With one week left before Christmas and we are right in the middle of Hanukkah, I know my fellow last-minute shoppers are probably searching high and low for the perfect gift for their loved ones. 2020 has been a challenging year for us all, especially small business owners. I’ve always supported small and local businesses because the people who run them are just like you and me. The best way to support my favorite local businesses was to do another Unique Holiday Gift Guide with all of my favorite spots that keep Louisville weird and make us all Kentucky proud.

The following are all local businesses and people within the Louisville and Lexington area where I shop and personally know the owners. They are in no particular order, and each of them holds a special place in my heart because they are owned and run by amazing people. Check out what their shops are all about and some of the lovely faces behind them.

1. Poetic Moon

If you are looking for handmade jewelry, bath soaks, oils, candles, etc., all made with intention, then look no further than Poetic Moon. Bridget Case owns it, and everything in her store is handcrafted by her. She puts her heart and soul into what she does, and since discovering her place, I cannot deny that it is my go-to shop for any and everything self-care. If you want to take a long relaxing bath after a tough day, week, or even year (AKA 2020), then I highly suggest buying her Goddess Bath Soak. It smells fantastic, and you can feel the stress lift right out of your body. Other items that I recommend are her oils and handmade candles. They both smell so wonderful, and each item has a specific use. You can stop in her shop located at 109 S Bayly Ave, Louisville, KY 40206, right off of Frankfort Avenue, or you can browse her products on her Instagram page or shop from her website. https://www.instagram.com/poeticmoon.boutique/

2. Produce from Faul Family Riverside Farm

Andre is a local farmer who raises organic poultry, beef, pork, and shrimp. He uses a farming style that ensures that the animals are always moving around the farm and that they have plenty of space. I featured him and the farm on my blog last year and discussed his farm’s fantastic job of delivering an organic, fresh, and delicious product. They currently have a meat subscription box where you can get fresh meat delivered to you monthly. It’s the perfect gift for any meat-lover or anyone who wants to know that their product is ethically farmed and produced. https://faulriversideky.com/

3. By Any Means Fitness

2020 is the year that reaffirmed that our health is our wealth. With gyms either being partially closed or at limited capacity, it doesn’t change the fact that they are a vital tool to maintain ourselves as healthy as possible. My favorite locally owned gym in Louisville just so happens to be owned by two of my close friends, Jordan and Djuan Means. They are both personal trainers themselves, and Jordan also handles nutrition/meal plans for their clients. When the gym was unable to remain open during the pandemic restrictions, Jordan created an online program so that everyone could workout and stay healthy at home. I immediately signed up for their program, and since I started it, I have lost 15 lbs. I swear by their meal plans and workouts because I have gone to their gym for years and followed their nutritional guidance, and to be honest, no one can get me into shape as good as they can. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one, then give them the gift of health. Djuan and Jordan have several different programs and options to work with them. You can check out what they have to offer on their website. https://www.byanymeansfitness.com/

4. Camila’s hot cocoa bombs

Camila is my friend’s daughter turned entrepreneur. Thanks to being stuck at home, Camila decided she wanted something to do that was productive that she enjoyed and could make some extra money for Christmas. About that same time, the mad craze over hot cocoa bombs began. She asked her mom if she could bake hot chocolate bombs and sell them because she loves to bake. Her mom said that she could do it, thinking she may sell one or two. Flash forward, and Camila’s hot chocolate bombs have been so popular that she has been filled with orders for the past month. Camila’s parents, Palmira and Chaz, quickly realized their daughter couldn’t do it independently and that she needed help to continue making her Christmas money. They promptly set up shop. Now it is a family affair where both Palmira and Chaz help Camila make the hot cocoa bombs and deliver the orders. It’s the winter version of a lemonade stand, but instead of lemonade, it’s hot chocolate, which is way better, in my opinion. Camila sells her hot cocoa bombs at $5 each or 4 for $15. She has both white chocolate and milk chocolate options. They are adorably decorated, filled with hot cocoa and marshmallows on the inside and delicious chocolate on the outside. They taste amazing. Camila has decided that she will only be making the hot chocolate bombs during the winter, so get yours while you can. To place your orders, you can contact either Palmira Jefferson via Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/palmira.sarmiento.5

5. Norwalk Furniture

The team at Norwalk offers custom upholstery, window treatments, new and antique rugs, custom bedding, and gifts, as well as a range of home design consulting and services. They are a one-stop-shop for everything interior design and decorating. Owned by my personal friends and husband duo Bryant Stanley and Justin Morris and their best friends Tawana Palmer and Kellie Clarke, these fabulous four make their customers’ homes an actual statement piece. They work with all ranges of budgets, and there is something for everyone in their store. There is not another group of people in the Kentucky area that I would trust with designing or decorating my home. Since so many people bought a new home in 2020, what’s a better way to show it off than having fabulous décor and design. Bryant is also a real estate agent, so if you are looking for a home in the Lexington area, not only can he help you find the perfect place, but they can help you design the perfect home! They are located at 2200 War Admiral Way Lexington, KY 40509. If Lexington is too far from Louisville, then no worries, they travel! You can check them out on their Facebook page or website. http://norwalklexington.com/

