November 11, 2021Comments are off for this post.

2021 Holiday Gift Guide

2021 Holiday Gift Guide items

Gift guides. I hate them. And I love them. (Also hiiiii, it's been a long time!)

I hate them because... They often include things no one actually needs or uses. Are tchotchkes my personal version of hell? Yes, yes they are. Also, everyone seems to make so many of them this time of year, and the over-encouragement of consumption makes me a bit uncomfortable.

I love them because... They're fun to perusal. Through gift guides, I often discover new makers, small businesses & independent brands, and that makes me happy. Buying things is inevitable, so mindful shopping is an important thing to practice.

To marry my hatred and my love, I curated nine useful items I already own and love that I think would make great gifts—for you, friends, partners, family, whomever. Each of these has brought a slice of joy into my life, so if they can do the same for you, all the better.


Scarf Shop socks (Starting from $7.50): I own too many of these socks to count. They're cozy, come in the best colors, and hand-dyed in small batches here in Minnesota. Made in USA, Eco-Friendly

Susanne Kaufmann Soothing Tonic (Starting from $46): I'm, by nature, a hyperbolic person, but I'm not lying when I say I'll never again live without this product in my daily skincare life. The smell (the smell!) is so fresh & botanical, and it's super hydrating (as opposed to that Neutrogena dry-ass toner we all used in the early oughts). Woman-Owned, Sustainable

Annie Costello Brown earrings ($248): I bought these earrings almost five years ago, and still get complimented every.single.time I wear them. These are mine. Woman-Owned, Made in USA

Milk & Honey Charcoal Masque ($44): Again, I'm not being hyperbolic when I say this is the *best* face mask I've used in my 36 years of earthly existence. Your skin feels squeaky clean and is visibly brighter & tighter immediately after use. Woman-Founded, Cruelty-Free

Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Kettle ($159): I couldn't survive without my beloved electric kettle (and this tea). Because this one is so gorgeously designed, I keep it out on my counter for everyone to admire.

Striped Taper Candle ($8): A mismatching pair of these winsome candles sit in a candle holder in my living room but have never been lit because they're honestly just too cute. Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly

Angelo Negro's Unfiltered Rosso Wine ($20.99): Sometimes, the best gift is a good bottle of red. I just discovered this Italian Brachetto, and am happily imbibing its light, bright, tart taste. Organic

Blockshop Textiles bandanas ($35): I love a scarf moment, and these block-printed beauties from the L.A.-based sister team are a perfect gift however you use them—around the neck, tied on your purse, knotted into a headband, hung on the wall. I've done them all. Woman-Owned, Conscious

Good Day Shop's Curated-For-You Gift Box ($47): This has been my go-to gift for the past few years—holidays, birthdays, babies, you name it, this box. My friend Sarah owns this design-minded shop, and has an impeccable knack for knowing exactly what you want. Woman-Owned


I didn't include any gift items for kids because every year, my nieces and nephews receive money in their college savings account and a book. They get enough toys as is, and my hope is they will buy their crazy auntie booze with that money in about 14 years.

If you're lucky enough not to need anything this holiday season, may I suggest donating to your favorite charity? I love this one for women, this one for the environment, and this one for social justice.

January 3, 2020Comments are off for this post.

India

“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.” Arundhati Roy

I don’t know if I quite have the right words to explain the three weeks I spent in India even though it's been nearly three months since I returned. Words seem to elude me these days, which is perhaps why it's been a year and a half since I wrote my last post. But regardless of all that, here is my very best attempt:

India is everything at once delivered in one swift throat punch. It's the worst thing you’ve ever smelled immediately followed by the most magical and soul-affirming thing you’ve ever witnessed. It's not always easy, but I like that it doesn’t sacrifice itself for your comfort. India forces you to stretch beyond all surface distraction — the things we, with our Western lens, deem 'negative,' be it poverty, pollution, traffic, heat, smells (oh the smells!) — and recognize that humanity coexists in imperfection and the fuzzy in-between.

Sometimes, it feels like one big contradiction. But I think that's exactly the point.

Varanasi / Khajuraho / Agra / Rishikesh / Jaipur, October 2019

More photos on my Instagram: @hollisanne_

July 18, 2018Comments are off for this post.

Links I Love / 21

If you follow me on Instagram — which, for the record, is a very normal phrase to utter in 2018 — then you already know I've just returned from an epic European trip. Two weeks, one suitcase, four countries, 11 flights and one (rumored) Cypriot lady mob boss.

It all started with a too-quick weekend in London visiting two dear friends and getting hoisted on the shoulders of a muscly stranger at a Foo Fighters concert wearing a tight-ish midi dress (ladies, you understand the conundrum here). Then, my friend Dana and I ventured off to the Faroe Islands, Paris and Cyprus for a hiking-culture-beach mash-up where we met said (rumored) Cypriot lady mob boss in her taxi, which she drove around the Mediterranean island like she meant Tony Soprano-level business.

The entire trip was a refreshing break from the palpable anxiety of living in the United States at this moment in time. It's tangible, the feeling here. Nearly everyone is on edge with the current political climate (whether you voted for the old Cheeto or not), and sometimes the best way to shed the stress & worry is to literally GTFO.

PSA: running away is not the/a solution but occasionally necessary.

Because it's summer! And though I've proclaimed publicly my intention to finish this website / portfolio of mine, I'm thinking of shirking that responsibility for a bit longer to soak up these warm, berry-filled days with my full, undivided presence. This life asks — demands, if we're listening close enough — we slow down enough to experience it.

Enjoy this collection of links from around the web, and make it a lovely week. xo


The perfect beach dress.

Amazing earrings.

I need a recyclable water bottle and am thinking of buying this one, unless anyone has better recommendations?

Finished this book and onto this one.

This podcast episode is a must-listen.

My friend Megan launched her new men's styling service. Check it! (Shameless plug: I helped design it.)

Wise wisdom.

Finding peace, simplicity & rituals in Italy. A lovely piece by my friend, Emily.

The power of positive people.

The extinction of the middle child when we need them most. Middle children (like me), #FTW.

Raising my child in a doomed world. "I can’t protect my daughter from the future and I can’t even promise her a better life. All I can do is teach her: teach her how to care, how to be kind and how to live within the limits of nature’s grace. I can teach her to be tough but resilient, adaptable and prudent, because she’s going to have to struggle for what she needs. But I also need to teach her to fight for what’s right, because none of us is in this alone. I need to teach her that all things die, even her and me and her mother and the world we know, but that coming to terms with this difficult truth is the beginning of wisdom."

LOL of the week.