“Holidays are coming, holidays are coming…”

Who remembers this iconic Coca Cola ad of yester-year? The jingle and images are still stuck in my head and for this little girl watching images of a portly Santa Claus, falling snow and Christmas presents galore, I so wanted to be a part of this fantasy land.

Seeing as my birthday is the end of the year, I’ve always had both Christmas and birthday presents lumped into one despite the separate day presents I preferred. Boo! Anyone face this dilemma being born around the holidays?

Anyhoo, I still enjoy Christmas presents as much as the next person and since my tastes are very cultured (hear, hear 😊), I love receiving and gifting (myself included) unique not-too-Chrismassy presents that can go for any season too. Yes, people. You can and should always gift yourself presents. It is a form of #selfcare for me.

Furthermore, I love to support local New York City small businesses and what better way to do so than this holiday season with gift giving galore? I have a marshmallow kit and a libido enhancing cocktail (ooohhh…) to try and they are made locally in NYC.

So…without any further ado, let us get to eyeing and buying unique Christmas presents in this holiday gift guide that can work for everyone.

Earth Hero

Earth Hero is an eco-friendly online market for affordable, niche and sustainable brands and I love, love, LOVE them. Everything from hemp clothing to organic, compostable, vegan, cruelty-free, plastic free, recycled consumer products is in stock, along with material list and end-of-life disposal methods in the form of compost, return or recycling options.

I put my dollars where my mouth is and buy often from here, from compostable bags, bamboo toothbrush, and bamboo cutlery. Gift these to anyone regardless of their stance on environment and I promise that they will love them as they are not only very eco-friendly but aesthetically pleasing and well performing as well. Other Christmas presents ideas from Earth Hero include:

 

Zero Waste Gift Boxes

Holiday Gift Guide: Green Kitchen Gift Box

This green kitchen gift box is ideal for the individual wanting to begin a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle but unsure where to begin. All products are organic, recycleable and biodegradable.

Look at that flat lay. Isn’t that aesthetically pleasing? And it’s not just fine for nothing, these products get the job done and guarantee a plastic free, sulfate-free, compostable and vegan origin and disposal method. There are many more zero waste gift boxes on Earth Hero so get clicking. 😉

You’ll be the belle (or beau) of the Christmas (or holiday) ball with a NOT ugly sweater or reindeer stockings as gifts. Go you!

 

 

 

Holiday Gift Guide: New Mama Gift Set

Is there a new mama within your circle? Do you want to give them something unique other than the usual onesies she probably has a million types of?

Then get her this bundle of joy gift set that she will adore. It has food grade silicone teether, glass bottle and organic cotton swaddling cloth. Products are handmade, phthalate-free and safe for baby.

End-of-life disposal is either through donation or recycling.

There are gift sets for beauty enthusiasts and vegans etc so pick a unique and sustainable Christmas present for the special folks in your life. Be sure that these unique gifts will be appreciated and not taken to Goodwill before New Year’s Day.

Holiday Gift Guide: Stasher

 

These are reusable silicone food storage bags that hold food and liquid in a clear, plastic-free bag. Give the gift of Stasher to everyone and watch them show it off at the Christmas or holiday table.

It is also great for storing leftovers you know you’re gonna have all holiday long to last you till forever January. You know, the month that never ends.

At its end-of-life, just forward product to the manufacturer in California to be repurposed into playground pebbles. If that isn’t sustainable and eco-friendly, I don’t know what is.

 

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts Under $50

There is absolutely no reason to go bankrupt buying disposable Christmas presents during Black Friday death stampedes…why do you brave it annually??

That is why this holiday gift guide has very unique items that not only will last longer than cheap, China-made plastic toys, but will last and be responsibly disposed of at end-of-life according to its materiality.

Cue under $50 unique, useful and beautiful Christmas (and holiday) presents for all.

Copper Mug

A copper or ceramic mug is a present I have gifted myself because I love their aesthetic.

This copper beauty glows beautifully by candlelight filled with eggnog, mulled wine or your fave Christmas tipple. Ah yes. Picture a ceramic mug in hand, feet up in woolly socks by a roaring fire experiencing hygge. Bliss!

 

 

 

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts Under $25

Even better than under $50 Christmas presents is under $25 pressies for the very budget-conscious amongst us looking to stretch a dollar.

