The holidays are right around the corner, so the annual search for the perfect gift commences. There are so many people to shop for, with a range of personalities and interests, and it can be time consuming to find an ideal present and also stay within budget. We did the heavy lifting for you and compiled a diverse list of holiday gift ideas, all from local Indianapolis-area businesses. Let the holiday shopping start … now!
Gifts for Her
This year, spread holiday cheer with McNamara Florist’s showstopping deer centerpiece. Several pristine evergreen varieties are mixed with natural pinecones and textured berries. When the holidays are over, this adorable metal deer can be packed away with your decorations and refilled again next year, spreading holiday cheer year after year after year!
Holiday Cheer Deer, $98.99 at mcnamaraflorist.com.
Kalm Collective’s “Danielle Earrings” are stylish hoop earrings in a geometric, diamond-shaped design. They’re tarnish resistant and hypoallergenic and made with 18k gold plated stainless steel. They’re so chic, you might just have to pick a pair up for yourself while you’re at it.
Danielle earrings, $48.40 at kalmcollective.com. Take 25% off through Dec. 11 for a discounted price of $36.30 (discount automatically applied at checkout).
This gift of custom fragrance is both a gift card and an experience — perfect for everyone on your list! Just stop into your local Penn & Beech shop and choose an empty pour-your-own candle vessel from their curated collection. They’ll load a gift card for the exact value of that vessel and wrap it all up beautifully for you to gift. Your lucky recipient can then bring the vessel back into the shop and pay for the entire candle-pouring experience with their gift card. Not able to make it in to a shop? You can purchase an electronic gift card on the Penn & Beech website that can be redeemed both online and in-shop.
Candle pouring experience and vessel, starting at $24, purchase in-store or at pennandbeech.com.
Give the gift that grows! The Botanical Bar’s monthly plant subscription is a perfect gift for plant lovers and newbies alike. You’ll receive The Botanical Bar’s favorite easy-care plants with straightforward instructions on sustaining your plants as you build lasting plant-care habits.
Monthly plant subscription, $29.99 a month at thebotanicalbarindy.com.
For a truly unique experience, treat a friend to a session at the Indianapolis Salt Cave. It is a manmade recreation of the environmental conditions found within a natural underground salt mine, and it aims to provide ideal breathing conditions and may also have therapeutic benefits.
Indianapolis Salt Cave session, starting at $40 for 45 minutes at indysaltcave.com.
Gifts for Him
Are you looking for the perfect, easy stocking stuffer? A Crew Carwash wash book is a gift all the men in your life — plus your friends and family — can use all year to protect their car from winter weather. Right now, buy 4 Ultimate washes, get 2 free!
Crew Carwash Ultimate wash book — 6 washes, $88 at crewcarwash.com.
Surprise your favorite fitness buff with a class pack for one of the newest workout venues to hit the scene. F-45 stands for “functional training” that lasts for 45 minutes, and the classes consist of a mix of circuit and of HIIT-style workouts geared toward everyday movements.
F-45 workout classes, $170 for 10 classes at f45training.com.
Noblesville-based FirePoint Creations specializes in personalized gifts for every occasion. The brand’s engraved wooden pen is something that your favorite guy will use practically every day of the year, and it can be personalized to include a name, a special date, or maybe even a lucky number.
Engraved wood pen, $42.99 at firepointcreations.com.
Brick & Mortar Barber Shop is located in the swanky Bottleworks district downtown. With a menu that boasts shaves and haircuts, the “Straight Razor Shave” includes pre-shave oil, a hot lather, and an aftershave treatment. Talk about luxurious.
Straight razor shave, $45 at brickandmortarusa.com.
James Dant is a by-appointment clothing store that emphasizes higher quality, lower impact goods. In addition to clothes, the shop offers this unique travel mug featuring a laser-etched design of a plan of Indianapolis from 1876.
Plan of Indianapolis travel mug, $45 at jamesdant.com.
Gifts for Kids
If your child hasn’t tried “Thinking Putty” yet, they are bound for a treat. An upgrade on your regular slime, Thinking Putty won’t dry out and can be used again and again. This glittery “Mistletoe Mania” mini-sized version comes in a 2-inch tin and is perfect to use as a stocking stuffer for kids aged 3 and up.
