I want to keep highlighting amazing makers in the US, and I feel like my Etsy links can get caught in the more mainstream shuffle. So starting a series to focus on the greatest stuff we have found. 

We may be slightly obsessed with this show in our house (especially a national treasure named Barb). It turns out, we are not the only ones, because there are so many cool and hilarious Stranger Things goodies on Etsy. How can you not feel good about a world where people are making Barb stickers? These might make fun Christmas gifts, or just cute things to look at.

from Strangeways Studios

Strangeways Studios (Utah) has all sorts of pop culture t-shirts, totes, and onesies. I love their simple contour-line designs, and they have a couple of Barba and Eleven designs I am totally in love with. It makes me laugh that they use the same waffle design for Leslie Knope and Eleven (they have so much in common). Love this store!

from Concepcion Studios

Concepcion Studios (California) makes beautiful and minimalist "retro-modern" posters, ncluding this one for Stranger Things. Plus, they aren't all that expensive, so they might make a perfect gift for the movie lover you love.

from dreamlikefilm

Dreamlikefilm (Chicago) makes vinyl stickers with great style and pop culture (mostly film) references. I love their choices for Stranger Things references too- who doesn't need an eggo sticker! This store might be a great stop for stocking stuffers.

from Wooteewoot

Wooteewoot- Has any one shirt ever contained so much truth? They have lots of cool ones.

from Big Yellow Dog Designs

Big Yellow Dog Designs (Atlanta)- The Lights with the alphabet has to be the most iconic image in the show. Making Alphabet magnets with that image? Totally genius.

from Smart Lamb Shop

Bonus- I try to feature all American shops, because I really believe that buying locally is better for the environment, but this was too cool to not include. Smart Lamb Shop recycles old VHS tapes into table lamps, and the bizarre anachronistic combination of a modern nostalgia tv show on a medium it will never actually BE on is just too good. You, my friends, are some Brazilian Winners.

Ok, there are so many cool things, so if you are interested, check these stores too- Dainty Dirtbags, Jenny's Sweet Tees, Cately Designs, The Exploding Awesome, jeddlangevin, Abbie Illustrations, Weirdo Weapons, Tokyo Electrick, and Deep Fried Art.

Want even more eco-friendly and local shopping inspiration? Check out my Giant List of Ethical and Eco-Friendly Shopping Lists. 

After mostly living way out in the country as a kid and in really cold apartment complexes as a young adult, I am still giddy excited when we have trick or treaters come to our house. Ecstatic. It is so cute to see them, and it makes me feel like we live in a real neighborhood (as opposed to the endless strip mall we lived in before).

This year, I was thinking about how we would manage trick or treating when I was hit with a lightning bolt of bougie environmentalist doom.

Halloween candy is super bad for the environment. Crap!

This happens for a number of reasons. The biggest is that candy "has" to be individually wrapped. I have spent some time thinking about this fact, and honestly, it is super depressing (we trust corporations and plastic covering more than we trust our neighbors... blech). All this individually wrapped candy creates so much plastic waste. Think about just how many candy wrappers must land in the garbage this week. It's a bummer.

Also problematic, these candy companies are often shipping their candy shockingly long distances to take advantage of cheap labor. Hershey's makes a lot of their chocolates  (including Reese's and Kitkats- try the Boyer's peanut butter cups) in Mexico now. Nestle makes their pure evil candy bars (crunch, 100 grand, etc) outside of the US as well.

I have reached the point where I just won't give these companies my money. Screw those guys, especially Nestle, because they are essentially cartoon villians. That being said, I just can't be the parent on the block that hands out toothbrushes or apples or something. I have children, and I just cannot bear to embarrass them that much.

So what is a person to do if they want to do something a little more environmentally-responsible but don't want to hand out something the kids will want to give back?

I have figured out some solutions, if only so I can go get candy without feeling crippling guilt. Honestly, none of these are perfect. If your first priority is the environment, you should probably make the treat yourself, but that only works if you know all the kids that will stop by.

But just because there isn't a perfect solution doesn't mean we all couldn't do a little bit better. All candy is not made equal, and if the company is flippant or even problematic, you can bet they also use sketchy practices in what is actually in the food (you can look at palm oil and preservatives as obvious signals of a company's values). All the choices may seem bad, but some are definitely better than others. Let's get started.

