P. Allen Smith - grace grits and gardening

(This Southern Christmas Gift post is sponsored by

P. Allen Smith, Bourbon and Boots and Bentley’s Batch 5. All opinions are my own.)

Once again, Christmas is rushing up on us, and I have a problem—I hate to shop. If shopping doesn’t involve plants, books, an antique/thrift store or the farmer’s market, I DREAD it. And because I dread it, I do most of my shopping on-line. For those of you who enjoy shopping from the convenience of your cozy home, I’ve rounded up these southern Christmas gifts, something fun for everyone on your list.

Everything is locally made in the South.

Everything is priced under $25. You don’t have to spend a pile of money to buy something perfect and thoughtful and full of southern charm.

Before you get started, I have two deals that will save you money on several of these gifts found at the online stores of P. Allen Smith and Bourbon and Boots.

Deal #1

Sign up today to receive news from P. Allen Smith and you will immediately receive a 25% off coupon code to use in his on-line store. Click HERE to sign up. Easy money! Your inbox will not be bombarded with tons of emails, I promise. Plus, once you do this you will be eligible to win one of ten $50 gift cards to Shop.PAllenSmith.com. The winners will be selected by random draw. Offer good through December 12, 2014.

Deal #2

Use the code bloggracegg14 for 5% off any purchase at Bourbon and Boots. Offer good through December 31, 2014.

Okay, now on to my Christmas gift list…

For the Dedicated Gardener:

As a gardener myself, I love these herb stakes made of natural wood. They come perfectly packaged in a whitewashed box and make a great little gift or stocking stuffer!

click to see more: HERB STAKES

For the Sweaty Outdoorsman:

If you’ve spent any time in the Ozark Mountains, you know the area is special. These 100% unbleached cotton bandanas are hand printed with eco-friendly water-based ink. These babies make me wanna go hiking.

click to check this out: OZARK MAP BANDANA

For Girls of all Ages:

How seriously cute is this? These state charm necklaces are made in Oklahoma but available in several different state versions. I bought the Texas one for my niece’s birthday last year. The chain is a simple antiqued brass and the charms come in a variety of fun colors.

Click to see all the options: STATE CHARM NECKLACE

For Thirsty Farmers:

Raise your hand if you know a thirsty farmer? Every farmer I’ve ever known is thirsty at the end of a long day in the fields. Could this gift be any more appropriate? At $10, buy one for each of your farmer friends. I bet they will crack open a cold one for you too.

Click for all those hardworking farmers: TRACTOR BOTTLE OPENER

For the Crafty Seamstress:

I don’t sew, and I love this pincushion. I do have a junk drawer with straight pins just laying around waiting to stab me. This little treasure will wrangle all your pins and be stylish doing it. Just think how much someone who really sews will appreciate it.

Click to view: ANTIQUE-STYLE PIN CUSHION

For the Stylish Imbiber:

In a word, cool. These flasks are pocket sized, stainless steel and covered with synthetic leather. The images range from deer and fish to guns and mustaches. Perfect for tailgating and other southern hipster activities.

Click for more coolness: HIPSTER FLASK

For Sweet Eating Book Hoarders:

This book by Arkansawyer Kat Robinson includes everything you ever wanted to know about pie in the Natural State. And she will sign it for you too. An autographed book always makes a delicious gift.

Click here: Arkansas Pie

For Squealing Babies:

If you’re a Mama, you appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the onesie—THE newborn wardrobe essential. Plus, doesn’t every child deserves to start out life with a Merle Haggard-ism on his or her chest? Absolutely.

Click to try: MAMA TRIED ONESIE

For Fashionable Dogs:

Nothing says southern like a bit of gingham flair. All the fashionable fidos agree.

Click to sniff: GINGHAM DOG COLLARS

For the Hot Grillmeister:

Elevate your barbecue with this bold, rich sauce made from an old Texas family recipe. Better buy all three because each is wonderfully different. Isn’t life too short to eat less than stellar barbecue sauce? I think so.

Click to buy pronto: BENTLEY’S BATCH 5 BARBECUE SAUCE

For Dirty Men Everywhere:

What do these three things have in common—gravel roads, gunpowder and home brew? They all lead to fun times and big trouble. Clean your man up with this soap handmade in Little Rock.

