From jewelry to olive oils to coffee and more, Lauren Iannotti, editor of Real Simple, stops by TODAY to share great holiday gift ideas that support women-owned small businesses.
2023 REAL SIMPLE Gift Guide
Kelly Clarkson Show: California Mom Creates Elephant Plushie To Help Rescue Real-Life Elephants
The Elephant Project is a charitable organization selling adorable stuffed animals in support of organizations that help save and care for orphaned and abused elephants around the world. Founder Kristina dials-in and shares how seeing a baby elephant being abused in the streets of Thailand 20 years ago inspired her to create the organization, and teach the next generation about the importance of respecting wildlife. Pilot Pen awards Kristina $1,000 to help her continue her incredible work. Be unstoppable with the go-to pens of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the smooth G2 and erasable FriXion by Pilot. https://powertothepen.com/ #KellyClarksonShow
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LA Times: 18 gifts that give back in big ways
We’ve all been there, politely thanking someone for a gift we neither need nor want as we try not to think about the amount of money wasted on something we’ll never use.
That’s the tricky part about gift giving. If you want to maintain any sort of surprise, you just have to wing it sometimes and hope your instincts are right.
We can’t provide a magic guide to everyone’s perfect gift, but we can steer you to gifts that give twice by supporting causes that might be important to your recipient, such as human rights, eradicating hunger or saving the natural world. That way, even if your gift is a disappointment, your recipient will know that at least a portion of the money you spent is supporting something that’s improving our world.
And that might be one of the best gifts of all.
Not since Babar has an elephant been so endearingly and elegantly portrayed as this pint-sized version from the Elephant Project complete with (removable!) green velvet overalls. This soft stuffie is beautifully made, with a generous trunk and tufted tail. And it’s just the right size for little hands. Tembo and his friend Kiki (who prefers dresses) are just two of four cuddly animals offered by this Santa Barbara-based company, which sends 100% of its net proceeds to organizations around the world devoted to saving elephants from poachers and providing care for orphaned young. (P.S. If your gift recipient prefers big cats or dogs, check out Oba the lion and LuLu the dog. They have their own related support organizations.)
From $39 at the Elephant Project
CurioCaster: A Modern Non Profit Podcast: The Elephant project: a different path to making a difference with Kristina McKean
Join Tosha and special guest Kristina McKean as they delve into the unique mission-driven work of The Elephant Project in this episode of A Modern Nonprofit. Unlike traditional nonprofits, Kristina's approach to elephant conservation is both innovative and impactful. She shares her journey from witnessing a baby elephant begging in the streets of Bangkok to creating a stuffed animal that raises both funds and awareness for the cause. Kristina leverages her background in product development and design to create a sustainable model for elephant conservation. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in mission-based work that transcends the conventional nonprofit structure. Ready to discover a different path to making a difference? More on our Guest: Kristina McKean, a passionate advocate for elephant conservation, brings over 23 years of commitment to the cause. As the Founder and Owner of The Elephant Project, she combines her expertise in design and product development to create stuffed animals that not only raise funds but also educate the younger generation about the plight of elephants. 🔗 For more information on Kristina McKean 💻 Website 👥 LinkedIn -------------------------------------- 🔗 For more content by The Charity CFO head to... 💻 Website 👥 LinkedIn 🎥 YouTube 📸 Instagram 🗺 Facebook
PureWow: The 35 Best Gifts for 2-Year-Old
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
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At one year of age, most tots are content to sit on a floor mat and knock around a bunch of multi-colored cups. But those days are decidedly over once they reach the two-year mark. We’re in the Toddler Zone™. Now, you have to consider a lot more than just choking-hazard avoidance when choosing a gift. After all, 2-year-olds are famously fickle, and because their verbal and emotional skills are developing so rapidly, they require more stimulation than they used to. They also have—*gasp*—opinions and preferences, which makes them scary customers.
