A back-to-school bash is an epic celebration of the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. Kiddos of all ages have had a tough few years, which has caused anxiety in many little ones when it comes to heading to the classroom. Infusing fun and excitement into the idea of learning in the classroom again is a great way to ease the anxiety and show your kiddo that this is a great time to celebrate and get excited for the year ahead!
Now, before we go down this rabbit hole, we know some of you may be saying, “The last thing I need to do this summer is adding one more thing to my to-do list.” But, don’t worry. This plan is meant to be super simple, so you can easily plan with the minimal days of summer left and give your kiddos an event they’ll remember forever.
First, let’s talk about the basics. Maybe you want your back-to-school bash to be just neighborhood kids and families. Perhaps you want to invite your kiddos new class so they can get to know each other. Up to you! Choose whichever avenue feels best to you and your little one.
It’s during this phase that it’s a good idea to get them involved in the planning process too. They’ll have fun, and it will only spark more excitement.
Once you have the who, think about where and when you’d like to host!
Next up, a theme! A few themes we love for back-to-school bashes are:
One reason we say to make a theme is because then you can use it to create your menu! You can either get it catered, whip up your favorites, or make it a potluck and ask everyone to make a dish that goes with the theme.
The easiest way to do this as a last-minute summer soiree is definitely a potluck! Create a Google Sheet you can share with parents noting what you need and have every family sign up for one dish!
Every party needs entertainment! Bust out summer favorites, as well as some fun games to get kids ready to learn. Here are a few ideas:
The best way to make this fun for the kids? Let the kids plan it! They’ll sure have some great ideas from their epic summer adventures that they’ll want to share with their friends and classmates.
The most important part of any back-to-school bash is to have the time of your lives! Before the practices, after-school clubs, and homework start to sneak into daily routines again, enjoy the freedom of summer. But also celebrate how great of a year your kiddo has ahead of them! They’ll thank you and be oh so excited to head back to the classroom in a few short weeks.
P.S. Kiddo already back in school? That doesn’t mean you can’t party! Simply invite your little one’s class after school is in session for an official back-to-school bash. This way, you can get to know the families and make new friends for a new year!
We wish you and your loved ones the best school year yet. Happy end of summer from Simply Inspired! Sign up for our email list to get more fun tips to live simply inspired, and make the most of life every day!
]]>An article by Forbes about the best toys for toddlers shared that a choice should be made based upon whether a toy is baby-powered or battery-powered. They explained, “When a child engages with a battery-powered toy, they will press a button as they wait to be entertained. Baby-powered toys offer opportunities for growth, problem-solving, challenge, achieving goals.”
This straightforward explanation is at the heart of why simple toys are better.
With electronic toys, children follow a path that the toymaker has created for them. They’re not exercising their imagination or working through life as they’re learning. Rather than being self-taught and learning intuitively, they’re learning to push buttons, waiting to be guided towards the next thing.
Simple toys allow children to imagine the possibilities, make their own discoveries, play out social situations, and problem-solve with their own minds. This sets the stage for complex problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and boundless creativity later in life as they continue to grow!
Here are a few of our favorite simple toys that we have in our collection!
This brand is well-known across the globe for its timeless creations. Their stuffed mice and bunnies each take on their own unique personality and help children play out a wide variety of life scenarios with fun accessories. Plus, they show children that any type of creature can become a part of the family!
Soft dolls are not only great for comfort and cuddling, but they also help develop interpersonal skills. Little ones can feed and nurture their babies or act out tea parties and adventure scenes with family members. Soft dolls are also proven to produce happy hormones that help young children feel secure when leaving mom and dad for daycare or having a babysitter come by for date night!
Hand puppets and finger puppets aren’t just fun. They’re one of the most effective ways for kiddos to develop fine motor skills like finger movement. As they learn how to maneuver the puppets, they’re also learning how hand-eye coordination functions in real-time. Puppets are also a great way to allow children to process their emotions, as they can act out difficult situations or challenges in a safe way.
These kits are perfect for ages 3+ as this is the age that kiddos begin to really get into the nitty-gritty of problem-solving, creating more freely. We carry felt block kits from a company called lowercase toys, which is women-owned and artisan-made right in the USA. The woman who started the company is a mom and Speech-Language Pathologist who knows firsthand what children need to develop and grow. After struggling to find developmentally appropriate toys, she took things into her own hands and started the company! It's stories and missions like this that we love to support.
Every product on our site will note age suggestions that come from the manufacturer. But a good rule of thumb to decide which gifts to get the little ones in your life is to read this guide by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This organization offers special accreditations for schools and preschools to ensure that they meet children’s developmental needs during the early years of life. So, they’re an incredible resource!
Once you find what’s age-appropriate, browse our Pretend Play collection to find a wide selection of simple toys that promote appropriate development! Plus, you can also sign up for our emails to be the first to know about our new children’s toy product releases.
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So, how exactly does pretend play help children grow every day and how as parents and grandparents can you help them thrive? Let’s dive in!
While every child grows and learns differently, there are a few proven ways that pretend play impacts a child’s development in the early years of life. These are a few:
Part of our mission at Simply Inspired is to provide parents and grandparents with the tools they need to help raise the next generation of leaders, scientists, activists, teachers, caregivers, and more. Through imaginative play, we can allow children to exercise their minds and become exactly who they are meant to be! Here is just a small sampling of our favorite imaginary play products, there are so many more from our partners across the globe which you can find on the site, too.
Puppets provide freedom of expression that is delightful to watch in your kiddos. Make a cardboard box theater together so they can put on a show with their band of puppets! Putting on a show helps develop their language and speaking skills, as well as their confidence and creativity, and problem-solving skills, as they develop the storyline to share.
Dolls are perhaps one of the most popular options for pretend play! Playing with dolls allows children to act out scenarios from their life, create an understanding of the world around them, as well as learn more about things like diversity, as not all of our doll collection looks the same. They also help expand vocabulary by playing out new situations and cultivating caretaking skills.
Every parent’s priority is keeping their children safe. And most don’t realize that many toys are manufactured in a way that is destroying the environment they’ll grow up in. These Tender Leaf favorites are manufactured in a sustainable way with recycled materials and wood, as well as providing fair trade wages for families in Sri Lanka working in the factory. Plus, they replant 100% of the wood they use to create these lovely toys!
We point out machine washable because let’s be honest, once kids get playing, things sometimes get messy. Costumes or playing dress-up allow kids to role-play. This, in turn, can inspire greater creativity and empathy, while allowing them to explore who they are.
Parenting is a lot of figuring it out as you go. We know how that goes! But when it comes to how to use toys effectively for learning and growth, many don’t realize the impact that the simplest toys can have. So, how do you inspire your child to engage with simple and impactful pretend play? Here are a few ideas:
The best part? Engaging in pretend play together is a wonderful way to create happy memories as a family. And that’s invaluable!
Our team works incredibly hard to source products that provide meaning and value in the lives of families everywhere. The carefully curated selection of pretend play toys has been designed to support families raising the next generation to be good, kind humans who can make this world a better place. Wondering which toys your kiddo will love? Browse the site with them and have them point out what speaks to them!
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Now, if this post has inspired you to book a trip to see your favorite little ones, there’s something you better have in tow. Gifts! Gifts from grandma and grandpa will always bring your grandchildren joy and happy memories! We have sales on our dolls and toys coming up soon, sign up for our emails to know when they launch. Together, we’ll raise a new generation of empowered, smart, and loving kiddos that will change this world.
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So, why are they better? Well, when babies come into this world, they’re untouched by the elements. For them to grow in the most natural, protected, and healthy way, it’s so important to avoid chemicals and toxins that have the potential to make them sick or impact their growth in any way.
Here are just a couple of the reasons it’s essential to shop organic for the little loves in your life:
These organic baby products are some of our team’s favorites!
Not only is Baby Aria cute as a button, but she’s also award-winning! She has won gold in the Mom’s Choice Awards, an organization honoring excellence in family-friendly products. She comes from Sri Lanka, where she is made with love by artisans who are paid fair wages and work in a safe factory! Plus, her skin is OCS 100-Certified Organic Cotton, so not only are her cuddles extra soft, they’re safe, too.
