Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for a loved one (or yourself—I fully support you treating yourself)? Want to make someone's entire day with your order? No, seriously....they might do a happy dance. Well friend, shopping small is the way to go! Not only will you find something useful and unique, but you can shop knowing that you made a difference in a small business owner's life.

Small business owners pour their hearts and souls into their work. It's a very difficult yet rewarding job, and one of my favorite parts of having my own small business is being able to connect with and support fellow small business owners. I'd love to take this as an opportunity to share some of my favorite small businesses to support this holiday season!

Erica founded The Blank Canvas Co. to empower bold and bright designs inspired by positivity. She believes that magic happens when women band together and build each other up! She offers everything including canvases, prints, stickers, magnets, planters, stationary, and more—all with a colorful twist, of course. Learn more about Erica and browse her creative pieces here!

Kait and her fiancée Em are the founders of In Good Company, a creative South Boston community rooted in kindness. They believe in showcasing what makes you YOU and spreading that positive energy with the world. They do this by sharing local makers and small businesses and hosting events that help spark your creative spirit. Find the perfect gift or sign up for one of their events here!

Hannah opened up her online boutique, Looks by Lopez, after over 5 years of working in retail. She combines all the popular trends with her "Boho Chic" look to create pieces that will make you feel confident and express yourself and your own personal style. Her shop has everything from jumpsuits to loungewear to shoes and much, much more! Check out her stunning shop here (I dare you to not snag something for yourself...it's pretty tough not to)!

Kelly Poti and Casey Simon opened A Piece of Sandwich, a home decor and craft workshops business, named after Sandwich, MA. They specialize in hand painted signs and teaching workshops in their community! Their workshops are perfect for families and friends at home, unique team building work events, and local, family-friendly events. They offer custom pieces as well, so you can dream up the special gift for a loved one! Stalk some of their beautiful work here!

Warning: browsing the Riverwalk Cafe menu will make you hungry AND crave a cup of joe. You've been warned! Riverwalk Cafe is an independently-owned eatery and coffee roaster in Nashua, NH that roasts their coffee in small batches using an old school Turkish drum roaster for peak freshness. They offer delicious items for breakfast, lunch, and of course an extensive coffee menu with specialty lattes and frappes. Check them out here!

Kristyna is the owner, maker, and artist at Set Apart Studios, a creative studio that offers a variety of goods for humans and their homes. The studio has three collections: natural wellness, everyday earrings, and wooden signs, representing how we should all prioritize our body, mind, and spaces. Kristyna loves to take minerals and turn them into products that are both beautiful and useful. Some of the goods available include earrings, facial toners, body scrubs, lotions, mugs, and more. Shop for yourself here!

I don't know if it's weird to throw my own business on my list, but I will just in case you're shopping for some custom shoes hand painted with lots of love! I'm Caity, founder of With Love, Paint, and I'm the full time writer, painter, dog mom, and coffee addict behind-the-scenes. Just like paint, I understand that life can get a little messy. I hope that my brand and custom shoes make you smile and encourage you to book the trip, create the business, and do the things that scare you but also make your life a heck of a lot more fun. You can shop my shoes here!

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season this year full of yummy food, quality time with family and friends, and lots of memories made. When you shop small, you truly do make a difference, and it's always so appreciated. Thank you for all your support this season and always, and I can't wait to see what 2023 will bring!