DIY Homemade Hot Chocolate Gift Basket

One of the things on my holiday to do list this year is make a batch of gift baskets to have on hand and ready to give to friends, neighbors, teachers, co-workers and hostesses, as the need arises. I feel like every year I'm scrambling at the last minute to come up with cute and clever ideas for little gifts for all those people that we love, appreciate and want to thank with a sweet little gift. My initial idea was to put together a basket full of homemade fruit spreads and jams that I made over the summer from all our Eckert's fruit picking adventures (spiced blackberry honey jam, peach salsa, strawberry preserves and apple butter) with a loaf of freshly baked bread or some muffins. I mean, how amazing would that have been, right? But, alas, when I went to check my stock of canned jams, I realized that we (the kids!) ate nearly everything I made this year already! Reminder for next year to double up on all picked fruit! 

My next idea was to make something a little more "holiday" appropriate, so I decided to go with a homemade hot chocolate basket. Homemade hot chocolate mix is stupidly easy to whip up and throw in a cute Mason jar with a printable lid label and direction tag (both of which I've included below). But mainly, I've been really excited to make my own homemade marshmallows! This has been on my baking bucket list for a while now and I was stunned by how easy they were to make and tasted even more delicious than I expected. And since I had some chocolates and candies leftover from another project, I decided to make a few chocolate candy coated spoons to dunk into your hot chocolate to give it an extra little kick. Add a few pretty paper straws and some candy canes, throw it all in a box/basket and voila! You've got the perfect gift for everyone on your list! 

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Let's start with the main ingredient, shall we? Homemade hot chocolate mix is comprised of 4 simple ingredients (powdered sugar, cocoa powder, dry milk and salt) and all you have to do is mix them together. It literally couldn't be any easier! Once everything is incorporated together, spoon out enough mix to fill a jar. The recipe below will fill 3 pint sized Mason jars - I used the ones with handles, so they'd double as a mug for the recipient. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup dry milk
• 1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.
2. To make hot chocolate, mix 1/2 cup hot chocolate powder into 1 mason mug of hot water. Add marshmallows (and any other fun toppings or fixings) and enjoy!

Once your mugs are filled, free free to use these free printable lid labels and attach a direction tag. I've included links to both below. I printed the tags on kraft paper and tied the them on with some red baker's twine, but any ribbon would work. 

{CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLE HOLIDAY MASON JAR LID LABELS}

{CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLE HOMEMADE 

HOT CHOCOLATE MIX DIRECTION TAGS}

Homemade Vanilla Bean Marshmallows

While the hot chocolate mix might be the main ingredient in this gift basket, these homemade vanilla bean marshmallows are going to steal the show! They are UNREAL. So light and fluffy. So creamy and melty and amazing. If you've never had homemade marshmallows, you are missing out! They are super easy to make, I promise. And you'll never go back to store-bought again! 

First up, mix your gelatin with cold water in the bowl of your standing mixer. Let sit to solidify while you bring your sugar, corn syrup, salt and water to a boil on the stove. Make sure you have a candy thermometer (I have this one - it's cheap and works like a charm) and get your melted mixture up to 240 degrees. This is important and it takes a bit longer than I would have boiled it had I not been using my thermometer. And by bit, I mean a couple minutes. This whole process is pretty quick (less than 10 minutes). 

Once your syrup mixture is sufficiently HOT, add it to the gelatin mixture in the mixing bowl and whip on high for about 15 minutes until the mixture is very thick. At the very end, stop your machine and add your vanilla bean paste. You can use regular vanilla extract, but vanilla bean paste will give this a much richer, stronger vanilla flavor and you'll be able to see those awesome little specks of vanilla bean in the marshmallow. If you can, warm the vanilla bean paste (or extract) up a bit so it melts into the marshmallow mixture easier (and doesn't make it separate). Mix for another minute or two until completely incorporated. 

While all this mixing is going on, line a pan with plastic wrap, spray it with non-stick cooking spray and dust the whole thing with a heavy coating of powdered sugar. This mixture is STICKY like you wouldn't believe, so be sure to coat everything nook and cranny thoroughly. Smooth the top of the mixture and dust the whole thing with more powdered sugar. Store uncovered in a cool dry place overnight. 

