Momming ain't Easy!!

A mother’s love is like the tree of life.

Strong in Spirit,

Peaceful, wise and beautiful.

- American Proverb

It took a minute to find that quote on my phone but thankfully I had not deleted it, as it has been in my photos for years! It is so simple yet so lovely and just resonated with me when I decided to do a deep dive into quotes about Mothers, most likely around this time of year!

Like every holiday that entails gift giving to a loved one, there is always a period of frenzy over what to get and what NOT to get, (based on past experiences perhaps)! I wanted to put together a small list of items from the shop as well as offer some other unique ideas that may help you out on your quest this Spring.

Accessory Refresh

Perhaps your mother has held onto some home decor or accessories that are a bit dated in terms of style or used past their prime, a new set of coasters that will catch the humidity of the glass and come with a cork bottom could brighten up her collection while being practical and fun.

A Classic Take

Nothing wrong with a timeless gift, especially when it is heartfelt and curated from you for your mom. Jewelry is beloved by many and hearts symbolize love, win win!

Intentional Gifts

If you are looking for a gift that could be intentional with your mother and children doing an activity together, a kids puzzle is a great way to bring that about in addition to gifting her a puzzle of course. There are a few in the shop and so many amazing options online for puzzles, you are sure to find one that she will love.

a few other gift ideas for Mom

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a few other gift ideas for Mom 〰️

Pet Portrait - A great surprise gift and you can support an artist with your purchase

Polaroid Camera - Loved this idea, especially since the traditional photograph and book are so few and far compared to the past

Portable Speaker - So many fun colors + styles with a varied price range

Pots for Flowers with color changing led’s - Instant ambience

What is vegan "leather" - isn't than an oxymoron???!!

First Impressions

Admittedly, I was very naive to the vegan options out there when it comes to fashion, specifically hand bags + purses. I didn’t seek out vegan bags at first, they sort of sought me out. After checking out new brands on a wholesale site I have an account with, I became smitten when I spotted the stylish brand Hozen. After checking out their items, how they were made and the brands philosophy in general, I knew it would be a fit and great to include vegan fashion for those interested and devoted to it.

THE BREAKDOWN:

A FEW DIFFERENT MATERIALS/METHODS USED IN VEGAN BAG CREATION

CACTUS LEATHER

In Mexico, there is a cactus plant, Nopal, which requires very little water and can be harvested without killing it. Enter innovative brand Desserto, comprised of designers Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez, who are responsible for utilizing this amazing sustainable resource. After research and commitment, they have brilliantly cultivated their own species of the Nopal plant indigenous to the area it grows, allowing for consistent harvesting of the leather-like material.

Once harvested (every 6-8 months) the water efficient, CO2 absorbing raw material is treated, without any toxic chemicals. Because it is so convincing and smooth like leather, it can be referenced as vegan “leather,” if so desired. Beyond the luxurious appeal, it is waterproof, durable and biodegradable.

Cork Leather

Let’s head to the Mediterranean (no really, can we?!), hitting up the regions where the Cork Oak trees call home. Spain, Portugal and France are where they reside and provide their cork for the leather alternative, interestingly enough, it is believed that harvesting these babies can prolong their life up to 300 years.

Oak trees have to be the ripe age of 25 to be harvested initially, however, their cork is unusable first round. Following its first harvest, the bark can be consistently chipped off by extractors every nine years. It needs to be dried for six months, boiled, steamed to support elasticity and then shaved into thin sheets from their block molds.

POLYURETHANE LEATHER (PU)

Poly Urethane is a thermoplastic polymer which results in a convincing looking leather alternative. It is soft like the real stuff with a slight texture, weather resistant and durable. PU is utilized in producing a lot of non animal leather out there.

The caveat here is that it is far too easy to confuse PU with PVC or Vinyl, which is far more damaging to the environment and will not break down for hundreds of years. In order to ensure the better option, reading the label and doing some quick research will help as well as to make sure it is 100% vegan, if that is what you are seeking, as a PU coating can be mixed with animal leather for a hybrid leather, often referred to as Bycast or Bicast leather. Another important thing to consider as well is who the brand or corporation is responsible for the product. Cost, quality and their carbon footprint will vary depending on values and goals of the manufacturer.

