MD's 2023 Hi-Dez gift guide
It's Christmas, so no one can fix it
I’m a gift person. It’s not my “love language,” per se, but I do get a thrill from surprising a loved one with something extra special. So this year is a really fun time for me. Living far away from many relatives and friends, I’ve taken to ordering gifts from the desert to show off our amazing roster of local entrepreneurs, or putting boxes together that have a little bit of everything.
Here’s a few of my favorite desert entrepreneurs to gift from and support this holiday season (Disclaimer: no one paid me or bribed me to do this, I genuinely just think these are cool places you might enjoy too!)
Joshua Tree Distilling Company
Spirits make a wonderful gift for friends and family, and the choices from Joshua Tree Distilling Company are extra special. They look beautiful, taste excellent, and come in a variety of sizes and price points. Not a drinker? Their shop has an awesome collection of glassware, gear and mixers that also make for excellent NA beverages.
JT Candle Co.
This is my favorite local candle maker, who makes desert-inspired scents with a great throw at a friendly price point. JT Candle Company has recently expanded into new categories and I just tried out the soaps this week — absolutely heavenly. Don’t sleep on the midnight Mojave or the prickly pear, very one-of-a-kind scents!
Desert Dust - Roaming Travelers
Roaming Travelers is an incredibly cool local emporium that has a range of merchandise and products to cater to the desert lifestyle and aesthetic. I really dig their work, and their curation. They make this really fun spice called Desert Dust that I picked up at the holiday market a few weeks back. Sweetened with Coachelal Valley dates, it’s been a really fun addition to roasted veggies. I’m hoping to work it into a roaster chicken soon, too!
Mojave Dog
I came across Mojave Dog on Instagram before running into them IRL at the Sky High Pie Sunday Morning Market. And while I don’t tend to buy Penny many new stuffed toys (we have an arsenal that I purchased in the first six months of her life as a crazy new dog mom is wont to do), I couldn’t resist these gorgeous and durable pieces. That’s how I wound with the crinkly/squeaky/tough as heck Night Desert Saguaro, and it’s become a household staple.
Luna Bakery
Unfortunately this one only works for true locals or those passing through. But if you’re heading to a soiree in the high dez or Coachella Valley? Don’t arrive empty handed and be the hit of the party by bringing the best bread from Luna. Pick up a sourdough loaf, plus a banana bread or cheddar scone for yourself. You’ll thank me later.
Zach J.F. Boyles
OK, this one is self-promotional. But my husband, Zach J.F. Boyles to the art world, Zach Fleming to his friends, is an incredibly prolific painter and printmaker and general artist-about-town. This year, he participated in the Highway 62 Art Tours, and made lots of new prints for sale, and we still have a few left. You can a few of his most popular pieces for sale online here. But I’ve told friends and family that we’ll cover shipping if you order from me directly, and there is way more in the studio, so HMU if you’re interested and I’ll give you a FaceTime tour of our inventory!
Other than gifting, it’s time for baking cookies and playing holiday music. Phoebe Bridgers’ alsolutely heart-wrenching Christmas Song kicks off my “indie Christmas” playlist every year — even though this year, my heart is anything but wrenched. It’s actually so full it could burst, into a cascade of glittering snow and pine needles and gingerbread cookies and peppermint candy. Gross.
Til next time,