Sometimes the commercialism of the holiday season can seem a tad overwhelming. We’ve got some Grommets that cater to the social enterprise side of you. Give gifts with meaning:

Spread The Word Michelle Hamman created a T-shirt with the word “ubuntu” printed on the front and a poetic description of its meaning on the back. And that’s how MotherTongues got its start. Her simple, fresh designs reinforce her commitment to mindful living. In addition, for every item sold, MotherTongues donates $1 to the Center for Women in Transition, an organization that helps women and children in need. ($24.99-$44.99) Buy Mother Tongues shirts with international messages of Peace here.

Out Of Africa Nondyebo (pronounced “non-dee-A-bo”) Mashiyi was a quick learner and became very proficient in the production of graphic arts and textiles. With the help of Jane Philippi, who spends several weeks every year in South Africa volunteering, our talented African designer now has a staff and a growing business. Her aprons are made from cotton canvas with acrylic paint and will brighten every corner of your kitchen. (Prices vary) Buy Nondyebo art products here.

Bag That Gives Back With the economy aching, the world weary, and the globe far from green enough, accessories with a conscience are what we need right now. JL Lane handbags fit the bill precisely. This company, started by a mother-daughter duo, is all about bringing the talents and handiwork of women in countries like Vietnam to light. They also donate 20% of their profits to PLAN, an organization that empowers women in the developing world. JL Lane embroidered beaded clutch.  ($85.00-$165.00) Buy a JL Lane handbag here.

Pickle Love Root Cellar Preserves is dedicated to bringing back the art of pickling and has established a fund from their profits to help preserve early American homesteads – what a special, and meaningful gift! ($5.99 and up) Buy Root Cellars Preserves here.

Small Loans, Big Impact. In times like this, it’s more important than ever to reach out to those in need. Kiva connects lenders with hard-working entrepreneurs from impoverished countries. Browse profiles on the site, choose who you want to lend to, learn the story of the entrepreneur and about the business he or she is creating, and then decide how much to lend. Donations can be as little as $25 and the loan cycle is typically six months to a year when the loan is then repaid. Learn more about Kiva here.

Goat Milk’s Beauty Secret Legend has it Cleopatra bathed in goat’s milk. We can understand why, now that we’ve experienced firsthand the nourishing, moisturizing power of goat’s milk and Chivas Skin Care. If you really want to take gift-giving to the next level, you can give the gift of a goat. Chivas Skin Care has partnered with The Nomad Foundation to donate a herd of goats to the Tuareg people of Niger. If you purchase this option, one goat will be donated in the recipient’s name. ($25.00 and up) Buy Chivas Skin Care here.

Cooperative Art Indika Imports has connected with various organizations or artisans around India that focus on eco-awareness and self-sustainability, as well as focusing on keeping traditional skills alive. The results are beautiful craftsmanship depicting the intrinsic link between humankind and the environment. Each appliqué is cut from a single piece of cloth, hand-stitched by three women over the course of three days to completion. ($44.00) Buy Indika Imports products here.

Celebrating Women’s Resilience Ugandan entrepreneur Amber Chand was once a refugee. Now she’s made it her mission to sell handmade items by female crafters who reside in countries beset with serious conflict. The proceeds keep these brave women in business and independent. Every gift comes with its own unique story to promote global peace and understanding. You can be an ambassador of goodwill with your first purchase. Why wait? ($25.00 and up) Buy Amber Chand’s gifts here.

Washing Away The Opium Trade.In 2002, National Public Radio (NPR) reporter Sarah Chayes started a cooperative called Arghand to make these unique soaps resembling beautiful stones polished by river water. The enterprise encourages farmers to plant crops like apricots, pomegranates, spices and herbs — instead of opium. Arghand means “triumphant” in Persian. That’s how you’ll feel when you bring them to a special holiday event. ($15.00) Buy Arghand products here.

