For the Outdoor Adventurer and Avid Traveler …
We just love the 50 State Bucket List Adventures scratch off card kit ($59.99) from Reach International Outfitters. Select your desired state (Georgia, of course) and get exploring. Just pick the card by city location and then scratch off the back to discover your adventure that awaits, such as riding a four-person electric railbike through Blue Ridge! (Insider tip: The majority of destinations available are in North Georgia, so perfect for planning day trips.) And once you’ve mastered the Peach State, start state hopping across the U.S.A. Be sure to use coupon code FREESHIP for free shipping on your order. reachinternationaloutfitters.com
Your loved ones will love decking the halls with these metal ornaments from RV Metal Shop from Adairsville. Each metal Hiking or Kayaking Ornament (starting at $15) is made by Brandon and Erin Spangler in Northwest Georgia and perfect for that hiker in your life. Choose Appalachian Trail, hiking, mountain biking or even tandem kayaking designs with your favorite North Georgia locale engraved. RV Metal Shop can be found on etsy.com.
And what avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast would not love a copy of Waterfalls of Georgia by local photographer Mark Oleg Ozboyd, which offers a comprehensive guide to over 700 waterfalls. The $39 book is available at local bookstores and offers more than 500 pages of 272 full color photos of gorgeous Georgia waterfalls as well as trailhead and GPS coordinates to immerse yourself in our state’s natural beauties. Order online at the gawaterfalls.com.
Do you know someone who must travel with their favorite pillow so they always have a comfortable night’s sleep? Then Check out PillowSak, a cute, convenient way to store your pillow while traveling, keeping it clean and easy to carry. Based in Springfield, Ga., PillowSak offers fun patterns for the women, men, college students and kids in your life, keeping their favorite pillow clean and portable. The PillowSaks are on average $44.99 for Standard/Queen/Soft King Pillows or $47.99 for a Firm King Pillow. They also have saks for travel pillows and wedge saks. And for the college students and athletes, they have a collection of college and sports prints to choose from. Check them out at pillowsak.com.
For your Perfect Pup and Sitting Pretty Kitty…
How about a gift for Gizmo that will not only help them be healthy but also look gorgeous in your kitchen? Check out Trot Pets’ Elevated Complete Set that revolutionizes pet dining with its premium quality slow feeder bowls. Did you know that rapid eating in dogs causes a dangerous health condition that claims the lives of thousands of pets annually? Well, the unique design of these feeding bowls promotes healthier digestion and reduces uncomfortable bloating. The set features an elevated stand to improve posture and digestion, magnetized bowls for mess-free dining, and a sleek, contemporary design available in multiple colors to seamlessly complement any home decor. And they are dishwasher safe for effortless cleaning. trotpets.com
And your kitty will feel on top of the world in heated cat beds, recommended for senior cats and those with arthritis pain and sore joints by Georgia Veterinary Associates. Your favorite pet retailers will have an array of price and style options, but if you really want to pamper your fur baby, consider the Knead Therapeutic Bed, a luxury ortho ergonomic, evenly heated, aromatherapy cat bed from kneadcats.com. It retails for $239, but holiday sales are common, and it boasts the first therapeutic cat bed for arthritis prone cats who love the self-heating natural herb bed and nano-heating technology, meaning the bed will make your kitty feeling young and frisky again.
For those Good Little Boys and Girls…
When shopping for the child in your life, why not get them a gift that promotes playing together as a family? Check out the Find Me Funzy Collection of creative books and plush animals from Georgia-based Worthwhile Pursuits. The goal of the company’s toys is to get kids off their phones and televisions and interact with their loved ones. Meet Funzy the Fox, a plush fox and corresponding book that create 7-day hide and seek family games that everyone can enjoy. Along with Fuzzy the Fox ($20), the collection includes other fun gifts like Lickey the Labrador, an educational read-a-long tickle game, and Mimic Me Maui the Monkey, a humorous monkey see, monkey do game. Join in the family fun at worthwhilepursuits.com.