A soft swaddle can be a lifesaver for new parents. This extra-comforting wrap keeps babies feeling secure, calm, and held even from afar so mom and dad can get a few things done. These muslin swaddles come with a super sweet bee print for your tiny honeybee! They also come in a great gift box that makes a perfect gift for new parents.
Teething time can be rough for parents and little ones alike. So it’s important to have tools to help your sweet babe relieve some of the pain, keeping them comfortable even during this uncomfortable time of growth! This organic natural rubber teething toy is certified non-toxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and PVC-free. You don’t want your little one putting toxins in their mouth, so this is a perfect solution!
This bear-y cute hat is the perfect addition to any chilly seasonal outfit. You may even be jealous, as it’s made with luxurious 100% Egyptian cotton and a sherpa-like fluff that’s softer than anything you’ve ever felt before. We also have a stroller blanket and snuggly lovey toy to complete this cozy collection.
With these products, you can ensure the little loves in your life are the healthiest and strongest versions of themselves!
At Simply Inspired, you can count on us to have organic baby products and gifts for the littlest loves in your life year-round. We want to help families grow, making it easy to keep their precious babes safe as they learn about this big, beautiful world. Of course, you can always find the full collection here!
Want to be the first to know about new organic baby products? Join our e-mail list to become a Simply Inspired Insider!
]]>So, are you ready to celebrate National Tell a Story Day with a little bit of inspiration for how to celebrate with the little ones in your life?
Firstly, stories have been integral to our culture and world for eternity. In fact, the first indication of storytelling was found on cave walls in France, drawn out by people over 30,000 years ago. For a long while, storytelling was used to make sense of the world, to pass on knowledge from generation to generation-first for survival, and now out of a desire for connection and culture, but now, it’s more than that.
It's entertainment, it’s escape, and for little loves, it’s the way they make sense of the world.
In a recent National Geographic article, they explained, “[Storytelling] helps us to find order in things that have happened to us and make sense of the events of a random world.” Now, what are kiddos doing when they engage in pretend play? They’re writing their own narratives, which are often inspired by day-to-day experiences that they need to mentally work out as they grow into capable and compassionate youth and adults.
So as you can see, storytelling through play helps children build interpersonal communication skills, develop empathy, spark creativity, and more. Without storytelling through pretend play, our children’s growth would look wildly different!
So, how do you inspire your child to grow through telling stories this National Tell a Story Day? First, you can make sure they have the right tools.
Part of teaching a child the art of storytelling goes beyond just reading them stories. In addition to stories, you must allow them to play unstructured, channeling only their imaginations. This way, without even realizing it, they’re creating stories all their own.
We cultivate our diverse collection of soft dolls to inspire relationship building! Doll play has been shown to teach interpersonal connection and can help children act out situations they’re experiencing in their “real life.” This biodegradable doll is handmade in a socially responsible way in Sri Lanka, with safe and non-toxic products.
Without a doubt, finger puppets allow little ones to bring stories to life. So it’s extra fun when they want to act out one of their favorite bedtime stories with this Goldilocks set. Our artisan partners in Nepal make these sweet puppets by hand with love, featuring soft felted wool.
This puppet is extra fun because he’s a ravenous raven! There’s a pocket designed to act out food-centric scenes. Slightly older kids can have fun drawing and coloring all kinds of pretend food to feed him and see if he likes it.
Understandably, we all want to give our children toys that are good for the world. lowercase toys, a woman-owned company creating sustainable toys that spark meaningful development in little ones, makes this felt doll. All the felt they use is made from recycled materials. Plus, they donate any unused felt to local makerspaces to abide by a no-waste business model.
Maileg is a nostalgic toy brand that has a whole cast of characters. This little lady is about to have a perfect beach day! You can grab her brother and parents for an entire family ready to act out your child’s tales.
But, Maileg doesn’t just make mice families. They make bunnies too! In the Maileg world, mice and bunnies can be besties, and family comes in all shapes and sizes. With these toys, children can create their own family stories to tell.
Plush toys aren’t the only toys sparking the storytelling itch! They ethically manufacture the Tender Leaf wooden toys in Sri Lanka from recycled wood. Each piece contributes to a scene where kids can let their imagination run wild. This kit allows your kiddo to have a fun day at the stable, riding and petting the ponies (and maybe sneak them a mint or two), and more.
So, today, we want to inspire you to celebrate National Tell a Story Day in a creative way. Spend some time with your child participating in free play with some of your child’s favorite toys. Let their imagination soar; allow them to dream up the most magical stories this world has ever heard!
Want to be the first to know about new toys for pretend play? Sign up for our email list to become an exclusive insider!
]]>Happy Earth Day from Simply Inspired, friends! This Friday, April 22nd, this global celebration will place a light on sustainability, eco-friendly living, conservation and preservation efforts, and more. Earth Day began over 50 years ago in an attempt to recognize the potentially detrimental health and environmental effects of over 150 years of industrialization. On the first Earth Day in 1970, over 20 million Americans, which back at that time was 1/10 of the population, took a conscious step, supporting the movement with peaceful protests. It ultimately led to the organization of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passing of bills like the Clean Water Act. It sparked change and progress in a time where the focus was on growth, power, and production, not sustainability. So, when the celebration went global in 1990, it only grew. And the need for environmental awareness and corporate accountability is increasing with it.
Today more than ever, we need to honor Mother Earth and protect her future. That's why Simply Inspired is trying to take a conscious step towards fostering awareness while also doing our part to give back to the environment, animals, and other humans in this world. One way we do that is by partnering with companies doing good and supporting these causes too.
So today, we want to introduce you to one of those partners in light of the Earth Day celebrations on the horizon. Meet Conscious Step!
To start, we need to share their words about their mission. They’re intentional and powerful:
“Conscious Step is committed to lasting social and environmental change. Every step we take in our production process supports farms and factories with fair wages, safe facilities, and sustainable materials.”
Their goal is to provide power and purpose with every purchase, helping heal our planet and its people, which aligns directly with our mission at Simply Inspired. This is why you’ll find their cozy socks in our collection!
The Story
It all started in 2013 when the founders were winners of the UNSW Sydney Seed Fund Pitch Competition. The trifecta who started the company is made up of a medical doctor, an industrial designer, and a finance professional who wanted to shed light on the causes that needed extra support in our world. Nearly ten years later, they’ve donated almost a million dollars in profits to organizations like St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, The Trevor Project, Conservation International, National Alliance on Mental Illness, etc.
But it’s not just about their giving. They’re also advocates for ethical manufacturing, which was part of their inspiration for sourcing a clean supply chain, as manufacturing is one of the most significant pollutants in our world today. Here’s how they’re doing it:
This is just a tiny sample of the causes that Conscious Step socks are supporting through intentional partnerships making this world a more beautiful place for us and preserving it for the next generation.
This box is a perfect gift that gives back. It includes three pairs embroidered with kooky kangaroos, sneaky crocs, and sleepy koalas. A portion of all proceeds supports Wildlife Warriors and their work to save the unique creatures of Australia.
Cats and dogs are a part of the family in our house. How about you? These pairs support Best Friends Animal Society in Utah. In fact, they operate a huge sanctuary for thousands of homeless cats and dogs while advocating for the 8 million companion animals that wind up in shelters each year!
Your feet won’t catch a chill with this pair that supports Arctic waters! Part of the profits go towards funding Oceana. They’re the largest advocacy organization focused solely on oceans. Ultimately, they want our seas to be healthy and abundant for years to come.
If you like this cause, you can also check out the Protect Ocean Animals Gift Box - Organic Socks from Conscious Step!
These don’t only support the environment. But, they also support development in third-world countries. How, you ask? Conscious Step partners with "Trees for the Future." This organization educates and empowers families in developing nations, helping them reclaim land with plants and trees that will thrive in their backyards. The food those plantings produce improves the family's standard of living – while feeding the earth and its people!
