With turkeys ( or Tofurkey) and pumpkins squarely in our rear view mirror , it’s time to set our sights on some eco-friendly holiday gift ideas. We love these gift ideas because they are recycled, passed down for generations, light on your carbon footprint and good for your soul (did someone say weighted blanket?!).
They also won’t break the bank while doing some good.
Browse through our inspirations for this season and beyond (and don’t forget how important it is to give yourself some love as well!).
It’s true, plants do make you happier! And healthier, and an all around better human (ok that’s not scientific, but seems very plausible!). Since the pandemic, the plant business has exploded. Folks trapped inside or in their yard are craving some companionship and healthy hobbies. Once you know a little bit about your environment, adding a few little green buddies can be just what the doctor ordered. Along with removing toxins and delivering some always appreciated extra O2, there’s just no way to go wrong!
The Sill does a great job at making recommendations and you can even give a subscription!
Sign me up!
If you know me at all, or you have been a client, you know that I give Glassbaby’s away like hugs, generously and often!
I cannot say enough about the joy this company gives all of us. From their amazing story, to the delicious collection of colors and their generous giving back plan, you can never go wrong with a single choice. Double up and share the love!
Another company on the top of our list is always Saje. I talk a lot about the importance of scent for health, relaxation and storytelling. You can’t go wrong with any of their scents or diffusers, but if you are new to the diffuser world, check out the Uplifting collection, Sunshine or any of the diffuser blends. And nobody minds if you open them early and get started!
If you love candles as much as we do around here, then this little gadget is a must have! No more butane or disposable lighters to worry about piling up in a land fill. Burn on!
And now on to the blanket portion of our show…
No matter what time of year it is around here, you can find our studio and home littered with a variety of weights, textures and colors. Our motto is you can never be too cozy.
These selections let you have your texture and feel good about it too. From the luxurious weighted blankets at Bearaby ( wait, what, why a weighted blanket? Learn why right here ), to the ultra light weight (and amazing ombre pattern) of REI’s all weather sleeping bag, to one of our all time favorite humans at Seek and Swoon, you can give a gift that gives back, both to worthy causes and the environment.
And every time your special someone wraps themselves up, it’s like getting a hug from you!
There have been very few pluses to this pandemic, but, for our family, it has definitely been getting back into the kitchen and getting creative.
Our Place’s collection of multi function pots and pans saves the day all the while looking really good while doing it.
We are especially loving this Perfect Pot, because while we love the cooking part, the clean up is a not so much! We are diggin’ the Blue Salt and Spice, how about you?
Other than your knives, nothing is more important than the surface you are using to cut on. ReBoard is the whole package. These colorful BPA-free cutting boards are made entirely of kitchen plastic scraps and renewable sugarcane. And 50% of profits go back into charitable causes. Let’s cut to the chase, this is a pretty perfect gift!
And once you have diced and sliced and cooked up all that awesome food, wouldn’t it be nice if you could just leave the yummy leftovers in a bowl and pop it in the fridge? Well you can with these nifty zero waste covers. All products are hand sewn with attention to detail in German sewing factories, especially social and rehabilitation workshops. And as a designer I am loving all the fabric colors and patterns, it’s always something new!
And, of course, we need a few things for the coffee table. Seaglass and recycled glass bead strands continue to grace our shelves and tables. We love the textural feel and coastal vibe of these sea inspired natural delights.
And we are just loving a world with Justina Blakeney in it. From her joyous use of color and texture to her design and life philosophy, she brings a smile to our faces and she will to yours too!
And that’s a wrap! Did you know that wrapping paper and shopping bags account for over 4 million pounds of waste per year! Wrappily aims to reduce that number by using local newspaper printing facilities to create 100% recycled paper, with super sweet designs from local artists. Local work for global good!
So, there’s our To Be Continue’d starter guide to some of the lovely, good for the earth, items that are available this season and beyond.
Remember, giving comes from the heart, and your heart is all the world really needs.
Well, maybe your heart and good chocolate.
There’s always room in the world for good chocolate.
Be well and kind in this holiday season!
See you next year!
Cheers!
Renee
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee is an absolutely wonderful designer. Very talented and easy to work with! She will transform your room or outdoor space into exactly what you want, only better!
Talented, creative, dedicated, great communicator. Renee is such a special person.
We have worked with Renee Carman at this company for almost 2 years. Renee is professional, personable, and a pleasure to know. She is very helpful and will go the extra mile to please her clients. Renee has excellent expertise and knowledge of interior design. We have a beautiful home and highly recommend her.
Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!
Renee was a pleasure to work with and has great vision. We were doing a total rehab of a recently purchased property and she was able to look at a gutted out '50s cottage and turn it into a beautiful mid-century modern home. She understood our budget and timeline and was good about narrowing all our options down to just a few choices. This expedited the process, made it less difficult and more enjoyable. Once the rehab is done, we look forward to working with her again and finish the rest of the rooms.
Renee at Mandeville Canyon Interior Design was simply wonderful to work with. She was able to understand what we were looking for in terms of color, function and design from the moment we first spoke. She's easy to work with, goes above and beyond and delivers an outstanding design.
I highly recommend Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design. I don't think I will attempt to decorate another room in my house without the help of Renee!
Love working with Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design ! I had the opportunity to collaborate on a large scale design project recently and the results were fantastic! Creative, resourceful and one of kind design ideas made this design opportunity with Renee "one of a kind" Have a large or small project? You won't be disappointed!!
Renee not only has an amazingly creative eye, she also directed a massive renovation for us this past year that included the challenges of operating during the pandemic. She put together a team that had an incredible work ethic and brought the project in on-time and on-budget. She's a great listener. When we threw ideas at her, she was never dismissive; quite the contrary, she made them better. Her patience, attention to detail combined with her whacky sense of humor meant we were all able to smile while producing a home that we love. A great talent and a great lady.
Rene is amazing! Great customer care and wonderful attention to detail.
