I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but in my quest to become the best version of myself, I find that I become paralyzed in the face of doing all the things, and doing them “right”. I want to shop small in a sustainable way that also supports non-profits & create the magic of the holiday season but doesn’t bust my budget. Each of these things are important to me, but trying to do them all at once is setting me up for failure & guilt. In case anyone else is feeling this way, I wanted to share some small ways I’m trying to get through the holidays intentionally & guilt-free.
-Shop Small: Because we can’t do every thing every year, I’ve picked one thing to focus on. This year that means prioritizing female & black owned businesses when shopping for gifts. For me that means avoiding the box stores & seeking out options online. Locally, I would recommend: Auburn Candle Co., Aqua Lime Skin Care, Hoops & Needles, and browsing the locAL market, The Auburn Pharmacy, or The Maker and Merchant (located in the Auburn Mall).
-Sustainable: Last year I discovered the joy of sending our holiday card via email. I get that this isn’t for everyone, but it is budget friendly, doesn’t waste paper, & gives space for added creativity such as a playlist or videos in addition to the standard picture & a wordy re-cap of the year.
-Supporting non-profits: It’s not always possible to find what you’re looking for locally during the holidays. Have you heard about Amazon Smile? It’s a very quick & easy process which allows for a percentage of your purchases to go towards a non-profit organization of your choosing? Set yours up here.
I would love to hear what you are prioritizing this holiday season as well as your thoughts on having a more sustainable holiday as well as your favorite black and female owned businesses.
