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These blondies are a rich, chocolate treat—perfect for a special occasion. Top with vanilla ice cream for an even-sweeter treat!
Recipe courtesy of Pastry Base
We like to try all of our food products to make sure we are providing the highest quality treats and to be able to give first hand accounts of how good they taste. We gave this mix to our "official taste tester" to bake at home and try out. She thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and has come up with enhanced directions to achieve the ultimate blondie experience. The directions that follow are not for the faint of heart and will not be enjoyed by any party-poopers out there. You've been warned!
1. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Get all your ingredients measured and pose in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement for future instagram posts. Make sure to measure extra chocolate chips so you can sneak some bites throughout the baking process. Preheat oven and laugh your way through trying to make parchment paper form a rectangular prism shape. 
2. If you want to be super fancy or if you either a) burn butter when you try to melt it in the microwave, or b) the butter explodes all over the microwave when you try to melt it, use a double boiler to melt the butter! While the oven is preheating and the butter is melting, put on some throwback tunes! Use the spatula you're using to stir the melting butter as a microphone when The Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" comes on. As the butter cools in your mixing bowl, contemplate the important existential questions your tea towels ask you. Whisk in two eggs.
3. Even though the directions are super easy and straight forward, spend several minutes re-reading them to make sure you a) haven't messed up yet, and b) are going to continue to not mess up for the remainder of your baking session. Pour in blondie mix and chocolate chips (last chance to eat some extras) and mix until dough is combined. Look lovingly at your dough as it combines to both marvel at what you've created and to send some love and good juju into the mix so they come out tasting like chocolatey love. Contemplate tasting the batter and weigh the risk of salmonella poisoning.
4. If Weezer's version of "Africa" comes on your speaker as you're scraping the dough off the attachment blade, use the spatula and blade as imaginary drum sticks and bang various surfaces and objects in your kitchen as it plays. Spend a lot of time and care spreading your precious dough into the pan you previously prepared. Make sure it gets to the edges so you get four perfect and slightly crunchier corner pieces.
5. Bake for 20 minutes but before you put it in the oven, have a friend take a cute picture of you putting it in the oven as to document, once again, how awesome of a baker you are. When the timer goes off, act like you know things about baking and science and insert a toothpick to see if it needs more time. Even if it does need more time, take them out and hope for the best because you still have to wait 30 minutes for it to cool before you can eat them and you just can't wait any longer. Let the blondies cool for "30-45 minutes" wink wink, nudge nudge, let's see how long you make it! 
6. *this step will not be found on the back of the blondie mix and is optional but highly encouraged* Cut the blondies with a plastic knife, since you've seen lots of facebook baking tip videos that say this cuts blondies and brownies better. Get a brilliant epiphany to arrange them on a serving platter. Once again pose your blondie platter, a glass of milk, and your self at the table and have a friend take a series of photos where you taste the fruits of your labor. Eat all the blondies in one day. Boom. Nailed it.
Co-founded by siblings Will Gray and Jennifer Beckman, Back Pocket Provisions specializes in small batch Bloody Mary mixes sourced from tomatoes grown by local farmers. According to their mission, they are a social enterprise committed to more than just making a profit from their products. A major focus of their business model and mission is to support small farms in order to maintain what they call the “foundation of a food system that supports healthy communities, economies, and environments”. Integral to their business model is actively trying to combat the corporate and industrial food systems that are making it more difficult for small and local farmers and companies to survive. They carry out their mission by directly supporting local farmers by using their harvests and partnering with other like-minded businesses to create a collaborative force that propels the local food movement. Everything they do is centered around their four core company values: inner beauty, food culture, radical transparency, and creative collaboration.
Since the challenging changes brought on by COVID-19, the company has initiated an uplifting social media campaign to give away a $25 gift certificate to a local business every week. This both helps support other local makers, movers, and shakers, and shows their genuine interest in their followers’ well being and spirit. Their #25aweek campaign was initiated by Will in an effort to keep followers and supporters connected, engaged, and able to continue supporting their favorite local business, organizations, and restaurants. In crazy and unprecedented times like these, we need more initiatives such as this to keep us connected and engaged with local businesses. It is inspiring to see the way local and small businesses have gone above and beyond to support, stimulate, and uplift each other when the going gets tough.
