|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Readers,
Late December has a way of pulling us in two directions at once. At this point, the season is in full swing. Twinkling lights greet us as we dash from work to errand to party and home again, trying to select last-minute gifts and whip up just one more batch of gingerbread. It’s busy in that particular holiday way — joyfully, exhaustingly so.
This week has been the best kind of nonstop: I went to the opera, caught a holiday jazz performance, baked dozens of molasses spice crinkles for a cookie swap, fried nearly a hundred latkes for my annual Hanukkah party, and wrapped (almost) all my gifts. In two days, I’ll head to Connecticut to spend Christmas with my in-laws, a boisterous group of over 20 people. I look forward to all this hustle and bustle, and genuinely enjoy it.
But I also anticipate the coziness that follows the chaos: the deliciously slow in-between days when I can recharge my batteries. I hope that you too can turn toward the quieter delights of the season. Brew a pot of tea. Read the books piling on your nightstand. Light a candle (or three). And allow the year to end, gently.
Happy recharging and happy shopping,
– Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Cozy Picks for a Peaceful Winter |
|
|
|
Buy-One-Give-One Blankets
|
|
Oregon-based Sackcloth + Ashes makes beautifully crafted blankets from recycled fibers. Available in contemporary and traditional patterns, these soft yet durable blankets are machine-washable, and designed to be enjoyed for many years. For every blanket purchased, the company donates one to a homeless shelter in the area where the blanket will be shipped. ($140 and up) |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Warm Beverage Bonanza
|
|
I love trying new teas, kombuchas, and drinks of all kinds, but hate committing to a flavor before I know I like it. That’s why I’m excited to add a bit of fun to the dreariest months of the year by sipping my way through Teeccino’s sampler packs. I’m starting with the Classic Roasted Herbal Tea and Mushroom Adaptogen Samplers, and there’s still lots more to try. ($11.99 and up) |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
The Cutest Coasters
|
|
Friendsheep, whose dryer balls you may know and love, also makes fabulous home goods, including these coasters and trivets. Each cruelty-free wool piece is handmade in Nepal for fair wages. These absorbent, plastic-free coasters will help set the mood for any cozy day spent reading and enjoying a mug of tea or cocoa, and they come in lots of colorways, ranging from sophisticated to exuberant. ($18 and up) |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Recipe for a Fun Night In
|
|
Cozy means not needing to leave the house — and when you’ve got a pantry full of tasty, sustainably sourced tinned fish, you can whip up flavorful meals with ease. Bela Brand Seafood’s Spicy Card Night Gift Set includes a cute deck of cards, three tins each of olive-oil-packed piri-piri mackerel and sardines, and hot sauce to round things out: everything you need for a lively night in. ($54) |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Cheerfully Mismatched Socks
|
|
Solmate’s mismatched socks add a burst of color to even the grayest winter day. Made in North Carolina from recycled, Oeko-Tex certified yarns, the socks are soft, breathable, and just plain fun to look at. A portion of proceeds from the Hummingbird, Honey Bee, Ocean Turtle, and Goat socks are donated to charitable organizations. ($14.95 and up) |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
A Heavyweight Hoodie
|
|
If you wear the same sweatshirt all season long, consider treating yourself to the next sweatshirt you’ll be wearing all season long. Made in a Fair Trade Certified factory from Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton, Vottera’s heavyweight hoodie is soft yet substantial, and will make you feel warm inside and out. ($69.99) |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
Soothing Beeswax Candles
|
|
Of all the candles we offer, Bluecorn’s pure beeswax tapers, pillars, and votives are my favorites. The older I get — and the longer winter goes on — the more often I light candles, even during the day. These make everything smell cleaner and sweeter in a subtle, soothing way. Give yourself a little upgrade with this adorable jar of matches. ($5 and up) |
| SHOP TODAY |
|
|
|
|
|
Paid Advertisement with Money Pet |
Pet insurance could help you offset rising veterinary costs
|
 |
|
Veterinarians nationwide reported that corporate managers pushed clinics to focus on profit, with vets often paid based on revenue. This encouraged them to see more pets, order more tests, and upsell services, creating a growing burden for uninsured pet owners. Pet insurance could help you offset some of these rising costs, with some providing up to 90% reimbursement. View Money’s top pet insurance picks to see plans starting at only $10/month. |
| SEE PROVIDERS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Experience impeccable hospitality at Santa Ynez’s The Genevieve hotel on our upcoming Bluedot Living trip to California’s Central Coast. Designed and led by Bluedot’s founder, Victoria Riskin, this curated trip was designed with sustainability and luxury in mind and features private tours, whale watching, wine tastings, meetings with local change-makers, and inspiration to care for our planet.
|
| View the Itinerary |
|
|
|
|
|
Want to get in touch? I’d love to hear from you. Tell me about your favorite sustainable products and anything else that’s on your mind — email marketplace@bluedotliving.com. I’ll see you again Monday after next.
– Elizabeth Weinstein |
|
Elizabeth Weinstein, Bluedot’s Marketplace Editor, lives in Manhattan with her husband; papillon Finley; and cats SanDeE* and Modell. When she’s not asking the folks at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom to try on their most sustainable sneakers in a size 9½, she can be found at the Union Square Greenmarket or gardening on her rooftop terrace. |
|
|
|
Our audience is informed, intentional, and tuned in to sustainable living. Reach our 300,000 readers by advertising here, or contact adsales@bluedotliving.com to reserve your space. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
