2010
Comfort and Joy: IO Holiday Gifts of Wellness
As we round the corner to this twelfth month, we send gifts of love, joy and beautifully wrapped presents during this season of giving.
This holiday we’ve stocked our shelves with handcrafted gifts of wellness. Gifting, in many ways, has become a burden and a chore (among other things!). So this year at IO we’re bringing forth simple and beautiful gifts made by hand, locally and with heart. An IO peace offering in times of chaos, if you will.
Here’s what’s in store at the SHOP at IO:
Le Labo Vintage Candle Collection ($60)
A cult-favorite, the bespoke 5-scent collection of 100% soy wax handpoured into hand-distressed, one-of-a-kind vintage tin cans is the perfect blend of sophistication and scent. We’re also honored: the Le Labo founders handpicked IO as one of their 60 favorite retail stores in the world to debut the exclusive line. Come in and smell the bliss.
Munio Candela Sachets + Soaps: closure to a year full of goodness
Simple indulgence at its best. There’s nothing more encouraging than gifting co-workers in need of a respite with 100% Organic Soaps ($11) and Green Bath Therapy Sachets ($10). Featuring peppermint, lavender, chamomile and wild flower scents, we dream of more soaks and cleansing in the year ahead. Yes, we do.
For the jetsetter-on-the-go: Lina Rennell Zip Pouches ($76)
Perfect for carrying winter weather beauty needs on the go, the ethically produced 8”x4” zip pouches made in Aptos, CA signals beauty in art in a small package. Select from calming lilac linen with metallic gold triangle print or a Natural linen with metallic gold Helsinki prints, we promise you won’t leave home (or beauty) without it.
Write, write write away!
Didn’t spend your entire year searching for the ultimate holiday card? We’ve got your winner. Stunningly simple and gorgeous, the bluepoolroad letterpressed holiday and new year boxed cards ($25) are flying off the shelves already. Individually handstamped with soy-based inks in LA, the cards are sure to deliver greetings better than the rest.
The best part? You won’t find these gifts just anywhere. Exclusively yours at IO. Now, time to treat yourself to the gift of time and shop our handcrafted gifts of wellness.
Here’s to simple gifts,
International Orange
When in Doubt, Throw it Out
When it comes to STUFF, are you a binger or a purger?
Lately there’s been a lot of buzz on the web about the 100 Things Challenge. The idea is to commit to getting rid of most of your stuff. Dave (the crazy dreamer who started this initiative) came up with a newfangled slogan for the project:
Reduce (get rid of some of your stuff)
Refuse (to get more new stuff)
Rejigger (your priorities)
Now, reducing down to 100 things may not work for all of us. But the idea is an intriguing one. What can you get rid of? What do you think you own that actually owns you?
Here are some ideas of places you can start to pare down:
- Books: A few years ago, I realized that I probably wasn’t ever going to read those piles of books again, and just looking at their pretty covers wasn’t a good enough excuse for all the space they were taking up in my home. I lugged them all to Green Apple Books and sold them for a pretty penny. I felt good knowing that the energy of my books was getting passed along to another eager reader, and I treated myself to a nice massage with the cash. Now, after I read a book, I pass it right along to a friend!
- Car: When I moved to San Francisco, I sold my car. City Carshare is a great alternative, and I no longer worry about parking tickets and all the other anxiety that goes along with being an urban car owner.
- Clothes: This is the obvious place to purge. And it can be the hardest, for many of us. One idea? Give clothes that don’t fit you to friends in need. That way, you can always get those jeans back when you drop a few el-bees!
I’ve got a long way to go to whittle my stuff down to 100 measly things, but I think I’m headed in the right direction.
Simplistically yours,
International Orange
When Positivity is Negative
I recently read Bright-Sided, by Barbara Ehrenreich. It got me thinking.
Here in the Bay Area, we take our upbeat spirituality pretty seriously. I hear a lot of talk about The Power of Positivity. First there was The Secret, and now it’s at the point where one can’t get through a yoga class or cocktail party without having a conversation about The Law of Attraction.
In my own life, I’ve noticed that whenever I seem to be going through a rough patch, my local friends will counter my whining with advice along the lines of: “You just have to set a good intention, and abundance will follow.” (Which sounds dangerously like “Buck up!” when I’m in a certain mood.)
This sort of abundance-thinking can be encouraging and motivating. But, as Ehrenreich points out, it can also be self-defeating. There comes a point for all of us where the most healthy—and helpful—thing to do is to curl up in a ball, eat a pint of ice cream, and just bawl our eyes out. Who among us hasn’t had that cathartic experience? I have to say that I might feel deprived if I was told I’d have to go the rest of my life without having one more meltdown. As a woman, I feel entitled to my occasional bratty episodes! It’s the trade off for dealing with hormones, right?
At the very least, Bright-Sided is a great read and a good alternative view. I’m adding it to my list of recommendations.
In joy (but not always!),
International Orange