As of now, Back Pocket Provisions offers three mixes that every Bloody Mary fan will go nuts for. We carry their Bloody Brilliant mix that pulls from the classic Bloody Mary flavors of horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper. Other tantalizingly inventive flavors they offer are Bloody Baja, inspired by the Southwest flavors of sweet corn, jalapeno peppers, garlic, and finished off with some smoked spices, and Bloody Bangkok, infused with Southeastern Asian flavors of red curry, lemongrass, and fish sauce. Available at select markets, their Bloody Blue Ridge mix is available for pick up and features a blend of sweet, spicy, and umami flavors. Their never ending search for symbiotic collaborations continues with the exciting news of Caiam, the especially juicy heirloom variety being grown for the company by Old Tavern Farms, located outside of Richmond. For some, making a Bloody Mary can seem daunting and complicated, even with a mix as superb as this one. To encourage more people to try these fantastic drinks and to help adventurous drinkers on their Bloody Mary journeys, they’ve created an extensive Recipes page that can be found here https://www.backpocketprovisions.com/recipes.
We’ve been lucky enough to get to know more about this company and its farms as we’ve carried their classic mix as an individual product in our build your own box option, and as a product we frequently use to build our pre designed boxes around. One of our most popular featured gifts is our Real Local RVA Box which includes a 16oz bottle of Bloody Brilliant Bloody Mary Mix, 12 oz of Blanchard’s RVA Exclusive Blend Coffee Ground, two Gratisfied Empower Bars, Lilybean Gooey Blondie Mix from Pastrybase, Agriblend Jam from Agriberry Farm, AR’s Ame’s Hot Southern Honey, and a diner mug from Perk! Coffee and Lunchbox. Real Local RVA is a grassroots group of independent, small grocery stores, farmers, farmer’s markets, value added producers, restaurants, and supporters working to build a more collaborative local food system. Every company whose products are featured in this box are members of Real Local RVA and we donate $7 to Real Local RVA for every one of these boxes purchased.
As the reality of quarantine set in, Gifted wanted to create gift boxes that would bring some normalcy and routine back to our customers’ lives. When we realized how many small restaurants were going to have to close or adjust production, we responded with the invention of The Brunch Box. The first thing we included in this box was the Bloody Brilliant Bloody Mary mix and built everything else in the box to compliment a comforting and refreshing Bloody Mary. This box almost immediately sold out and we are in the process of re-inventing it to make it even more mouthwatering and tempting. We also realized that snacking is one of the few remaining comforts of these quarantimes, so we pulled together some of our favorite snacks and paired them with the Bloody Mary mix to create our Cabin Fever Snack Pack, which also includes snickerdoodle popcorn from Lammar Marie Gourmet Popcorn, a chocolate bar and salt and pepper dark chocolate almonds from Chocolate by Kelly, Virginia Peanuts from Feridies, and cheese straws from Three Sisters. We are excited to be continuing our creative box creations with our newest box inventions: the Bloody Mary Box (coming soon!). These boxes will be announced in the next few weeks and will feature, of course, our favorite Bloody Mary mix by Back Pocket Provisions.
In the spirit of being inclusive, this first box is designed to go to any woman who deserves some praise on May 10th. This gift isn't for the regular mom, it's for the Cool Mom. This is for the mom that makes mimosas on any day at any time and like a good gossip session. This box was also designed with that woman in your life who treats you and loves you like a mom but is really more of a best friend. There isn’t a holiday for the woman who supports you 100% but just happened to not have given birth to you; this gift is for them and we think they deserve some pampering. Included in this box is our freaking favorite and adorable Champagne Flute and Bar Towel from Swig Life. For some sweetness, we included a four pack of Fleur de Sel Caramels from La Vache Creamery and some RVA Rock Candy from Zazoli Sweets. Also in this box is the incredibly versitile Reusable Snack Bag from Beego Handmade. We know she’s already cool, but seriously, this will totally up her game and swag score.
We took a page from the whole “treat yoself” movement and decided that yo mama deserves to be treated with some awesome products and delicious delicacies. Treat whatever woman you are celebrating on May 10th with this Treat Yo Mama Box designed to give her some spa items, sweet treats, and a little bling to wear on every Mother’s Day to come! We’ve included our top three best-selling spa items in this box: our Serum Trio Sampler from Maven Made, the Relax Bath Bomb from Cricket Cove Soap Co., and a Soy Candle from Burn Down for What. Also included in this box is a 70% Bittersweet Chocolate Bar from Chocolates by Kelly and a choice of rose petal, whiskey, or coffee sugar cubes from Storied Goods. And last, but not least, is a wicked cool Unakite Heart Stone from The Raw Aura.
For the mother who is stylish, brunch making, and rose-gold loving, we’ve created The Rose Mom box. Designed for the woman in your life that isn't afraid of shining, has a lot of sass, and loves the rosy things in life. This would be perfect for the “cool aunt” or the mentor who got you through your dissertation. This box was first inspired by some sweet new products from Swig Life. This Stemless Champagne Flute and Bar Towel are the perfect pairing for your rose-loving mom to show off. Next, is a Mini Soy Candle from Burn Down For What. No rose-themed box would be complete without some real roses so we threw in some Rose Petal Sugar Cubes from Storied Goods that will really dress up whatever sparkling concoction she wants to throw in her snazzy new champagne flute! To flaunt at all the events to come, is a choice of a Rose Quartz Necklace from The Raw Aura or a Mountain or Butterfly necklace from Gypsy Stars RVA.
