Gift guide: Eat it, read it, or deplete it

I've been inspired lately by Jane Fonda’s rebuke of consumerism (is this just a Fonda fan blog now? maybe!!) and feeling increasingly overwhelmed with the amount of stuff I’ve managed to accumulate in my 34 years on Earth. I decided that this Christmas I’m going to do things a bit differently (being my friend as I try to figure out my place in this world is still fun I promise! maybe!!). I’m pledging to only give gifts that fall into one of the following categories: something you can eat, something you can read, or something you can deplete (aka an experience, soap in minimal packaging or things that are biodegradable or compostable).

In return, I’m asking my friends and family to do the same (or bet yet, to donate to a cause that’s meaningful to them and/or me). But I still love giving gifts and making gift guides, so here are a few ideas that are lightly eco-conscious, useful, and still-fun-to-give-or-receive if you should feel moved to do the same.

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THINGS TO EAT


1. Levain Bakery Cookies // 2. Milk Bar Birthday Truffles // 3. Chocolate human heart // 4. Zapp’s Voodoo Kettle Chips // 5. Milk Bar cookie tin // 6. Chocolate Natterjack Toad // 7. Jeni’s Ice Cream

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THINGS TO READ

1. Shut it Down: Stories From a Fierce, Loving Resistance // 2. The Truth Will Set You Free, But First it Will Piss You Off // 3. The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe // 4. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine // 5. The Dreamers // 6. The Great Alone // 7. Where the Crawdads Sing // 8. My Life So Far

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THINGS TO DEPLETE

1. Do Good Soap // 2. Beeswax baby head candle // 3. Spine candle // 4. Trader Joe’s lotion set // 5. Burt’s Bees lip balm // 6. Swedish dish cloths // 7. Lemon print Swedish dish cloths

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I’ve tried to include small businesses when I can, but this post does include some Amazon affiliate links. Seriously fuck Jeff Bezos, but any money I make off links goes to buying cat litter on Prime because that shit is heavy.