Capelet Crusading.  Chicago native Kate Robertson fell in love with Peru when she was there with the Peace Corps – she came to know and appreciate not just the artisans and founded her business, Mayu as a way to bring hand-knit Peruvian products to a larger market.  The Mayu hooded shawl is all the rage and shows you cared enough to be creative; plus your purchase is making a difference in the lives of women in Peru. ($139) Buy the Mayu shawl here.

What are you buying for Grandma and Grandpa (or Mimi and Papa … or Grammy and Pops) this year?  The Daily Grommet has all kinds of unique ideas for the young at heart on your list — perfect for your kids to give their grandparents, and great for great-grandparents too.

The Un-Gizmo. Peek was born when wireless industry entrepreneur Amol Sarva’s pregnant wife, Ursula, wanted an easy way to keep up with email during her long walks, but didn’t want all the bells and whistles of a smartphone. (Really, who needs a cell phone/mp3 player/digital camera/microwave oven?) Sleek and stylish, the Peek is elegantly designed to do just one thing and do it very well: send and receive personal messages. Fun way for everyone to stay connected! ($59.95) Learn more about the Peek handheld mobile email device here.

The Emailman. If the notion of giving your parents or grandparents “computer 101” lessons sends you into a cold sweat, you’ll love the Presto email printer. It’s like a secure one-way mailbox (think color printer/fax hybrid), where your offline friend or relative can get inbound emails, photos, and PDFs without ever setting up an Internet connection. No spam, no junk mail, and no ads. (The emails don’t have all that techno stuff at the top either, they’ll just look like full-color letters to the recipient.) And, you can check on their ink and paper levels from afar. ($49.99). Buy the Presto email printer here.

Be Sun Smart. Coolibar makes clothes for the whole family with a UPF of 50+ (UPF is just like SPF in sunscreen, only it measures the protective power of fabric). They even figured out a way to get zinc oxide in the fabric! Apply the sunscreen, layer on a cover up, swim top, or hat from Coolibar, and you’re ready to go. (Prices vary) Buy Coolibar’s UV Sunwear here.

Rail Riders. Keep them cool outside. The RailRiders Equator HT Shirt is a hardworking shirt with built-in UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) and insect protection. It wicks away sweat and moisture, and has side vents to keep the wearer cool and breezy. Of course, it’s been road-tested by hardcore adventurers, but we think it would be a smart buy for any outdoor-loving grandparent. ($76.00) Buy Rail Riders bug and mosquito repellent clothing here.

Game Tied. Josh Bach has created the perfect souvenirs for your favorite baseball buff. His 100% silk ties feature distinctive baseball graphics, helping your favorite fan root, root, root in a subtle, elegant way. ($45.00) Buy Josh Bach baseball theme neckties here.

Your Guardian Necklace. Created by Sue and Victor Roggio, silversmiths with nearly four decades of experience, the little angel hangs on a contemporary 18” beaded chain — and packs a lot of personality into a small package. The little angel has bare toes, pointy wings and her head is tilted to one side as if she’s pondering the universe. Perfect for Grandma. ($34.00-$44.00) Buy Roggio Silversmith’s guardian angel necklace here.

Wear Your Grandchild’s Art. Everyone can have a handcrafted, one-of-a-kind piece based upon their own beloved grandchild’s imagination thanks to KiDoodles. The possibilities are nearly limitless, and Joy can forge up to three separate figures per piece. Simply submit your child’s drawing (any size, any medium, actual paper or a scan); choose from 14k gold or silver; select the product (earrings, pendant, pin, or tie tac); and in just a few weeks you’ll have your custom jewelry delivered in a gift box, ready for giving to Grandma and Grandpa. (Please allow extra time in May or December.) ($55.00 and up) Buy KiDoodles jewelry from kid’s art here.

Self-Publishing For The Sippy-Cup Set. Tikatok is a free online community where kids under thirteen can write, illustrate, publish, and print their own books. Young authors create and save works using StorySparks interactive templates. (There’s no extra software to download.) Tikatok lets kids store works-in-progress in a private account and allows them to share stories with the community in a safe, parent-moderated environment. Kids’ identities are even protected with their own nom de plume! A perfect gift for their favorite grandparent. ($25.00 and up) Learn more about Tikatok book publishing website for kids here.