Every sale of these socks provides additional funding to Water.org to improve lives with their clean water and sanitation programs. So far, Conscious Step has provided villagers in developing nations with 121,654 years of access to safe water. That’s impact.
Today, Earth needs us to be more conscious of the organizations we’re supporting. How they operate, the products they use, how they treat their people. We’re honored to partner with a company like Conscious Step Socks because they’re thinking through each facet in-depth, thinking about how they can positively impact this world. When we all make conscious decisions about the products we purchase and their effects on our planet, we can collectively move towards a brighter, healthier, poverty-free world.
Shop their collection with Simply Inspired, and help Mother Earth this Earth Day!
Want more stories like this about our artisans and partners (plus a giveaway)? Sign up for our email list for insider exclusives.
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Many modern-day crafts are inspired by historical traditions or even necessities. Embroidery and weaving are no exception. They say that the first sign of embroidery and weaving were from the Neolithic Era, over 30,000 years ago. While few actual pieces are remaining, we know that they created tools like needles and looms from bone, clay, and stones. It was also depicted in art.
Throughout history, these traditional art forms have served as a form of self-expression, a sign of wealth, and skills that allowed women to be gainfully employed for many years. In the 1800s, women attended school to learn skills like these to run a household later. If they didn’t learn in school, it was a trade that their mother or grandmother taught, passed down between generations. This generational transfer of knowledge has only recently.
While today these crafts aren’t limited to just women, nor are they a necessity, they offer unique value. These traditional crafts that are now fun crafts to do at home allow you to relax, disconnect with technology, and reconnect with yourself and others around you. That’s just one of the many things we love about these fun crafts to do at home!
We believe it’s essential to keep these traditional arts alive. Not only do we want to revive these age-old crafts, but we want to provide families with the opportunity to make memories. Because that’s what life is all about!
We carry the two product lines to bring crafting to the next generations: Harrisville Designs and Corrine LaPierre. Each of these companies has a mission to preserve traditional crafts while teaching and celebrating art!
Metal Potholder Loom from Harrisville Designs
You probably played with the original potholder loom during your childhood! Made by Harrisville Designs right here in New Hampshire, USA, at the company’s factory in a historic woolen mill.
A new take on an old favorite, this loom teaches similar skills with wool yarn rather than cotton loops. Great for older children! This wooden peg loom is a winner of the Teachers' Choice Award and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal "Best Toy" Award.
This sweet product is a fun craft and a great DIY décor project. By hand, you sew the intricate soft wool pieces together to form a beautiful garland that can you can hang as a celebration of love.
Corrine LaPierre is a company that uses high-quality products from the UK and Europe, and this specific product is no exception. You fill each bag with beautifully fragrant lavender grown at a cooperative in Provence, France. They make lovely gifts, too. There’s nothing like a gift handcrafted with love and care!
These fun crafts to do at home are great for all ages and skill levels. Try your hand at creating beauty with one of the above kits, or browse the collections to see which designs speak to you and your family!
It’s time to make new memories, don’t you agree? Even if you don’t necessarily have the weaving or embroidery expertise that your grandmother did, you still have knowledge to share. So, shop our simple kits for fun crafts to do at home that will bring you closer to your children as you learn and create together.
P.S. We’ll be doing one of our insider quarterly giveaways soon, but you have to subscribe to our email list to enter. Subscribe now for your chance to win!
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It all started when we bought a simple felted wool bag. When we received the bag, we were blown away by the quality, the texture, and the craftsmanship. It was all unique from what we had seen before. We knew immediately that this product style was something we wanted to offer. It was a sweet piece that we had scoured the internet to find, and we wanted to make it more easily accessible.
After some digging, we found out that Nepali artisans were responsible for this artful piece. So, we set out to find a cooperative of Nepali women artisans who could help us craft our own Simply Inspired line of sweet, felted wool pouches perfect for gifting.
It took us some time. Eventually, we cultivated a relationship with a friendly group of women artisans in the Mithila region of Nepal. They use fair-trade practices, no child labor, and produce their products from materials native to the area in which they operate. Although some can't work outside the home, they’re provided the skills and opportunity to make the crafts from anywhere. And in turn, they make fair wages on their terms.
These women are innately creative. The first design we collaborated with them on was our signature felted bee bag. If you’ve been following us for a bit, you know that the preservation of bees is a major initiative for us. We donate part of the proceeds from bee bags to conservation efforts through The Karma Honey Project. As such, we wanted a product indicative of that initiative. So, our relationship was solidified by developing this lovely bee-centric product, all with talented women each step of the way.
We enjoyed seeing their talents in action and were so impressed with the hand-stitched details and eco-friendly production. We knew we had to continue our work with them! So, as such, the Sisterhood of the Bees was born. Now, that’s what we call our strong relationship with these women and the Simply Inspired community who purchase these felted wool items that are doing good for the world.
Today, we consistently work side-by-side with these women. Together we cultivate a signature collection of felted goods to release each season, just for our Simply Inspired community. From the moment you purchase your first felted product, you’re a part of this special sisterhood of women supporting women across the globe!
Now, we are turning the page on our partnership with this group of Nepali artisans to the next chapter. Of course, we will continue to create the unique products we love with them. However, we are ready to do more.
We are joining forces with their leadership team to support a classroom of Nepali youth. With this, we can invest in the growth and education of the community in which our artisans live and work. The program will empower the next generation through access to education. A group of 30 local children receives a meal, clothing, and a daily class with school supplies.
Furthermore, a woman instructor leads our classroom, which is rare. In Nepal, especially in the rural community in which we work, women's education has not been a priority. Historically, in Nepal, women aren’t seen as equals to men, similar to many other developing nations worldwide. This is why when cultivating the program, we knew that the instructor must be a woman. We want to encourage young girls to join, even if it's not traditional. One of our many goals with the program is to ensure young Nepali children see that women are just as smart, capable, and powerful as men. We know this program will inspire the next generation to break the status quo, embrace their power, and elevate those in their community regardless of gender!
We look forward to providing continued updates on this exciting new initiative for the Sisterhood of the Bees!
Browse the Easter collection now to uncover our latest Nepali artisan-made treasures! You’ll find felted wool eggs, seasonal pouches, and more. Plus, did you know that we launch newly designed products each season to add a pop of color and a little joy to your home? Sign up for our email list to be the first to learn about new limited-release launches of our collaborations with this incredible team of global women artisans!
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This sustainable, developmentally friendly toy brand is the brainchild of mom and Speech-Language Pathologist Breanna Davis. In June 2018, she started this business to provide better resources for purposeful play that help parents and educators alike.
Recently, there has been a movement to get a little less digital, and a little more traditional in pretend play for little ones. Why? Studies have found that they’ve found that over half of children aren’t getting enough pretend playtime as they grow. So now, toys like those produced by lowercase toys are showcasing their importance in the growth and development of the next generation!
The magnificent maker-friendly lowercase toys products spark a child’s imagination to tinker, create, wonder, and grow. In addition, each toy in their collection is geared towards skill-building, so children are learning while having fun, without even realizing it!
Their block sets spark problem-solving, creative thinking, and creativity. At the same time, their felt doll collection supports the development of language and social skills. Both allow little ones to develop fine motor skills as they play, handling each block or doll with ultimate care and function.
Fun and games are so much more than just that. They are tools to help raise the next generation. And many families are uncovering that with the creative and intentional toys designed by Breanna and her team!
But not only is Breanna designing toys that are good for our children. All lowercase toys are good for the world too.
This unique toy brand is ultra-conscious of its environmental impact, with daily business practices reducing its footprint. Breanna is hyper-aware that sustainability in manufacturing is so important to share resources with the next generation, to preserve our Earth for the demographic they’re looking to care for—our youth!
So, how are she and her team doing it?
The company makes most of their products with felt. But it’s not just any felt. Each piece is manufactured from recycled water bottles, which is so unique! As they work towards a zero-waste business model, they donate all unused felt to local makerspaces for youth.
