11.27.2019

2019 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR THE LITTLE ONES

I'm feeling all the festiveness because Thanksgiving is tomorrow, we have Christmas carols playing, it's chilly outside and the tree is going up tonight, so why not grab some gifts for the little ones before the after Thanksgiving hustle and bustle starts! I'm all about gifts that my littles will love, play with constantly and use again and again. I know they're going to love these gifts and I have a feeling your littles will too! Read about some of our favorites below to find some gifting inspiration!


MAILEG
Maileg is one of our most favorite toy companies, they make the cutest little toys that look like heirlooms (along with having heirloom quality) and they bring hours upon hours of enjoyment and imaginative play for our littles. Bella calls them her "dollhouse toys" since they're the perfect size to play with in her dollhouse and the dollhouse furniture she has, ans she will literally play with them all day if I let her. Setting all her mice and accessories and furniture up, having them go to balls to dance or getting married or taking care of teeny tiny mice babies and so many mouse conversations. It's the most darling thing you'd ever see. This two mice go camping play set is going to be the best addition to her collection! Bodhi has shown an interest in her mice and little things so we thought that this mini lion would be the perfect substitute to him getting into his sister's toys, he's going to love it and it's such a perfect size that he can even sleep with it if he wants!


We're trying to do less plastic and more quality made products in our home, and phasing out our plastic children's dishes is something we're in the process of currently. While the items we own are recycled plastic, I think things made from materials not plastic derived are just higher quality in general, not to mention better for the environment. I'm super excited to be replacing them with these new cassava dishes from Miniware! Their sleek and modern design is amazing, and I love that they foster independent eaters because of the included suction foot that attaches to the bottom of the dishes (yay for no more dishes and food thrown across the room haha), the 100% silicone base suction foot is also eco-friendly and easily recycled at the end of its lifespan. The muted colors of these products are perfect for being just the right amount of "fun" while putting an emphasis on the actual food, instead of being a distraction with loud colors and characters printed all over it. While the materials are all earth friendly, low impact and chemical free, they're also parent friendly and hassle free, since they can be washed in the dishwasher as well as microwaved! I've had my eye on their dishes for the longest time and if you couldn't already tell, I'm excited for my littles to use them!


We've loved Blabla Kids for quite a long time, their products are some of my favorite items to gift our littles, not only because their dolls are so huggable, but also because they are heirloom quality and ethically created by artisans employed using fair trade practices! Bodhi LOVES his TouTou the dog and his Figaro the bird, and plays with them daily, carrying them everywhere, he's going to love Edgar the Hedgehog. Of course I can't forget to mention their adorable throw pillows! They're the absolute coziest and the perfect gift for any little girl (or boy) who may be growing out of the stuffed animal age, Bella loves her rainbow pillow we gave her in her Easter basket this past spring so much and it's really such a sweet addition to her bed, so I know she's going to love finding this sweet butterfly pillow under the tree this year.


Is there anything cuter than a mini backpack? Yep, two mini matching backpacks! I've had my eye on These cute Swankaroo backpacks for the longest time (I'm talking years), so I'm super excited to get one, er two for our littles. They're going to look absolutely darling when they wear them on adventures together this next summer. They're an absolutely perfect size (11 inches tall and 9 inches wide) for all your tiny adventurer's favorite snacks and for gathering all of the nature treasures! I had the toughest time choosing a design, because let's face it, Kendra (Swankaroo's owner) has quite an eye for design and makes the cutest backpacks, but when it doubt, I always go neutral and natural, these backpacks are made from the prettiest brown camel (faux) leather with neutral cotton adjustable straps, are perfect for any age, and the quality is so amazing I'm pretty sure they'll last for years of exploration!


I'm a sucker for all things simple and all things nature related, so put both together and you can call done. I mean, just look at these sweet tee shirts, can you even with how darling they are? this past year we went from not being very outdoorsy people, to being outdoorsy people. We even got a tent recently (though we've yet to sleep in it haha)! So what better little shirts for our little ones to find under the tree than this "nature girl" tee and "park ranger" tee. I mean, I may be a little biased because I'm a huge fan of the Oyster's Pearl (where these tees are from) and I'm kind of of the mindset that anything that Brad and Emily design is amazing, but you can't deny simple truths so yes, all of their stuff is amazing. I love the understated simplicity and minimal designs, the quality is always amazing too. Adding this "be kind" canvas banner to my kiddos Christmas list too because we can't get enough!


