Holiday Gift Guide: Sustainable, Small-Business, & Practical Ideas

There is officially one week until Thanksgiving — the day of feasting on beige foods, the eve of gift season.

Holiday shopping doesn’t need a huge feast to gunfire the commencement nor does it need to be a bank-breaker or a stressful, endless to-do list.

The radio is officially playing Christmas music every hour of the day. There is no better time than now to start gift shopping!

This is a little compilation of my personal favorite items and shops that can truly to help inspire you!

For the home:

Wood-burned cutting board by SavySoul: I’d chop off an arm and a leg if it meant I’d get one of these for all my other chopping needs in return. Custom gifts by small-business owners are the perfect way to say, “I really put thought into this — just for you!” That’s too sweet to pass up.

Kitchenaid Immersion Blender: Without intending to be dramatic, I’m seriously in love with this tool and all of the soups I’ve made with it. Blended soups are the key to surviving cold months. I was gifted one a few years ago and it’s practicality The blender head is detachable which makes for easy clean-up, another plus!

Air Fryer: I use mine nearly every other day! I’ve made sweet potato fries, tortilla chips, breaded zucchini fries, and even meatballs in this. It’s great for quick cooking and satisfying a crispy fry craving only 10 minutes after it’s noticed.

Madewell Mountain Sage candle: Smells like a crisp, mountainy heaven.

Custom doormats by SavySoul: There’s better way to deck someone’s halls than with their own last name, beautifully painted and placed on their doorstep. (I do not regret publishing that sentence, no matter how cheesy it may be).

For other hand-made goods:

Clay earrings by The Olive Branch

Clay earrings by M.Rose

Hammered gold coin earrings by Laurene Elisabeth

Handmade ceramics: There are tons of great options on Etsy and local coffee shops!

For the chocolate lover:

Hu Kitchen filled bars: I don’t want to narrow it down to my top three, but if I had to… I’d say 1. hazelnut butter 2. crunchy mint 3. cashew butter + pure vanilla bean. (All chocolate options are vegan friendly).

Endangered Species: Forest mint, almonds + sea salt, hazelnut toffee, tart raspberry, they’re all perfect!!! I love this company. They’re exceptionally transparent, certified fair-trade, and donate 10% of annual proceeds to protecting wildlife. (All options are vegan friendly as well!)

For a quick beauty pick-me-up:

Cocokind Mymatcha moisture stick: This is the tiramisu of moisturizers. Every single night I use this and wake up feeling doe-eyed and ready to carpe diem. With the colder months rolling around, I also use it on any dryer areas of my skin and it always does the trick! Cocokind is a woman-owned, clean skincare line that deserves all the love and support this season! (Especially because all the Cocokind products will give your skin all the love right back). They also have a winter essentials kit that would be a great gift as well!

For the list-making, gratitude-journaling, note-taker:

Journal: I’ve gone through a few of these exact notebooks since beginning to journal every day a few years back! It’s the only journal I’ve used in ages. The style is minimal and classy and the cover is sturdy. I love it!

For the bookworm:

Tales of Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman: I cried when this book ended.

The Umbrian Thursday Night Supper Club by Marlena de Blasi: This book is to blame for my dreams of being an expat.

For on-the-go:

Madewell Zip-Top Transport Crossbody: This has been my everyday bag for a little over a year. The English Saddle is an easy match to any wardrobe. The leather wears nicely and adds a touch of character. It may look mini but it’s mighty. I shouldn’t even begin to list the things I can comfortably fit in here… let’s just say this bag turned me into a reasonable Mary Poppins. Moral of the story: it’s worth it.

Hydroflask Coffee/Tea Flask: I carry this with me everywhere in autumn and winter. For friends and family who love warm drinks, this is perfect! It’s also a great gift to help limit single-use cups when ordering out at a cafe.

For a good time:

Gifting experiences is one of my favorite ways to not only show someone some love but to spend time with them, too! Spending time with loved ones is the true spirit of the season and this idea is a great way to gift sustainably. You have to put a little effort into finding an experience you’d both enjoy, but it’s the perfect gift for those who are hard to shop for or say “I don’t want anything, I just want to be with you!” These types of gifts are always my favorite to give.

Here are some ideas:

-nosebleed seats at concerts or sports games (back row acoustics still sound good, promise!)

-movie showings with a live orchestra

-local classes or activities (ceramic studios, painting lessons, etc.)

-holiday performances (The Nutcracker, A Charlie Brown Christmas, etc.)

Most importantly when shopping this season: remember that you don’t need to go broke to show people how much you love them. Giving what you can with sincerity is what matters most. Whether it be homemade cookies, your time and willingness to help, or a good smelling candle… whatever it is, give it with love and it’ll be received in good heart.