Episode #371 – Cherylanne’s Favorite Things 2024: Your Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

This is episode 371 of the Brilliant Balance podcast: my favorite things episode for 2024, your ultimate holiday gift guide.

Happy holidays! This is a very fun episode of the podcast to record, and it’s something I’ve actually never done before. This is my very first holiday gift guide, which we are unapologetically calling “Cherylanne’s Favorite Things.” I mean, who doesn’t remember the first time they saw Oprah do her favorite things episode? I think it’s a treasured memory for those of us who were watching television back in that era when she first introduced the concept. It was so delightfully overwhelming to hear all of her ideas and then to watch those women in the studio audience receive the gifts. I wish I were doing that for you today and saying, “Everyone gets one of these!” That’s not the case with this gift guide, but I am keeping the focus on you.

This is all about the power of giving yourself the opportunity to be a receiver during this holiday season. Because honestly, I think that, as a gender, women do a pretty collectively terrible job of putting ourselves on the list. We are so good at taking care of everyone else during the holidays, but really not as good at taking care of ourselves.

I looked into why this happens. Why is it that, as a generation of women, so many of us don’t get holiday gifts from our families? I think there are three reasons.

First, cultural conditioning. We’re often socialized to prioritize other people’s needs and desires over our own, especially during the holidays, because it makes us feel selfish to think about ourselves.

Second, guilt. Asking for or allowing ourselves to receive gifts can feel like indulgence, and we want to keep the focus on making everyone else happy.

Third, the invisible labor of the holiday season. Women often carry the heavy load of creating holiday experiences for everyone else—buying, wrapping, hosting, and planning—which leaves little time to think about what we might want.

I want to flip that this year. I really want you to put yourself on the list. There are three compelling reasons to do this.

First, it models self-worth. Ensuring you receive a thoughtful gift shows others, including children, that your needs and desires matter too.

Second, it creates a sense of reciprocity. Being a good receiver allows others to express their love and gratitude, which deepens relationships.

Third, it reconnects you with the delight of the holiday season. Receiving gifts helps us share in the joy and magic of the season instead of solely orchestrating it.

To help with this, I’m introducing this first-ever holiday gift guide. It’s entirely focused on gifts you might want to receive. I’ve broken it into three big categories: extraordinary experiences, everyday upgrades, and more me time.

To access the gift guide, visit brilliant-balance.com/gifts. It includes special discount codes and links to shop for the items.

Let’s start with extraordinary experiences. My top pick is a retreat at Canyon Ranch, the leading wellness resort. They have locations in Tucson, Arizona; Woodside, California; Lenox, Massachusetts; and Las Vegas. This February, I’ll be leading an event called “Freedom to Flourish” at their Woodside location from February 27 to March 3. It’s an incredible opportunity to reset and recharge. If you can’t attend those dates, the special code in the guide can be used anytime at any of their locations.

The second category is everyday upgrades. These are items you can use daily to make your life better. I’ve included a skincare line called Ever that combines clean ingredients, simplicity, and effectiveness. Another highlight is Pros haircare, which creates custom formulas tailored to your needs and preferences. In the kitchen, my favorite is the Nespresso Creatista machine, which makes perfect espresso and customizable coffee drinks. For reading, the Kindle Paperwhite is a game-changer for book lovers—it’s lightweight, portable, and allows you to annotate and save notes.

Finally, let’s talk about more me time. Even if you can’t ask for any tangible gifts, the one thing I want you to promise yourself is the gift of time. Carve out moments just for you, without obligations or compromises. It doesn’t cost a thing but is absolutely priceless.

The gift guide includes additional ideas for books, kitchen items, wellness products, and travel experiences. Again, visit brilliant-balance.com/gifts to access everything.

Happy holidays, and let’s be brilliant.