Once you're ready, turn the mixture out onto a cutting board covered in (you guessed it) powdered sugar and cut into 1 inch wide strips (using a knife or a pizza cutter!). Then cut your strips into squares. Roll the sides in powdered sugar to prevent sticking and store in an airtight container. 

Ingredients:

• 3 envelopes unflavored gelatin 
• 1 c. cold water, divided 
• 1 1/2 c. granulated sugar 
• 1 c. light corn syrup 
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 
• 2 T. vanilla bean paste
• 2 cups powdered sugar, for dusting 

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Allow to sit while you prepare the sugar syrup.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup cold water. Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Raise heat to high and cook until the sugar syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.
3. Remove sugar syrup from the heat. With the mixer on low speed and fitted with the whisk attachment, slowly pour sugar syrup into the gelatin. Turn mixer up to high speed and whip until very thick, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla bean paste (warmed) and mix thoroughly. 
4. Line the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13" glass baking dish with plastic wrap. Spray plastic wrap with non­-stick cooking spray and dust generously with powdered sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan, smooth the top, and dust top with more powdered sugar.
5. Allow marshmallows to stand uncovered overnight to dry. 
6. Turn marshmallows out onto a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut marshmallow into 1­ inch wide strips. Cut strips into 1­ inch squares. Roll cut sides in powdered sugar. 
7. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 or 4 days. If marshmallows become sticky, remove the container lid for a bit to allow marshmallows to dry.

Chocolate Dipped Spoons

My last homemade addition to the hot chocolate basket was a trio of chocolate dipped spoons, topped with Ande's mints, white chocolate chips and mini cinnamon chips. Again, this is super easy. I started with these wooden spoons and dipped them into melted milk chocolate. Once they solidified a little bit, I sprinkled the toppings on and let them harden in the fridge overnight. Each hot chocolate box contained one bag of a variety pack of chocolate dipped spoons. Other amazing variations would be butterscotch chips, peppermints, salted caramel, coconut, peanut butter chips, sprinkles, etc. 

Assembling your gift basket

When that was all said and done, I threw it all together into the cutest little hot chocolate kit you ever did see. I added a few red striped straws, some candy canes for dipping/stirring and tied a pretty bow around a little wooden fruit basket. You could use any basket, bin, crate or bag you wanted. I just so happened to have a few of these wooden baskets on hand and they made the perfect size container for 2 jars of hot chocolate and all the fixings. Although, you could probably go even smaller and just gift one jar of mix, with the toppings (I think that'd be plenty). 

I'm joining forces today with a few other bloggers to bring you a variety of fun, cute and clever gift basket ideas for the holidays. If hot chocolate and/or baking isn't your thing, be sure to check out some of the other ideas (for beer lovers, crafty kids, the perfect hostess or your best friend). 

Hostess Gift Basket - I Love You More Than Carrots

Craft Beer Gift Basket - Ellie & Addie

Coffee Lovers Gift Basket - Chasin' Mason

DIY Money Tree - Seeing All Sides

Homemade Hot Chocolate Gift Basket - Running From The Law 

Champagne Gift Basket - East Coast Chic

Spa Day Gift Basket - Secrets of a Stay At Home Mom

Kid Craft Gift Basket - The Adventure Starts Here

{Pin for later}

Hopefully none of my co-workers, neighbors or Mac's teachers read this blog, because I made 10 of these little baskets and they're all getting one! (If you read this and get one, please just pretend to be surprised). 

Do you like giving (or receiving) gift baskets?

Back-To-School Basics

Well, it's that time of year again...back-to-school! My social media feeds are filled with the smiling faces of backpack-laden kids and tots getting ready for their first day of school. Moms across the country are simultaneously shedding tears and popping champagne! (or is that just me?) I love summer, but I'm not going to lie...these last few weeks have been incredibly hard. Mac has been a holy terror (even more so than usual) - he's been pushing the boundaries, back talking and harassing Mim like it's his full-time job. He's become a pro at pushing my buttons and seeing just how far he can go before he lands himself in time out (for the 600th time that day). His camps are over and these last couple weeks of unstructured days have taken their toll on him (and us). He needs to get back on a set schedule, back in the classroom and back around kids his own age. (Mim needs a break). We are ready! 

