Holiday Wishlist
Ah, yes! Its that wonderful time of the year where the days feel shorter, and you over spend to prove to your loved ones that they’re on your mind. Since moving to LA and away from my family I’ve grown a new appreciation for the holidays, and am actually super excited to spend it traveling to see them. I’m even more excited about bringing over thoughtful gifts and goodies for my family, so excited that I’ve already started on my shopping. Now, it might not seem typical of a sustainably minded individual to promote a holiday built on capitalist greed, but I won’t be guilted against my desire to treat those who I haven’t been able to spend my year with. Perhaps gift giving is becoming one of my love languages?
On the other hand though, I’ve always had a difficult time accepting gifts from others. The first and most important reason is gratitude. Its not that I’m not grateful when someone takes their time to make or buy something with me in mind, its that I never feel like my gratitude can be expressed to its full extent, and I’ll spend days wondering if the gift giver believes that I am in fact so thankful for their generosity. The second reason? I never expect them. Sure, if my boyfriend decides to skip my birthday gift one year I might protest, but for everyone else: You’re off the hook. There is a reason why I work so hard and budget myself the way I do to get myself the things I need. Then there is my third, and probably most controversial reason: I fear getting gifted something I have no use for, which can be inevitable when you’re receiving gifts from someone you haven’t spent a lot of time with. Those you spend the most time with generally have a better idea of what you might want/need.
So, in conclusion, this is why I’ve decided to share my Holiday wishlist. This actually started as my personal shopping list, so if I don’t happen to receive any of these items as a gift this holiday season, I’ll just mop up my tears, put my big girl pants on, and gift these to myself. Be warned, these are probably not your typical wishlist…
Gifts under $50
Don’t you worry… no gift is ever too small.
My hair is finally long enough to put into a scrunchy since the big chop back in Spring. These colorful ones are made from fabric scraps to help alleviate some of the fashion industries’ waste epidemic.
Best paired with the Haekels Lemon Balm Incense for bright yet calming aroma therapy. The funnel works as an extinguisher, concentrating the smoke in one place and slowly releasing so you can enjoy the scent for a longer period of time.
I can never have too many lavender pouches at home! I use them in my closet and inside of my drawers as a natural deodorizer and moth repellent. I’d also like to keep 1-2 by the bed to help my stay asleep through the night.
For those nearly perfect hair days I’d like to embellish. This barrette is made from recycled bronze in NYC, and is free from all those sketchy medals such a nickel and lead.
Okay, so I’ve recently become OBSESSED with my clothing brush. I purchase the clothing brush for delicates from Housework to use on my silk, lace, and cashmere items and avoid having to wash them as frequently as I had been before. Now I’d like to have the Everyday Clothing brush for my sturdier fabrics like denim, wool, hemp etc. The clothing brush is essential if, like me, you find the idea of bringing dirt from the outside in through your clothes terrifying.
Similar to the lavender pouches, these Cedar Closet Hooks help bring the fresh woody scent to your closet and help deter moths from your wool clothing. Once the scent begins to fade you can simply sand these bad boys down a bit for a refresh so these last a very long time.
I’ve got my natural sponge for daily use, and my shower brush for those days I’d like a vigorous scrub (usually after hours sweeping the patio), and now I’m just missing these traditional exfoliating cloths for face and body. They’re made from wildly harvested Nettle found in the Himalayas of Eastern Nepal.
GIFTS $50 AND ABOVE
If you haven’t noticed already: I’m really into fancy home essentials. This is all in my attempt to make everything in my house meaningful, functional, and meant to last for years. The reviews on this broom say it all - Must have for homes, especially if (unlike me) you hate to clean and need some motivation.
A wardrobe staple, the Chore Coat has had a recent resurgence. Its a great layering piece, especially for Southern Californian weather. This sepia color is warm enough to make my skin look a little less pale even through the dry winters.
Use code FINDINGKATNIS15 for 15% off.
The Floral Scissors are a close second…
These scissors have been made by a factory in Japan since 1792!! That’s 227 years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if these scissors would last just as long. A colleague of mine told me her mother has had a similar pair from Japan since before she was born and they still look good as new.
Put this under the “I must be getting old” list. Ceramics are on my mind 90% of the time. I think I like the idea of feeling more connected to artisans by acknowledging that every single piece is probably made by hand.
In Navy Matt. I have the shirt version of this dress and find myself reaching for it at least once a week, so naturally I’ve been dreaming about the dress.
Haven’t gotten started with your holiday list? Well chances are I’m waiting on it. Hopefully this list has served as inspiration to think outside the box for gifts that are a little more meaningful that the typical. Feel free to check back here for any holiday promos in the near future!