healthy holiday

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What does having a background in journalism and PR, a blog on healthy living, and a yoga career all have in common?

Well, it means I’ve become an accidental curator of healthy living products and services. Mostly because I’m looking for solutions for my own modern healthy life, but also because people seem to find me.

When people ask me for my Christmas list (really, just my mom and soon to be mother-in-law), I always have to compile a big list of links. I can’t just say I wan the Olympics Barbie or a new American Girl Doll anymore. Those days were so easy!

In fact, I did try to tell my mom I wanted a bolster for Christmas without adding a link and she just came back and asked for more information – specifically, “what is a bolster?”

So if you have someone healthy in your life and you have no idea what to get them (because the easy solution is to grab a cute shirt from Nordstrom Rack but you’re not sure if it’s “eco-friendly” “organic” and a suitable gift for a modern healthy woman)…

OR…

if you yourself are interested in stocking up on healthy items this year, here are some healthy holiday gift ideas from the fun healthy items on my list (unless I already own them) and even a few essentials.

Beauty

Healthy beauty is hard to come by. Most makeup is toxic. Perfumes…not so great for you. Here are my go-to healthy beauty brands:

  • Spa Ritual Organic Nail Polish – I heart them!
  • Afterglow Cosmetics – the makeup artist who did my makeup for my headshot that I have on Facebook used Afterglow and I could never remember the name of the brand until recently when I started doing more research on organic makeup. Although I haven’t used this brand long-term, I’m looking forward to trying them and am seriously considering using an Afterglow makeup artist to do my wedding makeup.
  • Pangea Organics –
    [Full disclaimer – this one is an “affiliate link”]. I’ve tried a lot of lines of different skin stuff and I know and believe hands down that Pangea is good stuff not just because it works but because there are no harmful toxins.
  • Eco Bath House – This was a referral and although I’ve never tried them, I’m intrigued. This is a local Northern VA business and the owner grows all the herbs she uses in her products in her own backyard. That is seriously cool. She also does wedding favors, which I think is super unique.

Foodie Stuff

  • Sant – This is a perfect gift for the foodie who has everything. Sant is a dried super fruit that you can put in your water to create a flavored water. It has hints of a cranberry, fruity taste and it’s seriously good. This is a super easy way to drink your superfood on the regular.
  • Vitamix – I know, I know, it’s expensive. But seriously, every person I know, including one of my closest friends who is the most price-consciou person I know, absolutely cannot live without it. It’s one of those things where you get along fine without it, but then you finally cave and make the investment and your life changes forever! My life would be a million times harder and a lot less healthy if I didn’t have my Vitamin. Start making counter space for it now.
  • Juicer – I’m relatively new to juicing, and I’ve kind of been indifferent towards it for a long time, but juicing is surprisingly easy and really fun. Yes, good juicers are expensive. Yes, you need a lot of produce. This is more in the “luxury buy” category (I’m “borrowing” mine from that same price-conscious friend who now lives in England and couldn’t take it with her), however, if you’re uber serious about being well and feeling vibrant, a good juicer is a must.

Produce Delivery

This is a great gift idea if you know someone who a) already subscribes to a weekly/bi-weekly produce delivery service or b) has expressed interest trying one. The idea is you sign up for a weekly delivery and either get a box of fruits and veggies delivered to you each week on a designated day or go pick your box up at a designated location. The types of services vary by region – some allow you to swap out things online, and others offer additional grocery items, but the convenience is awesome.

I don’t currently get a box, but I did in Colorado, Texas, and  Arizona, and the one my parents and sister get in Cleveland is my all time favorite service ever.

Check to see if you can buy a gift card or gift box, or if all else fails, make a nice card explaining the service and give cash to cover a couple weeks.