That being said, we still have three more weeks before school starts for us. In the meantime, I've been stocking up on all the essentials for him to have at school and at home and looking for the perfect gifts to give his teachers to butter them up (or just profusely apologize) for him. There are so many adorable items for kids, teachers and classrooms these days. Here are a few of my favorites.

Wildkin Dinomite Lunch Box - Mac had to take a lunch to swim camp over the summer, so I got him this adorable dinosaur lunch box from Wildkin. They have all kinds of cute colorful prints for boys and girls with coordinating backpacks. They're insulated, roomy (but not huge) and easy for little ones to get into. 

North Face Mossbud Swirl Jacket (girls) - I'm obsessed with this gorgeous reversible jacket for girls. It's a pretty ice green water-resistant puffy coat on one side or a soft grey fleece on the other. If I can find this in adult, Mim and I may be sporting these matching jackets this winter. 

Super States of America Map Print - I love this colorful print of the U.S.A. from Minted. This would look great hanging in your child's playroom or homework station. Or it would make an awesome teacher's gift for the classroom. 

French Bull Plaid Backpack - There are so many great backpack options for kids right now. Everything from trendy and fun to superhero or character. I'm a big fan of simple and colorful, so I love this plaid backpack from French Bull. It's small enough for a preschooler to carry, but will also work for kids up to age 10.

Work Hard & Be Nice Print - I love this simple print from Minted. This would make a great teacher's gift or serve as a nice little reminder in an office or playroom. 

North Face Glacier Zip Hoodie (boys) - North Face makes the best kid's fleece jackets and this one is really cute for toddler boy. I love the hood and the soft fleece inside. Fully reversible and machine washable (a must for kids that are as messy as mine).

KicKee Pants Pajamas - It's super important right now to make sure your kids are getting enough sleep so that they can concentrate in school. KicKee Pants are above and beyond our favorite brand of kids pajamas. KicKee is made from bamboo and is the absolute softest material. It comes in a million different prints, patterns and colors, and a variety of styles (2-piece, footies, coveralls, etc.) My two spend half their lives in KicKee and they refuse to wear anything else to bed. 

Favorite Colors Clothing Labels - If your kids are anything like mine, they shed layers of clothes throughout the day and don't give a second thought to where their stuff ends up. I love these clothing labels from Minted that attach to the clothing tag and are machine washable. Hopefully this will help cut down on missing items of clothing over the school year. 

Macarons Personalized Notebook - Older kids (and parents and teachers) are going to love these personalized notebooks from Minted. Choose from a million designs and colors to reflect your kid's personality and/or hobbies. Perfect for keeping track of homework assignments or schedules. 

Onaroo Teach Me Time Talking Alarm Clock - Teaching Mac how to tell time has been on my list of things to work with him on this year, which is why I'm super excited about this clock. The clock gives the time in digital numbers as well as a traditional clock face. Plus, it has a night light and talks to tell your little one what time it is. 

Flyball Custom Name Labels - How adorable are these personalized baseball name stickers? These would be perfect for school supplies, lunch boxes, water bottles, sports equipment and toys. They're dishwasher, laundry and microwave-safe. 

Seeds of Knowledge Wall Art - This apple print from Minted would be such a cute gift for a teacher or perfect for your kid's homework station. There's also a similar one in gold, if you want to get fancy.

Educational Insights Talking Globe - Our local library has a globe like this one and my kids are obsessed with it. This talking globe asks over 10,000 geography-related questions and gives you hints for those you may not know. Perfect for kids learning about the world and interested in maps. 

Olive Kids Paisley Pencil Case - Carry your pens and pencils in style. I love this pink paisley case from Olive Kids. It's the perfect size for a desk or backpack. 