I have 13 options to hand out this year. I'll try to organize them by easiest to the most time-consuming. Because it's a few days before Halloween, let's not pretend you have time to search for the perfect candy.

Snickers (or variety bags with Snickers in them)- If you are picking something up at Target or your regular grocery store (which is how most of us do it), pick the Mars bag over the other mixes. Snickers and the rest are still made in New Jersey. You may not cut down on packaging, but at least your candy has only moved a short distance. Probably the easiest option for last minute shoppers (avoid the other chocolate bags! Trust me)
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Alright, i have taken some solid criticism about this choice and want to make sure to include it. Ill start by saying i pointed out in earlier in the post that none of these choices are perfect, but they do generally raise fewer problems as you go down the list and get to less easy to find stuff. At the same time, i wanted to point to the even slightly better options in a regular aisle, because most of us aren't going out of our way for halloween andy.

 mars chocolate, like most mainstream chocolate, is not fair trade. the enviromental and more importantly labor costs f chocolate that isn't fair trade is extremely steep, potentially ncluding child labor and slave labor. not good- if this is really important to you, check out unreal candy and bug bites (the other two chocolate choices on this list). they are both fair trade. also, check with your local chocolate shops, they can probably speak very specifically o where their coco or cacao beans come  from.

The other charge against mars is that they participated in animal testing. this was revealed back in 2007, and it was reported on until 2009. no one talks about it now, but that doesn't mean it isn't going on. if that is important to you, this may not be your pick.

So yes, mars is a mixed bag, and you may be better off picking up dum dums or blow pops, but if chocolate bags are your last minute option, i would till go with snickers over the others.

Dum Dums- This was the winner in our house this year. They are a reasonable size, and at least half of their packaging is paper and biodegradable. Plus, these little lollipops are made in the United States. Bad side, they do have chemicals in them for coloring.

M and M's- Also made by Mars, and also made in the USA. My mom's favorite, so if she comes trick or treating at your house...

Tootsie Pops, Tootsie Rolls, and Blow Pops- I am not a tootsie pop girl, but blow pops were the business when we were kids. Candy and gum in one. The packaging is not great (minus the lollipop stick, which will at least biodegrade), but they are made in the US, so

Cow Tales- They don't have especially Halloween-themed packaging, but I have never turned down candy on that account. Made in the USA.

Jelly Belly Jellybeans- Made in the US, can get individually wrapped bunch in many Halloween sections. Jelly beans are gross, but if they are your deal, no judgement for liking the grossest stuff.

Annie's Fruit Tape- Has better ingredients for the kids, is made in the US, and still comes in individual packaging so no one suspects you are a murderer.

Stickers or temporary tattoos- My son absolutely loses his mind for stickers right now. Stickers and temporary tattoos keep you out of the plastic covered candy territory without landing in toothbrush land. Still not a perfect solution, but you can find recycled stickers and domestically-made temporary tattoos. You can find cool temporary tattoos on Etsy too.

Go local! Does your local candy company make something individually wrapped? It doesn't have to be fancy or overblown, but every state in the US has at least one brand of chocolate all their own (off the top of my head, Western Seattle has 5). Stores like Daffins will have individually wrapped chocolates that will be delicious. Are they slightly smaller? No big deal! You are doing good, and the kids probably won't care in the end. Take this opportunity to check out a local candy shop.

Unreal Candy- Unlike almost anything else mentioned, these candies are fair-trade and at least actively trying to think about the environment. You can find them at some targets and whole foods, but check out their website if you want to learn more about them.

Yummy Earth Lollipops- They sell organic lollipops made in America. We have had them in the house, and honestly, they were pretty good. I don't know that the packaging is any better then anything else in that way.

Milk Chocolate Bug Bites- These fair trade chocolates, the mini version of endangered species chocolates. The chocolates are partnered with the Xerces society, so the proceeds go towards the conservation of endangered bug species. Plus, they come with bug trading cards. I love them.

Make Something- Popcorn Balls, Caramel Apples, Fudge. Unwrapped treats may be verboten, bu it might be worth trying where you live if you know most of the  people!

Enjoy your trick or treaters and I hope this helps the last minute shoppers like me! If you want more shopping inspiration, Check the Giant Lists of Shopping Lists!

