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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.

After Saving Thousands of Elephants from Captivity, The Elephant Project Debuts “Lulu” to Raise Proceeds for Dogs Tormented by China’s Black-Market Meat Trade

Despite being man’s best friend for thousands of years, dogs still face unbearable cruelty all over the globe. From the millions of strays scavenging for food in India to the pups poorly bred in puppy mills across in the U.S., not every pooch is given the luxury of a cozy bed and an endlessly-filled water bowl. When it comes to the dogs living an existence of torment and despair, perhaps there is no worse example than the harrowing meat trade in China. Despite the official declaration in 2020 from the government that outlawed the use of dogs for livestock, every year thousands of dogs are stolen, kidnapped, or picked up as strays to be sold to black-market slaughterhouses where they meet their gruesome fate. 

Kristina McKean, Founder and CEO of The Elephant Project, the Santa Barbara-based philanthropic toy company that donates all the proceeds from its plushies to animal rescue efforts, is using the power of the company’s latest stuffed animal, Lulu, to raise awareness and funds for these dogs in need. A long-time animal lover, McKean founded the company in 2017 after witnessing the cruelty of tourist elephant rides in Thailand — with a goal to donate all the sales of her toys to the elephant sanctuaries, orphanages, and aligned organizations that are committed to their saving and rehabilitation. Since founding the company, she has released three elephant plushies that have aided in bringing hundreds of elephants to proper sanctuaries where they can be given the livelihood they deserve. Now, McKean is taking this same approach to support organizations dedicated to re-homing rescued dogs from the cruel underground meat-trade in China. 

“I hope that with the introduction of Lulu and the animals before her, we can encourage a compassionate mindset in people of all ages, fostering empathy and nurturing a sense of responsibility for animals in need,” said McKean. “With an array of beautiful pups of every breed seeking homes, we truly have the power to make a meaningful difference by providing these precious animals with a safe and loving environment.” 

Earlier this year, McKean was able to visit the source of her company’s initial inspiration, Elephant Nature Park, where she finally greeted many of the elephants that The Elephant Project played a key role in saving. During her journey, she had the opportunity to meet the beloved Baby Chaba, a rescued baby elephant and the real-world living counterpart to The Elephant Project’s SaveUs™ collection mini plushie. She also shadowed the work of Lek Chailert, Founder of Elephant Nature Park, who serves as an ongoing source of inspiration to McKean due to her relentless efforts to rescue and take care of thousands of animals from elephants, cats, dogs, horses, monkeys, and more. Despite McKean’s renewed hope in the ability of those like her and Chailert to bring all suffering animals to a place of safety and shelter, she was reminded of the continuous cruel conditions taking place in Thailand, as she witnessed a popular “riding camp” where elephants are chained and treated horribly with bullhooks— a gut-wrenching reminder of why The Elephant Project remains committed to its mission at hand.

“We want to maintain a true, real-time understanding of the work these nonprofits are doing and the various ways our community can get involved through a toy purchase or a direct donation, and beyond,” McKean said in the aftermath of her visit to Thailand. “Ultimately, that’s our core business goal: to support these organizations and amplify the impact they’re having on the protection of these precious creatures.” 

In the latest effort to aid the organizations dedicated to protecting the innocent animals of our planet, The Elephant project is unveiling Lulu— the 8-inch long adorable, huggable plushie that proudly bears the message “Adopt, Don’t Shop” on her hangtag. McKean’s inspiration for Lulu came after observing the remarkable efforts of the women at Slaughterhouse Survivors, an organization dedicated to aiding dogs affected by China’s ongoing meat trade. The California-based nonprofit has been rescuing these tortured pups since 2016, having successfully rescued more than 4,500 dogs since— working with the locals in Harbin, China who embrace the mission of bringing these precious pups the protection and well-being they need. 

The launch of Lulu represents the company’s efforts to make a tangible and meaningful difference in the lives of dogs in rescues and shelters across the United States and beyond. The new plush toy was carefully crafted out of the softest plush fabric, making it a great gift for kids to serve as their cuddly companions. More importantly, McKean vows to use all the proceeds from Lulu’s sales to support local and international animal rescue initiatives, with a heavy emphasis on helping rehome the abused dogs in China. 

“Creating Lulu and others before her was no easy task,” continued McKean. “We constantly strive for quality and focus on detail with every creation. We hope her release prompts us all to remember the importance of adopting and fostering, ultimately contributing to a brighter future for dogs who make incredible companions.” 

You can support the company’s efforts by purchasing Lulu or any of the other available plush toys by visiting https://www.theelephantproject.com.

Thrifty Nifty Mommy: The BEST Gifts for Kids Who Love Animals – Over 45 Gift Ideas!

