JMB Giving: How to Have a Mindful Holiday
I have always felt such a drastic shift in society from Thanksgiving to Black Friday. Last week’s post about gratitude was heavy on my mind throughout the week as I balanced working and spending time with my family. We so quickly go from being grateful to focusing on shopping. Even if we are looking for other people’s gifts and utilizing a discount opportunity, I want to incorporate gratitude and mindfulness into gift-giving. I have compiled a sort of gift guide divided into three categories: Small Businesses, Sustainable Businesses, and Intangible Gifts. In light of my own journal’s IndieGoGo campaign ending this Tuesday, December 1st, I took time this week and used my platform on Instagram to highlight small businesses for Small Business Saturday. I am using this post to expand on that sentiment and facilitate shopping that is both personally and environmentally mindful.
Small Businesses
By purchasing from small businesses instead of large corporations, we not only find carefully made, one-of-a-kind gifts, but we also support an individual’s livelihood and passion.
Tonya makes beautiful bath and body products. Her soaps are meticulously crafted and target a range of needs from acne to moisture. She has a wide range of products including body soaps, face soaps, balms, lotions, bath bombs, lotion bars, sprays, whipped sugar scrubs, and more! All of her products are so unique and she artfully uses effective blends of natural products and essential oils to make them.
Alaskanwitcheryshop on Etsy is run by Monica Edwards out of Alaska. Her artisanal bath products are visually and aromatically pleasing, in addition to being 100% handmade! If you know someone that loves a cozy, themed bath for some downtime, Alaskanwitcheryshop might be a good place for you to look.
Hot drinks are even more satisfying on cold days, and if you’re seeking to give a little warmth for the holidays, Sip of Life Teas sells premium organic tea blends at a reasonable cost. Maria Belcher started her small business after COVID impacted her job, so she set out to benefit others through tea with knowledge she learned living in Croatia!
The Inner Warrior is based in Louisville, Kentucky and run by mother-daughter duo Sabine and Gabriella Gaona. They sell a wide range of yoga-inspired collections from yoga accessories to pottery, clothes, jewelry, and more!
Donna is an entrepreneur and single mother who founded Rock This Out with an ethos of female empowerment. She has stylish and unique clothes, accessories, and makes a variety of home decor items—Rock This Out has great gifts for your friends that love to individualize their style and living space!
If you haven’t found your favorite local crystal shop, Sarah Belle sells beautiful stones, crystals, and both men and women’s jewelry! She even has a gift ideas collection on her website if you need some inspiration as you browse. If you know someone that likes essential oils, she also sells stylish diffuser bracelets.
Aquarian Thoughts Jewelry is run by Nadirah B., an unapologetic Aquarius who seeks to make jewelry that lives up to its name. Her pieces are artistic and visually striking, but functional and practical to wear.
Wicked Candle Box is a candle subscription box that features vegan bath and body products in addition to candles. This gift that keeps on giving every month has a theme for each box that is reflected in its products. The packaging is so pleasing and the amount of thought and care that goes into each box is clear.
If you’re looking to give high-end, affordable accessories, I recommend Merfolk Jewels. It is LGBTQ-owned and all of their metals and stones are tested for authenticity! The shop has both new, handcrafted jewelry and a curated vintage collection.
Whirl and Whittle
Pooja Pawaskar started Whirl and Whittle in 2019 after moving to Ottawa, Canada. Whirl and Whittle features a philosophy that defines beauty from imperfection. Each stunning wood piece is unique and handmade, while also being sleek and artistic.
Sustainable Businesses
I feel a lot better about supporting a business when I know that they work to minimalize their environmental impact. These businesses have ethically-sourced products and/or environmentally sustainable business practices.
The Growing Candle is a product from Hyggelight, named from the Danish word Hygge, “the concept of finding the special moments in everyday living” according to their website. The Growing Candle is meant to embody hygge both as a candle and the plant that grows after. After you burn through the entire candle, you can use the artful container to plant the seeds that come with each one!
