Online Gift Guide for Covid Quarantine Creatures

Story by Cassie Hepler, submitted photos

Let’s face it, this year sucks. While there might have been a few highlights along the way (like TikTok reaching out and bringing me aboard for their new educational fund including Bill Nye the Science Guy), it has been physically, emotionally and mentally draining AF for people of all ages. Kids and parents will probably have some sort of Covid PTSD from home schooling while working from home. Couples are struggling to not kill each other by being around each other 24/7 (turns out being in the office may be a blessing as absence makes the heart grow fonder) and singles ponder if they will ever meet anyone again while drowning themselves in whatever vice helps. Turns out it’s virtually impossible to date when you shouldn’t get 6 feet close to strangers.

And like most Americans, I’m not going to central Pennsylvania for Christmas to see the family this year. I attempted that with the fam for Thanksgiving and left freaking out and paranoid I had caught Covid (my test came back negative, proving social distancing, mask wearing and hand sanitizers work). It’s yet another Netflix binge night that blends into the next making this year drag on and yet fly by at the same time. And since we’re in this time warp vortex of existential crisis, we can at least order some things and ship them to the family this year… or ourselves. Or whatever. Let’s call this the survival guide for 2020 holiday list since Americans have no end in sight (it’s so embarrassing to be the ding dongs of the world right now). There are things you can enjoy even while the pandemic is far from over because we need a little light at the end of this never-ending damn tunnel. All products have been tried, tested and true by yours truly because honesty is always the best policy. Happy holidays to everyone and we hope you enjoy this list. Stay healthy & sane!

For the beauty buffs:

Driven by the call to heal, Paul and Barbi Schulick founded For The Biome™ to awaken consciousness and spread a simple message: beauty is connection. The health of our skin and body, the balance of our minds, and the future of our planet are all connected, and in these tethers, Paul and Barbi find their dharma in a brand that has 100% active formulas that are free of disruptive ingredients, allowing your skin and its microbiome to do what they’ve evolved to do – protect, hydrate and adapt.

Shield face serum is giving me life this winter and keeping those restless sleep under eye circles (which turn into wrinkles) at bay. I’m calling this my magic elixir!

The holiday gift is a perfect way to sample or send some of the best this brand has to offer. Too much product for you at once? Try to smaller samples with the discovery trail set available to order as well, it’s where I started too. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Since self care is so important this season, the essence spray offers a quick facial pick me up while the mask offers an at home spa experience without the risk. They also offer immune health kits and stress kits because we all need that!

For the foodie:

Rocking those beets with some of the best sausage that sneaks veggies inside are See More Sausages!

A fourth-generation butcher, Cara Nicoletti grew up in the meat industry. Seymour Salett is Cara’s 91-year-old grandfather and a retired butcher. He worked at the family butcher shop, Salett’s, for 60 years. Becoming a butcher wasn’t always Cara’s plan, but after working in restaurants through college she made her way back to butchery. And she immediately gravitated towards sausage. Why? It was her way of getting her customers to eat less meat. Before she knew it, her colorful, veggie-packed sausages were racking up fans and long lines at local butcher shops. And she quickly realized that it was something that could scale.

Seemore Meats & Veggies is the result of Cara’s 10+ year journey to make meat eating sustainable (and really fun). They only work with farms and producers who treat their animals with respect. All of the meat is certified humanely raised through the Global Animal Partnership. They value the entire ecosystem of food production. Offsetting all of our carbon emissions from production and forward shipping is one of the ways we’re doing our part. Our La Dolce Beet-a sausage is 100% carbon neutral. And they pay staff 30% better than industry standard wages and offer full benefits and paid professional development. They also have some ridiculously fun merchandise for the die hard fans!

For your feet:

Sperry is an American brand of boat shoe designed in 1935 by Paul A. Sperry, older brother of writer and illustrator Armstrong Sperry, whose books often featured a sailing theme. Sperrys, or Top-Siders, were the first boat shoes introduced into the boating and footwear markets. And they are a well-known and trusted brand for all types of shoes from slippers to snow boots! We had some shipped to the East Coast for the fall to test them out and that we did and they’re still going strong. Here were our favorites.

I’ve now worn these suckers through mud, rain, snow, the ocean and sand with not one leak. The women’s classic duck boot delivers all-day style that braves commutes and country clubs alike.

The women’s seaport storm boots come with a slight heel but more importantly an easy zipper and real rubber soles with grip. They are stylish enough to jazz up outfits but muted enough to be basic under pants.

Because snow boots can be stylist too there’s these stunners in brown and olive Women’s Saltwater Tall Nylon Duck Boot but also available in black too.

For the guys, the striper plushwave leather boot (but kind of like a sweet shoe) is pretty stylish while being comfortable. It’s that type of leather that looks better as it gets rugged which is key for hard on footwear guys!

Dress boots for the outdoorsman is the Watertown Chukka with a solid and heavy sole is what’s up for the man who doesn’t miss any mud puddles.

For the great outdoors:

Because everyone is exploring the great outdoors nowadays, we’re super psyched to partner with REI who we all know is the mothership of camping, hiking and everything to help you get outside and explore more. These items from the REI Co-op list are sure to make you want to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air no matter what happens in 2021! Great outdoor experiences start with the right gear. And making the right gear also means adopting practices that help fight climate change and protect the places we love.