Hand Made Soap

This handmade, green tea and eucalyptus soap is a unique Christmas gift for anyone. it requires no fancy wrapping; in fact, the more rustic the wrapper, the better.

Picture this: handmade soap in recycled wrapping paper tied into a bow with hemp or jute. Definitely stands out amongst the plethora of antler and pine tree wrappers.

It is made in the USA, contains NO sulfates, parabens or preservatives & was manufactured from solar power electricity. Kudos!

 

 

 

 

Browse more sustainable and practical items on Earth Hero

Holiday Gift Guide: Misfits Market

This is a subscription service that aims to reduce food waste in landfill by re-directing ugly fruit & veg from organic farms that would ordinarily not be bought by conventional stores thus ending up as trash.

“But this isn’t a Christmas present, Kemi!”, you squeal. It’s not a traditional Christmas present but I did say that I’d have lists on here that are not too Christmassy, innit. Bear with me here.

Everyone eats, no? And the holidays are a harried time of meal preps and cooking so why not gift this to a favourite person or needy family in the run-up to Christmas? They will have fresh, nutritious produce and you can always suspend your subscription after a month or three.

It works by choosing delivery schedules – weekly or fortnightly – and after the first order, you get to choose your produce. I receive zucchini, radishes, beets and aubergines, produce I’ve never cooked with before so it is an exciting experience to follow the helpful recipe cards for each box.

Get up to 40% less than grocery store prices when you shop Misfits Market

Holiday Gift Guide: Wyld Skincare

I get to know this brand when I receive their French Pink Clay Konjac Sponge in my Causebox this past spring. “French pink whaaa…!?“, you say. It is a non-abrasive facial sponge made from 100% natural Konjac plant and it is completely compostable at its end-of-life.

Gift pink clay or charcoal sponges and watch recipients extol praises of their Christmas presents. If you still use facial scrubs, I implore you to STOP and switch to these natural sponges. I even use them to wipe my face in place of a towel and if you need proof, check out my skin on IG. Lol.

Wyld is #vegan and #crueltyfree and will be ideal for the vegan or animal rights person in your circle. Even better, receive 15% off via a discount code when you enter your email on their site.

 

Holiday Gift Guide: Aya Paper Co.

I stumble upon this sustainable paper goods company on one of my IG binges and I am intrigued. Their paper gifts are made with 100% recycled materials, produced using renewable energy, and sent in low waste packaging.

Their cards are humourous, colourful and fun; not the conventional stodgy greeting cards of our parents’ time. Missed a pal’s birthday but still want to send something to acknowledge it? There’s a card for that. Need a motivational, pick-me-up for you or a friend? There’s a card for that too!

Sign up on the site to receive 15% off your first order + updates on new products, events, and special discounts.

Holiday Gift Guide: Snuk Foods

Snuk Foods is a delightful, online global grocery with delicious fruit, veg, spices, rose water and what-not from all regions. Think Middle Eastern, North Africa, Central Asia, Balkans, West Africa…for the foodie in you, or anyone you’ll be gifting this to, expect squeals of delight when the box is opened.

As a West African lass, I am lucky to live in the diverse, melting pot that is NYC so I don’t have to go far to look for ingredients to make traditional foods, but, I looooove cooking and trying regional dishes so Snuk Foods is convenient for order and delivery.

There are recipes onsite to spur you into finally practicing that delicious dish you had on your travels but could never find ingredients for at home. Snuk Foods is your plug.

Holiday Gift Guide: LOOP

Loop Box is the latest circular delivery model of reuse and refill of consumer packaged goods. This model combats the scourge of single-use plastic plaguing our planet and helps keep material within the value chain instead of being trashed after a single use.

In plain English, you order a LOOP box of products and return them for free after use. The empty containers are hygienically washed and refilled for next use. I receive and review a complimentary LOOP box in summer and I am still going through all the reusable and biodegradable items.

This is an ideal unique and sustainable Christmas present for anyone, really, with a socially responsible message to boot.

 

Well…that’s all, folks!

Are you not entertained by the plethora of unique and sustainable options for Christmas presents?

Let me know in comments if you’ll be switching up gifts this year to more sustainable and plastic-free options.

Hint: you should. Don’t forget to share and see you on the social streets! xx

 

 

 

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