Compassionate Holiday Gift Guide

What better time of year to spread compassion!  Being vegan not only applies to what you consume but also what you use/wear as well.  This includes fur, wool, silk, and of course leather.  I compiled a list of some great vegan gift ideas.  Check em out!  I guarantee you'll be tempted to just buy it all for yourself ;)  

Madden Girl Kenjii Taupe Vegan Platform Pump from Alternative Outfitters

Alternative Outfitters Vegan Boutique is a great place to buy some good quality vegan shoes, bags, and accessories for both men and women.  They also added cruelty-free cosmetics and personal care items as well.  What's awesome is that they have a nice selection of boots.  You can order online, they ship internationally, or you can go to their store in Pasadena, CA and try an array of goodies for yourself.

100% soywax & metal free candles from A Scent of Scandal

A Scent of Scandal is not only super eco-friendly (100% soy wax and metal free), they have so many scents to choose from and they're named after clever and some really naughty sayings lol.  Here are some of their descriptions:

• Morning Wood:  An arousing combination of sandalwood and amber. 
• Stoner-grass:  fresh cut grass on a summer day.
• Good in bed-lavendar:  Hop in the sack with this beautiful scent of fresh cut lavender.
• Rehab-clean:  Lime, mint, and ozone get sorted out by French lavender and white musk.
• Tighty Whities-fresh laundry:  Sweet floral of jasmine and violets, hints of lemon zests and vanilla.
• What the pluck?-fresh flowers:  A blend of gardenia and jasmine with a orange blossom.
• Cougar-boyz'nberry:  An expert blend of blackberry and tart cranberry. Meow!
• '8 Inches - banana:  Big notes of banana rounded out by hints of vanilla and cream

Raw lip balm!

Hurraw Lip Balm is the perfect cosmetic gift.  They come in 16 yummy flavors, including green tea, chocolate, coconut, chai, and coffee bean.  They also just added their new line of treatment balms:  SPF 15 Sun Balm and Night Treatment Balm.  I have both of the treatment balms and they are fabulous!  I like to give balms as cosmetic gifts because then you don't have to deal with whether or not the shade or color works with the recipient etc.  But if you want more of a beauty line then Tarte makes some great vegan products.

Check out www.thekindlife.com

Give a vegan book for Christmas!  I recommend Alicia Silverstone's "The Kind Diet."  This helped motivate me to go from vegetarian to vegan and introduced me to macrobiotics, or what she calls "superhero" status.  This book is good for people who are looking to transition to a more compassionate lifestyle.  She offers meal plans, recipes, and insight into why choosing a vegan diet is the way to go.  There's also a special section for beginners to experiment with vegan alternatives.  This book is really the ultimate guide for vegans or want-to-be vegans.  I recommend the following books as well, including one that my good vegan friend Karly gave me ;)

• "The 30 Day Vegan Challenge" - Colleen Patrick Goudreau
• "Vegan's Daily Companion" - Colleen Patrick Goudreau
• "The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics" - Jessica Porter
• "Modern Day Macrobiotics" - Simon G. Brown

Recycled leather Pipit bag from Ashley Watson.

For those who are making the transition to a vegan lifestyle, a recycled leather bag is a good way to go.  Ashley Watson  makes one-of-a-kind bags from exclusively recycled leather materials.  Because these are unique you'll see that the styles sold online are constantly changing and run out fast so be sure to nab it once you see it.  What's also really interesting is that she includes a card with the bag saying what your bag was made out of and where it came from.  My mom and sis gave me a bag from her and it was made from a used black leather jacket all the way from NYC.  I loovveeeee my bag!

2012 PETA Bunny Necklace

PETA sells a bunch of stuff to spread the vegan word.  My fav piece is their new PETA bunny necklace!  Created by Christy Robinson, this elegant and stylish necklace is hand sawn out of recycled aluminum.  It makes for a really good conversation piece.

Tiffin and bamboo utensils.

We need them for work, travel, school, you name it...we allll need them.  Why not make it eco-friendly? These products are sold online at To-Go Ware or I've also seen them around Whole Foods as well.  I have yet to get the Tiffin but the bamboo utensils I use everyday.  They are durable and very easy to clean. 

Vegan BOLD wonky mug in linen.

VeganDish by Jeanette Zeis Ceramincs are handmade and super cute.  Can't you just picture sipping some kukicha tea in this thing?  She also makes bowls and has other vegan stamp designs.

  

I love these films!!!!  I can watch them allll the time.  They just send a great message and reminds you

just how much you love animals :)  So try giving these classics out to your friends and family.  I just recently watched Forks Over Knives and it was very inspirational.  There's no images of animals being slaughtered in there so that's a good thing to tell your gift recipient if they seem a little skeptical at first about watching it.  It's just overall educating you about including more plants into your everyday diet and how it can be beneficial.

Finally, last but not least.....

Adopt a farm animal from Farm Sanctuary in someone's name.  They'll receive a certificate in the mail and a cute picture of their adopted farm animal.  Nothing can beat the gift of life ;)