Holiday Gift Guide to Get Shopping Done Early

By: Lily Elkhay

Now that it is November, the holiday season has arrived, and we can finally begin preparing. Each year, especially with finals occurring in the midst of the holiday season, I try to get a head start and begin planning what to gift everyone in my life. This year it is more important than ever to begin getting gifts early because of the inventory and shipment issues the world is undertaking during the pandemic. Plus, with Black Friday coming up, it is important to be able to score some great deals by planning what to buy ahead of time. I know each year I struggle with trying to think of what to get everyone. Finding a balance between gifting something that is sentimental, but without having to spend a fortune is something I am sure we all struggle with, especially during college. Here are some ideas I have gathered to help you think of what to give your loved ones this year!

1.Genealogy Kit

I was given an Ancestry.com kit back in 2019 and have loved seeing my results on the website ever since! Personally, I am a broad mix of different cultures and origins, so it is fascinating to see all the different regions of the world my ancestors are from. Plus, many of my other family members have also done it, so I can compare my genes to theirs. Each time I look at my Ancestry account, I am always intrigued to see that Ancestry can tell who my relatives are solely because we share many of the same genes. Ancestry is always updating as more people give their results and they collect more research, so it is a gift that keeps on giving! These genealogy kits make a great gift to someone who is interested in their heritage and learning more about themselves and their family’s origins! Thankfully around holiday time these kits usually go on sale, making them much more affordable.

2. Etsy Jewelry

I know most of us have a jewelry lover in our lives! A great place to find unique and handmade jewelry is on the website Etsy, where small creators can post their products to the world. I have ordered jewelry there myself that was very affordable but also great quality. Also, the big upside of Etsy is supporting small businesses and artists that sell unique pieces, you won’t find at the mall, all while still conveniently shopping online. Etsy does not just stop at jewelry either, the site offers endless gifts from countless artists and small business owners to make it easy to find something for everyone, making it a great site to consider when holiday shopping. Plus, many of the products can be personalized, making them extra special. Another website to keep in mind while shopping, especially for those people who already seem to have everything, is Uncommon Goods. The website also offers many personalized and unique pieces!

3. Books

A book can be a great gift for many this year! Books are wonderful because they can appeal to just about any type of interest. If you know someone who enjoys cooking you can give them a cookbook, or if they are really into sports, you can give them a book pertaining to their favorite team. Books are amazing because the possibilities are endless. If you both enjoy reading fiction, a fun idea is to buy yourself and the gift recipient the same book to read at the same time and later discuss your thoughts. Books are also great for children, my cousin recently had a baby over the summer, and this holiday season I am going to steer away from toys. I am sure she is not lacking in an overwhelming abundance of toys, so instead, I will help build her book collection.

4. Self-Care Items

Everyone can always benefit from some self-care. Bath bombs, bubble bath, and all the different sorts of bath accessories make for a great gift. Plus, you can easily put these things into a cute gift basket to make the gift look creatively put together. Especially as a marketing major, I believe presentation can go a long way, and it allows you to show you really put the time and effort into the gift-giving. Skincare and exfoliating items are also not to be forgotten when thinking about self-care. Self-care gifts give you the opportunity to show your creative side without having to spend a lot. While shopping for self-care items for others, don’t forget to buy yourself some as well to help yourself get through finals and the hectic holiday season. 

5. Remember the act of giving means more than the gift itself!

Gift-giving can seem like a stressful time while also having to come up with ideas that won’t cost you your entire bank account. At least for me, starting college was also the time when I finally had enough money to buy gifts, but I still must navigate how much to spend per person and who to include. One thing to remember while gift shopping, is that gifts are usually meant for something someone really wants but won’t buy themselves. Or other times, a gift is something someone does not even know they wanted! Receiving a sentimental gift from someone is always very heartwarming and knowing that someone even thought to get you the unique gift usually means more to you than the gift itself. One of my favorite gifts I’ve received is when my best friend gifted me a woodchuck stuffed animal. It may seem random, but she knows I adore the woodchuck family who lives underneath my shed at home. Next time you are strolling through local shops or browsing the web and see something that makes you think of someone, buy it to gift this holiday season. Sentiment and giving real thought to the present are the most important things to keep in mind while shopping!