I want to keep highlighting amazing makers in the US, and I feel like my Etsy links can get caught in the more mainstream shuffle. So starting a series to focus on the greatest stuff we have found. 

from Danielle V Green

Danielle V Green (New Jersey) makes brooches of cats in Halloween costumes like David Bowie, Bettie Page, Frida Kahlo, or the Little Mermaid. It sounds convoluted, and yet, when you look at them, the genius is clear from the get go. If you aren't necessarily a costume type of person but want to honor the sense of play that comes with Halloween, this is a great option. Also, if anyone is ever struggling to buy me a Christmas gift... If you love the pin idea but the cats aren't doing it for you, try Sayonara Baby, which has wonderfully disturbing Beetlejuice pins.

from Marty Magic

Marty Magic (Santa Cruz, CA) sells earrings and ear cuffs, many of which might be fun for Halloween. I love these bat cuffs the most, because they are both fun and a little bit creepy. I haven't seen them before, and getting things this memorable and unique is a big perk of Etsy.

from Callie Jewelry

Callie Jewelry (California) doesn't exclusively sell Halloween stuff, but I do love the subtlety of this skull ring. Great if you like your accessories to whisper about mortality. But not scream death, because that is just too much. It actually reminds me of the Goonies, so you know it's good.

from Delicate Industry

Delicate Industry (Sacramento, CA) sells these hilarious, unique, and completely creepy skeleton profile jewelry. These earrings look like something from a haunted mansion or out of a movie in the best way possible.

from Horribell

Horribell (Bethlehem, PA) wins my heart on sheer commitment. I feel like these work for awesome Halloween jewelry OR if you go to a heavy metal concert. I just think they look tough and and cool.You could be a soccer mom and show up to the game with a black t-shirt,jeans, and these earrings, and no one else is going to fight with you.

from Kamik

1. Kamik- We live in Seattle, so you know we need some rain boots for everyone in this house. I tried and tried to find rain boots used, and I just never tracked down ones we liked that were in the right size. It hurt, because I almost exclusively buy our kids' shoes used.

At first, it looked like we weren't going to find anything ethically or locally made, so thank goodness for Kamik. This company is family owned for over a hundred years, and most of their boots are made in Canada (or maybe the US). They take the ethics and sustainability of their boots very seriously. They make their boots with partially recycled materials, and they have zero-waste targets for their manufacturing.

And they cost the same as most of what's out there. Check Amazon. Same price range as the made in China unsustainable boots.

 My favorite part is that they offer a recycling program; you can send them your boots back once you are done with them, and they will recycle them into new boots. Come on. Dream solution to the wet feet problem. The designs could probably be simpler for toddlers, but their adult options are really chic and simple (for rubber boots). If you are thinking about buying rain boots, hunting boots, or winter boots, check them out.

2. Swanson's Nursery- We are lucky to live in a city where there are seemingly endless places to take kids or things to do. We already love Swanson's for outfitting our garden, but they actually have pretty cute (and free) seasonal stuff. On Tuesday, we met friends for the cutest miniature hay maze there. So cute. The toddlers were most impressed by the fish in their cafe, which really reminded me that sometimes exploring is the most fun for them (also, splashing the fish and getting slightly soaked).

3. Visits with Gump- My dad is here! I am in a house with a lot of boys, but everyone seems so happy. He went with the Boy and the Bub to pre-school today, and it seems like he had a great time. It's fun to have visitors come and see little pieces of our life here in Seattle, and he is such a huge help for us to get on our feet before the Boy heads back to work. At the very least, it has created the window for The Boy to make a lot of freezer meals.


4.  Maasai Necklaces- One of my new favorite projects for my art classes, these necklaces are just acrylic or tempera paint on paper plates. It's a perfect way to use the paper plates in your cupboard!

5.Trump Book Reports- Specifically, Trump Book Reports at 2-3 AM while I sit in the dark breastfeeding and eating pears. Hopefully the giggles create a positive snacking environment for the Baby Bear, and he doesn't internalize that I am a crazy person this early in life. But come on. That business is funny.

6. Schwartz Brothers Blueberry Scones- A highlight of my day, for sure, was sitting in a community college cafeteria cleaning out my email and eating their blueberry scone. A+ Washington treat. Like a thousand calories. But sometimes, when you have been up all night guffawing boobs out, you just need a treat.

