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Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: Unique Gift Ideas, www. kate the almost great .com
in Lifestyle &middot November 3, 2023

Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: Unique Gift Ideas

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in Lifestyle &middot November 3, 2023

Best Gift Ideas for the Holidays: Unique Gift Ideas

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Kate the (Almost) Great®!

Yes, it’s gift guide time already! This year, Hanukkah starts on December 7, so if you’re shopping for Hanukkah, you need to start now. And even if you’re not shopping for Hanukkah, unique gift ideas take longer to make and ship!

This is why, as always, my first gift guide of the year is from Etsy. These gifts generally require customization of some kind, and that means they take longer. 

Check out this amazing personalized gift guide by the folks at Etsy for even more unique gift ideas.

2023 Gift Guides | All Gift Guides

Text reads: Best gift ideas for the holidays, unique gift ideas, www. kate the almost great .com (end text). Yes, it’s gift guide time already! This year, Hanukkah starts on December 7, so if you’re shopping for Hanukkah, you need to start now. And even if you’re not shopping for Hanukkah, unique gift ideas take longer to make and ship!

As I mentioned, I’ve made many gift guides for personalized or unique gift ideas before. Here are editions from past years: 

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
Contents hide
Unique Gift Ideas for Parents
Unique Gift Ideas for Kids
Unique Gift Ideas for Young Adults
Unique Gift Ideas for Families
Miscellaneous Gift Ideas

Unique Gift Ideas for Parents

Parents are hard to shop for. And that’s true regardless of if yours are 40 or 60 or 80, unless they give you an explicit list. These gifts should help you shop for the parent who has everything! And if you’re shopping for adults who aren’t parents, skip on down to the miscellaneous section.

Wall Golf Pencil Holder 

Golf Bag Tag – This holds golf tees!

Custom Line Drawing Couple Portrait  

Workshop Sign 

King of the Grill Cutting Board – There are 9 different designs to choose from, so you don’t have to go with “King of the Grill.” You could do “The Grillfather,” “[Name]’s Grill,” or something else.

Heated neck wrap and eye pillow 

Custom Line Art Portrait from Photo 

Homemade Gifts 

Unique Gift Ideas for Kids

While it’s easier to shop for kids who you are close to, if you have niblings – a gender-neutral term for the children of your siblings, or a larger group of nieces and nephews – you might not know what their specific interests are or you might not know what they’ll be into a few months from now. These are all cute ideas that can be used for all sorts of kids!

Personalized Name and Number Puzzle  

Custom Initial Coin Bank With Name 

Custom Drawing Sketchbook with 12 Coloring Pencils 

Personalized small backpack  

Personalized Piggy Bank with Name  

Personalized Children’s Step Stool 

Custom initial Coin Bank, Personalized  

Kids personalized jean jacket 

Personalized Name Crayons  

Gift Ideas: Gifts That Give Back

Text reads: 30+ unique gifts to give this year, www. kate the almost great .com (end text). gift ideas, gifts ideas, best gift ideas, good gift ideas, unique gift ideas

Unique Gift Ideas for Young Adults

I’m using “young adults” to describe teens to college-aged folks. If you know what their interests are, these would be great gift ideas. 

Personalized Book Stamp  

Personalized Travel Makeup Brushes 

Custom Leather Drum Stick Case 

Personalized Video Game Controller Stand  

Personalized Your Name Custom Neon Sign – Great for teenagers, college dorm rooms, and aspiring streamers!

Custom Neon Sign – Same reasoning as above but another option.

Gift Ideas: Expensive Gifts

Unique Gift Ideas for Families 

Shopping for your sibling’s family? How about a friend who just got married and/or had a baby? These gift ideas are here to help!

Personalized Hot Chocolate Mug – Get 1 for each member of the family you’re shopping for, add some hot chocolate, and you’ve got a thoughtful gift for a family!

Loved One Portrait From Photo 

Engraved wood family tree sign 

Family Ornament with Baby and Dog 

Personalized Family With Pets Ornament 

Family Bucket List Scratch Off 

Matching Child Bow + Dog Bandana 

Home Sweet Home Personalized Sign 

Our First Home Christmas Ornament – This is different from the next one!