My Top Three Favorite Podcasts to Listen to When I Need a Pick Me Up

By: Riley Bailey

At this point in the semester, I’m sure many of us are feeling overwhelmed by work and anxious for a break from the fast pace of college life. Over quarantine, I found that whenever I needed a break from reality, podcasts were, and still are, my go-to. That’s why I decided to share a list of my favorite three podcasts to listen to when I need a “pick me up.” Hopefully, you all will find some comfort in them too!

Podcast #1:

What We Said  - By Chelsey Jade Curtis and Jaci Marie Smith

The “What We Said” podcast is a feel-good podcast that posts episodes discussing anything from advice columns, to the hosts Chelsey and Jaci sharing their current Fall Obsessions, and Q & A’s. My favorite episodes to listen to when it comes to their podcast is their storytime ones! They ask people like you and me to send in stories relating to that week's topic. This week they posted scary stories that listeners had sent in considering Halloween was this past weekend (10/10 recommend if you’re up for a good scare). I totally recommend this podcast to anyone looking for a good laugh. 

Podcast #2: 

Minutes of Positivity - By Alexa Nejaime

This podcast, “Minutes of Positivity,” is exactly how it sounds. The host, Alexa Nejaime, shares episodes featuring guests every Sunday. This podcast is a place you can turn to and hear stories that can oftentimes be relatable and likely inspire you. This podcast also talks a lot about mental and physical health along with navigating relationships. This podcast is extremely real and always adds a positive message to each episode. When you need some inspiration and positivity in your life, give this podcast a try.

Podcast #3:

Directionally Challenged - By Candice King and Kayla Ewell

The “Directionally Challenged” podcast is a podcast hosted by two of my favorite people to follow on social media. Both of these women are extremely influential and were actually both characters on the show, “The Vampire Diaries.” Their podcast is based on “realigning your internal compass.” Their episodes consist of many life advice columns and navigating through their 30’s. You can always expect some humor in each episode but there will also always be a lesson to be learned. 

October: National Woman's Small Business Month

In case you didn’t know, October was National Woman’s Small Business Month. To wrap up the month, I wanted to share with you several female-owned and operated small businesses recommended by the Women in Business Executive Board!

Local Businesses in the Amherst Area:

Dobra Tea: This partially woman owned tearoom in Northampton is run by a fascinating couple, Alli and Joel. After traveling around China’s tea lands for a few months, they realized that their future would entail a lot of tea making. That’s when they opened Dobra Tea in Northampton. 

Clothing and Accessories

Bold Body: If you attended our WiB meeting a couple of Mondays back, Becky the founder of Bold Body told us about her business. Bold Body sells high-quality workout sets, that also function as everyday attire. Becky’s business has an emphasis on standing out and making yourself seen, this mission is obvious through her personally designed sets.

Flowers By Franny: flower and nature-inspired handmade jewelry. Check out their Instagram here.

Fabled By Riley: If you want high-quality, classy gold jewelry this small business is for you. Find them on IG here.

Greene Is Gold: This small business sells beautiful jewelry made with elements of nature. You can find adorable lockets with little flowers and ferns inside of them. Here’s their Instagram.

Kaya Creations Co on Etsy: customizable resin pieces including hair clips, keychains, and more. Find them on Instagram here.

Moon Bloomer: Homemade dainty, mystical, edgy, sometimes astrology-inspired jewelry. Here’s their IG.

Health and Wellness

Rev’d Indoor Cycling: A woman and black-owned business cycling gym. They have locations in Burlington, Boston, Dedham, Foxboro, Hingham, MA, and Providence, RI. 

Jaded CBD: This business is striving to break down the negative stigma surrounding CBD products through focusing on how CBD can play a positive role in helping anxiety and mental health. Learn more about their business.

Peace Power Soul: Owner Paula Harvey leads online workout classes. You can find her class listings here.

Birchstone Apothecary: This south shore Massachusetts women-owned small business makes clean beauty products that are all made with local ingredients. You can find them on Instagram here.

Home

Moonbloom Loom: Homemade wall hangings. Here is their IG.

How to Wind Down After Halloweekend

By: Sophia DiFonzo

This upcoming Sunday is Halloween and so many people are excited, myself included. This weekend is best known as ‘Halloweekend’; it is a weekend that for most college students is super busy. After ‘Halloweekend’ is a good time to wind down and relax, seeing as most of us are exhausted. Here are some ways that you can relax after this weekend!

