2021 Gift Guide for Good

Hi Subscriber First Name,

Holy December, Batman!

This month is often a bit fraught for me. Not only is it my birthday month, but the holidays are also headed my way at full speed, and another year is coming to a close. Plus, it can be a bit grey outside which, despite my love of the snow that often comes with grey in December, dark days can wreak havoc on my mood.

This December is about par for the course so far, and I have to admit that I was sorely tempted to blow off this newsletter. I am instead forging ahead and despite everything swirling around in my head, I’m just going to try to keep it short and sweet. Wish me luck with that.

2021 Gift Guide for Good

Last year, I did a gift guide that was all about fun and colorful design. I am still all in for fun, colorful and well-designed things, but I’m feeling a bit anxious about THINGS and CONSUMPTION and WASTE this year, so I’m going to focus on gifts that are not only well designed but also GOOD (or better) for the planet and all of her inhabitants.

First up - Democracy!

In my mind, giving gifts of donations is really and truly the best way to honor those you love for the holidays. Over the years, I’ve donated to organizations like Heifer International and the Nature Conservancy’s tree planting program in family members’ names, and I still recommend these gifts highly.

This year, though, Democracy is top of my gift-giving list, so I’m promoting Common Cause for the work they do fighting for voting rights across the country. I also serve on the board of Colorado Common Cause, so the Colorado chapter is near and dear to my heart.

If you donate today, which is Colorado Gives Day, you can do so right through my portal at https://www.coloradogives.org/KimiMischke.

Since 1970, Common Cause has been working to hold power accountable through lobbying, litigation, and grassroots organizing. Our non-partisan, pro-democracy work has helped pass hundreds of reforms at the federal, state, and local levels. Our more than 1 million members and more than 30 state organizations around the country work to strengthen our democracy by empowering the voices of everyday Americans in government.

Gift #2 - Reusable Face Rounds + Holder

These Reusable Face Rounds might be more of a stocking stuffer, but I’m including them anyway because I love them and am actually gifting these from Anchored by Design on Etsy to a number of my makeup-wearing family members this year. You can find all sorts of them on the internet these days, but I particularly like these because of the lovely fabrics. You can also order them with their own little baggies.

Add this fantastic ceramic holder, and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous, useful, and planet-friendly gift that your recipient would have to be nuts to not love.

Gift #3 - Unpaper Towels and Holder

There is absolutely no need to use paper towels when you can buy these cloth towels from Marley’s Monsters! They come in all sorts of color combos and patterns, and you can even include a holder to really sass things up.

Seriously, this is such a fun and easy way to get off of the paper towel habit! Send them to everyone you love!

Gift #4 - Sylvia K Ceramics

From across the pond and the other end of the price spectrum (depending on what you purchase) comes Sylvia K Ceramics. I came across Syvia K’s work the other day and thought I’d died and gone to heaven.

The glazes, the colors, the shapes! Prepare to be blown away and blow your recipients away in turn. Sylvia K even makes pieces to order if you’re not seeing what you want in stock right now.

What’s more - pottery is useful, which is what this list is really all about.

Gift #5 - Lund Water Bottles

I first came across Lund’s London Skittle Bottles while I was in Marfa, TX last month. I love these because they check off so many boxes: fun? check; colorful? check; useful? check; reusable? check. Brilliant!

These gems come in three sizes and all sorts of delicious color combinations, and you can even swap out the tops for fun faces or animal heads. I mean really. What more could you ask for?

Since you asked, they are also

Made from stainless steel
Fits standard ice cubes
Keeps contents cold for 24 hours
Keeps contents hot for 12 hours
BPA, PVC and phthalates free
Suitable for hot and cold drinks
Recycled and recyclable packaging

Gift #6 - Zero Waste Kits

Last but certainly not least, I recommend any number of these Zero Waste Kits from Zero Waste Store. Truthfully, anything from this shop and the many, many others like it would be a great way to introduce your loved ones to a life of less packaging and waste.

Pictured here are the Zero Waste Baby, Grocery and Shaving kits. They are all on sale and seem to be going rather quickly so hurry over.

While you’re on their site, be sure to check out this article about how to generally make less waste this holiday. There are great ideas for wrapping paper alternatives, which is one of my biggest waste pet peeves (never mind that I started my design career at a company that made gift wrap).

Happy Holidays and Happy Waste-free Shopping everyone!

Bidding adieu to 2021

This will be my last calendar page for a while as I’ve decided to take a year off, but I’ve already gotten something in the works for 2023, so don’t despair.

I do think this is a lovely and appropriately festive page to finish on though, and I hope you agree.

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