A Few of My Favorite Things

“The greatest gifts are not wrapped in paper, but in love”.

Here we are again, headed into the holiday season, ready or not. Hanukah actually begins early this year, right after Thanksgiving. Holidays were so exciting and pleasurable as a child. The anticipation of opening all those gifts, especially for those who celebrated both Hanukah and Christmas (like my grandson).

But for us adults, the gift giving season can be stressful and expensive. Maybe you decided this year to give everyone your delicious homemade apple strudel or yummy gingerbread cookies in a festive box. Perhaps you knitted beanies for the loved ones in your family. I thought about gifting my famous chicken soup (since I can’t bake or knit very well), but decided it wouldn’t work.

However, I did decide that this year, I want to spend my money in small businesses, especially in those businesses who give back to the community. Oprah and I must be on the same wave length. She just published her list of favorite things for 2021 (110 items) and most were either women owned or minority owned businesses. I don’t know about you, but I am tired of giving Amazon all my holiday money; Jeff Bezos is rich enough.

Check out these unusual finds–some of my favorite things for holiday season 2021:

COLOR THE WORLD: Imagine purchasing a lipstick that could help save the environment (“Daybreak”) or the lipcolor “Kisses” to build homes for our troops. Perhaps you would choose “Huntress” to give a dog a forever home, or “Empowered” to help triumph over anxiety and depression.

This start-up company by two brothers (and one wife) in Raleigh, North Carolina, “is raising the bar and pioneering the way to improve people’s lives through the expression of color and by raising awareness for and supporting different causes around the world. Their dream is to set an example of how corporate culture gives back; with every purchase of a $16.50 vegan/cruelty free hand-poured artisan lipstick (with tubes made from recycled materials for minimal impact on the environment),10% of profits are split between charitable causes.

The lipsticks are wonderfully moisturizing and don’t bleed into fine lines. The website even provides a method to determine if your skin tone is cool, warm or neutral and suggests lip colors based on this information. Their tagline is help heal our planet one smooch at a time.

You say you need gifts for the grandkids. Check out Color the World kids for handmade sidewalk chalk, non-toxic, cruelty-free and eco-friendly, made in the shapes of popsicles, donuts, tie dye cupcakes and T-Rex and Raptor dinosaur eggs. I bought the cupcakes and popsicles for my great nephew and great niece and they were a big hit!

DIAMOND CHOCOLATES ON ETSY: The owner, also based in South Carolina, was encouraged by her husband and children to start this small business. I received a box of birthday chocolates from my niece and was hooked. Personalized chocolates for special events, Bah Humbug chocolates, and even Christmas poop emoji chocolates for a hostess gift (hopefully she has a sense of humor). The chocolate is delicious and you can choose milk, dark and white in the same box. The customer service is excellent. Try it; you will thank me.

BEEKMAN 1802: It all started with 100 goats and two men who were tired of living in NYC and decided to move to rural Sharon Springs, NY. Josh and Dr. Brent began making goat milk soap at their kitchen table. “Using kindness as their guide, neighbor by neighbor, on the foundation that a community that works together is happier, healthier and stronger together, they shared the goat milk soap and realized the soap did wonders for dry, sensitive skin and even eczema and rosacea. Goat milk has the same PH as our skin. The company makes full of lather handmade soaps, whipped body lotions, hand creams and so much more all from goat milk. They even made Oprah’s list the past two years. My favorite scents are the honey grapefruit and apricot green tea. They also make unscented for those with allergies to scents.

THE HAPPY ME JOURNAL: Keeping a gratitude journal is a scientifically proven method that promotes happiness, develops positive habits and nurtures inquiring minds. It helps guide children through their emotions and challenges that arise during the day. It is perfect for children who struggle to talk about their feelings. Questions and prompts encourage them to share their emotions in a safe way. There is a junior journal for ages 6 through 12 and a teen journal for ages 12 plus.

Happy Me works in the following areas: gratitude, mindset, kindness, mindfulness, digital well-being and self awareness.

Francesca Geens, the creator in England, credits her kids as her inspiration and as being instrumental in making the content just right. My grandson Jesse will receive a journal as one of his Hanukkah gifts. Check it out at happymejournal.com

UNCOMMON GOODS: I discovered this company a few years ago when I was looking for a gift for my brother-in-law Doug, who has everything. But he didn’t have a pistachio pedestal, a solid wood pistachio nut server with an elegant solution for storing the shells. I also purchased a bag of Brooklyn Roasted and Salted pistachio nuts as a separate purchase. Doug loved the gift and claimed the nuts were very fresh, crispy and perfectly salted.

This company has amazing games for kids and adults, custom personalize “Dream Together” wedding bowls and a wonderful “My Family Cookbook” in which you can chronicle family recipes and pass them down to further generations. Some of the gifts are pricey, but well worth a look.

The company donates to causes that share their values and celebrates independent designers and are proud to showcase their work.

COLLECTIVE CLOTHING BOUTIQUE: I love to support local businesses whenever I can. Especially businesses owned by wonderful people who give back to the community. If you live in Suffolk County, you may have had the good fortune to have shopped some years back at Sweet Leaf Boutique in Setauket on 25A. I still have many of the beautiful sweaters, jackets and jewelry from that store. My great friend Livia was the owner and now her daughter Raquel and her partner Mary are continuing the family tradition with Collective Clothing Boutique, dedicated to curating on-trend fashion at a fair price. If you are in the market for unusual and cozy sweaters, beanies, handbags, and jewelry, look online or visit the store on 25A, Setauket. Tell them Penny sent you!

Happy shopping and happy holiday season to you all! XO Penny