LIL BELLIES
We turned into full fledged adventurers this past summer, we found ourselves at the lake every chance we got, in the forest, and visiting state park after state park. We found some really beautiful places, but even better are all of the memories we have not and of course all of the things we learned along the way. Nature is the best school, there is always something new to explore and discover, no matter how many times you visit the same spot, nature will always gift you some little something more to find. I love Lil Bellies because they're such an adventureful (is that a word) brand, their mission to get children outdoors and discovering the world and everything that nature has to offer. Bella is going to absolutely love her new mini forager's basket for gathering treasures, one of her favorite things is to collect baskets or buckets filled with flowers, rocks, pine cones, sticks, shells, feathers and whatever else that piques her interest along the way, this is going to be right up her alley for sure and I know her little face is going to light up when she finds this under the tree. I've also been wanting to get this little Audubon bird caller necklace for Bella for awhile, I think it's pretty much the coolest thing and I'm really not sure who will be most excited about it, her or me! Haha. I have a feeling this wooden magnifying lens is going to be a hit too, she's been begging for it since she seen it on their website months ago so she's gonna be one happy little girl.


We all know how important literature is for growing minds, and in our home children's books are one of the best gifts we can receive. A book can take you anywhere, transport you to a different era and a different place, let you get to know new and interesting people and learn so many things. One of the reasons we love Babylit so much is because they take so many of the classics and turn them into books for the littles to introduce them to characters they wouldn't normally get to meet for years! On top of that, their illustrations are always so great and a lot of their books are also educational! Win-win in my book! Their All Aboard! books are super fun, we chose Pacific Northwest and California, and they'll also be finding this Little Naturalist book and a Little Poet book under the tree!


11.26.2019

2019 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR WOMEN

Not sure what you want for Christmas, or maybe you just want to drop some hints to your significant other about some great gifts? Easy-peasy, just send him a link to this blog post and voila, all your Christmas shopping is done!


WILDBIRD
I had never really heard of babywearing before Bella was born, I mean, I'd heard of it, but didn't know much about it, and sadly didn't learn about ring slings until she was around 2. When I finally did discover babywearing and ring slings though, I was in love. If there's anything I love more than keeping my babies close, it's... wait, there really isn't much I love more than keeping my babies close. I sling Bodhi about every chance I get and always when we're out and about at church, the store, the park, the lake, you name it, I've pretty much always got him in a sling. He loves it, and so do I. Out of all of the brands we've used, Wildbird is my most favorite, their brand has top notch quality made from the highest quality and softest linens, ethical fair trade practices, made in the US by seamstresses who sew from home, and can be used from newborn to 35 lbs! I can get my baby in and out of our Wildbird slings in a matter of seconds, instead of wasting minutes fiddling with buckles and straps while baby and I are both getting flustered. I just added this "Nankeen" double chambray sling to our collection and it's become a fast favorite, it's so soft and becoming softer by the day as we "break it in". Thinking I may need to add "Lapwing" to our stash next, and if one of your little wants to match, they can twin with you in the sweetest "mini" ring sling perfect for their dolls!


CHOOSE MADE
I love finding unique items from small shops and since I'm always drawn to neutrals and contrasting designs, mudcloth has become a new favorite of mine. I think all of the designs are so beautiful and intricate and of course I love learning about the process that goes into creating such beautiful fabrics, learning about the artisans behind the piece and what the designs mean. I came across the most lovely brand recently when searching for a new makeup bag: Choose Made, their products are absolutely beautiful, and the owner, Sarah, has an even more a beautiful heart with her mission for helping those seeking a better life for their family. 5% of the proceeds of every single purchase goes to find housing, teach English and find jobs for those looking for refuge. Her mudcloth cosmetic bag caught my eye and I had such a difficult time choosing a color, I finally decided to go with the "morning mudcloth", but the midnight mudcloth and indigo mudcloth were at the top of my list for sure. A couple other Choose Made items I'm loving is this indigo pillowcase and of course this beautiful folded clutch. All beautiful items that any woman would love to find underneath the tree and that you can feel good about giving!


