Twelve Earth Friendly Holiday Gifts To Give This Year

Believe it or not, Halloween will soon pass us by and gift giving holidays such as Christmas, are around the corner.

This year we have seen the destructive forces of climate change. Year over year, temperatures are rising, deforestation continues, overfishing is now a global threat and wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters are taking a daily toll on our existence.

In order to maintain earths resources, we must change the way we use them. And we must work harder to reuse, consume less and behave more efficiently.

Here are twelve earth friendly gifts to give your loved ones this year.

1.) NordGreen Watch – Every watch sold contributes to a meaningful cause, you choose the charity and a portion of each watch sold is equally distributed between their partner NGOs. Watches are sustainably crafted with eco friendly materials and there are wood based and vegan bands too. Check them out! 

2.) Surfrider Foundation membership– Non profits such as Surfrider work globally to help preserve ocean health. Why not get your loved one an annual membership? Show them you care about the ocean and their love for it by encouraging them to help keep their local beaches healthy and clean.

3.) Consigned Clothing- check out your local clothing store and there you will find a plethora of used handbags that are designer and dazzling, amazing jackets, and jeans, jewelry and more. By shopping in a second hand store you are bringing a second life to an item instead of contributing to more resource depletion.

4.) Hand Me Down Technology. Have an old iPad or IPhone that you no longer use? Selling it for cash then using the money to gift give or simply gifting a barely used device is a great way to break the cycle and save money while saving the planets resources when gifting for your loved one.

5.) Charcoal Water Filter Sticks –will turn any ordinary water bottle into a filtration expert, naturally, and is the perfect stocking stuffer.

6. Bake Vegan Snacks You may think its trendy to be vegan. And Celebrities are often bragging about their no meat diets. In addition to a vegan diet promoting heart health, a vegan diet also helps the planet. Because animal agriculture is one of the main pollutants to our earth and its resources.

7.) Sustainable Jewelry– timeless pieces made from times past. Materials such as recycles metals, plastics and glass are used to make one of a kind jewelry pieces that not only cost less but prevent more landfill waste.

8.) A home cooked meal. Why not treat your loved on to a home cooked meal of their choice? Skip the restaurant, the commute and the wrapping paper. After all, we all know that the way to someones heart is through their stomach. And for dessert? Netflix and chill.

9.) Take An Eco Trip together. There are so many eco travel tours, hotels and excursions that will help keep the carbon footprints to a minimum while offering maximum adventure and downtime.

10.) Support local artists that support the planet. Ocean lover artists such as Wyland and Andy Davis support the ocean while providing beautiful art.

11.) Buy Cruelty Free beauty products and makeup. Vegan beauty products are good for the planet, and the animals.

12.) Invest in a bike for your loved one. Bikes are an eco friendly form of transportation and are a great way to stay fit. So gifting a bike is an excellent way to show your loved one that you care about them.

Why Give Earth-Friendly Holiday Gifts? 

Giving environmentally-friendly holiday gifts, such as the meditation pillow made from organic buckwheat hulls and the ones mentioned above is getting trendy nowadays. And anyone who’ll receive gifts such as the ones mentioned in this article will surely have a merry Christmas. Below are the reasons why these items are perfect as presents:

  • Unique: You probably noticed that eco-friendly holiday gifts are unique pieces. It creates an impact on the planet and makes a bold statement. Once you’ve found the perfect gifts that suit your loved ones, they’ll indeed have big smiles on their faces. 
  • Brings Unforgettable Experience: The best eco-friendly gifts discussed above promote health, comfort, and general well-being, providing the recipients with an experience that can be memorable and useful.
  • Preserve Mother Earth: Aside from being sustainable and functional, you can help reduce the waste generated from synthetic materials being disposed of in landfills, like plastics. 

Takeaway

Have you decided on the best earth-friendly presents for your family and friends? You have countless options to choose from. The best gifts are unique pieces based on the recipient’s personality and your inspiration in choosing them.

