Last week I suggested some ways to survive holiday shopping. Today, I want to tip you off to some local retailers who will make your shopping experience even less stressful. (And of course, like always with me, there is a background story.)
Each year, Town&Style publishes a holiday gift guide that contains some of our favorite items from area stores. Normally, I have nothing to do with it because, well, the editors want people with good taste making the gift selections. But this year, with an editor on maternity leave and other scheduling conflicts, they had to hit up the B team for help. That’s me! I hoped for the Home or Women’s category, but sadly, I got Kids’.
I say this because I am not a big fan of children. I mean, I like my own, but mostly I just find kids annoying. They ask a lot of questions and always seem to interrupt TV shows right at the good parts. My husband holds the opposite view, however, so our children are normal, and I have managed to keep my annoyance pretty well hidden from the public. You may remember I was a Girl Scout leader for five years. How did I do it? I had a swear jar, and I used to shove $20 into it before each meeting to cover what I would inevitably say during those 90 minutes. Oddly, none of the parents ever pulled their daughters out of the troop. (Hmm, does that make them bad parents, or did they just want to prepare their children for the sort of crazy people they were bound to encounter later in life?)
Anyway, I was not super-excited, so I did what I always do and made my friend Rachel come along. She likes kids, so off we went in search of the perfect presents—and I have to say, I was blown away! We visited Imagination Toys on Clayton Road, which is like a smaller version of FAO Schwarz. What I loved best about the place was that it had toys for kids of every age, including me! Feel the need to play sports at night? Grab a light-up soccer ball or baseball bat. The store has every game you can imagine.
Happy Up on Maryland Avenue is a great choice if you have a child who aspires to be an American Ninja Warrior. Seriously, I didn’t realize I wanted to be one until I saw all of the stuff they have to help me jump and fly. I know it’s not meant for 58-year-old women, but if you have kids, you should stop by. They sell games that challenge your mind, too.
City Sprouts was my final stop. I’ve always loved cars, trucks and racetracks, but not the fancy kind. I like the wooden ones made for little hands. Plus, the store has a great selection of cute clothing.
There also is an online company, Hello Dobson, that sells adorable dresses for moms and daughters. The clothes are made right here in St. Louis. So why am I telling you this? It’s not a paid advertisement. But before you hit the big-box retailers, just try some of these local stores. They have great stuff, the employees are nice, and they actually made me think about kids with a smile. Shop local! It really does make a difference.
Contact Patty at phannum@townandstyle.com.