I love holiday decorations. If I waste money on something, it is probably some sort of sparkly holiday-themed creature or lights. I love holiday lights. If I won the lottery, our house would be lit up for each day in a different theme. Our dining room frightened my mother on Skype today, because a small army of cats guard our table. I am not working in hyperbole here- themes just make life better.

So, now that I try to slow down our consumption as a family and buy ethical, green, and made in America stuff, I feel genuine sadness that I cannot go to Michael's and splurge on this junk. I love this junk. I don't want our house to look scary, I want it to feel fun and festive. And unabashedly cheesy.

But if my sparkly cats were made of cheap, wasteful plastic by someone who was treated badly, and then it had to travel thousands of miles using a bunch of fuel and resources, can they still be pure joy?  Because right now, they fucking bum me out. I am not sure the cats can just be fun anymore (I mean, I still love mine, but the army won't expand any time soon), but I feel like my holiday closet can continue to grow until it has to be a holiday room. You can make lots of things, so we will be trying some of our own in the next few weeks. I also love Etsy, because some stuff is adorable and some is wonderfully bizarre.

So, in case you are like me, and can't let go of kitsch while you let go of all this crappiness that comes with it, I have started looking for Halloween decorations I can still buy. Here are a few gems!

Dorky Art- You can find basically any art on Etsy. If you want Victorian silhouettes of skeletons, they have that (from Murfreesboro, Tennessee no less!) You can also get something much more subtle like this print. They have candy corn family blocks (less kidnappy than the car stickers). Hanging candy corn (this reminds me I haven't had any yet- horrible oversight) I love this wood skull garland as well. Or you can get this bat banner from Erie, PA!

from Trendy Wall Designs

Stickers and Clings- You can either buy window stickers like you are rocking an elementary school classroom or you can get all kinds of cool silhouette wall stickers on Etsy. We had bats on our previous walls, and they were pretty high impact for like 17 dollars (not sure if you can find reusablew ones though- how do you feel about year-round wall spiders?). This witch would look amazing near your stairs.

from abbeynekola

Pillow Covers- This is a relatively cheap, high impact choice that can suit lots of styles from bravely tacky to pinterest ready (white walls, wood, and slightly industrial? haven't seen that before)! You can have this chic baby one, or this awesome Mr and Mrs Frankenstein ones (that I may have bought by the time you read this). I love this simple "trick or treat" one and this spiderweb pillow.

from shopgeezlouise

Candles- I bought a beeswax skull made here in Seattle as my own Halloween decoration this year (because when you have a baby, it's time to add more fire). It is really freaking cool and made in Seattle. So be cool like me and buy some Halloween candles- here's some skulls from Indiana, a Damien Hirst number, creepy melting hand, or a random owl in a pumpkin.

from whimsy workshop

Pumpkins- Anything with a pumpkin motif can come out in September and last until Christmas decorations go up, so you get more bang for your buck.  Rustic wood ones seem to work well for all purposes, and these ones from GFT Woodworks is made of reclaimed wood! Recycle Reuse! I love this mosaic pumpkin- so pretty and it could read just a teensy bit spooky (in a good way). Fishsticks sells little ceramic jack o lanterns. You can get burlap pumpkins as well. If you want pumpkin decor, you have about a million options; search "pumpkin" on home and garden on etsy, and you get 50,000 finds. You can find exactly what you want Made in America!

from Lovebug Handmade

Wreaths- You can make a pretty classy statement with a wreath. My cousin just made fall wreaths that look absolutely amazing- we can do it too! If making wreaths isn't your jam, you can buy a pretty jack o lantern one or a simple berry wreath. I actually love this simple Boo one, or you could get the fancier one.

from Fuzziggles

Something that Doubles as a Toy- Oy, children. They really must touch everything. Rather than fight the battle all the time, you are better off to find things that also work perfectly well as toys to decorate with (and things that hang way way up). I LOVE these fuzzies by Fuzzigles. So genius and so adorable, while still being on theme as well. A candy corn worm? How have we celebrated Halloween without it? I am also obsessed with these little felt mummies, but the skeletons might be the most impressive thing I've seen all day.

Candy Holder- You don't want to be that sad person who hands out their candy from a bag (oh, you do? That probably works then). If you do want to put it in something, this is pretty cute and made in the USA! If you don't want a candy holder, you can get some on point booze holders like these ones from Mary Elizabeth Arts.

