There’s nothing more satisfying than giving someone the perfect gift, the kind that you are just as, if not more, excited about giving than the receiver is about, well, receiving. But what if that gift had a life beyond the confinement of its wrapping paper? What if the gift gave more than just an object, but an experience or repetitive value? The following 11 gift ideas attempt to do just that. They don’t just make great gifts—they make great stories!

11 Holiday Gifts That Keep on Giving

1. Yoga Membership

We all have that friend who wants to engage in more self-love activities, particularly yoga. Make it easier for your friend to get started by gifting her a month’s membership at the nearest yoga studio. Join her as much as you can to help her new habit stick!

2. Juicer or Blender

Nothing keeps on giving quite like a juicer or blender. Motivate someone in your life to start drinking healthier and more creatively with one (or both!) of these machines.

3. Books…Forever!

For your bibliophile friends, consider signing them up for a GiftLit subscription. Each month, the service sends age and content-appropriate books to them.

4. Drybar Membership

I can’t imagine a better gift. When blowouts became a thing, the world became a better place because of it. Gift a Drybar membership to a lucky friend or family member and she’ll always have her locks on point.

5. Skydiving

Okay, this is admittedly an aggressive gift that not everyone will enjoy receiving (raises hand), but if you have a daredevil friend who may have dropped a hint that she’d like to take the (literal) plunge, then gift her the experience of a lifetime. Just make sure she is a good friend, because skydiving can run for about $250 a pop.

6. Three-day Detox

Gift your friend a seamless escape from holiday indulgence with a foolproof re-set button: a three-day cleanse. Almost every major city has cold-press juice and raw/vegan food cleanses available. Find one fit for your friend and sign her up! This will not only make for a thoughtful gift but also motivate your friend to transform her diet for the better. My favorite service: Sakara.

7. Cooking Class

Join a local cooking class and bring your friend along for the perfect bonding (and eating) experience.

8. Singing Lessons

Okay, bear with me here. I am a strong believer that we should all practice our singing skills, even if we are admittedly terrible at it. It’s a form of expression and even if your friend is not naturally talented at it, she can at least have a lot of fun pretending for an hour. And if she’s good at it, your gift only cultivates a talent!

9. Endless Stream of Flowers

The Bouqs Co. is an e-florist that delivers “farm to table” flowers from sustainable sources on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. Starting at $32 per month, your friend can enjoy bouquet after bouquet after bouquet. Every time she admires her flowers, she’ll think of you!

10. Language Learning Software

It’s never too late to pick up a new language, but it requires commitment. Help your friend or family member get started with a language learning software.

11. Grooming Essentials

This one is for the men in your life. Bevel sells high quality razors, shaving cream, and other grooming products. You can order a Shave System Starter Kit or sign up for a $29.95 subscription for quarterly shipping of grooming products.

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Exclusive green goods shipped to you monthly.

What’s better than getting a letter in the mail? A package in the mail!

That’s why we’re very excited to announce our new partnership with Lost Crates, sending you a package of exclusive green goods monthly or quarterly. It’s like a wine of the month club except with a box of curated products, all with a conscious theme, whether it’s something that’s made from recycled materials, eliminates the need for a disposable item, or is handmade by an independent designer committed to their craft. It’s all items that you will use and love.

Think of it as a special gift from the team here at EcoSalon, sent straight to your doorstep, every month. You can keep the goods or give them away, we’ll leave that up to you, but no matter what you’ll have a nice monthly (or quarterly) surprise.

We love the concept behind Lost Crates, a company that believes in good design. They started out offering crates of notebooks, writing instruments, desk accessories, and stationery, but they soon expanded their offerings, and we’re excited to be the exclusive partner for the green themed crates. We take care of choosing products that you’ll love, and they take care of shipping and making sure your crate gets to you. A perfect combination.

That means that every month we’ll be selecting goods that get sent straight to you. What are you waiting for?

Sign up now to start receiving your exclusive crates.

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10 easy-to-make gift ideas that are way better than a tie. 

Father’s Day is just around the corner. Luckily we have a few ideas to help you celebrate your dad this Sunday.

There’s nothing like a handmade gift to show your pops that you care. Whether you’re a pro with tools or just a creative tinkerer, these DIY projects will help you construct an unforgettable Father’s Day.

1.) Keyboard Wallet: For the techie dad, transform an old circuit sheet into an geek chic wallet.

2.) Blazer Backpack: Turn Goodwill-bound threads into an unforgettable bag.

3.) Blender Lamp: Reminisce about margaritas past by the light of a repurposed blender lamp.

4.) Solar Oven: For the adventurous chef, make a solar oven for summer food fests.

5.) Wall Art: For creative types, construct memorable masterpieces from repurposed materials.

6.) Microwave Mailbox: Make mail more fun with this quirky post box made from an old microwave.

