Gifts

16 Global Influence Free Trade Gifts For the Holidays: Gifts That Give Back

Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to the official shopping season, 2020 version! What’s better than giving everyone on your shopping list beautiful and thoughtful gifts? How about gifts that give back by helping individuals around the world earn a living producing products such as jewelry, housewares, accessories, and even toys? Your shopping budget can be a reason for someone else to give thanks!

Unbeknowst to most shoppers, many of the products we buy every day support forced labor. In contrast, products labeled “fair trade” support an honest wage for honest work. As I was researching including fair trade items on my shopping list this year, I realized there is an amazing variety of affordable products available now as consumers become more in tune with this issue. Some companies enable women to do skilled labor such as handcrafting to support their families. Others use funding to help support impoverished communities. Take a look at these amazing and unique gift ideas from around the world!

NOVICA Black Onyx .925 Sterling Silver Floral Dangle Earrings ‘Dreamy Forest’

  • Authentic: an original NOVICA artisan handcrafted fair trade product.
  • Includes an official NOVICA Story Card certifying quality & authenticity.
  • NOVICA works with Rupadana to craft this item
  • $47.99

Ten Thousand Villages Phoenician Glass Candle Holder ‘Desert Sands Candleholder’

  • Phoenecian Glass, Sand
  • tealight candle included
  • 3Dx4H inches
  • Made in West Bank

$38.14

Large Yikene Ghanaian Wing U-Shopper – Ghana Bolga Basket Fair Trade – 16″-19″ Across (Orange/Earth Tone) 

HANDMADE: We keep alive a beautiful tradition of handwoven belly baskets, passed down from generations of Artisans in Ghana. Made of 100% sustainable natural organic elephant grass with goat leather handle. Supports impoverished farmers in the Bogatanga region of Ghana, West Africa

$55.00

NOVICA White Cultured Mabe Pearl .925 Silver Cuff Bracelet, Moonlight Vines

  • Authentic: an original NOVICA artisan handcrafted fair trade product.
  • Includes an official NOVICA Story Card certifying quality & authenticity.
  • NOVICA works with Komang Suastra to craft this item.

$114.99

Ten Thousand Villages Hand-Carved Wooden Nativity

  • Albesia wood handcrafted in Indonesia

$108.99

Fair Seas Supply Co. Turkish Towel, Peshtemal Towel – 100% Organic Turkish Cotton 

  • ABSORBENT, QUICK DRY, LIGHTWEIGHT – Large 39 inch x 71 inch throw is perfect to dry off with after a shower or a swim. All of our premium towels are made from the finest eco-friendly organic turkish cotton, grown near the Aegean Sea in Turkey.

$44.00

Ten Thousand Villages Paisley Cotton Robe

  • Authentic Fair Trade Product. Ethically sourced and 100% handmade.
  • Block-printed cotton

$65.39

Bridge for Africa Fair Trade Zulu Telephone Wire 8-inch Round Pedestal Bowl, African Rainbow

  • Handmade in South Africa, providing work for more than 500 Zulu families

$58.95

Tibetan Socks Hand Knit Wool Fleece Lined Long Slipper Socks

COZY & COMPASSIONATE: Made in Himalayan villages by local housewives, this generations-old handicraft allows mothers to stay home with their children and earn supplemental income.  

$39.95

NOVICA Lapis Lazuli .925 Sterling Silver Oval Cocktail Ring ‘Pool of Memories’

  • Authentic: an original NOVICA artisan handcrafted fair trade product.
  • Includes an official NOVICA Story Card certifying quality & authenticity.
  • NOVICA works with Alok Jain to craft this item

$59.99

Ten Thousand Villages Coffee Scented Exfoliating Soap ‘Coffee Ground Exfoliating Soap’

  • Authentic Fair Trade Product. Ethically sourced and 100% handmade.
  • Hand-screen-printed card with detachable gamhar wood ornament
  • Coffee-scented vegetable oil soap with coffee grounds in paper box
  • 3.2 ounce bar, measuring 3Lx2Wx1H inches
  • Handmade in India

$6.53

Prices are current as of writing. Descriptions of products are from Amazon. Contains affiliate links.

Have a beautiful day, and do something to help someone else! 🙂

Cozy at Home · Gifts

24 Thoughtful and Useful Ideas For Pandemic Gift Giving

Connecting with loved ones is the most important part of the holidays. Unfortunately, the global pandemic shows no signs of slowing before the Christmas season. The reality is setting in that many of us will not be spending the holidays with extended family. Certainly a lot of older relatives may be in situations where visitors may not be possible. And kids may very well be at home most of the time with a desperate need for meaningful, engaging activities.

I’m looking for ways to safely make the season special. Admittedly, it’s been rough. We won’t be getting together with extended family for Thanksgiving, although we are still seeing each other on the occasional warm day when we can get together outside. Like everyone else, we have also been connecting by video call.

