By: Laurene Sorensen, Co-op Board of Directors
When you’re flying away for the holidays, the presents you’re giving should ride in your carry-on. If you are checking a bag, put your own clothes and toiletries in it—not stuff destined for others. Remember not to gift-wrap anything. Put the liquids in containers no larger than 3 ounces, and enclose them in a single 1-quart ziplock-style bag.
What presents? The ones you haven’t bought yet? Easy peasy. There are a lot of packable presents at the Co-op. Here are my picks:
Books: “The Kitchen Companion” (Chronicle Books) is a compendium of formulas, lists, and basic recipes. It’s a good gift for people who get their recipes from the internet rather than from cookbooks, and need quick reference tables.
Fragrance: Ahndja perfume is a rosy accord scent that works for day or evening and comes in a slender 1 ml. roller.
Candles: Big Dipper’s Meadow travel candle comes in a pretty little can and will remind you of spring on the Palouse.
Gizmos: The Full Circle Pan Scraper Duo has one tool for nonstick pans and one for all the rest. The edges are irregular in shape so they can work on a variety of stains. These are good for backpackers (leave one at home) and someone with limited kitchen storage.
Architec’s Hot Grip is a green silicone oval with many potential roles: potholder, trivet, jar opener, cat dish stabilizer, deadbolt jammer, etc. You can also use it to change a hot light bulb in a hurry.
Notebooks: Decomposition Books.
Skincare: Reusable face flannels from Slow North replace single-use cotton balls or pads.
Soap: Orchard Farms bar soap is made right here in Moscow and comes featuring elegant whorls and color fields that go all the way through each bar.
Socks: Solmate Socks are subtly, strategically unmatched. Highly saturated colors make them relatively easy to find when you are sorting laundry.
Toys: Knitted finger puppets (in the baby care area). They look like tiny little socks with heads but are easier to wear.
Uncategorized: Orchestra Provisions’ cricket spice powders. They come in pretty little cans, too.
Utensils: To-Go Ware bamboo utensil sets are also good gifts for backpackers (and commuters), They are really light and sturdy. Never eat off plastic again.