The spirit of Christmas comes from your genuine love and concern, not just for your family and friends but also for the planet. This year, try choosing earth-friendly holiday gifts for a change. Whatever you choose for your loved one this year, make sure it is a thoughtful gift that also has compassion for mother earth.

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How To Give Gifts That Inspire Your Kids This Christmas

The end of the year is fast approaching, and with it comes the holiday season. It’s a time to share with family – to break bread together, eat, drink and be merry. A time for connection, love and sharing. For some families, it’s the only time of year when everyone in the extended clan gets together.

 

And Christmas is an especially magical time for the children in your life. Nothing can beat the sparkle in their eyes as they wake up and see the pile of gifts under the tree and stuffed in stockings. The magic of Santa is a magic they may  only experience for a few years in reality, so cherish it while it lasts.

 

In this helpful article, we’ll share how to shop for Christmas gifts for kids that will inspire, excite and bring them joy.

 

Board Games and Puzzles

Some gifts that will inspire your children are anything that will engage their brains. Board games, puzzles and other “analog” games will encourage them to get away from the tablet or console and onto a table, where they can practice problem-solving, spatial awareness, cooperation or even some light competition, depending on the game.
By encouraging them into hobbies like board games and puzzles, you could even be setting them up for a lifetime passion and interest. 

 

Arts and Crafts

Another inspiring gift idea for your kids this Christmas is a selection of arts and crafts activities. Again, the idea is to get them creating, imagining, and engaged in an activity that has proven benefits to wellbeing, development and behaviour.

 

Some examples of arts and crafts toys include things like Spirograph, sticker and activity books, modelling clay or plasticine, playdough, coloured pencils and pens and paint. 

 

Not all of the examples above are appropriate for all ages – for younger toddlers, the playdough is probably the best bet. On the other hand, the art materials that require more refined motor skills are probably better for kids aged four and up.

 

Bikes, Scooters and Skateboards

Again, this gift idea aims to get kids away from sedentary activities like video games and to feel excited and energetic. A physical activity promoting toy is a great choice and will make your kids’ Christmas extra special.

 

A bicycle is always a safe bet, and chances are, as your kids’ age, they will outgrow their bikes after a year or two and need a bigger one. Other ideas are scooters (three-wheeled for the younger ones) and skateboards. You might also want to include protective equipment, such as helmets, knee guards, elbow guards and wrist guards – safety first, after all. 

 

Books

Finally, the last inspiring gift idea for Christmas this year is a collection of books. Books are gateways to imagination, inspiration, literacy and creativity. You can opt for a mix between fiction and non-fiction – kids love fantasy as much as they love learning. Try to pick books that match their interests and passions; for example, if your kid is curious about the world and science, you could choose a non-fiction science or biology book. If they’re horse obsessed, a fiction book about horse adventures is a good pick – you get the idea.

 

A Jolly Summary

In this article, we’ve shared how to give gifts that inspire your kids this Christmas, and we’ve focused on non-screen related ideas. From board games, puzzles through to books, and with some physical activity encouraging toys in the mix – this list is sure to assist you to buy gifts that will inspire your children to get creative, active, imaginative and aid their development. 
An added bonus to this list is that they are all activities you can do with your children, whether it’s going on a bike ride or reading to them at night, because bonding with your kids is an essential part of parenting and one you wouldn’t trade for the world. 

Simple Ways To Get Your Grinchy Self Into The Holiday Spirit

It’s Christmas time and they say “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” But you’re not feeling it? Are they singing carols on the street while all you want to do is throw snowballs at them to keep it quiet? While the holidays are an exciting time of year, it can also be a painful time. For people who hate the time of year or are just having a bad time in their life, the aura of the holidays can make their mood worse. 

It’s not that far-fetched an idea that many of us can feel a little Grinchy around the holidays. What is the point of putting on that sparkly dress if there is no one to kiss under the mistletoe? Why should you send holiday greetings when you can use that money to buy more drinks to drown the sorrows? Here are some simple ways to fight your inner Grinch and help turn on your holiday mood. 