“Mistletoe Mania” Thinking Putty, $5.99 at kitsandkaboodletoys.com.
These modern paper dolls are so adorable and come in several different designs, including a version inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They make standout greeting cards, but they are also something a child can save and return to after the holidays are over. They’re a terrific way to help spark imaginative play.
Paper doll cards, $19.50 each at homespunindy.com.
Imagine having your child wake up on Christmas morning to see the presents delivered and to discover that Santa has accidentally left his flying license behind! Made of thick durable plastic, this looks like a real license and includes a North Pole seal and Santa’s signature.
“Santa’s Lost Flying License,” $8.50 at romanandleo.com.
Global Gifts is offering this delightful red drum with two bamboo drumsticks, all made by fair trade artisans in India. (To be fair, you might want to gift mom and dad a set of noise canceling headphones, too.)
Happy rhythm red drum, $24.00 at globalgifts.com.
Upgrade an older child’s everyday water bottle to this festive present-shaped novelty sipper from Francis + Fern boutique.
Oh so gifted present sipper, $22 at francisandfernboutique.com.
Gifts Under $25
This candy cane scented shower sponge soap comes emblazoned with several different sayings to choose from. Our personal favorite is “Ya Filthy Animal,” but you do you.
Holiday shower sponge, $14 at clotheswithacause.net.
Your gift recipient will never have to choose between cold hands or sending you a text message thanks to these stylish touchscreen gloves.
Angora pom touchscreen gloves, $24.95 at holdermattress.com.
Nothing says the holidays like rotating in a new festive towel. This tea towel is 100% cotton and 100% sure to inspire some laughs.
Holiday tea towel, $16.95 at decorateindy.com.
Spread some joy this holiday season with this hand-painted stoneware mug from Silver in the City. It’s dishwasher and microwave safe, and it makes a terrific gift for a teacher, a co-worker, or a coffee lover, if you wrap it up with a little bag of their favorite brew.
“Joy Globe Mug,” $14 at silverinthecity.com.
Poppy + Pout makes some of Wild Bohemian boutique in Noblesville’s best-selling lip balms. Now available in a tinted formula, the collection includes six different shades that are all mint flavored, long lasting, and won’t leave your lips feeling sticky or waxy.
Poppy + Pout tinted lip balms, $14.95 for set of six at wildbohemian.com.
Gifts for Foodies
Even folks on Santa’s naughty list deserve a little something, right? Treat them to this “lumps of coal” hot cocoa mix featuring marshmallow “coals.”
Lumps of coal hot cocoa mix, $8 at lilyandsparrowboutique.com.
Sure, you can bring a six-pack of beer to a holiday party, but to mix things up, consider this “Fickle Flame” cider from Ash & Elm Cider Co. The company takes pyro-concentrated apple juice and doses it with a Belgian ale yeast to create a smooth, full-bodied drink with notes of candied apples.
Fickle Flame cider, $20 at ashandelmcider.com.
Turchetti’s in Fountain Square is a must-visit any time of year, but their holiday offerings are particularly impressive. For example, this gift basket for the “serious snacker” is loaded with a beef summer sausage, a pint of pimento cheese, one quart of bread & butter pickles, spent grain crackers, and some hot sauce.
Serious snacker gift basket, $48 at Turchettis.com.
You can now make some of The Cake Bake Shop’s most treasured recipes at home thanks to the brand’s new cookbook, “Cakes” by Gwendolyn Rogers. Recipes include treats for every season, including the “Millionaire Cake” and the “Famous Earl’s Court Chocolate Cake.”
The Cake Bake Shop Cookbook, “Cakes” by Gwendolyn Rogers, $110 at thecakebakeshop.com.
Perfect to have on hand as a last-minute hostess gift, South Bend Chocolate Company’s “Christmas Crunch” consists of caramel corn drizzled with milk chocolate and mixed with German almonds and Michigan cherries. Be sure to scoop it up while supplies last.
Christmas Crunch, $9.99 at sbchocolate.com.
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Samantha Kupiainen is a regular contributor to Indy Maven.
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