Beauty, Fashion

SHOP SMALL 2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Hi, everyone!

I’m going to keep this intro short and sweet as this post is a bit lengthy. I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a challenging year in more ways than one. Due to the mandatory lockdown in the spring, I was closed for 2 whole months. Since then, I’ve had to get creative in how I service brides as well as all my other clients. I have also seen how COVID has affected other small businesses in my community. Regardless of where you live, I’m sure you have, too! Now more than ever, we need to support small businesses. That is why I’ve created this holiday gift guide to introduce you to some of my favorite ones. 🙂 Many of these businesses have online destinations meaning you can shop from anywhere in the U.S. I will also be mentioning some stores local to me for those of you that live in my area.

So grab a cup of coffee or tea, and let’s get started. 🙂

Fashion 

SHOP MADISON MARIE

If you didn’t know, Nicolas and I launched an online store this spring during the lockdown. Shop Madison Marie is the online destination of my boutique – Madison Marie Bridal. Online, you’ll find a curated collection of vintage-inspired clothing, accessories, pajamas, and makeup! I always tell everyone it is really just all my favorite things in one place. 🙂 We just launched our holiday collection, and my favorite pieces are the velvet tops and berets! SHOP HERE.

SIMPLIE SCRUNCHIES

My long-time friend Kirstie is so sweet and creative. She just launched her own hair accessory business! I was so thrilled when scrunchies came back in style a couple of years ago. (Tbh I never stopped wearing them.) These are a few of the scrunchies I’ve purchased from Kirstie. You can shop online HERE.

ONECKLACE

If you’ve followed me for a while, you should already be familiar with oNecklace. 🙂 I’ve worked with them countless times in the past and truly LOVE their jewelry. Their designs are classic and customizable, and the quality is very good. This Christmas, I was so happy to select a necklace for my sister. She is getting married soon, so I wanted to get her something with her soon-to-be initials! I went with the Delicate Initial Disc Necklace in rose gold with a rolo chain. It turned out beautifully, and I cannot wait to give it to her! I also selected the Bow Ring in gold as I’ve been eyeing it for SO long. I think it is so cute and especially perfect during the holiday season. These pieces were kindly gifted to me along with a discount code for those of you that want to shop with oNecklace! Use the code Madison20 for 20% off on onecklace.com.

CASS CLAY 

Another jewelry line I love is Cass Clay by Cassie Bish. Her designs are SO unique! I have 3 pairs of her earrings, and they are all so fun and comfortable to wear! I love to mix and match my stud pairs, too. 🙂 Check out her Instagram page HERE.

Dave Rossi Jewelry 

For fine jewelry, I HIGHLY recommend Dave Rossi. Nicolas and I purchased our wedding bands here and had an amazing experience. I often visit them just to browse their gorgeous selection of vintage estate jewelry, and they’re always there to help when something of mine needs cleaned or repaired!

THESE BOUTIQUES … 

All three of these boutiques are local to me but also ship nationally! The first boutique I will mention is By a Thread which started as an online store and has since expanded to a brick-and-mortar location.(CONGRATS, EMILY!) My absolute favorite pieces I’ve purchased from By a Thread are all sweaters – in particular, this beige sweater dress pictured below. Emily has the loveliest selection of casual and chic pieces perfect for everyday wear! Another store to check out is Lock Boutique which is owned by my friend Lydia. Lydia has a great sense of style and keeps tabs on all the current trends. Lock carries a wide range of pieces including activewear, loungewear, party attire, and more! The middle photo below features a super cute top I purchased from Lock. 🙂 Finally, let’s talk about Guzzo’s & Co. which is actually right down the street from Madison Marie Bridal! Guzzo’s carries both men’s and women’s clothing and features plenty of well-known brands. I love shopping for Nicolas there, and my favorite purchase is definitely this light blue blazer I surprised him with for our anniversary!

 

Home

Junk Dealer’s Daughter 

This one is for all my local readers. It is no secret that I am obsessed with this store. Junk Dealer’s Daughter has an amazing collection of vintage and secondhand items. There is always something new to stumble upon! My house and store are adorned with so many lovely things from here … cookie jars, photographs, plates, an apron, a hatbox, and recently these vintage reindeer! I can guarantee that you will find a unique and heartfelt gift at Junk Dealer’s Daughter.

