Note: The TKV Newsletter and Podcast each went their own way this week. Check out my Holiday Gift Guide below and visit your favorite Podcast platform for Episode 30: A Call With Dad. Listen on Spotify, Apple.
If you need some gift ideas for the upcoming holidays, I’ve got you covered!
Thanksgiving has passed here in the US and that means talking about the upcoming holidays is no longer a breach of etiquette. I thought it might be fun to kick things off with a handy dandy Gift Guide, which is basically a list of all my favorite things from this year. None of these are sponsored, though, in all candor, some of these products I got to try for free (like the vegan lip gloss!). ALL of these are products that I’ve fallen in love with, regardless of how they ended up in my little hands, so buckle up and get ready to cross a bunch of folks off that list of yours!
My Favorite Cookbooks.
Plant-Based India by Dr. Sheil Shukla
I’ve got a hefty library of cookbooks and for me, this was the standout cookbook of 2022. Not only does Dr. Shukla include delectable, healthy, plant-based recipes from his childhood, he transports you through a lush gastronomic landscape using his own camera.
Cooking From The Spirit by Tabitha Brown
Is there nothing Ms. Tabitha Brown can’t do?? The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Feeding the Soul hits the bestseller’s list once more, but this time with a VERY GOOD guide on how to feed your soul. Why? Because that’s her business!
SIGNED Copy Of The Korean Vegan Cookbook!
I know that most of you already have a copy of my cookbook, but if you’d like to gift yourself or anyone else with a SIGNED COPY of The Korean Vegan Cookbook, make sure to head over to Now Serving LA, where I signed their entire stock of my cookbook. And, just in case you haven’t bought a copy yet–it’s a New York Times Bestseller, a James Beard Winner, and boasts a 5-star rating on Amazon. What are you waiting for?
My New Favorite Kitchen Gadget.
Portable Wireless Food Processor
I honestly don’t know how or why I came across this powerful little tool, but it has radically changed the amount of time I spend prepping vegetables in the kitchen. Moreover, as someone who often suffers from stiff and achy joints, having this portable and wireless food processor nearby makes for a relatively painless cooking experience. I use this for making salad dressings, finely dicing all my aromatics, or even getting my pasta sauces started! It’s easy to use and also very easy to clean.
My Favorite Vegan Beauty Products.
Korean Vegan Lip Gloss
I’ve been searching for a vegan lip “stain” that does little more than hint at color on my lips, a very popular look in South Korea. Figures that a Korean beauty company, Nacific, would master them in this chic lip kit. AND it’s vegan!!
Vegan & Cruelty Free Lashes
I’m a fairly low maintenance gal when it comes to my “beauty routine” (I’m not really sure I even have one). The point is, I hate doing makeup and I hate taking it off even worse. Enter LASHIFY–which makes me look all made-up without any makeup. Vegan and cruelty free, buy with confidence!
My Favorite New Active Wear!
POPFLEX Active Wear
Yes, it’s true, the founder of POPFLEX sent me a handful of items from their catalogue, but I gotta be honest–I didn’t think I’d like them. I’ve been wearing the same leggings, sports bras, and shorts for nearly a decade of running and I didn’t think anyone, however well intentioned, would get me to try something new. Well, I WAS WRONG.
I found POPFLEX’s hoodies, sports bras, and leggings to be not only unfathomably comfortable (like, so soft and stretchy), but ridiculously flattering. Whoever designed these things might as well have tailor made them for my body. A quick scan of their website shows that they are body inclusive in the most honest way, and it took me about 10 minutes to pick out an entire new wardrobe of activewear from their lineup.
My Favorite Bowls & Ceramics.
FACTURE GOODS
One of the questions I get asked the MOST is “where did you get your bowls?” Well, it’s no secret that the overwhelming majority of my bowls, plates, and ceramics come from none other than Aron Fischer, the creator of Facture Goods. His work speaks for itself so make sure to pick up something special for your loved one this holiday!
My Favorite Good Cause Spirit.
Hera The Dog Cocktail Kit
I recently had the good fortune to meet with a fellow animal lover and vegan who created a vodka company to raise money for animals. Revenue from the sale of their cocktail kits go to animal rescue organizations, so gift your friend with some excellent vodka and yourself with some good karma! I actually had a chance to take a few sips of their Mule Time Pear and it was DELICIOUS!!
My Favorite Outdoor and Indoor Wear.
Vegan Coats by For All Kind
Y’all, I gave up my Canada Goose a LONG time ago, but let me tell you–it was NOT easy finding something that could stand muster against the Chicago bluster!! LOLOL. I was COLD until I discovered this vegan, cruelty free outerwear company, For All Kind. This coat got me through two Chicago winters along the lakefront and I LOVE IT. I gifted my entire family with coats and jackets from them last year and they were a total hit!
BRONAX Cloud Slides
So, we don’t wear shoes inside our house. But we DO wear “sseuh-leh-bbah” or “slippers”! I actually ordered these as a gift for my niece and they were too big for her, so I slid into them myself and MAN OH MAN MY LIFE CHANGED. As someone who typically runs over a hundred miles per month and spends hours on her feet for work, these slippers are an absolute GODSEND for me!! I bought them for everyone in my family LOLOL. They come in a ton of different colors and sizes and you’ll definitely want to pick up a pair for yourself as well as a friend!
My Favorite Recipe App.
THE KOREAN VEGAN KOLLECTIVE
So, this is a bit of a sneak peek, but we’ll soon be RELAUNCHING The Korean Vegan KOLLECTIVE (currently known as The Korean Vegan Meal Planner) to be bigger and better than EVAR! In addition to continued access to all of my recipes, the new Korean Vegan Kollective will house an array of my writings and videos, with direct access to exclusive Cooking Tips, Hero Ingredients, Vlogs, and Ask Joannes–content you cannot find anywhere else.
Members will also get unlimited support from food coaches and discounts to some of my favorite kitchen equipment and brands. Secure your spot for 2023 and bring a friend!
Give the gift of health. Right now, get $20 off TKV Kollective Gift Cards!
That’s a wrap….! (see what I did there?)
I hope you enjoyed my first ever Holiday Gift Guide!
The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and connection, but oftentimes, they can get really stressful! Instead of showing our appreciation for those we love and cherish, gift exchanges can sometimes feel like a chore, or worse yet, an obligation, which can lead to anxiety and even resentment. Irrespective of whether any of the items in this guide are useful to you, take with you the following parting thought:
The most generous gift you can ever give is YOU!
– Joanne
