “Magic Cuticle Pen” which truly lives up to its name, and gift card bundles, so your gift recipient can order manis tailored to their nail shape. Use code HUNGRYMUSICIAN for $5 off at checkout!
- OVERTONE COLORING CONDITIONER: ($32) If you want to mix up your hair color without making a permanent commitment or damaging your hair, Overtone is the way to go. Even with dark hair like mine, I’ve been able to mix up my color with different hues using their “For Brown Hair” line, and to go even darker with their “Rich Black” coloring conditioner. Not only is the coloring conditioner non-damaging, it smells amazing and leaves your hair silky soft!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
