1 | Sweet with Sass. Chocolate-coated ginger? Yep! You can pick up a half-pound box of this unique treat, crafted from 72 percent dark chocolate and crystalized ginger, from Lorah’s Handmade Chocolates, LLC, Mohnton, for $10. Lorah’s Handmade Chocolates, 611 Alleghenyville Rd., Mohnton, 717.917.7006, lorahschocolates.com
2 | Bathed in Love. Made with natural ingredients like shea and mango butters and great for sensitive skin, these soaps and scrubs lather well and are long-lasting. $6 each at A Touch of Grace, Birdsboro. A Touch of Grace, 215 E. First St., Birdsboro, 610.582.0040, atouchofgracegcs.com
3 | Soft and Supple. Colder weather often brings chapped lips. Keep your pout perfect with lip balms in fun flavors like Banana Coconut or Sweet Peppermint from Berks-based Tangerine Betty, part of the line’s Great 8. $5 each at TangerineBetty.com or the Bell Tower Salon & Spa, Wyomissing. tangerinebetty.com, or Bell Tower Salon & Spa, 18 State Hill Rd., Wyomissing, 610.372.6379, belltowersalonspa.com
4 | One-Of-A-Kind Ornaments. Grab one of these hand-sculpted items, made of paper mache and crafted by Whimsey Doodles
owner Diane Pepple of Mohnton, for yourself or a friend. $10 each. Available at Five & Divine, Wernersville and Cobblestone Farms, Mohnton. Five & Divine, 27 E. Penn Avenue, Wernersville, 610.670.9700, fiveanddivine.com. Cobblestone Farms, 1540 Alleghenyville Rd., Mohnton, 610.775.7590, cobblestonefarms.biz
5 | Finders Keepers. Tired of digging through your purse for your keys? She in West Reading has a cure for that: Key Finders. At $8, it’s a small price to pay for what it saves in frustration. Just clip to your keys and slip the hook over the edge of your handbag. She…A Unique Fashion Experience, 715 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.376.5743
6 | Books for Babes. Youngsters and parents alike will love these vintage-style reprinted
paperback stories from Blue Mountain Herbals, Hamburg, like Adventures of Jack and Dolly in Town . $7.95 & $5.99, respectively. Blue Mountain Herbals, 308 State St., Hamburg, 610.562.4403
1 | Smart-Tea. IngenuiTEA, the ingenious tea pot by Adagio carried at Max Crema’s Espresso & Coffee Bar, Fleetwood, has the perfect name. Attach the pot holding your favorite brew to your favorite cup – large or small – and voila! It pours straight in! 16-ounce: $19.99, tea jar: $9.99. Max Crema's Espresso & Coffee Bar, 3130 Pricetown Rd., Ste. A, “The Shops at Woodside,” Fleetwood , 610.898.9001, maxcremas.com
2 | Well-dressed Man. Is the guy in your life an art or culture aficionado? Pick up a tie and cufflink combo celebrating the Reading Public Museum, as well as his individuality, on your next visit. Tie: $25, Cufflink pair: $25. Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Rd., Reading, 610.371.5850, readingpublicmuseum.org
3 | Share Some Warmth. Know someone who stays active in the outdoors even in the winter months? This is the perfect gift for men and women! Nike Element Thermal Gloves, found at Fromuth Tennis, West Lawn, are insulated, reflective and touch-screen compatible, too. $25. Fromuth Tennis, 1100 Rocky Dr., West Lawn, 800.523.8414
4 | Home Happy. Gift your favorite host or hostess these Hen House Linens from Shade Tree Interiors, Sinking Spring, to dress up his or her table. Bonus? They wash beautifully, no ironing required, making them the perfect way to recycle with style. $20. Shade Tree Interiors, 3459 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, 610.678.1221, shadetreeinteriors.com
5 | Marry with Meat. These sauces from Hi-Way Meat Market, Wyomissing, are the perfect accompaniment to a date with your grill. We’re not sure how you’ll choose between Sweet Carolina, Southern Classic and the Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce. (And to make it even harder, there are more choices in store!) $5.49 each or 3 for $15. Hi-Way Meat Market, Village Square Shopping Center, Broadcasting Road, Wyomissing, 484.509.2588, hiwaymeats.com
6 | Fun Figures. These wooden characters from Bavaria can be used as sitters or they can get up and have a bit of fun, bouncing as they hang from their spring. Find the comical and endearing pieces at Evelyn & Harriett’s LLC, Oley, for $19.99 each. Evelyn & Harriett’s Gifts LLC, 1232 Oysterdale Rd., Oley, 610.987.6055
