MOM’S HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

If you’re running out of space for plants on shelves and sills, MODERN BOTANICAL wall planters are a beautifully designed way to showcase more greenery in your home. The planters are handmade in maple and walnut in a San Diego woodshop. I couldn’t wait to hang these in my home; they add a special feeling to the space. You can order your plants from Modern Botanical along with the planters or look to a local nursery like Johnson Brothers, Gray’s Garden Center or The Basic Botanist. Available at: https://modernbotanical.shop/

What’s better and brighter than a beautiful sunflower on the window sill? We love BACK TO THE ROOTS grow kits, and the sunflower kit is a perfect little bit of sunshine. The kit contains nutrient-rich organic soil, organic sunflower seeds, and an eco-friendly, stylish mason jar planter.

Moms who are more gardeners than houseplant collectors will love the RISE GARDEN personal garden system. The late fall and winter are always a bit of a let down watching most of the outdoor garden go to seed, but this hydroponic system was straightforward to set up and get started. We’re looking forward to veggies from our kitchen soon! Plus, anything with an app to keep me on track is a bonus. It’s also modular, with add-on units that will let you grow up to three levels (hydroponic beets, anyone?). Amazing! Available at:

Whether for a hydroponic garden or prepping for the spring planting season,

ORGANICS has a vast selection of seeds and starter kits that are certified organic, non-GMO and heirloom. The diversity of options and a library of howtos, tips and information create a onestop shop. I’ve long wanted to plant flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, so the Wildflower Seed Collection is perfect. I’ve got just the place picked out. Available at: https://

No cozy corner is complete without a candle, right? The CALM JOY CANDLES are made from coconut wax and toxin-free fragrances. They are super fragrant and make your home smell like the holidays. I especially loved the wooden wick that had just a little bit of crackle as it burned. Available at:

SEEK & SWOON throw designs evoke faraway places, sunny vacation spots and locations you’ve visited in your travels and somehow feel like home. Each throw has enough weight to feel substantial and soothing. So take a deep breath, wrap yourself in a moment and be inspired. Seek and Swoon throws are designed in Oregon and made in the USA. Available at:

Soft, comfortable sheets are a necessary part of great sleep. We loved the SWEAVE Eucalyptus Tencel Sheet Set. These sheets are made with eucalyptus Tencel Lyocell and Egyptian cotton and are Oeko-Tex certified. Sweave cares about its impact on the planet, and this certification means its sheets are made in environmentallyfriendly, safe, and socially responsible facilities. So you can feel good about feeling good. Available at: https://www.

Pink noise is a milder, mellower version of white noise. It mirrors nature’s sounds, like waves or rainfall and relaxes the brain and helps keep those worrying thoughts that can keep us up at night at bay. After some simple setup, the SOUNDOFF sleep earbuds were comfortable and helped me stay asleep. I look forward to trying them during the day to help me calm my hectic mind and focus. Learn more at: https://soundoffsleep.com/

The perfect pillow is a must for mom’s cozy corner. LAGOON SLEEP has a simple quiz to understand how you sleep, and they recommend the right pillow to help with quality sleep. I appreciated that I could change the pillow filling level to get just the right level of squish and firmness. That squish is crucial for keeping the neck and shoulders comfortable as a side sleeper. Learn more at: https://lagoonsleep.com/

The hostess mom will love the BROOKS WINE MERRY MAKER kit from the Amity, Oregon vineyard. It’s a holiday party in a box with two Brooks wines (a 2018 Cahiers Riesling for the mulled wine and a 2018 Janus Pinot Noir to enjoy with the chocolate), Smith Tea Merry Maker’s Punch, Woodblock Chocolate’s enfleurage chocolates made with Merry Maker’s Punch. The kit also contains recipe cards for mulled wine and a delicious holiday glaze, both made with the tea. Available at:

The 2021 Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills and Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs from STOLLER FAMILY ESTATES are a perfect holiday trio. Nothing says “Oregon wine” like pinot noir, and these three have bold and complex profiles and are also accessible and outstanding wines to share. Available at: https://www. stollerfamilyestate.com/ or Sundance Wine Cellars.

One of my favorite finds this year is the beautiful foodie and home goods gifts from VERVE CULTURE. The team at Verve Culture has artfully curated food-related gifts from four regions of the world - Mexico, Morocco, Thailand and Italy. The homemade pizza bundle has all the essentials for gourmet pizza imported from Italy. It features easy-to-make Italian pizza “00” flour, a tomato and mozzarella pizza sauce, and a beechwood pizza peel and slicer. Available at: https://verveculture.com/ If your taste leans more toward craft beer, ciders or spirits, SIPSCOUT from The Crafty Cask has the gift boxes for you! SipScout is a subscription box that features different categories and styles each month from craft makers all over the country. The whiskey & bourbon sampler included tipples from incredible craft makers from coast to coast, plus Ireland. My favorite so far was the Fort Mose’ 1738 Bourbon Whiskey from a Black-owned business in West Palm Beach, Florida. Each month there’s also a virtual SipScout party to learn about that month’s kit. Learn more and subscribe:

Face masks make delivering moisture and goodness right to your skin easy - and with sKIN, you can invite your little, your tween or your teen to join you in a little at-home spa moment. When parents and kids connect and teach simple self-care, like taking care of your skin, it’s beautiful. sKIN masks come in a set with one regular size (Me) and one smaller size (mini). Both my sons (a tween and a teen) even enjoy a little spa time with me. Available at:

Local flower grower and craftswoman Cindy Ingram and

launched an allnatural, herbal skincare line. The seven different types of salves are made from the flowers and herbs from Happy HIll’s wholesale garden. Cindy creates every kind with a blend of coconut and sweet almond oil, shea butter, beeswax, fresh farm flowers, herbs, and essential oils. Available at

From the local to the international, MIMAAMI ORGANICS’ skin care products are made from all-natural ingredients and ethically sourced from female producers in Ghana, where the company founder is from. Mimaami means “my mother” in Twi, one of the tribal languages in Ghana. My winter skin is always dry and this whipped shea butter moisturizer is perfect. More information at https://www.mimaamiorganics.com/ and available on Amazon.

Born and raised in Eugene, WILL LEATHER GOODS continues to make my favorite bags, purses, totes and wallets. The new vibrant colors of full-grain leather of the East-West Tote and the Mini Journey Backpack make a perfect set. And yes, your mom always needs a new bag (believe me on this one!). The sage green says “winter” and will carry you through the rainy months in Oregon with a pop of color. Keep an eye on holiday sales, too. This time of year is a great time to shop online or at the Boxcar at 5th Street Market. Available at: https://www.

Sneakers that are slip-on with fun prints and patterns? And you can feel good about the impact on the planet? Yes, please! PSUDO SNEAKERS are created with REPREVE yarn, made from recycled water bottles. All sneakers are 100% made and sourced in the USA. Psudo is committed to creating the world’s most eco-friendly sneaker by 2023. Cute and conscious! Available at: https://psudo.com/

Mom has a lot of stuff in her head – family schedules, work obligations, personal care and more. A beautiful, functional journal can help capture that stuff. COPPER FOX JOURNALS come in a variety of colors and styles (19 different options!), and each is personalizable. They’re also affordable; every journal is under $30. Available at: