SVH Holiday Guide 2022

A Supplement to the Skagit Valley Herald

Go Green, Shop Local

As climate change wreaks havoc on the planet, the more individuals who take action, the more likely they are to have an e ect.

Shopping local doesn’t only get you great service and support your community, it also helps the planet.

Local shopping reduces your carbon footprint — a phrase that Conservation International de nes as a way to express the e ect a person, corporation or activity has on the environment, especially as regards to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are released into the atmosphere by a given activity.

SHOP BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORES

While it may seem like online shopping would be good for the environment, you actually have a smaller carbon footprint when you drive to a local store and make your purchases.

According to research ndings

published in Environmental Science & Technology, the total greenhouse gas footprints per item purchased was higher from strictly online sellers than it was from purchases made at local brick and mortar stores. Why? When shopping online, people tend to make smaller purchases at a time, resulting in multiple deliveries and more packaging. Also, sometimes items in a single order will come from di erent warehouses, causing more greenhouse gas emissions per item.

If you are going to do your shopping online, purchase from local businesses that deliver directly from their store.

BUY LOCAL PRODUCTS

Don’t just shop at local stores, whenever possible, buy products that are locally made or harvested. is way less fuel is spent delivering the products to you. It also wastes fewer natural resources.

BUY FOOD IN SEASON

When you buy food out of season, it

has to be shipped from far away. Keep track of what foods are in season and eat them only when you can get them locally grown. If there is one in your area, join a collective to purchase locally grown foods.

RECYCLE AND REUSE

When you’re shopping, give preference to items that use recycled packaging. ere will usually be a recycling symbol on the packaging if such materials are used.

Invest in sturdy tote bags made of

nylon or cloth for shopping instead of the disposable paper or plastic bags.

COMBINE TRIPS

Greener Ideal website recommends reducing the number of trips you take to the grocery store. Doing this saves you fuel because you will make fewer trips. Make a list before you go shopping and buy more at one time. Instead of driving to the store three times in a week to get milk, buy three gallons once a week.

Give Experiences

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are realizing that the best gifts aren’t things, they’re experiences. Here’s your guide to how to give the best experiences that won’t break the bank this holiday season.

MEMBERSHIPS

Buy a family — particularly one with young kids — a yearly membership to a museum, zoo, aquarium or other local fun activity. Within just a few visits, these memberships usually pay for themselves and are a great, year-long activity they can take advantage of. Make sure that you purchase the appropriate level of membership for that group. Some family memberships, for instance, cap out at four or ve family members. If your family has more, or frequently visits with friends, consider going up a level.

SEASONAL PARK PASSES

For the adventurer, consider a seasonal

state or national park pass that gets them in the gate free all year round. A U.S. national park pass is $80 for the general public and can be purchased at any federal recreation site, online at the USGS store, or by calling (888) ASK USGS, extension 2. Senior passes, military passes and other types of passes may cost less or even be free.

Check with your state’s division of state parks for more information on state park passes.

VOUCHERS

Give the gi of a voucher (or several vouchers) to their favorite places. Around the holidays, lots of places o er service gi certi cates — think nail salons, spas, barbers and more — or vouchers for future use, such as those for cooking classes, tours, amusement park tickets, movie tickets and other things. is gives the recipient exibility to choose the best time to redeem their gi and get the best experience for them.

Getyoursigni cantothersomething thatwilllastbeyondtheholidayseason

PLAN A DAY AWAY

Pick a local festival, fair or other activity and plan the whole day. Start with breakfast at a favorite restaurant, then a picnic lunch and maybe dinner under the stars. Don’t forget to hit up their favorite

activities, rides and more, and throw in a few things that they wouldn’t normally do for themselves. Don’t have a favorite? Find one that you’ve never been to before and book the whole day for them. You can even get creative with the wrapping, with clues to what you’re going to do.

Finding Local Businesses

Your television, social media feed and junk mail is likely lled with advertisements for big box stores and national chains. Information about them is easy to access and research is easy.

Learning about local businesses, what they o er and the quality of their services can be a bit more challenging, but it’s an important part of being a local shopper who contributes to the nancial health of your community.

GO EXPLORE

One boon to local shopping is the healthy bene ts of getting out and walking rather than just shopping from your computer. Money Crashers suggests that people who want to learn more about small businesses in their community should set aside a day to go exploring in their own town. ey recommend doing it on foot or riding a bike.

e website DiscoveryMap.com creates

illustrated maps of many towns. You can call up a colorful map on your phone and tablet and use it to nd places to stay, eat, shop and entertain yourself.

Another place to get local maps is your local chamber of commerce. ey may have maps or even shopping guides. Make them the rst stop on your expedition.

Take note of stores you nd. Visit them and talk to the people who work there. Ask how long they’ve been in the community and what they do best.

HELPFUL PHONE APPS

Your phone can be a helpful tool when it comes to trying to learn about local businesses. ere are many apps o ering a variety of services. Most will provide you with basic information such as operating hours, addresses, phone numbers and website addresses.

Consider using some of these:

• Google Maps. While it won’t sort local from national shops, it will make lists of

businesses in your community and help you nd what stores are where. You can use it to search for exactly what you are looking for and then read reviews of the stores you are considering shopping at.

• Facebook. Search for “local small businesses” and see what groups pop up. If you can find one with business owners, it can be a great way to interact directly with them, asking the––questions you have or seeing what other local shoppers have to say.

• Nextdoor. is social media app can help you nd small businesses and inform you what your neighbors think of them. It also has a businesses tab where you can nd local deals and information about nearby businesses.

• Yelp. With consumer reviews, Yelp is a way to start your research of a local business. What have other people experienced there? What do your neighbors love? Hate? Yelp will tell you.

Give the Gift of Time

Ask most anyone these days what they wish they had more of, and they’ll answer time.

e good news is that you can nally wrap that up and put it under the tree with the gi of a few of their favorite services to save them time.

HOUSE CLEANING

When you decide to gi a service, start with one that takes up the most time. Book an introductory house cleaning service and give your loved one those hours back to take for themselves.

Introductory cleanings are usually longer (and more expensive) than normal cleanings, so take this into consideration when booking. Also ask for future rates if your recipient decides to continue regular cleanings.

CAR DETAILING

ere’s no busy parent on this planet that wouldn’t welcome a nice, clean car, even if it’s just while they sit in the pickup

line. Book a car detailing service and let your recipient have that new car feeling again. Bonus points: Grab a mobile detailing service that will come to your recipient’s home or o ce so they don’t have to go out of their way or spend a day (or two, depending on how bad it is) without a vehicle.

BABYSITTING/PETSITTING

Speaking of busy parents, give them a night out sans kids for a hot date or even just to go grocery shopping in peace by booking a few hours with a neighborhood sitter. Or o er to take the kiddos yourself and treat them to dinner out and ice cream, just make sure you don’t run into Mom and Dad.

If your recipient’s kids have four legs instead of two, or sports feathers, book petsitting for their next getaway instead. You can get a voucher from their vet or favorite boarding kennel, or even from home-based services such as Rover.

GROCERY DELIVERY

Having a week’s worth of groceries deposited on your doorstep feels nextlevel luxurious, and is a kindness that many busy people appreciate. O er up a gi certi cate for whatever delivery service works best in your area, or get them a premium membership for the gi that gives all year.

LAUNDRY SERVICE

Book a few weeks of a laundry service that washes, dries and folds, all for a

simple fee. Anyone who has ever spent time staring a the dryer for a clean pair of pants will appreciate your forethought.

A note about giving services: Make sure to choose a service that your recipient is comfortable with. Not everyone is OK with someone coming into their house to clean, and other people make take it as a snide commentary. It’s the thought that counts, so make sure to put some thought into what services your recipient will appreciate.

Boost Local Businesses

Shopping local is all about community. It’s about living in your community, making your community better and healthier, supporting your neighbors.

It’s something that is much bigger than just deciding where you are going to buy your toothpaste. It’s about being a part of your community, your town and your region. It’s why being a local shopper also means being a local storyteller.

When you tell the stories of your experiences shopping locally, you don’t just help the small businesses you bought from. You also help others around you become more savvy local shoppers and spread the movement beyond yourself.

SHARE YOUR STORIES

McKinsey & Co. studied the inclusive consumer in 2021-22. Inclusive consumers are those who are more likely to shop local and who are more likely to shop businesses owned by underrepresented communities.

One of the things they said in their report was that inclusive consumers -- local shoppers -- want to know the stories of those who own or found the businesses. ey want to know what the owner’s mission is. ey’re far more likely to visit a business if there are stories that interest them.

While it is the job of a business to tell their stories, you can help to spread the word. Did you have a unique experience at a store? Did you connect with an owner or a manager who was able to customize

their o erings for you? Share that story. Tell it to your friends. Post about it on social media. Write a letter to your local newspaper. Call into a local radio show. Email the business itself to give them an opportunity to use your words as a testimonial.

LEAVE REVIEWS

Real consumer reviews that go beyond a thumbs up or thumbs down can do a lot for a local business. When you’ve had a good experience (or even when you’ve had a bad experience), leave a detailed, honest and fair review.

Keep in mind that you’re not just helping local businesses, you are also helping others become local shoppers. It’s why it is important that your reviews are authentic.

PICTURES PAINT 1,000 WORDS

You don’t even have to use a lot of words in order to spread the word. Few people are ever without a camera because of the popularity of smartphones. Did you score an awesome nd at a local store?

