Health
Christmas Gift Box [2024]: A Thank You Note For Those You Care About
Nov
Christmas Gift For Everyone
Growing up I was a pretty selfish example of a human. I know that sounds so self admonishing but I think if you ask people around me they would probably mostly agree. I didn’t help much around the house, groaned when I had to visit my gran, and when teenagehood kicked in these traits became fairly concentrated. Most of the time I felt hard done by at the hands of the world and didn’t have a hard time coming around to the idea that I was the victim in most situations I found myself in. But there was one exception to my nearly universal lack of compassion and inward looking constitution – I LOVED buying and giving presents. It was possibly my one redeeming feature. I remember getting my dad a watch from the Argos catalogue that was fairly much outside my means, but I knew he’d love it. It was a big heavy, but not too flashy, steel braceleted Sekonda, worth all of about £30 as far as I can remember, but it was a solid addition to his grown up attire, and weirdly one that he hadn’t adorned himself with until the moment he opened the box from me on Christmas morning. And I still remember the feeling of pride when I witnessed his genuine enthusiasm for what I had chosen. Giving gifts makes us feel GOOD…even the worst of us as it turns out 🤣.
So what does that have to do with this post – well everything really. Because it’s our shot at redemption. No matter what’s gone on this year – whether it’s been a love-in from start to finish, or if your whatsapp has become a warground, we still have a chance to go out on a high with a gift that shows something of our true feelings. Be raw, be vulnerable, be your best self and let’s look at what you can choose to make a genuinely positive mark on your loved ones this Christmas morning.
A Family Christmas Gift
We don’t make as much of family any more. And this is going to seem really mercenary as I tell you that this uniquely precious moment in the year is the last great universally celebrated day of feasting, as I’m really here just selling you Christmas presents or AM I. What I’m not going to do is take the Brown Thomas high road and tell you to spoil yourself and your family because you deserve it, but what I am going to say is that, despite and behind all our high walls of division and separation, there lurks a desire for unity, peace and connection with ALL our fellow earthlings and the planet too.
And the ONLY way we are going to scratch away at the surface enough to have a hope of reaching such hallowed and pure thoughts in any genuine way is to start giving like we MEAN it. That act of celebrating those around us just for their being there, is why we buy them presents after all…these aren’t Olympic medals we’re handing out, just tokens of gratitude for having somebody in your life. Whether that’s every day of the year or if you’ll only see them on the big day be done with it. Healing our own heart is all about the forgiveness we extend out into the world, and Christmas is literally the perfect time to let all those mushy feels hang out. Because for many folks it’s the one time they won’t have it pushed back in their face.
Family, and the glue that binds it, is both tenuous and mystical and we have this moment to strengthen the bonds, and thoughtful gift giving is one of the best ways to share those sentiments that we may have a hard time vocalising.
For Mom, For Dad
Mum and dad mean a lot to all of us Seminal relationship stuff. After all they brought you into this world and at some level you have wherever you are now to thank them for (now now don’t go playing the victim, let’s keep it light 😇). But perversely that doesn’t mean we actually know them that well…or what they’d want for Christmas…but we can get it right by attaching to some universals. Everyone actually WANTS to feel healthy, whether they’re making that effort right now or not, and we can insert a thoughtful opportunity for our mum and dad to bring more health into their life with less of the ascetic brow beating, and a sense of decadence and indulgence.
Mums and dads are also at that point in life where they’ve done so much of the hard work bringing you into the world and raising you right, they’ve often forgotten their own fundamentals.
Hydration sounds so basic with a hand-hammered copper bottle from El’Cobre, they’re sure to be drawn back to the tap for a refill. And as far as giving the gift of good health goes, we all know how much water makes or breaks any health routine, so this little bottle will go a long way to supporting anyone’s health goals. Stick it with Ancient & Brave’s True Hydration electrolyte supplement for a perfect fit.
