It’s the most wonderful time of the year! November and December are two of my favorite months because I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Every year I take full advantage of the holidays, I decorate the house early and get my shopping done early too! I wanted to share some of my favorite things in stores, and this Gift Guide is all about supporting local this holiday season!

Edmonton is FULL of small businesses and entrepreneurs and it’s been so fun to watch these companies grow over the years. Shopping local is so important, especially during the holidays. I know the importance of it as I have been a local business owner for the past 12 years and have worked with many small businesses throughout the city!

Here are a few of my favorite things this holiday season…..

William Rae Designs

William Rae Designs offers a mix of products including wood signs and mugs, with a variety of favorite sayings and catchy phrases.These not so traditional wooden signs are made locally in Edmonton Alberta by Courtney and Fraser.

The I Love Us sign hangs in our house and is one of my personal favorites! This wooden sign makes a great statement piece on a gallery wall or display it on its own with its big bold lettering. It is available with a white or black background with fonts in the reverse colors. Their wooden signs come in a large variety of sayings they make the perfect Christmas gifts for family or friends!

Mala and Me

I found this amazing company through Instagram and instantly fell in love with their malas and the meanings behind them. The two sisters behind this company, Amanda and Sabrina, know the importance of connecting with nature, beauty and spirit. Their Mala collections are personalized and they offer many different spiritual healing powers. They have an array of colors and different pendants to choose from, each representing something different.

I myself have been on a spiritual journey to connect with my own self on a better level and to identify my weaknesses so I could work on making them better. I chose the GREY DRUZY because it is used to evoke creativity and relaxation. If you are looking to tap into your creativity and purify your connection with life then this is the one for you! This particular style also features SILVER which is a reflective metal and is said to be the mirror of the soul, promoting greater self understanding, calmness and balance. The GOLD is associated with wealth, prosperity, happiness and comfort.

Mark your calendars and take advantage of the upcoming Mala & Me sale, save 30% off from November 23-26 with code BLACKFRIDAY

Fox and Tux

A Dog Treat Advent Calendar?!? Yes it’s true! Our dog Bandit is gonna LOVE THIS come December! If you are interested in one don’t delay, they were flying off the shelves this season! Fox and Tux is a pet boutique that carries all sorts of unique items not found in other stores for cats and dogs. I often take my dog shopping to check out all the fun things they carry! At this time of year they have the cutest pet apparel including holiday print bandannas. and pajamas too! A must visit this holiday season for Christmas gifts for your pets!

Bella Maas Boutique

Feeling festive this Christmas? Then this Holiday sweater by BRUNETTE the Label is a must have! It is available in a variety of sizes (m/l pictured) and is the perfect gift for yourself or a friend! With all those holiday parties coming up this crew knit sweater is sure to be a hit! Also available are a variety of cozy knit sweaters from the same label.  Shop local in St Albert or Sherwood Park at Bella Maas Maas Boutique or their online store. While online, check out their Christmas Gift Guide for some great gift ideas with a variety of price points as well!

Pura Botanicals

Stuff those stockings with luxury skincare this season! The cocoa honey cream mask is limited edition from Pura Botanicals and part of the holiday collection so it’s only available at this time of year! It’s a decadent, hand-whipped blend of skin-smoothing and age-defying ingredients that leave you with instantly hydrated, silky, and supple skin. The perfect gift for our harsh Canadian winters!

In the evening, generously smooth onto face, neck and décolleté, and wait for the mask to absorb into the skin for 15-20 minutes, then rinse. Recommended for all skin types. Available online or in stores in the Edmonton area.

Cloud 9 Pajamas

I love being cozy at this time of year, one of my favorite stores to shop at is Cloud Nine Pajamas! This store is filled with all the cozy things including pj’s, robes and slippers! They also carry items for men and kids too! I stopped by the store to do a little shopping and fell in love with these PJ Salvage flannels. Available in sizes XS-XL and a variety of different patterns too! Shop online from the comfort of home or in store this holiday season at one of their 4 Edmonton and area locations!

Stay tuned to their social media for the upcoming 12 days of Christmas Deals running from December 1-12. Each day they offer a different deal for you, just in time for Christmas shopping!

Epic Experiences 

Give a different and memorable gift this Christmas with Epic Experiences. My hubby and I had the opportunity to check out one of the romance packages and we chose the dinner for 2. We had a great date night out at a local restaurant and loved the meal and time out together! They have a large selection of experiences to choose from in Edmonton, Banff and beyond. The gift card option will let them choose what activity to do for their Christmas Gift! Years ago we started asking for the gift of experience so we could enjoy time out with our family, so I was happy to discover this local company was right here in Edmonton!

