Trying to do the Holidays without Consumerism

I love buying gifts.

I love picking out just the right thing for so-and-so, or the perfect surprise gift for the hard-to-buy-for person on your list. I love walking into a store and looking at all the wee gift options, all the visual stimulation of pretty things. I love scouring webpages online until I find exactly what I'm looking for. It's exciting and it really puts me in the spirit of thinking of others for the holidays.

This is in direct contrast to how much I take issue with consumerism. As you know if you've been following along for a while, I am all about the thrifting and the handmade/small business shopping. Not only is it nice to support smaller companies, it also contributes to helping the environment (reuse recycle!) and not "buying in" to big chain businesses that almost definitely come with a bundle of ethical concerns.

So, how do I give gifts and not buy into buying?

(Illustration credits to Sarah Lazarovic!)

I'm not very good at it. I bought most of my gifts this year, and I ended up buying for myself too. Oops. I wrote here about a Good Gift Guide a couple of years ago, and it's still true. But I feel conflicted even in so doing. I love making gifts, but for one, that takes buying materials, and two, there are only so many scarves I can knit for loved ones before they run out of room on their necks and in their closets!


Here are some of my brainstorm ideas for how else to cut back on consuming this holiday season:

1. Do a "Secret Santa" or Gift Exchange with your family
Talk to your famjam and see if they're down for a Secret Santa or similar gift exchange this season. My cousins/aunts/uncles/grandma on one side all decided that we would do a Secret Santa where we each buy a gift for only two people. It is insane that we've been buying gifts for everyone for the last 25 or so years - the family is huge! We are spending and buying and receiving way less if we do it this way, and I think we, the universe, and all of our bank accounts are happier for it!

2. Donate. Donate. Donate.
This one was on my Good Gift Guide too, and I'm still into it! I really learned this in the last few years from my fella and his family who all have a strong belief in giving back, especially during the holidays. It is inspiring and I realize that it can mean a lot to some people. I was looking for the perfect final piece of a gift for a friend, and everything I found felt repetitive and useless. Then it clicked! A donation to a cause that is of great importance to her. Perfect cherry on top.

3. Gift experiences.
In my schooling I've come to realize that "experiences" are also a huge part of consumerism: we work to make money, we then use our money to 'better' our leisure time. Leisure and recreational activities are damn expensive. But offering them as gifts doesn't have to involve experiences that cost you anything. Gift a family member an afternoon at a gallery with you, and go on the free day! Your presence and time is the gift. Gift your lover a weekend together at one of your places (if you're like me and don't live together yet) when you can spend dedicated time just the two of you. Maybe throw in some free massage coupons and a home cooked meal ;)

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I suppose a lot of this involves having the receiver of said gift be into the idea, for it to have the same effect. This is the part I stumble over a lot. I want the gift to feel good for the recipient, and not impose my beliefs on them when it should be all about them! But at the same time, you've got to start somewhere, and who knows when you might plant the seed for change on their end, too. It's all a balance, one that I haven't really perfected yet. But here's to trying!

For Your Mama - Mini Gift Guide

It's a glorious time of year; time for mamas to get spoiled and showered with love and appreciation and other good things! For those of you looking for gifts/specific things to do for your mums, here are a few ideas I gathered just for you, including the usual, small businesses and makers!

For the New Mama: I came across this beautiful wooden, organic wood nursing necklace on Etsy and thought it'd make a cool necklace before I realized it was for mamas with babies! Stylish, and functional.

For the All-Natural Mama: You can never go wrong with all natural soap (unless you're like me and have 100 stashed away because people keep giving me soap...)! It's pretty, it smells good, it's good for you.

For Every Mama: Make her something delicious, make an event of it! Gather your siblings (if you have any) and put together a special meal for your mum. Here's a few ideas to get you started:
1. Summer Veggie Minestrone via Hello Glow
2. Whole Grain Pancakes (for breakfast in bed?) via A Beautiful Mess
3. Spring Pasta via Design Love Fest

For the Seasoned Mama: This is one for mama with many babes! A few years ago, this initial necklace is what I got my mum. I got hers 3 hexagons, with each of mine and my sibling's initials. Tried and tested and true; she loved it!


Already have plans for spoiling your mum? Leave your idea in the comments!

The 'Good' Gift Guide!

Every Christmas that passes I feel more and more conflicted about getting gifts for others and participating so much in consumerist culture. I often try to make things, but there are only so many little things I can make and give year after year to family who already have 5635263 little paintings I've made for them. So this year I've been thinking a lot about how to do some good by buying things for others, even if it's the same kinds of objects I might buy from a big store.

For the Jewellery Junky
One Bead Bracelets are beautiful - a friend of mine gave me one as a graduation gift and I just love it! One Bead partners with a recycled glass blowing studio in Kenya to make these gorgeous beads for their jewellery. On top of that, 100% of the profits go towards helping a school in Kenya where the idea for One Bead began. It's a great project and the jewellery is so nice - I can say that from personal experience! Read more about their story here.

For the Chocolate Lover
Alter Eco Foods is a fair trade chocolate company (and other foods... but you know, the chocolate is the most important obviously). They work with small-scale farmers to fairly and sustainably create their foods. They are very engaged in the communities they work with, helping to replenish the land they are harvesting from. I really like their statement: "Reliably Delicious, Socially Just, Environmentally Responsible". Read more about them here.

For the One Who Already Has it All
Gifts of Change is a Canadian initiative by Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief. They have many options for donations to be made in the name of someone else. Buy a goat, pay for a safe birth kit, or to plant 100 trees. There are options for a whole variety of causes in Africa that can appeal to a multitude of heart strings. For example - my mom LOVES trees and is very worried about how often they are destroyed. So paying for 100 trees to be planted for her is the perfect gift.

For the Astrologist
This gorgeous speckled, ceramic constellation mug would be great for an astrology lover! And what is "good" about it? It's being sold through Moorea Seal, which donates a portion of its profit to a variety of charities - you can even pick your cause when shopping online!

For the Statement Maker
This fabulous Nim bag by Ixchel Triangle would make such a statement! I've always been such a fan of traditional Mayan patterns and looove that these bags are made out of up-cycled huipils (Mayan blouses).  Ixchel Triangle hires artisans in Guatemala, and the proceeds of the products helps support a Guatemalan family - providing education for their children for example! Read more about their mission here.

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What are your favourite "good" gifts to give!?