7 Things For December

December is here in all of her glory, with shopping frenzies, cold weather and tons of fun parties and festivities. I swore I was going to try to get most of my Christmas shopping done before December this year, but it definitely did not even come close to happening. I’ve bought a few things for the kids and that’s about it. I’m going to try to make up for it this weekend! While we all rush around to pick up the last of our gifts and gear up for the fun gatherings ahead, I’ve got 7 things to help see you through the most wonderful time of the year.

1: Kari Gran Suji Red Lip Whip & Lip Buff Duo

Is there is ever a more appropriate time to rock a gorgeous red lip color than at a holiday party? I personally don’t wear a lot of red lip colors, mainly because I have a hard time finding reds that are flattering on me. This new shade from Kari Gran is very flattering however, and seems to be pretty universal in who it suits. You guys know how much I love Lip Whips- they’re so moisturizing and easy to wear. This one even comes with a lip exfoliator to make sure your pout is nice and smooth, to prep it for the bold color. Whether you rock red on the regular or you’re more apprehensive about going bold, I think Suji Red is a great choice. You can buy it here and here. (If you buy it through Beauty Heroes, members get an extra 15% off purchases).

2: Smart Ash

When you’re rocking red lips, white teeth are always a plus. Luckily, Bedrock & Bloom has us covered with a nontoxic whitening option: Smart Ash. It’s made from activated charcoal (from wild harvested coconut shells), natural calcium bentonite clay, organic mint, frankincense and orange peel. It does a great job of whitening and remineralizing teeth, and my teeth feel so smooth and clean when I brush with it. If you’ve ever brushed with activated charcoal before, you know how messy it can get, but their exact instructions help keep it simple and mess-free. Plus, I love the minty feel afterwards. You can find it on their site.

3: Organic Kid’s PJ’s

I try to go organic with my kid’s pajamas whenever possible. Not only is cotton one of the dirtiest crops as far as pesticides go, much of the residue remains on the garment after manufacturing and it can take many washes to get it all out. Also, some brands still treat their children’s pajamas with flame retardants, which not only has been shown to effect breathing and contribute to asthma, but some contain known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Much of this washes off, but studies have shown it takes roughly 50 washes to get it all out. While there are several brands offering organic PJ’s, many are pretty pricey. I recently purchased these from Burt’s Bees Baby line and they are great! Very soft and the fit is great- and best of all, they’re affordable. Carson has graduated to big kid sizes and this is one of a few brands that offers baby and big kid sizes, as well as adult. They sell them at several stores, but I found the best size/color selections at Kohls and Amazon (included several cute Christmas patterns).

4: Skin Dew

With cold weather upon us and the heat running nonstop, my skin has been looking for some relief. One Love Organics Skin Dew coconut water cream has been a lovely refuge for my skin. It’s lightweight, but really packs in the moisture. I love using it as a last layer on top of my regular nightly routine and it’s kept my skin moist and supple, despite the drying central heat. I have a feeling I’ll be using this all winter long. You can find it here.

5: Healthier Hot Chocolate

A December staple for sure, but one that’s often loaded with artificial color, flavoring and even artificial sweeteners. Skip the packets of powder and make a wholesome recipe instead. I love that my kids know what REAL, delicious hot cocoa tastes like. Their are a ton of great healthy recipes out there for it. We love keeping it simple with full fat coconut milk, organic cocoa and honey. Here’s the basic recipe (feel free to change it up to your tastes):

1 can of organic coconut milk

1/4 cup organic cocoa powder

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons raw honey (adjust to taste)

1/2 teaspoon of organic REAL vanilla extract

Heat in a saucepan over medium heat until hot, whisking constantly. Extra points for adding a scoop of whipped coconut cream on top!

6: Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper

With tons of gifts to wrap, why not make them chic and eco-friendly? A lot of wrapping paper can’t be recycled because of the dyes and additives used. I know some go the brown craft paper route so it can be recycled, but I love finding a festive print! Wrappily offers eco-friendly wrapping paper in super cute prints. I was so excited to find this option. If you’re looking for an alternative to the usual wrapping paper, definitely check them out!

7: Gifts Galore

‘Tis the season of giving and I’ve teamed up with some blogger friends to giveaway some of our favorite brands! Head over to Instagram to take part in all of the festivities. Happy December everybody! xo