I did my first ever vacation reward information for vacationers just a few years in the past, which was enjoyable to compile. Readers appeared to benefit from the varied objects, and I used to be comfortable to share a number of the merchandise that accompanied me on the highway.
Now that my life is a little completely different – one thing all of you already know – my reward recommendations are much less about souvenirs from overseas or studying about journey, and extra issues I exploit everyday or discovered fantastic.
I hope you’ll discover one thing you want in them!
Holiday presents for the 2023 season
There are quite a lot of birds in right here, you’ve been warned.
Hands free sneakers and boots
It was a fellow leak affected person who first advised me about Kizik sneakers, and I’ve used them ever since. Made with patented know-how that permit for hands-free use, these sneakers come in several types and colors, and can be found in youngsters, girls, and males’s choices.
A observe that their newer fashions aren’t pretty much as good for my spinal CSF leak as a result of the heel drop is larger; I discover the Lima mannequin to be essentially the most snug, although my sneakers are their Cairo mannequin that has since been discontinued.
Once you tie the laces on Kiziks the primary time, you merely step into the sneakers thereafter. To get out, you utilize your different foot to carry the bottom regular and slowly pull out of the shoe. They’re glorious for folks with disabilities, for being pregnant, for seniors, and usually for many who hate having to crouch to get their sneakers on and off.
And for this vacation season, additionally they have winter boots for the primary time, and a brand new Chelsea boot that goes to the ankle.
More info:
You can discover these sneakers and boots on their web site, Kizik.com. Using this hyperlink will get you $20 off (it additionally offers me $20 off, however I don’t see myself getting any extra sneakers as I’ve a number of pair!). They ship to Canada and USA.
Follow them on: Instagram
A pencil to finish all pencils
Do you understand somebody who’s specific about their writing implements? The New York Times calls the Blackwing 602 the “Rolls Royce” of pencils, a beforehand widespread selection from many a author—together with John Steinbeck. First created within the 1930’s, the Blackwing was additionally utilized by Chuck Jones, who proudly used Blackwings to create Bugs Bunny and plenty of different Looney Tunes characters. After 1998, the pencil couldn’t be discovered, and devotees have been paying $40 a pop after they did find a stash. Thankfully, in 2010, a California firm introduced it again for “a new generation of writers, musicians, and others seeking a more natural existence” (unsure what they imply by that, however sure — it’s a terrific pencil!).
They introduced again the cult-favourite mainstays: snug grip, a replaceable eraser in a really satisfying rectangular form (why is that this so satisfying!?), and a pencil crafted from California cedar and Japanese graphite. It writes like a dream, and makes doodling a pleasure. It’s not low-cost however it’s not $40 a pencil costly. Still, in the event you’ve acquired a member of the family or good friend who loves to attract or handwrite, it’s a enjoyable reward
More info:
Where to purchase: Amazon US, Amazon Canada, or Blackwing’s personal web site
Shipping to: Canada and International (together with USA)
Follow them on: Instagram
Hand-drawn maps of meals
Yes, sure—I’ve included my very own maps on this information as effectively! My meals maps get compliments every time folks go to, and make nice vacation presents for anybody who likes to eat.
In addition to Canada, above, I’ve acquired Vietnam, Portugal, Thailand, Japan, Italy, and Mexico artwork within the store!
More info:
Where to purchase: the Legal Nomads artwork store web site
Shipping to: Worldwide
Follow me on: Instagram
Gluten free translation playing cards
Despite my work hours being restricted as of late, one of many duties I preserve working laborious at is the gluten free playing cards undertaking. I began these playing cards after I acquired sick whereas consuming in Japan with a brief gluten free card in Japanese. I spotted I wanted to incorporate extra info, native substances names (not simply “I can’t eat gluten”), and cross-contact (not simply meals which might be gluten free).
The consequence, 15 languages and counting with Bahasa Indonesia, Croatian, Lithuanian, and Swedish coming quickly and over 6000 playing cards offered.
Each card goes by way of 2 units of translations for accuracy, with one translator at minimal being conversant in celiac illness. I’m within the technique of including PDF downloadable variations too, as a substitute of simply the PNG information. More and extra folks wish to print the playing cards, not simply have them on their telephones.
Perfect for the celiac who likes to journey!
More info:
Where to purchase: the GF Cards shopfront, with free nation guides right here.
