2021 Holiday Gift Guides: For The Traveler

We’re so excited to be sharing the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We covered different categories from our personal picks to stocking stuffers to items for the cat lover (I know, big stretch but we love our cats).

Next up are some of our favorite gift ideas for those who love to travel.

Infinity Pillow

We always get asked about this pillow when we’re on long flights. It looks like a scarf but it’s the perfect travel pillow. Not only does it act as a neck support pillow but it can be used as a noise cancelling pillow - just wrap the pillow around your ears and neck and you have the perfect cocoon. Plus the bamboo fabric is super soft, breathable and easy to wash.

Away The Bigger Carry-On

You won't be surprised to see this on our list - we talk about this suitcase all the time. It’s THE best suitcase - Jared loves the battery pack to charge his devices while he’s on the go and Shannon loves the compression board because it allows for so many more outfits!

MZ Wallace Metro Backpack

If you've been following Tidy Nest, know that we are big MZW fans. We all swear by this backpack (even Jared) because it is full of practical features including 9 pockets, a laptop sleeve, phone pocket, key ring strap and luggage sleeve. The fabric is super lightweight and durable which is perfect for the traveler or commuter on your list.

Stackers Hanging Toiletry Bag

It’s hard to find the perfect toiletry bag but this one is pretty close. It has 3 interior pockets, elastic loops to secure products or brushes, a hanging hook to display over a shower curtain or towel rod and fabric for easy cleaning.

Silicone Travel Bottles

We like these bottles because the silicone allows for easy squeezing - so many travel containers are made with (firm) plastic and it’s nearly impossible to squeeze anything out of them. Plus for the nerds of the group, the collar around the neck of each bottle acts as a label - you can twist the collar so the name of what you’re storing shows through the window.

Away Packing Cubes

You’re either team packing cubes or team roll. We are team packing cubes and since we love everything AWAY does, we stick with their cubes. They are well made, come in great colors and offer the perfect assortment of sizes.

Foldable Hangers

Full disclosure on this one - we don’t actually own these hangers but we think they would be a unique gift. They come in a pack of 6 and fold into about 5 inches for easy storage in your suitcase.

Daily Pill Organizer

IFKYK. 

And for those of you who don’t know, this should actually be on Shannon’s favorite list because she buys them for everyone. Taking daily pills is not exciting unless they are in cute little rainbow containers. This brand also has larger sizes. 

On a productivity note, we find that having to open multiple bottles one or two times a day results in people losing interest in taking their supplements / medication. Spending a few extra minutes once a week to prep your weekly pill routine results in better habits.

Sand Cloud Lightweight Towel

This is always in Shannon’s carry-on even if she’s not going on a beach vacation. It’s been used as a travel blanket, a shawl, a picnic blanket, a sarong, even a scarf. These are great for traveling because they are lightweight, dry so much faster than regular towels and are “sand-resistant”. They are made with 100% Turkish organic cotton and get softer as you use them.

2021 Holiday Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers

We’re so excited to be sharing the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We covered different categories from our personal picks to stocking stuffers to items for the cat lover (I know, big stretch but we love our cats).

Next up are some of our favorite stocking stuffer ideas.

In our families, stockings are the most beloved part of holiday gift giving.

OSEA Vagus Nerve Oil

We all can use a little help regulating stress these days. This oil helps promote a sense of relaxation and serenity. Be sure to read how OSEA was born, it’s a great story.

LePen Multi-Color Pack

Friends, family and clients all love these pens. They write so nicely, they are not bulky and they come in a ton of fun colors. I say that they turn my to-do lists into ta-da lists. Can you see Jared’s eye roll from there?

Anima Mundi Golden Moon Milk

Anima Mundi is one of our favorite brands - the Apothecary is composed of organic, wildcrafted, and ethically grown botanicals and everything that comes out of there is heavenly. This powder includes all the best calming plants such as Ashwagandha, Reishi, Lavender, Blue Lotus, Cardamom and Vanilla. It’s perfect as a bedtime drink. Extra points for being made in Brooklyn.

