It seems It goes without saying that 2020 has been a long year. For the women in your life holiday gifts that inspire self-care are some of the best ways to show you know exactly how hard this year has been.
With the extremely good likelihood the Christmas will be yet another skipped family gathering, finding the fun and unique gifts that can go direct to your recipient is the perfect way to add a little joy to the season, completely stress free.
One of the biggest challenges of moving to a fully remote lifestyle is breaking the routines and habits that have been hard won and connected to leaving or returning to the house each day. For me, my skin care routine was definitely impacted by the change in schedule.
Now that winter is here and Colorado’s dry weather is really ravaging my hands and face, I’ve been working on starting new habits based around my new daily schedule.
For a clear complexion I love the activated charcoal products from Space Skincare. While mask wearing has helped remind me that I shouldn’t touch my face when out in public, wearing a cloth directly against my skin has it’s negative side effects.
The Activated Charcoal Mask is a safe way to detox and combat blemishes. Designed to remove blackheads and clear pores this peel off mask is the ideal addition to a new weekly routine.
For a regular exfoliating treatment I love the Activated Charcoal Scrub. Exfoliation should be done weekly and helps remove rough dry skin. Combined with a weekly mask routine I’ve loved how big a change I see in the brightness and clearness of my complexion.
On a daily basis everyone needs a good natural sunscreen. Products you wear daily need to be natural and free of chemicals which is why I love the Daily Sheet Sunscreen from Babo Botanicals. I’ve been working on lowering the number of toxic products I expose myself to regularly and its crazy all the unknown items we’ve conditioned to find in our daily skincare products. Luckily Babo has none of those and is completely natural and hypoallergenic.
Dermatologists recommend a daily sunscreen, even if the sky is overcast. In Colorado our altitude makes sunscreen a necessity and reflections from snow can burn before you even realize it.
Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Face Lotion | Space Skincare Charcoal Mask | Space Skincare Charcoal Scrub
The work from home ‘uniform’ has changed what lounge clothes (and work clothes) look like. Dressing up for zoom meetings was sooooo 8 months ago. Now the key to working effectively from home is finding the best items to wear everyday that are both comfortable and stylish.
Made with 100% cashmere the Figleaves Bliss Hoodie is the ideal work from home blouse to gift this season. Slightly oversized this sweater is perfect for tossing on over a camisole and starting the day.
Knit with cashmere the soft texture is extremely comfortable and ties make adjusting the fit of the top easy. This is my new favorite sweater for chilly days and is perfect for long hours in front of the computer.
While work from home is amazing, eventually we will head back to the office. When we do, having a bag that can bring all your daily gear, and lunch into the office is going to be key. The Axis Backpack from Petunia Pickle Bottom from Better Options Co. is the perfect transition backpack that can be used today for lunches on to go, and in the office later.
As a daypack I love how easy it is to bring along everything I need for a hike or walk with large top compartment. The bottom unzips and a fully insulated bottom doubles as a lunch sack or snack system for a hike. Comfortable compartments make bringing everything you need on an adventure that much easier.
Figleaves Bliss Hoodie | Axis Backpack
It’s no secret that 2020 has been a stressful year. Gifts that can help remind us all to relax a bit are a well appreciated sentiment. At the end of a long week (or long year) a hot bath with music is just the ticket for starting off a weekend refreshed.
In addition to a nice glass of wine, scented candles and music can elevate the bath relaxation experience. Wick and Glow Candle Company has combined candles and music for an innovative gift idea that is the perfect reminder to take more time to yourself.
Each hand poured candle uses soy wax and essential fragrance to create an aroma therapeutic experience. Each scent includes a custom matched 90’s R&B Spotify playlist, accessed with a QR code added on the backside of each candle. You truly can not beat the full experience of a bath with candles and the hits of the 90’s.
Each change is 8 oz and has a burn time of over 120 hours. My favorite scent from the Love Song scent was ‘Real Love’, full of lavender, rosemary and chamomile. The gift set includes three unique scents, each ideal for lighting up depending on different moods of times of the day.
After a bath a luxurious towel is a must have for wrapping up in warmth. Towels are an overlooked gift item but a nice gift set is the perfect holiday gift. Bamboo Bath Towels from Cariloha are an amazing gift any woman in your life would love.
A bamboo blend, each towel is packed with softness that holds up to multiple washings. Bamboo is naturally odor resistant, making these towels a quick favorite even if you have a habit of forgetting to change over the laundry.
Wick and Glow Love Song Gift Set | Cariloha Bamboo Bath Set
The theme for 2020 is stay at home, but home doesn’t mean not having fun. Being at home more has translated to more home projects, more togetherness and more reason to update things you use everyday.