Sam Bly Design

Sam is SUCH a talented artist, and some of my very favorite Christmas ornaments are made by her. I decided to purchase more this year as gifts for my family and friends (and maybe one or two more for myself …) Sam’s Etsy shop has so many unique pieces including dream catchers! Shop HERE.

Afternoon Coffee

I couldn’t create a gift guide without including my mother’s amazing book. I truly believe this is the perfect gift for any mom or grandma! The reviews speak for themselves, though. One reader said … “This book is like a fuzzy blanket on a cold winter evening—warm, comforting, and cozy. A compilation of a few dozen essays from the author’s delightful blog, this lovely little volume affirms the joys of motherhood, homemaking, and simplicity. With gentleness, love, and a hearty dose of wisdom, Billie Jo’s words inspire and encourage—I found myself saying “Amen” on nearly every page. Although a lovely read for any mom, with short, easy-to-read chapters, this would make an especially fantastic gift for a brand new mom. I know I am going to give a copy with all my baby gifts from now on.”  I am incredibly proud of my mom, and this book is so close to my heart. You can purchase it on Amazon HERE.

 

Beauty

As I mentioned above, Shop Madison Marie is a collection of all my favorite things. This includes my most-loved makeup products! Some of my favorites include the tinted brow fibre in dark, this tinted lip balm, and the cream blush and highlighter stick. For the holidays, I LOVE this red lip cream. Dea DeLullo Cosmetics is another small business with great, clean makeup and skincare options. I went to school with Rachelle, the creator of the brand, and she puts her heart and soul into these products. My favorite is the Vitamin C Serum! Finally, I’d love to talk about Wildflower Foundry. I’ve been using their amazing products for a couple of years now! I stock up on the lip balm and use it before bed or whenever my lips are severely dry. Wildflower Foundry’s products are made with clean, natural ingredients and many include zero-waste packaging!

 

Additionally, don’t forget about your local salons and spas! I always love receiving hair products and tools as gifts. There are SO many lovely salons in my area, but I’ll simply name a few that I personally love and have visited … Rainbowtique in Brockway, Merle Norman Boutique in Dubois, The Day Spa Dubois, Esther’s Hair Haven in Dubois, Suanne’s in Dubois, Beauty 210 in St. Marys, InStyle Studio in St. Marys, and Carey Mac’s in Ridgway (I worked here briefly as a makeup artist!). Additionally, there is Revive Beauty Salon in St. Marys which I have not visited but have heard great things! Regardless of where you are, do give your local salons a call and see what products they’re offering this holiday season. 🙂

Gift Cards

Yes. Gift cards. I positively love receiving gift cards! Especially now as we’re in the midst of another shutdown, purchasing gift cards from your local coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants is a wonderful thing to do this holiday season. Additionally, many places are offering take-away holiday dinners and desserts! Another fun gift idea is to prepare a themed experience. Put together gift cards to your local theater, a restaurant, and an ice cream shop for the perfect date night (once things are back to normal. 🙂 ) Check with your favorite small businesses and see if they offer e-gift cards or physical gift certificates.

 

I could go on FOREVER about all my favorite businesses (and I didn’t even get a chance to name them all), but this post is already too long. I do kindly ask that you share your own favorite small businesses in the comments so we can continue this thread and check them out! Additionally, let us all remember to support one another during these trying times and consider the health and wellness of others, too. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

xx, Madison

 

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4 Comments

  • Reply Dawn December 13, 2020 at 11:38 pm

    Hi there! I’m popping in from your mother’s blog. I’m a 42 year old wife and mother of two who lives in south central PA. I love shopping local businesses. My parents used to own a business so I know how hard it is to keep up and I can’t imagine what this lockdown had done for businesses. I can’t wait to check out your site and ooooh I’d love to purchase your mom’s book. The review someone left about her book is exactly how I feel when I read her blog. It’s very comforting and uplifting, and we all can use that in this time we’re living in.

    • Reply Madison Marie December 14, 2020 at 12:17 am

      Hi, Dawn! Thanks so very much for your thoughtful comment. 🙂 What type of business did your parents used to own? And yes, if you like my mom’s blog, you will LOVE her book. Enjoy! xx

  • Reply mamasmercantile December 14, 2020 at 8:33 am

    Looking forward to checking all the sites out, they all look amazing. I have already got all my gifts for this year shopping locally in the independant shops but I have a lot of January birthdays to buy for. Wishing you every success with your online shop.

    • Reply Madison Marie December 14, 2020 at 4:14 pm

      Thank you so much! Merry Christmas to you and your family. <3

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