Radical Bowl. Anyone who regularly cleans up after uncoordinated toddlers, careless teens, or hungry husbands will appreciate the insane genius of the CaliBowl. Its sleek, patent-pending design makes it nearly impossible to spill its contents while you’re scooping them out. CaliBowl comes in ceramic or polypropylene, a plastic polymer made from partially recycled materials, and they’re all dishwasher and microwave safe. ($13.00 and up) Buy the CaliBowl no spill salsa bowl here.

Identification To Go. Sometimes outdoor enthusiasts do meet with misadventures. That’s why helmets, elbow pads and life vests are so important, after all. But personal identification gear, such as the Road ID, is just as critical. If there’s an accident, a readily visible ID tag, complete with emergency contact information and medical needs, could make the difference between life and death. ($19.99) Buy Road ID’s ID Bracelet and ID tag here.

Make Tracks. This cleverly engineered gear, made from rubber and steel coils, slides on easily over boots, shoes, or sneakers. Yaktrax traction devices are lightweight and spikeless, but the sure footing they provide on ice and snow makes it possible to walk upright and naturally — you’ll wonder how you teetered through winter without them. ($12.99-$26.99) Buy Yaktrax ice cleats for walking on ice and snow here.

Sore No More. Called A Better Back, it’s a lumbar support pillow that can be worn like a backpack if you’re on the go, or strapped onto a chair if you’re sitting down. You can use it everyday as a gentle reminder not to slouch. The pillow comes with two thermal packs, one for the microwave and one for the freezer. So when pain flares up, you can alternate between hot and cold therapy – a proven method to relieve all types of soreness and muscle tension. ($69.00) Buy A Better Back’s back support pillow here.

Functional Art From Fallen Trees. Spencer Peterman scours the woods near his studio in Western Massachusetts looking for fallen trees, then he turns his finds into stunning bowls that celebrate the life and death of trees. His spaulted bowls are named for the natural veining, or spaulting, that occurs when wood begins to decompose. Each bowl is a one-of-a-kind creation, and we love that the wood is either found or donated. Spencer never cuts down trees, although if you have a beloved tree that has fallen, he can make it into a bowl for you. A unique and inspired gift for someone special on your list. ($26.00-$285.00) Buy Spencer Peterman’s hand carved wooden bowls here.

See more gift ideas for grandparents here.

See what unique gift idea Daily Grommet has discovered today!

Looking for to spoil someone on your list with a gourmet gift? We’re excited to share these gourmet Grommets with you! Here are a few ideas for gifts for foodies:

  Simply Splendid. All of Jeni’s treats are delivered deeply frozen, so they’re easy to ship (in packs of six or nine flavors) just in time for a decadent holiday dinner or to your favorite food-lover for an unforgettable gift. One bite and you’ll be hooked. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. ($70.00) Buy Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams gourmet ice cream here.

You Will Like it With a Goat. Like dulce de leche (a traditional caramel sauce made with cow’s milk), all of the Fat Toad caramel sauces start with milk and sugar. But here, the milk is from goats, and the sugar is organic. Choose the original flavor (simply milk and sugar), or go for coffee bean, vanilla bean, or cinnamon for an extra flavor kick. The creamy, sweet sauce tastes familiar at first, but the finish is lent a buttery complexity unlike anything we’ve ever had. ($8.95 and up) Buy Fat Toad Farm’s organic goat’s milk caramel sauce here.

A Sweet Innovation. Food lovers know honey can be a healthier alternative to sugar in your tea or coffee. These Honibe honeycomb-shaped drops contain no additives or preservatives. The drops also work great as lozenges if you’ve got a sore throat, or for a quick energy boost during workouts. Just unwrap and enjoy the sweetness. ($9.99) Buy Honibe pure honey cubes here.

Adventures In Chocolate. Hotel Chocolat is both a cocoa grower and chocolatier – your host will swoon over this delectable and sophisticated experience. Select from lovely gifts like a dipping adventures and luxurious truffles. These are truly meant to be shared! ($35 and up) Buy Hotel Chocolat’s chocolate fondue set here.