1. Take a nap

After a long weekend, sometimes the best way to relax is to take a good nap. And with most of us not getting a lot of sleep, your body will thank you for it. Close those curtains, get under the covers, and rest up. Playing music in the background can help, but, honestly, sometimes a completely quiet space is the best.

2. Watch a movie or tv show

For those who have trouble taking a nap, or maybe aren’t even all that tired, watching a good movie or a tv show is a great way to wind down. I love relaxing in my bed with some snacks and watching my newest interest, which right now is Shameless, Season 11. If you are still in the Halloween spirit and like scary movies, I definitely recommend any of the Conjuring movies! And if you’re completely done with Halloween and want something new to watch, I recommend You (Netflix), Shameless (Netflix), Dynasty (Netflix), and of course the newest season of Grey’s Anatomy (Hulu)!

3. Listen to music or a podcast

If there are some things that you have to do such as coursework, laundry, or tidying up your room, and you do not want to do it in silence, I highly recommend listening to music or a podcast. Or even if you’re just trying to relax and want to take your mind off of things, listening to something can be really helpful. If you have Apple Music or Spotify, you can search for playlists that fit your current mood, or you can create your own! There are also lots of cool podcasts to choose from on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other media outlets. 

4. Read a good book

If none of the above ways for relaxation work for you, reading a good book might be a good way to chill out. There are lots of good bookstores nearby to look at and find books, and the library on campus also has a lot of options. And if you have a kindle paperwhite, that is another option in which you can buy and read books. If you like a good thriller, or something scary, I recommend Steven King novels. 

5. Get some good food  

And after this long weekend, get some good food (or eat some yummy snacks). You can go somewhere on campus like one of the dining halls, Blue Wall, or Roots Cafe. Or you can get food delivered here from a restaurant nearby and chill in your room with some friends. Maybe even get some Insomnia Cookies.

Tips for Managing Your Money

By: Olivia Coelho

When it comes to adulting, one of the more confusing things to figure out is money. How do you budget your money? What are some basic ways you can understand your personal finances better? While I am still figuring out how to manage my own money, here is a list of some tips that have helped me understand money a little better:

*Quick disclaimer! These are solely recommendations; if some of the tips are not feasible for you for any reason, that’s totally okay! Pick and choose what works best for you :)

Consider opening a Roth IRA

While some of us already have a checking or savings account, I think it is less common to have an account where you invest your money long-term. This is where a Roth IRA account comes in.

For those who don’t know what a Roth IRA account is, it’s a form of a retirement account. A benefit of the account is that you can increase your earnings without the money in the account being taxed. 

Many of you might be thinking, isn’t it a little early to plan for retirement? It may be a long time until any of us need to worry about it, but starting an account now means you can get a head start on investing your money. Plus, once you’ve had the account for five or more years, regardless of your age, you could access the money in the account and put it towards a big purchase like a home! As long as you have a job that allows you to earn an income, you qualify for a Roth IRA account.

Figure out how to split your finances and income

Something that helps me when deciding how to spend my money is having a set amount that I want to put into each bank account. Alternatively, I have also split up my income by deciding how much money I want to spend in a given period of time and how much I want to save. 

For instance, you could aside 70% of your income towards your longer-term goals and 30% as spending money. Doing this can also help you with budgeting; if you only allow yourself to use a certain amount every week or so for spending, you will be less likely to spend more than you are comfortable with.

This is just an example, but consider creating percentages you feel are reasonable based on your income/current savings. 

Set money goals for yourself

Going along with the previous point, create money goals for yourself! Like any goal, make sure it is specific, attainable, and has a set timeline. That way, you can stay on track to complete it.

If you’ve been thinking about taking a vacation with your friends for spring break or saving for an apartment next year, you can set aside a little bit of money every month or week toward that goal. Plus, it’ll motivate you to achieve your goals quicker if you see your savings piling up.

See where you can save (student discounts, sales, etc.)

If you are anything like me, you try to save wherever you can. If that’s the case, keep an eye out for student discounts. Some stores in the area offer discounts in-store if you show your student ID, so take advantage of these when you can.

One app I recommend is UNiDAYS. When you create an account, you get access to discount codes you can use online at places like Aerie, HM, and plenty of other stores!