It’s true, some of the best gifts with little ones are the presents you can enjoy playing together. That’s why we also just love these doodle books, two-person drawing books to enjoy with your family. There is Doodles with Mom as well as Doodles with Dad ($8.99) by the Stellar Coloring Company, or the 11-book series from Two-dle Doodle ($14.99 each) that offers more extended family options, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles as well as siblings. New this year is the Draw with Me Christmas, where the whole family can get in on the fun while celebrating the holidays. Find them on Amazon.
Speaking of fabulous books, do you know a mom and baby this year who struggled with premature birth? Then wrap up the perfect mother and child book, “Just Breath, Mama,” by local Cumming author Kari McKinnon-Herlihy who struggled through a challenging pregnancy and preterm birth of her twin boys. (Who are both strapping young men today!) She wrote this book because she wanted to “remind mamas in the NICU to ‘Just Breathe’ as she remembers all the times she forgot to and needed a reminder.” “Just Breathe Mama” can be found online at booksthatheal.org as well as amazon.com.
Now, what to get those persnickety teens? May we recommend Be-Tween skincare that will keep faces fresh and healthy for the holidays. The aim of the Be-Tween skincare line is to serve tweens who outgrew kiddie stuff, but are too early for teen acne products with all those harsh chemicals. Voila—Be-Tween Skincare was born. We love the aloe face cleansing ball, as it provides gentle and effective cleaning, while making it fun for tweens to clean their face each day. This season they have a Limited-Edition Holiday Gift Set that includes an Aloe Cleansing Ball and Aloe moisturizer for just $30. Check the skincare line out at Be-tween-care.com
For an “OOAK” Gift for the truly original friend…
Looking for a One-Of-A-Kind gift for that discerning friend who is big on style, story and sustainability? Then check out Athens-based Aloka for their beautiful blankets and coverlets in vintage kantha quilts, made of layers of saris. The unique saris are mostly cotton or silk and were handstitched in India more than 60 years ago. Their unusual beauty, material integrity and signature softness has landed these local gems in some of the coolest boutiques across the country, like Nickey Kehoe in LA and New Americana Home in Denver. These one-of-kind blankets range from $250 – $400 and can be found online at alokahome.com.
We also love this jewelry from ANTY, a fine jewelry brand founded by two sisters, Amany and Engy Afify, whose personal story is as unique as their designs. Inspired by their immigrant experience, the name ANTY means “You” in Arabic and reflects their belief that jewelry tells the story of its wearer. The sisters draw from their Egyptian heritage and global travels with their Western adopted culture to design truly one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Using 18K gold, natural diamonds and precious gemstones, you are assured the jewelry will be as unique as you are! Check out their jewelry collection, including the blue star necklace ($610) online at anty.co/.
For a truly fantastic conversation piece, consider a piece of art from Dixie Pottery in Canton. From pretty trinkets to inspirational items, the array of home décor will dazzle anyone on your list. Items on their web site at dixiepottery.com that are in stock and ready to ship include ring dishes and spoon rests as well as their unique pottery pieces available at local stores such as Elle B in Suwanee, Owl’s Nest of Blue Ridge and The Avenue in Athens.
For the Lovely Ladies…
As Cinderella proved, women love shoes. This is true, but the dirty little “not so secret” is the cuter the shoe, the crueler they are on your feet! Well, our own Sara Blakely, Atlanta-based entrepreneur of Spanx fame, is hoping to change all that with her new line, Sneex—a luxury shoe that blends the style of a traditional high heel with the performance and comfort of a sneaker. The hybrid heels, or “hy-heels,” run from $395 to $595 and feature fine napa leather and suede from Italy and Spain. They’re available in three styles (single strap, double strap and wide strap) in ten striking colorways. Maybe the stepsisters wouldn’t have been “ugly” at all if they had these comfortable shoes to wear! Get your own Cinderella her pair online at sneex.com.