Put up your tree earlier 

In many countries, the Christmas tree is decorated traditionally on Christmas Eve. But that doesn’t leave a lot of time to enjoy its beauty. One of the easiest ways to get into the holiday spirit is to decorate your tree earlier this year. 

Find your favorite natural tree or use an artificial one. You can express your creativity by adding decorations according to your tastes. By decorating your Christmas tree early, you can experiment with different styles. And because you will have an early start, you can take down all the ornaments and do a complete makeover. 

Replace Traditional Holiday Tunes With More Modern Music  

We don’t know what’s worse – maybe it’s listening to Mariah telling us yet again, what she wants for Christmas or it could be our constant year over year tears from listening to Wham’s “Last Christmas”. And while we cannot control the songs we hear in the supermarkets and coffee shops, we can at least put together a personal playlist of our own to please our souls. 

Now, the songs don’t have to be related to the holidays. Remember, the holidays are a time for reflection and giving. So, for the sake of self care, and your ears, write down the names of ten songs that trigger happy memories for you. Once you have your playlist, listen to it as often as you can during the holidays and drown out the holiday melancholy.

Find the perfect gift for you 

Shopping for presents and gifting others should bring you joy and happiness. However, it often creates anxiety and leaves you with an empty bank account. This year, instead of spending weeks thinking about finding the perfect gift for your uncle Bob or Karen from Accounting, try investing in your sanity. 

Look for purchase worthy generic gifts on sale for everyone. And use the money and time you save to find something just for you. Whether it’s a frivolous sequin dress you don’t plan to wear anytime soon, or an out of the ordinary hobby gift. We really don’t care what it is. Just find something for you! Maybe it is an accessory that supports your passion for fishing like new lines for a bait caster or an extra fancy treatment with a weekend getaway to a spa. Whichever you choose, pick something that you wouldn’t normally spend your money on. 

After all, you worked hard for that money all-year-long and you deserve some self care over the holiday season. 

Bake and cook

There’s no better way to embrace the holidays than to have your apartment smell like home-baked gingerbread cookies.

Ask your friends for help and turn the event into a full cooking party. Put on some nice clothes and open a fancy bottle of wine. For the record, cooking with wine is what makes a lot of dishes delicious. However, don’t worry that your dishes won’t come out looking appealing or tasting like heaven. Cut yourself some slack and enjoy the process rather than the results.

In the true Holiday spirit, you should celebrate the things that matter the most in your life – your friends, your family, and maybe your favorite wine. If you have zero baking or cooking skills, you can always order Chinese and call it a day. Everyone is into Chinese food, right?

Use those fancy glasses

For those of us 30 years old and above, chances are you have a set of “fancy” dinnerware that should only be used on special occasions. You mean the ones way back there at the top of the shelf? Yes, those dishes and glasses!  The ones your grandma was saving for you and out of respect, you were waiting for that extra special occasion. Hold my beer while I wait. 

Why save dinnerware for an occasion that may never happen? Instead, create the occasion and celebrate the holidays. Now, break out the fancy glasses and the silver spoons, hang those pretty decorative lights and have yourself a wonderful Holiday Season. 

Thoughtful Holiday Gifts For Your Significant Other

Holiday Gifts That Count

Thoughtful holiday gift ideas? The Holidays are the time of year to spend with the ones you love. And when you’re in a relationship, it ca be an exciting time to be in love and enjoy some quality time together. It can also be extra stressful to figure out the best gift for your SO.

If you want to make your Christmas together special, consider the gifts based on the kind of person you are dating and what they are into. Here are some great Christmas gifts for him and awesome presents for her for a perfect, memorable Christmas.

Perfect Christmas Gifts for Him

Every man is different, and there are personal things that can inspire you to choose the right gifts. Here are some suggested Christmas gifts for him to show how much you care.

