Tag: Holidays

2020 Holiday Gift Guide blog post graphic

2020 Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on by Editorial Team

Online shopping has hit an all-time high this year for a number of reasons. Of course, we at WEBA enjoy letting our fingers do the shopping, so we’ve included a curated assortment of businesses that we love. This is by no means an exhaustive list, of course. Suffice to say that in the age of big-box retailers like Walmart and Target, not to mention Amazon, we decided to focus on earth-friendly products that are (for the most part) made in the U.S.A. You may have your own favorites, and we’d love to hear about them, so e-mail us if you wish to chip in. These e-tailers have stood the test of time, in our estimation, and we’ve always had a good experience with them. We do not earn commissions from these links or benefit in any way. We just want to share the love with you, our loyal followers. We hope you’ll try them out, and enjoy a happy, healthy Holiday season.

  • Vivaterra.com – The name means “living earth” and they have been around since 2004. As you can see from their home page, many items are modern and globally inspired. They have an extensive collections of items that are made in the U.S.A., which you can search for. One of our favorites is this Wave dog bowl pet feeder mat. It’s made from recycled PET and is easy to clean. The only problem you’ll have here is narrowing down your selections.
  • Patagonia.com – What can we say about this company? Just about everything that they make is with sustainability in mind – from their recycled, organic cotton and hemp-based clothing lines to their environmental activism and transparency. Alas, not all of their clothing is made here; over the years they had to outsource due to the dwindling number of textile manufacturers in the U.S. But they work closely with about nine U.S. and thirteen foreign manufacturers to maintain their consistently high standards. If you’d like to choose from particular lines, go to the Patagonia holiday guide page.
  • Uncommongoods.com – We love this website because of its fun, unique gifts. They’ve partnered with many artisans and other small businesses to bring us this curated collection. Here you can also search for products made in the U.S.A. One product that we love is the Castaway gemstone bracelet. There are many gifts here that are only available here; we always end up spending way more time than we’d like to perusing this website.
  • Wearpact.com – this west-coast company has a cool line of certified organic, fair-trade cotton clothing for the entire family. Given the fact that cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crop in the U.S., it means a lot for us to have more earth-friendly, sustainable options. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of pesticide residues. And their Kid’s Dream Big organic pajamas are only $18.00!
  • Remembermegreen.com – this company can’t be beat when it comes to cool. Recycling old New York City billboards, which are made into beautiful bags is what they do. Their inventory is selling out fast, though. You can check out Remember Me Green’s sale items here.
  • Farm2fashion.com – Remember the days when your Nanna would stitch up a nice, cozy hat or scarf to protect you from the cold? Well, Farm2Fashion comes close. Located in the Hudson valley, this woman-owned business sells beautifully made luxury knitted goods that make great gifts. Every item that you buy supports independent suppliers and designers throughout the region. Check out their seed stitch infinity scarf, now on sale. You may find it difficult to gift these items.
  • Imperfectfoods.com – Not to be outdone in the food category are online companies like Imperfect Foods. Their mission is to never let good food (albeit slightly cosmetically imperfect or surplus) go to waste by delivering it to your door. They deliver to most states in the U.S. Just pick your plan. You can learn more about why what they do is so important here. You can check out their cool gift box here.
  • Thrivemarket.com – We came to rely on Thrive Market’s offerings when the CoVid pandemic severely curtailed in-person food shopping. They continue to expand their organic, gluten-free, and paleo offerings. You pay a yearly membership fee of $64.75, and you can shop by diet. It’s easy to put together a box for gifting. They have everything from personal care to wine to seafood packages. And their own brand is very cost-effective. Why not give someone you love a membership as a gift? Learn more at thrivemarket.com.

So there you have it. But our list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning our own gift boxes available now for gift-wrapping for the holidays. From the moment they open one of our boxes, they’ll inhale the smell of pure essential oils evoking a walk through the woods. Check out WEBA’s Holiday Promotion page here to learn how you can save on all of our products. Because showing that you care this Holiday season is about choosing premium products at reasonable prices. Our products are proudly handmade in the U.S.A., too.

Enjoy the joys of the season, and happy shopping.

Three More Ways to Relieve Holiday Stress

Posted on by Christen Sblendorio

‘Tis the season once again! The holidays can be a joyful time, offering a chance to reconnect with friends and family, but they can also be stressful. The hustle and bustle of the season can be hectic and the pressure to buy and give gifts can be worrisome for some. In order to maneuver through this holiday season stress free, consider the following to help alleviate any holiday induced stress. Last year, we discussed Three Ways to Relieve Holiday Stress, so here are three more!

Make a Plan

Create a budget so you know your spending limit, and then stick to it. Lack of money is one of the biggest causes of stress during the holiday season. Making sure you adhere to your budget can help relieve the stress that comes along with overspending.This year, set a budget and don’t spend more than what you have planned.

Get organized by marking lists or using an appointment book to keep track of your to-dos and upcoming holiday events. It’s okay to decline an invitation to a holiday event that isn’t particularly important to you. Learning to say “no” will give you more time to say “yes” to the events that you do want to attend. It will also give you more time to complete the things you want or need to get done.

Continue To Gift Thoughtfully

You can offset the guilt of not wanting to overspend by giving something personal. You can show love and caring with any gift that is meaningful and personal and that will be worth more than a pricey gift from a big-box retailer.

