Tacoma/South Sound Vegan Holiday Gift Guide – 2011

If you’re like me, you probably feel as though December came up way too fast this year. If you’re also like me, you’re attempting to make your holiday shopping more focused on locally-created and sold products and goods. If you’re still on the hunt for gift ideas for your favorite vegan that can be found in the South Sound, you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve created the Tacoma/South Sound Vegan Holiday Gift Guide in order to help out those of you who on the hunt for cool, unique and interesting gifts that can be found in town and that do not harm animals. I hope some of these ideas help you find gifts for the people you hold dear, vegan or not.

Price key: up to $25 = $, $50 and below = $$, $75 and below = $$$, $100 or more = $$$$

A few notes: All photos are mine, unless otherwise noted, (in that case, they’re from the companies/creators). These items are not all from vegan stores and are not all made in Tacoma, but rather all ARE vegan and are all sold locally. I personally own many of these items and support these companies, but I was not given any of the items, and was also not compensated by companies or asked to put any items on this list. I’m also a member, volunteer and newly elected board member of the Tacoma Food Co-op. Okay, now that that’s out of the way, here you go!

A mani/pedi (or both!) from Girl Talk
I have a feeling that many local vegans don’t know about the wonder that is Girl Talk Salon. No, not the band, (though they’re awesome, too), Girl Talk is a one-woman nail show located on 6th Ave., in the salon located directly next to Valhalla Coffee Co. Owner Stephanie is vegan herself, and makes the scrubs, lotions and bath fizzies that she uses for nail treatments. She also uses cruelty-free polishes, will give you a tarot reading for fun if you like, and is one of the sweetest women in the city. I won’t let anyone else touch my toes. Info. $$-$$$ (if both)

Sweets and coffee

I think you guys should all know by now how wonderful I think Corina Bakery is by now. They make vegan pumpkin loaves, chocolate chip, peanut butter and quinoa cookies, NRG bars, cupcakes, cakes, pies and specialty items by request. Down south, if you’ve ever had a vegan cupcake, muffin or cookie in an Olympia cafe, chances are it was from The Bearded Lady Food Co.  In addition to traditional treats, they sell full-sized tarts, tortes and cheesecakes, which are rare, decadent treats for us ’round these parts. Why not grab a nice selection of baked goods and a promise to come over and catch up and share the bounty? Add in a pound or two of beans from Bluebeard or Valhalla in Tacoma, or Olympia Coffee Co. or Batdorf and Bronson in Oly,  and you’ll have one happy friend. Corina, Valhalla, Bluebeard, Bearded Lady, Oly Coffee, Batdorf. $

Nurture Botanicals personal care products from Oly Vegan

I stopped into Olympia’s new all-vegan lifestyle shop this weekend in anticipation of creating this guide. The shop has tons of great gift items, and I’ll highlight a few. One was the array of herb and essential oil-infused personal care items from Nurture Botanicals. A few great gift items that stood out from this line: Skin Detox Soaking Salts, (above),  natural laundry soap, and peppermint lip butter. Perfect for the aromatherapy obsessed individual in your life.  Info. $-$$

Gift cards to Tacoma’s and Olympia’s vegan and vegetarian eateries

The way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach, (you can quote me on that). While some may be cutting back on their dining out budgets these days, a gift certificate to a local restaurant will allow your friends or family the chance to get out on the town, have a date night, enjoy time on their own or gather with other friends and enjoy delicious food or drink. Tacoma’s only all-vegan cafe Quickie Too, vegetarian and vegan-friendly Caffe Dei and the nearly all raw/vegan Amerawcan Bistro are all excellent choices. For those in further South Sound, the greasy diner with a heart for vegans, Darby’s, vegan-friendly with excellent cocktails to boot, Quality Burrito, and Lacey’s nearly all-vegan Asian fusion spot Tofu Hut are all great bets. Quickie, Caffe Dei, Amerawcan Bistro, Darby’s, QB, Tofu Hut. $-$$

A Scent of Scandal Candles from Oly Vegan

Who doesn’t need another great smelling candle in their home or office? A Scent of Scandal 100% soy wax candles come in a variety of scents, burn for 30-35 hours and Oly Vegan had some great seasonal offerings available in the shop, including: Ho Ho Homo, (fruitcake scented, hehe), Santa’s Pole (candy cane) and Challahback Girl, (challah bread). I grabbed an earthy Morning Wood (sandalwood) scented one for myself. Info. $

Vegan Cookbooks from King’s Books

Have a friend or family member who’s considering transitioning to veganism, or has been vegan for sometime but could always use a new cookbook or few? Head on over to King’s Books and pick up a copy of “Veganomicon” by vegan cookbook queen Isa Chandra Moskowitz, the ultimate guide to starting out as a vegan, “Becoming Vegan” by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina or  Jonathan Safran-Foer’s “Eating Animals.” You can never go wrong with vegan books/cookbooks. Info. $

Libertine Tacoma salts

What gift do you get for the vegan who has everything? Culinary, one-of-a-kind salt blends, of course! Libertine Tacoma creates gourmet, handcrafted salt blends packaged in re-purposed scientific flasks and beakers, (love), in a variety of flavors such as Chipotle, Balinese Blend, Alderwood Smoked, and Trifecta, a naturally purple tinted salt. Don’t be fooled by some of the titles or suggestions for these salts: just because they’re recommended to be used with fish or meats does not mean they’re not vegan. I recently picked up a blend at the Tacoma Artist Craft Fair, and I’m finding the uses for it are seemingly endless. Grab a few as a main gift or grab a couple as stocking stuffers. Info. $-$$

Alchemy Goods Laptop sleeve from Marlene’s Market

For the person who’s uber plugged in and constantly click-clacking away at their laptop, why not grab them a cool, recycled from old bike tubes sleeve for their most prized possession? You know their old one is beat up anyway. For the non-label donning or not into designer goods set, these minimalistic bags will fulfill their intended purpose and be nice to the environment, all without being loud about it. Info. $$

 

Tacoma Food Co-op membership

For the ultimate in green, local and vegan-friendly gift giving this holiday season, consider giving a Tacoma Food Co-op membership to the foodie and/or diehard Tacoma lover in your life. Lifetime membership at the co-op is a flat $100, and for that members get special discounts, become part of their greater cooperative community, and leave the store with a fuzzy feeling, knowing full well that their dollars stay in Tacoma and support local farmers and businesses. How wonderful is that? If you’re not able to gift a membership but still want to support the co-op in your giving this year, consider giving a gift card in any amount, a co-op t-shirt, bumper sticker or grocery bag, (pictured above). If your loved ones are supporters, these are great ways for them to show their co-op love. Info. $-$$$$

Jenny Macc purse from Oly Vegan

Sassy and handmade with lovely attention to detail, a new bag from Jenny Macc via Oly Vegan is the perfect gift for your mom, aunt, grandma, sister, cousin…you get the idea. Cruelty-free and fashionable purses and bags can sometimes be hard to find if not searching online, but thankfully Oly Vegan has started working with this fabulous creator and will continue offering them up to South Sound residents at competitive prices. There are a ton of styles and sizes in the store, so go check them out, before they’re gone! Info. $-$$

I will be visiting family and friends, (and eating at tons of my favorite vegan restaurants) soon, so I’d like to wish you all Happy Holidays before then! Thank you all for your support of Vegan Moxie since it launched earlier this year in March, and I’m looking forward to more posts and South Sound vegan love in 2012, (if we’re all still alive)!