The Movie Lover

If he is a movie nerd he will love this fun poster that features 100 of the best, must-see movies ever made. As he watches them he can scratch each panel off to reveal the movie image underneath. The poster features a broad range of genres from classics and modern classics. Including films such as; Vertigo, The Godfather, and Spirited Away. If he’s a real movie fan, he’ll likely scratch off a few as soon as he hangs it on the wall.

The Fine Spirits Connoisseur

Bring out his inner caveman with a cobbled granite stone drink dispenser. This is a striking and unique way to serve spirits. Sourced in Maine, with a stainless steel tap, it features an optional stand to raise the dispenser. It’s easy to change the bottle with the custom plug, allowing you put a new bottle in without having to tip the heavy dispenser upside down. Since it is handmade, every single one is unique.

The Romantic

Give him a gift with a really personal touch. A Handwriting bracelet is the perfect Christmas gift to celebrate love. You send a picture of your own handwriting to the seller. Once received, they will make up a bracelet featuring your message in your own handwriting. You can personalize both sides of the charm too, for twice the meaningful messages. A choice of colors and sizes are available to help you design your bracelet too.

The Every Man

Is your favorite man carrying around a worn wallet that has seen better days? He deserves an upgrade, so why not get him a new one as a Christmas gift? You could buy a leather wallet with RFID security to prevent NFC theft. These wallets have plenty of space for cards, cash and coins. And you can even personalize it with his name, so there’s no chance of him getting it mixed up with anyone else’s. These are handmade, with a classic design that anyone will love.

The Coffee Drinker

If your boyfriend runs on caffeine, look no further for a Christmas gift for him, try a cold brew coffee maker. If he can’t get enough coffee and struggles to get through the day without it, a coffee maker is a must-have. Cold brew coffee gives you beautiful coffee concentrate, which you can then use how you want, whether you want it hot or cold.

Perfect Christmas Presents for Her

When you’re looking for a thoughtful holiday gift for her, you need to keep her interests in mind – do not just buy her a typical “female” present. Try one of these options when searching for one of her perfect presents.

The Overworked Girl

If you know she’s a fan of a relaxing bath, a wooden bathtub tray can make her time in the tub even better. They offer lots of space for everything from shampoo to a wine glass, book, phone or anything else she could want to have in the bath. The handy tray keeps everything dry, and it’s great to use when there are two people sharing the tub.

The Fitness Guru

Everything these days is smarter than it used to be. For yoga lovers, a smart yoga mat makes yoga more interactive. This thoughtful holiday gift is self-rolling, so rolls up with just a click while you busy yourself with gathering the rest of your stuff. If you have a hiker on your hands, and he needs. a backpack, pronto, perhaps this amazing bug out bag will do the trick?

The Napper

For a good night’s sleep, you can’t beat a silk pillowcase. They are hypoallergenic and they feel nice and cool. A silk pillowcase is also excellent for the face and hair, as it helps minimize wrinkles and tangling. Once she starts using it, she won’t want to sleep without it.

The Try-Anything Daredevil

For the fun-loving lady in your life, you can’t get anything much more eye-catching than these exclusive suede roller skates. Not only are they super fun to roll around in, but they look amazing too. Their cool, retro look comes in a variety of colors. Surprise her with something this unique for Christmas. Its wonderful to provide a thoughtful holiday gift to your loved one.

Look for the perfect Christmas gifts for your loved ones, and above all, enjoy your time together as a couple during the holidays.

Mother-In-Law Awkwardly Mistakes A Fish Tank Vacuum For Her Son-In-Law’s ‘Penis Pump’

We all have those stories where our parents, who are behind the times, mistake modern technological items for something else. Like, how many times have your parents seen a new piece of technology and thought it was something dirty and foul? Maybe they haven’t, but I sure know that my mom has mistaken some back massagers for some other dirty items (swear, they were clean).

One Reddit user, u/i_love-lamp, shared the recent story of his mother-in-law coming into his house and trying to get him into some big trouble over the holidays. The story involves a fish tank, a fish gravel vacuum, and a very annoying mother-in-law. Apparently, this woman is the kind who loves gossip and spreading rumors about people. According to u/i_love-lamp, she shows up unannounced and often times just lets herself into their home—obviously, that’s annoying.

