Thanksgiving is time for getting together, sharing joys and expressing warmth. Fun, food, decoration, gifts, if everything is done a little thoughtfully; we can express a big “gratitude” to our Mother Nature, as we extend thanks to friends and family. When it comes to gifts, we all become great consumers to express our emotions and taste. We can express best of out emotions with thoughtful gifts that are eco-friendly and healthy too. Here are some of the gift ideas to choose from:
1. Vegetarian Cook Books/ Fast to Cook Books – Gifting a collection of vegetarian recipes suggest good healthy alternatives to people; promote eco-friendliness and compassion for animals. Vegetarian dishes are mostly faster to cook. Deborah Madison’s “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone” covers more than 800 recipes. With her inspiration Deborah creates endless possibilities of vegetarian cooking and has this book as one of the top selling.Meatless Meals from Chef Mark Bittman are available as one stop resource “How to cook everything Vegetarian”. Fast to cook books will also suggest ways to conserve energies to people while saving big on their productive time. Get Quick Fix vegetarian from Robin Robertson. Busy people won’t need to compromise on taste or health.Vegetarian Meals for people on-the-go by Vimala Rodgers is a super-saver with 101 quick recipes.
2. Gift Basket – “happiness comes in small packages”, gift baskets have replaced the concept of “Think big- gift big”. There could be beautiful assortments that one can design with their creativity. These could be organic or home made collection from anything ranging from soaps to soups, coffee to chocolates, room sprays to beeswax candles, aromatherapy pillows or essential oils with warmers. Avoid plastic bags for packaging or carrying gift.You can actually gift a Market Basket with just a few goodies there. These beautifully designed baskets available at Gaiam are sturdy, spacious, attractive and green alternative for shopping bags. Crafted by the artisans from Ghana, these would pay them back on your purchase.
3. Centerpieces or Artifacts – There can be attractive center pieces which can be ideal as holiday gifts. Floating candle centerpiece crafted on a silver plated material makes a stunning choice. A set of magnetic bud vases is equally attractive. Diffusers are an anytime favorite. Mahogany boat tealight holder from Indonesialooks so unique, attractive and serene ideal as the center piece for the dinner table or as a decorative piece at any other place. One of the suggested uses is for meditation. Amazing!
4. Yoga & fitness DVDs – A beautiful, thoughtful and economical gift idea that promotes fitness and well being. You can choose anything from Yoga Essentials Gift Kit, meditation and relaxation DVDs or even Daily Stretch exercises. Daily Stretch is guided by Madeleine Lewis to increase blood-flow, build strength, improve flexibility and enhance immunity. Achieving calmness and sense of contentment is a program by Rodney Yee who demonstrates Relaxation and breathing for meditation. For starters or for regulars Yoga Essential gift kit comprises of Yoga for beginners, AM & PM Yoga, Yoga for back care. This also comes with an organic cotton yoga strap that allows you to stretch better. Yoga Essential Gift Kit These DVDs are available in USA as well as India.
5. Plants – Gifting plants is a perfect way to say thanks to your host and even to the Mother Nature. There could be seasonal pots or evergreen bamboos, basils or some novel ideas like the Topsy turvy planter that can be grown anywhere in patios or balconies.
6. Eco-friendly Bags – There is beautiful range of cotton, jute or other eco-friendly or re-cycled material used for bags. These bags can be gifted alone or can be used as a thoughtful packaging for the other gifts you want to give. A beautiful embroidered yoga backpack from Gaiam accommodates more than yoga essentials. Made intricately by Thai women this bag is from homespun cotton. There are also other 100% organic cotton shopping bags to choose from.
7. Organic Wines – Organic wines in recycled glasses with cork caps could really fascinate your host. Grapes generally top among the list of chemically sprayed produce. With growing awareness of what these pesticides or herbicides can do to our health, there is a shift-focus into organic vineyards and wines.
8. Organic Towels – If you thought towels are not attractive gift choices, ask your Mom or any homemaker. And when you give the soft 100% organic cotton that could be one of your warmest expressions. Rich colors organic towel set would include bath towel, hand towel and was cloth.
9. Eco Water Bottles – Ideal as gift for employees, students, teachers or kids, eco-water bottles is quite a useful gift that speak out your thoughtfulness for the nature too. The reusable aluminum water bottles is both stylish and eco-friendly.
10. Gift cards – Easiest, simplest, no fussand perhaps the best to give the other person choices to choose from; gift cards or certificates are a perfect anytime gift idea.