As a side note, I also really like these Halloween temporary tattoos as a candy alternative, for people who hate children. I will never be granola enough to not love candy. It's delicious, people have to deal with it. But the temporary tattoos are cute.

from Be There in Five

I also love these doormats from Be There in Five- they even give microloans to low income women starting new businesses (and their less seasonal mats are also awesome), so this seems like a great place to spend your decoration budget!

So there you have it- TONS of decoration options for the season that are made in America. I just have to stop shopping at Michael's and spend even more time on Etsy. It's a big sacrifice, but I think I can handle it.

How Far Along- 6 Weeks- we made it!

My Weight-  Down a little more. The diet is in full swing, and everyone is appropriately cranky. There are good reasons not to take treats away at the same time you take all sleep away. But we are pushing through, and at some point I will be glad. Now, I am hungry.

Baby Cuteness Rating- Getting chubbier, which is the key to all baby cuteness. I also think he is making eye contact with me more, and I swear he is smiling at me. Also, singing me lullabies. And quoting Frederick Jameson. And solving complex economic problems. I might be a little tired.

You Breastfed Where?- In a pumpkin patch, but it was in a gazebo at a picnic table... barely an accomplishment.

I also breastfed while taking an eye exam. It felt pretty badass, but it also made me appreciate our eye doctor (who is a mom, too, so she understands the dilema of a screaming baby vs a boob out).

And I am Feeling- So hungry. But otherwise, good! Still haven't had to do whole days 2 on 1, so we will see how I fare when we get there, but I am mostly happy, just starting to really feel the effects of the tired. Also, I miss chocolate. Also, noticing that I am getting very behind on life- I need to plan a birthday party, prep for visitors, a whole host of things. But right now I am absolutely living in the present, because that is most of what I can handle.

Most Bizarro Quirk of the Week- Feeling normalish? That 6 week mark is no joke, and even though I know I am a total zombie, I do feel more healed and more like myself than I have in a long time (damn baby brain got me this time). Happy to be able to sit and lift and ride down a slide holding my monster toddler.

Best Moment of the Week- Tonight, I got out of the shower, fed The Baby Bear, and he puked most of it back up. Into my hair. Which hadn't even dried from the shower yet. That has to be some kind of mom record.

Favorite Tool in my Arsenal- Noodle and Boo 2 in 1 wash. makes our kids smell so good. It's tough enough to work on our stinky toddler and gentle enough for our newborn. Plus, it is made in America! One bottle will last at lezst a year with a little one, so even if it seems more expensive than some more mainstream brands, it's a good investment.

And We are Watching- Really bad reality tv. Steampunk'd, some quiz show... The dregs of Netflix, but we may be too tired for something that requires attention or a soul.

And the Boy?- Dreading the end of paternity leave, but otherwise holding up against the lack of sleep. Making a lifetime of freezer meals this week as the simple weeks are quickly coming to an end.

Looking Forward To- My dad is coming! Excited for The Baby Bear to meet his Gump. Should be a really great week. 

from slapdashmom.com/sugar-skull-halloween-makeup-inspiration

For Face Paint

For Headpieces

from craftyladyabby.blogspot.com/

from www.pinterest.com/shiiick/day-of-the-dead/‎

from coselite.com/17-day-of-the-dead-makeup-ideas/‎

from www.pinterest.com/drg21771/dia-de-los-muertos/

from www.pinterest.com/goddess611/day-of-the-dead/‎

from weheartit.com/entry/15667743

from www.pinterest.com/harlansdaughter/dia-de-los-muertos/

from www.pinterest.com/mraquelxoxo/day-of-the-dead/

from www.pinterest.com/zveronicag/halloween-costumes/‎

from favim.com/image/62294/‎

from www.123rf.com/photo_8575201

Looking for more holiday inspiration or shopping ideas? Check my Giant List of Shopping Lists!

In case you, like me, do not enjoy being a sexy cat (or ninja turtle? That is weirdly in this year). Here are some art costumes I thought were really fun and gave me fun ideas, so maybe they can help you too!

If you want to be an Artist (for one night... career options must be available elsewhere)...