Whispers of the Wild sells a collection of sustainable home and personal care items. In addition to greeting cards and art prints, she has a collections of self-care products are natural, inspired by nature and crafted to help you gently settle into the changing seasons. I think the seasonal self care box would make an absolutely lovely gift!
If you have yet to figure out what to give someone and need to browse, Free Spirit Delicacies has a wide range of collections. Not only do they have beautiful products, but Free Spirit Delicacies is a reforestation partner and a Kentucky Proud business, which means they support local small businesses in Kentucky when making products.
Leafberri
Leafberri sells purple tea that is grown exclusively in Kenya. Purchasing tea from Leafberri not only gives the gift of great fair trade tea, but also supports generations of small tea farmers.
Davines dedicates many of their resources and business practices to sustainability efforts. Their sustainable beauty products encompass a wide range of products that are made for specific hair and skin types.
Wild Lather is a collection of cold process soaps. The sleek, minimalistic design sets it apart from other soaps and they sell dish soaps that fit their organic, natural soaps.
Fox & Willow Dorset
Fox and Willow Dorset sells luxury hand-poured candles and wax melts that are sustainable and vegan! All of their packaging, labels, and packing tape are vegan and biodegradable. In addition to their ethical business practices, their products are beautiful with inspired scents.
Pixie Mood sells a variety of bags and personal carrying accessories that are all vegan. They have a large collection with many color and design options that are great alternatives to popular products from non-sustainable businesses.
CandleTherapy sells non-toxic candles on Etsy. Their simple designs are offset by the intricate and authentic scents that you get to choose alongside size and a crystal option.
August & Leo Skin
August & Leo Skin is an up-and-coming skincare brand that just launched their first product: a color-correcting glow serum that is also vegan. The company was founded to create products with a mission of reaching skin health rather than an unattainable perfection in a market where BIPOC are overlooked. I look forward to their future products as the brand grows!
Intangible Gifts
Not everyone wants a physical gift and some of the most thoughtful and impactful gifts are ones that aren’t physical. These ideas cover an array of sentiments and gifts.
Book a life-coach meeting for a loved one with Babs! If you are located in Louisville, KY she does in-person meetings, workshops, and clutter clearing sessions, but she also does phone sessions for non-locals.
Michelle teaches online craft workshops from her cottage! If you have a friend that loves crafting and DIY, a subscription to one of Michelle’s sessions could be a great gift experience.
Melanated Momma
Mani offers masterclasses and workshops that promote healing and inner growth based on internal areas of need. 2020 has been an extra-difficult year for some, so this could be a thoughtful gift to a friend in need.
@melanatedmommaa
The World Wildlife Organization hosts a symbolic species adoption in which you can adopt an animal for someone and the funds go to support a member of that species! There are some tangible supplements that go with the adoption, but they serve as a reminder of the donation and surrogate ownership.
Breathe Yoga Salt is an incredible resource for the mindful or overwhelmed person in your life. They have a variety of options including halotherapy, yoga, and breathwork sessions.
@BreatheYogaSalt
For a thoughtful or astronomy-fascinated friend, you can buy a star and name it after them! Star Register has a recognized star registry that tracks the purchased stars and it comes with a PDF certificate and four piece gift.
The Speed Art Museum: Adopt a Painting
The Speed Art Museum is my local museum in Louisville, but many museums have started an Adopt a Painting program that supports your local arts! You can adopt a painting from someone’s favorite artist in their name with a credit line and other benefits that vary by museum.
Amber studied holistic healing and practices, and she offers a holistic range of services. She has a collection of specifically-targeted healing sessions that could be great for someone in your life depending on their need.
@plantascompass
I know many people who always have at least one friend that insists on donating to a good cause in their name rather than receiving a physical gift. I am including New York Magazine’s list of organizations to donate to in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Flint Water Fund, but it’s also nice to specify your donations to the person’s own activism interests.
Still feeling a little aimless in your holiday shopping?
In next week’s blog post, I will be delving into love languages and how to understand yours and others’ to be an effective gift giver!