Sunny's Gift Giving Guide

Getting the perfect gift for the holiday season can be really tough. We are all too familiar with Amazon, so let us look at some ethical small businesses we should support this holiday season. We all should support small business, such as black owned businesses, LGBT owned business, and ethical brands which not only support different groups of people, but are also vegan and environmentally friendly. But where do we begin? What are the small Etsy shops and small brands and where are they? In this blog, we are going to find out!

Small businesses really need kind supporters like you to boost their views, clicks, view times, and sales, because running a small business is a challenge. With your help this holiday season, you will help local business owners to achieve their dreams. Besides giving your friends and family the best holiday present this year, you will also help the community by supporting ethical, black- owned, vegan and cruelty- free brands, as well as other brands we should all support.

I looked all over Etsy to find the perfect small businesses to support this year, from black- owned, LGBTQ- owned, Autistic and neurodivergent, Jewish, and more. I also looked for vegan and cruelty- free soaps and candles. I also found a lot of trans and asexual pride. So let us take a look at the shops I found, so far.

This lavender soap by DeShawnMarie on Etsy is a nice vegan and organic soap is a great gift for your loved ones and friends for the holidays, because it is very aesthetically pleasing and is very relaxing. I am thinking about someone I care about and am considering giving her this as a gift. It is from a shop owned by a young woman with her own small business called, DeShawnMarie Bath and Beauty. Since her soaps are vegan, they are cruelty free. I have not bought from her before, but I am considering it. Her website is https://www.deshawnmariesoap.com/. I first found her on Etsy and then came across her website, which is stunning.

Another small Etsy shop owner who also makes soaps supporting the LGBTQ community is HonorYourBody from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The shop owner is Carol Shaley who runs not only a shop which sells soaps, lotions, and other things, but also offers services such as massage therapy. She makes and sells lesbian, trans, ace, rainbow, and other soaps to represent the pride flag. This is a family owned business who's items are all hand made. I am very grateful they make soaps to represent the pride flags. I am thinking about people I know who would appreciate these soaps very much and be very happy to be represented every time they wash their hands or shower. Plus, they smell just like how one would imagine. Here is the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HonorYourBody?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=600004427.

Next up, I found some pride candles from TrandleBoutique by Maeve Stites on Etsy. They are a nonbinary lesbian who uses they/ them pronouns, which is very exciting to me, because I am a bisexual nonbinary person. This is her shop link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrandleBoutique. Their beautiful pride candles are a great gift for your LGBT friends and family, as they will feel very loved and appreciated. There is nothing better for Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, or whatever the holiday you celebrate, than the gift of affirmation this year! I will definitely purchase from this small business owner in the future. Here is their Twitter: https://twitter.com/maeveStites.

I would also like to mention these great stocking stuffers, which are the Pentagay LGBT stickers on Etsy from CorosiveYuri. The link to buy these cute stickers is right here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/860461105/pentagay-lgbt-stickers?ref=user_profile. She not only makes stickers, but also cute jewelry out of hand made resins and they are so cute. Please check her out, as she is a great artist. I would love to purchase these stickers and resin jewelry and pass them out to all my friends. They would also be great mini presents because they are so cheap and small.

While we are thinking about what Christmas presents to give, let us not forget those who do not have a tree this year. We have to support those who celebrate Hanukkah by supporting their businesses and supporting the Jewish people, because not everyone celebrates Christmas. I found a Mensch coffee mug, which I think is so cute and is great for people who drink tea or coffee. The word, Mensch not only means human being in German, but in Hebrew, it also means a person of honor and integrity.

This was created by a Jewish woman named Barbara Shaw by Barbara Shaw Gifts on Etsy and can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BarbaraShaw?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=807029273. She is from Jerusalem, Israel, which is so cool, because This is the first small business I have found outside of the United States of America! I have also dated a Jewish man before, so I know a little bit about Hanukkah and one other Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah. I know a little about these sacred Jewish holidays, because I spent time with him and his family during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish Passover. I also know that Hanukkah lasts for eight nights where they light the menorah each night until all eight candles are lit, lighting one for each night. I am not Jewish, but I know a little bit about the culture and religion from my ex.

Another present for Hanukkah I think is really nice is the Hanukkah Menorah Drip tray Gift set of 2 by the same small brand, Barbara Shaw Gifts, because it is important to have something for the candle wax from the menorah to drip onto without making a mess. This is really important, because no one wants to have to clean up the mess. Instead, your friends should focus on watching the beautiful candles and not have to worry.

Have you ever heard of Jewish comedian Larry David? He is the producer of the famous series, Seinfeld, of which David was the head writer and producer with his friend, Jerry Seinfeld. If you like Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, you will like this Funny Larry David Candle I found on Etsy. If you enjoy good comedy and do not know what else to get your friends and family this year, then this is a great idea. It smells really good and has a funny picture of the comedian on it. You can find it here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/901393271/pretty-pretty-good-hanukkah-holiday?ref=hp_rf-5&pro=1. This was created by NostalgixCandles from Santa Monica, California. This one is so cute!

While we are supporting small businesses, we cannot forget small businesses owned and run by Autistic people. As an Autism advocate, I support organizations such as the Autism Self- Advocacy Network, or ASAN. This is a small organization by Autistic people for Autistic people. Just as it is very important and vital to support the work of those on the spectrum, it is just as important to support small business by Autistic people. We have to spread acceptance, not awareness. Let's get decked out in the color red for acceptance as well as use the rainbow colored infinity symbol to represent Autistic people and their voices.

The little red "Acceptance Not Awareness" buttons are so cute and are a great stocking stuffer! You can find the link here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/813621316/acceptance-not-awareness-125-button?ref=notif_psffl.

I included this picture to show you what a positive message this brings this holiday season. Here is the artist on Etsy who created them: AwkwardAnxietyArts, AKA, Teddy. Teddy is an Autistic, Pansexual freelance artist who fights for equality. He has an LGBT flag which says in bold, white letters, "EQUAL RIGHTS FOR OTHERS DOES NOT MEAN FEWER RIGHTS FOR YOU. IT'S NOT PIE." I love it! This artist is so talented and amazing and the prices are so low.

I believe I covered everything for now. Those were a few examples of possible gifts for the holiday season. Now that you have some ideas, please remember to support small businesses this year and to support ethical brands. These small brands need your love and support this year. Thanks to you, these small businesses will not only survive but thrive. You have made this holiday season a whole lot better by supporting black, Autistic, LGBT, and Jewish shops this year. You have also promoted acceptance and respect to those in your community buy gifting these great things to your diverse friends and family. Happy Gifting!