From Here

From the same place

 A magazine did a whole bunch of really sophisticated looking Halloween costumes, but mostly I just appreciate anything that puts a child in a fake beard.

from www.rentabilities.com/.../leonardo-da-vinci-child-costumes/‎

 And on that note, this is the best costume of all time. I said before that being Leonardo Da Vinci is the same as Gandlaf, but without the hat and with some sort of arty instrument. Case and point, people.

from www.flickr.com/photos/buddhataxi/5117933729/

Again, I have suddenly become very self-concious of how much I like children wearing beards. It's just funny looking! Also, Bob Ross is pretty much as classic as you can go. Not many artists have that same level of instant recognizability.

If you want to be an Art Object...

From Here

Ok, this look is pretty played out, but if you have a real devotion to pop art on holidays, I would go the bottom route. Anything with really pronounced eyebrows is a win.

From Here

From Here

From Here

From Here

This is my favorite costume of all time. Ok, I may have said that before, but this time I really mean it. Maybe if it was da Vinci dressed as the Urinal would be even better. Could you do Campbell cans as shoes and then encompass the entire history of art in one costume? You would also look like one really scary hobo.

From Here

Life comes in waves- babies, weddings, even funerals seem to happen in bunches.  Right now, we are in the midst of a toddler birthday phase of life. Even though we have a toddler, it can still be intimidating to approach buying presents for little kids- there are so many choices!

Since I have an (almost) two year old, I have some solid guesses at what will be a big hit and what may not work as well.

First, this may be hard to believe, but less is better. By two years in, most parents would probably be giddy to have you take some toys OUT of their house! We, especially as Americans, feel tremendous (but often unspoken) pressure to display our love through quantity. Want to give an amazing gift? Clearly a giant plastic thing with lights and doodads is the answer! Except, that plastic is now polluting the water and land, those lights waste electricity (they don't need them! if your kid loves lights, get them a flashlight), and those cheap, imported toys may have been made by unethical or even child labor.

We are making so many problems that these children will have to face later, not to mention teaching them habits that are unhealthy and unsustainable. You want to give a kickass gift against the grain? Think about their future too!

Here are my other tips for things to absolutely avoid if you want to get a great gift and make a better for future for the kid you love:

- Anything Too Big- That tent or giant darth vader might make a big impact on the gift table, but if it takes up a ton of room, it might be a real problem. This isn't an absolute no, but it's definitely worth checking in with the parents before you do that. If you want something big, you might try these Mondo Bloxx, which we have had so much fun with.

- Fresh Plastic- I have made a resolution in our house to avoid any fresh plastic toys. They only create waste, introduce potentially toxic chemicals into the home, and pose more problems for them in the future (I don't want my kids to be the adults from Wall-E, for goodness sakes). Don't cry for my kiddos- they still have a slide in the backyard and ramps for their car toys. They are just used! If you have your heart set on something plastic, go check out Goodwill or a kids consignment shop.

-Melissa and Doug- These con people market themselves as more wholesome and well-made than anything else in the toy section, but it is a TOTAL lie. Once upon a time, they made their toys stateside, but now they manufacture solely in China. If you want to support American businesses or buy wood toys that aren't coated in nastiness, check out this post for some of the best options.

- Too Many Characters- They are getting to that age where they love the cars from Cars or Anna and Elsa. But  months from now, they may love something totally different. Giving a character gift just puts a shelf life on whatever you are giving. Not to mention, your gift might totally blend into the pile. If they really love Thomas, check to see if the train is coming anywhere near you (yes, he is always on tour from what I can tell). Or Disney on ice tickets! Or, go another route and buy them a pack of stickers with the characters on it with a gift that has more longevity. I know I have made this mistake more than once, so I get the appeal, but if the child really loves Nemo that much, I bet he/she already has a nemo stuffed animal. Next idea!

-Stuffed Animals. Trust me, the toddler you know probably already has plenty. They take a lot of room, most serve the same basic purpose, and very few are made anywhere nearby. Now that I have kids, I would probably never go this route, because we are always fighting back the hoard. If you are going that route, check out Bears for Humanity (they donate a bear for every bear you buy, are organi, use recycled polyfill, AND employ Americans for their manufacturing) or one of the super cute stuffed things from Taraluna.

You may notice, this is a short list, but it cuts out most of the toy sections in Walmart and Target. It makes me look like quite a party pooper.