Guy Creates A Group Text With All Of His Ex Girlfriends For The Holidays And It Completely Backfires

There’s nothing like the holiday season to put you in a sentimental and nostalgic mood. Many of us look back on the people we truly care about and wonder if they’re happy and how they are spending their holidays this year—especially our exes. While we all want to reach out and wish them a Happy and Healthy Holidays we know better. It really is like beating a dead horse. Texting one ex is one thing—but, texting all of them in a group chat, well that takes serious guts.

One man, named Tom, decided that for Christmas, he would wish all of his exes a Merry Ex-Mas by creating a group text with all of them in it. Tom claimed that this year he was “lonely” and wanted to remind them all he was still in existence. As you can imagine, it backfired.

Gemma seemed to be over it. Bella definitely didn’t want to be here. And Lisa, well Lisa had no time for Tom’s crap.

Steph decided to speak up after Bella tried to drag Tom for sleeping with her while they were together. Let the games begin!

Obviously, the ladies weren’t into it.

But, Gemma was down for the humor and decided that if Tom could be such a good sport, she’s down to grab a drink with him for the holidays.

So, while it backfired a bit—it turns out, Tom was truly winning in this idea.

Retailer Worker’s Christmas Revenge Story Proves Being Petty Is The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself

Anyone who has ever worked in retail during the holiday seasons can tell you that people are not always kind and patient with retail workers. While normal people are home decorating their houses and cooking with friends and family, retail workers are working overtime to ensure you can buy your holiday needs and find them easily in stores.

But, instead of being kind and patient, many customers are rude and demanding of retail employees. So, it’s only natural that many employees want to get their sweet chance at revenge on picky and annoying customers. However, not all retail workers go for the jugular. Except, one Chritmas, Sarah Bélanger Demaneuf did the unthinkable.

Sharing her story on Facebook, she said that every time she decorates for Christmas, she’s reminded of the time she was super vengeful—and, we love it.

I just can’t get into the holiday spirit until I post this. Have a vengeful Christmas y’all!!

The Star of Vengeance

This is my favorite Christmas ornament, but rather than symbolize peace and goodwill, as it should, it symbolizes vengeance and spite.

I was working at a local retail store after Christmas and all of our ornaments were reduced to 75% off. This little star was .50 cents. A terrible woman (dressed to the nines and driving a high-end Lexus, so pretty well off) came into the store and wanted 4 star ornaments, but wanted to only pay .25 cents a piece. As we weren’t at a yard sale I said no and she started arguing with me, becoming increasingly rude and belligerent. After not bullying me into caving she said “Fine! My friend works at the other store in Huntsville and she told me that all the ornaments will be 90% off tomorrow, so I’ll just come back in the morning. “I can’t guarantee they’ll still be here,” I said. And the jerk said, “There are 12 in the store. No one is going to buy all 12. I’ll get what I want, prepare to feel stupid tomorrow.”

So in an anti grinch moment my heart shrank 3 sizes and I bought all 12 star ornaments. I then called the other Huntsville store and bought ALL their ornaments. And just to be extra spiteful I bought all the star ornaments in Decatur and Florence. It was the most vengeful $30 I ever spent.

The next morning she was at the store as soon as we had opened. I had the pleasure of telling her that ALL of the star ornaments in North Alabama had been sold to one customer. The look on her face was worth every penny spent.
For years I gave the ornaments to friends and family, but I saved just one for myself.

17 years later, I still smile when I hang it on my tree.

I just can’t get into the holiday spirit until I post this. Have a vengeful Christmas y’all!!The Star of Vengeance…

Posted by Sarah Bélanger Demaneuf on Thursday, December 6, 2018

People online were loving this petty tale and wanted to commend Sarah for her job well done.

Bravo, Sarah, bravo.