Shipping to: Worldwide as a result of they’re digital playing cards!
A terrific new card sport for journey
Another enjoyable reward that’s good for the traveler: Trip Chaser, a brand new card sport, superbly designed. Trip Chaser is the love youngster of Dalene and Pete Heck, who you may additionally know from their website Hecktic Travels.
The sport lets you determine who’s essentially the most travel-savvy of your group by shopping for, bartering, and playing your approach to varied locations. The more difficult a vacation spot is to get to from North America, the extra factors it’s value.
The sport is already offered out in Canada, however you may order it on backorder or through the US, the place there’s nonetheless inventory.
More info:
Where to purchase: in Canada, the Trip Chaser web site. In the USA, on Amazon US.
Follow them on: Instagram
Lightweight chef’s knife
I’ve a terrific set of Global knives that I slowly amassed over my years of lawyering. The downside is, with a spinal CSF leak I can not use them as a result of they’re too heavy.
Instead, I’ve gotten a chef’s knife from Nakano, which is light-weight and cozy—a lot so, that anybody who is available in to assist in the home solely opts to make use of that one. It’s their “classic chef knife” and weighs in at 6.5 oz / 185g. Lightweight, however sturdy sufficient to chop many a terrific factor within the kitchen. They’ve acquired a 30% sale occurring proper now, too.
Nakano additionally has santoku knives and different units on provide; I’m sharing the one I acquired and use as a result of that’s the one one I’ve expertise with. But it’s been a terrific addition to my knife block, and lightweight sufficient to make use of even when my spinal CSF leak is in tough form.
More info:
Where to purchase: Nakano Knives
Follow them on Instagram
My favorite pocket book
My good friend Candace despatched me just a few Joytop notebooks after I first acquired sick. She mentioned the traces are simply completely positioned, and the pocket book’s seams have been satisfying to make use of; I can’t disagree in any respect. There’s one thing in regards to the measurement and light-weight matte texture of those books that makes me wish to write in them on a regular basis. I used to like Moleskine books however I acquired pissed off with the scale, at all times wishing I might unfold out my creativity and never be cramped to the aspect of the web page.
These books permit me to try this, and for some purpose, I haven’t used something since. Honestly, these books are beautiful however why are they so satisfying?! The simply are. Regardless of why, Candace was proper, and I wished to incorporate them so that you all can benefit from the satisfaction we get from writing in them.
More info:
Where to purchase: In Canada, Yuyu.ca sells these, they usually ship to the USA and internationally as effectively. In Australia, you’re in luck: Maconii carries them too.
An elegant straw system in your crops
When a good friend in Sweden talked about plantstraws as an possibility for me as a result of I’m a infamous #plantkiller, I used to be intrigued. I do know a lot of you’re keen on your crops and do much better at not murdering them than I do, so I believed you’d have an interest too.
Plantstraws is the brainchild of Sweden’s Elin Fyhr, who wished to make plant care easy and believes that “design should be playful, curious, and unhurried”. Can’t discover fault there.
The straws work by placing one finish right into a water jug and the opposite into the soil of your crops, permitting a cotton rope inside every brass tube to slowly add moisture to the soil with out overwatering. This means you may put thirsty crops like swamp and rainforest native crops,on an identical care schedule as succulents, cacti or Mediterranean crops. They additionally add a enjoyable look to any room with the brass tubes and glass jars:
More info:
Where to purchase: the Plantstraw web site
Shipping to: Canada, USA, and International. (Shipping exterior Europe is dear, although), so it’s also possible to consult one in every of their resellers. For some purpose the one ones in Canada are in Alberta; hopefully that adjustments someday quickly!
Follow them on: Instagram
Knitted cacti
With a mission to carry greenery to “every struggling plant parent”, Kelsea’s whimsical knitted cacti caught my eye at an area flea market. The enterprise happened when Kelsea knitted her sister some cacti for Christmas, after seeing how her sister couldn’t preserve crops alive.
Taking inspiration from actual crops, Kelsea fastidiously crafts knit cacti and succulents in a wide range of sizes, colors, and shapes. She additionally tries to make use of sustainable supplies for different components of her merchandise: upcycled packaging, sustainable yarn and stuffing, plus reusing cardboard contained in the pot to make them lighter weight for transport.
The firm is totally family-supported, together with the construct for the shows on the market stall I met her at.