NOTABLE VEGAN HANDBAG + PURSE DESIGNERS/BRANDS BELOW (Link will lead you to source article and individual brand links)

Hozen Alkeme Frida-Rome Stella McCartney Angela Roi Luxtra

Hozen Alkeme Frida-Rome Stella McCartney Angela Roi Luxtra

sources https://hozencollection.com/blogs/hozen-blog/meet-pu-leather-a-convincing-all-vegan-alternative https://theminimalistvegan.com/vegan-leather/ https://www.carlfriedrik.com/magazine/cork-leather

The Lowdown on different CandleS + THEIR DETAILS

Let’s Break down different wax sources and other candle details to consider. Candles are challenging enough to pick out if you enjoy their ambience when lit, using them as an accessory/decor or a combo of both. There is the fun aspect of picking out the scent + aesthetic but the other aspects can be somewhat misleading and tricky with the wealth of contradicting information out there.

Let’s start with the basics shall we? The first and one of the most important things to consider is the wax type. If you are looking to stay away from paraffin wax, which is petroleum-based, you want go with a plant-based wax. The benefits of plant-based wax is having a natural base as well as it being the more sustainable choice. Some options are soy, coconut, and beeswax.

Tip: Similar to foods that may be misleading by their buzzwords, if a candle has even 1% of soy wax, it is able to be labeled solely as soy. Always seek out 100% plant based wax so you get what you are purposefully seeking.

〰️YOU SMELL GOOD

〰️YOU SMELL GOOD

Luckily lead wicks have been banned - the advice from the experts is to seek 100% cotton, hemp or wood wicks.

Next to consider or first, whichever comes more instinctively is the fragrance. The information I researched is a bit dry so I will cut to it! It is best to go with phthalate-free, which are derived from essential oils (100% so no worries there). Lastly, ingredients that are synthetic should not send you running away, just be sure to check that they are non-toxic.

Tip: If a brand or maker is transparent, then you can feel better about the ingredients that they list and trust they stand behind their process and ingredients.

Why the packaging matters!

CAREFULLY CONSIDERED

From the beginning, even back to PG’s brick + mortar early days, the shop’s bagging, packing and shipping materials were intentioned to reduce plastic and utilize recycled materials.

Because it was a brick + mortar and I didn’t have experience yet in where to look other than the major shipping suppliers, some choices were limited in regards to eco-friendly materials. Going ahead I ordered from a few of them and opted for recycled charcoal euro style bags for an elevated look and recycled tissue paper in a gorgeous turquoise. Admittedly, some huge self-stick big bubble plastic rolls were ordered for delicate items as well as future shipping. The upside was that when it was time to bid farewell to a physical locale, every bit was used to carefully protect the goods.

After researching specific eco-friendly suppliers, I was delighted to find Eco-Enclose out of Colorado and Noissue, an Australian brand. Although it costs more for the packaging options, in the long run it is worth it and remains true to one of the core values of the shop. All plastic is reused to store products safely and/or ship them to protect their fragility.

Future plans include branding the materials with some fun designs and PG logos with algae ink, however, that is next level for finances!

LET'S ELIMINATE WASTE

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LET'S ELIMINATE WASTE 〰️

As the cooler days settle in, gathering indoors is in style

Make it stand out

Cooler weather comes along with taking meals and gatherings back inside around the table. When speaking with a designer whose beautiful textiles are now carried in the shop, (Sara of Goldie Home) she shared how her ideas for table linens came about. Her background is rooted in the Fashion world of NYC, but her passion long before were watercolor paintings.

During the lockdown, as she found herself with far more free time, she spoke about really enjoying preparing the dinner table with linens that were long tucked away and accessorizing with decor and glassware that made it intimate and coveted time. Fast forward and Goldie Home was created to bridge the gap between her watercolor passion and love of creating textiles that create special moments. Generously sized and made in Portugal, they are worth the indulgence and creating special memories.

IT'S WARMING UP OUT THERE

It seems like the weather, as inconsistent as it still may be is finally starting to warm up and with that, comes the creeping in of Summer. Windows can finally be opened and fresh air is permeating the staleness leftover from cooler months (hell yes to that)!

There will be parties, small gatherings and celebrations of various events throughout the next few months. As you start to spend some more time outside, there will be moments to be filled and with the quarantine phase hopefully behind us, perhaps the resurgence of games has become a permanent fixture.

Whether it is classic games like dominoes, backgammon or conversational card games, we have expanded our options and excited to keep adding more. Each option has been thoughtfully chosen based on its substance, quality and unique flair.

Do you have a favorite game you love to play?

Cheers to the next few months!