Finally, they have eliminated first- and single-use plastic from their products and packaging.
All the products that lowercase toys manufactures come out of their in-house studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. So, everything is not only good for your child’s imaginations, but it supports the livelihoods of other American families. Here are just a few of our favorites:
Our Felt "GIRL DOLL" Starter Set - Artisan Made in USA
Perfect for families who love to travel with little ones, this kit is ultra-portable and light for play on the go! The felt dolls are made for ages 3+ with diverse skin tones and hair to help spark love and acceptance for diversity.
Interlocking Felt Blocks - Artisan Made in USA
Do you have a little one that loves to tinker? If so, these blocks are ideal. They’re blocks made from felt, so they’re soft to the touch for safe play. It’s so fun to see what little minds can dream up when their imagination is allowed to run wild.
Tangrams Felt Blocks - Artisan Made in USA
These are great for those curious little ones who like solving problems. Using picture cards as guides, they can re-design the fun shapes they see with these easily portable building blocks.
The toys' mission and their ethical local manufacturing processes truly separate this company from the rest. It feels good to support a woman-owned business doing good in this world, doesn’t it?
We mustn’t just celebrate women makers during Women’s History Month. Women deserve to be supported and celebrated all year round, which we do here at Simply Inspired!
Sign up for emails and peruse the collection to shop and support women makers everywhere. Cheers to the shared success that comes from women supporting women unconditionally!
]]>Entrepreneurship allows women to take their future and their families' future into their own hands. Moms can be influential businesswomen too! And we believe that when we tell the stories of those who are thriving, it empowers other women to take the plunge and invest in themselves, their passions, and chase after their aspirations.
So today, we’re excited to be sharing the story of Moonlight Makers and the two women who brought this bountiful and beautiful business to life. Ready to soak in a little bit of entrepreneurial inspiration?
It all started with a play date. After Claire and Nicole became neighbors, their children became besties right off the bat. These two ambitious moms talked more about their dreams and goals during their children’s evening playdates. Finally, they decided to go into business together—despite being working mamas who already had a lot on their plates!
They played around with many business ideas, which morphed into the Moonlight Makers. A business that screen prints t-shirts, dish towels, homewares, and more. The name was inspired by the fact that they handcrafted each piece and started the company at night, after their 9-5 jobs and after the kiddos went to bed.
The business started from the back of a minibus that they drove around to art shows in their region. But after a pop-up shop at a store in Asheville a year into having the business, they decided that’s what they wanted! So, they parked the bus and opened up a brick-and-mortar studio and shop where they now operate.
They’ve expanded their operations ten-fold and left their full-time jobs to run this growing company with 20+ employees and an office dog or two. As a result, they’ve been featured by Martha Stewart Shop, Amazon, Apartment Therapy, Yahoo, BuzzFeed, etc. Plus, they’re now the #1 handmade hand towel retailer in the United States!
These two mothers have been able to defy the cultural norms and be entrepreneurial powerhouses with little ones at home! If they can do it, you can too. It’s time to reinvent cultural norms, ladies!
Now that you’ve gotten to know these inspirational women and their stories, you may be wondering what their products look like! Here are a few of our favorites:
Wouldn’t life be grand if you could unload everything onto Alexa’s plate!?
Perfect for spreading the love with those in your family and friends’ group!
We believe love always wins! It adds a pop of color to your life, just like this pretty towel.
All the fun dish towels in their collection are 100% cotton flour sacking. As a result, they’re ultra-absorbent and an eco-friendly way to save by consuming far fewer paper towels. Plus, they’re screen-printed by hand with non-toxic ink.
Our owner Darlene loves them because they don’t leave any lint behind while drying glassware! Talk about a win-win.
Simply Inspired is a woman-owned business. We know firsthand by working with our team of unstoppable women and our powerful women artisans across the globe that women are unstoppable. If we support one another in our endeavors, the amount of success we can achieve is truly limitless.
So, join us on this mission of women supporting women today! Subscribe to our email list and become part of our community.
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Some places in this world need a little more of our love. That’s why we’re proud to share the mission of today’s Spotlight on Women Makers organization, Handspun Hope. This impactful organization’s mission is to provide “… holistic support to Africa's poorest through job creation, community building, and spiritual counsel.” With over 40% of the world’s poor living in Sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 490 million people live under $1.90 USD a day. That’s to support an entire family. But, it’s simply not enough. Through the education and empowerment of Rwanda’s women, Handspun Hope aims to help families and communities to overcome poverty and help spark change across the continent and the world. Today, we’re sharing their story.
Executive Director and Founder of Handspun Hope, Diana Wiley, first traveled to the magnificent yet impoverished area of Sub-Saharan Africa in 2002 after hearing a presentation at her church. She wanted to make a difference, so she started volunteering with an aid organization in Mozambique. But while she was there, she learned more about the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
This horrific part of Rwandan history destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure. It also left a devastating number of widows and victims of sexual assault, who are now living with HIV/AIDS as a direct result of the genocide’s violence. The people of Rwanda have made strides towards a brighter future, but Wiley knew she could do more to help.
She knew that by empowering these women who have suffered great injustice, they’d reinvest that knowledge and capital into their communities. They’d transform into empowered leaders of change for this grief and violence-stricken nation.
And so, Handspun Hope was born.
The Handspun Hope social business model is unique, as it doesn’t just provide opportunity through trade. Instead, they focus on healing the whole person.
After experiencing the horrors of the genocide, many women the organization works with are traumatized and suffer from PTSD. Some live with HIV/AIDS or other serious injuries or diseases, while others were widowed and are supporting a family with no means for sustainable income. So, how do they reignite the fire in these women and turn them into confident, powerful, and intentional leaders of change for their communities? Through a few avenues:
Through intentional spending, our purchases can make a real impact on women across the globe. With digital transformation, the world is getting smaller every day, which means it’s getting easier to support those who need it most from anywhere in the world. Meet the women your purchase from Handspun Hope is impacting here. It’s truly inspirational to see the goals these women have set for themselves after undergoing transformational work with Handspun Hope.
Sign up for our emails to discover more of our women makers this month and beyond. Plus, you’ll receive a discount on your first order and have a chance to win a quarterly giveaway.
Together, we can spark change with intentional spending, supporting organizations like Handspun Hope!
]]>So, let’s dive a little deeper into their story, shall we?
Ohrna has dubbed their approach to empowering Indian women artisans “Learning to Earning.” After women are selected to become an artisan with Ohrna, they get started on this journey of empowerment.
Ohrna is unlike many other artisan cooperatives as they travel to the villages to provide these talented women with everything they need. The women don’t have to leave home or travel to meet them where they are at in life.
So, what does the Learning to Earning model entail? It’s a multi-step process.
But, Ohrna is also creating a better world as a whole, which you’ll uncover in their creative process!
The Ohrna creative process focuses on simple designs that are easy to train and make but produce immense beauty. They utilize traditional arts and crafts with methods like Kantha embroidery but add a modern and contemporary style. They call their unique vibe “'contemporary with a touch of tradition,” which we love! But beyond that, we love how intentional they are with the products they produce.
All the products they make, from the jute bags to the home décor, are crafted using all-natural fibers from both jute and cotton. Jute is an eco-friendly fiber called “golden fiber” due to its value and color.
Naturally, as they make these products, there will be scraps. But instead of throwing the scraps out, they use them to create smaller products like dolls and scrunchies! How fun is that?
Lastly, their inspired packaging is one-of-a-kind. They utilize recycled saris and breathe new life into them, creating special pouches to ship their products in!
With a goal of being “sustainable to the core” nothing goes to waste, and they use only all-natural products. This differentiates them even beyond their mission to do good for the women they employ. They’re truly making history and rewriting the future for the next generation!
To celebrate Ohrna and their unique story, we’re featuring a few of our favorite products from them crafted by these talented Indian women artisans in our Spotlight on Women Makers Collection.