Sneaking health into great food is one of main skills here at The Hopsack, and one of our favourite ways to make health happen is to make it addictive. Possibly the ultimate manifestation of this approach is in our unbelievable range of some of the worlds best quality olive oils. How about a bottle of single estate Hojiblanca, from a biodynamic farm in Andalucia, harvested, pressed and botted all within 2 hours (when the standard for GOOD oil is 24-48 hours…), from single varietals that really TRULY express their terroir just as any good wine. Pick your country, choose your variety- whether it’s Spanish picual from Nobleza Del Sur or Melgarejo, or Olvia’s Greek koroneiki from the greek family farm on the island of Thassos.
For Girlfriend/Wife, For Boyfriend/Husband
Romance is such a lost art, or at least a debased one…and there’s just so many ways to bring romance into the room with a well chosen Christmas gift. Gift giving is a love language and when expressed with art and consideration, it’s a great way to romance your partner, whether new or…less new! Chocolate is such a common staple when it comes to gift choices – whether truffles or tablets, the foundation of chocolate as part your courting practice has some solid scientific basis in the art of arousal, and also dates back to meso-america – literally thousands of years – where cocoa was synonymous with love and used as a medical grade aphrodisiac to help one lure a lover.
To achieve such ends, and to show your true undying love, the thing is that any old chocolate just will NOT do. A box of Cadbury’s Rose or Mars Celebrations is fine confectionary for consuming in front of St Stephen’s Day Netflix binge, but to really engage your partner you want to show them not only that you’ve picked out something unique, niche, and hard to find, but also that you’re bringing them on a journey of discovery.
Enter: The Cosmic Dealer. Sounds like they’re the local astrology card kingpin, and honestly they’re not far off. With the most elevated flavour combinations (pistachio and lion’s mane anyone?) you can really excite an adventurous food lover, but they also know how to play the hits with their Peanut Butter and Smoked Salt option. The packaging is TO_DIE_FOR_ and the gift boxes come in individual flavours, complete with oracle card, or in a selection box that both looks and eats like a high art, luxe rainbow just landed in your lap. You’re seriously unlikely to spoil anyone’s Christmas morning with this range.
Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for us boys to enter the cosmetic’s cabinet in a big way. So this year, while we have one (admittedly basic but beautiful all the same for the more traditional boys) Men’s Care skincare set from Urtekram, I think it’s time we started pampering the men with all the decadent Trilogy serums, lotions and creams that the ladies have had all to themselves for far too long, don’t you agree??!
With that in mind, how about treating your man to the really decadent Microbiome Renewal Routine. Like, maybe he’s new to the skincare game, but the boys are catching up, and Trilogy does a great job of remaining neutral (and organic) on the scent front, so nobody should be scared away. We’ve got a whole HOST of skincare sets from Trilogy, Weleda, Burt’s Bees, Urtekram and more, so just make sure you pick yours up EARLY to avoid disappointment.
Not to get hung up on skincare, if your man, lady, child, brother, mother etc is a big fan of food, we have some of the most decadent, delicious, food gifts you can dream of – chocolate and olive oil are just the start of it. How about a delicious health tonic made in Clare using Ireland’s most famous seafood export these days: Sea Moss – in this case combine with organic apple cider vinegar and Lion’s mane mushroom, to help heal, soothe and optimise that gut brain connection, that’s the sources of so many ills these days. Moss Boss tonics are packed in sleek dark glass bottles that protect the precious contents and make the tonics look worthy of unwrapping with excitement on Christmas morning.
Collagen is another of this year’s hot topics in health, and we have 4 of the leading ranges (we’ll leave the less trustworthy ones to line the shelves in supermarkets and pharmacies, we only want to offer you the best in class. If we were giving collagen as a gift of health, then there’s only one brand we would choose: Ancient and Brave, with its high quality European sourced pure collagen powders. The packaging is divine, dark amber bottles with black and gold labels that draw you into your new morning (or evening!) health ritual. Blended with organic cacao, coffee or matcha, Ancient & Brave is a brand worth sticking in the stocking of your loved one to support them on their mission to achieve their health goals with a decent dose of luxury thrown in the bargain to make them a truly special Christmas gift.