6. Goldheart stones and such 

If you follow me on Instagram, then there is a good chance that you have noticed that I’m a stoner. Yes, a stoner. Not the illegal type of stoner but the one who collects crystals, rocks, and stones, that type. My favorite place in Louisville to go get “stoned” is by far Goldheart stones and such. Casey Goldheart is the owner, and he has one of the most impressive collections of crystals that I have ever seen. He carries everything from your classic rose quartz hearts to your fossils and highly sought out crystal flames (I now own four thanks to Goldheart and my crazy crystal addiction.) Due to the pandemic, his store has not been opened to the public since March, but to keep the business going during these strange times, he runs Facebook Live sales with a different collection of crystals each day. His live sales usually take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. You can place a purchase and have them shipped to you, or you can schedule a time to stop by the shop and pick them up. You can pick up your purchases at 980 Barret Ave, Louisville, KY 40204, and I’m sure once this is all over, the doors will reopen, and you can experience the glory that is Goldheart stones and such in person. https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=goldheart%3A%20stones%20and%20such

7. Greater Art Soulutions

The old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” in today’s world, not only is a picture worth a thousand words, but it can also be worth thousands of dollars for your business or brand. Society is currently driven by digital marketing and image. To have a successful online business or online presence, you must-have photos. Whether it be of your company, product, or yourself, a high-quality picture can make a world of difference when trying to market yourself in the digital world. Since most everyone has gone digital this year, then it is now more critical than ever. Choosing the right photographer to not only portray your product or company but, more importantly, yourself is one of the hardest parts. Guillermo Sollano is the owner and head photographer of Greater Art Soulutions, and he is who did my photos for my tutoring business website. I explained what I had in mind and let his creativity take over. It was more than evident that Guillermo’s heart and soul go into his photography during my photoshoot. I’ve never experienced a photography session where the photographer wanted to get to know me personally and not just take photos to have enough selection. If you are looking to update your photos, then look no further than Greater Art Solutions. You can check out more of Guillermo’s work by visiting his website. https://greaterartsoulutions.com/

8. Play with Clay

My favorite local painter has been and probably will always be Clay Mata. Not only is she a personal friend of mine, but she is also extremely talented. She does custom design pieces of art. You can request any and everything. Her newest item is a mini canvas that she uses to paint different singers, actors, influential people, comic characters, etc., on them. You can have a mini painting of your favorite singer on your desk, or if your friend or significant other is obsessed with baby Yoda, you can gift them a mini-canvas painting of baby Yoda for their home office. Not only does she do canvas paintings, but she also paints jackets and shoes. Everything is custom made, and no two pieces are alike. Last year, I purchased handpainted holiday mugs from her, and my Grinch mug is now my everyday mug during December. If you are looking for a truly unique gift, then look no further than Play with Clay. To check out more of her work and to place an order. https://www.instagram.com/playwithclay/

9. Serena’s Soaps and Salves

Mother/daughter duo Lora and Serena sell homemade goat milk soaps, lotions, and healing salves for a variety of skin conditions. They use all organic products to make the soaps and salves, and I can vouch that they smell and feel amazing. Serena, has Down Syndrome, and they created the business because they wanted her to prove to herself and others that her condition will not keep her from accomplishing anything. Every product is packaged and labeled by Serena herself, and she is very involved in the business. Hearing her story instantly inspired me, and when I checked out their products, I fell in love. Not only are their products incredible, but the fact that they are local and Serena’s story makes supporting them that much better. During the winter our skin tends to get dry and crack, give someone the gift of smooth, healthy skin by gifting them a soap or lotion from Serena’s Soaps and Salves. Check out their variety of products on their website. https://www.serenassoaps.com/

10. ALAS Language Tutoring

Yes, I am shamelessly plugging my own business on this post. For those who don’t know, I am a language teacher/tutor. I tutor and teach both English and Spanish, and this year I decided to offer my tutoring services to the world by creating my own tutoring business, ALAS Language Tutoring. My number one passion has always been and will always be travel, but languages and teaching are other big passions of mine. I teach and tutor all ages and create customized lesson plans that tailor to each student’s needs. For those who have been wanting to learn another language or brush up on Spanish but feel like they need a more personalized experience, that is exactly what I offer. My lessons cater to each individual’s needs with the target language. Right now, I only offer English or Spanish, but I will be offering one of the other languages that I speak in the future. ALAS Language Tutoring isn’t just a tutoring business; it’s a passion project. ALAS means wings in Spanish, and I truly believe that by learning another language, we are able to expand our “wings” in a multitude of ways. If you are interested in learning Spanish, need a tutor for your child’s Spanish classes, or just want to pick back up where you left on, then check out my website and my different tutoring packages and options. https://www.alaslanguagetutoring.com/

Happy Holidays and remember when shopping for your special someone, your family, or yourself, shop small! These are some of the many faces that you will be supporting by shopping small and local. To quote Djuan Means, “If we don’t support us, who will?”

With love,

Janel