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Embracing rest after a busy holiday season.
Dear Readers,
Late December has a way of pulling us in two directions at once. At this point, the season is in full swing. Twinkling lights greet us as we dash from work to errand to party and home again, trying to select last-minute gifts and whip up just one more batch of gingerbread. It’s busy in that particular holiday way — joyfully, exhaustingly so.
This week has been the best kind of nonstop: I went to the opera, caught a holiday jazz performance, baked dozens of molasses spice crinkles for a cookie swap, fried nearly a hundred latkes for my annual Hanukkah party, and wrapped (almost) all my gifts. In two days, I’ll head to Connecticut to spend Christmas with my in-laws, a boisterous group of over 20 people. I look forward to all this hustle and bustle, and genuinely enjoy it.
But I also anticipate the coziness that follows the chaos: the deliciously slow in-between days when I can recharge my batteries. I hope that you too can turn toward the quieter delights of the season. Brew a pot of tea. Read the books piling on your nightstand. Light a candle (or three). And allow the year to end, gently.
Happy recharging and happy shopping,
– Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor
Buy-One-Give-One Blankets
Sackcloth + Ashes
Oregon-based Sackcloth + Ashes makes beautifully crafted blankets from recycled fibers. Available in contemporary and traditional patterns, these soft yet durable blankets are machine-washable, and designed to be enjoyed for many years. For every blanket purchased, the company donates one to a homeless shelter in the area where the blanket will be shipped. ($140 and up)
Warm Beverage Bonanza
Teeccino
I love trying new teas, kombuchas, and drinks of all kinds, but hate committing to a flavor before I know I like it. That’s why I’m excited to add a bit of fun to the dreariest months of the year by sipping my way through Teeccino’s sampler packs. I’m starting with the Classic Roasted Herbal Tea and Mushroom Adaptogen Samplers, and there’s still lots more to try. ($11.99 and up)
The Cutest Coasters
Friendsheep
Friendsheep, whose dryer balls you may know and love, also makes fabulous home goods, including these coasters and trivets. Each cruelty-free wool piece is handmade in Nepal for fair wages. These absorbent, plastic-free coasters will help set the mood for any cozy day spent reading and enjoying a mug of tea or cocoa, and they come in lots of colorways, ranging from sophisticated to exuberant. ($18 and up)
Recipe for a Fun Night In
Bela Brand Seafood
Cozy means not needing to leave the house — and when you’ve got a pantry full of tasty, sustainably sourced tinned fish, you can whip up flavorful meals with ease. Bela Brand Seafood’s Spicy Card Night Gift Set includes a cute deck of cards, three tins each of olive-oil-packed piri-piri mackerel and sardines, and hot sauce to round things out: everything you need for a lively night in. ($54)
Cheerfully Mismatched Socks
Solmate
Solmate’s mismatched socks add a burst of color to even the grayest winter day. Made in North Carolina from recycled, Oeko-Tex certified yarns, the socks are soft, breathable, and just plain fun to look at. A portion of proceeds from the Hummingbird, Honey Bee, Ocean Turtle, and Goat socks are donated to charitable organizations. ($14.95 and up)
A Heavyweight Hoodie
Vottera
If you wear the same sweatshirt all season long, consider treating yourself to the next sweatshirt you’ll be wearing all season long. Made in a Fair Trade Certified factory from Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton, Vottera’s heavyweight hoodie is soft yet substantial, and will make you feel warm inside and out. ($69.99)
Soothing Beeswax Candles
Bluecorn Candles
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