Skip to main content

A Holiday Quartet

If you are like me you have made a dent in your holiday shopping but you still have a few things to get. There are are people on your list for whom a special item is necessary, and you haven't found it yet. I have some recommendations today. The following four women are local entrepreneurs who have something special to offer.

Kristen Carrasco--Kikiverde Handmade.

Kristen is an artist/artisan and sometime blogger from Laurel. Her specialties are jewelry, beautifully designed prints of inspirational quotes, and her amazing signature Christmas ornaments. (We own one.) Kirsten is also an avid gardener and photographer.  Take a look at the link above which will take you to her Etsy shop. Her attention to detail and use of color is exceptional. There's something about her work that makes you feel rested and refreshed. 

Susan Coghlan--Posh Mama Said So

Susan and I know each other from our days working for the Howard County Public Schools. From Columbia, Susan has started her own business selling Perfectly Posh products. The company describes itself as "pampering products made in the USA using only the best ingredients." Susan's enthusiasm in building her business is awe-inspiring. A friend who is a customer of Susan's said, "
"I highly recommend them - good products, quality ingredients, smells oh so good. Can you tell I am addicted?" 

Nicole Paterson--Neat Nick Preserves

Nicole Paterson lives both in Columbia and Ellicott City. (I still don't understand how that works.) Her business is the newest on the list, but she's been taking the local foodie crowd by storm with her sweet and savory preserves. Little French Market has even created a signature sandwich using her peach preserves. Her products are available at the Little French Market in Ellicott City, and Rooster + Hen Store in Catonsville. It's also easy to contact her through her business Facebook page. Click the link above to see a complete list of what she is whipping up these days. The Brown Sugar Apple Butter sounds like a perfect choice for some breakfast toast on a cold Winter morning.

Monica Rogers Williams--From Momma's Kitchen

Monica lives in my awesome village of Oakland Mills and was once a teacher at my daughter's elementary school. Her cookies are amazing and the variety of flavors and options are plentiful. Click on the link above the see her holiday offerings at her website. Not only are her baked goods fresh and delicious every time, her gift wrapping is gorgeous. I've written about her before--look at the photos. And Momma doesn't just do cookies. She's also well-known for brownies, pound cake, and a killer banana pudding. If you need a gift that will wow from the outside to the inside, Momma has got you covered.

Support local businesses as you finish up your holiday shopping. And don't forget to head over to Old Ellicott City, too.
















Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...

Teacher Gifts

Today is the last day of school before the Winter Break. It’s a good time to remember the far-reaching nature of our public school system. You may not have children. You may have sent your children to independent schools. It matters not. You will be impacted one way or another. Yesterday I read a long thread on Facebook about several waves of illness in the schools right now. There’s influenza A and norovirus, I believe. And of course there’s COVID. Apparently in some individual schools the rate of illness is high enough for school admin to notify parents.  When I was little the acceptable holiday gift for a teacher was one of those lovely floral handkerchief squares. (I don’t know what it was for male teachers. They were rare in my elementary years.) These days the range of teacher gifts is wider and I have fond memories of Target gift cards which I have written about before. I think it’s safe to say that giving one’s teacher Influenza, norovirus, or COVID is not the ideal holiday...

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...