Lokal Goodies to Sweeten the Holidays: GIFT GUIDE
WORDS + PHOTOS by Stef Richardson
It’s almost time for the ho-ho-holidays! It’s totally going to look a bit different this year (I think we’ve all come to terms with that) but I’m determined to dress up the season with some new traditions and tons of local goodies. It all became too real when I realized we weren’t going to be sipping + eating our way through the Downtown Collingwood holiday block parties. Those are my fave and will be missed.
Read on to check out my annual round up gift items found at shops close to home in the Grey-Simcoe region. Perfect as stocking stuffers, holiday sippers, someone special or for YOU.
If you’re in a position to do so, I know that it would mean a lot to these small biz owners if you shopped local this season. Every dollar, every comment, and every wave hello ~ however you can contribute to these hardworking individuals is more meaningful than ever right now.
Let’s dig the lokals, my friends! Read on and find product details + links at the bottom of the blog. All items can be picked up around the neighbourhood.
1 // BEAVER VALLEY MAPLE SYRUP - MADE IN GREY HIGHLANDS
2 // MILL CREEK CHOCOLATES - OWEN SOUND/PORT ELGIN/KINCARDINE
3 // PURPLEHILL LAVENDER - ROOM SPRAY - CREEMORE
4 // VO2 SPORTS CO - PATAGONIA SPORTS BAG, POLARIZED GOODR SUNNIES + RUNNING ICE SPIKES - COLLINGWOOD
5 // EGOS WOOL SLIPPERS FROM LAGOM 142 IN CREEMORE
6 // THE VALLEY ALCHEMIST TEA SUBSCRIPTION - BLUE MOUNTAINS
7 // LOW DOWN MULLED WINE COCKTAIL KIT - COLLINGWOOD
8 // CREEMORE SPRINGS GINGERBREAD RYE ALE + FUN SWAG - CREEMORE
9 // HELLO POTTERY HAND THROWN BOWLS + SARISHA CLAY MASK DUO - COLLINGWOOD
10 // LATER PIZZA GIFT CARD - GREAT ZA - COLLINGWOOD
11 // ROOST WINE CO - HOLLIES AND FOLLIES TASTING PACK - BLUE MOUNTAINS
12 // BISHOP BOTANICALS YOGA MAT SPRAY - COLLINGWOOD
PRODUCT DEETS:
1. Beaver Valley Maple – I put this shiz on everything! Seriously though, we’ve always got a jug on hand in our home. It’s thick, it’s perfectly maple, organic, locally made and just freakin’ goooood.
Pick up at: Blue Mountain Tea Co, the Wildstand, Gather Grocery, Thornbury Bakery, Blackbird Pie Company, Markdale Foodland, Thornbury Foodland, Cheese Gallery, The Kitchen, Eat Local Grey Bruce, Flesherton Bakery and McGinty’s just to name a few.
Website: https://www.beavervalleymaple.ca/
2. Mill Creek Chocolates – Locally made chocolates to die for and packaged in adorable boxes to boot. PS. If you’re a fan of fruit creams and soft centers they have a box dedicated to you! Pick up in Owen Sound, Port Elgin or Kincardine: https://www.millcreekchocolates.ca/
3. Purple Hill Lavender Spray – Very into bringing a little bit of Purple Hill Lavender into my home. It’s one of my favourite scents and I love spritzing it around my bed before I’m hunkering down for a little R+R.
Purchase online or grab a bottle from At Home Interiors in Collingwood - https://purplehilllavender.com/
4. VO2 Sports Pack – A few items for those outdoorsy + adventurous souls. How awesome are these sporty Patagonia fanny packs and Goodr polarized sunnies! Two items that’ll have you looking fresh as ever in the 705. Check out their running ice spikes too if you’re a fan of getting out for a crisp wintery jog.
Purchase in store at VO2 – 524 First St. Collingwood or shop online: https://www.vo2sportsco.com/
5. Slippers – THE CUTEST slippers I must say. Made in Denmark, these sexy wool slippers hardly feel like loungewear. Easy to slip on most importantly they keep your feet toasty warm. I’m a slippers gal now.
Purchased at Lagom 142 in Creemore. Variety of colours available. Visit them in Creemore or shop online: https://lagom142.com/
6. The Valley Alchemist Tea Subscription – For all the tea lovers, this is an affordable way to add an element of surprise to your Christmas gifting. The Valley Alchemist offers a pre-paid 3-month tea subscription which means you can sign someone up to receive some wicked teas, delivered right to their door. How fun!
Order here: https://www.thevalleyalchemist.com/products/alchemists-tea-crate-gift-subscription
7. Mulled Wine – Low Down Cocktail Kit – Wine, spices + fresh squeezed OJ are all you need to make this cozy warm cocktail. Low Down has a sweet line-up of cocktail kits for you to purchase and make at home over the holidays. It will complement any Christmas Eve festivities quite nicely.
Order here: https://lowdownbar.ca/cocktails-to-go
8. Creemore Springs Festive Beer – Creemore Springs has whipped a festive beer to enjoy over the holidays ~ Gingerbread Rye Ale. They’ve also got tons of branded swag perfect for putting together a gift pack for any beer lover. Pick up at the brewery or take advantage of their home delivery service. It doesn’t get any easier than that.
Order here: https://orders.creemoresprings.com/
9. Hello Pottery Dish + Face Mask – The ladies at Hello Pottery have the place looking stocked with cute, Canadian and wonderful retail items. Gift cards are available but if you’re looking for a double whammy, how about pairing one of their hand thrown dishes with the Sarisha clay mask.
Visit them in store at 207 Hurontario St Unit #7 in Collingwood or browse their online store https://www.hellopotteryco.com/
10. Later Pizza Gift Card – Pizza is the key to my heart and Later makes a pretty freakin’ awesome pie. Super into the plum + bacon but the mortadella truffle is inching up there for first place. Gift cards are compact and perfect for stocking stuffers. This is a good idea!
Give em’ a call to place your order: (705) 445-0202
11. Roost Tasting Pack or Subscription -The Hollies + Follies Tasting Pack is where it’s at. Celebrate with local wine this holiday season and taste your way through a curated taster pack that includes a bottle of the 2019 Chardonnay, 2019 Foch, 2019 Marquette and the newest port-style wine, 2019 Ruby. Your delivery will come equipped with tasting notes from the talented Jess Maish (wine maker) herself and a branded Roost corkscrew.
Browse their festive gift packs here: https://www.roostwinery.ca/Shop/Festive-Gifts
12. Bishop Botanicals – Yoga Mat Spray – This is gold! A lavender and tea tree spray to freshen up your yoga mat after a good sweat. Most communal sprays aren’t available in the public gyms so this is a GREAT alternative to keep your equipment feeling crisp and clean.
Purchase online or visit them in-store at 231 Hurontario St in Collingwood: https://www.bishopbotanicals.com/product-page/yoga-mat-cleansing-spray-lavender-tea-tree
__
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email: lokaldigs@gmail.com
Happy Holidays!