Cruel Summer Book Club

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The 2022 holiday gift guide! 🎁
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The 2022 holiday gift guide! 🎁

Or, a list of shiny things I love and covet

Jillian Anthony
Dec 13, 2022
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Cruel Summer Book Club
Cruel Summer Book Club
The 2022 holiday gift guide! 🎁
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Welcome to my annual list of covetous little things! This is a gift guide in theory, but more an aspirational journey through things I loved, discovered, and ogled this year. (You won’t find affiliate links here, other than the books.)

If you want an idea of my aesthetic, I call my home Breast Manor, and my living room was recently described by a straight man as β€œmanic pixie dream girl.” That was a big day for me!

And here are the 2021 and 2020 gift guides if you want more inspo. Happy holidays!

Books I loved this year

A Heart that Works by Rob Delaney
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakaeur
Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington
The Sober Curious Reset journal by Ruby Warrington

My Goodreads list of all 41 books I read this year (and counting!)

Books I haven’t read, but want to

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad
Dirtbag, Massachusetts by Isaac Fitzgerald
Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Get Your Shit Together
by David Shrigley
The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas
Like Streams to the Ocean by Jedidiah Jenkins
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Covetous little things

Feminine, vibrant jewelry from Wolf and Moon

wolfandmoonshop
A post shared by Wolf & Moon | Jewellery by Hannah Davis (@wolfandmoonshop)

My most beloved, feminist Tarot deck from Mystic Mondays

Fabulous, totally unique gift-wrapping paper from artist Kate Blairstone

Prism suncatcher kitties that bring rainbows into my home every day from artist Megan Lynn Knott. I also own her cat Tarot deck.

Art and home goods from Austin-based artist Steph Ivelisse. Her online shop is closed right now, but you should follow her on Instagram. I own her resin goddesses and coasters.

ivelissedesigns
A post shared by Steph Ivelisse | Calligrapher + Artist in TX (@ivelissedesigns)

Poketo Spectrum wall planner. This calendar was a big part of my life this year. It hangs on my office door and I used it to track my days of sobriety, lifting, and time outdoors. I loved it so much that I demanded my sister to buy me the 2023 edition as a Christmas gift.

2023 jumping point calendar from MoMA. A punch-out rainbow calendar to track your colorful days.

Sweet treats from Milk Bar. Always dreaming of birthday cake, the cake I’ve been eating for special occasions for a decade.

milkbarstore
A post shared by MILK BAR (@milkbarstore)

The holiday triple threat box from Fly By Jing. These seasonings make my life better!

Super green cremosa sauce from The Meteor cafe in Austin. I buy this sauce once a month, and even paid to check a bag to take bottles to friends in NYC. It’s good on everything, but especially breakfast.

Fanny pack from Glad and Young Studio. I own earrings and a gorgeous journal from them, and have had my eye on this bag for too long.

gladandyoungstudio
A post shared by Glad & Young Studio (@gladandyoungstudio)

Merch from the National Parks Project. I want so many things, like this calendar and this Prospect Park tee and these cards and this longsleeve.

La FumΓ©e Coasters from Steak Diane. I’ll pull the trigger on buying these someday.

Art by Sam Larson. His store is also closed right now, but I’m desperate for these cat cowboy prints:

samlarson
A post shared by Sam Larson (@samlarson)

The earrings I wear every day from Etsy’s crushongold.

These earrings of my favorite emoji from En Route

Lucite Jenga set from Coming Soon NY

comingsoonny
A post shared by Coming Soon (@comingsoonny)

Handmade Houseplants by Corrie Beth Hogg, a guide to making stunning paper houseplants

Boy Smells exploratory scent set

Doc Martens leather sandals. All the London girlies wore these and I can’t get them off my mind.

This print from Austin Motel

austinmotel
A post shared by Austin Motel (@austinmotel)

Rainbow hat from Birds Aren’t Real

The Now clock from artist Hallie Bateman. The future and past do not existβ€”there is only now.

hallithbates
A post shared by Hallie Bateman (@hallithbates)

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