The Ultimate Gift Guide For The Trad Wife In Your Life
Christmas is upon us, which means it’s time to start curating gifts for kith and kin. And with more and more women deciding it’s time to “lean out” of the corporate grind and into their domestic urges, there’s a good chance you’ve got at least one “trad wife” in the mix this year.
You know the type — those ladies who understand that “girl bossing” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and that perhaps there’s more joy and fulfillment to be had in embracing traditional gender roles, cultivating a warm and inviting home, raising the next generation, nourishing their bellies and souls, and practicing hospitality and self-sufficiency.
So what does one buy for the homemaker who already has a thriving sourdough starter and definitely doesn’t want a raw milkmaid dress? I’ve got you.
Less Than $25
1. Seasonal Spoon Rests ($20 or less)
One of my most-used kitchen items is my spoon rest because no matter what I’m cooking or baking, I lay my utensils on it. You can find plenty of neutral spoon rests in every shape, size, and style, but my preferred rests are small thrifted plates and saucers I can swap out with the changing seasons. A quartet of seasonal dishes repurposed as spoon rests would make a thoughtful and economically conscious gift the recipient can enjoy all year long.
2. Vintage Ceramic Pitcher ($25 or less)
This item is also thriftable and can be used to serve beverages, hold flowers, or look pretty on its own. My favorite pitcher is cream, with a simple Victorian design, and I found it at a flea market for $5. I found similar styles on Etsy, like these, by searching “cream Victorian pitcher.”
3. Analog Kitchen Timer ($10 and up)
I know we’ve got timers on our wrists, in our pockets, and eavesdropping within our homes (Alexa, please stop listening), but an analog kitchen timer is way more fun (and less creepy). This little guy from Astoria Home comes in three charming colors and costs only $9.99. This stainless steel option from Kikkerland boasts being the “Cadillac of kitchen timers” and clocks in at $35.
4. Courting Candle ($10 and up)
So maybe parents today are more likely to use Life360 to monitor their kids’ dating lives than a courting candle … but the candles are still pretty lit, as the kids say. Nauvoo Mercantile sells one for just $9.95 and explains the object’s history:
Courting candles were used by the father of a young girl to set boundaries for her callers. When the daughter’s suitor came calling, the father lit the candle in a sitting room where the couple conversed. When the candles burnt to the metal at the top of the candle holder, it was time for the suitor to promptly leave. However, the father could change the height of the candle based on how much he liked the boy.
Now they’re much more of a mom decor thing than a dad dating thing — and something your giftee is sure to love.
5. Nontoxic Cooking Utensils ($5 and up)
Before I switched to nontoxic serving spoons and spatulas, my kitchen drawers were all jammed up with PFAS-infested doodads. Now I can’t get enough wooden and stainless steel tongs, pancake turners, ladles — you name it! And I’m sure I’m not the only one. If you need some useful and low-cost items to pad your parcels under the tree, consider finding some MAHA-friendly utensils, available online and pretty much anywhere else kitchen gadgets are sold. Even better yet, see what your local thrift store has to offer.
6. Knitting Needles et al. ($5 and up)
For the trad wife who’s also a thread head, consider gifting her some new knitting needles, crochet hooks, embroidery hoops, thread, or yarn in sizes or colors she might not have. These make perfect stocking stuffers.
7. Crocheted Bandana (~$10 and up)
… Because who doesn’t want to look the part while trad-wifing? This would make a great stocking stuffer, too. You can find colorful, hand-made options on Etsy, with cheaper alternatives available even at Walmart.
8. A New Cookbook (~$20)
There’s just something about a physical cookbook that sugarandspiceandeverythingnice.com-esque foodie blogs just can’t replicate. Give your favorite homemaker the gift of fresh recipes in the form of a new cookbook, like this great one from Molly Baz, which includes not only mouth-watering recipes but also helpful techniques and tutorials. Her “Strip Steak Au Poivre” recipe is *chef’s kiss*, and I’m dying to try her “Crispy Buttered Shrimp with 20 Cloves of Garlic.”
9. Primally Pure Everything Spray ($24)
This spray really is for everything. From the nontoxic company famous for its deodorant comes an everything spray for the busy housewife. The company advertises the product as a “multitasking mist formulated with naturally antibacterial ingredients like aloe, magnesium, and apple cider vinegar to calm inflammation, purify skin, and promote healthy healing from head to toe.” But I’ve even used it in place of Febreze as a linen refresh for those “laundry chair” clothes that were worn for about five minutes but still don’t seem “clean.” Everything Spray to the rescue!
10. Bird Feeder (Prices Vary)
Nobody is immune to the bird-watching bug — and that’s doubly true for at-home wives who love nature. Give the gift of endless winged entertainment with a pretty bird feeder. I’ve been eyeing up this simple mosaic feeder at Menards, which is only $19.99 before a mail-in rebate.
$25 to $50
11. Wooden Recipe Box with Recipe Card Ledge ($29-$33)
This sturdy recipe box from Lehman’s is more than meets the eye. Handcrafted in the USA with finished oak and recessed hinges, this box holds roughly 300 cards and includes a built-in ledge to display your recipe while you cook. It’s a family heirloom waiting to happen.
