Yesterday when I shared my 2018 gift guide, a curation of some of the things that represent something special in this maddening year, I also promised to follow it up by some recommendations from some of the most interesting people I know. I know it is late, but the flue had other ideas. But rather than give up on the idea of sharing what these beautiful people are doing and giving, I heeded the words of Rilke that I would tatoo on my mind if such a thing were possible: “The principal thing [is] not to remain with the dream, with the intention, with the being-in-the-mood, but always forcibly to convert it into things”.
So, here we go, despite the delay: I’d like to share what gifts these creative, trail-blazing people I am lucky enough to know are giving, in their own words.
Alysia Reiner… is drawing straws
@alysiareiner is a SAG AWARD winning actress best known as Natalie “Fig” Figueroa on NETFLIX’s hit ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK. Reiner recently joined the cast of HBO’s THE DEUCE for season 2 and returned for season 3 of FX’s critically acclaimed Peabody Award winning BETTER THINGS. Her motherhood dark-comedic feature EGG, which she produced and stars in with Christina Hendricks and Anna Camp, premiered at Tribeca Film festival 2018. Alysia loves working as a change maker for women and is passionately committed to protecting the environment (see livariclothing.com!).
Patrick Bradbury…is giving in threes
@patrickbradbury founder of @bradburylewis a NYC based communications agency and creative consultancy.
“The holiday season is a time where we can slow down, give back and be our better selves. I’ve been on a quest this year to reunite with my origin story and to connect more deeply with my core values. I have felt the impact of the incredible untruths and unjust acts going unchecked in our country and around the globe. I have also seen incredible courage and honesty from people who have been activated to protect and fight for a greater good. It is my honor at Bradbury Lewis, the PR company I founded seventeen years ago, to launch and support brands who are mission driven and who impact in local and global ways. And who, simply by being and doing, spread a message that we can all do better every day. These are some of my favorite things, from some of my favorite people, and I’m excited to share what they do.”
Arielle Patrick…gives gifts that trigger
@akpatrick1, 29, is one of the youngest Senior Vice Presidents in the corporate PR industry. She is in the Financial Communications & Capital Markets group at Edelman, the world’s largest communications consulting firm. In her spare time, she sits on the Board of Trustees of The Harbor Sciences & Arts Charter School; the National Advisory Board of the foundation for Yellowstone National Park; the Leadership Council for the Special Olympics of New York; and is Fundraising Chair of the Alumni Board for the Princeton Tigerlilies acapella group.
Amelia Diamond…is staying focused with her gifts
@amilli0naire is the (recent) former Head of Creative for the website Man Repeller. She is now a full-time writer of fiction.

Carly Brown…is keeping it meditative
Carly Brown is the founder of Australian swimwear start-up Une Piece
Nana Mensah…believes in self-care
@itsNanaMensah is a Ghanaian-American actor, writer and director. She most recently played the role of Tamyra in the New York premiere of Tracy Letts’ Man from Nebraska at Second Stage Theatre (2017 Lucille Lortel Award nomination, 2017 Outer Critics’ Circle Nomination). She wrote, directed and stars in the forthcoming film Queen of Glory and also plays the role of Sade in the popular series, An African City (2015 Golden Movie Award Winner, 2016 AMVCA Nominee.
Brigitte Bidet…says “Nothing Beats The Face” quite like coconut oil
@BrigitteBidet is a drag queen entertainer, emcee and dance artist in Atlanta, GA. She spends her days performing and creating as a company member of Core Dance. At night she works the club and bar cabaret scene, dancing for dollars and bringing overall joy into people’s lives. Catch her cameo in the new Netflix film, Dumplin’

“I’m in heavy stage makeup quite often, so my face deserves all the TLC. The marketing behind skincare gets me every time, and I spent way too much money trying to make my skin look good (usually resulting in breakouts) Save yourself the hassle & switch to coconut oil. Organic is best- it’ll breakdown that caked mug and leave your skin perfectly moisturized. Put some in your hair, too! I’ve also heard it makes a great lube. ”
Henrik Simonsen… is thinking about the gift of our home planet
@henrik.simonsen is a Danish painter living in Berlin. “When asked what I do I will tell people that I paint but I think that I should say that I draw. The main element in my work is drawing. The attraction to drawing stems from the directness of the mark making process and the simple, yet magical way lines on a surface create shapes and forms.”
“Wind Shaped” Oil on Canvas by Henrik Simonsen