Trim a Tree
New homeowners always appreciate receiving ornaments to adorn the evergreen. This cute snowman with a carrot nose and a felt hat and coat makes a great stocking stuffer. The set of four includes snowmen in red, pink, turquoise and mint green jackets for $23.96 at World Market in Chevy Chase (202-244-8720; worldmarket.com).
Sounds of the Season
Skip the plastic stuff this year and opt for high-quality wood toys that will last. The kids’ musical instrument gift set from German maker Manufaktur Wiener includes eight instruments in a bright red gift box. It sells for $125 at Neiman Marcus in Friendship Heights (202-966-9700; neimanmarcus.com).
Monthly Masterpiece
Add style to a friend’s home office or a teacher’s desk with a gift that keeps on giving all year. The 2019 Midnight Menagerie desk calendar from Rifle Paper Co. features 12 colorful, jewel-toned illustrations of flora and fauna. Buy it for $16.95 at Papyrus in Chevy Chase (202-568-6543; papyrusonline.com).
Cool Cakes
Get that techie away from the computer and into the kitchen with a 3-D pancake printer. Load designs with an SD card, fill the dispenser bottle and the Dash PancakeBot drips the batter onto the hot griddle. It comes with design software, and the online community is updated with new patterns weekly. It’s priced at $499.99 at Crate & Barrel in Spring Valley in D.C. (202-364-6100; crateandbarrel.com).
Toast the Coast
For the host who likes to choose sides, these kitschy coasters proudly display loyalty to the country’s Atlantic Ocean coastline. Approximately 5½ inches square, they’re made in the USA of Baltic birch, and a boxed set of four costs $34 at Red Orchard in Bethesda (301-571-7333; redorchard.com).
Flower Power
Give the gift of hope with red amaryllis bulbs to brighten gray winter days and remind someone that spring will come again. Both American Plant locations in Bethesda carry kits that include bulbs, soil and a container, and range in price from $11.99 to $49.99 (301-656-3311 and 301-469-7690; americanplant.net).
Your Serve
A decorative platter is a beautiful and useful gift, and a welcome addition to a holiday table. This Italian earthenware has a hand-pressed lace pattern reminiscent of a snowflake, measures 12¾ by 17¾ inches, and retails for $68. Find this and a wide array of Vietri products at The Cottage Monet in Rockville Town Square (301-279-2422; cottagemonet.com).
