Courtesy of Kohl’s
The holiday season is all about food, family, fun, and making it work! So when Kohl’s tapped actress Ellie Kemper and NBA champion and Milwaukee Bucks icon Giannis Antetokounmpo for its Kohl’s Mom campaign, the duo combined their powers to pull off the greatest holiday survival guide we didn’t know we needed — and it turns out this unlikely duo isn’t so unlikely after all. Both stars prioritize family traditions, thoughtful gifts people will actually use, and finding small ways to make the season feel special.
For Giannis, the Christmas-forward, comedy-driven campaign was a new experience. He told E! That partnering with Ellie made it feel effortless. “I just want to say that I’ve never been in a campaign like that. I really enjoyed my time, but I enjoyed my time with Ellie especially because she made me feel so comfortable. This was one of the campaigns that I kind of like, you know, felt like an actor. Ellie just made me feel so comfortable, because that’s her space, that’s her world, and I had so much fun working with her.”
Together, the instantly iconic duo bring some refreshingly real guidance for managing holiday craziness — starting with the home essentials and gift ideas that get them through the season.
Ellie says her number one must-have is cozy candles from Sonoma Goods for Life. “They have the best selection of candles,” she said. “And I don’t like to completely overhaul my house during the holidays, but like little touches here and there.”
Her second must-have is her Ninja Creami, which has become an unexpected holiday flex. “I’m sort of the hero of Christmas,” she jokes. “I have made peppermint ice cream with [my kids]. And suddenly I’m like, I don’t know, otherworldly to them because I can make this ice cream!”
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Ellie also shouted out Kohl’s St. Nicholas Square line because “they have the cutest decorative accents and like tabletop furnishings and glasses and like trays and all these little fun festive accents that make everything just sort of cheerier and sparklier.”
Courtesy of Kohl’s
Giannis, meanwhile, takes the stress out of holiday shopping by looking for gifts that feel meaningful. He says, “I always tend to give gifts that are meaningful… like pictures, maybe a nice necklace that has a message behind it or a bracelet or like a trip somewhere.”
His all-time favorite gift is a sentimental keepsake: “There was a gift I received… it was a book with pictures of my kids, my mom, my wife, my father, and it was pictures around the holidays that we’ve had throughout the years since we’ve been in Milwaukee. Probably that was one of the most meaningful gifts I’ve received.”
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If there’s one holiday tradition Ellie will defend forever, it’s matching pajamas. She says, “This is a hot take. I am pro matching pajamas for families. I think that it’s fun, I think it connects us… even once you get to be 16 or 14, I still think you should dress in matching pajamas.” Her kids are all-in, especially with their Grinch-themed sets this year, which she notes Kohl’s carries.
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Giannis is also all about family traditions. He lights up talking about building Legos with his sons, saying, “my sons love Legos and we try to spend time together after the games, building them… we have probably built through the last two, three years around 50 to 70 sets.”
He adds that those simple moments mean everything: “When I can have like just two, three hours that we can build a set, I think it creates a memory for them that when they get older, they appreciate.”
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And when it comes to gifting kids, Giannis’ believes one of the best gifts is to keep them active.
“You just got to see what the kids are into. If they love basketball, you can get them some basketball shoes or a basketball. If they’re into baseball, you get them a bat. Soccer, you get them cleats.” He adds that his own kids love hockey, so he gets them knee pads, elbow pads, and helmets.
Courtesy of Kohl’s
And as for gifts they love to get? Ellie likes receiving gift things that feel comforting and personal — especially ones you can use right away.
She says, “I would always love to have a bathrobe and slippers because I will actually use them. And it’s fun if you already have one, it’s fun to add one to your collection. They are cozy, soft, and they make me feel comfortable.”
And does she love a monogram? “They don’t have to be monogrammed, but a monogram never hurts because then it feels extra special.”
She also recommends throw blankets because they’re “always a good gift… it also looks nice wrapped around you because you feel soft and warm.”
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Giannis leans more toward recovery and tech to help him recharge during the busiest time of year.
He’s a self-declared “big Theragun guy,” but has also fallen in love with the Connect Heating & Cooling Massage Eye Mask. He says, “It helps you relax, you can meditate to it… it gives you a massage on your face and it makes me fall asleep in like 10 minutes. It’s probably one of the most useful gifts I’ve got this year.”
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