Our First Home Christmas Ornament – This is different from the previous one!

Custom Cutting Board 

Custom Engraved Marble Wood Coaster Set 

Gift Ideas: Chronic Illness Must-Haves

Miscellaneous Gift Ideas

Okay, these are gift ideas for pet lovers, book lovers, plant parents, travel-lovers, and everyone in between.

Custom Pet Pillow – I actually bought this (from this seller) last year as a gift and had a great experience! The first photo I sent wasn’t high quality enough, and they contacted me quickly to get a new one. My nan loved it so much she nearly cried when I gave it to her.

Personalized Pet Ornament Using Pet’s Photo + Name  

Custom Pet Portrait Ornament 

Custom pets portrait suncatcher decor – This is great because it’s not an ornament so the people you buy this for can use it year-round.

Personalized Embroidery Felt Bookmarks  

Personalized Planter Gift 

Personalized Custom Luggage Tags 

Personalised Vintage Map Picture With Hand Stitched Heart  

Holiday Gift Ideas: Holiday Gifts To Make

I hope these unique gift ideas help you conquer your holiday shopping!

Like this post? Share it! 

Best Gifts for Someone with Chronic Pain & Illness, Holiday Gifts for Dad, Gifts Supporting Good Causes, Small Business Gift Guide

Text reads: personalized gifts, www. kate the almost great .com (end text). gift ideas, gifts ideas, best gift ideas, good gift ideas, unique gift ideas
Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.

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Comments

  1. Sue Jackson says

    November 11, 2023 at 4:52 pm

    Great list, Kate! So many cool and unique ideas!

    Sue
    Live with ME/CFS

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SHARING YOUR HEALTH EXPERIENCES PUBLICLY⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ I sh SHARING YOUR HEALTH EXPERIENCES PUBLICLY⁣⁣⁣
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I share my personal health experiences online, which I find it somewhat easy to do because I've been talking publicly - albeit to a smaller audience - since my health problems started in 2001. ⁣⁣⁣
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If you share something online, you need to be prepared for people to ask questions or argue with you. Should they? No. Will that stop them? Also do. ⁣
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That's one of the reasons that talking online about what can be trauma is not easy or for everyone. That's why it's important to practice self-care and to consciously think about what you want to share online before you do it. ⁣⁣⁣
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For example, I generally only talk publicly about a health situation once it has passed, especially if it's an emergency. I also make sure that I'm in a good place mentally before I talk about it. That way, I don't share things I'll regret sharing publicly later. It also helps me be less anxious about sharing these details.⁣⁣⁣
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And I don't share everything! There's lot of stuff that I haven't talked about not only online but with people in real life. It might seem like I share everything I've experienced, but I don't. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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IDs: Kate works on a laptop offscreen. She's a redheaded white woman wearing a beige-and-navy striped sweater, silver Claddagh necklace, and pink glasses.⁣
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Week 18 of 2026 Weekly 1️⃣ Cross-stitch and IVIG Week 18 of 2026 Weekly 

1️⃣ Cross-stitch and IVIG 
2️⃣ Another trip to the foot doctor. We’re officially in Try To Avoid My 6th Foot Surgery mode 🤞🏻 
3️⃣ At least there were lilacs?

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.

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IDs: 
1️⃣ Looking down at Kate’s lap. Tubes are coming out of her shirt. She’s working on a cross stitch.
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor’s office. She’s wearing a lilac mask.
3️⃣ A lilac bush

#IVIG #CrossStitching #ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness
FAQ: Have I Tried Yoga for My Pain? This is a se FAQ: Have I Tried Yoga for My Pain? 

This is a series where I answer questions I frequently get about my rheumatoid arthritis. I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice - just saying the truth about my body in particular. 

Video: Kate speaks to camera. There are captions. A black text box reads “FAQ: Have I Tried Yoga for My Pain?” 

