Shop Local!
It's December and officially time to shop for the holidays. One thing I've been trying to do more of the past few years is avoid the malls and Amazon and shop local to support various stores in my community. I wanted to share a few of my favorite stores in and around Boston - and for those of you who don't live here, they all offer e-commerce sites.
For the Kids:
Magpie Kids is located in Somerville and is one of my go-to's for unique gifts. They carry a ton of wooden/sustainable toy lines including Play Toys, Hape and Janod. They have an amazing book section stocked with the classics and more modern books. Plus their apparel department is incredible. Tea Collection, Winter Water Factory, and Milkbarn (to name a few). They also support a few of my local mom friends including Sailaja's Bharat Babies line of books and Sarah's Summer Lulu line of teething jewelry. They often have promotions and their rewards program is great. Definitely worth checking out!
They always have the best displays at Magpie Kids.
image via Magpie Kids
Henry Bear's Park is another favorite located in Arlington, Brookline, Cambridge, and Dedham. They carry more mainstream toys like Duplos, Legos, Melissa and Doug, and Bruder. They also have lots of items for imaginary play and a great stock of puzzles. The best part is their complimentary gift wrapping which has come in handy on many occasions when we were on our way to a party without a gift yet (oops).
For the Home:
One of my favorite home stores is Abodeon in Cambridge. They have a great, curated collection of original mid-century modern furnishings as well as new modern items. If you're ever looking for a unique host/hostess gift for anyone who loves modern design, this is a fun spot to check out.
My other favorite is Hudson Home in the South End. It's owned by interior designer Jill Goldberg who has impeccable, hip taste. They have lots of great gifts including candles, trays, artwork and glassware. It's one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in the city as they are always changing things up and keeping it fresh.
I mean, how funny is this dish from Hudson? This is on my shopping list for a certain Seinfeld loving family member.
Image via Hudson Home
For the Foodie:
Formaggio Kitchen has everything you need to create a beautiful gift basket for any foodie. Their olive oil selection is fantastic and they always have a ton of unique dry goods like beans, pasta and rice. They carry quite a few local lines of food as well. And this is a cheese shop (hence the name) and they have anything you can imagine. There's also an outlet in the South End too.
For Him:
Sault in the South End is my go-to for any hip man (or man you want to make hip). They carry a great line of apparel with lots of flannel shirts, wool sweaters, and designer denim. And a lot of it's made in America which also gives them an A+ in my book. Their bags, shoes, and cold weather accessories are a must as well. They recently opened a second location in Portsmouth, NH.
I'm totally into these needlepoint wallets and key fobs from Sault for any preppy dudes in your life.
For Her:
Helena's in Arlington and Belmont carries some different lines you won't find in a department store. I always thought it would be more old lady inside, but nope. It's actually got some cool stuff! And it's also pretty affordable too. Definitely a hidden gem!
And last but not least is Forty Winks, an independent lingerie store in Harvard Square that has so many lovely things for the ladies. From lingerie to robes to pajamas and nighties they really have a beautiful collection. Gentlemen (and ladies) take note!
Forty Winks in Harvard Square - I mean how could you NOT want to shop here?
Image via Forty Winks
So go out there and support some local businesses if you can!