Decorating and sharing memories is a great way to be at home, while enjoying the time’s you’ve been able to travel. One fun way to marry both past travels and home decor is with a custom frame from Dune Jewelry & Co.
Dune showcases sand or natural elements from your favorite vacation spots along side a 3×3 photo of your choice. I picked sand from the Galway Bay in Ireland to add a touch of our first trip to Europe to my décor.
I’ve always been a huge fan of mason jars but if you tried to pick some up this fall you know that 2020 has truly been the season of the jar! I use Mason Jars for storing food, drinking glasses, vases and keeping dry goods in my cupboard.
When I first learned about Mason-Re I was excited to give them a try. Mason-Re makes silicone koozies for all your favorite jars, allowing you to protect the glass or even keep hot and cold beverages the appropriate temperature.
Each koozie fits perfectly on a wide mouth jar and comes in a variety of colors, allowing you to customize a set for the whole family. Each silicone koozie is BPA free and completely dishwasher safe making it easy to work them into daily use as your favorite new drinking glass.
One of the upsides of being at home more is getting to spend a ton of quality time with the dogs. One of the downsides of being at home with the dogs is they can be rambunctious at the most inopportune times. We’ve always used a basic dog gate to keep pups from being able to freely wander the house, but that gate wasn’t well constructed or a matching part of our decor.
When I’m working I try to keep the dogs out of my office because they like to “talk” during meeting and while Drew is sleeping I try to keep them from waking him while he prepares for an overnight shift. A good gate has helped us keep this separation, while maintaining fun décor.
Stair Barrier from Better Options Co. is the ideal way to keep the areas of our home separate. Easy to install the barrier attaches to the wall on one side and the banister on the other. We can roll it up out of sight when not in use or clip firmly closed when we need the keep the dogs out of certain areas of the house.
Dune Jewelry Square Picture Frame | Mason-Re Gift Set | Stair Barrier from Better Options Co.
Interested in other holiday shopping inspiration? Check out the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide.
Disclaimer: I received product samples to inspire the creation of this guide. No additional compensation was provided and all reviews and thoughts are my own. Affiliate links are used throughout this article. Purchasing through the use of an affiliate is of no cost to the end buyer and helps support the production of this blog.
As a kid I was very lucky to be surrounded by Aunts and Cousins who really spoiled me both during the holiday season and throughout the rest of the year. Now that I have nieces and nephews of my own, holiday gift giving has become so much fun.
Kid’s gifts have changed so much and it can be overwhelming to stand in the children’s section of a store and narrow things down. Since most shopping this year is happening online even knowing where to start is challenging. I’ve picked out a few of my favorite gifts and am sharing so that you too can be the ‘cool’ Aunt in your family!
For toddlers and preschoolers just starting to become a stable walker Pediped’s Grip ‘n’ Go shoes are a fast favorite. There is nothing more adorable then a tiny pair of shoes [except maybe the tiny feet that go into the shoes]. I love seeing all the fun colors and styles Pediped designed specifically for little feet.
Velcro and elastic make putting shoes on easy, even with a wiggly toddler and Mom will love receiving a gift that growing kids really need. Designs are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting healthy foot development meaning your gift is not just a cute item under the tree, but also a thoughtful and useful item they can use for months to come.
Constructed with vegan materials and non-toxic materials care for these shoes is easy. Grip ‘n’ Go shoes are completely machine washable. Remove the insoles and place in the washing machine with cold water on gentle. Use regular detergent and leave shoes to airdry out of direct sunlight before reassembling.
This is a kids gift that both Mom and little ones will love. I’ve been a huge fan of Nalgene since receiving my first bottle upon dorm move in at Colorado State. Completely BPA / BPS free Nalgene bottles are built to last and can easily go in the dishwasher between use. I have Nalgene bottles that I’ve used for over a decade and they are still my favorite bottles.
For holiday gifts for kids the 12oz Grip-n-Gulp is the perfect introduction to water bottle use. Completely spill proof the rubberized lid and mouthpiece is an ideal transition for those leaving the bottle behind and won’t leave a mess in the backseat of mom’s car.
I love that this bottle doesn’t have a straw attachment that can be lost later. The valve is removable to allow for deep cleaning and can go in the washer with all the rest of the dishes.
Once ready to transition to a regular water bottle topper it’s easy to swap out the lid and keep using their favorite cup! This water bottle really grows with kids and can be used for many years.
I know how much parents appreciate useful gifts so in addition to finding something fun for kids to play with, I like to seek out things that can make everyone’s life a little bit easier. One item I know my family loves is ergoPouch sleeping bags.
