Is experience gifts so tickets to things you know they like, spa or self-care treatments, gift cards for cool new activities. My parents are a little older but I buy my dad magazine subscriptions like National Geographic and I think I’m going to get him a new tent or something. I like to replace things they have that I know they’ve gone too long without replacing. Last Christmas I got my mom new comfy sensible shoes and a nice vintage handbag and I think I’m going to get her a Paris Review subscription. I’m always a late gift giver so I’m still not sure 🥹
Dec 18, 2024
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I love to give gifts, and I think the best/most consistent formula for a gift someone will really love is something they’ll use, but wouldn’t splurge on for themselves— so if they enjoy coffee, a nice french press or Chemex along with a good bean subscription, or even a Moka pot and milk frother for espresso drinks at home— this formula works for most occasions, and relies on knowing the person/couple. Some good standbys that I get often are:
a good set of bathrobes; bathrobes make getting out of the shower much nicer, but many people wouldn’t get a really good robe for themselves; try Oddbird, Brooklinen, or LL Bean (which you can have monogrammed with a couples new initials)
a good vinyl player (if they collect vinyl), or a good set of speakers if they already have a quality turntable but poor speakers,
a subscription or service— for my girlfriends I usually buy a facial or a massage that they can schedule whenever, for a couple, maybe a theater subscription, a museum membership, or a couple’s massage— these are things people really enjoy but might not do for themselves, especially in the first year of marriage.
I tend to avoid overly customized gifts; if it isn’t something someone wants it may accidentally go unused and is impossible to return or regift.
Apr 19, 2024
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people often overthink presents but the best ones I’ve had are usually small. Recently my bf got me Fanta flavours I love and it moved me that he remembered. Handmade gifts are always appreciated, although hard if it’s last minute! Nice soap/body stuff, a great candle, a little plant, or even just flowers and a card. A nice bound notebook with a cute pen. gift cards are often looked down on, but if they’re specific enough to someone’s taste they can be great. For example do they like cinema? cause lots of indie cinemas do gift cards! I play switch so Nintendo game cards are ways appreciated, as are any bookshop card (especially indie ones). All of these are good and easy gifts!
May 22, 2024
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gift giving is such a classy thing imo and it’s so so good when you get it right.
for people I’ve known for a long time I keep a running list in my notes app with things I know they will like. If you don’t know, ask someone who is close with them. Give them a list of options and make them help you narrow it down.
Good general categories for when you’re just not sure are:
- books (ask someone what they like)
- kitchen items (find out whether they’re a baker, a cake person, a bread person, etc)
- outdoorsy shit if they’re outdoorsy (multi tools, portable cooking equipment etc)
- cute boxes or bags (if the thing is cheap or practical but boring you can give it that wow factor by putting it inside something else)
Finally, if you have no idea what to get someone, most people will appreciate a really nice jar of small-batch jam or honey. Or movie vouchers.
Nov 30, 2024
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My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebody—be it a relative or one of my best friends—was to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too 💌
Feb 23, 2025
Schedule sent my resignation email for the morning, effective immediately ✅💅
Feb 27, 2025
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I’ve been thinking about how much of social media is centered around curating our self-image. When selfies first became popular, they were dismissed as vain and vapid—a critique often rooted in misogyny—but now, the way we craft our online selves feels more like creating monuments.
We try to signal our individuality, hoping to be seen and understood, but ironically, I think this widens the gap between how others perceive us and who we really are. Instead of fostering connection, it can invite projection and misinterpretation—preconceived notions, prefab labels, and stereotypes. Worse, individuality has become branded and commodified, reducing our identities to products for others to consume.
On most platforms, validation often comes from how well you can curate and present your image—selfies, aesthetic branding, and lifestyle content tend to dominate. High engagement is tied to visibility, not necessarily depth or substance. But I think spaces like PI.FYI show that there’s another way: where connection is built on shared ideas, tastes, and interests rather than surface-level content. It’s refreshing to be part of a community that values thoughts over optics.
By sharing so few images of myself, I’ve found that it gives others room to focus on my ideas and voice. When I do share an image, it feels intentional—something that contributes to the story I want to tell rather than defining it. Sharing less allows me to express who I am beyond appearance.
For women, especially, sharing less can be a radical act in a world where the default is to objectify ourselves. It resists the pressure to center appearance, focusing instead on what truly matters: our thoughts, voices, and authenticity. I’ve posted a handful of pictures of myself in 2,500 posts because I care more about showing who I am than how I look.
In trying to be seen, are we making it harder for others to truly know us? It’s a question worth considering.
Dec 27, 2024