Holiday gift guide

It’s that special time of year again, and folks will be getting together for their traditional holiday gatherings, in many cases after not doing so last year. What better way to make the holidays more memorable for that special family member, friend, or spouse than a great gift? As always, your friends at Johnston Now are here to help. We’ve asked around and gathered a few gift giving ideas that will not only tickle the fancy of those on your shopping list, but help you shop local and support your neighbors this holiday season. With that, we wish you all the best this holiday season. Happy shopping!

WAX MELT

This wax melt from Totally Awesome Candles is a vegan soy wax melt made with high quality oils that are phthalate, carcinogen and mutagens free as well as prop-65 compliant. Each product is handmade in small batches with quality in mind. The cost is $4.99 each and if you buy four you get the fifth one free. Contact them at www.Totallyawesomecandles. com, on Facebook at Totally Awesome Candles or at jaclyn@ totallyawesomecandles.com. They are a woman-owned business looking to make the shop local and shop small mentality become a major focus in the future.

SOY CANDLE

Totally Awesome Candles offers these handcrafted soy candles that are fragranced with clean oils free of carcinogens, mutagens and are prop-65 compliant. Each candle is handmade in small batches with only quality in mind. Candles are $14.99 each, and if you buy four you get the fifth one free. Contact them at www. Totallyawesomecandles.com, on Facebook at Totally Awesome Candles or at jaclyn@totallyawesomecandles. com. They are a woman-owned business looking to make the shop local and shop small mentality become a major focus in the future.

MINI DOUBLE HAPPINESS JAR

This adorable blue and white mini double happiness ginger jar offered by Curated & Company Interiors is perfect for your Christmas list. Its size makes it the perfect layering piece for your bookshelves. Curated & Company Interiors is a small scale interior decorating firm and one-of-a-kind vintage boutique. They specialize in mixing patterns and textures to create a curated space that is unique to each client. They believe in a colorful and affordable approach to interior design. Their team offers a new perspective on traditional small-scale design. Curated & Company Interiors loves the challenge of creating a curated and reimagined vibe with your existing and newly sourced pieces to maximize your budget and help your home’s functionality coexist with your modern lifestyle.

THREE LITTLE BIRDS GIFT BASKET

Need a grab and go, beautifully wrapped gift for the holidays? Three Little Birds gift baskets can be perfectly customized to make sure you wow the person receiving it. Varying price levels and themes are available. Premade themes include relax baskets, coffee lovers baskets, wine and home baskets, foodie baskets and more.

THREE LITTLE BIRDS GIFT CERTIFICATE

Don’t know what to get your family and friends for Christmas? Give them a gift certificate from Three Little Birds, where they’ll find furniture, home decor, apparel, gifts and much more.

DADDY JACK’S COFFEE

Daddy Jack’s “A Taste of New Orleans” from Oak City Collection in Smithfield will be perfect for the coffee lover on your gift list! Cold Brew kits are also available. Oak City Collection is located at 105 S. Third St. and can be reached at 919-810-7472.

PORCELAIN ORNAMENTS

Oak City Collection in Smithfield offers elegant porcelain ornaments. There are many images available as well as custom images for your household. Please inquire at 105 S. Third St. in Smithfield or by calling 919-8107472.

SNACKS CUSTOM CHARCUTERIE

Give the gift of meat and cheese from snaCKs Custom Charcuterie & Provisions. With delivery options in Johnston County, they can deliver a perfectly curated charcuterie board to your friends and family for their holiday celebrations! You can also pick one up from one of their Johnston County pick up locations and surprise your host, or hostess with a very unique and delicious gift! The cost is $65. Contact them at www.snacksNC.com.

PAINT SESSION

Join The Crowing Hen for an instructor-led paint session in a fun art studio! All supplies are provided. Participants bring the wine and food. Artwork can then be printed on various items such as coasters, tumblers or tree ornaments for an additional fee. At The Crowing Hen, each person in the group can make their own selection based on their own preferences. The fact that The Crowing Hen can print the participants' art on various items is also very unique. The cost for the session is $40. The Crowing Hen is located at 325 E. Main St. in Clayton.

LIFESAVING TRAINING

When someone has it all, why not share the gift of life with them at MedicalTraining.me! They offer first aid and CPR AED classes, as well as babysitting classes. These are perfect gifts that make a difference! Their staff has life saving experience and the ability to teach it to non-medical people so that everyone walks away feeling more confident about their ability to make a difference when seconds count! The cost for the lifesaving training is $90. Contact them at melissa@medicaltraining.me. They are located at 101 E. Market St., Suite 2D, Smithfield NC.

CHEETAH SUPER SOFT BLANKET

These are the most amazing blanket throws. They’re $62 and make for wonderful gifts. They’re available on the 104 Clothing and Boutique app or in store at 5638 N.C. 42 West in Garner.

The Benson Chamber is now selling Benson, zip code 27504 t-shirts. Additionally, the chamber has Benson mugs, shot glasses and ornaments. Contact Loretta Byrd at 919-894-3825 or loretta@benson-chamber.com.

SWAN CREEK CANDLES

These candles are 100% soybean wax and poured in the USA! They smell amazing and 104 Clothing and Boutique has many scents and sizes from which to choose. The cost is $23, and they’re available via their app or in store at 5638 N.C. 42 West in Garner.

MASSAGE THERAPY GIFT CARD

Give a gift card for a 60-minute massage therapy session at HealthQuest Wellness & Fitness Center in Smithfield. Improve your well-being with massage therapy. Licensed, certified therapists use hands-on techniques to mobilize muscles, relax tissues and enhance health in people of all ages. Massage therapy can decrease anxiety and stress, ease muscle aches, stiffness and chronic pain; improve joint range of motion and flexibility, increase circulation so your tissues and organs get more healing oxygen and nutrients, lessen insomnia and fatigue, reduce swelling and relieve headaches and reduce occurrence of migraines. Services include deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, massage cupping, medical massage, myofasical massage, pregnancy massage, Swedish massage and trigger point therapy. A therapist will design sessions to meet individual needs. They may use several approaches, such as aromatherapy, thermotherapy (heat) and/or cryotherapy (cold).

LIGHTS OF JOY CAMPAIGN

Make a a gift to the Johnston Health Foundation’s Lights of Joy Campaign in honor of someone special. Bring light to someone’s holiday by making a gift in their honor, while also bringing joy to Johnston Health patients and their families spending time with in the hospital during the holiday season season and giving hope of a brighter future to healthcare workers who have worked tirelessly through the pandemic. The gift is $25. An acknowledgment card and special tribute ornament will be mailed to your honoree or designated family member as notification of your generous gift. Please respond by Dec. 17 for your tribute to receive their ornament before Dec. 25. Proceeds from Lights of Joy will allow Johnston Health Foundation to continue to support the programs and services of Johnston Health, ultimately enhancing the quality of care that is delivered to patients and their families, as well as ensuring all patients have access to treatment no matter their financial circumstance. Contact the foundation at www.johnstonhealth.org/lightsofjoy, at 919-938-7348, or at foundation@johnstonhealth.org.