This post is a sponsored collaboration between American Express and Gothamist staff.

We asked a real go-getter in each of our cities to tell us who’s on their list and what they’re getting—with all picks coming from the Membership Rewards® catalog from American Express.

And who’s our DCist choice? Elizabeth Thorp: style expert, editorial extraordinaire, and true Washingtonian. Elizabeth is the Editor in Chief of Capitol File Magazine and the founder of Poshbrood.com, a curated luxury travel catalog. She’s lived in Washington for 21 years and her pulse still races when she sees the Presidential motorcade. Elizabeth lives in Bethesda with her husband and three daughters. You can follow her on Twitter at @elizabethethorp and instagram @Poshbrood.

Elizabeth meets a real American anti-hero.

Does your family have any strange/unusual/funny traditions during the holidays, or did you growing up? Growing up we always had lobster newburg on Christmas Eve, and it’s a tradition that I have embraced with my family. It’s delicious and quite easy to make. You can do it in the crockpot, zip out to holiday parties or church and come back and it’s ready!

We have a rule that on Christmas morning you can’t open any presents or wake up parents until the sun is up (around 7 am-ish) although we will let the girls open stockings first without us.

We eat coffee cake, sip juice until after all the presents are done and then fix a big Christmas brunch with eggs, bacon, potatoes, muffins, mimosas, (girls get sparking cider) and sit down in our jammies for the brunch.

Is there a movie that rings in the holidays more for you than any other? Our family love love loves A Christmas Story. “You’ll shoot your eye out!” and the terrifying Santa experience are totally universal holiday themes. Funny for everyone.

What’s one thing in the holiday dinner spread that’s 100% non-negotiable? Our spread isn’t complete without “Kiflin” cookies. It’s a recipe from my husband’s grandmother and is a Swedish butter, almond and sugar cookie sprinkled with powdered sugar. We make them every year with the kids and take them to holiday parties. They are so so good.

Finish this sentence: “It isn’t the holidays in DC until…” “…the People’s Tree—the White House Christmas Tree—is lit. It’s so beautiful.

And now, Elizabeth’s picks!

Patagonia Classic Retro-X Vest. “For my husband who’s an avid outdoorsman, a vest for winter adventures and for skiing over the holidays in Snowmass, Colorado. Will look great over a shirt to go out to dinner too!”

Macbook Pro. “For our three daughters who are now needing to use computers for homework (gah!) a new family computer so that they quit using mommy’s!”

Clarsonic Aria skincare brush. “For my middle sister in Los Angeles, who is a doctor and mom of two, a fabulous Clarsonic Aria skincare brush. This travel-friendly skin care brush has the power to remove 30 times more age-accelerating pollutants than manual cleansing. A win for any mom!”

Coravin wine-access storage system. “For my Dad, who lives in Santa Barbara and is a huge enophile. I love this high-tech Coravin wine-access system, allows the cork in the bottle where it’s been since it was first sealed in the winery so wine does not oxidize.”

Ugg texting gloves. “For my associate editor, Amy Moeller, who is a new Washington, DC resident. I would give her a pair of cozy and chic women’s Uggs tech gloves. They will keep her warm, fashionable and she’ll be able to stay on email with the tech grippers on thumbs and index fingers that work with touchscreen devices.”

Peek-a-Boo Elmo. “For the sweetest little toddler we know, Storm Quinn, who lives in Washington, I will get him this Peek a Boo Elmo. There is nothing cuter than Storm or Elmo so seeing the two of them together will be a Christmas present for me!”

So who’s on your list this year? Use Membership Rewards points that go toward the things your friends and family really want. As an eligible American Express Card Member, you can use #PointsForPresents!