Favorite Online Shopping Recommendations 2020

Keeping It Simple with The Earthling Co.

I’ve been seeing photos on Facebook of people with their Christmas trees up, presents wrapped and sent, cookies baked, cards written and all kinds of other folderol completed. Now they just seem to be sitting around waiting for the full-on merriment of the holiday season to begin. 

Well, I’m not one of those persons. I still have pumpkins and gourds in my house and only a few festive preparations accomplished. But I typically do don my interior with lots of red and green and then I leave it up until the end of winter! (It’s an alpine thing.) When it comes to shopping, I somehow seem to pull that off, too. Thankfully there’s not a whole lot of gift giving going on between my family and friends and overall, I try to keep it simple. I have ordered some things online (one for you, one for me) and have another order sprint lined up for today and tomorrow. So if you have some shopping to button up, throw it into gear so that you can send your purchase via standard shipping. Otherwise, you’ll have to opt for priority mail (which is how I typically send my own packages in any event).

Since the pandemic, we’ve all been doing a lot of online shopping. Like so many, I’m taking advantage of the one-click shopping on Amazon more so than ever. But oh, the emails they send out! (No, I don’t feel like reviewing those Home Techpro Rug Grippers that I have not yet found the time to adhere to my throw rugs. I’m sure there’s a way of turning off all of those notifications but I haven’t found it yet.) And then there’s Duluth Trading Post, Pendleton, One Kings Lane and an endless stream of online store emails that clog my inbox whether I’ve made a purchase from them or not. It all has become a necessary evil though.

Tesalate Towels

I’d like to highlight, however, a few quaint online boutiques that I’ve ordered from these past months, unique emporiums that offer terrific gift ideas for you and those on your list. (They’re small-ish, which means they don’t send out as many mailings as the biggies.) For brightly-colored beach towels that are great for any kind of outdoor or indoor fun, go to Tesalate. With a sea of patterns, a sand-proof material, and the possibility of buying one sized for two, the beach towels from this Aussie company will brighten every day as well as every situation for you. 

If you love the earth and want to try harder to protect it, order your soaps, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers and the like from The Earthling Co. I was saddened to learn that due to COVID-19, there’s been a dip in recycling. Ugh, just think of all of those plastic bottles, caps and bags washing up on our shores or just collecting in our lakes, oceans and in the bellies of marine life and birds. I finally made the plunge to switch to bars for most of my toiletry and kitchen products and was delighted to discover that they work quite well. Plus, they keep my conscience clean. Give them a try!

My Ruggable Rug Brightens Up My Kitchen Almost as Much as My Kitties

Many of us have been focusing on beautifying our homes and gardens these past months. I’ve brightened up my home with some rugs from Ruggable. I love their cheery designs and best of all they are super easy to clean. That’s a big must for people like me that have lots of pet traffic. (See if you can find three cats in the above photo of my kitchen.)

Ruth’s Toffee

Ooo la la: A French Lady’s Dream from Henri’s Reserve

The Real Deal from Alpen Schatz

Last but certainly not least, I encourage you to click through to my Online Shopping page where I feature some of my favorite boutiques. This is online shopping par excellence, or in other words, for those that like the charm factor. If you type in the coupon code, Bonjour, you receive a 10% discount. From delicious homemade candies by Ruth’s Toffees to the best-ever handcrafted toys for cats and dogs by Purrfect Play to champagnes from top boutique vineyards curated by Henri’s Reserve and more, you won’t be disappointed by ordering from these unique purveyors. Many also offer e-Cards, which is also a great way to shop online. Keep in mind, too, that gifts don’t have to arrive by Christmas Day; the Christmas season all the way through the new year is most welcome for most, especially since shipping is so clogged up these days. Champagne for the New Year? Pourquoi pas? 

Alpen Schatz remains one of my perennial favorites for all kinds of finely-crafted gifts, including home décor items, clothing, fashion accessories, pet collars and more from Europe. Alpen Schatz means alpine treasures and shopping in this treasure trove of a boutique will give you that festive touch all year long. Great news:  There is now a UK-based site for all those that want to order across the pond. Be sure to type in the Bonjour coupon code.

Map of Florence by John Petach

For a travel-oriented piece of art, see my write up on John Petach, also at my Online Shopping page. Now that we’re not traveling as much, offering art fashioned from a map of a beloved destination seems more appropriate than ever. Scroll down on my Online Shopping page to learn more about John’s work and be sure to type in (or mention) Bonjour for the added 10% discount. 

For more travel-inspired online boutiques, check out my Discovery Map story, Navigating Online Map Gifts.

And once you’ve completed your shopping, you might want to kick back with a hot chocolate or wine and read more travel-inspired stories from some of my Map Geek posts for Discovery Map. My last two are particularly holiday oriented. 

Whatever you do, don’t stress. It’s not worth it. Famous last words–I’m just looking forward to putting up a few decorations and tossing my pumpkins out into the garden for any critters that can make use of them.

Happy shopping!

Purrfect Play Paradise