Holiday Shopping: Your Local Gift Guide

With just a few weeks left until Christmas, the procrastinators have begun revving up their engines. It’s go-time, people.

Get ready to scour the local stores and snag any last-minute items for you dearest loved ones, while supporting San Diego businesses and spreading the holiday cheer.

For the beauty queen: Brow Rehab Kit from Beauty by Dolly

Brows can all too often be the last thing to receive the care and attention they need. Beauty by Dolly - one of San Diego’s most popular salons from brow threading (among other services) - has created the perfect set to groom those eyebrows even after a visit to the salon’s locations in Hillcrest and Black Mountain. The Brow Rehab Kit includes a reparative brow conditioner, a stabilizing brow gel, brow powder and angled brush to make a flawless arch, all for $50. beautybydolly.com

For the décor diva: Urban Kitchen

You know and love Tracy Borkum for her work in CUCINA Urbana and CUCINA Enoteca restaurants. Her keen eye for design items that reflect vintage-cool and modern-eclectic taste have made these restaurants shine, and the Urban Kitchen Shop sells nearly everything from inside these venues, and then some. From furniture to lighting to glasswear, the Urban Kitchen Shop boasts local design gift items at a range of price points. We have our eyes on the Moscow Mule mugs, the felted wine sleeves, hand-crafted pizza boards, aprons, coasters, lighting and even a wooden-tassel chandelier (pictured). urbankitchengroup.com

For the gem-obsessed: Three Sisters Jewelry

Personalized, hand-stamped jewelry makes the Three Sisters collection stand out from the rest. After all, creator Zoe Mohler has hand-stamped her company with the same approach, naming it after her three daughters and capturing the laidback eclectic styles of San Diego. Shoppers can personalize the design on necklaces, charm bracelets and other trinkets with a loved one’s name, initials or special date. The possibilities are endless, but the heart behind the gift always remains the same. Visit their new storefront in Leucadia as you peruse over 150 personalized jewelry pieces or choose from the collection of carefully curated pieces. (Main image) threesistersjewelrydesign.com

For the game-enthusiast: Open Up

The South Park-based Wiggity Bang Games knows just how to get your guests sharing their most hidden secrets. The simple-to-play game Open Up created right here in San Diego gives players 123 questions invoking the embarrassing, inappropriate and awkward. This is definitely made for adults only! Sample questions include “If you needed an organ transplant, would you accept one from a serial killer?” and “How many kids is too many? Why?” The game is sold at Barnes & Noble, UncommonGoods, Progress in South Park and at openupgame.com

For the knick-knack hoarder: Pigment

Once you enter this North Park shop, you’ll be hooked. It doesn’t take long to be completely mesmerized by the dazzling succulents, hanging plants and modern fixtures in the Plant Lab. You’ll buy one as a gift and have to keep one for yourself. This year, our eyes are set on the food-centric products like the Salt Farm’s salt sampler, based out of San Diego. These gourmet salts spice up any dish for $32. There are also the Lemon Bird handcrafted jams and pickles (pictured) made here in Southern California. Pigment has, of course, other goodies such as home accessories, jewelry, books and more. It’s the one-stop shop for stressed Santas on the hunt for original, creative ideas. shoppigment.com

For the cheese lover: Cheese Lovers Club at Venissimo Cheese & Wine Bar

Skip your lactose-intolerant friends on this one. This gift was made for cheese-aficionados who can’t get enough of indulging in the rich flavors of cheese from around the globe. Similar to a wine club, the Cheese Lovers Club sends a local delivery of three cheeses plus an accoutrement shipped to your door or picked up from one of the neighborhood shops every second Friday of the month. With locations in Mission Hills, The Headquarters and Flower Hill Promenade in Del Mar, Venissimo Cheese has been a San Diego staple since 2003. Past featured cheeses in the club include alehouse cheddar, chimay, cahill porter, musette and more. venissimo.com

For the natural beauty who loves giving back: Botanical Me

This natural skin care line features healing plants of Africa, but is located right here in San Diego’s Mission Hills community. Sisters Jill Hansen and Carly Lodkey created these products to promote health in the body while also advocating health in Africa. The ME in Botanical Me stands for Malaria Eradication - 10% of all proceeds help supply mosquito nets, education and ACT medical treatments. Ready to give the gift that keeps on giving? Head for the Rested & Refresh Aroma Mist, a travel-sized herbal lavender blend to spray on pillows, linens and clothes; the Madagascar Mint Lip Balm with Organic Shea Butter made with raw, fair-trade organic shea butter grown by a women’s group in Togo, West Africa; or the Instant Energy Pulse Point Roll-On, made with grapefruit, mint and African ginger essential oils to boost concentration and sharpen mental focus. botanicalme.com

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Source: DiscoverSD