7.) Key Rack: Dad have trouble keeping track of his keys? Give him an eye-catching key holder.

8.) Car Air Freshener: Pair the key rack with a DIY scent for his hybrid.

9.) Bike Upgrades: Sew a bike bag, re-cover an old seat, or build your bicyclist dad a new ride.

10.) Drink Coasters: Make a set of personalized beer coasters for game day.

Sierra is the magazine of the Sierra Club. Our motto: Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the Planet. Follow Sierra magazine on Twitter.

Image: Blue Diamond Photography

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We recently gathered once again for a gal’s night out, something me and my friends do to honor one another when our big day bites us in the ass (I mean elates us) each year. It’s all warm and buzzy, the serious sipping of full figured red wine, the grazing of small sumptuous Spanish plates, the embarrassingly intimate inebriated birthday toasts counting the ways we count. And the climax hasn’t changed since you were ten, the oozing dessert all aglow and the presenting of pretty packages that will transmogrify into long overdue thank you notes.

While the loot does indeed get much better as we get older (did I mention the jewelry?), there is nothing I need to acquire to feel more blessed. I cherish the handcrafted cards my children make each birthday, but beyond that, I feel guilty about accumulating more stuff. If you feel the same, why not consider other options? Don’t feel pretentious suggesting to your friends that they honor you with an eco alternative. The following options take the cake!

1. OptNow Gift Cards

Instead of the Nordstrom gift cards my friends love to gift as group gifts, the OptNow option is used to support a mission to end global poverty.

2. Pack up Party

You’ve wanted to clean out the cupboards and closets for months and pack up what you don’t use to donate to a shelter or other needy recipient. Invite the group over (even a couple pals can make it a party) and have a ball rummaging and packing up your junk.

3. Take a Hike

On one of my “milestone” birthdays, I decided to do a hike rather than a chichi dinner or costly trip. It was free, amazing exercise (just ask Kendra Wilkinson) and an ideal way to reconnect with wildlife and our natural surroundings. The greatest team building gift of all: No cell phones.

4. Board Public Transit to the Farmer’s Market

You and your epicurean pals or kids can shop for locally grown, organic produce and eat some for your b-day lunch. It’s an ideal way for ladies who lunch to munch responsibly while celebrating you and supporting community growers. But don’t drive if you have access to a bus, bike or train and of course, take a basket or reusable bags.

5. Renewable Energy Sponsorships

Ditch the new laptop purchase, and instead ask for a sponsorship from the start-up company, Powered Green. It sponsors new wind turbines that make enough clean and green energy to power your old computer for seven years. Each laptop credit covers 690 kilowatt-hours of certified wind energy and stops 1030 pounds of CO2 for $16. For $28, you can buy a desktop sponsorship for 1300 kilowatt-hours of certified wind energy, ceasing 1900 pounds of emissions. Each sponsorship comes with a decal for your computer, showing off your commitment to the planet. Way to grow!

6. Group Food Bank Volunteering

My 11-year-old’s friend held her party this year at the San Francisco Food Bank where guests donned protective plastic gloves and spend a couple of hours sorting can goods and packing them up for the needy throughout the city. Why limit this to kids? It is a great idea for grown ups, too, and a way to still have fun dishing and laughing while you work, all for a great cause: Feeding hungry neighbors. Now, that’s a gift. Oh, and guests can also donate money while they are visiting.

7. Say it with Darkness

Don’t say it with diamonds. Instead, make it lights out, candles in. Let her or him create a candlelit ambiance – beeswax naturally – to show how you glow, even when adding another year to the time clock. Spend the day without any electronics if possible and then flicker away at night. Spread out on a blanket if you like and recite poetry instead of watching the tube. A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and thou beside me, singing in the wilderness. . .It’s all so very friendly.

8. Scrap It

Scrapping is in big time – no, not just the recycled steel – but also scrap books as gifts lovingly assembled using existing materials by your friends and family. You can re-purpose an old photo book to create a personal masterpiece. It is the best gift I have ever received – one large book from friends on a big birthday and a small, beautiful pink one from my daughters on a Mother’s Day.

9. Gifts from the Garden

If eco is a return to purity and simplicity, then an ideal green birthday gift would be staying home and enjoying the fruits and veggies of your husband or best friend’s labors. There is nothing like cut flowers from the garden (give it up for lilacs and dahlias) and a nurturing soup of fresh picked veggies made and grown by someone who adores you.

10. Adopt a Furry Child

Come on, a new best friend from your old best friends? It’s a win-win situation. There are too many unwanted and neglected dogs and cats waiting for homes and the SPCA can connect you to a loving shelter pet on your birthday or any day. Tip: As I found out, some gifts snore a lot louder than others!

Images: AlphaTangoBravo,Luanne Bradley, SPCA, Polkadot Creations, Aldon;  San Francisco Food Bank

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