This year, I’m also going to need to get creative with gift-giving. I plan to order a lot of my gifts on Amazon and have them delivered to loved ones I won’t be seeing. I’m also looking for gifts that will make the winter at home more comfortable.Some great ideas for pandemic gift giving are family games, activities, crafts, home entertainment, and special, personalized items.

Here are my top Amazon picks for pandemic gift-giving:

Family Games

Board games are a great way to spend time together as a family. Setting aside one evening a week as game night can help add structure and fun to time at home.

Home Comfort

For people on your list who have to spend more time inside the four walls of home, help them make their home a haven by giving gifts that promote health, relaxation, and stress-relief.

Cooking At Home

Help loved ones increase convenience and variety in home cooking. Fewer trips to the coffee shop and deli mean more at-home options are appreciated.

Home Technology

Home technology and entertainment provide a welcome diversion during this challenging time as well as a way to connect with loved ones.

Home Activities

Learning something new or engaging in a creative project is a great idea in 2020. Here are some fun picks.

Other Fun Gifts for People We Wish We Could See

For people on your list who you will not be able to see, remind them that you’re thinking about them over the Christmas season with thoughtful and creative gifts.

Gifts · Parenting

Kids’ Gifts That Build Creativity and Thinking Skills

Shopping for kids is a huge part of the holiday season. Instead of going on a search for the latest toy fad of the year, consider giving some gifts that will encourage creativity and active learning in children. When I’m shopping for kids, I try to find gifts that will be engaging, appealing, and fun, but still help kids develop skills. My own children are well past the toys stage, but when they were younger, we got them each a couple of the traditional toy items, and the rest of their gifts leaned heavily toward activities, games, and items that would help them spend time productively. More than the toys, they appreciated the chance to try new things and feel a sense of accomplishment as well as spending time together as a family working on a project.

Time spent playing a board game, flying a kite, or learning a new art technique is valuable for children and provides a much-needed break from screen time.

Here are some of my top picks for fun and engaging toys available from Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. Please see about page for full information. Thanks so much for supporting my blog! 🙂

PicassoTiles 100 Piece Set 100pcs Magnet Building Tiles Clear Magnetic 3D Building Blocks

This beautiful magnetic building set offers hours of creative fun.

ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Toy of the Year Award Winner

Highly-rated game encourages spatial reasoning and logic skills.

126 Piece Deluxe Art Creativity Set with 2 Drawing Pad, Art Supplies in Portable Wooden Case- Crayons, Oil Pastels, Colored Pencils, Acrylic Paints, Watercolor Cakes, Brushes – Deluxe Art Set

Everything needed to explore new art techniques

5000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!) National Geographic Kids) Hardcover

Encourage curiousity and wonder about the world around us with this great book

Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower – Active Outdoor Fun for Kids Ages 3 to 8 Years Old

Free time outdoors is so important. Here’s an easy solution to provide a play space in your yard.

My World Interactive Map – Educational Talking Toy for Kids of Ages 5 to 12 Years

Help kids discover world geography with this award-winning interactive map

2 Pack Kites – Large Rainbow Delta Kite and Red Octopus with Long Colorful Tail

Classic kites are always a fun gift

Exploring Nature Journal for Kids: Observe and Record the Outdoors 

encourage writing and observational skills with this journal

Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes Craft Kit

Paper and instructions for creating a variety of paper airplanes.

150 Piece Set Wooden Castle Building Blocks Set FAO SCHWARZ Toy Solid Pine Wood Block Playset Kit with Bridges and Arches

Classic building set encourages imagination

FAO Schwarz Kids 8-Piece Arts and Crafts Weaving Loom Set: Create Your Own Weaves and Fabric Projects with Colored String; Kit Includes Loom Frame, 4 Colored String Bundles, 3 Wooden Shuttles, Ages 4+

Weaving set for kids who love unique artistic projects

Quiksilver Mission Mittens Kids

Recycled Fabric: REPREVE traceable, recycled 4-way stretch polyester blend made from plastic bottles
Insulation: WarmFlight x3 technology for extra warm and breathable insulation for Winter outside play

Kids Dinosaur Knitted Hat

Kids look adorable in this warm hat that lends itself to pretend play

Clay Lab for Kids: 52 Projects to Make, Model, and Mold with Air-Dry, Polymer, and Homemade Clay

Fun and engaging clay projects

Thanks for reading my blog today. Enjoy the season shopping for all the kids in your life, and have a beautiful day! 🙂

Gifts

Great Ideas For Holiday Shopping: Classic Gifts in Sophisticated Neutrals

Now is a great time to begin to think about holiday shopping and get started on finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list. When I’m shopping for myself, I look for a good quality item at a great price. But when it comes to gift giving, the focus shifts a little more to the quality side. After all, there are only a couple of gift-giving occasions throughout the year, and I want to give my loved ones a gift as special as they are. Don’t get me wrong, the budget isn’t thrown out the window with these Amazon finds, but I’m also looking for some other qualities. What is the star rating on Amazon? What reputation does the brand have? What kind of materials is the item made of? How unique and original is the gift? Is it special, for example artisan made or made in a country known for that product?

