A (Mostly) Portland Made Gift Guide: For Her.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Before we jump straight into Christmas, I just want to say I am grateful for each of you who has kept reading this blog, even through my various hiatuses and ups-and-downs. You da best :)

So, Christmas in the blog world basically means one thing: Gift guides! I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to put together a gift guide/wishlist as I have in year's past because I am constantly trying to focus more on the important parts of the holiday season including spending quality time with loved ones, eating good food, spreading cheer, and cultivating a spirit of generosity. I don't love the consumerism that has become synonymous with the holiday, so much so that it's doorbusters and deals are even overtaking Thanksgiving, a time where family and gratitude should be held sacred.

Also, while most of the gift guides I see are beautifully put together, they often feature national brands and products that are widely available—how many gift guides feature the likes of J. Crew, Bose, Crate & Barrel, etc.? From a blogger's perspective, they are of course interested in providing ideas from brands that people trust and can easily order—and I'm sure all those the affiliate links don't hurt either.

I want to challenge that idea a little and focus my gift guide on the many Portland brands out there. Portland has such a thriving independent and small business community and is full of some of the most wonderful creative people. It's easy to want to shop locally when you're surrounded by so many great shops and boutiques. But as the links show below, most of these items are also available online, and I hope you will check out some of their shops. Even if you don't end up getting any gift ideas from this post, I hope you learn about a cool Portland brand or two—or just get some ideas for things to look out for the next time you visit the Pacific Northwest!

My philosophy for gift buying tends to lean towards those little luxuries and fun treats that people might not indulge in for themselves. In both my "His" and "Her" gift guides, there are a few non-Oregon specific items just to round out the collection, but I will make note of those below.

1. Tatine Candle in One Rainy Wish, $17
These candles aren't actually made in Portland—Tatine is based out of Chicago—but I'm including them in this gift guide because they are sold locally at a cute boutique called Porchlight. Plus, "One Rainy Wish" just sounds like Portland, right?

2. Tiny Bar Necklace by Minoux Jewelry, $49
I own and love this simple, minimal necklace made by a local artist, which I first saw worn by the vlogger Essiebutton (anyone else love Esteé?). The shop also carries a variety of other simple statement pieces.  

3. Chambray Geo Dot Napkins by Nell & Mary, $45
I don't think I've ever seen chambray napkins before, and I'm in love. I love that they are natural looking but stylish, and I think they'd look great on a table set with white place settings. If you are local or visiting, Nell & Mary products can be found at their design shop North of West in downtown Portland.

4. Dragonfly Chai Concentrate, $7.99
Dragonfly's SweetTea Chai is hands down the best chai concentrate I've ever used and makes a killer iced chai. Unfortunately, I realized after making this guide that it cannot be ordered online, but you can find it in many grocery stores in Oregon and Washington. For anyone visiting Portland, give their cafe a visit; it's in NW Portland on Thurman.

5. Sea Mug by Covet & Ginger, $26
I first fell in love with Covet & Ginger mugs when visiting the amazing donut shop Pip's. They serve their hot drinks in these gorgeous hand-thrown mugs, which I later learned through an Instagram post were made by Covet & Ginger. They use Oregon clay, and many of their glazes are recycled (which accounts for that perfect cloudy/foggy look). They also offer a series of splatter mugs that are brushed with wax before they are fired, which burns away during firing, leaving the raw clay to shine through in places. So gorgeous.

6. Salty Caramels and Salty Honey Nut Chews from Jacobsen Salt Co., $13.95 each
Jacobsen's salt is harvested in the Pacific Northwest—the first people to do so since Lewis & Clark. Their salt offerings are obviously worth checking out, especially as a gift for the home cook, but I think their sweet and salty treats sound amazing. 

7. Where the Roses Smell the Best: A Literary Companion to Portland, $8.95
This collection of short stories, vignettes, poems, and art about what makes the city so unique would make a great gift for a local or anyone with an affinity for Rose City. It was collaborative project between students, community members and professional writers, helping to give students an inside look at the publishing process, which I think makes it even more special. I've linked to this book through Powell's website, which is a Portland institution and the largest indie bookstore in the world.

8. Smith Tea Assortment by Steven Smith Teamakers,  $13.50
Steven Smith was the founder and CEO of tea companies Tazo and Stash, and is credited for being responsible for America's modern tea renaissance. After he sold off his companies due to their success, he founded Steven Smith Teamakers, the headquarters of which are right down the street from my apartment. So far, I've only had their iced tea, which is incredible, but I'm eager to try the hot tea. This package contains an assortment of his most popular flavors. A version with slightly cuter packaging can also be found on the company's website for $14.99.

9. Wildwood by Colin Meloy, with illustrations by Carson Ellis, $8.99
This is one part fairy tale, one part coming-of-age story taking place in a strange, mysterious wooded forest next to Portland. The story is crafted by Portland resident Colin Meloy, singer and songwriter of The Decemberists, and illustrated by his wife, Carson Ellis. While I haven't read the story yet, I did buy it recently and the cover and illustrations are gorgeous. It would make a great gift for Portland lovers and book lovers alike.

10. Herbivore Botanicals skincare, $10 and up
I can't bear to pick out one or two products to recommend, so I will just refer you to the whole company. Herbivore is a natural skincare brand with a range of products from bath soaks to skin oils to clay masks. The designer in me loves their branding, and I think any of their products would make a great gift for someone who likes to pamper themselves. While you can order through their website or through their Etsy shop, they are also stocked at many boutiques across the US, so check their stockist page on their site.

11. Seagrape soap bars, $8 each
Seagrape Bath + Body is a company that uses natural oils, herbs, clays, and botanicals in their products with a focus on aromatheraputic scents. I purchases a sample of their essential oil perfumes a few years ago and thought they were great. The soap scents seem like they'd smell delicious: Lavender Orange, Bay Rum, and Spiced Chai, among others. I also love how they're packaged in recycled cardboard cartons.

12. Imaginary Authors perfume, $55-95 per bottle, $6 per sample
Each scent in the Imaginary Authors line tells a story through its notes, dreamed up by a uniquely wonderful imaginary author. Like a good book, these scents are layered and complex, meant to inspire you through their narratives. Be sure to check out the stories created for each scent. It's such a funky and fun take on fragrances, isn't it? They are available through the Imaginary Authors website, or through the adorable Portland shop-in-an-Airstream-trailer, Menagerie.

***

Stay tuned for the For Him guide, coming in the next day or two!