Take a picture. Take a sel e with a local artisan. Make a TikTok video of you and your date enjoying a local meal.

Post those pictures and videos on your social media and tag the pages of the businesses where you took the pictures. Local shoppers like you get a lot of their information from Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Help to provide the answers they need.

Tech Gifts for 2022

It’s hard to stay ahead of technology these days, but when you have a techie in your life, you’ve got to give it a try. Here are some of the smartiest, geekiest gi s to give this holiday season.

SMART FISH FINDER, $149.99,

SHARPER IMAGE

is tiny bobber houses sonar that will tell you where the sh are, how deep they are and how big they are, all within seconds of hitting the water. It works in both salt and fresh water and is good for ice shing and night shing. You can get 10 hours of shing on a single charge. e Smart Fish Finder is compatible with iPhone iOS 11 or later and Galaxy/ Android OS 6.0 or later.

ANKER SOUNDCORE PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER, $27.99, AMAZON

Popular Mechanics ranks this little speaker among the best Bluetooth

speakers on the market. Water-resistant with simple controls, it’s a great companion for outdoor adventures. It plays for 24 hours on a single charge and pairs up to 60 feet away.

LOGITECH C920S WEBCAM, $74.50, WALMART

Work-from-home warriors can get behind the need for a great webcam. Zoom into that meeting with 1080p video, high-de nition auto focus and automatic light correction. is tiny Logitech cam also features dual microphones so they can de nitely hear you now.

YOOTECH WIRELESS QI CHARGER, $14, AMAZON

Bye, tangled USB cords. Hello, freedom. More tech devices than ever before use wireless charging, so get onboard with this quick Qi charger. Compatible with a variety of devices and with a stockingstu er price tag, this tiny gi packs a big punch.

FORM SWIM GOGGLES, MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP VARIES, FORMSWIM.COM

ese smart swim goggles show live metrics in the lenses as you swim, allowing you to track improvements in real time. It gives you workouts, shows your e ort level and gives you progress updates. e goggles are fully adjustable with seven di erent nose bridges to ensure a snug, custom t. One charge gives you 16 hours of battery. e goggles are also compatible with a range of smart watches for open-water swimming.

AQUASONIC BLACK SERIES TOOTHBRUSH, $59.45 AT AMAZON

Yes, even toothbrushes are high-tech these days. is ADA-approved electric

toothbrush comes with six brush heads and a travel case. Its lithium ion batter charges wirelessly and it features four brushing modes to help you to your brightest smile ever. e travel case uses UV lighting to kill 99.9% of germs a er you’re done brushing.

MAKEBLOCK MBOT NEO CODING ROBOT KIT, $129.99 AT AMAZON

If you’ve got a techie kid on your list (or kid at heart), look no further. e mBot lets them build and code their own robot, learning programming all the while. It can be built in one hour and the opensource so ware allows for hundreds of add-on packs. It can also hear, remember and speak voice commands. It’s OK if you want one, too.

Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, depending on where you go, it can be an exciting experience that creates memories or becomes part of your family’s traditions.

Check out local shopping events ranging from fairs to festivals to traditional Christmas markets featuring the work of local artisans.

ARTS AND CRAFT FAIRS

Creative cra ers and ne artists in your community have likely spent the year creating items that they o er at art shows and cra fairs in the months leading up to the holiday season. It’s a great way to purchase unique gi s while supporting individuals in your community.

Check out sites like FairsandFestivals. net, where you can search for art fairs and cra shows within a certain mile radius of your home or browse by state.

Before you go, check out the fair’s website and see what vendors will be there. Many will have Instagram pages and you can plan your shopping and pick out gi s. If you want to go when it is a little slower and you can talk to vendors and perhaps discuss custom work, the a ernoons are usually less crammed.

Take both cash and credit cards. While most vendors will take credit cards, sometimes a venue has limited WiFi access that can make processing those cards slow.

Also, this isn’t the place to haggle. ink of them as more of a pop-up retail store than a garage sale.

HOLIDAY FESTIVALS

Holiday festivals — either indoor or outdoor — o en combine many elements of the season. ey may incorporate parades, lights, family activities, music and, of course, shopping. It’s the sort of shopping that can be a fun activity for the whole family as you can include such things as a visit to Santa or a chance to ice skate.

Yes, you might have to get sneaky about

some of your purchases and hide them from the intended recipient, but it can also be fun to see exactly what they are most interested in.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Christmas markets started out as a German tradition during the Middle Ages, according to National Geographic.

Downtown squares get turned into holiday extravaganzas with lights, bunting and vendors selling holiday decor such as ornaments or Nativity scene gurines. Holiday treats and drinks are sold in the streets and carolers or piped-in music keeps things festive.

