Sam's Gift Guide for YOU
I love perusing the Gift Guides by my favorite bloggers, especially since they have great ideas for spouses, kids, and in-laws! this year, I wanted to share some of my favorite items that you might like to see under your Christmas tree, to you from Santa!
I hope this gives you some ideas of things you want to put on your christmas wish list this year!
Trellis Beauty Steam or Facial Treatment
This one is for my local peeps! Trellis Beauty is a clean beauty shop and facial treatment bar located in North Raleigh. We’ve all heard of facials, and you may envision laying wrapped in a sheet in a sterile white spa, getting a chemical peel. This experience is a bit different!
Tracy, the founder, has created a beauty steam and facial treatment bar that functions much like a blow-dry bar. You pop in as you are, choose which treatment you want from a menu that reads like an ice cream shop menu, and in less than an hour, you’re out and about feeling relaxed and glowy! These treatments are non-invasive and use only clean beauty products that have been vetted by her and her team. Pop in for just one treatment any time, or sign up for the monthly membership to receive a monthly facial treatment of your choice!
Yonder Monthly Coffee Subscription
Nothing sounds more luxurious to me than having the best artisan, small-batch roasted coffee from around the world delivered to my door every month. Yes, please! Yonder Coffee is a monthly subscription service, and the founder Caleb Durham is a Raleigh native (and friend of mine)! He literally travels around the world researching the best coffee shops and roasters, hand-selecting the roasts that get sent to you each month. Heck. Yes.
Beautycounter Flawless in Five Everyday Makeup Set
I’ve been a lover of Beautycounter for about four years now, and as a professional makeup artist, I take my products choices seriously! I personally started researching cleaner beauty options for myself, because I knew that the ingredients in most cosmetic products are highly unregulated - in fact, the regulation laws haven’t been changed since the 1930’s. Yep, you read that right - the 1930’s!!! Like, before WWII. There are no shortage of toxins, chemicals, and other gross ingredients crammed into the stuff we put on our faces every day, which get absorbed right into our bodies.
I am a general skeptic of products sold via consultants, but after doing some research, I decided to give Beautycounter a try. I was immediately impressed not only with the quality ingredients, but also the strong performance of the products! They passed the test for me, and I starting stocking some BC in my professional kit for my clients.
The best bang for the buck (and it is a pretty penny, be forewarned) is the Flawless in Five set. It comes with six of the most commonly used makeup products - everything you would need to get ready in five minutes - which you can customize to match your coloring. If you shop before December 1, you can take advantage of 15% off and free shipping over $50! Shop here to use my link!
The Everyday Journal by Cageless Birds
Every Christmas I ask for a journal from the Cageless Birds collective. The Cageless Birds are a creative collective based out of Sophia, NC, and their founders are the well-known worship leaders Jonathan David and Melissa Helser. Along with great music, the collective also hand-crafts beautiful publications, pottery, coffee, and leather goods.
As a lover of writing, I like to have something beautiful, quality, and timeless to jot thoughts and lines in at a moment’s notice. I like knowing that my children and grandchildren could find these journals decades down the road! The Everyday Journal is small enough to slip into any purse and makes me feel like a modern-day Jane Austen.
The Root Collective Lizzie Boots
I own these boots, and I. LOVE. THEM. All of the shoes from The Root Collective are ethically made and provide meaningful jobs to artisans in Guatemala. There, each shoe is lovingly handmade using genuine leather and artisan fabrics.
I have had the honor of helping Bethany, the founder and designer and Garner, NC native, for some of her promotional photoshoots, and couldn’t help but snag several of the boots for myself! I own the Lizzie boots in Olive, but I love that the navy ones could be worn as a rich neutral! They’re expensive, but they’re the kinds of shoes that will last forever (as in, you would literally take them to the cobbler to get re-soled years down the road. How cool is that?)
Faux Fur Throw Blanket
This is on my list this Christmas! It’s affordable, cozy, and will instantly elevate the style of the living room or bedroom. I like this particular deep shade of brown for winter, which I hope will add some major hygge to our home!
Beautycounter No. 3 Balancing Spa Set
A personal favorite of mine from Beautycounter, in a convenient Spa Set that allows you to try all three of the No. 3 Balancing products! This set includes my all-time favorite facial mask, a marvelous facial mist, and a facial oil that will make your skin look and feel amazing. Each product features activated charcoal as a main ingredient, so it is particularly helpful for acne-prone or uneven skin.
Paddywax Apothecary Collection Vetiver + Cardamom Soy Candle
Paddywax candles are my favorite candles ever. They are made using soy wax (a healthier substance to burn in your home) and they are hand-poured in Nashville, TN! Plus, they’re beautiful and their scents aren’t too overwhelming. My favorites are the scents from their Apothecary Collection, specifically the Vetiver + Cardamom!
Windblown Jewelry Unashamed Hoops
Also on my personal wish list this year! These gorgeous hoops are a bit edgier than traditional hoops, and they are handmade in NC! Bonus - they provide meaningful jobs to women who come from difficult situations, and each piece is named with a quality that will infuse your day with inspiration.
Some of the above links are affiliate links. I appreciate any commission that comes from products I wholeheartedly love, have tried myself, and totally stand behind!
What is on your wish list this year?
Wishing you the merriest of holidays, friend!
Sam
