How many months of the year do you need to buy a gift? If your family and social circle are like mine, it's all of them. Along with a stream of birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries come weddings, bridal showers, and graduations. Luckily, I love choosing gifts, but I know this is not a universal sentiment. Don't stress—here is some help born of experience. I've observed that, although at first it may not seem obvious, many gifts are remarkably versatile for diverse occasions.

Here are some foolproof gift ideas for whatever occasions are upcoming on your calendar:

1. Charcuterie board with lid, $35: Filed under “where has this been all my life?” This sustainable bamboo board has two sides: one that’s a chopping board and another with six compartments for building beautiful charcuterie boards, snack trays, or veggie platters. It comes with a snap-locking lid to keep everything fresh. Choose from several shapes and sizes.

2. Initial dish, $15: A sweet, pretty dish holds her rings, jewelry, hair ties, rosary, or other bits on her nightstand. 

3. Pocket knife, $23: This attractive tool comes from a heritage brand in France and folds up to just four inches. Opinel offers a wide collection of many other beautiful, durable knives.

4. Mothers of the Saints book, $10: This is one of my favorite books of all time, where I first read about St Zélie Martin and St Margaret of Scotland. It is now out of print, but no worries—you can usually find used copies. I love the very simple, no-frills biographies of about a dozen women who reared future saints or were canonized themselves. The real gem in this book is the end of each chapter, where the author lists several "For Your Life" bullet points of practical applications drawn from these women's lives. This book is also a great gift for wedding or baby showers.

5. Soft blanket,$17: This blanket has been a huge hit with all ages in our family. Never underestimate the power of the softest fleece in a stylish check pattern. It comes in 21 colors, so you can definitely find something for everyone here (pro tip: consider colors that connect to their favorite team, alma mater, sorority/ fraternity, or apartment decor).

6. Nativity set, $85: This beautiful, minimalist nativity set is not just a gift; it will become a cherished tradition and fits with any aesthetic. (It’s also one of my favorite gifts to give for weddings and showers.) You can also choose other sets or collect individual pieces here. Here’s a 12-piece mini version under $35.

7. French hand cream, $19 for large size and $10 for the small size: My bag is always stocked with this hand cream that has a great texture and comes in multiple natural scents (I love the lavender, jasmine, and the orange blossom).

8. French press, $40: This press will be a gift they’re still hanging onto 20 years later: it makes excellent coffee, keeps it hot for hours, and is impeccably constructed (we have two). You could pair it with some excellent coffee beans from Mystic Monk, French Truck, or Seven Weeks.

9. Custom art: Commission me to create an original piece of their patron saint, wedding church, school, first home, or other significant place.

10. Toups and Company organic skincare products: I love everything I’ve tried from this small, family-operated skincare company. Favorites that I subscribe to and use daily include this frankincense tallow balm, tinted lip balm, and the mineral makeup. Organic, high-quality, and high-functioning products make great gifts for anyone with skin. You can also give gift sets and sample sets. (Pro tip: They usually run really good sales around all holidays, so keep checking their website.)

11. Catholic Geaux Bag, $20: Give them this portable collection of essential sacramentals to take wherever they roam and roost. This set comes from our dear friends' non-profit and includes essentials like a crucifix, holy water, blessed salt, a brown scapular, and more.

12. Chic pajama set, $28: A good pajama set just makes you feel better. These are wonderful—soft, stretchy, but substantial. I appreciate the details like piping, cuffs, and adjustable tie waist. Choose from nine colors and 12 sizes from XS to 6X.

13. Pecan handle scissors, $13: These scissors are making the case for pretty tools; a lovely, useful gift is one that everyone appreciates.

14. Set of reusable bags (10), $20: If you’re skeptical about bags as a gift, let me assure you how often they’ll reach for these, and how much more pleasant these colorful, well-made bags are to use than old plastic grocery bags. It’s the gift of a simple upgrade. 

15. Word on Fire Bible Volume I: The Gospels (soft cover), $28: According to its publisher, this volume was designed “to appeal not just to Christians, but also to nonbelievers and searchers.” It features gorgeous artwork alongside commentary from Bishop Robert Barron, Church Fathers, saints, mystics, artists, and scholars. Instant heirloom. There’s also a hardcover edition. We loved receiving this as a gift from friends a few years ago.

16. Essential oil diffuser, $28: I love this diffuser’s minimalist design, excellent sillage, and all natural oil (no fragrance-triggered headaches). It’s also made in the USA and comes in several fragrance options. We keep a few of these tucked around the house and apartment.