Nike Tennis Shoes - My kids both love their Nike kicks. These adorable sturdy and colorful shoes have velcro up top, which make them easy for little kids to put on by themselves. They come in a variety of colors, styles and widths. 

What are your favorite back-to-school products?

* Thanks to Minted for inspiring and sponsoring this post. Contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed regarding products and excitement for new school supplies belong to me!

* FYI - if you order any stationery products from Minted this summer, they will come packaged in a uniquely themed box that unfolds into a fun cut-out costume! Post a creative photo of you or your little one modeling and upload it to the #MintedBox project site for a chance to win a gift certificate. 

Date Night Gift Package & Giveaway from Uncommon Goods

Instead of the traditional Father's Day gift of a tie or mug, I decided to go with something a bit different this year to shake things up a bit. My husband is a gear junkie and already has nearly everything he could want or need in the fishing/hunting/camping/golfing areas, so I wanted to get him something that we could use to have fun together, whether at home or out of the house (get your mind out of the gutter!). As parents of little kids with full-time jobs and lots of hobbies, it's hard to find time to spend together. Last year we made a committment to have more date nights - ones where we left the house and didn't spend the entire time talking nonstop about the kids - and while we did a good job at first, more and more we started skipping them in order to get things done around the house or try to get caught up on work. Or when we did make it out of the house together, all we did was discuss the kids and worry about all the things on our to do lists (ok, that might just be me). And while sometimes that's fine (I mean, I gotta get stuff done), I also know how important it is to focus on our marriage and make sure we stay connected on a level that's different than just being mom and dad. 

So, with that in mind, I decided to put together a little "Date Night" gift package for Ryan , to get us out of our dating rut and force us to do some fun and unexpected things.  First off, I worked out an arrangement with our nanny for three nights of babysitting over the next few months so he and I could have a couple date nights. Woo hoo! Then, I put together a package of fun games and activities from Uncommon Goods that we could play during dinners out or even at home, once the kids were in bed, over a glass (or six) of wine. The games range from trick questions and word games, to more traditional conversation starters and discussion topics. Plus, I threw in a fun game for us to play with friends (about our phones), for when we have a double date with one of our favorite couple-friends (scheduled for July!) and a Date Night Bucket List barrel full of date night ideas and activities to inspire us to try some new things. (psst...they also have a Family Fun Bucket List that would be a blast to do with your kids)

Ryan and I had our first date night this past weekend and we got to try out a few of the games. We took the Word Teasers - Old Wives Tales game and the Table Topics game with us to dinner at a new Spanish restaurant we've been wanting to try out. Initially, I think Ryan was a bit apprehensive when I pulled all these cards out of my purse and told him we were going to play a game, but he quickly warmed up (he's a good sport) and after a few questions we were cracking up and talking about topics we've never really discussed together (ghostly encounters, retirement aspirations, favorite teachers, most influential books, etc.). The Table Topics game was a huge hit and we spent nearly two hours asking each other question after question, which inevitably lead to more questions and I learned so about my husband. I got the "original" version of the game, but they also have eight other variations on this, all with different topics and audiences (couples, teens, family, girl's night out, etc.). How fun would it be to get the Girl's Night Out one and try it with friends on your next girl's night or trip? (Hint hint, Tahoe ladies..)  

Even though the Table Topics game was a huge hit, I'm really excited to try this Game of Phones, which is basically a scavenger hunt on your smartphone! The prompts I looked at include things like asking everyone to show the last photo they took, funniest nickname for a contact, finding the weirdest Google image for your name, see who's parents will text back the quickest and create an emoji story. You earn points and the person with the most points at the end of the game wins (maybe free drinks?). I think Game of Phones will be so much fun to play with a group of friends or on a double date. 

The other game we haven't tried yet is the Trick Question game. However, I checked out some of the cards and they're good brain-teasers and play on word questions that require you to think outside the box. This one requires you to be quick and clever and I think it would be fun to play and discuss possible answers with a couple teammates. Definitely a fun one to play with family and it'll be going to the farm with us the next time we go visit my parents. I have a feeling my little brother is going to dominate in this one. 