If you’re shopping for gifts for kids who love animals, you’ve come to the right place! My kids are animal lovers. Truly, they just LOVE animals! They love to visit the zoo and often play with animal toys at our house. We have 2 dogs, a hamster, and a fish, and they love their pets so much. I know that lots of other children love animals too, so today I wanted to share a list of the BEST gifts for kids who love animals. 

Save The Herd: Kiki + Tembo + Baby Chaba Bundle — The Elephant Project

Photo Credit: www.theelephantproject.com

Any child who loves animals is sure to love this gift! Not only are they getting an adorable stuffed elephant, but you can also tell them that when you purchase one of these adorable stuffed elephants, 100% of net proceeds go to various organizations that help aid in fighting the poaching crisis and also provide care to injured, abandoned, orphaned, and abused elephants!

Kiki is an 8" stuffed elephant doll made out of soft grey fabric and a beautiful pink dress. Tembo, meaning 'elephant' in Swahili, is an 8" stuffed elephant doll made out of soft grey fabric and green overalls. Chaba is the newest addition to the herd.

You can purchase these adorable elephants individually or as a group.

Nice News: Buy an Elephant, Save an Elephant

These stuffed animals are more than just the perfect gift for a young person in your life — they can also enact positive change. When you purchase the adorable elephants Kiki or Tembo, 100% of the net proceeds go to organizations that help fight the poaching crisis.

The money also goes toward aiding injured, abandoned, orphaned, and abused elephants. You can help The Elephant Project continue to improve and save the lives of many elephants, from babies to elders, that would otherwise continue to suffer or die due to greed, inhumane treatment, competition for resources, and loss of critical habitats.

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The Spruce: The 30 Best Easter Gifts for Kids of 2023

Our favorite picks from Dylan's Candy Bar, Uncommon Goods, Slumberkins, and more

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

This Easter, fill your child's basket with the best toys, clothes, games, and chocolate to celebrate the holiday and hop into spring.

We researched the best Easter gifts for kids of all ages, from teething toys and onesies for babies to outdoor play sets and games even teens can enjoy. Our favorite picks include a poppable slime that smells like Easter candy from Sloomoo Institute, a huggable Pusheen plush from GUND, and a classic chocolate bunny from Lindt.

Give an adorable gift while doing good with The Elephant Project. The brand's easter bundle comes with three huggable stuffed elephants named Kiki, Tembo, and Baby Chaba. 100 percent of the proceeds from these plushes go directly to fighting poaching and providing care to abandoned, orphaned, and abused elephants. What's more, Baby Chaba is named after an actual living elephant being cared for by the foundation.

Price at time of publish: $110

31 Unique Easter Basket Stuffers Kids Will Love

Easter is almost here! A time for rebirth, spring, flowers and bunnies. And it’s also time to start assembling those Easter baskets. To help you get started, we put together a list of some unique Easter basket stuffers kids will love, including lots of bunny-themed items. Other gift ideas include new and classic toys, accessories, activities, candy and more for kids of all ages. So hop on down the bunny trail, and get ready for Easter!

Unique Easter Basket Stuffers Kids Will Love

Bunny-Themed Gifts

  1. A LEGO Bunny. It’s bunnies galore this time of year! Consider this LEGO bunny that’s adorable and fun to assemble. 

  2. A book about rabbits. There are so many to choose from! Check out “How to Be a Bigger Bunny,” by Wendell and Florence Minor, one of many off-the-charts amazingly adorable bunny books out there!

  3. Cadbury candy. The Cadbury bunny hopes you will include these classic Easter candies in your basket, whether it be the creme eggs or mini eggs.

  4. Plush bunnies. No Easter basket is complete without a cute plush bunny. You can find them almost anywhere during Easter time, from supermarkets to toy stores, online and more places. Plus, they’re much easier to care for than a real bunny!

  5. Bunny ear headbands. What kid doesn’t like to put on a pair of bunny ears and hop around the house?

  6. Peter Rabbit Classic Gift Set. This beautiful book set includes several Beatrix Potter classics, including “The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, The Tale of Tom Kitten and the Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.”

More Unique Easter Basket Stuffers Kids Will Love

  1. A bunch of spring-time snacks. Throw some of these delicious eats into your basket for kids to enjoy throughout the season. 

  2. The new My First Barbie Doll. Ok, she may not fit in an Easter basket, but she’s still a great gift for preschoolers. What makes this new Barbie so unique? A lot! She’s bigger, softer and has more moveable arms and legs. Overall, she’s got a design that’s easier for younger kids to play with.

  3. Basket-sized Barbies. These adorable dolls feature Barbie dressed up as a colorful giraffe, owl, bunny and other cool creatures. 