 Don't sweat it, there are actually TONS of other options that are both more memorable AND more fun. You can do this! Here are my best ideas, based on my reading about child development at this juncture and my experience as a mom.

1. Paint or Crayons

These kids have FINALLY reached the point where their first instinct with art supplies isn't to eat them. This is a big deal. Mark-making and creativity are hugely important in a toddler's life. It gives them agency, helps them explore colors and representation, and sets them up to learn letters in coming years. Markers, crayons, and paints are gifts they can come back to again and again for years.

As far as brands go, no one does better for markers and crayons than Crayola- both are made Stateside, and you can even mail the markers back to them when they die, and they will be recycled.  Many of their kids washable paints are as well. If you want something more original, you could look up "recycled crayons" on Etsy or even make your own out of the crayon nubbins in your house!

Looking for something bigger? Kids easels are one of the most common finds at Goodwill or even on Buy Nothing (that's where we got ours), so it might be easy to revamp. I couldn't find any Made in the USA, so plan ahead and jump at a good one if you see it. You could also throw in The Day the Crayons Quit or Harold and the Purple Crayon to go with the theme.

from Mulberry and June

2. A Backpack

We cleaned out and revamped a little backpack my brother and I kept crayons in when we were kids, and my son loves filling it with stuff, putting it on, and wearing it around. It's bright but simple, and he uses it a lot for play (and I bet it will start getting practical use this year. Kids this age love having their own bags, so you could revamp one of your old bags , find a toddler's backpack at Goodwill or get something new and American-made from stores like Happyluxe, Omac Packs (from Erie, PA!), Stitch Crafty 4 U,  Mulberry and June, or Weepereas (love these! So cute).

Remember, a character might seem like a great idea now, but I wouldn't go that route. The characters they love change fast sometimes.

3. Snappies, Buckles, and Buttons

This is the year many toddlers want to do things themselves, and this definitely includes clothes. Our son loves all kinds of fasteners, and "snappies, please" is said about 50 times a day in our house (he can't get them apart on his own). My husband bought him this fabric covered in snappies from the 5 an 10 Market. One of our friends even made one himself (so resourceful). A perfect car toy, and so simple.

4. Tickets

Tickets for activities may not get the big box-opening moment, but how many of those do you actually remember from when you are a kid? Instead, tickets to something special, like a train ride, the zoo, or even their first movie tickets could make a great memory, especially if you are around to do the activity with them. Toddlers can really love new experiences, even more so than toys (which they have too many of already), so think about something they love and how you can bring that to life, rather than buy them one more toy that will fade into the pile.

5. Mix CD's (or music playlists)

I know this sounds hipster or retro, but trust me, you can be a birthday hero if you save those parents from Raffi.The Bub loves to dance and sing, and we are always trying to find new songs that he will love and we will only hate a little. If you want to step it up, you could have the first letter of each song spell out the toddler's name or find a song with their name in it. It doesn't have to cost you money to be a great gift. My Grammy and cousin have made us mix cds we absolutely love.

Want to step it up? Add in a book or two about music or get some bells or musical instruments. Sure to be a hit!

6. Bath Toys

People will think of regular toys, but especially if you don't have little ones, you can forget about the awesome power of the bath toy. Our favorites are these rubber duckies, the boats and cups from Green Toys, and foam letters we got on Buy Nothing. Cups will work, as kids love to pour. I also think color tablets like these would be really fun. The biggest thing is to avoid toys where water can get stuck inside and grow mold.

7. Brooms, Shovels, Play Kitchens, or Any Household Drudgery you Hate

2 year olds really want to do what the grown ups are doing, so you can have a big hit by gifting objects you would NEVER want as a gift yourself (or the tiny toddler version). You can split this into two categories- participation play and pretend play.

Some of their early pretending is often in kitchens because they see that modeled all the time, so play food, play kitchens, play tools, play gardening sets can all really resonate based mostly on what they watch the grown ups in their lives do.

You can find so much great play food on Etsy, and if you want to get a kitchen, I highly recommend checking your Buy Nothing or Etsy first. Little Tikes does make a few in the US, but I am suspicious of that "out of US and imported parts" add on. We have this one, which is great for a growing kid, but all of the accessory toys were made in China (bummer). You are better off to find something used.