Working Mom really needs no introduction. This is simply for the bad-ass boss woman in your life who gets the job done and needs some new swag to do so with. This box was designed with a person who needs a little caffeine lift and some sassy new organization supplies. We know all moms work hard in all areas of their lives so we designed this box to help you show them you notice and appreciate all they do. This box is the only Mother’s Day box we put together that has our totally fabulous “Richmond is my Happy Place” Tumbler from The Grateful Heart Shop. Next, we included a couple office supplies because we know there could never be enough notepads for all the lists one needs to make. Anyone would love the witty “sharper than your average” Pencil Set and Notepad from Wit and White. And finally, for the caffeine boost that will never not be needed by any busy woman, this box includes a four pack of Double Espresso Caramels from La Vache Creamery and a two oz. bag of ground Firethorne Coffee Blend from Legacy Coffee.
Nobody in their right mind would ever say no to a spa day... especially one that included all the treatments and soothing products our Spa Mom Box is composed of. To set the tone for your lady’s spa experience you get to choose either The Buff and Puff (basil, sage, and mint) or The Welcome Mat (Ginger Verbena and French Vanilla) Soy Candle from Burn Down for What. When you say spa day, we immediately think of lavender. Therefore, we stuffed this box with all of our favorite lavender products: Lavender Soap from Sun Soap Co., a Relax Bath Bomb from Cricket Cove Soap Co., and your choice of either the bath salts or scrub of Cricket Cove Soap Co.’s Lavender Salts Scrub. But we didn’t stop there! Your special lady will also receive the Serum Trio Sampler from Maven Made to really finish off what we promise to be the most relaxing and rejuvenating home-spa day of her life!
Mother’s Day is unique because there are so many kinds of moms that can be commemorated on this day! When putting together our Tea With Mom box, we especially had grandmas and aunts in mind. Who doesn’t love a proper afternoon tea with grandma? But we’ve taken tea time to the next level and given it some style and pizzazz. Obviously, we needed to include some tea in this box so we put in a whole Tea Tin of 12 tea bags from Miss Priss Tea Co. The blend name even fits: Mom’s Magic is a blend of lemon verbena, peppermint, lemongrass, and grapefruit peel.
If we were to play a game of word association for tea, we would immediately think of jam and cookies, which is why we've included some Agriblend Jam from Agriberry Farms and some Wrapped Shortbread Buttons from Savannah Grace from Integrity Food Group with wrapping paper from Riot + Revel! In case you spill something or just want to be super chic, we put in a lovely Tea Towel from Swig Life that appropriately says "My Squad Calls Me Mama". And finally, we’ve put our River City Mug designed and made by Guy Piper.
Written by: Sydney Intolubbe Thomas
First of all, think about the person or people you’re sending it to and write down a couple things about them. Do they like to cook? Do they drink coffee or tea? Do you they like to treat themselves with spa days? How is their house decorated? What kind of a snacker are they (salty, sweet, crunchy, savory)? Next, think about the reason you are sending this care package. What occasion is it for or is it a random gift to show them you think they’re pretty neat? Now, combine all that brainstorming and think of something to write in a card. Often, once we collect our thoughts and write a note to someone it can help us pick the perfect items to go in a gift.
You’ve already done the hard part by doing your homework and brainstorming. Pick a card that fits the occasion or reason you’re sending the care package and tell us what to write in it. This will be the first thing they open and can make all the difference!
Shop for a card for every occasion here. We have a card for just about anything you could imagine: a breakup, a celebration, a promotion, girl power, new house, an IOU, and more!
Food is always the answer. Period. We send food when someone is pregnant because, cravings. We send food when someone is grieving because its fuel for the soul and heart. We send food when someone’s just moved into a new house because their pantry needs stocking. And we send food for all the other occasions because we’re human and eating is what we do best. Here are a few of our suggestions or take a look at our food and beverage page.
For someone who likes working out and eating super healthy, they will love the powerful and filling Empower Bar by Gratisfied. Any crunchy muncher will be in love with the Rosemary and Parmesan Crackers from Must Have Munchies. The cheese lovers will adore theses Cheese Straws from Three Sisters.
Chips and salsa are a pretty safe snack to send to anyone for just about any reason! These Tortilla Chips from Capital Chips and Crab Salsa from Gunther's are just the ticket.
(If you're looking for a gift box that's all snacks, we have three pre-designed boxes and care packages all ready to be shipped: Shareable Snacks, Real Local RVA, and the Cabin Fever Snack Pack.)