This gift guide is for the person on your list who appreciates the classics. Nothing super flashy, but beautiful, understated, high-quality gifts that are sure to be appreciated.

Here are some of my favorite Amazon picks, delivered straight to you!

First on my list is the mulberry silk sleep pillow. Silk pillows have become a top gift item this year because of the gentle treatment they provide for your hair and skin as you sleep, and because of the emphasis on the comforts of home. I love the deep steel gray color of this pure silk pillow.

The traditional tartan plaid scarf is made of a high quality cashmere wool from Scotland. These neutral tones will complement any look, from a blazer to a denim jacket.

Vera Bradley is an immensely popular brand for all kinds of beautiful bags. I love this soft and sophisticated Vera Tote in teddy fleece. Unlike the colorful prints, this bag is incredibly versatile and goes with a multitude of looks.

You can’t go wrong with a leather messenger bag. Anyone on your list will appreciate this classic and beautiful handcrafted bag in a warm brown leather.

The artisan Aleppo soap is made in Syria from an ancient recipe that is known to help alleviate skin problems. I think its distinctive look and packaging will make it a great addition to a holiday gift.

These attractive Turkish cotton hand towels are perfect anywhere in your home, equally useful in the kitchen, bath, or even gym bag. Made in Turkey from 100% fine cotton.

The sterling silver ring is just stunning, featuring multicolored genuine quartz stones channel set in the band and a large central gemstone.

The frosted faux fur blanket is so soft and pretty. What a beautiful gift!

Wristlets are a great little bag to add to the recipient’s collection, perfect for holding a cell phone and cards. This one is from Sakroots, one of my favorite brands.

Noise isolating blue tooth headphones from Skull Candy are a great gift for someone who spends a lot of time on a computer. This is especially true with so many of us trying to optimize all our online time neccessitated by 2020.

The tortoiseshell finish watch by Anne Klein is classic and fun.

These gorgeous earrings are the real deal: 14 karat gold fittings and Tahitian Black South Sea pearls. This is truly a special gift sure to be treasured.

The Dionis goat milk body and hand cream is made by a small company and would be perfect combined with other thoughtful gifts or as a stocking stuffer.

If you want a classic gift, a signature Coach logo wallet in khaki is a terrific option.

Scented candles are always a nice gift idea, and this set is pretty and versatile in neutral tones. The candles are hand-poured soy with an embossed design.

This s’well water bottle keeps drinks cold for an incredibly long time. I love the teak finish on this little beauty.

Finally, these custom made bracelets can be ordered in your choice of metal, stamping, and with an engraved message. They are so pretty and thoughtful. What a wonderful gift!

Thanks for checking out my shopping guide today! This post does contain affiliate links, and I really appreciate you supporting my blog! 🙂

Have a beautiful day, and happy shopping! 🙂

Gifts

Searching for the Perfect Gift for Your Besties? Here’s Your Best of Amazon Shopping Guide!

Great Gift Ideas Delivered Straight To You

Click links for full details!

I’ll Be There For You Hoodie

Everyone’s favorite friends lend inspiration to this fun hoodie for your own favorite friend.

Sister I Chose Tumbler

This bright tumbler feautures a great sentiment for your friend who’s just like your sister.

Giraffe Nerd Print

Everyone loves a nerd right? Especially a nerdy giraffe on an artistic print.

Pura Vida Ring Stack

Any bff would appreciate this stunning ring stack.

Bath Bombs Set

Bath sets are nice, but this colorful one is definitely the bomb.

Michael Kors Cross Body Bag

Looking for a top quality gift for a top quality friend? Check out this Michael Kors cross body bag in blossom.

Best Friends Necklace

Check out the sweet sentiment attached to the card on this pretty necklace.

Coconut Spa Gift Set

Treat your bestie to some pampering with this coconut spa gift set.

Canon IVY Outdoor Waterproof Camera With Wifi, Bluetooth

This amazing and beautiful Canon camera is a terrific gift for anyone on your shopping list.

Pura Vida Seed Bead Bracelet

Pretty and delicate bracelet from Pura Vida is sure to be appreciated

Weirdo 1 and 2 Necklace Set

You know you two are weirdos, but you definitely belong together.

I’ll Be There For You Friends Pillow Covers Set

Perfect pillows for getting comfy and watching your favorite show.

Handcrafted Custom Cuff Bracelets

These gorgeous sterling bracelets can be customized just for you. Check it out!

Typewriter Print

Pretty and brainy, just like your bff.

Diary

Locking leather diary for everything you have sworn her to secrecy about.

Artisan Freshwater Pearl Ring- Fair Trade

How gorgeous is this sterling silver freshwater pearl ring? And it’s artisan crafted and fair trade!

Belle Art Print

Arty Belle print perfect for your princess-y friend!

Acorn Portable Bluetooth

This portable bluetooth is just too cute.

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my blog! 🙂

Have a beautiful day, and happy shopping! 🙂 I hope you find the perfect gift!