The beach is my most favorite place on earth, there's nothing so calming and peaceful as looking out over the ocean, seeing the waves chase each other into the shore, feeling the sand underneath your feet and smelling the salt in the air. Walking on the beach and looking out at the sea is something I could do all day, for hours on end and never be tired of it, the one thing that does get tiring though, is seeing all of the trash washed up on the beach during those walks. It's so sad, seeing old straws, candy wrappers, plastic bags, plastic spoons and more washed up on the beach. Human convenience has come at the cost of hurting our environment, sea life, birds and animals, and we have to make a change, be the change. One of my favorite brands actively making a difference to end the ocean plastic crisis and being the change is 4ocean. Since 2017, 4ocean has recovered over 7,089,982 lbs of trash and counting from our oceans and coastlines across the world, their captains and crews work 7 days a week ridding our oceans of trash, and for every item you purchase from 4ocean, they pull 1 pound of trash out of the ocean. How amazing is that? You may not have  realized that every single piece of plastic that has ever been created is still in existence, that toothbrush you owned 15 years ago? Probably still looks just about like it did when you threw it away, 15 years ago, that straw you drank from on your Starbucks run 5 years ago, still exists, and will continue to for the next 500 to 1000 years, er actually forever, since sadly, plastic doesn't decompose, it just breaks down into smaller pieces and turns into microplasics. Around 100,000 marine animals die each year due to plastic in our oceans, and that's just the ones that are found. Let's make a change. Let's be the change. Grab a bracelet here (like this one and this one) or a cleanup bag here!


I keep my skincare routine pretty minimalist, er, well so minimalist that it's been pretty much nonexistent lately haha. I knew I needed a good routine, because let's face it, baby wipes aren't cutting it for makeup removal anymore and this face isn't getting any younger haha, so when I came upon Lola Jane Naturals I immediately fell in love with her products! All the natural and wholesome ingredients, Lola Jane is formulated by the sweetest mama who is passionate about using only the essentials, celebrating simplicity and taking away the excess. Who really needs 100 can't read unless you're a rocket scientist ingredients in a single product, or any product for that matter? Her makeup remover contains 7 (yes only 7) ingredients, and I can read every single one without having to google what they are or stumbling over any 27 letter words like methyl-whatever, because they're all ingredients from nature. As a naturally minded woman and a minimalist, it's always so nice to find a brand who shares the same values and I have a feeling I'm going to keep coming back to Lola Jane for products again and again. These organic bamboo facial rounds are perfect for pairing along with the makeup remover and this amazing rosewater facial toner and are a great zero waste option in pace of single use cotton rounds. If you're looking for a good body polish and especially if you love the aroma of coffee, this (only 6 ingredient) coffee bean body polish is pure heaven.


11.25.2019

2019 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR MEN

What do you gift to a man who has everything and wants nothing? Well let me tell ya, it's not easy to find the perfect gift to put under the tree, but you can never go wrong with the items below...


SEVENLY
As a parent, I feel it's so important to instill a heart of giving in a child, which is why I love supporting brands that have a heart for giving and actually make giving back their mission. I came across Sevenly by an awesome accident, I'm not even entirely sure where I heard the name honestly, but on a whim I decided to look them up and you could have knocked me over. Not only were their products and designs super cool as well as thought provoking and inspiring, but every single product they offer donates to a charity! No matter what cause is near and dear to your heart, whether it be keeping our oceans clean, preserving our national parks and environment for us, the wildlife and future generations, showing kindness and making bullying a thing of the past, education for those who might not access to it, food and clean water as a human right for EVERYONE, curing cancer and heart disease, ending slavery and trafficking, whatever it is that you feel a calling to bring awareness to, you can do so in such cool ways over at Sevenly. Not only that, all of their products are ethically made using only high quality, fair trade, environmentally friendly, slave-free supply chain materials. I'm excited for Frank to find this tee and this tee and this insulated mug under the tree this year. Sevenly is a brand for world changers and they're on a mission to do their part. What cause is near to your heart? Will you be a world changer?


My husband starts every single day with a cup of coffee so of course coffee is one of my go-to gifts fir him. He actually tried Case Coffee a few years back and since he LOVED it I thought why not get him a new roast from Case Coffee Roasters! This Hi-Five Rustic coffee blend smells so cozy, reminiscent of campfires and that moment when you wrap your hands around a warm cup of coffee on a cold morning (or as the package says: earthy, spice and full bodied), so it's going to be the perfect gift for him! While I love that Case Coffee Roasters makes amazing coffee, what I love even more is that Tim and Kati source their coffee with fair trade in mind! Following ethical and sustainable practices, they travel the world in search of the best coffee, bring it back to Oregon and roast them in small batches to ensure all the flavor stays intact. When you drink Case Roasts you can feel great knowing you're drinking coffee that does good all while tasting good!