Keeping with the theme “we are all human” and sticking to the basics, we also need to drink. Most people are just better after a cup of coffee, an afternoon tea, or a brunch bloody mary. We know you have a friend who thinks they are a 1920s bar tender so make sure to include something like our sugar cubes, perfect for an old fashioned or a spritzer!
If your gift is for a bruncher, this Bloody Brilliant Bloody Mary Mix is a must from Back Pocket Provisions. Any coffee addict will appreciate this RVA Blend 12 oz package of coffee beans from Blanchard's. If you don't know if they have a grinder, you can check out the Firethorne Blend grounds from Legacy Coffee. If your recipient is a tea lover, we have a few options brought to you by Miss Priss Tea Co.
Some people really love some drink add-ins like these versatile sugar cubes from Storied Goods. With flavors like coffee, whiskey, and rose petal, no drink will ever be the same! Honey is a staple and Ame's hot spin on an ancient classic is just what your gift box needs.
For the person in your life who just really loves coffee, we have the Coffee Date Box and the Mini Coffee boxes already designed for your convenience!
Literally everyone like a good at-home spa session. Or at least, we all enjoy a little self care. Whether you’re sending it to your best buy friend who just got broken up with or your 80 year old grandma, we promise they’ll love our relax bath bomb or deep space soap. This item has endless possibilities but it should definitely be something that will make them feel cared for. To look at all our spa products go to our website.
A solid go-to for spa gifts are soaps, try the lavender or lemon and eucalyptus soaps from Sun Soaps. Freckled Farm has the most incredible soaps with activated charcoal, lavender, and tea tree Deep Space Soap or their coffee scent. Anybody would love to get some lavender sugar and salt bath salts or scrub from Cricket Cove Soap Co. If you really want to wow your giftee, send them this serum trio from Maven Made to transform their home-spa treatment.
This item can also be a product that goes along with why you’re sending the care package in the first place; if they are an expectant mother, they would love our belly balm from The Mindful Birth, and if they are someone who needs help keeping the essentials stocked during these weird times, send them some lavender laundry soap from Freckled Farm Soap Co. or some home energy clearing spray.
Some of our most popular treat yoself gift boxes are our Chic, Mini Chic, The Hey Girl, and The Love Lavender boxes.
Items like food and soaps are staples in any well-crafted gift box but they don’t last forever. You want to include something in your gift box that will remind them of what a kick-ass person you are for sending them an incredible care package long after they've scarfed down the last of their peanuts. You want to include something like our River City coffee mug from local maker, Guy Piper, or one of our swig tumblers from Swig Life. This could also come in the form of a household item like one of our Turkish Towels from Let's Talk Towels or a Carrot Mixing Spoon handmade by Kilpley Herr. Other ideas are things they may use everyday or for a special occasion like a Richmond Keychain from The Grateful Heart Shop or a Rose Quartz Necklace made by The Raw Aura. To see all products we have click here. Think of the smile it will put on their faces every time they use or put on this item.
If these products are really speakin to you check out some boxes that we've designed full of these items. Some customer favorites are the Quarantine home Kit and The Work From Home box. To read more about these last two and more, you can read our last blog post, Gifts to Send in these Quarantimes.
Expecting Mother or New Baby: Any new parent would love any of these products like this RVA All Day Onsie from Little Nomad, or either the washcloth teether or muslin bib from Allam House, or this handmade owie bag from Raising Green Kids. You can also check out our Baby Box which is full of all these goodies and more!
New House or a Move: Try including items like a bar towel from Swig Life, and air plant terrarium, or welcome them to Virginia with this cookie cutter. One of our favorite boxes to send someone who's just moved is our Brunch Box. Nothing like a brunch in your new kitchen to welcome you home!
Engagement: The busy couple is going to need some tools to help plan and celebrate. Try adding a To Do List from Wit and White, a pair of stemless reusable champagne flutes from Swig Life, or remind them of their love with this heart stone from The Raw Aura.
New Job: Anyone starting a new job or taking on a promotion will definitely need some pencils and list pad from Wit and White. The coffee suggestion speaks for itself! With their busy schedule, they may need a reusable and easily portable snack bag from Beego Handmade to keep them fueled.
Mother's Day: Mother's Day is just around the corner. Prove you are the favorite child and your unfailing love to the number one lady in your life by putting together a stunning gift! Add in this tumbler from The Grateful Heart Shop, a tea infuser from Miss Priss Tea Co, a delicious soy candle from Burn Down For What, and a sassy bar towel from Swig Life to create the ultimate Mother's Day gift.
