Stuck on what to put in your loved one’s stocking? Here’s Solo Travel Girl’s holiday gift guide for super stocking stuffer ideas. Of course, don’t forget the orange!
Part 1 of 3: Solo Travel Girl’s 2013 Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers
Part 2 of 3: Solo Travel Girl’s 2013 Holiday Gift Guide for Tech Addicts Lovers
Who Said Print Magazines Are Passé?
The cost of magazine subscriptions seem to be at an all-time low so they make an affordable yet valuable gift especially when you’re giving something related to the gift receiver’s interest. For example, my youngest sister enjoys cooking and entertaining so I give her an annual subscription to Food & Wine magazine.
When giving or renewing a subscription I like getting the latest issue, rolling it up and tying a ribbon around it with a note about the subscription, which I usually purchase online.
Gotta Have Chocolate
Chocolate and the holidays go hand in hand and Wild Ophelia has introduced limited edition holiday chocolate bars to celebrate the festive season. Yummy flavors include Smokehouse BBQ Potato Chips and New Orleans Chili, both in 70 percent dark chocolate which means it’s some of the best chocolate for you. New for the season is the all-natural Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolate Bar which is a little crunchy with candy cane bits and zippy peppermint oil from Pacific Northwest. Peppermint bark is my favorite Christmas candy so I just adore this bar. Wild Ophelia sources items from food artisans and American farmers. Find Wild Ophelia at Walgreens, Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market and visit their website to find a store near you.
If You Can’t Send a Bottle of Wine, Send the Chiller
Last year the gift I gave to about half-a-dozen loved ones was a Corksicle Wine Chiller. Basically, it’s like an icicle attached to a cork placed in a bottle to chill it and keep it cold once opened. The gift recipients LOVED them! They have other products including the Chillsner which is the only in-bottle, drink-through beer chiller. I already purchased one for someone on my gift list.
Go Independent. Buy Local, Buy Small
There’s nothing wrong with big box retailers, in fact, I picked up some gifts from a few of those box stores already. But, there’s something special about supporting independently-owned and local businesses and they’re perfect for finding fun stocking stuffers.
A Mug for Cocoa and Iced Tea
A gift I’ve been giving for years are tumblers from Tervis which is located in my backyard of Southwest Florida. These tumblers are perfect for hot and cold beverages. It’s fun visiting their store in Osprey, Fla., where the company is based, and taking in all the different patterns and styles. If you can’t visit the store in person, shop online.
Rub-a-Dub-Dub
Another nifty small business in my backyard is Lolablue where they make groovy natural soaps, sugar scrubs, organic soy wax candles and more. Their products are paraben-free, paraffin-free, sulfate-free and phthalate-free. Their products have been featured in the MTV Music Awards swag bags and other Hollywood-type events. My postcard club members will be receiving a little something from Lolablue later this month. Visit their website if you can’t visit their North Port, Fla., location in person.
Artistic Whimsy
A favorite local shop is the Albritton Gallery in Placida, Fla. Margaret and Garry Albritton are just delightful and talented artists. I adore Garry’s whimsical art and have one of his paintings in my living room. He also makes fun and funky flamingo ornaments adorned with flashy faux jewels, guaranteed to make you smile. This year he’s been making whimsical ornaments from wine corks and during Small Business Saturday I picked some up. The Gallery hosts an art market on Saturdays. Visit their website for the market’s schedule.
Hand-Crafted Jewelry
If you don’t like or don’t have the time to shop in stores, online has made shopping a breeze. If jewelry is your thing then check out my friend Susan Estler’s page. She crafts stunning and unique jewelry anyone would love.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to maintain this blog and support my traveling habit. Opinions are my own.
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