It’s that time again—the season of graduation ceremonies and parties. The only time of year when it’s not weird to blast Pomp and Circumstance over a loudspeaker, when it’s suddenly acceptable to wear a black robe out in public and don a funny looking hat with a tassel. To commemorate this special time of year, ABCo wants to help your grad celebrate and/or relax—whichever mode works best. Whether you’re looking to gift a recent grad or to host a small gathering for the grad’s nearest and dearest, we have some solutions for you.
With graduation gatherings on the horizon, ABCo is here to recommend a few unique choices. Young people are way more consumer savvy these days than grads of the past, and they will be impressed when you appeal to their social conscience with choices from Appalachian Botanical Co—a woman-owned company who puts both the West Virginian land and its people back to work. Whether it be for a lavender lover grad or a high school senior starting in-person college in the fall, we have something special to suggest.
“The Road to Success is Always Under Construction”
~Lily Tomlin
This road has never been bumpier during this past year, and this particular quotation has never been more true after living through all the Covid-19 turmoil. Too many high school and college grads did not experience the senior year they were expecting, and we genuinely feel for them. Everyone has needed to adjust expectations, and the stress of constant adjustment can take its toll. As such, we’ve deemed 2021 the year for grad gifts that de-stress. Honor your special grad’s milestone occasion with these thoughtful gift recommendations:
On The Road Again
Ready to embark on the world, college grads are finally able to get out, travel, and actually see beyond their dorm room walls. ABCo knows that our Lavender Travel Kit would be perfect for a summer adventurer. Each travel kit contains lavender mist (2 fl oz), lavender hand sanitizer spray (2 fl oz), organic lavender body cream (2 fl oz), and a lavender sachet. Grab this sampler pack of lavender goodies pairs, along with a dog-eared copy of On The Road, and you are good to go. Post-senior-year road trips are the stuff of youth (and bad movies), and there’s no time like the post-pandemic present to explore a new place.
Fall Is Coming
Encourage your high school grad to start the habit of a relaxing bedtime routine. Lavender is known for its calming practices (lavender’s effect on good sleep habits is featured in another ABCo blog). It’s still critical for young people to get enough sleep. Mention the soothing practice of lavender aromatherapy to help study for a test, once college starts in the fall. Yes, you may risk sounding like an old fuddy duddy talking about how important solid sleep or test-taking routines are, but you might be surprised when your grad takes this sage advice into consideration. And shocked when they tell you that you were right!
We recommend our lavender mist and advise spritzing our mist onto a pillow before bed or into the air during test-prep. Lavender mist is a substance created as a byproduct of lavender essential oil distillation called hydrosol. Hydrosol provides the same sleep promoting benefits of pure lavender essential oil, and it’s gentle enough to spray directly onto your pillow or pillowcase nightly.
A Special Recipe for Your Smart Cookie
Homemade gifts tend to be more memorable in the gift receiver’s eyes—so here’s a memorable treat honoring the special grad in your life. ABCo recommends shortbread cookies, which are quick and simple to bake and classy to serve. The recipe, courtesy of the Cool Mom Eats blog, incorporates our own lavender salt which, quick frankly, elevates any dessert. These buttery and lavenderly (that’s right, we just made up that word) baked goods pair extremely well with both coffee (if you’re more into caffeine) and champagne (if you’re more into bubbly). Guests will think you went the extra mile, when in all honesty, all you did was sprinkle some of our awesome culinary salt on top. Check out just how easy these are to whip up:
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter (1 cup), softened
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- lavender salt
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl.
- Beat in egg.
- Add flour and drizzle vanilla, mixing all ingredients until blended. I find it quickest and easiest to do this with my hands.
- Divide dough into two pieces and shape into 8-inch long logs, wrapping in plastic wrap.
- Chill for 3 to 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Cut log into 1/4 inch slices, cutting each slice in four if smaller cookies are desired. Without flattening, place on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle with lavender salt.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until barely browned around the edges.
Gotta watch them in the oven so don’t get distracted when baking. Let shortbread cool completely before serving, as they taste best when cooled.
Whether you buy or make a gift, whether you deliver it in person or through the mail— it truly is the thought that counts. We believe, though, that the thought is more memorable when lavender is involved. Your grad will too!
Congratulations to the Grads of 2020 and 2021! YOU DID IT! AND YOU DID IT DURING A PANDEMIC!
MEET THE AUTHOR / TINA TUMINELLA is a writer from Pittsburgh, PA who thinks of herself as an eater, talker, music-lover, mommy, francophile, and obsessive recycler. She bakes sweet things regularly, rides bikes and hikes with her family, and is a sucker for a pun. Her favorite product: Organic Lavender Cream