In the end, whatever combination of items you select will be perfect because the intention behind sending a gift is to remind someone that there are people out there who care and love them. This guide has helped us create some of our pre-designed boxes and is a good jumping off place if you want to send the ultimate care package. It’s easy to assume that someone knows your love them and think about them but it’s so much better to go the extra mile and truly show them how much they are appreciated. Especially now that you’ve read this whole guide and are now a gift expert, you really owe it to yourself to put your newfound knowledge to the test. We can’t wait to see what you come up with! If you need more inspiration, visit our online store for gift ideas and boxes already made up!
Written by: Sydney Intolubbe Thomas
For many of us, these are unprecedented and difficult times, to say the least. We are social creatures and are used to being able to have control over our lives, see the people we love, and celebrate things big and small. Instead, we find ourselves with little control over our work, our social lives, and our health. It can be difficult to navigate how to bring some joy and normalcy back into our lives. We are lucky enough at Gifted RVA to be able to spread hope and bring people together through meaningful and intentional gift giving. To us, gift giving is more than boxes and bows, it is a way for people to invest in relationships and express feelings of love, gratitude, and admiration. During this time when we may feel trapped in our homes and isolated from others. Giving and receiving meaningful gifts is a beautiful way to send a reminder that someone out there cares. Here at Gifted, we certainly care; we care about our city, our makers, and the people who give and receive our gifts.
The thought of working at home can be daunting and we know there are too many distracting temptations to list. We appreciate all you hard working professionals who are having to adjust to a new normal with your make-shift home-offices and work from home regimens. We’ve packed our Work From Home Box with some essentials that will help you get your work done and stay sane in the process. The best way to start the day is with a refreshing shower followed by a cup of joe so we’ve included handmade Deep Space Soap from Freckled Farm and some of our favorite medium roast Firehorne Coffee Blend from Legacy Coffee. You haven’t experienced anything like the soothing combination of activated charcoal, lavender, and tea tree this soap offers or the notes of caramel, malt, and toasted sugar that will burst through your taste buds. You’ve got to stay on task and keep your mind and writing utensils sharp so we threw in some sassy office supplies from Wit and White. This To Do List and Pencil Set are must haves to stay organized. And finally, we’ve included a Soy Candle from Burn Down For What so you can stay focused and alert and get the job done.
When the going gets tough (or there’s a mandatory quarantine), we suggest stocking up on some high quality, craft snacks. We have hand selected some of the most delectable and addicting foods from our makers and put together the ultimate Cabin Fever Snack Pack. We know chocolate is a must-have when social distancing so we’ve included two incredibly exquisite products from Chocolates by Kelly. The Salt and Pepper Dark Chocolate Almonds will satisfy the most extreme sweet and salty cravings. The Toasted Almond Dark Chocolate Bar is just as luscious as it sounds, has a whole almond in every bite, and is gluten-free! For those who need a crunch, we’ve added some of Feridies’ lightly salted Virginia Peanuts and the perfectly buttery Cheese Straws from Three Sisters. Speaking of butter, the gluten free, 0g trans fat, and non-GMO Snickerdoodle Popcorn from Lammar Marie’s Gourmet Popcorn will have you singing sweet, cinnamony praises. And finally, we wouldn’t create a snack pack without including a drink mixer. Desperate times call for drinks. Bloody Brilliant Bloody Mary Mix from Back Pocket Provisions is the missing key to your at-home brunch!
We are all about holistic health. Therefore, while you’re quarantined, we want you to stay happy, alert, and fresh with our Quarantine Home Kit. Robin’s Egg Essentials created a Home Energy Clearing Spray exclusively for Gifted. A few sprits of this product will have you feeling refreshed and reinvigorated. We dare you to resist this combo of sea salt, sage, grapefruit, and lemon! Continuing with the theme of renewing and detoxing we included a Sachet of Tea Bags from Miss Priss Tea Co. and a Relax Bath Bomb from Cricket Cove Soap Company. Sip this black tea with the intoxicating flavor combinations of bergamot, black currant, lavender, chamomile, and vanilla while melting your worries away in your sea salt and lavender infused bath. While you’re enjoying your bath, or as you read the books you now have time for, light the Soy Candle from Burn Down for What and enjoy the rejuvenating energy it will bring to any room. Little owies happen to people big and small so we’ve included the Owie Bag from Raising Green Kids to provide hot or cold pain relief from all kinds of small ailments. We love that this product is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and reusable and we know you will, as well! And finally, we’ve built a mini terrarium of moss, rocks, and an airplant in a glass vase. Aiplants are gorgeous, brighten up any windowsill, and require little care. This mini-biome is not only cute but will give you something to take care of and keep alive in case the stir-craziness is really getting to you!
Written by: Sydney Intolubbe Thomas
Tree decorating, baking cookies, and ice skating; these are all pleasant experiences that come out of the winter season. Unfortunately, we know a few others that can sometimes make an unwelcome appearance: dry, itchy skin, and damaged pores.