Parent’s know how valuable sleep can be, and anything that helps keep little ones out longer is a blessing. Designed as transition from swaddling sleeping bags help keep little ones comfortable and warm throughout the night, without restricting their movement.
While toddlers have long outgrown being swaddled, the comfort of being held while sleeping can help them sleep through the night more soundly. The Jersey Sleeping bag is perfect as your little one grows and provides a breathable organic cotton cover that can keep baby an appropriate temperature all night long.
It’s been a challenging year for small business owners and supporting local toy stores will help ensure that they are here next year when we can go back to shopping in person. In Colorado we have an amazing store called Beyond the Blackboard, run by a family of educators who are dedicated to knowing what toys will keep your crew entertained and educated [even during stay-at-home orders].
Beyond the Blackboard has an online store you can browse, but if you are an Aunt or Uncle buying gift’s I recommend giving the store a call and asking them to pick out the perfect gift instead. You can set a budget for your gift and they will even wrap it and send it along through the mail. It’s like having a team of holiday elves who really know what is going to make you the cool aunt this holiday season.
Holiday gifts that allow kids to be creative are some of my favorite things. The team from GoldieBlox recently launched a whole new line of arts & crafts perfect for older girls.
Each kit has multiple ways of coming together encouraging creativity and invention at they play. The Rainbow paper craft kit has supplies for 3 different projects, giving hours of entertainment throughout the holiday season.
Rainbow Paper Craft Kit | Friendship Bracelets
Interested in other holiday shopping inspiration? Check out the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide.
Disclaimer: I received product samples to inspire the creation of this guide. No additional compensation was provided and all reviews and thoughts are my own. Affiliate links are used throughout this article. Purchasing through the use of an affiliate is of no cost to the end buyer and helps support the production of this blog.
I’m a big stickler for not decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving. After all, Thanksgiving deserves an entire month of attention where we can enjoy pumpkins and fall leaves! Since I try to decorate the entire house the weekend after Thanksgiving I need decorations that are easy to put up and store throughout the year.
When Nearly Natural invited me to try out their faux holiday décor I knew it would fit perfectly in my decorating plan! I love faux plants that are easy to store throughout the year and look good without paying attention to water and care.
Garland is a fun way to add holiday cheer to a small space and I am loving this Bow and Pinecone Garland. At 9 feet long I can either loop it around a larger space or double it up to provide extra depth and texture. It comes pre-lit with LED bulbs meaning I can easily add it to the top of my china cabinet without worrying about wires and cords.
The garland itself is very realistic looking and is full enough to disguise that it’s not ‘real’ greenery. Each pinecone is flocked with ‘snow’ and red bows adorn the entire swag.
Our front door doesn’t have a good way to attach a wreath so I love displaying one as part of the entrance to my home instead. Designed to look like olive greenery, the Olive with Berries Artificial Wreath adds the perfect touch of holiday cheer.
The wreath is very sturdy and has is not likely to lose berries or leaves when moved and put into storage after the holiday. I love that this fun colorful piece will last and be able to add a pop of color to our home year after year.
We are going to finish decorating the rest of the house this weekend! What are your holiday decorating traditions?
Disclaimer: I receive a product sample to facilitate the creation of this article. All photos, thoughts and opinions are my own.
I can’t believe it’s already the holiday season but here we are! Since wandering the mall aimlessly is out I am relying on my fellow blogger friends more than ever to help me find new and fun holiday gifts for my loved ones.
I love getting to collaborate with other content creators and this years 2020 Mega Holiday Gift Guide was a fun project with over 30 bloggers and instagrammers showcasing our favorite gift ideas!
Remember when you used to get big thick catalogues in the mail were you could circle all your favorite items and leave for Santa to find? That’s exactly what the mega holiday guide is, the perfect catalogue for ‘leaving’ in plain sight with your holiday wish list stacked on top.
The full guide is below with links to a few of my favorite things and I’ll be sharing more Rocky Mountain Bliss Guide picks in depth over the next couple weeks! For now, check out the Mega Holiday Guide and let me know what is on your holiday wish list this year in the comments!
[3d-flip-book mode=”fullscreen” id=”4165″][/3d-flip-book]Looking for add a bit more Christmas Joy to your life? Enter the 2020 Holiday Guide Giveaway for your chance to win a $100 visa gift card to make shopping for gifts that much easier.
Disclaimer: I received product samples to facilitate my contributions to the 2020 Mega Holiday Guide. Some links are affiliate meaning the host writer will receive a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. Affiliate links are no cost to you the buyer and help support blogs like this one!