Click for fun: MEN’S BAR SOAP

For the Ornament Collector:

Show your state pride with these wire ornaments that aren’t just for Christmas. Hang them from your doorknob, rearview mirror, wherever. If you have a family divided like ours (Razorback and Longhorn), you will need more than one. Currently available for the folks who love Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

Click for more info: SOUTHERN STATE ORNAMENT

For the Hostess with the Mostest:

Ahhhh, this candle is light and refreshing like a sip of sweet tea. Hence the name. Any southern hostess would be happy to receive it. And really, you can’t have too many candles.

Click to buy: SWEET TEA CANDLE

For Santa Claus:

Let’s talk about Santa. He works hard all year with a bunch of elves way up at the frozen North Pole so that he can pack his cramped sleigh and deliver a bundle of soon forgotten toys down your sooty chimney. Doesn’t he deserve chocolate? Real chocolate. Chocolate with moonshine? Yes, yes he does. He’s tired of slice and bake chocolate chip cookies. He told me so.

Click for Santa: MOONSHINE TRUFFLES

So that’s my list. Check it twice and don’t forget to use the coupon codes mentioned above.

Happy on-line shopping!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis url=”http://wp.me/p58902-182″]#Southern #Christmas gifts under $25! #shoplocal @PAllenSmith @BourbonandBoots @TieDyeTravels @BentleysBatch5[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

White Christmas Cartoon Song – The Drifters

I was fortunate enough to snag an invite to Moss Mountain Farm last week. P. Allen Smith and Arkansas Grown hosted Farm2Home14 at his extraordinary farm on the banks of the Arkansas River. Nothing I can write will possibly do justice to my Moss Mountain Farm experience. No way.

I have managed to narrow down my top six favorite things about the day in no particular order because that’s expecting too much.

1. Poultry. P. Allen Smith raises heritage breeds and has made it his mission to create interest in poultry farming among Arkansas children. His Poultry Palace is the Ritz-Carlton of chicken coops. Impressive!

Poultry Palace

2. Porches. When you are blessed with a sweeping view of the Arkansas River, you must create a spectacular porch, right? The entire back of P. Allen Smith’s home is devoted to porches, a downstairs dining and sitting porch and an upstairs sleeping porch complete with copper bathtub.

Downstairs Dining Porch

Most Perfect Sleeping Porch Ever

3. Farmers. Meeting and talking with local Arkansas farmers was a highlight for me. These farmers are passionate, committed, hard-working and dedicated to educating the people of Arkansas about the benefits of growing and eating local.

Scott Heritage Farms – fashionable farmer:)

Take a look at the beautiful baked goods from Ethan’s Heirloom Gardens. Ethan’s Heirloom Gardens is a natural/sustainable grower of both heirloom plants and produce. Even their recipes are heirloom, many dating back to the 1800s. If you live in Central Arkansas, be sure to check them out.

4. Gardens. The flower gardens were as gorgeous as any botanical garden I’ve visited.

Gigantic Lilies…

And the vegetable garden? I could only dream of growing such a bounty. The air smelled fresh and green. It was all I could do not to drop to my knees and begin working in the dirt. Or cry. I almost cried several times. It was one of those experiences. I picked warm berries fresh from the vine.

Vegetable Garden at Moss Mountain Farm

5. Food. The food provided was enough for an entire weekend. Maybe a week! It goes without saying that everything was fresh and local and make-your-eyes-roll-back delicious. Lunch included US Foods 2013 Next Top Product Winner—the black bean burger created by Chef Jerrmy of Greenhouse Grille in Fayetteville. Love.That.Restaurant. Don’t you? (Chef Jerrmy and his family sat at my table for lunch. I tried to finagle the Greenhouse Grille quinoa recipe from him… I’m still hopeful.)

Black Bean Burger created by Chef Jerrmy, Greenhouse Grille

Award winning Black Bean Burger on Greek Yogurt Bun with Citrus Slaw, Pepper Jack and Avocado Aioli.

Following a huge lunch which included the incredible dessert you see below, local farmers brought tasty samples of their goodies (salsa, bread, wine, beer, ice cream, fruit, veggies, cookies, fried pies, everything). And if that wasn’t enough grazing, the day ended with appetizers, cocktails, and live music beneath a 300-year-old Post Oak. Heaven in Arkansas, people.

6. Friends. I loved hanging out with all my Arkansas Women Blogger friends and new friends from Moss Mountain Farm and Arkansas Grown. Such fun! How did I get so lucky?