Luckily, we’ve got your back with an arsenal of artisan bath and body care treats made for combating the colder weather. By stocking up on these products, we guarantee your mind and body will stay sharp and healthy from now until spring.
To avoid flaky skin, we suggest taking a soak with our gentle and intoxicating Relax French Lavender detox salt bomb. Not only is it relaxing, it helps cleanse and detoxify the body. Lavender helps to relieve stress and relax the mind.
Another bath-time treat is our Mermaid Bath Bomb handmade by Sugar & Spruce. This sweet treat will give your a beaming, heavenly fragrance of delicate florals paired with the crisp ocean air, the perfect blend of salty and sweet.
Enhance your soak experience by adding Lavender Coconut Bath Salts to help ease muscle tension and stress while drawing toxins from the body. Soaking in a coconut milk sea salt bath has been a healing ritual throughout history. Not only is it relaxing, it helps cleanse, soothe, and detoxify the body. Lavender relieves stress and relaxes the mind!
Top off your stay-at-home spa day by rubbing your skin down with Whipped Sugar Scrub for soft and yummy skin. Inspired by sweet treats with a touch of whimsy, and a dash of cheeky.Take a trip into your bath tub and lull into the night.
At the top of our list of must-know products is our Deep Space Soap. In addition to the goat milk and natural oils, that are featured in all Freckled Farm soaps, this beautiful bar includes activated charcoal, lavender, and tea tree making it the perfect face soap! The lather is smooth and silky and it smells absolutely amazing.
Finally, finish up your facial care regimen with Bright Body Makeup Remover. This oil-based makeup remover helps break down even long-wearing and waterproof makeup gently without harsh chemicals.
Once your face is taken care off, it's time to move down to the inevitable sore spot brought on by cold weather: chapped lips. To relieve this common condition, we recommend two lip-soothing options.
For starters, the wonders of coconut never cease to amaze us, especially in Vanilla Coconut Milk Lip Balm. With the power of Vitamin E, keep your smile smooth and supple with this luxuriously moisturizing lip balm made with only the best butters and oils, this handmade formula is sure to protect your pout and keep it kissable.
On the other hand, Tasty Tart Lip Sugar Scrub provides the ultimate pucker-upper. Promises pinched cheeks and winced eyes. As always, first it's sour then it's sweet!
It’s no secret that at Gifted, we’re all about appreciating the underdogs, whether it’s local Richmond artisans or hardworking employees. After all, both deserve personal recognition, and with the holidays fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to show it with corporate gifts!
Unfortunately, corporate gifting has funneled down to the same yawn-worthy presents every year. You probably know them well: restaurant gift cards, company apparel, novelty office supplies, on and on.
That’s why we’ve rounded up our top corporate gifts to show employees how much you value them, not just as workers but as family members and human beings. What’s more, all of these gifts benefit Virginia artisans who make a difference in our local communities. It’s a win-win-win!
So as we enter the giving season, keep in mind that every member of your office family deserves to be treated with a homemade gift. Let’s get started!
Sure, tickets to a game might be nice for one evening, but why not give your employee something he can enjoy for several games? That’s where we come in with our game day Shareable Snacks! This gift box makes a great gift for 6 - 10 people to share….or one very happy snack lover.
Includes:
Tortilla Chips - Capital Chips Crab Salsa - Gunther’s
Snickerdoodle Popcorn - Lammar Marie's Gourmet Popcorn
All Natural Salami - Olli Salumeria Rosemary and Parmesan Crackers - Must Have Munchies
Chai Spiced Pecans - Gearharts Pink Peppermint Chocolate Bark - Superior Creamery & Confections
No corporate gift says “you’ve earned the night off” better than our Take Care Gift Box! Show your office overachiever some well-deserved appreciation with our stress-reducing artisan goodies, including a Turkish Towel, rest tea, mini soy candle and more! This gift is just what your employee needs to unwind, recharge, and return to work more empowered than ever before.
What better way to indulge this employee’s love of high-quality coffee than with our Coffee Box? This gift is sure to earn your heavy coffee drinker's approval with treats like Chocolate Cravings Coffee Chocolate Bar, Legacy Coffee's Firethorne Coffee Blend, Storied Goods Coffee Sugar Cubes, and La Vache Creamery's Double Espresso Caramels!
What better way to indulge this employee’s love of high-quality things than with our Real Local RVA Box?
Real Local RVA is a grassroots group of independent, small grocery stores, farmers, farmer’s markets, value added producers, restaurants, and supporters working to build a more collaborative local food system. This gift is sure to earn your tastemaker’s approval with treats like Lillybean Gooey Blondie Mix, Hot Southern Honey, Agriblend Jam and much more!