17. Enrollment in one year of masses offered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception gives them something way more impactful than any material gift. Can you imagine any gift greater than the power of prayer?

1. Couples, Awaken Your Love book, $14: This work from the bold, sensitive, luminous Cardinal Robert Sarah is the portable version of a retreat he preached to married couples, and invites couples of all backgrounds and places in life to "find again the preciousness of the love that binds them, no matter how hidden it may be."

2. Travel kit, $24: A chic, structured, and roomy travel kit that can hold all her things with satisfying order. The vegan leather is wipe-clean and waterproof, in two dozen color and pattern options (Along with this classic camel, I also love this chic cream version). Consider giving a pair to a newlywed couple for their honeymoon.

3. Stackable cookware set, $40: We have this compact nonstick set in our Garden District apartment and love it. It works beautifully, looks beautiful, and the removable handle is ingenious for space-saving stacking of the pieces. They can also use the components without the handle as serveware. An excellent full cookware set for a starter household; it also comes in a different finishes and colors (after using the one featured here, we also purchased the stainless version!).

4. Corda's "Sweeter than Wine" candle, $24.50: I cannot rave enough about my beloved Corda candles. This edition's notes of cedar, pomegranate, and apple are inspired by romantic poetry of the Song of Songs. You could also pair it with this beautiful candle warmer that uses heat instead of fire to diffuse fragrance from candles.

5. A set of four fouta-style towels, $23: These pretty, well-made linens dry quickly and double as beautiful accessories wherever they're hanging. We use these as bath, beach, and pool towels, but they're versatile enough to use as a wrap or a blanket for picnics and concerts.

6. A beautiful, substantial crucifix: I strongly prefer vintage ones because of the sense of history and the tangible connection with someone else who loved Jesus.

7. Chat books subscription, from $24: My love for our Chatbooks subscription goes beyond words. The free app generates a monthly 30-60 page photo book from your phone's camera roll, then mails it to you automatically. The app is easy to use if they want to customize their monthly photo book. You can gift them a three-, six-, or twelve-month subscription. (Pro tip: I have found that from kids to grownups, all of us look at photo albums so much more often and more "together" than scrolling a phone.) Add a beautiful photo album ($14), that they can keep forever (I like these because fingerprints wipe off the leather, plus the pages have space for writing photo notes).

8. Sterling silver rosary bracelet, $18: I like the feminine scale of this Italian-made rosary bracelet that comes gift boxed. To make it even more special, pray a rosary for your gift recipient on it and have it blessed before giving.

9. Living the Seasons book (hardcover), $29: The subtitle “Simple Ways to Celebrate the Beauty of Your Faith Throughout the Year” captures this book’s accessible ideas for crafts, activities, traditions, and other simple ways to participate in the liturgical seasons. The illustrations and photographs are simply beautiful. 

10. Custom venue art of their wedding church, school, first home, or other significant places. Th artist is a dear friend who does minimalist ink drawings.

11. Bike basket, $40: With classic handsome looks (or two for a couple), this basket is one of those unexpected but totally delightful, practical gifts that people love receiving and will actually use.

12. A Call to Deeper Love: The Correspondence of the Parents of St Therese book, $27: The collected letters of St Louis and St Zélie Martin offer an intimate peek into a real marriage and family—a vocation that can render high sanctity from the ordinary.

13. Rechargeable wine bottle opener, $30: A game changer that looks reasonably attractive on the counter. Pair with a bottle of red, a bottle of white, and a bottle of bubbly to cover all occasions.

14. French bistro glasses, from $20 (set of six): We use these for water, soft drinks, cocktails, wine, everything. They come in tons of sizes, but I recommend a set of the 12.6 oz for water, tea, and soft drinks, and a set of the 5.6 oz for wine, cocktails, and liquor. We also use stacks of these at parties instead of disposable cups.

15. Theology of Home (hardcover), $20: Along with its equally gorgeous follow-ups Volume II, Volume III, and Volume IV, this coffee table book explores the spiritual beauty of homemaking, interior design, and aesthetics with stunning photos and thoughtful reflections. Bundle the full set of four for an amazing gift.

16. Echo Community retreat: Give your loved one the powerful, life-changing gift of an Echo retreat. I can't speak highly enough of this ministry and the deep intentionality of all its work. Echo offers retreats tailored for teens, young adults, women, men, engaged couples, and married couples.

17. P.S. Don't underestimate the impact of giving pretty, practical things—here's a roundup of pretty household tools

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