Real Mom. Real Talk. Real Hustle

Holiday shopping is officially in full swing and if you’re wondering whether I’ve already been to half the stores in Charleston, the answer is yes. I love the hunt for that perfect gift almost as much as I love supporting small, local businesses. This guide highlights some of our favorite local spots, complete with easy shopping links and expert picks from my tiny (but opinionated) co-shopper, Cameron.

Straight from the Lowcountry to under your tree: our favorite kid approved and Mom endorsed gifts of the season await.

The Ragamuffin Children’s Boutique
Ragamuffins, a Charleston Mom’s dream come true with three shops under one roof offering everything from baby basics to trendy teen styles. Whether you’re shopping for clothes, shoes, or dance wear, this Mount Pleasant gem has you covered and saves you from running all over town.

Cam’s Picks
*Shoes – Boots & Sneakers (all the pink options) – The best part? Ragamuffins will size your little one’s feet. Definitely do a shopping trip with your kid(s) to do this. Then hop back in the store to make your purchases!
*Holiday Pajamas – So many great options. We are a sucker for nice and comfy ones and fell in love with the Christmas Tree ones from TBBC.
*Outfits from our favorite brands like Briton Court, Tea & The Beaufort Bonnet Company – Tea Clothing is something Cameron has worn since she was a sweet little babe and we love the durability and style all in one.
*Dance attire – Cameron loves the selection here and Ragamuffins carries the best Dance brands like Capezio!

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
A Charleston favorite, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is where holiday magic meets handmade sweets. Think gourmet caramel apples, fudge, and chocolate covered perfection that makes for the sweetest little gift or stocking stuffer.

Cam’s Picks
* Milk Chocolate Christmas Trees
* Milk Chocolate Christmas Balls
* Gingerbread Truffles
* Milk & Cookies Truffles
*All of the Caramel Apple options!!
*Puppy treats for her dogs Milo & Ollie.

Wonder Works Toys
Wonder Works is a wonderland of toys full of many magical moments. From the first peek at a new favorite toy to the smiles that follow, it’s a place that turns shopping into an experience your kids will remember. Every toy, every surprise & every corner sparks imagination and joy that your kids (and maybe even you) will never forget.

Cam’s Picks
* Dumpster Dice – One of our favorite things about Wonder Works is that you can interact with toys while you are there. It was great getting to try this game out with Mr. Jack. Cam loved it and she may or may not be getting this now for Christmas since she got to try it out!
* Tonies 2 – We are loving this upgrade from Tonies! Incredibly interactive while staying off screen. Leveling up this holiday season with Tonies 2 is a must for us!
* DIY Taba-licious Ultra Kit – We love hands on activities and this one makes the perfect gift. You can definitely just go for already made Taba-licious but having an activity form was a no brainer for us!
* Maileg – Shop in store only – they have everything! The New Dance Studio is our fav along with the Suit Casa!
* Jellycat – Shop in store only – Holiday options are out & they’re perfectly adorable!
* Inflatable RC Dinosaur – Seriously a must for all kiddos. The most entertaining! Cam says she has to have it this year!
* EzyRoller – Last year it was a scooter for us, but this year it’s this! Wicked fun! Another MUST for Cam.
* Christmas in Charleston – This is Dawn Burns latest and greatest addition to “This is Charleston” and this go around it’s a coloring book. A definite add-on to Cam’s stocking this year!

Tweedle Beedle
Tweedle Beedle is a must stop on your holiday shopping list for babies, toddlers and tweens. Think stocking stuffers that actually get used, snuggly stuffed animals, the cutest holiday jammies and sweet baby finds that make gift-giving a little easier (and a lot more fun). One stop for all the little joys this season!

Cam’s Picks
* Nugget – Tweedle Beedle Affiliate Link – When you stop by one of Tweedle Beedle’s stores, your kiddos can enjoy some play time on the Nugget!! We love ours and have used it since Cameron was 1! You can order yours through their affiliate link above!
* IScream – We love this brand and we could easily buy every single thing because its just the cutest and so fun!
* Nora Lee – This is our go to brand for all things celebration, family photos or any excuse to dress up a little. We cannot get enough! They offer options for boys, girls and even Mommy matching!
* Toy Storage Bag – This is perfect to cart your little one’s favorite toys around from upstairs to downstairs with easy clean up! Maybe this is a gift for the Moms but trust me, you will want it!

Stareworthy Custom Children’s Books
It’s always important to us to gift from the heart and there’s nothing better than creating something personal and special to give to a loved one. We stumbled across Stareworthy Custom Children’s Books this year and knew right away that these would make the best gifts for Grandparents, Parents and even for the kiddos.

The best part? It’s unbelievably easy to create and customize. Ours arrived in the mail recently, and we were blown away by both the quality and the beautifully crafted story. Cameron is absolutely obsessed and has been sharing it with friends and family nonstop. She feels like the star of her very own book and she wants the whole world to know it!

Cam’s Picks
* Look How Pretty You Are: This is what we had made for Cameron and she loves it. The perfect surprise for under the tree this year while building your little one’s self confidence.
* Away We Went: The perfect book to celebrate your family traveling adventures.
* Grand: Perfect gift for the grandparents from their grandchildren. Warning: This may cause happy tears.
* What My Mommy Means to Me: Don’t forget to make something for Mom too! She will absolute adore this book and cherish it forever.
* My Dad: A great option for Dad too from their little babes. A must for your gifting this year!

Lillie Fuel
A solid choice from Cameron’s Picks this year! Cam loves making gifts and giving gifts to all of her friends. These typically range from a cute picture she drew or a friendship bracelet she made. This year, we decided to level up our game a bit and went over to Lillie Fuel in Mount Pleasant to make a couple of her friends a Custom Trucker Hat!

Cam worked hard to create personalized hats for her besties thinking about what they would like to have on their hats. It was fun to see her mind working hard to create something so special. She told us why she chose certain patches and colors. The love that went into these, it’s 100% worth it.

Cam’s Picks:
* Go to Lillie Fuel and make a custom trucker hat. You can explore all of the patch options and play around with placement before they are ironed on. I swear, the little ones always make the best designs when it comes to these hats. Cam knocks it out of the park every single time and she is wicked excited to share her creations with her friends.
* Go to Lillie Fuel with friends and make hats together. Make it a fun little holiday outing!
* Can’t make it into Lillie Fuel? You can actually create your own online !
* Gift Cards are always a way to go and perfect for the friend who loves to create masterpieces themselves. You can purchase these online or in store

Remember to keep your local community and small businesses in mind this holiday season! There are so many incredible shops to stroll into and find the best gifts for your family and friends. Be intentional & shop small, shop local.