1 | Tangle-free Jewelry. Tired of traveling with jewelry just to unpack and find a knotted mess? Meet the Weekender Tiara Jewelry Case by Purse N, available at Bella Jules, West Reading. The multiple-pocket case with four removable pouches cures jewelry travel woes. $39. Bella Jules Fashion Boutique LLC, 700 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.208.0600, bellajulesboutique.com
2 | Carry-all for Alcohol (or cool vintage soda bottles). Tote your favorite beer or wine to a BYOB spot or cookout with the Buzz Box by Robert Martino of West Reading. Meticulously crafted from reclaimed wood, each piece is unique! $35 each. Robert Martino, West Reading, buzzboxrob@gmail.com, facebook.com/bzzbox
3 | Relax and Rewined. Perfect for a wine-loving friend, Rewined Candles are crafted from soy wax and infused with scents inspired by – well, wine. This one is Pinor Noir! Pair one with a set of four vintage wine label hors d’oeuvre plates and it’s a great gift. Candle and plate set: $49. Saylor House, 1291 Penn Avenue, Wyomissing, 610.816.7161, saylorhouse.com
4 | Ecofriendly Chic. Exude style and be environmentally friendly by carrying one of these begbags by bedeckle. The vegan leather and upcycled wool flannel clutches are functional, guilt-free and found at Hello Bluebird, West Reading. $36. Hello Bluebird, 609 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.750.6642, hellobluebird.net
5 | Zoom, Zoom. Playtime fun just got kicked up a notch with these Plasma Cars, available at Learning Express of Wyomissing in countless fun colors. Ages 3 and older power it up simply with their “wiggle” energy. $49.99. Learning Express of Wyomissing PA, 746 Woodland Rd., Wyomissing, 610.372.8697, wyomissing.learningexpress-toys.com
6 | Let it Snow. Add a bit of wintertime fun to your holiday décor with these ceramic snowmen lanterns handcrafted by Tony Holman. The figures, about 9 inches tall – or 5-7 inches for the melted men – are $37.50 each at Dancing Tree Creations, Boyertown. Each comes with wooden sticks for arms and a ceramic disk to hold a votive candle. Dancing Tree Creations, 338 S. Ironstone Dr., Boyertown, 610.780.8639, dancingtreecreations.com
1 | Get your Groom On. Know a guy who likes to look AND smell good? The Eufora Hero Grooming Regimen Box is just the gift! All Eufora products are formulated with certified organic aloe vera and an exclusive to the company amino peptide complex. Find it at American Male on Route 10 in Reading. $56-83. American Male Reading, 320 Morgantown Rd., Reading, 610.376.1300, americanmale.com
2 | Two-For. The Helen of Troy tangle-free hot air brush is a blow dryer and styling device all in one. Featuring high and low heat settings, a soft-textured handle and a swivel cord, it’s your hair’s new best friend. Check it out at Hair On The Avenue, Sinking Spring.1-inch: $51.95; 1.5-inch: $53.95. Hair On The Avenue, 3459 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, 610.927.3772, hotasalon.com
3 | Specially Made. Celebrate a special date, memory, loved one or the like with this unique, hand-stamped, personalized metal jewelry by C. Olivard Designs of Wyomissing found at Five & Divine, Wernersville. Pictured piece with two discs and a pearl is priced at $95. Five & Divine, 27 E. Penn Avenue, Wernersville, 610.670.9700, fiveanddivine.com
4 | Wonderfully Wavy. Serving bowls don’t have to be boring. Add a bit of fun to functional with this wavy-sided bowl hand-blown by Jake Pfeifer, found at the GoggleWorks STORE and priced at $100. GoggleWorks STORE, 201 Washington St., Reading, 610.374.4600, ext. 104, goggleworks.org
5 | A Cut Above. Turn a traditional cutting board into something truly unique with a custom designed engraved wood piece by Urban Timber Fine Woodworking. Each is finished with a food-grade oil. Large personalized cutting board starts at $70. Urban Timber Fine Woodworking, 610.406.1231, urbantimberpa.com
6 | Feel the Music. Pull on a pair of premium headphones crafted by the Grado family in Brooklyn and get the most out of music, be it from your computer, portable device or a premium sound system. $79 at Stereo Barn, Sinking Spring. Stereo Barn, 4631 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, 610.678.2122, stereobarn.com
1 | Wolfing it Up. Looking to add a bit of whimsy to your child’s wardrobe or toy box? Look no further than Becca Bee Designs. Take this wolf doll and matching coat made of wool and wool felt, for instance. Designed by Rebecca Botvin of Wyomissing, it’s certainly in a league of its own. Coat & doll set: $135. Becca Bee Designs, beccabeedesigns.etsy.com
