Cubicles to Cocktails 2020 Holiday Gift Guide
Hand-curated list of Christa’s favorite and newly obsessed
Black, Indigenous, and Latinx Woman-Owned Businesses to Support this Holiday Season
Beauty & Wellness
ChaCha Covers
Nail art for Culture Curators
ChaCha Covers creates beautiful nail decals from cultural inspirations with feminine insights. Their nail designs are non-toxic and use water based ingredient that are gentle on the nail bed. If you’ve ever complimented me on my nails, you know that I’m shameless about rocking press ons and decals.
LAMIK Beauty
Beauty is Revealed, Not Applied
LAMIK Beauty also known as Love and Makeup in Kindness was created by one of my favorite Houston womanpreneurs Kim Roxie. Kim and I both are strong believers that women of color deserve non-toxic, clean makeup options. Known for their Celebrity Brow Kit, now more than ever your eyes are your first impression to make a statement!
The Melanated Bar
where skincare meets self-care
The Melanated Bar was created to encourage women to prioritize their wellness by creating self-care routines. You will find skincare for the woman who wants healthy, glowing skin effortlessly. The Melanated Bar handcrafts natural skincare and wellness products for the woman who wants to fit “self-care” into her day; transforming the basic skincare routine into an effortless and enjoyable self-care routine. This is something I can absolutely get behind as a busy career woman who is also building this amazing community!
Opulent Hair Essentials
The Holy Grail of Hair Goals
Opulent Hair Essentials was founded on the principle that ALL hair is OPULENT. 100% vegan, plant-based hair care products. Opulent Hair Essential products are all infused with healing herbs rooted in Ayurvedic systems to combat excessive dandruff, breakage, and other conditions while nourishing the scalp and curls. I love the line of products because the ingredients are high-quality and potent, derived from nature and holistic medicine.
Range Beauty
Clean beauty for the forgotten shades
Range Beauty checks all the boxes: Vegan. Cruelty-free. Fragrance free. Talc free. Sulfates and paraben free. Black woman-Owned! I love the range *pun intended* of shades available in the botanicals-infused foundations and talc free powder. If you or your girl friend have sensitive skin, you’ll have confidence in knowing the Range Beauty line was created with the common skin conditions acne and eczema in mind.
Rooted Woman
The Rooted Woman is ethical, intentional, and radical.
Rooted Woman curates non-toxic, ethical nail polishes and treatments to promote radical self-care for women. Each polish is made in small batches and intentionally named after one-word affirmations. I love the candid conversations hosted by Rooted Woman centering around sisterhood, wellness, and gratitude.
Teas with Meaning
magic is our main ingredient
Teas with Meaning offers more than 20+ organic loose leaf tea blends perfect for creating authentic tea time experiences steeped in promoting health, intentional conversations, and moments of reflection. Each tea blend is cultivated with medicinal properties that can be used for traditional tea for sipping to holistic-lifestyle uses such as tea baths and yoni steams. Tea is something that I enjoy over coffee to gently give me an energy, immune, or detox boost.
Candles & Aromatherapy
Brookai
create your vibe
Brookai hand-poured candles are each created to inspire consistent healthy self care practices in the Black community. They use all natural soy wax, eco friendly cotton wicks, and toxin & phthalate free fragrances. Whether you are looking for a confidence boost, feeling unapologetic, or being nostalgic while binge watching shows like Living Single, these candles are perfect to set the mood!
Lucky No. Candles
Light it if you got it. Get lucky.
Lucky No. Candles are about more than good luck. Each Lucky No. Candle has a crystal and scent that corresponds to its numerological assets. Each candle is made from a soy coconut wax blend and with a wooden wick for a cleaner burn. Great candles to light up while you set intentions.
Vela Negra
A source of light REPRESENTING STRENGTH, elegance, authority, and power
Vela Negra pours their candles with black wax because black absorbs and dispels negative energies and provides new beginnings and clarity as when the light of the vela appears, the darkness is illuminated. The candles are a powerful source of protection, comfort and strength. The unique fragrances are inspired by and named after various elements of the founder’s Afro-Cuban and Guyanese heritage. I’m literally obsessed with the Motherland drip each candle offers from the fragrance to the meaning behind the name.
Lifestyle & Gifts
The Ayo Project
What you want to say but the African way
The Ayo Project is an African inspired greeting card and stationery brand that is an extension of LLULO! Each card is culturally infused to spread Ayo (joy) to members of the diaspora and beyond. I absolutely love puns and wordplay! These cards are a perfect gift for your one friend who loves to send hand written notes throughout the year.
CML Goods
Life is meant to be lived colorfully
CML Goods is on a mission to inspire the Black community to create a colorful life, on our own terms, full of things and people that bring us peace and confidence, that make us proud, and most of all make us happy! Starting with the “Live in Color” sweatshirt, CML Goods now offers unapologetically Black tees, sweatshirts, coffee cups, and other goods to not only live in color, but to also live in style.
Peach Box Co
GIFTING MADE EASY, PEACHY!
Peach Box Co focuses on removing the work and stress from gifting, so that you can focus on the celebration of the moment. Specializing in urban, luxury products each gift box is perfectly hand wrapped and sourced to be useful and timeless. Trust me, I know firsthand the stress of the holiday gifting season. Peach Box Co company’s mission is to eliminate that feeling. Sign me up!
Yo Soy Afro Latina
a celebration of a culture that is just as diverse as it is rich in pride
Yo Soy Afro Latina is a brand that celebrates the people, experiences & the culture of Afro Latinas. Their cute graphic tees to mugs and other accessories feature empowering sayings. The brand is dope and needed! Periodt! Celebrate your Afro Latina friend by gifting her something from this shop!