#RheumatoidArthritis #AutoimmuneArthritis #Arthritis #ArthritisAwarenessMonth
May is Arthritis Awareness Month, which is the per May is Arthritis Awareness Month, which is the perfect time to remind people of these facts. Here's today's fact.⁣
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Like, comment, and share to spread awareness 💖⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: Fact or Fiction? Let's Check! ⁣
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Fact⁣
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katethealmostgreat⁣
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I’ve been on IVIG since September. So what does su I’ve been on IVIG since September. So what does success look like? ⁣
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*This is all just for me and my case!*⁣
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1️⃣ I haven't gotten sick at all since I started, not even a cold. ⁣
2️⃣ My lungs are clear of any ground glass opacities, which was what pushed us over to finally doing IVIG regularly. ⁣
3️⃣ We feel better about saying that I don't have any infections. Because symptoms are often signs of the body fighting an infection, we couldn't always trust that I wasn't sick because I didn't have symptoms. ⁣
4️⃣ Because of all of this, we're increasing my next Rituxan dose! This will mean better RA symptoms and hopefully no new illnesses for a few years.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: A bunch of IVIG supplies, including a pump. ⁣
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#ChronicallyIll #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #AutoimmuneDisease #Autoimmune
Week 17 of 2026 Weekly 1️⃣ Making some real progr Week 17 of 2026 Weekly

1️⃣ Making some real progress with this cross stitch
2️⃣ Walking casts have multiple uses, including holding down your mat! (Don’t worry - I only did broken-foot-compatible things) 

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.

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IDs:
1️⃣ An in-progress cross stitch. You can see that Kate stitched 2 bears.
3️⃣ A walking cast lies on a black yoga mat 

#CrossStitching #CrossStitcher #RheumatoidArthritis #Osteoporosis #LoopsAndThreads
Can we talk about fatigue for a sec? ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ Fatigue Can we talk about fatigue for a sec? ⁣⁣⁣
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Fatigue is so much more than being tired. It's sleeping 10 hours at night and then struggling to stay awake during the day. It's trouble focusing because, even though you just had 3 cups of coffee, you're thinking about sleep. It's needing to factor rest in during the day because you have plans at night. ⁣⁣⁣
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It's a lot. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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It's no secret that I have multiple chronic illnesses. But did you know that all of them - all 11+ of them - have fatigue as a symptom? Sometimes the fatigue is worse than the pain and, uh, I live with a lot of pain.⁣⁣
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This picture was taken when I was super anemic and waiting for 4 iron infusions. Now, months later, I can see it. And I also don't know how I got through the months of that anemia. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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ID: Kate takes a selfie. She's a redheaded white woman wearing a gray sweater and pink glasses.⁣
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#ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #Fibromyalgia #Endometriosis #POTS
Week 16 of 2026 This week had EVERYTHING 1️⃣ Cr Week 16 of 2026 

This week had EVERYTHING

1️⃣ Cross-stitch during virtual mass 
2️⃣ Tuesday featured a 90-minute meeting during work and then an hour advocacy work call after my day job (both were good!)
3️⃣ Wednesday started at my foot doctor’s office and I left in a walking boot. Hopefully these 3 fractured bones will heal correctly this time 🤞🏻
4️⃣ Thursday started back at MGH for my annual neurology appointment + foot CT scan
5️⃣ Then I went up to Maine … 
6️⃣ to celebrate my grandma’s 85th birthday! 

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.

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IDs: 
1️⃣ In the foreground is an in-progress cross-stitch piece. The background shows an open laptop streaming Catholic mass.
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie. She’s a white woman with auburn hair and green glasses.
3️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor’s office. 
4️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a car.
5️⃣ Kate takes a selfie snuggling with a golden retriever.
6️⃣ Kate and her cousins stand with their grandmother in front of a sign saying "Happy Birthday." 

#CrossStitch #ChronicPain #ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness
My face comes with subtitles, so .. ⁣ ⁣ ⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ I My face comes with subtitles, so .. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: Kate drinks coffee giving side eye. White text box reads "My Face When Someone Says 'You Shouldn't Need a Cane At Your Age'" ⁣
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