GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK
Yep, it’s that time of year again. Time to make a list, check it twice, and decide who on your Christmas list has been naughty and nice. Except it’s more like make a list, check it twice, and then rack your brain to figure out a present for your parents that’s not a scarf for the 5th year in a row. When it comes to holiday gifts, there’s a premium on coming up with something creative, budget-friendly, and of course memorable. But between work, kids, holiday party hosting, and, you know, just taking care of yourself on a day-to-day basis, holiday gift shopping can be the last thing you want to do—so you resort to panic, lame last-minute gifts, or spending way too much just to avoid shopping around. Deep breaths—we’ve all been there. But this year, dial back the stress by following our guide! Choose a gift from one of these categories and your gifting is guaranteed to be a success. Can someone say #BestGiftEver?
1. Give back. As Tiny Tim would say, the holidays are a time to think of those less fortunate and give back some holiday spirit. At glassybaby, with four stores in the Bay Area and a glass-blowing studio in Berkeley, 10% of all purchases are donated to local nonprofits that support hope and healing via their white light fund. It’s appropriate, considering that owner Lee Rhodes came up with the company concept while receiving treatment for her third cancer diagnosis in 1995. Since then, glassybaby has donated more than $3.8 million to various causes. While every glassybaby gives, select glassybaby are partnered with specific charities, so you can choose a gift that gives back to a cause close to the receiver’s heart.
2. Make it a hands-on experience. One of the best ways to create a memorable present is by choosing a gift card for an experience instead of tangible goods. A sweater will be out of style next year and a toy broken by New Year’s Eve, but good memories will last forever. A hands-on experience also offers the gifter an opportunity to spend more time with the receiver, should they choose to make it a joint activity. Glass-blowing classes at the recently opened glassybaby studio and hot shop in Berkeley are one of our favorite local choices for an experiential gift.
3. Purchase something unique. If you do choose to purchase an item as a gift, we suggest looking at more unusual, offbeat, and unique goods. Our favorite types of gifts tend to be the ones that introduce us to a new brand or product—something we wouldn’t think to buy ourselves. glassybaby’s signature items are one-of-akind glass votives and drinking glasses offered in every color under the sun (or better yet, over the rainbow) with unique names like ‘bay lights,’ ‘international orange,’ ‘bff’ and ‘hope’. Whether you’re purchasing for a local family member, a friend or sending gifts across the world, these stunning hand blown products are not only a unique gift, they’re also a taste of the Bay.