They offer a great selection of experiences from dinner to axe throwing, dog sledding to macaron making. There are many options to choose from which makes it a great gift for anyone!

Hansen Distillery 

Hansen Distillery is an Edmonton-based family-run craft distillery that prides itself on producing quality products using ingredients sourced from Alberta. All of their spirits are made right here in Alberta and they have a location in West Edmonton where you can book a tasting tour! With so many options for spirits, they have something for everyone this year under the tree.
We tried out their special Holiday Eggnog recipe which is perfect for serving guests you are entertaining this holiday season. This recipe calls for their Moonshine and Hansen Ring of Fire  
Hansen Holiday Eggnog
– 1 ½ oz Hansen End of the Line Moonshine
– ½ oz Hansen Ring of Fire
– 1 oz Cream
– ½ oz Cinnamon Syrup
– 1 Whole Egg
1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain into a brandy snifter.
3. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and a star anise.
(shirt is available from Bella Maas Boutique)

Jacek Chocolate Couture

An advent calendar for adults is finally here! Jacek Chocolate Couture’s 24 Days of Chocolate Joy is available Friday November 16th and can be ordered online or picked up in store (it sells out every year so don’t delay)! This advent calendar is filled with 24 different hand-crafted artisan chocolates to bring you joy each day leading up to Christmas.
This years calendar includes:
  1. Maple fudge
  2. Oozy salted caramel
  3. Spiced pecan in milk chocolate
  4. Oozy espresso caramel
  5. Gingerbread
  6. Almond butter cup
  7. Honey caramel crunch
  8. Spiced apple caramel
  9. Milk chocolate with Fleur de Sel
  10. Milk chocolate & rose
  11. Salted burnt caramel truffle
  12. Milk chocolate & candied hazelnut
  13. Chewy salted caramel
  14. Lemon meltaway
  15. Dark chocolate caramel ganache
  16. Milk chocolate & toasted coconut
  17. Gianduja crunch
  18. Orange meltaway
  19. Blonde chocolate
  20. Dark chocolate with tart cherry & pistachio
  21. Dark chocolate with espresso
  22. Milk chocolate, cocoa nibs & toffee
  23. Passionfruit & ginger
  24. Milk & dark chocolate snowflakes

The countdown is on our our house until December 1st!

Red Ribbon Boutique

Located on High Street, Red Ribbon Boutique is filled with great gift ideas for this holiday season! Stuff those stockings with some of their accessories, including Shady Lane Sunnies and a great selection of earrings including these tortoise hoops! Other great stocking stuffer ideas include The Red Balloon Pie Co Salted Caramels and adorable socks from Friday Sock Co! Shop online or in store this holiday season for gifts for him or her. They also have a hilarious collection of greeting cards for that special someone this Christmas!

Mittens Addiction 

I LOVE mittens! I was so excited when I discovered Mittens Addiction, a local company located right here in Edmonton while scrolling through Instagram one day! Because they are all handmade, no two pairs are alike! Each pair is made with reclaimed wool and leather and they are all lined with technical fleece to keep you warm. They are designed as a fitted mitten that naturally stretches and will form to your hand as you wear them.

Michelle Sych spends countless hours creating these mittens, from finding the fabrics to putting them together. I loved the story behind them and was so excited to receive a pair for myself! You can see more of her creations on her Etsy store or at the upcoming Made in Alberta – Holiday Art, Craft and Design show happening in Edmonton November 17 + 18 at the Shaw conference center. The perfect gift for the gals this Christmas!

Like Grandpa

Handmade in Edmonton Alberta, Like Grandpa offers all natural products for men including Beard Oils, Balms, Shave Oils and more. Ken and Keenyn are the couple behind this local company who wanted to bring grooming back to its traditional roots! Their products make a great gift for dad, grandpa or even your brother. and they are available in a variety of masculine scents. My hubby checked out the Beard Box and the Shave Box and loved them both! These packaged gift sets make the perfect stocking stuffers!

Thank you to all the local businesses who worked with me to put this Shop Local Christmas Gift Guide together. Opinions expressed about each and every company are my own based on gifted items provided to me.

Thanks to their generosity I will be giving away something from each and every one of these amazing companies! Please note the grand prize includes items from each of these local businesses but may not be the same as the item featured in this blog. Prize is valued at $900.00. Enter to win on the Chatty Girl Media Facebook and Instagram channels.