Essentially, this is a gift that comes from the heart and your employee will no doubt appreciate the personal gesture. With it's Richmond Skyline Mug and Fan house Tea towel, it is the perfect gift for anyone that loves Richmond as much as you do!
For each give-back-box that is purchased, one care package will be sent to Safe Harbor who support the survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Each Care Package includes: 4 rolls of toilet Paper, 1 Box of Laundry Detergent, 1 pack of Feminine Products, 1 Pack of baby wipes, 1 Jar of Peanut Butter, 1 Jar of Jelly/Jam, 1 Can of Soup, 1 Box of Pasta, 1 Can of Pasta Sauce and plastic Storage Tub.
Safe Harbor offers comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking including: individual and group counseling children/youth services, 24-hour helpline, court advocacy, emergency shelter, hospital accompaniment, and community education and training.
Long term, Safe Harbor is committed to transforming the lives of survivors. By providing shelter, counseling, support, education, and advocacy to survivors, they are helping those who have been impacted by violence and abuse to heal, rebuild, and move forward with their lives.
Wheel-thrown Stoneware Mug - Mudlove RVA - Mudlove products are handmade out of clay and created to spread hope and show love. Every product provides one week of clean water to someone in need in the Central African Republic. The Central African Republic is a country in desperate need of hope, love and basic necessities. Access to safe, clean water has the power to transform communities and save lives. (Please note that colors vary for this product)
Greeting Cards - Cheatam's Snail Mail - Each card is handmade: Drawn and Painted just for you, our neighbor. Snail Mail aims to show kindness to those in our communities, friends and family with a simple note in the mail. A portion of each purchase benefits organizations around Virginia that bountifully show to love our neighbors, specifically our refugee and immigrant neighbors. We are spreading kindness around like confetti, one card at a time and we hope that you will do the same
Bracelet - Kamili - African heishi beads // 24 karat gold-dipped discs // gently stretch to fit over wrist. Each bracelet was handmade by a Congolese refugee who has been resettled in Richmond, Virginia after spending decades in refugee camps in Rwanda. Join us in welcoming them and supporting them on their journey to rebuild their lives here in the US.
Handmade Soap - Tohi Collection - Handmade soaps and body products made with all natural ingredients. Tohi Collection soaps are made with a blend of pure vegetable oils--olive, palm, coconut, sunflower, and safflower-- and will nourish your body’s largest organ, the skin. They use the cold process method of soap making which retains glycerin, a natural skin softener. They also promote random acts of kindness. For each bar of soap that is purchased, we will donate one to selected Native American tribes, local schools, or refugee camp.
Real Local RVA is a grassroots group of independent, small grocery stores, farmers, farmer’s markets, value added producers, restaurants, and supporters working to build a more collaborative local food system. Their mission is to educate, support and raise awareness of the local food movement and choices in the Greater Richmond area. Learn more about Real Local RVA here: https://reallocalrva.com/
**Each Gift Box includes a $7.00 donation to Real Local RVA!**
RVA Blend Coffee - Blanchard's - Richmond is a place of history, tattoos, creatives, and a total inability to drive in snow. The River City is also known for its intense devotion to really great coffee. So this one is for you, RVA—bold, rich, and complex with notes of caramel apple and spice.
Hot Southern Honey - AR's Hot Southern Honey - Like AR’s® Original Hot Southern Honey (Hot-Mild), the new Hot-Hot is produced in Virginia and infused with the a fuller, tasty heat of red chili peppers for those who wanted a bigger experience of heat!
Lillybean Gooey Blondie Mix - Pastrybase - A best-seller and award winning mix! Make your own homemade, all natural blondies in minutes! Makes 24 ooey gooey blondies that are sure to impress! Just add eggs, butter, & chocolate chips of choice!
Agriblend Jam - Agriberry Farms - Founded in 2008, Agriberry Fruit Farm is owned and operated by the Geyer family–Anne and Chuck Geyer, and their adult children, Pierson and Colleen Geyer. The Geyers grow fruit, including raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums and apples on 25 acres of land in Hanover, Virginia, about 30 minutes northeast of Richmond.
Bloody Brilliant Bloody Mary Mix - Back Pocket Provisions - Fresh tomato juice with horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper. At Back Pocket Provisions they work with independent small farms all over Virginia and spend their summers pressing fresh, ripe tomatoes into the best Bloody Mary mixes anywhere.
Empower Bar - Gratisfied - Nuts, seeds and other superfoods are blended with pure, plant-based pea protein, natural, low-glycemic sweeteners, and organic egg and avocado oil for a perfectly balanced - and actually healthy - meal or snack. Created with nutrition and blood sugar balance in mind in order to have you thinking less about hunger, and more about what matters.