Mason Ramsey Just Released A Christmas Music Video And It’s Bonkers

Mason Ramsey became an internet sensation in 2018 when a video of him yodeling Hank Williams’ “Lovesick Blues” at Walmart went viral. He skyrocketed to fame and stayed famous because he’s truly talented. Since then, he’s put out an EP, called Famous, and he just released a video for his cover of the Irving Berlin classic, “White Christmas.”

The video features young Ramsey crooning away on the stage of a theater that looks to be setting up for a Christmas play.

Other kids dance in front of the stage. Some of them are dressed as newsies. No explanation for the newsies other than that the whole vibe of the video is old-fashioned and quaint.

Mason is singing into an old-timey microphone, wearing a shirt with fringe and a pair of cowboy boots and looking fully in his element.

Mason definitely learned some cool microphone moves.

The whole video has a dream-like quality to it.

Check it out below!

Mom Sends Precious Child To School Nativity With Inflatable Sheep Sex Doll

The annual Christmas pageant: adorable kids in a play about the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. The epitome of innocence and purity—except for the blow-up sex doll sheep that came with the child size “shepherd” costume this mom purchased from Amazon.

Helen Cox, psychology student and mother of Alfie, 5, bought her son the costume to wear in his school nativity play. It was listed on Amazon as “Labreeze kids boys brown shepherd costume inflatable sheep nativity fancy dress outfit.” There really doesn’t seem to be anything “fancy” about the costume so they must be referring to the sheep, because she does look fancy. (Also, it doesn’t look like Alfie is wearing the actual costume in those pictures, because that is definitely a bathrobe and a towel on his head.)

Screenshot by The Sun

The costume came and Cox opened it up and put the contents into another bag, with her son’s name on it, to bring to school on the day of the play. She didn’t bother inflating the sheep that came with the robe, since they could easily do that at school.

So she was confused when the school asked her to take the toy back, until she blew it up and noticed it had a big ol’ hole right there in the butt. It also has a bright red nose, a bow, and noticeable eyelashes (I guess that makes it a lady sheep?).

Alfie, being five, doesn’t know what the hole is for, so Cox reportedly told him it was for the sheep’s toilet paper, which is hilarious.

Cox told The Sun, “He’s probably in his room right now stuffing Lego in the hole.” She added, “I just can’t believe it. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry! How am I going to explain this to his teachers?”

So now the only problem is that Alfie wants to keep the inflatable sheep, and Cox can’t really think of a reason she can give him as to why she doesn’t want him to.

“I told him, ‘you can’t have this sheep Alfie’ but he kept asking why so I had to make up a reason.” she said. “I told him it didn’t look like a proper sheep because it had a mustache, red lipstick and a bow on its head, but he still wanted to play with it. I couldn’t think of any more reasons why not.”

But she came with an idea to pull the wool over his eyes (SORRY). She’s going to say that the Elf on the Shelf took it. That’s right, the ol’ “blame it on the Elf” trick. [Side note: this kid is going to hate that elf.]

The listing has since been removed, an Amazon spokesperson told The Sun. And I checked, and indeed it has, so this will hopefully not happen to any other people who don’t want their sons or daughters to get attached to, um, fancy sheep.

32 Utterly Inappropriate Christmas Cards For Couples

With Christmas very quickly approaching most people are scrambling to make sure they got their significant others the perfect gift. It’s always nice to be thoughtful, but sometimes you can give a gift while getting a little something-something in return. Maybe all you really want is some of your man’s special package, no better way to let them know how you’re feeling like a naughty Christmas card.

Not only is it a good way to spice up your holiday season but it’s a fun little way to make sure it’s a present they’ll never forget. Maybe you’re planning a not so silent night or an after hours trip to his north pole. Give your partner a heads up that you’re planning on adding a couple of X’s to their X-mas night. Just remember to try and keep it down, you don’t want to scare Santa when he comes late night. Here are 32 cards for naughty couples this holiday season.

1. No discrimination here.

2. I hope not…

3. My kind of snowman.

4. Talk about a great plan.

5. Not if I have anything to say about it.

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