We also just love these earrings from local jewelry makers that made an impression at this year’s Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park. Dress those ears with Rara Avis Objects by Dayna Marie, offering “artful adornment, with abstracted elegance.” Choose from her collection of earrings and necklaces. Check the collection out at raraavisobjects.com or follow her on Instagram.
For the Merry Gentleman…
If the man in your life is sports nut, check out these Sports Gift Baskets at Georgia Gifts & More in Tucker. You can choose a Go Braves, Go Dawgs or Go Falcons Gift Basket starting at $74.95. For example, the Go Falcon’s basket comes with Atlanta Falcon’s cooler bag, Coozie, Georgia peanuts, Dillon Peanut Brittle, Knotty’s Gourmet Pretzels, Coca Cola, Symphony Gourmet Potato Chips and Caramel Pecan Popcorn. There are additional addons to make your gift basket extra special too. Not a sports fan? Check out their Coca Cola, Spa or Build Your Own Gift Basket and choose from a slew of local favorite goodies. georgiagiftsandmore.com
What man wouldn’t love a gift from W Barrel Crafts, where they can create amazing custom gifts from authentic, seasoned whiskey barrels, like whiskey tasting platters, coasters, wall clocks and more! Email them at [email protected] for a custom gift.
For the Beloved Angels in Your Life…
Grief of losing a loved one is never more poignant than around the holidays. What truly helps the aggrieved is to thoughtfully show you care by reminding them that their angel’s love surrounds them always. This Memorial Bell Chime ($31.50) is a thoughtful gift that will bring solace all year. The 26-inch Magnolia bell chime from Woodstock Rustic comes with a heartfelt note: “May the jingling of the bell be a reminder of the love that surrounds you.” You may also add an optional remembrance necklace with your purchase. Find them at woodstockrustic.com.
And for those grieving a loss of a pet, these personalized Pet Loss Candle ($25) or Pet Memorial Planter ($19.92) from Marietta-based Gift A Moment offers a special way to honor one’s treasured pet all year long. For the candle, gift givers may choose from different dog breeds or choose the personal photo upload option. The planter honoring your cat or dog can come solo or with a succulent plant, offering easy maintenance for a new gardener. Gift A Moment can be found on etsy.com.
For the Hostess with the Mostess…
Coffee everyone? Who doesn’t love coffee in the winter months? What if you could have gourmet coffee as simple as making a mug of tea? Check out Steeped Coffee, which offers a proprietary brewing method that does not require machines or brewing equipment. The coffee comes in single-serve brew bags that are nitro-sealed to ensure a “gourmet” coffee tasting experience. Try The Lineup, Steeped’s best-selling blends for just $14.95 for an eight pack, which is the ultimate introduction to the Santa Cruz-based roaster. The pack features its signature light, medium, dark and French roasts, and is the perfect choice to find your favorite flavor. Check out their extensive flavors and gift options at steepedcoffee.com.
And please let us introduce you to Evelyn & Kate to really express your artistic spirit during the holidays. From canvas and quilted tote bags to coordinating scarves, pouches and key chains, you can find the picture perfect gift filled with florals, abstract landscapes, and Impressionist-like imagery. This gorgeous brand, known for its high-quality craftsmanship, started when childhood friends and artists Evelyn and Kate decided to design patterns from their original oil paintings to make fashion accessories and home decor products. The result is a collection of beautiful items that are visually stunning and leave a long-lasting impression. The price range for gifts begin at $20 for keychains to $200 for totes. Check out their collection online at evelynandkate.com
For the Foodie…
You have guests galore, but need help in the kitchen? Then the gift of a Wildgrain subscription is in order. I was lucky enough to receive a gift of Wildgrain last year, and wow, was it delicious! Wildgrain is passionate about delivering slow fermented breads, fresh pastas and artisan pastries directly to your door. You can take them from the freezer to the table in just 25 minutes, and they taste like they are straight from Grandma’s oven. May I highly recommend the breakfast waffles, they are AMAZING! wildgrain.com
Got a hankering for local fare with a French flair? Check out By Lady Belle’s Crumble Cobbler, delicious macarons or their fabulous “Gritscuits.” Local lady Charlette Bell is a French fusion chef whipping up yummy pastries for Atlanta-area farmers markets and numerous Georgia festivals. And luckily for the savvy shopper, also for delivery with nation-wide shipping. You can start with a 5-flavor keepsake box of macarons for $20, that mix Parisian style with Southern flavors, like peach cobbler and sweet potato pie. Or really surprise someone with a unique treat called Gritscuits, which combine French gougeres (cheese puffs) filled with Southern cheese grits. This treat comes in three flavors: smoked gouda and garlic, jalapeno cheddar sausage and Sunday Dinner (mac and cheese flavored grits with collard greens and smoked turkey). A four-count sampler starts at $19. Pick your perfect foodie delight at byladybelle.com.
