Stumped on stocking stuffers and gift ideas? We got you

Sure, you can go online and find gifts for anyone that’ll be at your home in no time. But where

are those gifts coming from? Are they supporting local entrepreneurs or benefiting our

community at all?

This season, why not consider buying local from some of the most beautiful, delicious, and bad

a** gifts around! Take a look at these options for stuffing a stocking, wrapping up, or bringing

to the hostess of your next holiday get-together:

For the woman who needs rest!

The book from Shontel Booker, “Sit Ya Ass Down Somewhere: An Intro to Resting for Black

Girls”

The book tackles the stigma in the Black women community with resting, sitting in stillness, and

paying attention to their needs. “We’ve never had the luxury of rest,” said author Shontel

Booker. “We’re always taking care of other people’s kids, everybody else’s job, and we are the

main people who need to rest.”

Booker is a St. Paul native who stands at the helm of the Dream in Color Healing, where she

brings together her roles as a certified yoga instructor, Reiki 1 practitioner, and spiritual life

coach.

The book offers tips and more to rest, including acknowledging what your body needs, setting a

routine, limiting screen time, and the top tip most women ignore! Learn what it is when you

snag the book from Amazon here: https://a.co/d/007d7ZG. You can also find yoga classes,

spiritual life coaching sessions, and more from Booker and Dream in Color Healing at:

https://www.dreamincolorhealing.com.

For the health nut (or not so healthy but has New Year’s Resolutions)

Soul Grain

Soul Grain is a Black-owned granola company based in St. Paul and founded by Liza Maya, a

pastry chef, and Sylvia Williams, a nutritionist. The duo creates flavors inspired by the Black

diaspora using spices and ingredients from different cultures, with a focus on healthy, unique

granola options.

Soul grain is described as granola that finally has some soul. Flavors include banana pudding,

spiced paradise, coco mango, neutral nelly, and sweet potato casserole for blends that are light,

crispy, and a celebration of culture, diversity, and joy. Check it out here: https://soul-

grain.com/.

For anyone who wants a shot at millions!

Minnesota State Lottery

The holiday collection is out and includes the following specialty tickets:

$1

These are stocking stuffer tickets that double as a gift tag. “You could give someone $5,000 and

not even know it,” said Adam Prock, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Lottery.

$2

This ticket smells like pine. It’s a scratch-and-sniff scratch off!

$5

Sparkly ticket with thousands of $500 winners instead of fewer large amount wins.

$10

Each day you scratch one and the top prize is $200,000. “It’s kinda like an advent calendar with

30 days of trying to win,” said Prock.

Even if your ticket isn’t a winner, you still are. In fact, all Minnesotans are. The Minnesota State

Lottery has raised $4 billion for the state’s environment through organizations like the

Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Game and Fish Fund and the

Natural Resources Fund.

For the person who has everything

Vibe Art

Fifteen-year-old Ella Beard is a self-taught artist from Brooklyn Park. She started her craft and

business during the COVID pandemic when she was just 9 years old. Today, through her

company Vibe Art, she has featured her work in local art galleries, marketplaces, and online,

where she sells one-of-a-kind portraits, landscapes, animals, abstracts, and retro or culture-

inspired works. “For people to buy my art, or just see it, gives me so much support,” said Beard.

“I get to inspire other kids that if I can start a business at 9 years old with my parents’ help, then

they can do it too.” Learn more and shop at http://www.vibeartbyella.com.

Anyone with a sweet tooth

Angel's Delightful Creations

Based in Minneapolis, Angel’s Delightful Creations was inspired by founder LaToya White’s

amazing children, Daelen and Davin, whose severe food allergies sparked a passion for creating

delicious, allergy-conscious treats and vegan options. White sells and ships her famous banana

pudding popcorn, caramel turtle donuts, peach cobbler poundcake (among many other

options) and custom specialty 3-layer cakes. See the entire list at: https://www.adcsnacks.com/