Fear not, we considered over a hundred toddler-appropriate products from our own playrooms and research, as well as surveyed our extensive toddler-chasing networks to create this curated, 35-item list of gifts for 2-year-olds. So whether you’re shopping for someone else’s child or eager to find a toy that will keep your own offspring occupied for (at minimum, fingers crossed) 15 minutes, got you covered. From Washable Tempera Paint Sticks ($10) to a Woom Balance Bike ($249), check out our list specifically designed to take the guesswork out of toddler-pleasing.
How We Chose the Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds
Two-year-olds have a reputation for big feelings, big outbursts and big opinions. They might just be more volatile than radioactive plutonium. So, in order to protect you from an explosive tantrum, we brought you the best toys, books, stuffies and more from our own lives—and excluded the things gathering dust in the attic. We also painstakingly pored over reviews of top sellers, taking into account quality, function, return policy and of course, age-appropriateness.
Where to Find the Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds
Want endless options with easy returns? Big box e-commerce sites like Amazon, Walmart and Target are great spots to scour for gifts. For unique or personalized gifts, we love Uncommon Goods and Etsy. For access to customer service, sometimes it’s best to purchase directly from the independent brand, like Hanna Andersson or Woom. We also love shops that give back, like The Elephant Project, where certain purchases go directly to helping wildlife.
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BEST GIFT THAT GIVES BACK
17. The Elephant Project’s Kiki, Tembo or Lulu
What We Like: proceeds benefit animals, teaches empathy
What We Don't Like: nothing
Return Policy: final sale
Meet Kiki, Tembo, Oba and Lulu. They’re 8-inch-tall stuffies, and when you buy one, 100 percent of net proceeds go to organizations that help each type of animal. For example, if you buy Kiki or Tembo the elephants, your purchase can help fight the poaching crisis and provide care to injured, abandoned, orphaned and abused elephants. If you go with Oba the lion, your purchase benefits big cats in need. And if you opt for Lulu the dog, you’ll help save dogs from abuse and neglect in the United States and abroad. (They’re also available in bundles if you can’t choose.) While the nitty gritty details might be a little intense for your 2-year-old, they’ll certainly be all ears for “helping elephants” and love toting their new little dolls around.
Manhattan's Top Tastemakers & Philanthropists Share Their Guide To Giving
Celebrated for their expert eye, we asked some of Manhattan's top tastemakers and power philanthropists to share their guide to giving.
OLIVIA CHANTECAILLE
“I think the spirit of giving has always been important, perhaps now it feels more prominent because of the current crucial state of our planet,” says Olivia Chantecaille. “People are very aware and thankfully want to make a positive impact on the wellbeing of all and our future generations.” As the Creative Director and Co-Founder of Chantecaille, Chantecaille crafts collections that support a variety of causes including Marine Conservation Institute, Cheetah Conservation Fund, Yellowstone Forever, amongst many others. “Since our first Les Papillons collection in 2006 that supported the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, Chantecaille has created 110 conservation inspired products that have supported 35 philanthropy groups focused on endangered species, wild land and oceans and the local people. We work very closely with the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which helps to rescue wild, orphaned, baby elephants, as well as protect wild lands from poachers. This fall we worked with the American Wild Horse Campaign to help protect our country’s very own wild mustangs that are meant to live freely on our protected public lands.” The glow getter encourages all to make a difference if they follow their heart. “There is so much good in the world and good intentions. If someone truly cares about a cause their genuine feeling will have significant ripple effects.” Here, she offers her guide to giving.
PureWow: 61 Totally Unique Gifts Your Best Friend Will Love, No Matter the Holiday
Your best friend knows you better than anyone. (Who else would rock with you to Backstreet Boys on any given Wednesday night?) And over the years, she’s been there for you no matter what. All of which means it’s always a good time to treat her to something special. To help you find the best gifts for best friends, we researched nearly 150 products, eventually narrowing our list down to 61. And while we’re partial to this handy wine aerator($60) and these ultra soothing CBD bath salts ($38), we’d happily snag any of the below presents for our besties.
