gift ideas

Whether you’re looking for a gift for a vegan friend or family member or are a looking to treat yourself to something cruelty-free, this is the perfect guide for you! I put together my ultimate vegan gift guide including cruelty-free beauty products, plant-based cookbooks, delicious dairy-free chocolates, chic vegan fashion, gifts that give to sanctuaries and so much more! My gift ideas are grouped into five categories:

1. Cruelty-Free Kitchen
2. Plant-Based Beauty
3. Rescue, Shelter & Sanctuary Support
4. Vegan Fashion
5. Peaceful Yogi

Keep reading and click on the links beneath each item to start some feel-good shopping!


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These award-winning animals make the perfect gift for a toddler!  Stuffies are giving new meaning to the words “stuffed animal”: they have 7 secret pockets for kids to hide their “treasures” and each comes with a hidden interactive storybook.  I was sold on this item when I read Stuffies‘ near-flawless reviews.  Reviewers with children ages 2-10 rave about how much their kids love these toys.  They’re “cuddly”, “durable”, and all-around “loveable”.  I just ordered “Gracie the Hippo” for my almost-3-year-old nephew who loves collecting and carrying coins, sticks, and small toys!

Below are links to view my favorite Stuffies on Amazon.  Read the reviews and make sure to check out all 16 designs!

1. Sky the Giraffe  view on Amazon
2. Digger the Dog  view on Amazon
3. Blaze the Dragon  view on Amazon
4. Scout the Monkey  view on Amazon
5. Prancine the Unicorn  view on Amazon
6. Gracie the Hippo  view on Amazon
7. Shuffles the Turtle  view on Amazon
8. Champ the Lion  view on Amazon
9. Dash the Horse  view on Amazon


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These onesies make perfect baby shower gifts!  They’re cute, clever, and totally unique.  Keep reading to find out where to get them.

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Gift shopping for the little ones in your life? I put together a list of some of my favorite non-toxic, eco-friendly gifts for kids, including toys by environmentally-responsible companies like Green Toys, PlanToys, and Hape.

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These gift ideas are perfect if you’re looking for a way to give to charity while giving to your loved ones!

1. Superfruit Lip Balm by Peacekeeper Cause-Metics  (view online) “Peacekeeper Cause-Metics is the first cosmetics line to donate all of its after-tax, distributable profits to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues.”
2.  Youth Hoot Beanie by Krochet Kids Intl.  (view online) “With every product you purchase, you are helping Krochet Kids provide women in Uganda or Peru with fair and consistent income, skills training and mentorship.”
3. Beech Wood Troubadour Headphones by LSTN (view online) “For every pair sold, LSTN helps restore hearing to a person in need through the Starkey Hearing Foundation.”
4. Species Adoption by World Wildlife Fun (view online) “Your symbolic adoption supports WWF’s global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats.”  Choose from over 100 species to adopt! For a $50 donation, you’ll receive a plush animal, adoption certificate, photo, and species info card!
5.  Hope Soy Candle by Juara (view online) “10% of proceeds from this candle will be donated to Walubi charity relief organization dedicated to aiding Indonesian disaster relief efforts.”
6. Gold + Silver Dust Set by SAME SKY (view online) “SAME SKY provides jobs globally for women struggling to lift themselves out of poverty. Instead of a handout, we believe in giving a hand-up and the tools to become self-sufficient. Trained as artisans, SAME SKY women earn 15 to 20 times the average wage in Sub Saharan Africa. 100% of net proceeds are reinvested to train and employ more artisans in need.”
7. Navy Navia Throw by JADEtribe (view online) “With every item you purchase, you are helping JADETribe provide financial opportunity for women in Southeast Asia and support the artisitic and cultural tradition of textile weaving.”
8. Just Like You by the Just Like You Foundation (view online) 100% of the profits of this amazing book go to charity. You can choose which charity you would like to donate to at checkout!
9. Charity Pot Hand & Body Lotion by LUSH Cosmetics (view online) “Every penny (yes, every single penny) that you pay for a pot, excluding the tax, goes to fund and support grassroots charities all around the world.”
10. Earthwise Rust Men’s Vegan Classics by TOMS (view online) “With every product you purchase, TOMS will help a person in need. One for One.”
11. Grey Ikat Women’s Vegan Classics by TOMS (view online)
12. Earthwise Cranberry Bimini Tiny Vegan Classics by TOMS (view online)


We put together a collection of classic toys and games designed with a stylish, modern aesthetic.    No apps on this list and no batteries needed!  We’re going back to basics with tops, blocks, hopscotch, darts, and dominoes!

1.  Cat Steps by Educo (3-7 years) $12.99
view this item on www.amazon.com
Move over tin cans! These steps are safe, sturdy, and perfect for walking in the sand. Your children will improve balance, coordination, and motor skills while leaving behind adorable cat paw prints along their path! 
2. Spinning Tops Optical Set by Haba (3-8 years) $8.99
view this item on www.amazon.com
This top set comes with 8 optical illusion disks to try!
3. Life on Earth Matching Game by eeBoo (4-8 years) $12.51
view this item on www.amazon.com
The gorgeous images on these sturdy cards are a perfect way to learn about different animals and improve memory skills. Continue reading

Hohner makes fantastic, durable musical instruments for young children.  Almost all of the instruments our students play in our Upper East Side music studio are by Hohner.  They are attractive, easy to clean, and have great sound!  We put together a list of the 5 most popular.
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We put together a collection of holiday gift ideas for kids to inspire you on your search for original, imaginative, quality gifts.  Scroll below the images for clickable links to all the items on our list!

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