We're featuring these beauties for home and fashion at 20% off through March 30th:
1. For the on-the-go friend:
Artisan Jute Zipper Pouches - "Aasha" - Zig Zag and Stripe
2. For the plant parent or work-from-home friend:
Artisan Jute and Cotton Bowls (set of 3) - Gray + Brown Tones
3. For the fashionista friend:
Artisan Jute and Cotton Make-up Bag - Gray + Red Tones
When your purchase provides women with empowerment via economic opportunity and educational access, it’s truly something special. So let’s all aim to #LiveSimplyInspired and be intentional with every purchase we make. Not just during a celebratory month like March!
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]]>Happy Women’s History Month, friends! As a company that honors and celebrates women daily, we knew that we had to do something special this month. Since our inception, women supporting women has been one of our integral pillars and values. With this in mind we have scoured the globe to find women makers, artisans, and entrepreneurs to support via offering their products on our ecommerce storefront and supporting their missions.
We are confident that the women we partner with are going to change history for their families and women everywhere. So, when we look back during Women’s History Month years from now, we’ll be reading a different narrative. That’s what it means to #LiveSimplyInspired.
It’s no secret that women have been subjected to inequality since the beginning of history. Here are some harrowing statistics that express this:
So, how do we change this? Part of our mission at Simply Inspired is to rewrite this story so that when our daughters and their daughters look back at history, they’re able to see the shift that has transpired. We can spark real change by providing women everywhere with economic opportunity and education. That is not hope, it’s fact. Here’s why:
With businesses in the creative manufacturing and handmade goods sector providing opportunities for women globally, they have a greater chance to thrive. The prospect for growth is limitless!
Women are powerful. They are ambitious and creative. And in many cases, they are not given the opportunities they deserve and have worked hard for. Together, we will make a difference and provide women with opportunities everywhere with intentional spending.
So, how are we driving this change? We’re intentional about the businesses we work with. And this month, we’re telling their stories and sharing their impact in our Spotlight on Women Makers Series. Each week on the blog and via email we’ll be featuring a few of our women makers, artisans, and entrepreneurs. We’ll be sharing their work, their mission, and their unique impact and goals.
The organizations we will be sharing are redefining entrepreneurship for women, providing fair wages for women to escape poverty, empowering women to escape violence and find peace, creating community connections for women, providing equitable access to healthcare, and so much more.
We are honored to tell their stories and work with them to create change for women and families near and far!
Are you ready to feel truly inspired? While we’ll be sharing many on the blog, we’ll also have exclusive stories shared via email.
Sign up to receive our emails here.
]]>Thinking back to your childhood, how many of your fondest, most vivid memories are centered around your wooden toys. Rattles, dollhouses, rocking horses, and more. Well, Tender Leaf Toys is bringing the nostalgia of wooden toys to the future, with sustainably crafted toys for ages 18+ months to 3+ years. While most of their products carried by Simply Inspired are hand-carved wooden toys, they also have plush toys and accessories!
Each toy is started with a sketch by their in-house designer. The sketches intentionally combine style and function to produce some of the most educational and beautiful toys little ones can get their hands on.
They’ve only been around for a few years now, but we know that their future is oh so bright!
Tender Leaf Toy’s mission to put sustainability and safety first drew us to them in searching for partners focused on pretend play. Here are just a few things they are doing to ensure that their products are good for both the soul and the environment:
Now, not only are their toys sustainable and safe, but they’re also teaching the next generation through pretend play. By dreaming up and acting out pretend scenarios sparked by the dolls or wooden garden scenes, little ones are developing their creative thinking, linguistic abilities, empathy, and fine motor skills, all at the same time! The best part? They’re having fun doing it.
Want to uncover the intricately designed wooden toys produced by this purpose-driven company? Browse the collection of Tender Leaf Toys on our Simply Inspired site. Scenes from land to sea are played out right in front of your child’s eyes, with help from Tender Leaf’s unique wooden toy sets. A child’s imagination knows no bounds, so the stories they will create with these non-toxic toys are limitless!
Want to be the first to know about Tender Leaf Toys promotions and new releases? Sign up to be a part of our Simply Inspired Insiders mailing list.
]]>If you have shopped Simply Inspired before, you know that all of our most beloved felted wool products are handcrafted with love by talented women artisans in Nepal! In Nepal, Valentine’s day is called Prem Diwas or Pranaya Dwas. It hasn’t been celebrated as long there as in the United States and was brought to light when international media started streaming in the early-1990s. Still, it’s being adopted more year after year and is mostly celebrated by younger generations who are up-to-date on global news and social media. They partake in all the traditions we know like chocolates, cards, and teddy bears for loved ones!
Fun fact: Nepal was actually chosen by the Huffington Post as one of the most romantic spots to visit for this love-centric holiday!
Our Maileg collection originated in Denmark in 1999, and boy are we glad they expanded here in the U.S.! For Valentine’s Day, they have a fun tradition where they share what’s called a gaekkebrev. It is a square piece of paper that has cut-outs, similar to a paper snowflake, with a personalized note written on it. They can be funny or sweet, depending on who you’re gifting it to! They will usually share this gaekkebrev with a white snowdrop flower. This is claimed to date back to the 18th century and has taken a bit of a backseat to chocolates and gifts, but it’s still a popular way to celebrate.
Our eco-friendly alpaca wool products are handcrafted by artisans in Peru and Ecuador! The holiday in Latin America is called Dia de San Valentin or Día del Amor y la Amistad, which translates to Day of Love and Friendship. They’re intent on celebrating not just romantic love, but friendship as well, which is so beautiful. In Peru, you won’t find roses as a gift, because they actually exchange stunning local orchids as their main tradition for the holiday! In Ecuador, they love all blooms—in fact, they’re one of the largest producers of flowers shipped to the U.S. In schools near Quito and beyond, you can typically purchase a rose and chocolate to send to classmates and they’re delivered at the end of the day.
Our partners at Moulin Roty are based in France and started there all the way back in the 1970s. With France considered one of the most romantic countries in the world, it should come as no surprise that Valentine’s Day, referred to as La Saint-Valentin, is an uber-romantic holiday. They don’t celebrate friendly relationships in France, it’s only for those who are truly “in love”. As such, celebrations are typical with romantic candlelit dinners and chocolate or jewelry gifts.
We work with Kazi in Uganda to share incredible handwoven homewares crafted from organically-dyed raffia fibers. What’s most interesting about Valentine’s Day celebrations in Uganda is how similar they are to our own here in the U.S. Men gift women flowers and jewelry, go on dates, and it’s a big day for marriage proposals. They traditionally wear red and black, and shops will decorate with those colors too.
Now, we want to hear your Valentine’s Day traditions! Take a photo, head to Instagram, and share your tradition with the hashtag #LiveSimplyInspired. Maybe it will spark some ideas for others in our Simply Inspired community who are still trying to plan their special celebrations for this lovely holiday.
]]>Ready for some inspiration?
A lot of times, if you’re the holiday host, you take it upon yourself to do it all! That’s a recipe for stress. Ask your nearest and dearest to help make grandma’s special recipes for the holiday. Reviving traditional family favorites is a perfect way to create new memories, while also spreading out the responsibility!
Rustic Measuring Spoons on Rack with Satin Finish
These beautiful satin-finish, solid pewter measuring spoons have almost a vintage feel to them. Perfect for whipping up family recipes during the holidays.
Lightweight Cherry Cutting Board
These impressive boards are perfect for either a lovely charcuterie spread, or chopping all the onions for stuffing. It’s up to you! Each is handcrafted with cherry wood, with maple and walnut inlays, right in West Virginia.
Night Before Christmas Tea Towel
Ideal for carrying hot dishes to the table or wiping up spills, this tea towel exudes holiday spirit! Each 100% unbleached cotton towel is handmade by a group of women artisans in Cornwall, England.
The holidays are a season of giving. So, one thing we like to do is set our table with intentionally sourced products that support makers and artisans from across the globe. Not only is it a feel-good way to celebrate, it’s also a great conversation starter for the meal that sparks joy and gratitude.