In non-pandemic years, Germany alone has 2,500 to 3,000 Christmas markets, says National Geographic.

ankfully for the rest of us, the tradition has spread not only throughout Europe but to the United States.

If there is a Christmas market near you, it is a great way to shop local and purchase your holiday decor and gi s while enjoying an old, cultural tradition.

Outdoors, Outdone

Give the gift of adventure for the outdoors lover in your life. Check out these great gift ideas to get them out there.

TENT CAMP LIGHTS

Available in a variety of colors, these tough LED lights perfectly illuminate your tent or campsite. ey run on 3 AAA batteries and have three lighting modes, o , full light and icker. e storage case for the 100 inches of Big Agnes mtn GLO LED lights includes a pyramid-shaped storage case that doubles as a lantern. Get them at REI for $29.95 each.

GCI OUTDOOR FREESTYLE ROCKER

Get your outdoor lounge on with this comfortable and lightweight rocking chair. It holds up to 250 pounds and includes a cup holder. Folds for compact storage. It comes in maroon and gray and navy and gray. Around $70, depending on color, at Amazon.

ELECTRIC SHOE AND BOOT DRYER

Never have cold, wet feet again with this PEET M97-FS Original Dryer. Bonus: It gets out odor-causing bacteria as well, all without deteriorating the materials. It also has a 25-year warranty. Get it for $50 at Tractor Supply.

LEATHERMAN FREE P4 MULTITOOL

is top-of-the-line multitool has 21 tools, including scissors, knives, pliers and wire cutters, all on the outside of the tool so you can deploy any of them with one hand. It’s made in Oregon and comes with a 25-year warranty. $150 at Walmart.

DARN TOUGH HIKER MICRO CREW CUSHION SOCKS

You won’t get far with bad socks, so get the best there is with these moisturewicking socks with cushioning for all your outdoor activities. Darn Tough also guarantees its socks for life. Comes in several colors and three sizes, $24.

JETBOIL FLASH COOKING SYSTEM

is tiny pocket rocket of a camp stove boils water in just over a minute and half. It features a push igniter, so no matches are required, and the bottom cover serves as both measuring cup and bowl. It’s

compatible with other Jetboil accessories, including the co ee press, cooking pot, frying pan and more. Fuel not included, cool factor free. Available in a range of colors for $114.95 at REI.

Sit, Stay, Gift

These gifts are better than a long walk for both pets and their people.

CUSTOM PET PORTRAIT PHONE CASE, $50 WEST & WILLOW

Protect your phone with the cute mug of your favorite pet with this wireless charging compatible phone case from West & Willow. Choose your favorite pet photo and upload it with your order, choose your phone model, pick your illustration and shipping and you’re all done. Not into phone cases? e company o ers a complete line of merchandise, including framed portraits.

PLAYOLOGY SILVER DRI-TECH DENTAL ROPE DOG TOY,

AT

$14.99,

STARTING

DEPENDING ON SIZE, AMAZON

is toy is speci cally designed for older dogs who need so er material for aging teeth and gums. Playology embeds scent into their toys so that it doesn’t fade and it doesn’t get old and, most importantly, humans can barely smell it. It’s also easy to clean and you can’t wash away the scent from the toy. Comes in peanut butter and pork sausage scents.

DASH DOG TREAT MAKER, $29.95, WILLIAMS SONOMA

Churn out your own homemade doggie goodies with this bone-shaped dog treat maker. e adorable, wa e-iron type cooker comes with a recipe book full of recipes to drool over and a portion of the proceeds bene t the North Shore Animal

League America, Port Washington, New York.

PERSONALIZED PET SOCKS, STARTING AT $6.99, ETSY

Get your pet’s face emblazoned on socks for their favorite human using PetPartyCo (or one of the other shops on Etsy). Upload, choose your sock and colors, and o you go. Gi ing done. You can also add personalization to your sock.

HYPER PET DOGGIE PAL CRAB INTERACTIVE DOG TOY, $17.97, AMAZON

is crab has skills! He wiggles, vibrates and barks to goad your dog into playing, encouraging exercise and reducing anxiety and boredom. e toy takes 3 AAA batteries and has an automatic stop feature to save on battery life.

K&H THERMO-KITTY DELUXE HOODED CAT BED, STARTING AT $55.99, CHEWY

So , cuddly and warm, this bed features a dual thermostat heating unity to keep kitty cozy. It’s also easy to clean with a washable cover. Available in two sizes and two colors. For indoor use only.

PETFUSION AMBUSH INTERACTIVE CAT TOY, $22.95, AMAZON

Awaken the hunter in your cat with this stimulating interactive cat toy that mimics prey popping out from the bush. LED lighting means your cat can play day or night, keeping them nimble and engaged. You can get replacement feathers when your cat eventually wears these out.