These Are A Few Of Our Favorite Things – 2025

These Are A Few Of Our Favorite Things – 2025

If you are in need of some ideas for gifts or stocking stuffers, for whatever it’s worth, just like Julie Andrews singing in your bedroom, these are a few of our favorite things …

Full Disclosure: We do not receive any compensation for these recommendations … they are truly our favorite things. Although, Laura Ann’s Jams does extend a 15% discount to our readers (enter MAITAITOM at checkout). Thank you, Laura Ann!

2025 Recommendations:

Glassed Over Candles – Do you have a cool looking empty bottle of wine? Well, here’s a great way to recycle and repurpose old bottles, support a family-run business and still enjoy it, sans the wine. We have turned our favorite wine and gin bottles into the most delectable smelling candles. Mulled wine is my current favorite scent. They are all-natural soy/coconut wax clean burning candles. Reasonably priced to cut and fill your own bottle and then even less expensive for a refill (of the candle, not the wine). Great idea for a wedding or shower too! 

Messermeister Steak Knives – Tom has been complaining incessantly about our steak knives that probably date back to the Clinton administration. I read about this women-owned (sisters) business in the NY Times Wirecutter recommendations. So, we jumped in the car and drove to their brick and mortar store located in sleepy Ojai, California. Great looking, durable knives, and SUPER SHARP cutting through a steak like it was butter. Not only did we purchase steak knives and a gorgeous knife block for ourselves, but we gifted the superb Olivia Elite cheese knife for a wedding gift and are sending steak knives to our nephew for Christmas. Available online.

Ha’Penny Irish Gin – Speaking of gin, we learned about this brand courtesy of our neighbor across the street, who gifted us a bottle after a visit to the distillery in Dublin. Love this small batch gin and when our local liquor store has it in stock, we always purchase two bottles, one for us and one for our neighbor. From the website, “Ha’penny is a well-rounded gin with a slightly citrusy floral aroma and a lingering sweetness.” Bonus – the bottle made a great candle, too! 

Penzeys Cinnamon – Ah, the spice of life! Penzeys was on our list last year, but deserves re-mentioning as their cinnamon blend is truly spectacular as recently confirmed by Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Magazine (Nov./Dec. 2025 issue). Penzeys Cinnamon is a blend of four different cinnamons (China, Vietnamese, Korintje and Ceylon) resulting is a spicy, bold delight.

Penzeys Mexican Oregano – There really is a difference! Mexican oregano comes from an entirely different plant and has a different flavor profile than regular oregano and is a staple in Mexican cooking. I prefer it to Italian/Mediterranean oregano especially in Mexican recipes. Use it to amp up your favorite recipe.

Red Apple Scorpion Gouda – “Creamy Gouda with Fiery Heat!” Tom loves spicy cheese, but has a tough time finding one he really likes. Red Apple Scorpion Gouda was his favorite, but then our local market (Southern California) stopped selling it. Undaunted, Tom now mail orders a dozen packages at a time from Wisconsin. He eats it on eggs and quesadillas and everything in between. Hopefully it will be in your local market. (BTW, that is barely a 60-day supply for Tom.)

Graeter’s Ice Cream – Tom also has to order out of state for his favorite ice cream. OMG, Graeter’s is the best ice cream … creamy, silky, decadent. Tom won a case on a college basketball bet from our Cincinatti friends Tom and Margie, and now we can’t live without it! Founded in 1870 in Cincinnati, check your local market before ordering as they may carry some flavors locally. 

Trader Joe’s Sandwich Rolls – New in 2025. Soft, squishy, delectable! Seriously delicious. From Trader Joe’s, “The Canadian bakery that makes these sub-shaped Rolls for us uses a slow and gentle fermentation to achieve an airy crumb.” And airy they are, plus they toast up nice. These rolls take the cake!

The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook – An oldie (2012) but new to me this year after a truly stupendous Irish feast at our neighbors’ St. Patrick’s Day party. Everything she made from the corned beef to the Chocolate and Stout Ice Cream was delicious and I am doing an Irish themed meal for our Christmas dinner this year using many of the recipes in this cookbook. (Available at Amazon and other booksellers.)

Puppia Dog Harnesses – Our very first dog, Bagel, had arthritis in her neck from pulling on the leash her entire life so when we got our corgis, Frankie and Remi, we switched to the Puppia harness as it is washable, easy to put on and comes in a variety of colors. Garbo is modeling three of her favorite Puppia colors. She is such a fashion plate!

And for your garden!

I currently have 84 roses in my garden and am always looking to add new ones … My favorite rose this year was a tie between Julie Andrews (makes you want to hum raindrops on roses) and Gold Struck. Both are great repeat roses with frilly edges. Julie Andrews is a vibrant pink hybrid tea rose with a yellow heart. Gold Struck is a yellow Grandiflora edged with pink/orange and blooms all summer. Both are still pumping out blooms in mid-November in Zone 10.

Check out Our favorites from 2024 

Happy Holidays from Mai Tai Tom & Tracy (and Garbo)!