I can remember the way the snow smelled. I was four years old. The snow still fell at about the rate of 900 feet a year and it started just after Halloween. (I joke, I joke) Back then, in the '80's we still had about a half dozen corner stores and an active downtown area in our tiny town of about 2500 people. Most families had one car, one job, and the dollar stretched a lot further than it does now.
The milk man still came to your house if you wanted them to. We had one grocery store in the next town over, and a couple of markets scattered about the neighborhoods. "Speers Meats", the local butcher delivered groceries in the town and we would chase him for blocks for a piece of cheese or a hunk of ring bologna.
Christmas was filled to the brim with Cabbage Patch Dolls, Smirfs, and Strawberry Shortcake dolls.
But alas, times change...or do they?
The onset of e-commerce and online shopping has driven us away from big shopping malls, but it’s actually brought us closer to smaller artisans and makers than we’ve been in 20 years.
Wanna create small town-big feels this Christmas? Start with some amazing gifts. Not the kind that come from big box stores, but the kind made with love and curated by people like me. I LOVE neat stuff. There, I said it.
Some of my most favorite pieces come from Black+Bloom. These are amazing stainless steel lunch boxes, sandwich boxes, and soup carafes. Our favorite? The Lunch Box. Has a sliding stainless steel divider that allows you to add two different items to the box. Make it even more versatile with silicone baking cups. Probably the best gift you can give to just about anyone on your list. You can shop them here.
What says small town nostalgia better than an old fashioned shaving kit complete with a safety razor? Nothing! Like other small companies, CRUX-our men’s grooming line puts special attention to detail into every thing they do. We love the stainless steel sharing mugs and the gorgeous safety razors. To top it off, theyre based here in our home state of Pennsylvania.
]]>Get their imagination going instead of the bells and whistles with our top picks for the best gifts for kids this holiday.
So whether you’re a parent fed up with too much plastic junk, or the best auntie on the planet, the kids in your life will love these gifts. (I think you will too)
First up, our selection of Sigikid soft toys. These guys are amazing. The Sweety plush toys are perfect for kids of all ages. Lions, bears, unicorns and more; in soft fabrics and faux furs. The kids that tested our selection were 3 and 5 years old and loved every single one of them.
The Beast Town collection is probably not a hands on toy for an infant but definitely hits the mark for older toddlers all the way up to grandma. Giving a toy from the beasts collection, like my personal favorite “Doc Nightmare” is certainly giving an heirloom piece that will be loved and passed down for year to come.
We LOVE Jaq Jaq Bird! These reusable chalk books keep the kids busy for hours. Long car rides. Long restaurant waits. You name it, we’ve pulled these out. The special dustless chalk makes it a no mess art project perfect for on the go. We happen to carry them in 3 different prints that will make anyone happy.
They also make a chalk mat, blank on one side and a coloring page on the other. Love LOVE love! We’re calling this one an age 3 and up toy, based on the manufacturers recommendation. The teenagers in our house can’t help themselves from drawing in them too, when we leave them unattended.
My Family Builders is a fantastic way to bring diversity to play. The magnet set is a great way to keep toddlers and preschoolers occupied and thinking. Create families of all shapes, colors, and sizes. Our kids loved to use them on a cookies sheet as a stand-alone activity, but they are also great for the refrigerator or any other magnetic surface.
My Family Builders also comes in a 32 piece block set that is completely amazing. Stack and mix and match all day long (and sometimes the kids do). The magnets hold the little people together so they can be used in the biggest block castles or little doll houses. Beware, these fun little folks may find themselves underfoot all over-in the best of ways. Our kids don’t like to ever stop playing with them!
I mean, it’s not even fair. Eco friendly crayons that are shaped like sea stones. The color is actually really vivid for being a natural dye. They are smooth writing and easy to hold. And at less than $10 for a bag, they’re the perfect size and price for every stocking on your list. My kids tested and approved, they pretty much use them every day.
So whether its soft toys, or learning games, we have you covered with our top tech-free picks in every price range.
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