  4. Matchbox cars. A great gift that little car lovers will enjoy getting on Easter morning. 

  5. Kids’ binoculars. Your junior scientist will love getting a pair of fun binoculars to use on their next backyard nature adventure.

  6. Sunglasses. Summer is on the way! Sunglasses make a great accessory for kids to use at camp, on road trips or just to look stylish! Walmart has a great selection. 

  7. A gardening kit. With Easter comes lots of flowers and sunshine. Kids will love getting their hands dirty and learning about plants with fun gardening kit

  8. Sidewalk chalk. Sidewalk chalk is fun to use and lets your kids explore their creativity (without making a mess in the house!) 

  9. Zoo tickets. Buy zoo tickets in advance, and attach them to a cute plush toy. 

  10. A small table game. Check out this fun game from Bounce Battle that tweens and teens will love. (You’ll love it, too).

  11. A toy that gives back. Every kid will love these adorable elephant dolls. Each ellie comes with an endearing poem and information about the elephant crisis and the mission of The Elephant Project. Proceeds go to organizations that care for orphaned, abused and injured elephants, such as the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya and The Elephant Nature Park in Thailand.

  12. A book about horses. This book about horses and being yourself is a great story for young readers, written by Sarah Maslin Nir. 

  13. Socks. They’re functional and fashionable. Get them in a cute pattern, and they’re fun, too!

  14. Treats. These are always unique Easter basket stuffers because you can choose from so many kinds of treats and candies available this time of year. Check out local Staten Island baker, Puglia Baked Goods. Choose from an array of chocolate covered marshmallows, Oreos, Rice Krispies Treats and more that kids love. 

  15. An animal puzzle. This puzzle from Mudpuppy will spark hours of creative play for your kids. 

  16. Figurines. These beautiful figurines from Schleich are delightful gifts for young animal lovers.

  17. Cash. For older kiddos, stuff money in plastic eggs. 

  18. Colorful make-up. Older girls will love getting some fun lip glosses, eyeshadows and more in their baskets. We recommend  Wet n Wild and E.L.F. among many affordable and cruelty-free brands to choose from. 

  19. A phone charger. You can never have too many of these.

  20. A journal. Decorative journal notebooks can be purchased almost anywhere. They help foster a love of writing and are unique Easter basket stuffers that are great for older kids to use. 

  21. A pickleball set. Pickleball continues to make a comeback! Game sets can be a little pricey, but check out this site to see some that are under $100. 

  22. Calico Critters. These little animal family figurines are too cute for words. 

  23. A jump rope. Jumping rope is a fun activity that encourages outdoor play. Plus, jump ropes are easy to find and stuff into any Easter basket!

  24. Coloring books. Perfect for kids of almost any age. 

  25. Yarn. Does your tween or teen like to knit or crochet? Pick up a few skeins of yarn to add colorful and creative fun to any Easter basket. 

Celebrating Female Empowerment

Each year we eagerly look forward to connecting with brilliant women to celebrate International Women’s Day, and 2023 is no different. Placing a spotlight on the achievements, wise advice and inspiring insight of women we admire is one of our favorite things to do at Chantecaille, because we know that every one of us has the power to spark change in others, be it small or grand in scale. 

This year we asked a marvelous group of women from around the globe to speak to us about empowerment— and where our voices need to be heard even louder. Read on and prepare to be majorly inspired. 

—-

Kristina McKean, Founder of The Elephant Project

What does being an 'empowered woman' mean to you?  

I think being an empowered woman means that you feel the freedom to make your own choices and use your voice to make a difference in the world.  No matter what fears or challenges we face, we take risks and are confident.  I think empowered women know that we can all make a difference in the world and we should all support each other.  

Where do you see inspiring change for women taking shape today?  

I think more than ever women are realizing they have a voice and can make a change.  I think that is so important, especially for the next generation. I have teenage daughters and am so glad they are growing up in a world where their voice matters and they can speak up when they see injustice or something that they are not comfortable with.  I think we are all stronger than we think we are.  

Who would you say is the woman who inspires you the most right now?  

Lek Chailert who is the founder of The Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand is my hero!  She grew up in a trekking camp and stood up for the elephants who were being abused.  She was disowned by her family due to her resistance but continued to fight for the ethical treatment of elephants.  I have never met a more inspiring, beautiful soul.  She is one in a million and deserves as much support as possible.   

What is one piece of advice to share with a young girl today about making her way in the world?  

This question comes easily to me because I have two young daughters.  I tell them to use their voices and listen to their intuition.  Also, find something you are passionate about and shoot for the moon.  I also tell them to never be afraid of asking questions—the worst they can say is no.   

What do you think women need to shout more loudly about in our current times?  

Everything!  There are so many things that need our help and voices. I say pick whichever one you are passionate about and use your voice to make a difference.