How We Chose the Best Gifts for Best Friends
We chose these gifts based on our personal experiences with many of the products as well as deep dives into the customer reviews of others. While choosing our list, we considered value (How much bang-for-the-buck do you get?), durability (Will it last? Does it need to?) and of course the “wow” factor you’re looking for when shopping for a gift. Specifically, we looked at:
Budget: Everyone has a different financial situation, so we made sure to include BFF-worthy gifts at a variety of price points.
Diversity: The best part about friendships is that everybody is different. Not every bestie will appreciate the same thing, so we found tons of presents for all types of people, ranging from the pregnant friend to the long-distance gal pal.
Accessibility: We stuck to retailers that we know and love, and everybody can access.
Customer ratings and reviews: In order to land on our list, every item had to have a 4-star rating or higher from buyers. We scoured reviews to ensure users were happy with their purchases.
Personal experience: Over the years, we at PureWow have definitely given (and received!) some amazing gifts. We’ve added a ton of our favorites throughout, like this sweet Birthday Wish candle ($30).
BEST UNIQUE GIFT FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND
24. The Elephant Project Stuffed Animal
What We Like: it’s a gift that gives back
What We Don’t Like: you can’t choose which nonprofit the money goes to
Return Policy: not stated
This all-female company is on a mission to save the elephants — 100% of the net proceeds from every purchase go to non-profits that care for orphaned, abused and injured elephants. Not only will she cherish the sweet stuffed animal you choose for her (or, you know, give it to her niece), but she’ll also know your friendship played a part in helping keep the elephant population alive.
CountryLiving: 51 Best Gifts for Any and Every 10 Year Old Girl
As reviewed by the experts themselves: 10 year-old girls.
Gifting for any girl can be tough, whether they're 2 or 72. But tweens might just take the cake when it comes to the hard-to-gift-for category. Somewhere in the gray area of too old for toys they just played with a few years ago and too young for the makeup and tech accessories their older, teenage siblings have on their wishlists, it's a tough demographic to nail down.
Fortunately, we asked the experts to weigh in here, with those experts being our own editors' kids. Because who knows what a 10 year-old girl wants better than a 10 year-old girl? Whether they love spending their afternoons outside, prefer the quiet solitude of a good book, or are all in on the latest trends, every type of gal is covered on this list. But, the truth is, while she may seem like an enigma to you right now, 10 year-old girls really haven't changed that much, which is why we were also sure to include more than a few classic gifts on this list too, like some family-favorite board games.
Just in case you were worried her tastes might run a little too high for your budget, fear not: there's tons of 10 year-old girl approved and budget-friendly picks on this list. And if you're shopping last minute, not to worry. We won't tell her you procrastinated and we have tons of gifts on this list that qualify for 2-day delivery on Amazon! And if you're on the hunt for the perfect gift for another kiddo on your list, we've got you covered with these popular gift guides.
Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls
Purewow: 60 Unique Gifts for Grandma, From a Pet Portrait to a Personalized Apron
Nana, grandma, grammy—no matter what you call your beloved grandmother, she deserves a gift that’s as special as she is. To get an idea of what she really wants, we asked the grandmas in our lives to tell us what presents would truly make their day.
Whether she’s an avid gardener, morning walker, TV binger or bookworm—there’s a gift on this list that is perfectly personalized for her. From a fancy KitchenAid stand mixer ($450) to a custom pet portrait (from $70), here are 60 gifts for grandma (or your mom, if the gift is “from the kids”) that she’ll appreciate and *actually* use.
How We Chose the Best Gifts for Grandma
To cull this list, we polled the grandmothers in our lives, asking them about products and services they’d love to receive. Then, we scrupulously researched the available options at our favorite, editor-approved brands, taking into account buyer reviews, price points and return policies. We also recommended products that our editors have personally tested, vetted and loved.
