2018 Holiday Gift List

Last night I was talking to a friend and she asked me if I was going to do one of these lists again this year.  I hadn't thought much about it since ~adulting~ is quite expensive as is and I've gifted my family some products from the company I'm working for already, plus I'm not really needing anything much for myself.

However, at her request, I started thinking about some good gifts I would be happy to receive and give :)
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Planters from Good Company Wares

I fell in love with these planters at a craft fair and although I don't own any yet...these make a great addition to any desk or window sill! Good Company Wares also has a bunch of other super cute home goods and totes that are worth checking out and plenty of products that work for the guy or girl on your list.

Anything from Mate the Label

Mate is one of those brands I wish my whole closet was made out of.  They have a huge focus on dressing "cleanly" and use 100% organic cotton wherever they can.  Their graphic tees are super cool and everything they sell looks oh-so comfortable.  I have yet to get my hands on any of their products, but if you know a lady who cares about what she wears, a gift from Mate would definitely be at the top of her list.

Tea Towels from Tonle

I found out about Tonlé Design pretty recently but they're a really cool zero-waste brand.  I had the opportunity to attend their newest store opening in San Francisco earlier this week and was captivated by these beautiful tea towels.  I highly, HIGHLY, suggest these guys because they are BEAUTIFUL.  I'm obsessed.  I wish I had a need for them at my place or my mom was looking for new ones for our home...but alas, we don't.  Definitely a safe bet whoever you buy these for will adore them!

Something from Anchal Project

I discovered Anchal project oddly enough by Googling about the handloom industry in India.  They're an amazing brand that empowers women and makes some stunning scarves, quilts, totes, toiletry bags, and home goods.  A slight warning...their products do tend to be on the more expensive side, but you are getting a true story with each piece and every piece is signed  by the artisan that made it.  I recently bought one of their bandanas and I can't stop wearing it because I love it so much!

A Mable Toothbrush

You're probably going, "Seriously Sam? Recommending a toothbrush as a holiday gift?" Well if you know me, you know that I'm working hard to reduce my waste significantly.  I haven't used a Mable toothbrush yet, I'm currently using a Preserve %100 recycled/recyclable one, but sometimes the slightly more expensive zero-waste items make great gifts because you can get someone thinking about their waste and introduce better habits that help save the world :)  Reusable straws are another option that falls under the same category!

A GirlCode Case from My Social Canvas

Designed by girls for girls, these cool phone cases promote STEM education for girls!  My Social Canvas is a cool brand that does more than just sell product, they bring girls under their wings and teach them the ins-and-outs of the fashion industry through their Design A Life You Love Day and campus rep program.  If you want to be inspired, read the story behind each of their designs!  These cases are also available at Verizon stores across the country!

Make something yourself!

My family loves to give DIY holiday gifts.  Did you know making vanilla extract is crazy easy?? Just throw a couple vanilla beans in a jar (or fancy bottle) and fill it with vodka...ta-da!  Homemade nutbutters are another great gifting option!  All it takes to make your own peanut butter is some roasted peanuts (I buy mine in the bulk section!) and stick them in your food processor for a few minutes...you don't even need to add anything else.  You could also gift homemade hot cocoa mix in a jar (FYI Trader Joe's sells gelatin-free mini-marshmallows!!!! Can't escape the waste in terms of the bag it comes in, but I had never seen gelatin-free mini-marshmallows before!) or maybe a cookie mix with different mix-ins like chocolate chips, M&Ms, etc..

Give the Gift of an Experience

For pretty much every holiday/birthday where gifts are required, my family offers my younger cousins the option of a gift or an experience.  They pretty much always choose an experience.  The kids then choose what they want to do.  Some examples they've chosen in the past include a sleepover at my family's house, going out for hibachi, seeing a movie, cooking a meal for the whole family, and going bowling.  It's always fun to make memories with them and to be a yes-man (they want to take pictures in the over-priced photo booth at the mall or get a sugary slushy at the bowling alley...sure why not!).  This gifting idea works for people of all ages and honestly is a gift to yourself as well to just be present with the person you're giving it too.

Remember to use the DoneGood Chrome extension to be notified of great discounts at awesome brands! They even have some special codes floating around this year and their own gift guide!  Happy gifting!