Holidays this year are going to be extra special as most of us are now able to gather together to celebrate. While sharing time with loved ones is amazing and will create whole new albums of special moments to cherish, caregivers this year deserve our special attention.
So many people, especially women, have had to be all things at all times to their families during much of 2020 and 2021. They were our educators, care providers, chefs, IT professionals, and housekeepers, all while logging onto their virtual day jobs and leading the charge on their own careers. This holiday gift guide, inspired by entrepreneur and mother of four, Hope Smith, will lean a bit on the side of all the MUTHAS holding the world together with their strength and love.
Traditional Gifts with Big Social Impacts
Simple traditional gifts can take on great significance when you select brands that support a community, and bring a bit of that special cozy Norwegian hygge to the homes of friends and family this winter. For those of you who need a reminder, hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga,”) is the northern European concept of calm, contented enjoyment of wholesome comforts. It’s the perfect word for the season.
Step 1: Get cozy.
Getting your hygge on means slipping into winter must-haves as you curl up by the fire. The right hoodie can be the perfect gift, and you can feel especially good about your gift by purchasing one from nonprofit Unlikely Heroes. This global organization gives 100% of its profits to recover and rehabillitate child and adult victims of human trafficking.
Step 2: Nothing beats toasty toes.
Slippers are always a welcome gift. This year, go to the source and buy your next pair (or one to share) from a group that supports individual artisans in indigenous communities. Companies like Manitobah Mukluks keep traditions alive and help to reinvest in indiginous communities to ensure a better future for all.
Step 3: Bring on the soft lighting.
What you need is a good warm fire, or how about the glow of candlelight? The MUTHA™ all natural F* Racism Candle, “burns in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.” 100% of the candle’s profits go towards fighting racial injustice. This soy, coconut, and beeswax candle will provide 50+ hours of tranquility, glowing with its signature complex scent which includes Tuberose.
Finally: Set a beautiful scene.
To complete our holiday hygge theme, don’t just bring her breakfast in bed. Make a loving and beautiful statement in your whole home. Would Works (WW) and People’s Pottery Project (PPP) have collaborated on gorgeous handicrafts with a big benefit, like this hand-made Better World Butter Set. WW and PPP work with formerly incarcerated crafters and currently or formerly unhoused artisans. A purchase this holiday season means supporting programs that are providing paid job training, meaningful employment, and healing for their members.
So many people, especially women, have had to be all things at all times to their families during much of 2020 and 2021. They were our educators, care providers, chefs, IT professionals, and housekeepers, all while logging onto their virtual day jobs and leading the charge on their own careers. This holiday gift guide, inspired by entrepreneur and mother of four, Hope Smith, will lean a bit on the side of all the MUTHAS holding the world together with their strength and love.
Books for the Savvy Readers on Your List
Sometimes “me time” is about curling up with a good book. If your secret Santa or favorite person is a reader, maybe one of the books Hope has read this year may make a thoughtful gift.
- “How to Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons for Radical Results,” by educator and parent Esther Wojcicki was a top read for Hope this year. Hope has four children under the age of 7, and naturally she wants them each to become their best selves. The lessons in Wojcicki’s book foster responsibility, self-reliance, and fearless creativity.
- “The Entrepreneur’s Weekly Nietzsche: A Book for Disruptors,” by serial entrepreneurs Brad Feld and Dave Jilk also caught Hope’s attention this year. The MUTHA Founder and CEO is an entrepreneur who comes at the business world with a perspective all her own. Books like this one inspire Hope with ideas about keeping true to her unique POV while building her luxury skincare brand.
- “Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential,” by wellness expert Deepak Chopra made Hope’s list of books that fuel the soul. It’s all about transformation. Hope found in Chopra’s guide some excellent practices for breaking through the mental constructs that hold us back from achieving our true potential.
As a mother of four beautiful Black children, Hope also encourages families to spend time reading together. And, it turns out one of Hope’s collaborators, The Conscious Kid, has just the thing to help. The nonprofit group working to provide anti-racist resources and education to parents and educators has an incredible list of socially conscious award-winning children’s books for every age group written by authors of all ethnicities. Remember, books make great gifts for the entire family.
Luxuries for Every Body and Every Budget
Now, if you were to pick something from the following list, you’ll be sure to please even the most tricky personality on your holiday gift list. Beauty industry tastemaker, Cassandra Grey, has a curated gift guide on her website, Violet Grey, which includes the most glamorous holiday wish-list items. From the most sophisticated candle for your boss, to lip masks for your favorite influencer, it’s all there, with quality and in high style.
Speaking of luxuries, Hope Smith’s skincare brand MUTHA™ has also posted a list of incredible gift sets. And what MUTHA™ (Bad or not) wouldn’t love a little nourishment and acknowledgement? Show some appreciation this holiday season or maybe buy a gift to treat yourself. Knowing what you want and getting it isn’t selfish. It’s an act of empowered self care.
Here’s hoping your holidays are filled with light, love, peace, and joy. And, remember to hydrate and take a beat to rest. Self care is all about the little things you build into your daily schedules to nurture yourself so you can make the best choices for yourself and your loved ones.