You can kill two birds with one stone by searching for thoughtful gifts online at webanaturalproducts.com. This will also offset the stress that comes with shopping at an overcrowded mall during the holiday season. If you like the idea of a brick-and-mortar store, however, shop local. Most local stores have more unique, one-of-a-kind and personalized items that may not be carried by larger retailers.

Treat Yourself

Even though the holidays is a time based around giving rather than receiving, don’t forget that you deserve a little something too. This doesn’t necessarily need to come in a form of a new handbag or expensive luxury item- it can be something as simple as taking a little bit of time to set aside for yourself. This time can come in many forms such as going for a short walk, setting aside some time in the morning before you start your day, listening to some music or soaking in a nice warm bath. If you plan on giving yourself a little TLC in the form of self-care we suggest you indulge your skin with our Healthy Skin Spa Box. You could even buy two – one for you and one for a friend!

Taking care of yourself will help you deal with stressful situations during the holidays. Pay attention to your own needs and feelings and maintain a regular sleep, mealtime, and exercise schedule. But most of all, remember to embrace the season!

Holiday stress

Three Ways to Relieve Holiday Stress

Posted on by Lydia D

There’s no doubt that the holidays can be a stressful time.

It seems as though once the first week of November rolls around, everyone jumps right into the “Holiday Spirit.” Christmas carols can be heard on the radio, and holiday decorations are everywhere. While this should be a festive time, you might find yourself feeling rather frazzled. We may slowly begin to feel the dreaded “Holiday Stress.”

The holidays are wonderfully exciting for our children, who anticipate stacks of gifts and snowball fights, but as adults it means hosting or attending endless holiday parties and thinking about last minute shopping, all while trying to still juggle your regular responsibilities. While stress is often a normal part of life, holiday stress can leave you feeling drained and even depressed at times.

Why not make this time of year a little different? By doing just three simple things, you can spend more time enjoying the small things that make this time of year so special! So put on your comfiest clothes, whip up a mug of warm cocoa (why not add a candy cane to get in the holiday spirit?), and keep reading to find out a few simple ways you can relieve your holiday stress this year!

Start Early

Most of us are guilty of leaving our Christmas shopping until the last minute, and hey, we aren’t judging! Unfortunately, as the holiday draws near, the malls become jam-packed with frantic shoppers scrambling to purchase gifts for everyone on their list. Holiday shopping can be stressful enough without all the shoving and pushing that takes away from what the holiday is really about.

Why not plan to set a specific day or two aside this month to take care of everyone on your Christmas list, so you can avoid the malls altogether come December. This allows you to spend quality time with friends and family, to travel, or to do whatever you enjoy doing during the holiday season.

Shop Mindfully

Instead of purchasing novelty gifts that may soon be forgotten, why not spoil the special people in your life with loving, thoughtful gifts. Perhaps the skincare maven in your family would appreciate one of our gift boxes that you can feel good about giving them, as they are free from all harmful chemicals. Or why not give your loved one a gift certificate to that spa day you know she would truly appreciate and definitely deserves!

You can shop mindfully online and reduce the stress of shopping at the mall, while feeling good about supporting a business that creates handmade goods with love! And when you know that a business gives back, you can feel even better.

Don’t Forget About Yourself

It’s easy to neglect yourself when rushing around to take care of everything on your holiday list, but by taking time out for yourself you will be able to tackle challenges in a calmer, more relaxed manner.

Start your day with a short meditation, here is a great app to help you get started. Try and squeeze in a quick 20 min cardio workout to rev up your metabolism and keep you burning calories all day. Not only will this help to reduce your stress levels, but it will allow you to enjoy that extra holiday cookie without feeling too much guilt!

End your day with a long soak in the tub or ask that special someone to give you a relaxing massage with our Dry Body Oil; after all, you’ve earned it!

We hope that these three simple yet effective steps can help you have your best holiday season ever. Happy Holidays!

Earth friendly holiday with sustainable packagaing

Ideas for an Earth-friendly Holiday

Posted on by Lydia D

Ideas for an earth-friendly holiday.

The holidays will soon be here again. With them come a flurry of planning, shopping, and cooking. Many of us will be mailing holiday packages to loved ones in other parts of the country.

Fortunately, there are many packaging options today that allow us to use recycled and recyclable materials to minimize our impact on the environment. Here are a few ideas for packing your holiday gifts.

1) Recycled shred – it’s easy to make your own packing material using used paper products that you have around the house. From newspapers to articles to old letters, just run them through an inexpensive shredder that you can get at most office supply stores. For a little fun, you can use different colored construction paper or used gift wrap. You can also use plain brown paper to pack gifts without shredding it.

2) Compostable packing peanuts – Many companies today are using a more sustainable alternative to the usual polystyrene packing peanuts, which utilize petroleum. Packing peanuts that are made from cornstarch are a more earth-friendly alternative. They break down in water and leave no residue. Companies like Uline sell them; or you can save the peanuts from orders that are shipped to you.

3) Air pillows – These air-filled plastic sacks are becoming more common. They are lighter than traditional packaging materials and they can be deflated and taken to local stores for recycling. For recycling drop-off locations, you can visit www.plasticfilmrecycling.org.

4) Kraft paper tape – a nice alternative to plastic tape, it comes pre-glued.

5) Tree-free wrapping paper – In an effort to save trees, we can find beautiful alternatives for wrapping gifts. Lokta paper (made in Nepal) and papers made of stone and even elephant dung are available. These papers are often sturdier than traditional wrapping paper and can be re-used.

This holiday season, why not make a statement for environmental sustainability while getting your gift packages together?