I HART LOCAL: 30 BUSINESSES TO CHECK OUT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

I promised you guys a local gift guide, and here it is, just in time for prime holiday season!!! Whether you celebrate Hannukah, Christmas, or just love the holiday season, here’s a mix of local retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants! Some of these are among my favourites, and some are new spots I am excited to check out! Happy holiday shopping my friends!

1. COMMON PEOPLE SHOP: This Parkdale boutique is a great neighbourhood spot for all the small joyful things in life, like candles and diffusers, one-of-kind stationary, hand-sculpted jewelry, beauty products, and beyond. FYI they sell Murphy & Jo candles 😉
2. UJIMAA: This online marketplace features BIPOC and women-owned businesses in Canada. You can shop straight from their website, and each product is labeled with an icon such as ‘Women-Owned’ or ‘Black-Owned’ which makes it easier to identify the ownership behind each brand.
3. THE SAVVY SOCIETY: The Savvy Society is an Instagram-based shop where you can order custom Tie Dye apparel and accessories. I love their comfy Tie Dye sets! Every piece is handmade with love in Toronto, and I happen to be friends with the amazing girl boss behind the brand ( Hi Hayls!).
4. GEE BEAUTY:  have been going to this local Toronto and family-owned beauty studio for over 10 years, which was started by a mother and her 3-daughters. In addition to offering a curated selection of skincare products like Dr. Dennis Gross and Goop, they sell their own exclusive line of Gee Beauty makeup, and offer amazing beauty services like brow shaping, lash tints and more. I am obsessed with my foundation stick which I use on the daily!
5. KSYO: KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF: Socks are a great Secret Santa gift, and there’s no better time of year than now to purchase some fun and festive socks. KYSO offers a great selection of bold and vibrant printed socks for men and women, and is a Black-Owned and Toronto based company.
6. SAGE + THISTLE: If you’re looking for artisanal soaps and all-natural bath + body products, Sage and Thistle is a local Toronto brand that does everything handmade in small batches. I am super excited about trying their bath salts for some cozy and relaxing bubble baths this winter. I got my eyes on their Bergamot & Lavender salts!
7. COCO MARKET: Coco Market is located in Toronto and offers healthy food and the trendiest snacks that can be hard to come by. Places like this are my happy place, and they sell some of my favourite brands like Ripe nutrition, Stellar Eats, Unbun, and Purely Elizabeth. They currently offer $10 delivery in the GTA, and free over $150.
8. SOURCE ORGANICS: This lovely little female-owned shop in Toronto supports clean and natural beauty products. They sell a super extensive selection of non-toxic and organic skincare and make up products, and also offer makeup services for special events using all their natural makeup collections. Fun fact: the founder Candice Ornstein was a makeup artist for Schitt’s Creek! 
9. THE GREEN JAR: The Green Jar located on St. Clair West supports eco-living and a waste-free lifestyle. Whether you’re looking to purchase eco-friendly household products like bamboo utensils, or you want to fill up shampoos or soaps from their extensive refillery, this environmentally-conscious business is a great way to support local and a Black-Owned business. 
10. THE DEX LAB: This St. Clair West shop offers the most amazing selection of ceramics, including bowls, mugs, and vases. They are currently offering curbside pick up, and they even offer pottery classes.
11. DOWN UNDER BEDDING: You guys know how much I value SLEEP! It’s a critical part of health and wellness. I recently discovered Down Under Bedding which is a small family-owned Canadian company. They have a focus on natural and organic sleep products. Their website is pretty incredible with everything from mattresses to pillow cases!
12. DIAMONDS DIRECT: Fine jewellery often comes with the price tag, and this exclusively Canadian brand offers gold and diamond jewellery with transparent pricing that avoids typical retail markups. I have my eyes on their Stud & Circle hoops! 
13. METICULOUS SMILE TEETH WHITENING KIT: This teeth-whitening kit was created by Registered Dental Hygienist Jennifer Cramer who opened The Meticulous Smile Dental Office located in Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood. It is among the first dental care practices in Canada owned and operated by a registered dental hygienist. Her team developed the Meticulous Smile Whitening Kit which guarantees whiter teeth in under a week! 
14. BLACK-OWNED TO: This website is a great way to support Black-owned businesses in Toronto, all in one place. The founder wanted to provide both customers and business owners a reliable and convenient way to showcase Black-owned businesses and offer a one-stop-shopping experience for both products and services. I am currently eyeing the coasters by the brand Coasters by Resinate With Me! 
