The holiday season is such a perfect time to support small businesses and easily spread the word about your favorite local artisans, creators, and service professionals!
In this blog post, I am sharing a list of amazing businesses I’ve discovered over the last year in the Sacramento County that have quickly become some of my favorite places. Whether you want a perfect place to shop for holiday gifts for friends and loved ones, or you prefer to gift experiences, you’ll find it here! Read on for great food, great gifts, great experiences in the Greater Sacramento Area!
#1- Tea Xotics in Folsom. A majority of my Christmas gifts last year were purchased at Tea Xotics! Walking into this dreamy store is a treat in and of itself! This shop doubles as a café, so you can grab a delicious matte latte while you take in all the goodies lining the shelves. From bath bombs, to signature tea blends, candles, cutting boards, and my personal favorite – essential oil rollers with delicate flowers inside, you are sure to find a special something for someone on your list. After your holiday shopping, stop in for a bite at #2 on my list!
#2- Almighty Bistro, located directly across from Tea Xotics, is a Gluten-Free Restaurant that proudly selects products that are local, non-GMO, sustainable and regenerative. The service is top notch, the menu is intentional, and the ambience has an eclectic elegance. Almighty is a great stop for lunch during a holiday shopping outing in Folsom!
#3- Haus of Maye – Prepare to be enchanted! Alicia’s specialty is her handcrafted small batches of non-toxic candles. She lovingly prepares seasonal blends, and current favorites from the Holiday Collection are Mulled, Gather and Hearth. In addition to candles, Haus of Maye has a varied line of aromatherapy mists. I love using the Clarity Mist, which utilizes rosemary and mint to keep me perked up during work hours. Alicia’s creations are so well loved, she recently opened a Brick and Mortar Store in Cameron Park which is like stepping into a mystical apothecary!
#4- Asha Urban Baths is my happy place. When I am feeling stressed, or I just want to celebrate a successful closing, I book a soak at Asha. The atmosphere is serene and approachable. The staples of the bathhouse are the two heated pools, two saunas, a steam room and a cold plunge. You can also book a massage, sound bath, or salt room experience to make a day of it. My in-laws purchased a gift certificate for me to Asha last year for Christmas and it was a gift very much appreciated!
#5- CLARA – E. Claire Riley Studios for The Performing Arts is a hub in the heart of Midtown where artistry exudes from every corner. The newest delight is Seasons Coffee Roasters (my literal current location!) located inside the main building, charmingly decorated to feel like an English Tea Room! CLARA has much to offer. From dance classes, like Ballet and Irish Dance, to French lessons, music lessons, youth outreach programs and a plethora of offerings for adults, there is something for everyone! There are many opportunities to enjoy live performances showcasing the varied talents of local artists and performers. The Auditorium is a beautiful event space, which can be reserved to host meetings, workshops, and special events, as well as to community arts groups for public performances.
#6- Vibe Aerial Arts – The Aerial Arts are a super fun way to stretch your comfort zone, build flexibility and strength, all while learning performance level skills! Vibe Aerial Arts and Dance is an amazing place to explore the entire spectrum aerial has to offer, with weekly classes in Silks, Lyra, Hammock, Pole, Dance and Flexibility, as well as rotating workshops in other disciplines as well! Check out one of their periodic Open House events to try aerial for yourself!
#7- Conscious Creamery – Hot Fudge Sundaes are my thing… but dairy isn’t. To my delight, The Conscious Creamery has a truly delicious dairy-free hot fudge sundae! And that’s not all. Confections of all types from chocolate dipped ice cream bars, to donuts, ice cream cakes, and ‘choco-tacos’, all deliciously dairy free! The whole experience took me back to childhood, eyes wide as saucers, reading the names of all of the delectable flavors, deliberating on which one to choose! Fortunately, The Conscious Creamery is conveniently located in Oak Park, not even 5 mins from Asha Urban Baths (#3 on this list) so I can enjoy two of my favorite things in one day!
#8- Article Consignment – It’s no secret I am a huge supporter of second-hand clothes, as they are both budget and environmentally friendly! I’ve grown to prefer quality over quantity, so I look for timeless items made with care, that I know will be a staple in my wardrobe for years to come. Article Consignment is an excellent place to sell your pre-loved items that are in good condition, or find a high end garment for a fraction of the price! Grab a bite or beverage at Tupelo, a great little coffee house right next door, to make an afternoon of it!
#9- Peachy Collective – Located in Fair Oaks, The Peachy Collective is a curated shop that supports women-owned local businesses by consigning their collections in the brick and mortar location! The Peachy Collective is an evolution of Peachy Pop Ups, which gathers local vendors in the Greater Sacramento area for a unique shopping and dining experience at the amazing Milagro Market Center.
#10- Global Harmony is a transformational and experiential journey that teaches the participants how to cultivate greater awareness and freedom in their emotional lives. The “training” is meticulously and intentionally facilitated, and inspires profound results. I am genuinely living with more emotional freedom, authenticity and love, and I’m so grateful I discovered Global Harmony!
Do you own, or want to recommendation a local small business you absolutely adore, and think everyone needs to know about? Send me an email at grace@gracegivesyoukeys.com with the details so I can explore adding it to the next edition! If you loved this list, share it with a friend!
One more thing! If you end up checking out one of these businesses, I wanna hear about it! Tag me on social @gracegivesyoukeys or #gracegivesyoukeys
Have a happy, safe, fun and festive holiday season!
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