A belt with no belt buckle holes you say? What on earth is this? Okay, so I'll be honest, I was a bit apprehensive at first too, but a few years ago, I got one for my husband and needless to say, he LOVED it. No more belts falling apart at the buckle holes after repeated use. This is a belt that slides and locks into place, no holes at all, and if that isn't one of the coolest things you've ever heard of, I don't know what is. What's even better is that it is way more customized as far as sizing goes than a traditional belt. Gain a few pounds over the holiday season, not a problem, lose a few pounds while chasing those new year resolutions, no need to buy a new belt, because Mission Belt has got ya covered. Mission Belts adjust every 1/4 inch, unlike traditional belts which adjust every 1 inch or so, so your belt can fit no matter how many of mom's homemade dinner rolls you reach for or how many hours you spend on the treadmill afterwards! I chose the Cuoio Italian Full Grain Leather Belt for him as one of this Christmas gifts this year and I know he's going to love it.


Since we tend to be minimalists in our everyday life, I also like to give gifts that aren't necessarily going to be around forever taking up space, and you know what they always say: cleanliness is next to Godliness. So why not add a few bars of soap underneath the tree? I'm always on the hunt for new natural soap AND I'm kind of lover of all things honey and bee related, so Bee Lovely Botanicals caught my eye right off the bat! Studies show that our skin absorbs around 64% of whatever we put on it so it's so important for me to make sure all of the products we use in our home are natural and made with wholesome ingredients. With ingredients like essential oils, coconut oil, cocoa butter, rice bran oil, honey, propolis and shea butter in their Bee Rugged Pine bar soap and Woodsman Bar soap I think they'll be perfect! Josh and Jodie, the owners of Bee Lovely Botanicals, actually became accidental beekeepers after a swarm of wild honeybees made their home on the land that they own and live on in Michigan (along with their 3 sons), after a lot of experimenting and researching, their hobby ended up becoming more than a hobby! Pretty awesome if you ask me! These soaps are going to make the best stocking stuffers so grab some for everyone you know!


11.17.2019

'TIS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY CARDS

I received product in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own and I only partner with brands we know and love. #MyShutterfly #Sponsored

I may be modern and minimalist in a lot of ways, but I'm also a traditionalist in a lot of ways as well, like Christmas cards for instance. They're something I just really enjoy, I love sending them as much as I love receiving them, as a kid I remember is was always so much fun to go to the mailbox every day during the holiday season and find a new card from family or friends. It seems it may be a dying tradition, but I'm doing my part to keep it alive, and I think more people should, it's just plain fun!


I've been using Shutterfly and Tiny Prints for our cards for years now, and they're our go to for all things photo gift related and especially holiday cards. You may remember I didn't have time to get Christmas cards out last year, probably because I was too busy having a baby haha, but I DID get New Year cards out, which was something new for us, and I kinda LOVED it. I decided to go with Christmas cards again this year, I mean you could argue that it's more of a multipurpose card, neutral, not significantly more Christmas than it was new year, but either way, whatever it is, I'm pretty much obsessed with the cards we chose this year. The design (found here) I chose is super simple, you know I'm all about simplicity and the minimal look, I used one of the photos from our beach sunset family session we had with my beautiful (and vert talented) friend Autumn from Autumn Trinity Photography when we were in vacation in South Carolina (side note: if you ever get a chance to visit Huntington beach state park in south Carolina, do it, it's one of the most beautiful places on earth) and it was the most perfect photo to grace the front of our cards. I couldn't just pick one photo though, so I added 5 more to the back. I was able to customize every last inch of our cards which is why we love the Shutterfly and Tiny Prints experience so much, they know everyone has different tastes and styles and let you choose just what you like! They also offer custom postage stamps as well and I highly recommend them to tie in the entire look, it's always one of my favorite added touches to make our holiday cards even more unique.


I also grabbed a few photo gifts for my mom, in-laws, sisters, brother and sister-in-law, Shutterfly just made my gift shopping a breeze and all it took was choosing some fun products from their website and adding a photo or two to add! Their mugs are super high quality and are always one of my favorite go-to gifts over at Shutterfly. I also found this adorable customized tea towel that's a new product this year and it immediately went into my cart, my mom collects tea towels so this will be the perfect gift for her! Have you created holiday cards yet this year? head on over and make some, you may even want to grab some gifts for the fam while you're at it, and don't forget to take advantage of the discount codes and rad sales they always have going on!