  • Fresh Fork Market in Cleveland and northeast Ohio – My all-time favorite service for so many reasons. First, you get more then just fruits and veggies – you’ll get meat, homemade pasta, eggs, and other goodies. Second, it’s all local – many of the farmers this company works with are Amish, which I think is really cool. And third, the company also offers workshops from time to time – my sister did one on sausage making and they have a canning club.
  • From the Farmer or The Farm Table in DC – Haven’t tried either of these yet, but I’m looking forward to testing them out!
  • Bountiful Baskets in Wichita Falls, TX and LOTS of other states and locations across the US – At least in Wichita Falls, these baskets were a steal of a deal. You get lots of food for a small price and the option to upgrade to an organic basket was not ridiculous.
  • Nature’s Garden Delivered in Arizona (and Georgia) – Really easy to work with, we swapped out our fruits and veggies almost every week, especially when there were beets (bleh…)
  • Blue Apron (nationwide) – This is not a produce-delivery service per se, but you get all the ingredients for 3 meals sent to you each week and it’s crazy convenient. You’ll get enough ingredients for 2 servings so if you live alone or there are only 2 people in the house, it works out nicely. You get to see the menu ahead of time so you can decide if you want to get the next week’s delivery or not and you can choose between vegetarian, pescatarian, and other dietary options.

Healthy Holiday Gift Boxes

If you don’t have time to find all these healthy treasures and you just want someone to curate a nice box for you, check out the gift packages from either of these companies.

  • Conscious Box – I received Conscious Box for awhile and really enjoyed getting the goods. I like the idea of the gift boxes because you can see what you’re getting ahead of time – the subscription service surprises you each month with new treats.
  • Yogi Surprise – Same concept as Conscious Box with a yoga-specific twist. Haven’t tried them yet, but from what I’ve seen they pack their boxes with some seriously good stuff.

Yoga Specific

If you have a friend or family member who loves yoga and you don’t, here’s a list to work from. Most yogis will love any of these things.

  • Yogi Cookie Cutters – I have ALWAYS wanted these. They’re just awesome.
  • YogaOutlet.com – This website has tons of yoga gear, often at a discounted price. Right now, they are celebrating Cyber Week and you can get up to 95% off.
  • Yoga Design Lab – Seriously cool yoga mats for the person who has all the cool yoga gear already. Also, a great option for yogis who practice lots of hot yoga, as the mat doubles as a mat towel.
  • Mala Beads – I can’t tell you how many times I get comments on my beads. I wrap them a few times around my wrist and wear them as a bracelet. The woman who makes them infuses them with a mantra as she makes them and then includes a little card with each bead that explains what that mantra means and the intention behind the specific piece you choose.

Experiences

  • Private Yoga Lessons – Do you know someone who could really use some yoga, but doesn’t make the time for it because there is too much else going on in her life? Give her that extra push with a gift certificate for some private yoga lessons. Feel free to send me an email at ashley@ashleyjosephine.com if you want to talk more about what I can offer (and if you’re in the DC Metro area) or do a local search online to see if you can find a private yoga instructor in your area. You can also call up your local yoga studio to see if they offer private yoga lessons.
  • Ayurvedic Massage Treatments – Nothing is better then a good massage. There are several different ayurvedic massage techniques including shirodhara, an exquisitely luxurious oil massage. Ayurvedic treatments are all about promoting wellness and balance, so you just can’t go wrong. Ask your local spa if they offer ayurvedic treatments or if they know anyone in the area you live who does.
  • Cooking Classes – One of the hardest parts about being healthy is you have to cook. That seems obvious but so many of us have come to rely on quick, packaged, and processed foods and snacks to get us through the day. Gift a cooking class (or better yet, get one for yourself to and go together!) and learn what it takes to create deliciously simple, healthy meals. Do a quick Google search to find what’s available where you live and make sure you do extra research to make sure you’re getting the healthy version!

Books & Media

  • Gaiam – Gaiam is the household name for yoga beginners. You’ve probably seen their rubber yoga mats and Intro DVDs in Target. Gail also offers tons of other health and fitness related products on their website and through their catalog.
  • Sounds True – They offer tons of audio options from meditation CDs to online courses and audio books.
  • My top recommendations for yoga books – Did you know I have a featured library on my Shop page? You can buy straight from Amazon!

Enjoy your healthy holiday shopping!

Do you have other healthy holiday gift ideas? Share your ideas over in the Ashley Josephine Wellness Community on Facebook!

Image credits from the top left corner going clockwise: Yummi Yogi, Conscious Box, Eco Bathhouse, Yogi Surprise