Zorba's 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Every year I do the same thing. I sift and winnow, looking around for my latest and greatest holiday gifts. We all have our personal choices, so I’ll give you a few of mine.

Consider a new stapler. Don’t get me wrong, you might think that old stapler you’ve had since high school is the be-all and end-all of staplers. But if you’re into office gadgets like I am, you would be amazed at the Bostitch InPower Premium Spring-Powered Premium Desktop Stapler.

One finger, that’s all it takes. No effort. It comes in red or silver from Bostitch Office Products (formerly PaperPro). Yes, folks, there is a difference. It’s worth the $20-$25 cost. I’ve been giving them away for years.

And while we’re on the home office thing, think about the Brother P-Touch Label Maker. It’s Bluetooth-compatible and makes dynamite labels for those who really want to organize those little plastic containers. I’m not obsessive, but lazy. If something is labeled, I don’t have to open it up to see what’s inside.

Also think about a lumbar cushion to support your lower back. For office chairs, Tempur-Pedic has nice lumbar support options, and for driving, try the Everlasting Comfort Car Seat Cushion. It helps my back a lot. I use it under my butt when I’m driving in my Miata so I can see better, like tall people do.

On to the kitchen. My perennial favorite is the Kuhn Rikon 2-Cup Pull Chopper, a manual food processor. I just checked my Amazon account and found I’ve given away 30 of them.

Yes, they are pricy at about $35-$40, but they make chopping and dicing a breeze. Everyone I’ve given them to loves them, and some folks have even invited me over to dinner so they can show me how well this chopper works.

Perhaps you’d like a new Bartender Kit by Esmula. Whether it’s cocktails or mocktails, at $30 you can’t go wrong.

Sur La Table had an enameled cast-iron 5-quart brasier on sale for $79.95 (this was listed as a Black Friday deal, so you’ll want to double-check online). I’ve had a Sur La Table brasier for 20 years, and I think it’s just as good as any fancier one such as Le Cresuet that costs $299 at Macy’s on sale.

For spices, look at Penzeys gift boxes. I happen to enjoy their combination spices like the pizza seasoning, the taco seasoning and, of course, their various gift boxes.

Out to the garden now — it’s important to think about spring, even though it’s winter. Look at the KVR garden kneeler and seat. My knees aren’t what they used to be. I love this thing, and when I turn it around, I can sit on it. It’s good for the back, bad for the weeds.

What about a gift certificate from Jung Seed Co., based in Randolph? They’ve been around since 1907. Great company, great seeds. Shop local.

So on to exercise. I think everyone should have an activity monitor to see how they’re doing. We all need at least 4,000 steps a day to stay healthy. Yes, 10,000 is better, but 4,000 is mighty good.

You can get a basic step counter for about $20. If you want to go over the top, think about getting an Oura Ring. They start at about $250, and you need to spend $5.99 per month to use the software. But I think this is the best activity monitor on the market.

The Oura Ring tracks steps, oxygen, pulse and sleep, and stays charged for three days at a time. If you’re into numbers, this gadget might be what Santa has in mind for you.

I am not one to exercise every day and never have been. So I go to Matt Koester at Onward Physical Therapy. Koester is a DPT, doctor of physical therapy, and he keeps my 78-year-old body going as well as it can.

I walk the dog and try to work out at home, but it doesn’t compare to the kick-butt stuff he makes me do. Think about signing on with a professional to help start your exercise program, rehabilitate an injury, get you ready for that ski trip you’ve been planning or just up your game.

If you’re a going-to-class person, find one at your local health club or the Y or ask around at your local senior center. The point is, you need to move to stay well. Sitting all day doesn’t cut it.

If you’re looking for something for your cellphone, consider the Flighty app. It’s hands down the best app to see if your flight is canceled before the airlines even announce it and to check what options exist to get you moving on. Try the free version first to see if it meets your needs and if it does, pop for the Pro one.

If you’re into learning stuff, try Blinkist. This subscription service offers 15-minute condensed summaries of books and pod casts, from self-help to Greek philosophy. I’ve used it for more than a year, and I love it. I always find something interesting there from time to time when I’m in between books or movies.

Last and certainly not least, who do you want to help?  What organizations touch your heart? Make a donation in someone’s name and send them a card telling them that. We all know people who have a lot, and making that donation in their name can be the perfect gift. Penny and I have done this for years, always sending out that card afterwards. We would feel good and so would they.

Happy holidays everyone! Carpe diem — and stay well.