At Willinglee, we always wrap our gifts in hand-painted Kraft paper and tie them up with a twine bow. So when it comes to gift-giving in my personal life, sometimes I don’t feel I have the energy to wrap something so beautifully. But whenever I receive a gift that’s delightfully wrapped, I am more easily able to appreciate the time and care that went into preparing it.

What’s more fun, for example, than a paper-tablecloth-covered card table piled high with brightly-colored birthday presents, each one dawning one of those shiny bows that come pre-built? What’s sweeter than a gift wrapped effortfully by your kid, hand-drawn card included? And what’s a more nostalgic holiday sight than wrapped gifts under the tree or next to the menorah?

To help you bring back those warm and cozy feelings (while keeping things earth-friendly!), we’re here to give you 6 gift wrap ideas that will have your recipients second-guessing if they even want to tear into them at all.

Gift-giving doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions. In fact, at Willinglee, we believe it shouldn’t be. "Just because" gifts are wonderful ways to show appreciation and love for friends and family (or even co-workers and acquaintances!), no matter the reason—or lack thereof. However, understanding the preferences of different generations can help you choose gifts that truly resonate. Here’s a thoughtful guide to "just because" gifts tailored for anyone and everyone you know, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z, all across different price points.

MEEMA, maker of some of our favorite kitchen goods, was one of the select brands that we launched with in 2020. And for good reason. They take discarded denim and cotton and turn it into beautiful towels, aprons, napkins and other kitchen textiles. They live where recycling meets impeccable design meets durability. What a wonderful, and rare, place to be.

Take it from us: the earlier you wrap, the merrier your December will be. To save you from the last-minute wrapping frenzy and infuse your holiday preparations with some early festive joy, we've got just the remedy for you: a delightful holiday playlist! So, grab your tape and scissors, and let's make wrapping a celebration in itself!

You know that feeling when you finally find the perfect skincare product for yourself? After hours of lost time and hundreds of dollars down the drain? That’s how I felt when I came across Wiley Body. As someone with many skin allergies and sensitivities, I know the value of truly clean skincare. And because I found the company at a time when Alex and I were talking about building our family, Vanessa’s inspiration for starting the company spoke to me.

It’s a special Mother’s Day at Willinglee. We’re excited to announce that we’re expecting our first kiddo this Summer! Having gone through infertility challenges, we understand that not everyone has the same experience and are empathetic towards those who may be struggling with infertility or the loss of a mother or child. Whether you’re a new mom, grieving a mom, or pondering how the heck you can express your love and appreciation for the woman who always put you first, we’re here to help you gift the perfect thing.

Founded in 1992, Jonsteen committed to spreading “a message of respect for our environment, and a love of trees. They dedicated themselves to teaching about the manifold benefits that trees bring to our planet and our communities, and our lives individually and collectively.”

It’s 2023 and we’re living through a pandemic that just keeps going. Has there ever been a time when it’s more important to show ourselves some extra love and self-care? I think not. But beyond eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising, and perhaps having regular sessions with a therapist or practicing mindfulness, how can we practice self-care? Read on to see what this typical stressed-out, overworked millennial thinks about taking a beat.

While there is welcomed freedom that comes from working remote, one of the downsides is that it can be harder to be connected to your teammates. You write to on Slack and you see them in Zoom, but the lack of being in the same physical space with them regularly makes feeling connected more difficult.

Thankfully, there are a variety of ways to go above and beyond to connect with your teammates. One of the best ways to show them that you care is through a gift that can be sent to their home or delivered via email.

This gift list includes items for the home and home office, along with options for experiences so you coworker can get out and explore their city.

Hearth & Hammer is owned by husband & wife team Ariane Scholl and Andy Kenney. The goods they carry are products you’ll feel happy about purchasing—made by other small businesses and artisans. What’s more: they create their own candle line to “illuminate literature through aromatic storytelling.” The scents they create bring classics like Walden Woods and The Great Gatsby to life.

Especially throughout the last two years, with remote work and fatigue increasing, it’s more important than ever to show your employees some love. According to Indeed, “67% of all workers believe burnout has worsened over the course of the pandemic.” The WHO estimates that burnout leads to over 625 million people suffering from depression and anxiety, which can only cause frustration and poor performance at work.

But never fear! A little love goes a long way. Ensure your employees and direct reports feel taken care of by gifting them something from the heart.

In such uncertain times, with the war in Ukraine raging on and Covid surpassing year two, it was a relief and an honor to get to chat with Ben Moore, founder of sustainable snack business The Ugly Company. His get-to-work, positive attitude wore off on us as we chatted. It was impossible to leave without a smile.

The Ugly Company preaches to never judge a fruit by its cover, stating “we prevent food waste by upcycling ugly fruit and transforming it into healthy dried fruit snacks.” Their snacks are all-natural, non-GMO, and have absolutely nothing added.

When we started Willinglee under the name Little Boxes, Alex and I were initially only looking for local-to-Austin artisans. Jae Benjamin was one of our first connections, and she and her products have been a constant customer favorite since day 1.

A gift for Valentine’s Day is great, but for that special personal in your life, you’ll probably want to pair it with a date. It’s going to make the day more memorable and is almost guaranteed to score you more points! So if you’re not sure what to do this Valentine’s Day, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

I picked out 13 of the best date ideas I could think of (and find online) and presented each one to Abby to be scored on a scale from 1 to 10.