Lastly, in the date night gift package, I gave Ryan one last item, mainly for us to use at home. This Smartphone Projector is a really cool DIY gadget that will turn your smartphone into a movie projector, so we can watch all those adorable iPhone videos of the kids on a big wall in our house. I absolutely love this idea, because we've both been trying to take more videos of the kids, but then they live on our phones and we don't get to share them with anyone (or even each other). With Ryan taking more videos of Mac fishing and me downloading my silly snaps of the kids throughout the day, I think this is a great way for us to be able to watch the videos together without huddling over a tiny phone screen or me having to do a ton of work uploading them all, putting them in iMovie and all that. I'm really excited about this one and can't wait to be able to throw videos of the kids up on the wall for our parents, as well. 

I am so happy with the way this little date night gift package turned out and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Uncommon Goods. This is a company that is committed to sustainability and prides itself on carrying unique and creative products that are socially and environmentally responsible. Since their founding, they've featured products that contain recycled components and have not sold any products containing leather, features or fur. Their goal is to sell nothing that harms any animal or human. In addition, they created a program called Better to Give, which allows customers to select a non-profit at checkout, which will receive a $1 donation from the company after every purchase. 

No matter who you're shopping for, Uncommon Goods has some of the most unique, creative and fun gifts out there. The site is searchable by gender, age, interest (beer, foodie, sports, gardener, hostess, etc.). Uncommon Goods is also really awesome at curating fantastic gift guides/collections to help you pick from the overwhelming selection of amazing products on their websites. Some of my favorite collections for the men in your life (husbands, boyfriends, dads, brothers, uncles, and guy friends) are the Anniversary Gifts for Him collection (HERE), the Boyfriend gift collection (HERE) and the Birthday Guy collection (HERE). Why is it that guys are so much harder to shop for, anyway? 

Table Topics // Awkward Moments

Marital Bliss // Let's Play Doctor

WhatchmaDRAWit // Kwizniac Trivia

And because I love you and want you to have a fun date night with your partner in crime (or just the chance to get an amazing gift for yourself or someone special), I'm pairing up with Uncommon Goods to give away a $50 gift certificate to their website. Use the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win! Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* I received the items reviewed free of charge from Uncommon Goods in exchange for my honest review and feedback. I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions expressed and the incredibly dorky love of games and trivia are all mine. 

Mother's Day Exchange

One of my favorite things about blogging is the connections you make with other moms, bloggers and readers. There's something so amazingly fulfilling about bonding with another person over similar experiences, passions and challenges. I'm blessed to say that I have an amazingly encouraging and caring mommy blogging tribe, some of whom I text with daily (or 100 times a day) and feel so honored to be a part of a bigger circle of incredible women. So, when Elizabeth and Courtney announced they were again hosting their Mother's Day gift exchange where we would get the chance to spoil another mom, I was so excited! I got matched with mommy-extraordinaire Tara from A Tale of Two Maples. I'd been reading Tara's blog for years until she took an unexpected break from blogging upon getting diagnosed with thyroid cancer this past August. She has the most positive and determined attitude and is an incredible mom to two adorable little boys. She's back blogging about her journey and family, so please head over to her blog and read along. Plus, check out what I sent her! I hope she likes it as much as I did! 

My other match was the absolutely adorable and incredibly sweet friend Amy of Keepin' Up With The Smiths. I've also been following Amy for a long time (since before we were both pregnant with our first) and I adore this girl and love reading about her and her adventures with her two gorgeous boys. Amy is so thoughtful and crafty and fun - she sent me the most amazing spa box, filled so all kinds of incredible items so I could create my own at home spa, including facial masks, a loofah, pomegranate bath bomb, candle, mani/pedi nail kit, nail polish, lip balm and (my very favorite item) salted caramel chocolates! Talk about being spoiled! 

HELLO LOVE.

Amy, you hit it out of the park! Thank you so much! I know what I'm going to be doing Sunday night! And special thanks to Liz and Courtney for organizing. 

Happy early Mother's Days to all the mommies out there!

What are your Mother's Day plans?