Fill these beautiful bud vases with single blooms or sprigs of holly to brighten up your holiday table with natural elements! Each vase is unique as they’re crafted by hand by individual artisans here in the USA.
From serving baskets perfect for homemade bread to coasters for wine glasses to trivets for hot dishes, our Kazi products are ideal for holiday serving! Each piece is intricately handcrafted by an African artisan paid fair wages for their distinctive expertise.
Our line of olive wood kitchenware is not only beautiful, but it’s also impactful. Each piece is made from olive trees that can’t produce fruit any longer, so they’re harvested to make these stunning kitchen and homewares, and a new tree is planted. The artisans in Tunisia who make them hand carve each piece, then sand, and polish with local olive oil or beeswax to seal and shine.
Let’s be honest, it’s not often that the little ones can sit through the entire meal listening to adult conversation. Who can blame them? Allow them to scuttle off and have a little fun of their own with toys for all ages.
Riley - Brown Hair in Holiday Dress
This beautiful doll is already dressed in her holiday best! She’s sustainably crafted with all non-toxic materials, ready to be cuddled and adored.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears Finger Puppet Set
Let all the kiddos put on a show with these sweet, felted finger puppets. Made by our artisan partners in Nepal, each is made with natural, untreated wool and thread with vegetable dyes.
Tender Leaf Greenhouse and Garden Set
Let the kiddos set the stage by growing all the food for the next holiday gathering! Tender Leaf wooden toys are all sustainably crafted and perfect for inspirational pretend play.
As the night winds down, enjoy the last moments of the special day with your loved ones. Whip up some tea with honey or a lovely pot of coffee and bask in the warmth that surrounds you.
Handmade Ceramic Sugar + Creamer Set w/Tray - Green or Blue
This one-of-a-kind set is handmade by artisans right here in the United States. Plus, they’re microwave and dishwasher safe to help with nighttime post-holiday cleanup.
Each teaspoon of this honey directly supports the bees! A portion of the sales from each jar is donated to The Bee Cause Project which funds the installation of beehives in schools across the United States to further bee education.
Handmade Japanese Inspired Namako Mug
These handmade ceramic beauties are *almost* too pretty to drink out of. Mixing traditional Japanese folk art with contemporary artistic flair, these are truly special pieces. Each is signed by the artist and made in the USA.
We are always honored to be a part of our customer’s holiday season celebrations. From uniquely homewares that tell a story atop the table to expertly crafted décor adorning homes—it means the world to us and our partners. Thank you for supporting our makers this season, and always!
As a special thank you, we’re offering an exclusive 12 Days of Christmas sale for our email subscribers only. Each day from December 26th – January 6th will feature a unique offer with steals on some of our favorite products and brands! It’ll allow you to get everything ready early for all the 2022 holiday celebrations on the horizon.
Not signed up for our emails? Head to the bottom of the page and sign-up now to get all the insider deals.
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“A global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.”
Started in 2012, the founding initiative was starting a day for people to do good. Since, it has grown tenfold as a day where giving, action, and generosity is celebrated around the world. They say that every act of generosity counts, and we couldn’t agree more.
As an ode to the holiday and to spread the movement, we want to share a little about what we do throughout the year that contributes to the global economy and welfare of disadvantaged communities, supporting the environment, advocating for animals, and more.
Giving is a major principle we’re founded on; you are giving with every purchase you make from Simply Inspired!
For years, we’ve been working with a small artisan cooperative in Nepal that employs women artisans around Kathmandu. Working directly with a creative team, we help design creative products that are true to their intricate Nepalese handicraft traditions to expand their business through selling on Simply Inspired. All of our fair trade felted wool ornaments, puppets, dolls, and décor are made by these incredible artisan partners.
Through working with them we’re able to ensure that those disadvantaged women are taken in and provided training and an opportunity to work for living wages to support their families. There is absolutely no child labor and the processes they use to create their goods are all sustainable. Good for the world and the environment in so many ways!
Perhaps the most exciting steppingstone in this relationship is the new initiative we are developing with them to launch soon. We will be spearheading an education program with the artisan cooperative to support school children in the area with books, meals, and more to ensure they have equal access to valuable education that will help them thrive!
This is why we love what we do at Simply Inspired. Your purchases directly impact the lives of these women in Nepal and provide them with opportunity they wouldn’t have otherwise had! So, for that, we are ever grateful to you for your support.
If you’ve shopped with us for a while, you probably know that we donate 20% of our Simply Inspired profits to organizations that protect, support, and empower women, children, and animals. These are just a few of the organizations we give back to, with your support, throughout the year:
Many don’t realize that there is a huge gender imbalance in film production. This unique non-profit empowers young women through education in media, showing them how to film and tell their unique stories to revolutionize the film industry and defeat gender inequality.
A powerful organization combating the maternal health crisis globally. To date, they have contributed over $5.6M to create community-based programs that provide access to equitable maternity care across the world to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for all.
Supporting the women survivors of war and conflict by providing skills-based training to improve lives, this non-profit has already made an impact on the lives of over 500,000 women across the world. Through teaching job skills that they can use to rebuild their futures and connecting them with women who have gone through similar struggles, they allow them to take their power back.
We love their tagline, “Save a bee, save the world.” Many don’t realize what an integral part of our ecosystem buzzing bees are, and Karma Honey Project uses 100% of their profits to create hives to help repopulate bee communities and teach people how to manage their own hives, donating to research on bee mortality and how to combat it, and finally to educate the youth on just how important these creatures are to our world!
Farm Sanctuary raises awareness about the terrible effects of animal agriculture on the environment and the animals while fighting for justice through advocacy, education, and animal rescue.
When we source the products that we share on Simply Inspired, we search for brands that are:
With that, many of the brands we purchase from to share with you are intentional about sustainability, giving, supporting others, protecting animals, and more.
These are just a few of the purposeful and intentional brands we love that give back directly to a cause with a handful of our favorite products:
A sock company producing the coziest footwear! Each pair is produced by workers paid fair wages in underserved communities, and also gives back to causes that are near and dear to us like the environment, animals, women empowerment, and much more.
A passionate company making a change here in the U.S. and in the Dominican Republic by employing artisans to sustainably handcraft craft mugs that make for the perfect morning coffee vessel and tell a wonderful story.
Kazi, which means “employment, jobs, source of income” in Swahili, is a sustainable enterprise based that provides immense opportunity for African artisans. They’ve created employment opportunities for 4,575 artisans from Rwanda, Uganda, and Ghana, helping them get out of poverty with living wages to create their magnificent woven homeware pieces.
A fair trade fashion brand that employs women artisans in Nepal, where the founder was initially in the Peace Corps, to craft high-quality bracelets that spark joy and connection.
Pieces by Purpose don’t just look good, they do good! Their mission is to, “empower girls and young women escaping human trafficking to embrace their true identity and worth.” Now, they operate in five countries globally where they provide sanctuaries for these women to learn trades and reclaim their futures.
This unique company is a for-profit, fair trade social enterprise that sells handcrafted ornaments to provide support to disadvantaged children and families in Africa. They utilize fair trade labor in countries like Kenya, Uganda, Peru, and Nepal to craft the ornaments, so your purchase does good in every stage of its lifecycle.
The more we share about beautiful days like this, the more people that we can get to join in on the movement. Head to Instagram or Facebook and share one thing you’re doing today for Giving Tuesday. Share with the hashtags #LiveSimplyInspired and #GivingTuesday. We can’t wait to see the good you do for this world!
P.S. Since it is the giving season, enjoy 20% off our holiday collection for a limited time. It’s filled with products from some of the intentional partners and brands we’ve shared today!]]>Like most historic traditions, there are a few theories about the roots of where the Christmas stocking originated, but there’s one that sticks out as the most well-known—the legend of St. Nicholas.