Seedlip Spice Non-Alcoholic Spirits

This is a non-alcoholic replacement for traditional spirits. It’s made in England and is inspired by the remedies of 17th century apothecaries. We like the spice flavor best which includes allspice, cardamom, oak, lemon, grapefruit - and it is sugar-free!

Coola Lip Oil

Oddly, we’re not fans of the traditional chapsticks so we love this lip oil. Infused with SPF30, this oil is made with Coola’s antioxidant-rich Plant Protein complex. It feels and smells luxurious.

Farmacy Honey Savior Repair Salve

Okay, this is one of our absolute favorites because it does EVERYTHING. Use as hand moisturizer during the winter months, on cuts and burns, as lip moisturizer, as shine on your cheeks. It’s incredibly soothing and has even cured our skin rashes and eczema.

Desktop Vacuum

Gadgets are so not our thing but we do use our desktop vacuum all the time. We spend so much time at our desks and let's be honest, they can get filthy. We leave the vacuum in a desk drawer and use it when we're bored on Zoom.

Buddha Tea - Ashwagandha

You’re probably picking up on a major trend here, we love anything that helps us destress. Buddha Teas are all wonderful but we’re gifting the Ashwagandha tea this year because it’s such a powerful remedy for stress, anxiety and insomnia.

USB Powered Lighter

We received this in a Secret Santa / White Elephant gift exchange last year and at first we thought it was lame but it’s been used in our home every single day since so we had to include it.

2021 Holiday Gift Guides: The No-Plastic Home

We’re so excited to be sharing the first edition of our holiday gift guides. We covered different categories from our personal picks to stocking stuffers to items for the cat lover (I know, big stretch but we love our cats).

First up are gifts for the no-plastic home.

As we like to say, “Keep it clean. Keep it green” .

Reusable Lunch Bag Insulated Lunch Box

We’ve never been fans of lunchboxes. They are bulky (both to carry and store) and have unnecessary compartments but this one has slim handles, no interior compartments and doesn’t take up a ton of storage space. Plus there are cute patterns.

Petite Market Bag in Natural with “BE WELL”

If you’re an OG Tidy Nester, you know we LOVE this brand. These bags are super durable - they hold over 50 lbs - and have an interior coating which makes cleanup super easy. We love this petite size but check out their other sizes and customizable options. The mothers who handcraft this bag receive Fair Trade wages, annual profit dividends, and a retirement fund to help them achieve their dreams thanks to the Bangladesh Project.

*use our affiliate link to receive $20 off your order

Reusable Bee's Wrap

Once you use this plastic-wrap alternative, you’ll never want to use plastic wrap again. This is made in the USA with certified organic cotton, it’s made with responsibly sourced beeswax, certified organic plant oils, and tree resin. It’s reusable and comes in multiple sizes. They last about a year with the proper care.

Stasher Bags

This is another OG favorite of ours. They are made with food-grade silicone and safe for use in the freezer, microwave, dishwasher, boiling water, and oven up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. We use them for everything both inside and outside the kitchen.

All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate + Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve

These reusable glass bottles are a perfect alternative to single-use plastic spray bottles. The bottles are made from partially recycled glass and the non-slip silicone sleeve provides protection. Fill the bottles with your homemade cleaning solutions or use the Grove cleaning concentrates which are free from hash ingredients.

Glass Food Storage

We tend to break glass food containers more than we wish to share which is why we’re always buying glass containers with silicone protection sleeves. These containers are oven, microwave and dishwasher safe (and you don’t even have to remove the silicone sleeve)!