Shop Small - Holiday Gift Guide

I'm not sure what's up with me these days, but I've jumped on board the holiday bandwagon much earlier this year than ever before. Maybe it's because I have a kid that is old enough to "get it" this year or maybe it's because the world seems to be such a sad and scary place lately and thinking of the holidays at least makes me happy. But whatever the reason, I'm in the mood for the season! And I'm really excited to get a jump start on my holiday shopping in the hope that December might not be as crazy as it's been in years past if I'm not struggling to buy ALL THE THINGS at the last possible minute. Ideally, I'd love to have all my shopping done by the end of November, leaving the last month free to focus on family, holiday activities and fun. We're once again doing an activities advent calendar (which I'll share) and have some really fun things planned. 

And speaking of shopping, I'm also vowing to make a conscious effort to #ShopSmall this holiday season. I have a say in where my money goes and I'd really like to be sure to support small shops and boutiques run by individuals and parents and families. Instead of going to a giant corporation, I want my money to go towards a child's education, dance lessons or a family's mortgage. Shopping small means that more money goes back into the economy, into our cities and neighborhoods. Shopping small encourages individuals and creativity and entrepreneurship. So, in that spirit, I've put together a quick list of some of my favorite little shops, boutiques and creative minds to support. I hope you'll consider shopping small for some of your gifts this year too.

Sugar Bit - My dear friend Natasha runs this amazing and absolutely adorable online children's boutique. She carries ALL of our favorite brands, like KicKee Pants, Toobydoo, Hatley, Babiator, Flit & Flitter, Silkberry, Zutano and Pink Chicken. She's also got a great selection of gifts, accessories and stocking stuffers. The most fashionable stuff for every kid on your list. 

Z Dough - The most amazing, silky and vibrant homemade play dough you'll find on the market. Available in at least 12 different colors and scents. Stays softer way longer than any store bought play dough and comes in adorable little tins for quick and easy storage. I love this Fun Pack, set of your choice of 6 colors. Don't forget that you can also add GLITTER to the dough! Use the coupon code YAY10 for 10% off all orders placed before December 18th. 

StampJoy - I'm madly in love with the return address stamps from this little Etsy shop. Choose from a huge variety or amazing designs or work directly with the shop owner to create your personalized custom stamp. Comes in a self-inking stamper or a traditional wooden stamper. This one is my personal favorite - so classic and pretty.

Dolce Ave - Another shop run by a friend (and former blogger), Megan has the most gorgeous and affordable jewelry and accessories for all your girlfriends, co-workers and family members. Personally, I own quite a few of her necklaces and get so many compliments on them. I've already purchased a number of gold and black tassel keychains for everyone on my Christmas shopping list (sorry to ruin the surprise). 

Head Hand & Heart - This shop will create the most adorable custom-made family portraits, cards or family trees.  If you can't get things together for "official" Christmas card photos, do this instead! Guaranteed that everyone will be smiling and look adorable! I love these prints - you might remember the portrait Christina did of our little family when we announced we were expecting Mim. I love the idea of doing a custom family tree for your parents/grandparents or a wedding party portrait for newlyweds.

The Wheatfields - Although she's been getting tons of publicity lately, Katie Daisy has the most gorgeous, colorful and inspiring watercolor prints around.  Based in nature and focused on all things flowery and beautiful, the designs are perfect for gifting. I've given my stepmother this print, given this one to a few friends and this one is hanging in Mim's nursery. I can't get enough of them!

Margaux Makes - I discovered this adorable shop on Instagram and have already ordered a set of their amazing and colorful fabric magnetic letters and numbers for our playroom magnet board. This shop specializes in handmade plush learning and sensory toys (letters, numbers, phonics, spelling, reading, counting, math, etc.). Their products are bright, colorful, functional and make learning fun. These letters/numbers will be perfect stocking stuffers for Mac. 

cuddle + kind - This is a family run business out of Canada that recently launched an Indiegogo campaign to promote their adorable hand-knit dolls. There are 9 dolls to choose from, each with their own story, name, personality and birthday. But even better, for each doll purchased, 10 meals will be donated to hungry children through the World Food Program USA and the Children's Hunger Fund. You will not find a cuter doll with a better cause. Mim was lucky enough to receive a cuddle + kind doll and we immediately fell in love with them. Boy and girl versions of the dolls available. 