Fizz, Sparkle, and Pop. Love the fizz of a carbonated beverage but hate taking the empty ones to be recycled? We were thrilled to find SodaStream from Soda Club Group. With a touch of a button you can turn flat water effervescent. Add any of the company’s 25 flavored regular and diet syrups and you’ve got homemade soda at a fraction of the cost of store brands (and without high fructose corn syrup). It’s a great way to save time and money—and reduce your carbon footprint. This is something fun for the person who doesn’t even know they want it. ($99.95-$199.95) Buy Soda Club Sodastream carbonator to make your own soda here.

Just Your Cup Of Tea. IngenuiTEA is an all-in-one compact loose tea making device. All you need to do is boil water for a quality cup of tea. Now how easy is that for a gourmet experience? ($15.38) Buy Adagio Tea’s Ingenuitea here.

Chocolate 2.0. TCHO is decidedly different. This San Francisco-based chocolate factory was founded by a Space Shuttle technologist-turned-chocolate maker and a chocolate manufacturing veteran. They set out to make “obsessively good dark chocolate” and found Fair Trade cacao from around the world to make it with.($55.00) Buy TCHO good fair trade chocolate here.

Sweet Nostalgia. Do you remember the taste of a whoopie pie? The Whoppie by Chococoa Baking Company is fresh spin on this homespun favorite, which some say got its name because farmers would shout, “whoopie!”   A bite-sized, cream-filled cake in five flavors.These sweet treat are made with all natural ingredients. ($28.00) Buy The Whoopie here.

Enchanted Chocolate. There’s good reason for the success of Fairytale Brownies. Eileen and David insist on pure ingredients, like Callebaut Belgian chocolate blended with pure creamery butter and farm fresh eggs. You won’t find any trans fats, hydrogenated oils, preservatives or artificial colors. And their brownies are guaranteed fresh upon arrival. We’re guessing they won’t stick around for long, but if you’re the type who can avoid the temptation to immediately consume every last morsel, Fairytale Brownies will keep at room temperature for a week or longer (you can also freeze them).  ($26.95 – $39.95) Buy Fairytale Brownies here.

Brew Up Happy Holidays The beautifully packaged collection from Tea Forté includes three tasty blends: a decaf sweet orange spice, a caffeinated traditional English breakfast blend, and a decaf crimson nectar tea that steeps to a deep ruby red—a great alternative to humdrum hot cider this holiday season! ($15 and up) Buy Tea Forte’s gourmet tea gift set here.

Mixed With Love. Trying to cook up a perfect breakfast for someone in your life? MixMyGranola will throw together a custom, all-natural, 16-ounce blend according to your specifications that lets the gourmet-lover in your life know you remember they hate raisins, love Craisins, and adore all things chocolate! Just go to the site, choose a granola or muesli base, and layer in all of their favorite things. It’s that simple. ($4.99 and up) Buy MixMyGranola custom granola mix here.

Move Over, Chocolate. From the Smiling Hill Farm in Maine, you’ll discover award-winning artisanal cheeses from the Silvery Moon Creamery. These unforgettable cheeses will make an unforgettable impression on every recipient. ($40.00 and up) Buy Silvery Moon Creamery’s Maine artisanal cheese sampler here.

 Caramel-icious Confections. Like dulce la leche (a traditional caramel sauce made with cow’s milk), all of the Fat Toad caramel sauces start with milk and sugar. But here, of course, the milk is from goats and the sugar is organic. Choose the original flavor (simply milk and sugar), or go for coffee bean, vanilla bean or cinnamon for an extra flavor kick. The creamy, sweet sauce tastes familiar at first, but the finish is lent a buttery complexity unlike anything we’ve ever had. (Starting at $8.95) Buy Fat Toad Farm’s Carmel Sauce here.

Find more gourmet gift ideas here.

See what unique gift idea the Daily Grommet team has discovered today.