12. Hand-Embroidered Linen Apron ($35)
Stop letting your loved ones spoil their clothes with grease-spatter stains. This lovely hand-embroidered apron is made of pure linen and comes in 35 different colors! The seller even offers gift-wrapping if you’re running out of time and tape.
13. Egg Holder ($25-$35)
For that really committed trad wife who raises her own chickens, you can’t go wrong with a chic egg holder for her kitchen counter, like these two from Etsy. Even if she already has one, you know what they say … Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
14. Dish Drying Stone ($50)
You can find cheap dish-drying stones and bath mats on Amazon, but this anti-bacterial and anti-fungal stone from Rebekah Merkle is functional and beautiful, and it comes in two unique styles. “Unlike a dishtowel or cloth mat which gets soaked quickly and starts smelling bad if left consistently wet for any length of time, this drying stone will absorb a huge amount of water from your dish-doing activities while staying consistently dry and fresh,” her website states.
15. French Butter Crock ($45)
I’ve had my butter crock for a year or two now and love it. It seals butter air-tight inside so it doesn’t spoil, while keeping it at the perfect room temperature for easy spreading. This version from French company Le Creuset is equal parts cute and functional, with six colors to choose from.
16. Pastry Roller and Flour Brush (~$30 each)
While we’re on the French train, another great gift for the homemaker is a pastry roller and flour brush. I picked up one of each from E. Dehillerin, Julia Child’s favorite cooking store that’s been open since the early 1800s, during a trip to Paris earlier this year. But Americans can shop like Parisian pastry chefs without the hassle of Customs; E. Dehillerin ships! The pastry roller sells for just over $30. And while the flour brush isn’t listed online, I found a nearly identical version from Pastry Chef’s Boutique for about the same price. These tools are must-haves for baking croissants and other delicious pastries. Trust me, if your trad wife giftee has mastered sourdough, pain au chocolat is her next frontier!
17. Trug Basket (~$45)
This English-inspired trug basket is sure to please trad wives everywhere. Perfect for collecting a fresh garden harvest, gathering herbs or flowers, or even coralling produce on the kitchen counter, this Longaberger version will likely hold its value. Originally $100, the basket is on sale for $60, plus an additional 25% off for Black Friday with code “BLACK,” bringing the grand total to just $45 before shipping.
18. Quilted Housecoat or Robe (~$35)
Chilly mornings call for snuggly indoor outerwear. There are oodles of robe and housecoat styles online, but I’m partial to this feminine option from Kohl’s, and it’s on sale for $33.99.
19. Hand-Pottered Pie Plate (~$50)
Nothing beats one-of-a-kind, handmade pottery. This gorgeous pie plate from Iowa-based JK Creative Wood would be the perfect addition to any collection. It’s oven, dishwasher, and microwave safe and comes in nine colors. The large version is $46, and the small is only $33. If you’re looking to spend a little more, the styles from Blue Rose Pottery are also to die for.
20. Journaling Study Bible ($30 and up)
Because every wife and mom (and everyone else) desperately needs quiet time in the Word. This beautiful ESV study Bible is listed for $65 but is currently on sale on Amazon for $30! Pair it with a copy of A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent — a remarkable little book that packs a punch.
$50 and Up
21. Force of Nature Nontoxic Cleaner (~$75)
For MAHA trad wives looking to detoxify their homes, you can’t go wrong with Force of Nature. I know a couple of moms who swear by its effectiveness at removing stains and keeping surfaces clean and kid-safe. Find different bundles on Force of Nature’s website (which is running a 45 percent off sale for Black Friday with code GIFT45) or via Amazon Prime.
22. Linen Picnic Blanket (~$75)
A great gift for a mom with little ones, this beautiful gingham picnic blanket will give her a stylish home base for playdates at the park or beach when warm temperatures return. It’s currently on sale for $77.
23. Woven Picnic Basket (~$100)
If you give a trad wife a picnic blanket, she’ll want a picnic basket to go with it … This beautiful handwoven rattan basket comes in a light and dark tone (available for pre-order) and is currently 25 percent off at wovenshop.com, bringing the total to less than $100.
24. Blanket Ladder (Prices Vary)
A great way to add warmth and character to a living room is with a cozy blanket ladder. These come in all finishes, widths, and heights, so you’ll want to make sure you know the gift recipient’s home well. Mass-produced department store blanket ladders tend to be overpriced and chintzy. Etsy has plenty of options, though shipping costs can be prohibitively expensive, so watch out! This one from Sanford Wood Working offers free shipping. My own personal blanket ladder is a repurposed rustic wooden ladder I found at a flea market for $10. If you come in under budget, pair your blanket ladder gift with a new throw or thrifted quilt!
25. Wildbird Aerial Baby Carrier (~$180)
Moms who use this baby carrier swear by it for both everyday use and travel. For the mom who literally has her hands full, this luxury carrier could be the perfect gift to give her (and her back) a break. It comes in tons of colors and can be worn on the front or the back.
Happy trad wife, happy life!
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