What I'm Gifting This Season(and Why It Actually Matters) This week before Christmas always feels a little tender. The holidays are close enough to feel, but not quite here yet. Calendars are full, emotions are layered, and many women I talk to are holding a lot at once. Joy, pressure, anticipation, and fatigue. It’s a season filled with meaning, but it can also quietly ask more of us than we realize. This moment isn’t asking you to do more. It’s asking you to slow down just enough to notice what actually feels supportive. Not what’s trending. Not what January will demand. But what helps you feel grounded, cared for, and a little more like yourself, right now. That’s the place this guide comes from. Instead of a soapbox or a lesson, I wanted to share something personal. A collection of gifts I genuinely love giving because they bring comfort, beauty, and calm into everyday life. These are the kinds of gifts that don’t add more noise. They help people exhale. So glad to share this season with you, Michelle Nurse Practitioner & Founder, Magnolia Michelle's Holiday Gift GuideThe things I love giving (and truly love receiving)Cashmere sweaters (always)
I will never stop gifting cashmere. It’s timeless, soft, and quietly luxurious. It’s something many people don’t buy for themselves, but once they have it, they reach for it constantly. Winter walks, travel days, dinners out, slow mornings at home. Cashmere feels like comfort without trying too hard. And that’s a feeling I love to give. Perfume (when it feels personal and is made thoughtfully)
I love gifting perfume when it truly matches the person. Scent becomes memory. Mood. Presence. The right fragrance feels like a signature. Something that grounds you and reminds you who you are. When chosen thoughtfully, perfume isn’t just a gift. It’s an experience someone carries with them. Linnea candles (my favorite)
Linnea candles are one of my go-to gifts every year. They burn clean, smell beautiful without being overpowering, and instantly soften a space. Lighting a candle is a small ritual, but it signals permission to pause. Something many of us need more of right now. Perfect for hosts, teachers, friends, or anyone who could use a moment of calm. And you'll find these candles available right here at Magnolia if you’re stopping by in the days leading up to the holidays. Calming meditation oil (the kind with flowers in it)
This is one of my favorite small but powerful gifts. A calming meditation oil, especially one infused with flowers, turns an ordinary moment into a ritual. A drop on the wrists. A breath before bed. A pause before a busy day. It’s a reminder that care doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. Cookbooks that take you far away
I love gifting cookbooks that feel like travel. Not intimidating or overly complex ones, but books that transport you. Different cultures, flavors, and stories.Something you can flip through on a quiet afternoon and feel inspired, even if you never cook every recipe. They invite curiosity, creativity, and a sense of escape, which feels especially good this time of year. Prakash Organics Body Oil
This is one of my favorite things to gift because it feels genuinely nourishing. It absorbs beautifully, leaves skin soft and supported, and gives that healthy glow without feeling heavy. It’s especially good in the winter when skin needs a little extra care. We carry this one at Magnolia, and it’s always a favorite. Free People PJ bottoms
If you know me, you know I love a good cozy moment, and these are that gift. Free People PJ bottoms are soft, relaxed, and effortless. They feel elevated without being fussy, and they’re the kind of thing people live in once the holidays slow down. Perfect for slow mornings, evenings on the couch, or those in-between days where comfort matters most. Melissa Mark jewelry (meaning you can wear)
I love jewelry that feels intentional, not just pretty. Melissa Mark pieces really do that for me. Created by a Minneapolis-based physician, these designs are meant to be worn with purpose. Her pieces feel like quiet reminders of strength, alignment, and trusting yourself, especially in seasons of change. It’s the kind of jewelry you reach for without thinking because it means something. Magnolia favorites
If you’re local, this is very much the same way we approach gifting at Magnolia. We’ve put together a collection of curated gift bags this season for those moments when you want to give something thoughtful without overthinking it. Simple, supportive pieces, including Prakash Organics oils, Noon Starter Kits, Linnea candles, and a few of our favorite everyday wellness essentials. Everything is chosen with the same intention behind this guide: comfort, care, and things that actually get used. If you’re stopping by for the Linden Hills Wine & Stroll, our Open House, or visiting us in the days leading up to the holidays, we’d love to see you. This is how I like to gift this time of year. Simple, thoughtful things that genuinely support how we feel day to day. If this list makes gifting feel easier, or reminds you to take care of yourself too, then it’s exactly why I wanted to share it. With warmth this season, Michelle Nurse Practitioner & Founder, Magnolia Michelle's Ride Or Diegoop beauty Vitamin C Glow Serum This is one I reach for because it actually works. A lot of vitamin C serums sound great but don’t stay effective long enough to deliver real results. This one does. It’s well formulated, stable, and you can see the difference in brightness, tone, and overall skin quality with consistent use. Vitamin C only works if it stays potent, and that’s where so many products fall short. I love the two-part system. Mixing the vitamin C powder into the serum before first use keeps it fresh and active, which is why it continues to work through the entire bottle instead of fading halfway through. It supports glow without irritation, fits easily into a daily routine, and keeps skin looking fresh, even, and well cared for especially during winter when skin can feel dull or stressed. Simple, reliable, and effective. That’s why it’s a ride-or-die for me this month. Happy Glowing! Michelle Final EncouragementAs you head into the holidays, I hope this guide serves as a reminder that thoughtful care doesn’t have to be complicated.
Whether you’re gifting to others or choosing something for yourself, the intention behind it matters. Small, supportive choices, the kind that feel grounding and useful, have a way of carrying us through busy seasons more gently. Take what resonates from this list, leave what doesn’t, and trust your own sense of what feels right for you right now. With warmth, Michelle & The Magnolia Team 
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Michelle dewald, npMichelle, founder of Magnolia Aesthetics and Wellness, is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience in primary care now specializing in aesthetics. Her passion lies in helping women achieve their best selves by enhancing their natural beauty in a realistic and subtle way. She adopts a conservative approach in her treatments, ensuring that the enhancements are organic and understated, helping her clients to look and feel naturally beautiful without appearing overdone. Her commitment extends beyond mere aesthetics, as she is deeply passionate about women's wellness, focusing on the health of their skin to bring out their inner radiance. Michelle is the go-to expert for women seeking to feel confident and naturally beautiful. ARCHIVES
December 2025
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