Bento Lunch Box

We’ve tried a lot of bento boxes (well Shannon has because she doesn’t like her food to touch), and this one has been a favorite for many years. Let’s get the boring stuff out the way - the corners are rounded so it’s super easy to clean, it’s leak-proof (for real) and dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe. Now on to the fun parts - this one comes with a divider (yay!), chopsticks and utensils that fit in the lid and a handy band to keep all the compartments together during your commute.

Swell Bottle

This isn’t groundbreaking but it’s our tried and true water bottle. It comes in a ton of fun colors and the triple-layered vacuum-insulated container keeps drinks cold or hot forever. The most important part - it fits in most vehicle cup holders (Fun fact - containers that do not fit in cup holders = one of Jared’s pet peeves).

Mesh String Shopping Bag

We were drawn to these bags because they are Tidy Nest brand colors but after testing them out there’s more to them than just the cheerful colors. They have a long handle (about 13 inches) so it makes carrying much easier. Surprisingly they can handle quite a bit of weight (about 40 lbs according to the description). They are washable and biodegradable.

,

Tidy Nest Featured Press: Bathroom Cabinet Organizers: 10 Smart Ideas for Storage (Family Handyman)

,

Bathrooms tend to be one of the top problematic spaces for our clients.

Space is limited.

Cabinets and drawers are never the right size.

Beauty products come in odd shapes and sizes.

We recently spoke with Family Handyman and shared some of our favorite organizing tips for bathrooms.

,

Tidy Nest Team: Award-Winning Professional Organizers (Bedford & New Canaan Magazine)

,

Here’s a look at our ad that was featured in the May/ June 2021 issue of Bedford & New Canaan Magazine!

“I first hired Tidy Nest to help my basement. The experience of working with them was beyond my expectation. They were meticulous, thoughtful and patient. I have since hired them for three more major projects (including my restaurant) and the results were all the same- fabulous. They gave me back my soaces in a way I could have never envisioned.”

—Rosie, New Canaan

 

FEATURED PRESS

Take a look at our press mentions in Bedford & New Canaan Magazine over the years.

,

Tidy Nest Featured Press: No Room for a Junk Drawer? Experts Recommend 3 Small-Space, Renter-Friendly Alternatives (Apartment Therapy)

,

On every job, our clients mention their dislike for their junk drawer(s) - it doesn’t close, they can’t find anything, it causes stress when they open it, etc.

We always say the first step in fixing the problem is to stop calling it a junk drawer. A junk drawer will attract….junk. So let’s call it a utility drawer instead.

Sometimes we come across situations where there’s no room for a utility drawer so we have to create an alternative. We spoke to Apartment Therapy about some of our recommendations if you’re tight on space.

 
 

Looking for more help with your utility drawers?

Check out our tips in this Apartment Therapy article:

6 Things You’re Probably Doing Wrong With Your Junk Drawer (Apartment Therapy)

,

Tidy Nest Featured Press: Spring Cleaning: Organizing Travel Gear Made Easy (Forbes)

,

The two topics we LOVE the most are organizing and travel. So you can imagine how happy we were to speak to Forbes about organizing travel gear!

products mentioned in the article:

Mesh Drawer Systems

The Container Store’s Elfa White Wide Drawer Solution

(image from The Container Store)

Weathertight Totes

The Container Store’s Weathertight Totes

(image from The Container Store)

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

, ,

Tidy Nest Featured Press: The Best Storage Bins at Every Price Point - Starting at Free! (Apartment Therapy)

, ,

We’re always asked about our favorite storage bins so when Apartment Therapy asked us to share our favorite containment at various price points, we had a lot to say!

Products mentioned in the article:

If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.

Tidy Nest Featured Press: Bedford & New Canaan Magazine Special Home Issue

Check out the Special Home issue of Bedford New Canaan Magazine.

It’s full of amazing homes and expert advice.

We’ve read it cover to cover and we’er not just saying that because we’re in it.

Take a look at our convo below with Bedford New Canaan Magazine on the importance of organizing your house before moving!

 
 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up with your email address to receive occasional Tidy Nest updates.