Back in 800 A.D. St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, heard of a poor man whose wife had died, leaving him as a sole provider who did not make enough to give a dowry for his daughters to marry well. Hearing of his struggle, Saint Nicholas wanted to help and tossed gold down the chimney. The gold landed in socks left by the fire to dry, and the family’s woes were solved! This later transpired to people leaving toys and oranges, to signify the gifts in this beloved legend. We know it’s been a part of American tradition for years, due to the mention of stockings in the ever-popular poem, The Night Before Christmas, originally written in the 1800s.
Today, it’s up to each family to create their own traditions surrounding this lovely story of giving. Which Christmas stocking story do you share with your little ones during the holiday season? Depending on where in the world you live, your traditions and the stories behind them may look different!
These are just a few of the countries across the world where stockings are a part of holiday tradition. And each place uses them in celebration differently which is so special!
Stocking stuffers change throughout the years. While everyone loves sweets to nibble on, kiddos love toys and trinkets, while adults may prefer a meaningful token or functional item. The good news is, at Simply Inspired, we have stocking stuffers for all ages and personalities!
We could keep this list going for a while, but we’ll let you browse the collection for yourself. Our carefully curated Stocking Stuffers Collection is filled with purposeful gifts that will spark joy and meaning for all! Stocking stuffers to us are an opportunity to show those you love that you’re thinking of them, and see them for who they are, with a gift that shows you care and know what is important to them.
So browse and shop today for those who have stockings hanging on your mantles, as stock is limited and time for shipping will run out before we can say, “Happy Holidays!”
]]>Without further ado, let’s dive in our 2021 holiday gifts that give back guide!
Washed Linen Stripe Tote - Navy Stripe
We all have a traveler in our midst. And every traveler needs a trusty tote! This 100% jute tote features a 100% cotton lining that is lightweight and ideal for carrying necessities wherever the world may take you.
Any one of our alpaca or infinity scarves is the perfect addition to any outfit. They’re crafted in a way that helps them warm you up in the winter, but they’re light enough for multi-season wear!
Raw Honeycomb from Savannah Bee Company
This sweet treat is organic and 100% made by the bees! You can eat it by the spoonful or spread atop a buttermilk biscuit. It also makes a special addition to any holiday charcuterie board.
Winter Night Felted Wool Zipper Bag - Handcrafted Fair Trade
This beautiful, handcrafted pouch is made with soft, yet highly durable felted wool. Each piece is unique, as our artisan partners in Nepal craft each one individually with love and care. These beauties are perfect for carrying everyday essentials in style. Plus, they help support Nepali families with each purchase.
Candles make any home a little more cozy. This one is made with 100% soy wax that’s hand-poured and scented with phthalate-free fragrance. Each candle is sustainable and made by wonderful partners here in the USA.
Felted Wool Garden Bee Bag + Hand Salve + Arnica Oil Gift Set
Give them a felted wool bee bag, filled with two self-care goodies we love: arnica oil and beeswax hand salve. Perfect for taking with them on the go to practice self-care anywhere! These bee-autiful bags are adorned with nature-inspired designs hand-stitched by our artisan partners in Nepal who are paid fair wages for their craft!
This wonderful gift set has all the staples for winding down stress-free the evening, cozied on the couch with a blanket. You’ll find a tasty caffeine-free tea, a honey-scented Bee Inspired candle, a jar of Orange Blossom Honey, a tube of Honey Lip Balm, and a Honey Lollipop. Pro tip: Make the tea and swirl the lollipop in it as a honey spoon!
The company that makes this tea uses natural ingredients and focuses on environmental education and bee education to ensure these buzzing beauties will be around to pollinate our world for generations to come. Grab them a Bee’s Knees
"First My Mother, Forever My Friend" - Gold + Silver Necklace
This charming, artisan-made 11K gold vermeil and sterling silver necklace is a beautiful way to show your mom you care. Whenever she wears it, she will think of your unbreakable bond!
Cuddly Cat, Loving Pup, + Friendly Fox Felted Wool Zipper Bag Trio - Handcrafted Fair Trade
These cute and durable bags are the sweetest gifts for those who love our furry friends! They’re crafted sustainably in Nepal with only vegetable dyes and 100% felted wool—no chemicals here. Easy to tote around as a clutch, use as a makeup bag on the go, or gift to a little one to hold their toys!
Handmade Ceramic Sugar + Creamer Set w/Tray - Green or Blue
Do you have a friend who always serves coffee or tea after dinner? Gift them this stunning, handmade in the USA, ceramic sugar and creamer set with a beautiful little bud vase that adds a perfect accent. The real treat? It’s dishwasher (and microwave) safe, so you’re not giving them the gift of extra dishes.
Every Now and Then I Fall Apart - Flour Sack Dish Towel
These 100% cotton flour sack towels are super absorbent for any kitchen messes! And they have fun sayings, too. Each towel is handmade, and screen printed with non-toxic ink by artisans in Asheville, NC.
Haute Cocoa Dark Chocolate Body Gift
Now the chocolate lover in your life won’t just be indulging in chocolate, they can integrate it into their self-care routine, too! This gift set includes a cocoa mask, body butter, body scrub, and soy candle. All are sustainably crafted and made in small batches on the East Coast, USA!
Every new bride needs a special place to keep her ring! We all know how easy it can be to lose track of those special keepsakes. But with a beautifully crafted, lead-free trinket dish in the bathroom and by the kitchen sink, she’ll never lose that special token of love!
Plant Hanger with Dragon Fly Design
There’s nothing our Nepali artisan partners can’t do! These beautiful hanging décor staples are each handmade at a woman-run production center where they meticulously weave these beauties for fair wages that support their families. You may need one for every room!
What better way to show the person who you consider your guardian angel you care than a set of felted wool angels to don their mantel all holiday season. We’ve named them Faith, Hope, and Love—all quintessential characteristics your guardian angels must have! Oh, did we mention they can also be tree toppers!?
Eco-Friendly Neckline Diaper Bag by Lassig
Diaper bags can be chic too these days. Especially these beauties! It’s stylish, practical, and eco-friendly/ vegan—the trifecta of diaper bags! It even won a Mom’s Choice Award and a TTPM Best of Baby Award.
Dolls provide immense benefits for a child’s development—girl or boy! Our collection of soft dolls for pretend play features diversity and inclusivity, so there is a new friend for everyone.
Sculpted Spa Soap + Body Butter Gift Set
We all have that one friend who has everything. So for them, give the gift of self-care that will allow them to indulge and treat themselves to something a little different, right in the comfort of their own home! This set incorporates French-milled soaps with essential oils and a luscious shea butter and cocoa butter lotion to nourish skin in the colder months.
There are some gifts that are just perfect for everyone, or they’re a great opportunity to treat yourself to get into the festive holiday spirit. That’s what we’re going to cover in this section of our gifts that give back guide!
Felted Wool Holy Family Mini Nativity
Share the nativity story with your little ones as a part of your holiday traditions!
Snowy Winter Trees Tin Planter Set (3)
Going for a White Christmas theme in your home? These beauties will look perfect in any room.
Three Little Pigs Finger Puppet Set
Have your kiddos put on a Christmas show with their stocking stuffers this year!
Felted Wool Rainbow Babushka Dolls
There’s something magical about the surprises that come with stacking babushka dolls.
The sweetest winter fruit makes for a luscious self-care set that will fit perfectly in any stocking.
Shea Butter Mini Spa Soap + Lotion Gift Set
Gift this together, or split it up into multiple stockings for your loved ones!
Olive Wood Nesting Bowls (4 Piece Set)
In multiple sizes, these are perfect for serving snacks for an afternoon celebration or sides on the dinner table.
Handwoven African Navy + Silver Blue Jua Coasters (4)
Make sure your guests are leaving joy and cheer, not stains on your coffee table!
Snowy Owl Handmade Fair Trade Tree Topper
If your tree has an animal or a white and silver theme, you need this little guy to watch wisely over your celebrations!
"Thor" Gnome Friend Felted Wool Tree Topper - Handcrafted + Fair Trade
Donning his best holiday hat, Thor is a clever little guy who will make sure the reindeer don’t eat any of your presents!