I purchased myself a mini cacti (although I’m having cactus remorse that I didn’t get a bigger one), and thought it’s your decision one too.
More info:
Where to purchase: the Kelsea Knits web site
Shipping to: Canada, USA, and International.
Follow them on: Instagram
Fowl language puzzle
One of two choices (see Effin Birds under) for many who, like me, are in that candy spot of Venn diagram overlap between swearing and birds. This time, a 1000-piece puzzle so that you can put collectively as soon as dinner is over.
I beloved the color (it matches my brand), and it has birds so I’m not likely a troublesome promote right here. For these within the winter chilly, a puzzle is at all times an effective way to go just a few hours of your time.
More info:
Where to purchase: the Uncommon Goods web site
Shipping to: Canada, USA, and International.
Follow them on: Instagram
Kitchen cuteness
I purchased Nessie the tea guardian the second I noticed her, and I’m obsessive about it. I exploit Nessie every time I’ve unfastened tea, and the satisfaction of watching her peek out from the cup rim will, I believe, by no means get outdated.
For the tea lovers and whimsy lovers alike!
Also unmissable (in the event you’re me): the identical firm’s spaghetti monster strainer. I like it a lot.
More info:
Where to purchase: Nessie: Amazon Canada, Amazon US.
The spagetti monster strainer: Amazon Canada, Amazon US.
This is identical firm that additionally makes the mushroom funnel I at the moment personal. Yes, I’m a statistic and I don’t care. You can even purchase their merchandise on the OTOTO Design web site, however they solely ship to the US.
Follow them on: Instagram
Hummingbird ring
I loved the symmetry and pleasure from this cute hummingbird ring, which may be ordered in 18K plated gold, or sterling silver. It’s from Little Rooms, a store launched by designer Ester Delug in 2007. The store has expanded fairly a bit since then, however in the event you’re available in the market for some enjoyable and tasteful jewellery, you’ll definitely discover one thing right here.
They additionally promote lovely hair equipment and ear cuffs, along with jewellery requirements like necklaces and earrings.
More info:
You should purchase from the Little Rooms web site.
Follow them on: Instagram
Delightful hen artwork
I’ve had the pleasure of assembly the genius behind Birdstrips, Jess, in particular person in Montreal twice earlier than we every moved elsewhere. Her illustrations have grown an enormous following on Instagram resulting from their whimsical, relatable messaging.
In Jess’ phrases, the store contains “the existential distress of the flightless through the eyes of the flighted.”
Below, two prints from her store: one a vintage-style poster of 33 “rarely seen” gulls, together with the elusive popsigull, peagull, and pierogigulls; and the second, remedy “before and after”—in traditional Birdstrips fashion.
More info:
Where to purchase: the Birdstrips Print Shop (additionally mugs, tees, and extra!)
Shipping to: Worldwide
Follow them on: Instagram
A transportable purple mild system for ache
I wasn’t certain if I might tolerate purple mild remedy with a mast cell dysfunction, however all the pieces I learn steered that if I stayed at larger wavelengths of sunshine, my mast cells can be much less disrupted.
So I sought out a transportable LED purple mild system that I might carry with a spinal CSF leak, but in addition that had choices for larger nm of purple mild, in order that I might hopefully tolerate it. That idea did bear out with my use of the FlexBeam, the place I can use their Setting 3 for 20 minutes a day on my back and front when wanted. I needed to work as much as that—I began at solely 5 minutes—however now I can do the complete 10 minute session twice with out challenge. I do use it earlier within the day in case it disrupts my mast cells sufficient to have an effect on sleep, however most individuals truly use it proper earlier than mattress as a result of they are saying it helps them sleep.
I opted for this units as a result of from all the pieces I learn, its lamps didn’t get scorching, and in contrast to laser mild, I didn’t threat any tissue harm from the research I checked out. While a combo of purple and near-infrared wavelengths are advisable for many makes use of of the system, I opted for less than stage 3, its longest wavelight, which penetrates deeper however most significantly doesn’t disrupt mast cells as a lot. I’ve discovered it will increase my vitality, helps with sleep (after I do it earlier within the day), and most significantly actually takes down any nerve ache I’ve. I used to be sceptical after I began utilizing it, however I’ve actually come to take pleasure in how a lot it helps the backbone ache from my leak.
