As shopping season approaches and store catalogs fill our mailboxes, I want to take a breath before diving in to start checking things off my shopping list. I want to take a breath and see if there are places where I can spend my money that will do more good, help my community or the great big world we live in. I am thinking of small shops, the kind that help real families pay their bills and feed their kids. Yes, I shop at Amazon and Target and T.J. Maxx, but I also try and shop small when it’s possible and when my budget allows. The list I compiled includes small shops I love and are mostly geared towards the women in your life.
Here they are, shops I love and why I love them…
Wax Buffalo
It is no secret I am a Wax Buffalo fan. I have mentioned these yummy smelling candles numerous times. These candles are hand poured in Lincoln, Nebraska and are pure soy, meaning they burn clean and won’t leave any toxins in your home. And the main reason I love them is because they smell heavenly and are made right down the road. Consider gifting one of their Christmas collection candles or one of their new winter scents this year. They make great hostess gifts or for-anyone gifts. You won’t be disappointed in these, friends. And bonus points because you are supporting a real pregnant momma and her family.
Alice and Adams
This small shop makes the sweetest dresses. They are my new go-to shop for dresses for Lily. Three things about these dresses:
- They are super twirly, perfect for your girly girl.
- The fabric is soft and there is barely a wrinkle when I hang to dry.
- Their prints and colors are always on point.
Buying these dresses supports another momma and her family. It’s a win all the way around.
Dear Mushka
Have you seen this jewelry friends? Dear Mushka is a shop with a big heart. They are family owned and their jewelry keeps God’s truth at the forefront. Each piece is rooted in God’s word and comes with a corresponding scripture card. A few favorites of mine: the Kinship necklace, the Twinkle necklace, and the Goodness earrings.
Lovewell Handlettering
Are you looking for a cute sign, ornament, card, notebook or decorative map? This is your shop. Piper creates beautiful hand lettered pieces from Lincoln, Nebraska. I own many of her signs and her notebooks are some of my favorite items to gift. This a perfect spot to find gifts for the girlfriends in your life.
Direct Sales anyone?
We all have friends who are slinging goods as a side hustle. Mary Kay, Rodan & Fields, Beautycounter, Noonday, Young Living, Sseko. Buying from people we love supports them, their families, and their business. I think it’s the perfect time of year to see if you can check some things off your list by buying from those closest to you. And if you love the products from the companies above and don’t have a rep, shoot me a message and I will connect with you with one of my girls who has a side hustle.
Books
If you’re going to shop on Amazon, why not give the gift of books? Books help support both authors and their families and give the gift of learning and enjoyment. Here are some of my favorite gift books for this Christmas season, some of them new, some of them oldies but goodies.
Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist
This book is perfect for any foodies in your life. The recipes are simple and straightforward and delicious. It is the only cookbook I keep on my counter and open weekly. I love the way Shauna uses storytelling to connect meals around the table with everyday life.
Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff by Myquillin Smith
Have a design lover on your Christmas list? This book is beautiful, insightful, and simply laid out. I have been a fan of Myquillin’s work for years and this book is both a pretty for the coffee table as well as a good read.
The Ministry of Ordinary Places: Waking Up to God’s Goodness Around You by Shannan Martin
I’ll be honest, I have not read this book. However, I have listened to so many people I respect say such good things about it. It’s on my Christmas wish list. I think this is a great book for a mom friend in the trenches of motherhood.
The Nightingale: A Novel by Kristin Hannah
If you have a fiction loving friend, this book is a no brainer. The plot is thick and hooks the reader within the first few chapters. I couldn’t put this one down and I’m not sure many people can. And the paperback is less than $12.
I reread this book this year and I am still thinking about it months later. If you have a young teen to buy for this year, I highly recommend this book. Classic.
This book is both timely, simple, and has an important message. The rhyming text engages young children and the pup illustrations are beautiful. Although it portrays some tough realities for families that might not have an earthly Dad, it points us to the truth that we all have a Father in heaven. My cousin, a mom of two with one on the way, wrote the book and I know her heart for this book is for others to know the hope of Jesus.
If you need more book ideas, check out my summer and fall book lists.
Whether you’re shopping for a sister, cousin, niece, or friend, I think there is something on this list for every woman in your life. Please share any other small shops you love in the comments.
Happy Shopping Small, friends!