15. SUNDAY FARMS: Sunday Farms is a family-owned farm with a mission to bring quality and sustainably raised meats straight to your door. They are a subscription service, and have the best of the best. I cannot wait to try their meat this holiday season (they’ve got grass-fed, grass-finished beef).
16. LOVE AND NUDES: This female and Black-Owned business offers Canada’s 1st BLACK OWNED Skin tone intimates for women of colour. Love and Nudes celebrates diversity and was motivated by the misrepresentation of everyday products for women of colour. Their featured undergarments are their wire-free bras and super comfortable underwear. 
17. PIVOT SKINCARE: I don’t know about you but my skin always struggles during the winter. This skincare line was founded by a mother and 3 daughters in Toronto who wanted to create a simple skincare product that could nourish the skin during the harsh Canadian winters. Their signature plant-based nourishing oil has incredible ingredients. Pro tip- a little goes along way, and don’t neglect your neck!
18. WHITE BRICK FLORALS: White Brick Florals is a custom floral shop in Toronto that designs gorgeous flower arrangements, including some beautiful florals for the holiday season! They do custom orders, subscriptions and small events, and you can find them on their swoon-worthy IG account!
19. OATH THE LABEL: This Toronto-based online shop specializes in hand-poured soy candles and vases shaped like beautiful bodies. Their romantic and minimalist products are a great way to accessorize a coffee table or jewelry tray. Their IG account is worth a look! 
20. ONE-OF-A-KIND SHOW: The One of a kind Show is typically an in-person event that welcomes thousands of people to the Enercare centre to shop local artisans and businesses. I have been many times, and loved walking up and down the aisles to find everything from one-of-a-kind planters to jewelry, and even great food products. Since COVID-19 they have transitioned the show to online, and it’s a great way to support the creative economy. FYI the show ends Dec 20th. 
21. SHORESH: Shoresh is a Jewish non-for-profit organization founded in Canada that strives to educate and support sustainability and environmental change through local community involvement. Their website is a great resource to get involved, and you can even shop eco-friendly products like raw honey, candles, and more!
22. SWEAT CHIC: Incredible Toronto based online store that has all of the trendiest and cutest athleisure and lounge wear. I would buy the entire website if I could, everything is gorgeous to say the least!
23. KOZLICK’S MUSTARD: Kozlick’s Canadian Mustard is a family-owned mustard company that’s been around since 1948.  I first discovered them at my favourite Wychwood Barn’s farmer’s market, but they’re also available for purchase at tons of small and mainstream groceries, and of course online. Part of what makes them so great is their extensive selection of unique mustard flavours, from Balsamic Fig and Dates to their famous Triple Crunch blend. 
24. MAMAKA’S:  My favourite food (by far!) is Greek! If you know me, you know that I cook in a very Mediterranean style with tons of vegetables and protein at every meal. Mamakas is located on Ossington and is one of my favourite restaurants in the city. I’m obsessed with the pita and tzatziki, greek salad, and grilled lamb chops. They are currently offering pick up and delivery on Ubereats which I’ll definitely be doing soon!
25. PARIS PARIS: Before the pandemic, Paris Paris on Dundas was one of my favourite Saturday night spots to eat and drink! During the pandemic they transitioned into a curated wine shop and you can also order different snacks like charcuterie, olives, and more! Purchasing wine during this time is a great way to support local and a great way to treat yourself to something special 😉
26. SHUNOKO: I’m definitely a Sushi Snob, and Shunoku on St.Clair west is one of my favourite sushi restaurants in the city. They serve incredibly fresh and expensive tasting sushi without the price tag, which is what makes it such a great local sushi spot.
27. TABULE: Middle Eastern is another one of my favourite cuisines (because duh it’s in that same Mediterranean category), and Tabule takes the cake on my favourite. I’ve been going to the Yonge/Davisville location for years, and I always opt for the chicken skewers with rice and veggies.
28. NUT BAR: Shoutout to my favourite organic superfood cafe in Toronto! My go to’s = a straight up drip coffee with steamed nut milk, the vanilla smoothie, and the kale salad.
29. RIPE NUTRITION: You know I’m obsessed with bone broth! I typically make my own, but if I don’t, ripe nutrition is my go to. It’s run by a Holistic Nutritionist Alex and she recently opened a storefront location in Yorkville.
30. TORONTO MARKET CO: I recently discovered Toronto Market and am OBSESSED. It’s a website where you can purchase from all of your fav Toronto spots in one location which I love. On my most recent order I got: Parallel hummus and pita, the daily dumpling vegan wontons, nerpy’s jerk seasoning! Orders must be placed by Sunday at 11:59. Use code IHART10 FOR 10% OFF 😉