Well folks, look what has just washed up on the shore – it’s the very first ever enhance the everyday holiday gift guide! And it has landed just in time as it’s exactly one month before Christmas.
So what exactly is the enhance the everyday holiday gift guide? Each day, for the next two weeks I will be posting a small selection of goodies to indulge, delight and inspire your friends and family with for this festive season of gift giving. Each day will be split into categories, starting today with gifts ‘for the home’, tomorrow ‘for her’, thursday ‘for him’, and friday ‘for the kids’. Then next week I will be showcasing a range of homewares and decorating ideas for your own home – from festive ornaments & tableware, to gift tags and wrapping.
Excited? Me too.
But you may ask this, what makes the enhance the everyday gift guide any different to other gift guides out there?
It’s simple: everything you will see in the next coming days are not only la classe, which means they are totally hip and stylish and chosen at the hand of a professional stylist BUT… and here comes to best bit… everything you see will fit all my necessary requirements for consumer items, that being vintage or handmade with recycled/renewable/biodregradable material and therefore sustainable.
Why? Because all ‘things’ should be. It’s as simple as that.
Those of you who have known me from the beginning of this blog know that I am an über-conscious consumer + stylist – that everything I purchase is good for the earth, good for you, good for me and good for our future children. My lifelong goal has been to design a modern life that is sustainable without compromising on style and luxury. Therefore whatever has been featured on this blog fits into my philosophy and you can know that by purchasing an item featured here, you are helping the world at large. You may not have already been aware that every item featured on this blog from the very beginning has followed these requirements – from homewares to fashion, food to interior design – it’s all good and it all enhances the every day. And although this first holiday guide will be petit, I hope by the next one I will have a huge selection of treats for you to choose from.
So let’s get to the good stuff tout de suite! Please enjoy the next 2 weeks of giftable goodies. After that I have even more fun things lined up, including my one-year blog anniversary and then let me not even get started on what I have for you for the new year… I have heart palpitations just thinking about it!
But first up, I want to share some simple gift shopping tips for you. Follow these tips and you will not only find the best gifts you have ever given, but you will also be helping our economy and environment:
1. shop locally.
Support your local boutiques and artists + craftspeople. Most homewares boutiques these days stock vintage or locally handmade items so ask for these items when searching for gifts. Use my upcoming holiday gift guide as inspiration.
2. two words: Kris Kringle.
If your family and friends don’t already do so, suggest ‘kris kringle’ from this year on – host a bbq or small get together now (thanksgiving is perfect for this!) and have each person pull out a name from a hat. Each person then purchases a christmas gift for the person they selected from the hat, and only spend the amount allocated (in my family it is $70). The gifts are much more thoughtful and valued (and valuable).
3. Create a wish list.
To save on buying (and unfortunately receiving) gifts that are unwanted and therefore end up in the trash, make a wish list and pass it to those who you know will be buying you a gift this year. That way you receive what you want and your gift-giver is content to know that you will love it. You can also then be selective on your wish list and pick items that are sustainable.
4. Vintage or handmade with love.
Last but not least, source out vintage (ie second hand) or items made with renewable/recycled/biodegradable materials. This might seem restrictive but there is so much scope in this that you may not be aware of including food (hampers!) and wine. Etsy and Dawanda are just two fabulous online sources for finding such goodies, and I have picked out some of my favourites from these great web boutiques, as well as from a few of my favourite boutiques around the world. And since I have readers in both the Northern and (sunny) Southern Hemisphere, I have tried to give you a selection that incorporates both warm and cold holiday climates, and local shops.
Happy gift giving, mes amis!
Next up: gifts ‘for the home’…
your tips are splendid and philosophy inspiring. and all to look forward to!!! your such a thoughtful blogger Pia! It is inspiring. sometimes, I feel like on my blog, I hastily post just to get something up there, but EVERY single one of your posts feels very thoughtful…and intentional, and infused with loving care! thank you!
November 25th, 2008 | #
your posts are alway so inspiring!
November 25th, 2008 | #
Our (large extended) family is doing Kris Kringle-style this year, and it does indeed allow you to focus more on the gift…especially since I’m trying to make all my gifts by hand this year (with the exception of a few handcrafted things we brought back from China)
November 25th, 2008 | #
Lovely idea! I can’t wait to see your choices…
November 25th, 2008 | #
Thank you – this is wonderful..I look forward to every post… and as always I love the photo. That is most beautiful way to wrap a package. My daughter is coming home for thanksgiving and we are going to be making beaded jewelry for all our friends and family. I can’t wait.
November 25th, 2008 | #
Years ago I started making/baking gifts for my husbands’s family here and each couple receives a vintage hat box filled with baked goodies, a book, some tea, a couple of movie tickets and wood ornament (I do collages on wood). Not only do I love doing it, but I love putting it all together and knowing exactly what I am giving them for the belly and the soul. Problem is: at the end of the day…there is nothing in my hat box!! That’s why I am looking forward to your lists!
Thank you Pia!
November 26th, 2008 | #
Pia, your life philosophy is one we should all aspire to embrace, and your gift shopping tips are wonderful. Homemade gifts are often some of the most thoughtful ones, and they are very special to give or receive. I can’t wait to see all the gift guides!
November 26th, 2008 | #
wonderful work and wonderful tips I agree with it all in 200% 🙂
November 26th, 2008 | #
I’m loving your tips. Thank you so much for the inspiration!
December 4th, 2008 | #
[…] reading the two seasonal guides that Pia Jane Bijkerk has on her magical site – the first is an introduction to holiday gift ideas. The second is a guide to holiday decorating ideas: tabletop styling, ornaments, gift wrapping and […]
December 11th, 2008 | #