Jewelry & Accessories
Ben Oni Jewelry
Black women dominate our mood board
Ben Oni Jewelry is an accessory oasis proudly founded on the style philosophy that you don't have to spend a lot to look incredible. Offering affordable, fashionable finds for all women, Ben Oni specifically seeks to build up Black women, highlighting our beauty and showing appreciation for every dollar spent. You’ll be inspired by the mood board and are bound to find many precious gifts to celebrate your gal gang and yourself too!
Emijaa Jaaemil Co.
Stylishly Bold Headwear
Emijaa Jaaemil Co. is a collection of independent, versatile, edgy and classic accessories to be worn by all who love and want to stand out. All accessories are handmade and feature bold, yet simple pieces that can be layered and/or worn with other staples in your wardrobe.
Emiluna
Embracing Culture + Honoring Traditions
Emiluna was founded by sisters with a love for artisan crafts. They carry artisan made and artisan inspired pieces from various regions of Guatemala and Mexico. When you shop at Emiluna, you'll not only be supporting a small business but you'll also be supporting artisans in Latin America who's bit of culture and history is embedded in each piece.
Sunshine Made
be a light in the world
Sunshine Made jewelry features handcrafted, high-quality clay accessories. Each piece is beautiful, unique making a timeless minimalist statement. New styles are drop-released and most are only for a limited run - once they are sold, they are gone. I love mixed metals and material art. You’ll be sure to know that you gifted your friend a truly unique piece of wearable art.
Entertainment Gifts
Black Girls Wine Society Membership
where luxury meets sisterhood
The Black Girls Wine Society is a safe space where Black women are gathering around the world to indulge in the luxury of wine and sisterhood. Enjoy society events, wine tastings, meet-ups, and celebrations including the annual Yacht Party and Girlfriends Getaway. With more than 25 city chapters and a virtual members, this sisterhood is worth gifting to the wine newbie and wine enthusiast in your life.
GERROUT!
Party with Culture
GERROUT! is a fun family cultural party game. Players compete to guess African terms while learning about the amazing diverse cultures on the continent. Currently available are GERROUT! Naija and GERROUT! Ghana card decks. Think Taboo but created specifically for African culture, making it the perfect family game and gift.
Nice Things
BECAUSE YOU DESERVE THE FINER THINGS
Nice Things is a boutique-style marketplace for luxury kitchenware and dining accessories. They believe in treating yourself to the finer things in life and never feeling guilty for it…because you deserve. Their products offer luxury living through high-quality materials and timeless style - all powered by good taste, online. Their entertainment ware is gorgeous and perfect for the dinner party hostess.
Salsaology
FLAVORS AS BIG AS MEXICO
Salsaology hand-crafted sauces are inspired by the vibrant and diverse regional flavors of Mexico. They craft unique, authentic Mexican simmer sauces made from high-quality, local ingredients to bring the vibrant regional flavors of Mexico to your kitchen any night of the week.
The Sip Society
Sip First, Discover What YOu Love
The Sip believes discovering the perfect champagne should be fun, stress free and tasty! They make it easy for you to discover new wines without breaking the bank. You’ll never have to buy a bottle of champagne again without tasting it first! Celebrate your friend by gifting her luxury sparkling wines straight to her door.
Career and Business
C. Handy Law Contract Templates
Legal Advocacy for Culture Creators
C. Handy Law is a premier contract law firm for influencers and creative entrepreneurs, specializing in business, entertainment, and digital media law. Casey’s aka Contract Casey on the ‘Gram contract templates are easy to use and get the job done to protect your favorite boss lady’s growing professional brand or company.
Gleam Eyewear
Blue Light Blocking Glasses for Boss Babes
Gleam Eyewear protect your eyes with fashionable and functional anti-blue light computer glasses inspired by women in history for women who make history! Gleam's mission is to protect the vision of modern business women, so they are empowered to do what they love. And that is precisely what these glasses will do because they will reflect your biz bestie’s true style while protecting her from the digital world.
Foundation First
Take the 1st Step, Even When you don’t see the staircase
Foundation First is a digital branding agency that provides opportunities for people to set a solid foundation in life and business. Their services are affordable, making it easy for entrepreneurs and career women to receive all of their business needs in one place.
Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice by Michelle Obama
What’s your journey of becoming?
Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice is based on Michelle Obama’s bestselling memoir. The journal features an intimate and inspiring introduction by the former First Lady and more than 150 inspiring questions and quotes to help you discover—and rediscover—your story. I think the journal is gorgeous this gorgeous journal and makes the perfect gift for your friend who wants to start journaling or is already an avid journaler.
NOTIQ
Elegant. Organized. Productive.
NOTIQ is an impact-focused lifestyle brand that celebrates and empowers the ambitious woman. They design thoughtful, innovative products with high-quality sustainable materials that will inspire you to live an elegant, organized, and productive life. I love how sophisticated their personal planners, organizers, and notebooks are for career women.
Rock Career Development
The cheat code for ambitious Black and POC professionals
Rock Career Development is on the mission to increase Black and POC leadership in the workplace by giving them the competitive edge they need to succeed. The firm’s signature service signature service will support your favorite #coporatebae from the moment she starts looking for her next opportunity to after she lands the job.
Woosah: A Survival Guide for Women of Color Working in Corporate by Rahkal Shelton
keep your confidence, cool, and peace of mind
Woosah: A Survival Guide for Women of Color Working in Corporate by Rahkal Shelton is engaging and interactive resource offering advice, unfiltered stories, and exercises addressing topics such as discrimination, the salary gap, biases, toxic environments, self-worth, boundary setting, and community building. Woosah is a humorous and energetic guide is for the woman who's ready to thrive in the workplace.