 Even cooler, check pinterest for ideas on how to make any old janky piece of furniture into an adorable play kitchen. If you have the time, you could give such an amazing gift that costs you nearly no money.

All of this is fine and good, but participation play is easily as popular in our house. You know what would be a beloved gift for my son? A broom. He loves to sweep with us, but the poor child is usually stuck with the swiffer. He currently treasures a soft measuring tape used for sewing. He LOVES it. He even loves brushing his teeth when we do, because he wants to keep in the action. He likes playing with shopping bags, packing things into spare suitcases, and carrying my weed bucket (a former bakery bucket I got off Buy Nothing) around our yard and collecting leaves. He just wants to help.

Things that would be the worst gift in the world to an adult might be the absolute coolest to a little kid. Sure, you could buy some, but you could also look around your house and ask yourself what might be cool and safe for a toddler, because their standards for cool and fun are totally different. Will the parents give you a funny look if you give their kid measuring tape or an old keyboard? Probably, but they will also get it.

Re-Play from Amazon

8. Eating Tools

We never seem to have enough plates, bowls, or silverware (partially because they get used as toys). I will absolutely swear by Re-Play stuff for kids. They sell sippy cups, bowls, plates, silverware, snack stacks, and regular cups (perfect for the bath or play kitchen). It's made of recycled food safe plastic in the US, it comes in gorgeous bright colors, and it isn't all that different in price from something made of fresh plastic. They sell Re-Play at Walmart and Target now too, so this is a perfect last minute purchase if you don't have time to poke around but you still want to be eco-friendly.

As I said, I am not bringing new plastic into this house- when I see what plastic is doing to our oceans (and I think of the problems my children will face because of it), I just can't do it. This is a great gift for a child now, but it also invests in their future by supporting post-consumer recycled products and keeping plastics out of landfills and water.

9. Clothes... One Size Up

A year before, the toddler was growing out of their clothes every few months. Now, they grow out of things... every few months. Slightly bigger basics (jeans, t-shirts, socks, simple things) may not be a hit with the bub, but their parents will love you for it. My favorite Made in America companies for basics are City Threads and American Apparel- their clothes are cute and stylish without being too expensive. Buy them basics with one fun accessory they can use now (a tutu, a dinosaur hoodie, a superhero cape), and you can please everybody.

Want bonus points? Check in with a parent and buy the kid a pair of shoes a size up. We are constantly trying to stay stocked on shoes.

There is one more trick to this, and that is to buy clothes used. If you want to spend 25 dollars on said child, you can either buy one outfit from Carter's, or you can find something equally cute in consignment and then buy 3 other things. Toddlers ruin things, with paint, dirt, all kinds of nonsense. I would rather get things from consignment than a precious outfit I can never trust him to wear. Kids consignment stores are EVERYWHERE, and if you can't find one nearby, online thrift shop Thred Up has great stuff.

10. Anything on Wheels 

Kids this size just love to move things, and wheels are almost always a favorite, regardless of gender. If you want to get all heteronormative (or they do, because even if you don't encourage these things, they creep up), you could do a car for a boy and a stroller for a girl. Or this badass pink dump truck. Green Toys again nails this category- made in the US out of recycled plastic, and they have every kind of motorized vehicle to play with. Also, animals who have been monstrously amputated to have wheels for feet.

If I had any advice, I would say go small on wheeled things; the big ones seem cool, but things that fit well in their hand get more use. And if you have to do Hot Wheels, get them used. You can find used Hot Wheel cars anywhere they sell used toys, usually for 25 cents or so. No need to buy a new one. Basically ever. There have to be enough hot wheels in the world for any kid who wants one, as long as parents donate them- don't throw them out!

 I also really love Maple Landmark's cars and train sets, so that might be a good place to start. We bought their trolley for our older son when our younger was born, and it has been a big hit.

That's the list! I hope it inspired you to think of an awesome gift! I will say, books were not included because I feel like this depends a lot on households, whether they prefer library books over owning a lot, etc. That being said, in my opinion, books are always a good idea. They love them, they build language skills, and the ones that don't go well can easily be donated to help other kids. Also picking up speed in our house is puzzles and his legos. They get as much or more return use than the cars at this point, so they are well worth considering.

Happy birthday to the little one in your life! If you want more eco-frendly shopping ideas, check out my Mega List of Shopping Lists!