Tumbler - Tri cycle Gardens - Tricycle is Richmond’s leading urban agriculture nonprofit organization, and they are on a mission to grow a healthy future through urban agriculture. Since breaking ground on their first garden, they have engaged thousands of neighbors and shown that the simple act of growing food is an incredibly powerful way to impact the overall health of our community.
At Gifted, we aren't strictly B.Y.O.B., but we do give you that option. Our B.Y.O.B. may not stand for the same words you might be thinking of, but we promise our Build Your Own Box option can be just as fun.
Why Should You Build Your Own Box?
There are three reasons why Building Your Own Box can be the best option for your gift giving.
Budget: The holidays are tough and money's tight. With our B.Y.O.B. option, you control how much you spend on each person on your gift list. By choosing the items yourself, it's easier to make sure that you stay within your holiday spending budget.
Personalization: Giving gifts is no fun if you know your Gifted gals picked out all of your box's products. You can make your gift more personalized and cater to the receiver's likes, favorites, and personality.
Preferences: If you have a certain theme in mind for your gift box, but still want to control the price and personalization, you can sort our products based on categories such as gifts for home or jewelry & accessories. We have Virginia made products to fit any theme from baby gifts to spa days to food.
How do you create your own box?
It's as simple as 1, 2, 3 and 4.
1. Go to the Our Gifts tab on the giftedrva.com homepage and select Build Your Own Gifts.
2. Next choose your gift box design and add it to your shopping cart.
3. Choose all of your individual gift items and add them to your Shopping Cart. You will not see all your items until you click on the shopping cart icon. You can always remove or add items after you've added them to cart, but you must go to the cart to do so.
4. Complete your purchase and relax. We'll take care of the rest!
There's no better or easier way to win the holidays than giving your own personalized Gifted gift boxes to everyone on your list. You will definitely receive texts, phone calls, and emails about how thoughtful, wonderful, and possibly scrumptious your items were. If you're ready to get started, click the link below to begin building the perfect box for your friends or family.
We’re starting our days off with sweater weather which means that Fall has made its way to Richmond!
A new season means bringing new flavors and delights into your home and we’ve got the Virginia-made products to help you do just that.
Whether you're gifting someone who needs a pick me up or just want your monthly coffee fix, here’s your ultimate list of coffee essentials to make sure your pantry is stocked and ready for Autumn.
Cooler temperatures = actually wanting to grab a hot drink in the morning.
Forget the Star that’s on every corner! For all of the Medium Roast lovers out there, we have a Virginia-made coffee that’s ready to be brewed right from home.
Legacy Roasting Company's Firethorne Coffee Blend is the perfect blend of Carmel, malty, and toasted sugar while using high-quality Arabica beans. Plus, you can save your bucks and have enough Firethorne’s to last you through the whole season instead of grabbing one Venti.
Already have your favorite brew? Dress up your drink with Storied Goods Coffee Sugar Cubes. These melting little moments of genuine joy are made of pure cane sugar, pure vanilla extract, cinnamon, cloves. A little bit of sweetness makes a big difference in your coffee!
Spice up your coffee corner with a new mug!
This Richmond Skyline mug features hand-drawn lettering and an outline of Richmond skyline. Dishwasher and microwave safe! Crafted by Grateful Heart Shop of Richmond, VA
If Richmond (aka The River City) holds a special place in your heart, this is the mug for you! Made by local Richmond, VA maker, Guy Piper. 14 oz ceramic mug with permanent vinyl "The River City" lettering.
A stunning and sturdy cobalt blue ceramic campfire mug for those living in or missing the 804! Design features hand-drawn lettering and outline of the state of Virginia. These designs are permanent (not vinyl) so they are safe to use in the dishwasher and microwave! Crafted by Grateful Heart Shop of Richmond, VA
If a "Cup of Joe" isn’t your style, you can have a different flavor of fall with La Vache's Creamery Double Espresso Caramels. These caramels are a decadent blend of roasty espresso and creamy dessert - the perfect way to end a delicious meal or simply stifle a mid-afternoon coffee craving!
The new season brings late nights around the campfire with good friends.
Chocolate Craving's Coffee Chocolate Bar is the perfect complement to these wonderful times filled with fun and food. This chocolate bar is handmade with premium Colombian chocolate, seasonal and local ingredients and a focus on unique flavors and combinations to satisfy The Serious Chocoholic.
The Freckled Farm's Coffee Goat Milk Soap is made with a coffee infused oil with fresh brewed espresso. This soap also includes finely ground coffee beans throughout, making it a strong exfoliant. Coffee is also an excellent scent neutralizer! This soap will help you get strong scents like onions and garlic off of your skin. Whether you need it to remove stains, or smells, or maybe you are just looking for that extra exfoliating factor, this is a soap for you!
