Local Honey

So I took the JFP's challenge to spend at least $100 this Christmas shopping season. That very shirt up there you can get from my good buddy Darren Schwindamann at this site. There are so many cool gifts just waiting to be snatched up around this city, you really don't have to go to the mall! The people are so much more willing to help you and glad to see you in the locally owned shops.

I went over the $100 limit I am sure, and here are some of the great things I came away with:

I got this book for my niece, she can learn her colors from Van Gogh and Matisse!

Some Audubon notecards for xBF's mom, she owns several Audubon prints and is a big fan.

I had to get this magnet for myself. It's from William Dunlap's exhibit about what dogs dream, and that dog reminds me of Sally for some reason.

I got all of the above (plus a couple of things I can't show right now in case the recipients see this!) at the Mississippi Museum of Art gift shop. It's my new favorite store in town.

From there, I wandered over to Rainbow Co-op, where I grabbed some Vegan-ase to use in the crab dip I'm making for a party tomorrow where a friend of mine is allergic to eggs. Then I went over to Brent's drug store, where I found a lot of really cute Christmas decorations, but I don't even have room for a tree this year and I am picky about getting ornaments for other people, so I just window-shopped there.

I had to have lunch, so I got a chicken salad sandwich at Broad Street, and while I was in Banner Hall I went upstairs to Lemuria Books. I love love love Lemuria, but it is a bit overwhelming when you walk in because it is SO full of books. Thankfully the staff are so very friendly and helpful. I found these two books for my mom and dad:

The one on the left is for my dad, because he has gotten into gardening and being "green." The one on the right is for my mom who loves to read. It's a collection of stories about growing up here and is illustrated by Wyatt Waters (and this copy is signed by him too!)

Overall I spent about $150 today. But I'd say about 90% of my Christmas shopping is done! And I feel really good about what I found and the fact that my money went right back into the local economy. I am going to try really hard to buy the rest of my gifts locally as well. I challenge y'all to do the same, even if you don't live here, buy local wherever you are!