Do you have a few more gifts to buy this holiday season? To make your life easier, I present to you, the updated 2015 Coffee With A Stranger Holiday Gift Buying Guide!
I’ve had nearly 100 cups of coffee with total strangers. Those strangers are all incredible people and some of them just happen to also be incredible entrepreneurs, business owners and authors. Here are some holiday gift suggestions:
1. Bar or Dining Gift Card
Choose from one of the fine establishments of our favorite business firecracker – Cup 30, Bridget Dunlap
Choose from:
Another option is one of the bars or restuarants owned by Cup 75, Doug Guller.
2. Books, books and more books!!!
- Cup 5, Steve Harper – The Ripple Effect
- Cup 59, Brad Closson – Multiple Children’s Books and a great book on networking, Humans, Fire and a Room Full of Socks
- Cup 27, Clint Greenleaf – The Unwritten Rules of the Workplace: A Guide to Etiquette and Attire for Businessmen and his new children’s book, Give, Save, Spend With the Three Little Pigs
- Cup 44, Heather Schuck – The Working Mom Manifesto: How to Stop Hoping for Happiness and Start Creating It
- Cup 54, Maria Gatling – Be Inspired! Create Something Every Day
- Cup 17, Thom Singer – Multiple books on effective networking.
- Cup 19, Honoree Corder – Multiple books on creating an exceptional life as a single parent
- Cup 18, Kim Schlinke – Polymer Clay Gemstones: The Art of Deception
- Cup 39, Patti DeNucci – The Intentional Networker: Attracting Powerful Relationships, Referrals & Results In Business
- Cup 77, Jay Papasan (co-authored with Gary Keller and published by Cup 86, Ray Bard of Bard Press) The ONE Thing (which is now an international best-seller and the perfect book for anyone on your gift list. I promise!)
- Cup 78, Jennifer Brewer – Her first book Vagabond and the newly released Intrepid. Both are science fiction and many agree, this girl has a serious future as an author.
- Cup 80, Canan Yetmen – The Roses Underneath – historical fiction.
- Cup 81, Sam Killermann – The Social Justice Handbook – A Guide to Gender
- Cup 82, Blythe Jewell – Something Smells Like Pee – a collection of hilarious poetry
- Cup 92, Jaime Tardy – The Eventual Millionaire
3. Jewelry
- Cup 3, Jaime Mitchell from her online store, ChirpHandmade
4. Kids Clothing
- Glamajama, the brand that started it all, from Cup 44, Heather Schuck
5. Something (awesome!) for nothing
- A subscription to Citygram Magazine, the digital magazine from Cup 14, Chris Perez
6. Music
- Musician and Cup 84, Tom Brosseau has created multiple albums to choose from. My favorites are the latest, Cradle Your Device and the one named for our hometown, Grand Forks. Find all albums here.
7. Beer
- A familiar name in craft beer for decades, Cup 85, Christine Celis, the daughter of legendary brewmaster Piere Celis, is creating some amazing beer collaborations with her label Gypsy. Their motto is, “Here today, gone tomorrow. Get it while you can.” And I assure you as good as it is, it doesn’t last long.
8. Wellness
- After holiday indulging, come the wellness resolutions. Cup 90, Kim Love has created a program unlike any other to get people on the track to lasting health. What an amazing gift that would make! Check out the Love Life Program here.
9. Chocolate
- The incredible Cup 93, Jyl Kutsche has managed to create chocolates that are both delicious AND incredibly healthy. Check out Chocolate Pharmacy. Mmm!
10. A donation to something very worthwhile!
- Cup 22, Tom Gimbel is the General Manager for Austin City Limits and a gift that would have lasting impact (and make you the best gift giver EVER, is a donation to Friends of ACL in someone’s name. OR…you could make the donation in your own name and then invite friends with you to ALL the ACL tapings you get free tickets to.) Win-win!
- Cup 34, Amanda Quraishi no longer works for Mobile Loaves and Fishes, but she’s a huge advocate and they can always use more donations – time, money, or both!
- Cup 73, Rabbi Neil Blumofe is very involved in Interfaith Action of Central Texas who can also use donations of time and money.
11. The News
- Cup 41, Colin Pope is the Austin Business Journal Editor and puts out a great weekly newspaper. A subscription would make an excellent gift!
12. A Bed and Breakfast Stay
- Cup 43, Janet Hardy has a wonderful little get-away in Fredericksburg, TX called Betty’s B&B. Go visit!
13. Fun!
- Cup 47, Tom LaPlante is the COO for TopGolf and if you haven’t been, it’s a must do! So much fun, even if you aren’t a golfer.
14. COFFEE!!!
- Cup 68, Joel Shuler roasts up some incredible coffee! Find it at Central Market, Whole Foods or buy it online.
15. Overcome Fear of Failure
- Cup 67, Eric Simone and Cup 69, Henrik Johnasson took Improv classes at The Hideout. I think that would make a fine gift! Especially if you agreed to take the classes with the person you are gifting them to!
Now you have a few great ideas for gifts that are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. I hope this was helpful and may all that you give this holiday season, come back to you tenfold!
Happy holidays to you and those you love!
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What a lovely thing to do for all of us who have had the wonderful experience of participating in your project. Thanks and Happy Holidays to you.
It’s my sincere pleasure Kim! Creating the list was fun and incredibly humbling! You guys are all so amazing! LOVE!