Okay, we’ll be honest—we couldn’t choose which ornaments to feature. There are too many beauties in our holiday collection! Browse the full collection to find one that has meaning to your holiday story.
We hope this has provided you with some sweet inspiration for ways to gift intentionally this holiday season. Our carefully curated collection of self-care gifts, home and holiday gifts, made in the USA gifts, and honestly, just generally fabulous gifts, were inspired by the makers and the stories behind every product. We can’t wait to share that with you to help spread holiday cheer this year! Happy holidays, friends. And happy shopping! 😉
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We all have traditions like enjoying an indulgent meal with family and friends and watching the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. But what else can you do to celebrate the spirit of giving and togetherness that Thanksgiving is all about? Here are some of our favorites:
How many of your fondest memories are centered around Christmas traditions as a kid? Whether it was leaving out the milk and cookies or watching A Charlie Brown Christmas snuggled up with a mug full of tea, each is so special. Here are a few you can add with the whole family to start creating even more special memories together.
As the years go on, New Year’s Eve starts to mean more than just getting dressed up to go to a party. It’s a time to reflect on the challenging moments that made you stronger, a time to bask in the goodness the year has brought for you, and a time to slow down and prepare for the blessings the year ahead will bring. Here are a few ways to do just that:
At Simply Inspired, we intentionally source products that are meant to spark joy and create memories. Throughout the holiday season, we’ll be offering sweet treasures that will add to your family’s celebrations, hopefully helping you create memories for years to come! Shop our holiday collection today—and if you haven’t yet, sign up for our email list for exclusive weekly sales through the holiday season!
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Did you know that October is officially National Fair Trade Month? You’ve likely seen the little green fair trade certified stamp on your bag of coffee from the grocery store, but do you really know what fair trade means? It’s an important guiding principle for us at Simply Inspired. So today, we’re going to give you the 101 on fair trade so you can consciously support this global movement for a better, more sustainable world this October, and beyond.
Put simply, as described by Fair Trade USA, fair trade is the movement “ensuring products grown, harvested, or made with care by farmers and workers according to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards.” It’s a movement based on supporting equality and safety for global citizens, as well as a deep respect for the environment and Mother Nature.
Now there are a couple of ways you can look at fair trade products.
You’ll find fair trade certified products which are products that go through rigorous certification with organizations like Fair Trade USA or Fairtrade America. They evaluate products on factors like traceability of the product, paying minimum Fairtrade-certified pricing, no exploitative child labor, suitable working conditions, protection of natural resources, eco-friendly cultivation, and more.
Then, you have others, especially small producers and companies, who can’t necessarily afford the certification but still thoroughly implement the same ethical values in production. Both are equally as important to create a brighter future for underprivileged individuals and protect the environment! We carry both of these fair trade products at Simply Inspired.
Here are just a few ways you can support fair trade with your daily practices!
At Simply Inspired, we support fair trade because we believe that everyone deserves equitable opportunities in life. Furthermore, it’s our job to cherish the environment to preserve it for future generations.
And when we’re in a privileged situation, it is important that we do everything in our power to support those values and give back. It’s the only way we will create a better world for the future!
We’ve gotten to meet some of the most beautiful people from across the globe through our fair trade and equitable product sourcing and they are moments we will cherish for a lifetime. It’s magnificent to see just how much love, care, and intention is put into every product by these incredible global artisans. They deserve to be paid fairly for their craft.
On the environmental impact side of fair trade, no animals deserve to be harmed for our consumer benefit, and we support eco-friendly practices that will help salvage our environment and the beings that call this place home—humans or animals.
There is no better way to support fair trade than to shop sweet gifts that are either fair trade certified or made with fair trade practices! At Simply Inspired, we carry both with incredible brand partners who put people first and profit second. Here are a few of our favorite fair trade products, with more on our site!
Felted Wool Flower Bag - Handcrafted Fair Trade
Sweet, felted wool zipper bags that are perfect for gifting, especially because you can add a few little gifts to personalize inside! These beauties are all handmade with love by our talented Nepali artisan partners, a group of women who are paid fair wages to build a better life for their families.
Handwoven African Navy + Silver Blue Jua Coasters (4)
Crafted in Africa with timeless tradition, this beautiful set of handwoven coasters is a stunning housewarming gift or stocking stuffer that tells a unique story. The company we work with to source these handwoven coasters made with organic dyes measures their success on by how the lives of their artisans improve over time, and that is the type of relationship we strive to have at Simply Inspired.
Designed with upcycled Indian saris and handcrafted by talented women artisans in East India, each bag provides needed income for these strong and powerful women. The bag is made with traditional Kantha stitching by craft producers from a cooperative that was established to help at-risk artisan communities. Not only can you hold makeup, but it’s also a great pencil case, or just carry all for all your most cherished items you need with you on the daily.
Alpaca Liviano Scarf - Marine Blue
These stunning Alpaca Liviano scarves are made with the first shear of wool from Ecuadorian alpacas. These special animals are cared for with love by their owners and no alpacas are ever harmed by their annual shearing. The shearing provides the bountiful production of wool to craft these scarves and other beautiful, handcrafted products. Each scarf is handwoven using generations-old weaving traditions! This is only one of the stunning colors available for multi-season wear.
Now, these are only a very small selection of the over one hundred fair trade products we carry at Simply Inspired. Transparency is one of our key values, so you can also always find a note on the product description that notes fairly traded when applicable. We are also always adding new fair trade products, so you never know what you’ll find! Happy fair trade shopping, friends.
Let’s support fair trade together this month and all year round!
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Welcome to our blog, friends!
I’m Darlene Hancox, the Founder of Simply Inspired. For our first post, we’re going to do something a little different. A get to know you style post to share with you, our loyal community, all about the why behind what we do at Simply Inspired.
Ready to dive in?
Simply Inspired was born out of my realization that international retail didn’t embrace important values. After spending over 20 years of my career in retail I came to understand that most of the industry was profiting from its disregard for humanity and our Earth—and I just couldn’t stand for that. And so, I started Simply Inspired to share sustainably crafted products that can spark joy in anyone’s day, made with love by talented women artisans and small makers. Now, that’s a long story made very short, but that is the core of why I started this e-commerce shop. I wanted to create a community with other women and like-minded individuals who share the same passion for being intentional about the way we are living our lives, supporting other women and the environment, putting family first to raise the next generation, and overall making our world a better place. And we can do that by being intentional about who we shop with, where our products come from, and what they’re made of.
Now, let’s talk about our products and what’s in store for our Simply Inspired community in the future, shall we?
Part of what we aim to do is provide products that help you live a simply fulfilled life. Every piece we share with you in our shop is guided by a few principles that we use daily! You can adopt them too, even better if it’s with the help of some of our intentionally sourced wares. 😉 Here they are:
This September marks Simply Inspired’s four-year anniversary. Wow, how time flies! I have learned so many lessons over the past four years in business. But today, I stand more passionate than ever about discovering and developing products that delight and create a positive impact for this world and the people that inhabit it. Looking ahead as we continue to develop this Simply Inspired community, I couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.
As with any business, we are a work in progress—that’s part of the beauty, isn’t it? Constantly evolving. Consistently growing. Always listening to you, our cherished community. And while it can be difficult to find the perfect products that line up with all of our objectives, each carries an important piece of the puzzle. And as we grow, we will learn, and continue to create impact together.
What I do know is that as we grow and learn...
We will continue to support and empower women-owned businesses and fair-trade artisans globally and tell their stories.
We will continue to uncover products that spark joy and foster development.
We will continue to donate 20% of our profits to organizations doing good in this world and sparking change for a more beautiful future.
And we can’t wait to have you join us on this journey to make the world a better place through purposeful products—because we are stronger together, my friends!
Here’s to many more years of living joyfully Simply Inspired and making a difference.
-Darlene
P.S. Our blog will launch new posts every other week, so sign up for our emails to stay connected and be the first to know when they’re launched (plus, you’ll get access to exclusive sales and be the first to know about new product launches)! You’ll enjoy stories, tips and tricks, design inspiration, and more.
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