BTR Woodworks - If you're looking for a cool and manly gift for the dad/husband/grandpa in your life, check out the awesome wood products from this shop. I think the barrel stave bottle opener would be perfect for any beer drinker and the iPad stand would be awesome to use while viewing a recipe in the kitchen. They do custom orders and some items can also be personalized. 

Fish Kiss - If you have love for California, Colorado, Florida, New York, Texas, Montana or Wyoming, you absolutely must check out this adorable shop. Their state collection consists of the most adorable products (from baby leggings to pillows/blankets to prints), featuring gorgeous hand-drawn state maps. Personally, I'm obsessed with the entire Wyoming line, since we got married in Jackson Hole and I want this print to hang on my map wall. The baby blanket is also on my list for my friends with new babies in Colorado and Texas (there's another surprise ruined). 

Name In A Wooden Box - I am beyond obsessed with this shop and their awesome personalized shape sorters for kids. I love that you get to pick your colors, letters, shapes, etc. and each box is hand-made to order. While not local (Bulgaria) and may not be available in time for Christmas, keep this idea in mind for future toddler birthdays or baby shower gifts. This one might be coming our way soon for Mim.

Sweet Auburn Studio - I recently discovered this shop through a friend that lives in Alabama and have fallen in love with the adorable products they offer. I'm slightly obsessed with the tassel bracelets and necklaces and the personalized monogram leather bracelet. If you're looking for something to get me this year, I'll take anything from this shop!

Habitat Imprint - If you've got a super-cool hipster husband, brother or nephew to buy for, this is where you should be shopping. This SoCal shop offers the coolest environmentally-friendly bamboo skateboards, sunglasses and speakers. And of course you can personalize it to your heart's desire. 

Sadie Sky Boutique - This is my go-to boutique for all the adorable bows and headbands that Mim wears. The owner Jess is amazing and has perfected the little leather bow. She's recently branched out to some apparel and other accessories that I can't wait to get my hands on. I love the denim bow and Mim wears this platinum leather bow all the time. You can bet that her stocking will be filled with Sadie Sky bows this year. 

Hello Apparel - While not exactly "small" anymore, Hello Apparel is an independent company that started out as a way for artists and musicians to design, manufacture and sell their own merchandise. I still love their signature Hello shirts, which now comes in the uber-trendy buffalo plaid and their I'm So Tired/I'm Not Tired mama/baby merch. 

Wooden Caterpillar - Another not local (Russia), but amazing small shop that specializes in beautiful hand-carved wooden toys for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. All the items in the shop are organic and are designed to help children develop creativity, pattern recognition and fine motor skills. They offer a variety of baby toys, wooden teethers, teething rings, rattles, stacking toys, balance toys, lacing toys, sensory toys and farm/forest animals. I love this set of leaves lacing toys and the Waldorf animals. 

Southern Trade Mark - If you're shopping for any Southern lady that loves a good monogram, this is your shop for all things trendy, personalized and monogrammed. Personally, I love the tassel clutch, the blanket scarf and the faux leather travel tote, but I don't think you can go wrong with anything in this shop. 

Drake Designs Jewelry - Of course I love personalize jewelry for moms, but I my favorite two products from this shop are for dads. This really cool copper keychain would be a perfect way to memorialize your children's names or birthdays, your anniversary or any special words or numbers that mean something to you. It's subtle, yet sentimental. I also love the hidden message tie clip that can be personalized on both the front and back. 

Gray Monroe - Last, but not least is this awesome women's clothing boutique, run by the always fashionable Jenny Collier (blogger extraordinaire and mom of two). I love Jenny's blog and I'm totally smitten with the items in her shop, particularly the Alicia dress, the Laura vest, the Allison top and the Angela cardigan. 

And because I love you, I'm joining up with some of my favorite blogging ladies to give away a little extra cash for your holiday shopping! Just use the Rafflecopter below and you could win $60 cold hard cash! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you have plans to shop small this holiday season?