The system comes with velcro bands that you just connect on the handles, for while you wish to loop it round a leg or your backbone, in addition to a slender carrying case. I exploit it as is (with out the velcro) as a result of I simply place it on my backbone or abdomen the place my leak websites are, however many individuals I’ve chatted with apply it to their thigh or at lumbar whereas shifting round.
The firm is from Norway, however the system is made in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
More info:
Where to purchase: the FlexBeam web site
Shipping to: Worldwide
Follow them on: Instagram
Birds + curse phrases
These illustrations of birds that swear in inventive methods are widespread everywhere in the net, with good purpose. As Twitter implodes and the world feels prefer it’s doing the identical, the hen outrage by Aaron Reynolds says all that we’re bottling up inside.
That doesn’t cease folks from getting pissed off in regards to the cursing, however … did you anticipate the rest from an organization referred to as Effin Birds?! He additionally now has wax candles, a brand new addition to his “shitmas” assortment for individuals who dislike the vacations.
More info:
Where to purchase: Clothing, mugs, pins, and extra right here, plus an Effin’ Birds e book (at the moment on sale!) and a French Effin’ Birds e book, in addition to a 2024 Calendar too.
Shipping to: Worldwide
Follow him on: Instagram
Pearl jewellery from Tahiti
My good friend Celeste will not be solely a terrific journey author, but in addition runs an environmentally-friendly Tahitian pearl firm, Kamoka, that adheres to the strictest ranges of sustainable farming on the planet. Their pearls are from oysters grown within the nutrient-rich lagoon of Ahe Atoll, 300 miles northeast of Tahiti, with electrical energy provided by photo voltaic and wind energy. And in the event you wanted extra convincing about supporting their enterprise: a National Geographic research discovered that their farming strategies helped improve the world’s fish inhabitants lately.
One of their merchandise I put on usually: the Mana Bracelet. At $99, it’s an funding, however a sturdy and exquisite one.
Celeste mentioned that this bracelet was initially crafted for surfers. Now, it’s one in every of their finest sellers for energetic individuals who need a ravishing pearl bracelet with out worrying about fragility. The adjustable band is made out of kangaroo leather-based (the strongest leather-based on the planet), and is a superb selection for the trendy wanderer and the energetic fashionista alike.
They additionally now provide a brand new assortment, that includes Tahitian blacklip oyster shells and jewellery made out of their very own sustainably produced mother-of-pearl. The earrings under are extra inexpensive than the pearls alone, and are a ravishing reward for many who need one thing sustainable and completely different.
Many of Kamoka’s merchandise are one in every of a form, and are put collectively by Celeste and her group annually.
More info:
Where to purchase: The Mana Bracelet is offered right here. The full mother-of-pearl assortment is right here, with the earrings above right here. If rings are your fancy, they’ve acquired a stunning aqua crescent ring this season as effectively.
Shipping to: Worldwide
Follow them on: Instagram
Embroidered coronary heart maps
I met the beautiful couple behind Sadie and June when at a flea market in Ottawa, and appreciated their enjoyable choices as a traveler with quite a lot of locations I miss deeply. They promote hand-embroidered maps for 900 areas (and counting), both as stand-alone “I love this place” fashion, or connecting hearts, the place there’s a thread connecting two locations. They additionally do customized maps, in case your favorite locations aren’t on provide presently.
The couple, whose names are literally Steve and Kendall, are a cross-border couple—one thing fairly frequent right here within the cities that border the US! She’s from New Jersey and he’s from Ottawa, however they met in Florida. Extremely widespread any time I’ve seen their sales space round city, they seize the nostalgia of leaving items of ourselves in locations we beloved.
Says Kendall, “Our hand-embroidered heart maps were born out of this love and our belief that love knows no borders. The concept: I began embroidering through paper vintage map prints that meant something special to me and Steve.”
The couple have a put up about how they went from being ‘flat broke’ in 2014 to constructing a full-time enterprise round their stitching expertise. When I met Kendall on the market, she talked about that because the enterprise picked up she was struggling to get orders finished … till she taught Steve find out how to sew, and that helped get the maps accomplished a lot quicker. Now they’re each engaged on their widespread maps, and including cities the entire time.
More info:
Where to purchase: the Sadie and June web site
Shipping to: Canada and the United States, in addition to Europe
Follow them on: Instagram
Those are my 2023 vacation reward picks! I hope you take pleasure in a minimum of a few of them.
-Jodi