2 | A Touch of Tuscany. Pair it with a fabulous floral bouquet or stand alone; it’s gorgeous either way! Made of hand-turned and carved terra cotta in Tuscany, the Vietri Trumpet Vase is authentic and unique. Find it in a variety of glaze colors at Sunshine Blue Skies, Wyomissing, for $162. Sunshine Blue Skies, 86 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing, 610.375.0445, sunshineblueskies.com
3 | Gorgeous in Glass. Looking for a way to artfully display your plants at home? Feast your eyes on these handcrafted architectural glass planters with beveled arches and tops from It’s A Gift! The Woman’s Exchange of Reading, West Reading. Bonus? They’re made in the USA! Peaked planter: $105, Gazebo: $167. It’s A Gift! The Woman’s Exchange of Reading, 720 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 610.373.0960
4 | For the Solo Coffee Connoisseur. Need a gift for a coffee lover? Meet the Cuisinart Single Serve Brewing System found at Martin Appliance, Exeter Township. We especially love the adjustable temperature control system, the charcoal water filter and that it's BPA-free. $189.95. Martin Appliance, 4850 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, 610.401.0390, martinsappliance.com
5 | A Prize Inside. You’ll love the look of the outside, and your dog will love what’s inside, when it comes to this redware pottery piece by Nolde Forest Pottery carried at Godfrey’s – Welcome to Dogdom in Mohnton. Small: $130, Large: $170. Godfrey’s – Welcome to Dogdom, 4267 New Holland Rd., Mohnton, 610.777.5755, godfreysdogdom.com
6 | Nature-Inspired. Feast your eyes on Endless Jewelry, high-quality, handmade pieces inspired by nature in a variety of colors and shapes. Mix, match, blend in or stand out with 450 charms and 12 bracelets to choose from at Coventry Corners, Wyomissing. $200. Coventry Corners, Berkshire Mall, 1665 State Hill Rd., Wyomissing, 610.376.0445, coventrycorners.com
1 | Spa..ahh…. Who wouldn’t love the Hot Spring Highlife Grandee NXT hot tub? With seating for 7 adults, 43 jets, a wireless sound system with Bluetooth technology, LED lighting and a wireless remote, it’s a present you can share with friends and family! Find it at Apollo Pools & Spas, Reading, for $12,500. Other units starting from $3,199. Apollo Pools & Spas, 3711 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, 610.779.1229, apollo-pools.com
2 | Someone Special. Major brownie points are in order if you gift a loved one with this fabulous necklace from Sorrelli in Kutztown. Small symmetrical Swarovski crystals create a shimmering textured collage with an heirloom feel. She’ll love it! $1,200. Sorrelli, 220 W. Main St., Kutztown, 877.659.4374, sorrelli.com
3 | Furry Friend Photos. Willow Street Pictures, West Lawn, is highly regarded for its artwork featuring pets. That’s right, artwork. These aren’t simply photographs. The Best Friends package, $279, includes a 90-minute consultation with the Creative Team, a 2-hour photo shoot and a special showing to select images. Willow Street Pictures, 2212 Penn Avenue, West Lawn, 610.375.3424, willowstreetpictures.com
4 | Meet Me at the Bar. Looking to gift a mixologist friend? The Howard Miller Lodi Wine & Bar Cabinet from Baldwin Brass Center may be just the thing. The Americana Cherry piece’s four adjustable shelves store up to 20 bottles of wine and two adjustable stemware racks can accommodate 18 large wine goblets. Just slide the top piece to the left, flip it open and you’ve doubled your surface area to 77 inches of space! How cool is that?! $1,079. Baldwin Brass Center, 623 Penn Avenue, West Reading, 800.358.2469, baldwinbrasscenter.com
5 | Great for the Outdoors. Blending multiple fabrics together for a great layering or stand-alone piece, the Kinetic Jacket by Simms is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to banish bulk and keep cozy and warm. Find it at TCO Fly Shop, West Lawn, $249. TCO Fly Shop, 2229 Penn Avenue, West Lawn, 610.678.1899, tcoflyfishing.com
6 | Golf Guru. Up his or her golf game with PING’s G30 line. Drivers with an emphasis on speed with no sacrifice in performance sell for $349, fairway woods are $249. Hybrids are priced at $219. A set of eight irons is $799 at Pagoda Golf, Sinking Spring. Get distance. Get accuracy. And sacrifice nothing. What more could your game need? Pagoda Golf Area, 497 Mountain Home Rd., Sinking Spring, 610.678.8109, pagodagolfarea.com
written & compiled by Nikki M. Murry & Robyn L. Jones | photos by Tania Colamarino, Ama Photography
