Everyone is going to be spending more time indoors this winter than they have ever before, so we rounded up the best essentials for making all that time indoors even better!

Written by the Pack Up + Go Team

Spruce Up the Decor:

Did you know that museums have some really amazing gift shops?! And in 2020, you can visit a ton of them virtually!

For the art lover, find a unique piece that showcases their favorite piece of art:

• Art Institute of Chicago

• Philadelphia Museum of Art

• The Andy Warhol Museum

Now that we are all spending time inside, it is finally our moment to become a master plant caretaker. Help your friends to true plant parent status with a digital gift card to The Sill so they can pick out some houseplants to keep them company while they work from home!

If your friends and family aren’t the “green thumb” type, FLORABROOK has the perfect gift, a dried flower bouquet that will last forever! If you think you know dried flowers, allow this innovative company to change your mind. The gorgeous arrangements come in a variety of colors and textures to fit anyone’s home aesthetic.

2020 was the year of the puzzle. After many long hours of fitting together tiny cardboard pieces and finally completing the outdated farm scene puzzle your Aunt Lisa gave you in 8th grade, the last thing you want to do is disassemble your hard work. Now with Jiggy, you no longer have to! These beautifully designed puzzles are worth framing (seriously!) and will add pizzazz to your quarantine home base. 

Looking + Feeling our Best:

Invest in self-care with sustainable, organic products from small businesses around the US. Try out the aftershave or soothing toner from Moonflower Essence based in San Francisco, CA who hand makes all their products with amazing oils and herbs, some of which are wildly harvested! Invest in face masks and botanical soaps from a Pittsburgh, PA favorite, Una Biologicals. 

Who doesn’t like getting new clothes (trick question, everyone does)? We love NUULY - the women’s clothing subscription service that allows you to try out the trendiest pieces from brands like Anthropologie and Citizens of Humanity without committing to buying new pieces. In addition, NUULY lets you discover new-and-upcoming designers in a sustainable way. Shopping sustainably while looking cute? Sign. Us. Up. 

Coffee, Chocolates, and Wine:

Director of Marketing, Corinne, cannot speak highly enough of her versatile Yeti Tumblr, “I received my Yeti as a gift earlier this year and I have already bought four as gifts for other people. I love this thing and use it every day! It is great for keeping my coffee hot all morning and my ice water cold all afternoon. As an avid road-tripper and camper, it has been a great addition to my travel essentials.” 

Let’s add a little sweetness to the end of 2020 with the amazing small-batch chocolates from Markham & Fitz. They have chocolate bars, cookies, hot cocoa, and more delicious treats to compliment any holiday gift. If you can’t decide which amazing products to purchase, be sure to check out their selection of gift sets designed with different occasions, and flavors, in mind!

Did someone say wine? We did! This year we drank a lot of wine (can you blame us?). Winc is the perfect way to incorporate more vino into your diet *wink*. This wine box subscription service tailors four delicious wines to your taste preferences each month and offers flexible membership options so you can choose your own bottles. Cheers!

Staying Comfy, Cozy:

Let’s face it, our sweatpants are getting more work this year than they ever have before. If you’re going to buy a loved one a new piece of clothing, make sure it is something they want to live in this winter!

Pack Up + Go Travel Operations Manager, Amanda, says she has a new favorite shop this year, “I'll give a shoutout to Universal Standard (women-owned + size exclusive). I love their jeans + loungewear personally, including this super comfy nightie! They have programs like Fit Liberty (if you go up or down a size you can replace your items for free) and recycling programs, where you can send in old clothes for a credit to shop with them. I also recommend everyone sign up for their mailing list because they'll randomly send out $50 coupons. I love them.”

We’ll all be spending some extra time indoors this winter and can definitely use more comfy clothes for everyday wear. Our friends at Underbares have the bras, briefs, and tees to keep you comfortable all year round. The best part is that all their pieces are made in the USA with sustainable sourcing, recyclable packaging, and are supported by an amazing team of female creatives. Read more about their values here!

Our Director of Customer Experience, Lauren, says she has been living in her LL Bean Moccasin Slippers since the weather started to turn chilly. The superior quality materials and craftsmanship used to make these slippers have her and other users raving about their longevity. They come in men’s, kids’, and toddlers’ so you can pick this gift up for the whole family.

As it gets colder out, we hope that these fun + cozy winter essentials make staying in something you actually might look forward to!

Do you have any winter essentials worth sharing?

Let us know in the comments below! 👇