The Gift that Keeps on Giving…
Bringing joy to the world, Roswell-based nonprofit Heart for Africa is dedicated to bringing HOPE to the Kingdom of Eswatini, Africa, in the areas of Hunger, Orphans, Poverty and Education. To that end, their Khutsula Artisans initiative offers training and employment to men and women across Eswatini so they may provide steady income for their families. This Christmas season, purchase a special edition Rudolph the Reindeer ornament handcrafted by these hardworking artisans for your tree, and bring little joy to your world—and theirs. Order at khutsala.com.
Great for the planet and anyone on your list…
Whether as a spa coverup, baby throw or yoga mat, local company TowelChic’s mission is to provide eco-friendly yet elegant towel options for all your needs. Whether in the bath, kitchen or outdoors, TowelChic offers authentic 100 percent Turkish cotton towels, skillfully loomed by artisans and imported directly from the Aegean region where they have been loomed for 600 years. The towels require less laundering, (saving precious water resources) and are quick drying, sand resistant, lightweight, compact and long lasting to ensure this gift will be enjoyed for years to come. Choose from beach and bath towels, robes, ponchos, throws, hair wraps and more at towelchic.com.
Who doesn’t love fresh honey? The bad news is honeybees are very important to our food chain and their population is on the decline. Help the honeybees and the honey lovers with this Adopt a Hive Honey Gift Set from Uncommon Goods. The $99 set made in Virginia includes 1/50th ownership in a hive for one year, 12 ounces of raw honey from the hives and geographically appropriate wildflower seeds to pollinate your backyard. Recipients will also receive a personalized nectarshare certificate, welcome program booklet and monthly report and video emails. Order today at uncommongoods.com.
What’s cozier than a cute pair of socks? Especially when they warm the heart too because they raise funds for Mother Nature, and people in need? Enter Conscious Step, which offers a gift that warms the feet and the heart. Choose from any noble cause that strikes your fancy, from saving cats, owls or turtles to planting trees, beating childhood cancer or fighting for human rights equality. Each sock boasts cute designs supportive of its cause, and are fair-trade and vegan certified, terry padded for comfort and made of 80 percent organic cotton, 18 percent recycled polyester and 2 percent elastalyne. And as an added bonus, a percentage of sales is donated to environmental solutions for a healthy planet. Check out the entire collection at consciousstep.com.
Gifts to honor Hurricane Helene and Milton Survivors…
Do you know someone struggling in the Southeast after the devastation of Hurricane Helene and Milton? Then wrap them in warm encouragement with the Southeast Strong Sweatshirt from Zebra Custom Apparel on Etsy.com. Available in a sweatshirt or hoodie, starting at $16.99, survivors can be comforted that they are not alone in their struggle to rebuild.
Also, be sure to check out esteemed charities like Worldvision.org U.S. Disaster Relief services, American Red Cross (redcross.org), where 90 cents each dollar raised goes to those in urgent need, and the World Central Kitchen, that provides some of the first meals hurricane survivors receive by creating Rapid Response Field Kitchens where they are needed most. Learn more at wck.org.
