Black Friday Sale Gift Guide

Thanksgiving is over. If the holiday season is tough on you, we’ve ticked one off. One down, one to go. To my friends who lost loved ones this year: it will never be the first Thanksgiving without your loved one again. It will always be hard, but the firsts are just so goddamn raw.

One of my favorite holiday traditions has always been sitting on the couch online shopping/browsing and writing a gift/sale guide. Warning: this is going to be fully all over the place.

Recovery Tools

As I’m getting older, I don’t recover as easily from workouts, which is really a huge bummer. You don’t need any of these, but they are enjoyable. One day, I’m going to write a full post on recovery stuff/tools I’ve learned about this year.

Theragun: I have this base level one, and I love to hate it. It’s $50 off today. (There’s also a Mini, which I just learned about!)

Yoga TuneUp Balls: OK, these aren’t actually on sale, but they are only $16 and have been a game-changer for me. My fave thing to do with them is put them on top of a yoga block to roll out neck tension. You’re welcome.

Trigger Point Massage Cane: I feel 37 going on 87 suggesting a massage cane, but it works WONDERS for tight shoulders/traps. From spending too much time on my couch with my laptop and all the emotional weight of 2020, my shoulders were even more rock-like than usual and this helps with that tension.

Tech

USB Hub for Macs: If you have a newer Macbook (2018 or later, I think), then you know the annoyance of not having USB slots. I have an external thingy that hooks into it but I just saw this one on IG, and this stays in the computer, so you don’t forget it when we get to travel again one day.

AirPods Pro: If you’re doing a lot of Zoom calls (who isn’t?), these are so, so good. The noise-canceling is so much better than I ever could have anticipated. It kinda feels like you’re shutting out the rest of the world…which feels pretty good in 2020.

Home

Instant Pot: I will be totally honest that I have used mine exactly twice, but it’s on sale for half off at Target.

Gray Malin: I am in love with his work, and I have the Manhattan Beach print, and I love it. Everything is 30% off with code TURKEY30. Last year, I used that code to pay for them to frame it because I knew it would just sit around forever if I were to get it framed myself.

Nespresso Essenza Plus: This is the fancier version of the one I use every day, and it’s $60 off. I am just so intrigued by the press-to-order-refills capability. (But pro tip: I really like Trader Joe’s pods, and they’re cheaper than the Nespresso brand ones. Original size only, though.)

West & Willow Pet Portraits!! One of my favorite humans in the world, Morgan, got this portrait of Lucy made for me because she is a saint. (Morgan is. Although Lucy is too.)

Clothes

Lilly Pulitzer: (Like I’d write a gift guide without Lilly.) So, they don’t usually have Black Friday sales but they do have lots of gifts with purchase with every $75 of spend, which is pretty easy to do. This dress did NOT work for me, but if you don’t have big boobs, please get it because it’s so pretty.

This is real real niche, but my fave Etsy shop to get Lucy Lilly harnesses is having a sale.

Natori Feathers Bra: It’s only in this weird purple color, but my fave bra is on sale for $30 from $68.

Oiselle: 20% off after $100. I’ve doubled down on the Roga shorts this year (I accidentally order more every time they are on sale and forget and I must have at least 6 pairs now, which is fine, because they’re basically all I run in)

Old Navy: 50% off everything. I love their workout gear. Not even just for the price point—I think it holds up nearly as well as some more expensive gear.

Glyder: my fave joggers for 40% off

Nordstrom: Up to 50% off. I like to pretend I’m cool every once in a while (not often!) and wear these Stan Smith sneakers. I think I paid around $100 for them; they’re on sale right now for $36.

Goodr: They’re not really having a sale but my fave running sunglasses company is offering a bunch of GWPs, and I cannot recommend these sunglasses enough. I probably have at least 10 pairs.

Athleta: 20% off your purchase, and I really like their masks, and they’re half off. 5 for $15 instead of 5 for 30.

Brooks: I’m currently running in the Ghosts, and this white/purple colorway is reduced to $84 from $130.

Beauty
SuperGoop Glow Screen is an excellent lightly tinted sunscreen that can also either act as a primer or worn alone. I love it because it gives me a little…glow. Hence the name. 20% off at Bloomingdale’s

Beautycounter: 15% off sitewide; I really like their Dew Skin when I do want a bit more coverage. It wears, to me, as somewhere between a tinted moisturizer and foundation

Small Business

My friend Erica will always be first here! Erica Sara jewelry is one of the most special gifts you can give someone. Many of her pieces are customizable and they are great ways to commemorate things, especially her race jewelry. (What’s a race?!) JOY10 for 10% off

Aur Jewelry: A Black-owned jewelry business that makes the most beautiful gem stone jewelry that changes colors! I have these earrings. Free shipping and 10% off on some pieces.

From Selena with Love: A friend’s Etsy jewelry shop—she makes gorgeous crystal necklaces

Delancey Collective: Another internet friend who makes these ADORABLE resin alphabet bead coasters and barrettes. She does custom orders too!

How about you? Any fave deals?

3 comments on “Black Friday Sale Gift Guide

  1. Noga

    Dear Theodora,
    We do not know each other, but I feel like I owe you an apology. I am a long-time reader, and for the past three years I think that I was silently judging your journey through grief. It seemed to me that losing a parent as an adult is something you “just deal with”. It’s not supposed to derail your life. Having lost my mom four months ago, I see now how wrong I was. While losing a parent as an adult is ‘nature’s way’, it can still be life-shattering. I understand it now. It’s good that you are now forging a path forward in your life. Stay strong, be well, and thank you for the Grief Resources portion of your website.  

    Reply

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.