Welcome to my 12 Days of Christmas Recap where I highlighted 12 Central Florida local businesses in the month of December. Below you will find each of the 12 days, more information on each business, and all the ways you can contact them!
On the first day of Christmas, Orlando gave to me…a photographer to take pictures of my family. This year, I’m completely enamored with Everhart Photography.
Samantha Everhart is Central Florida photographer who has been in the business over 10 years. She specializes in on-location shoots, family, maternity, lifestyle & more.
Her photography sets are something out of a dream, and she’s patient and kind to my (not very well behaved) two year old during photo sessions. Oh, did I mention the photos come out absolutely stunning? Truly, they are images I will treasure for a lifetime!
Check her out on:
On the 2nd day of Christmas, Orlando gave to me, homemade designer cookies!
LWsweets, aka Leila Williams, is a local Oviedo resident, mama to three girls, and cookie artist! Not only do her cookies look like they’re out of a magazine, they taste incredible too! (Pictured are some branded cookies she made for me a few months ago!)
A former Publix cake decorator, she now designs cookies full time. Her signature flavor is an almond vanilla bean sugar cookie with toasted caramel royal icing (Yum!)
On the 3rd day of Christmas, Orlando gave to me… A local brewery to drink brews with my honey 🍻 (the rhyming isn’t great, work with me here!)
Oviedo Brewing Company is Oviedo’s only brewery & gastropub. Located in the Oviedo Mall, this spacious & comfy brewery seriously has something for everyone. The in house beers are absolutely delicious (you can find me drinking a Melon Mamba New England IPA) and the food is 10/10 (get the pretzel & the wings!)
OBC is releasing a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Naughty Nicholai’s Russian Imperial Stout in a Bomber Bottle- available the week before Christmas! A great gift for the beer lover in your life!
Follow them on Instagram at: @oviedobrewingco
Follow them on Facebook Here
Check out their website here
Follow them on Facebook Here
Check out their website here
On the 4th day of Christmas, Orlando gave to me, a studio dedicated to sugaring!
You’re probably asking “what’s sugaring.” Well, let’s just say this: it’s a less painful, longer-lasting, all-natural form of hair removal. They specialize in using the hand method, and are super passionate about removing unwanted hair & insecurities!
*Trust me when I tell you* it will change your life. Message me for details
Mama Bear Sugaring studio has four Central Florida locations, and the studios are super cute & clean. Ladies, if you’ve never tried it, I urge you to make an appointment. I am a lifelong fan!
On the 5th day of Christmas, Orlando gave to me, a super trendy spot to drink coffee.
Welcome to Craft & Common- a local female owned & led coffee shop dedicated to boldly unpretentious coffees, teas & yummy noshes. The drinks are delicious & creative (my current fave is the peppermint mocha) and the atmosphere is arguably one of the most aesthetic and trendy places to hangout in Orlando.
A gift card to Craft & Common makes the perfect stocking stuffer for teachers, babysitters, hair stylists, or the coffee lover in your life!
Drinks on me! If you’re interested in buying or selling in 2022, send me a DM! We’ll setup a time to meet at Craft & Common for all things delicious, and get the ball rolling on your real estate goals.
On the 6th day of Christmas, Orlando gave me, a one-stop shop for poke, gourmet provisions, and all the meat!
The Local Butcher & Market is really three culinary powerhouses in one aesthetic store front. Let me break it down for you:
The Local is a butcher specializing in the highest quality meats available. I do not say this lightly- they sell the best steaks in Orlando (and Drew and I have most, if not all!) In addition to incredible cuts of beef, chicken, lamb, sausage & more, they carry an extensive selection of produce, gourmet cheese, wine & groceries.
Then you’ve got Swine & Sons: a provisions market and craft butcher turned bustling sandwich shop and catering company. These guys know what they’re doing when it comes to high end Southern fare. Just trust me on this: get the hot chicken sandwich- it’s absolutely the best you’ll ever eat.
For something lighter, look no further than Da Kine Poke. Originally a food truck turned brick & mortar, Da Kine has two Central Florida locations, serving some of the freshest and yummiest poke bowl creations in the area (I’m partial to the Aloha Green Bowl.)
On the 7th day of Christmas, Orlando gave to me, a store full of the antique treasures of my vintage dreams!
Welcome to one of my absolute favorites places in all of Orlando: Wirewood Market! Located in Altamonte Springs (in a brand new location!) this locally owned boutique is in its third year of business, and I can *proudly* say I’ve been shopping here since the beginning. With over 50 vendors, Wirewood Market specializes in antique, vintage finds & home décor!
On the 8th day of Christmas, Orlando gave me, the most delicious, frozen, homemade ice cream!
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream is a local, handcrafted ice cream shop. With featured flavors changing out monthly, they make all of their ice creams and sorbets right in shop. Kelly’s has four Central Florida locations and two additional scoop shops.
What makes Kelly’s so incredible? The beyond-delicious and creative flavors of course! Off the regular menu, my faves include pistachio & chocolate peanut butter brownie (with whipped cream, hot fudge & peanut butter sauce…I didn’t say it was low calorie!)
The December flavors of the month include: Eggnog, White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha, Candy Cane, Hot Cocoa + Marshmallows, and Ginger Snap
On the 9th day of Christmas, Orlando gave me, an olive oil shop filled with gourmet delicacies!
Nestled in a sweet little shop on Park Ave, in historic Winter Park, Ancient Olive specializes in the world’s finest premium extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars & luxury delights sure to impress even the most avid foodie in your life.
Procuring these specialty items is a full-time commitment my friends over at The Ancient Olive don’t take lightly. Since traveling and supply chain issues are challenging right now, they had to change the way they typically procure new goods. They’ve had the opportunity to “meet” fisherman from Copenhagen, a female chocolate maker from the UAE, US based bitters maker and more- all via Zoom, and all over 6 months in advance in anticipation of the holiday season!
The thing I love most about this shop? It’s a locally owned small business, specializing in supporting other small businesses around the globe!
On the 10th day of Christmas, Orlando gave to me, an eclectic home décor store where I spend way too much money! (Work with me here, people!)
Welcome to Adjectives: a Modern + Vintage home décor store that I’ve been obsessed with for years. The easiest way I can describe this place is like an antique store (that doesn’t smell.) Each gallery is curated by a different member, with over 150 unique collections showcased in over 50,000 square feet of retail space in their three locations.
This place is a treasure trove of hidden gems old, and new. The galleries are all different- expect to find everything from vintage antiques, to brand new furnishings, and everything in-between. If you’re looking for furniture specifically, I highly recommend checking out their Altamonte location which is massive and showcases several craftsmen who hand make beautiful furniture pieces (at extremely reasonable prices!)
On the 11th day of Christmas, Orlando gave to me, a boutique shop for specialty spices, sugars, and all the tea!
The smell alone will draw you into this cozy little shop. The Spice & Tea Exchange is nestled right on Park Ave in Winter Park. They specialize in high end teas and tea blends, spices and spice blends, baking sugars, and more. If you’re a tea drinker, you *must* stop in. They truly some of the best tea I’ve ever tasted (and I’m not even a tea drinker!) The staff is beyond friendly and knowledgeable about flavor profiles, blends, potencies and more!
Staples from the Spice & Tea Exchange in our home include: The Nortwest Salmon Rub (it’s incredible), Florida Sunshine Citrus Salt, and the Coconut Thai spice blend. Truthfully, I don’t think you can go wrong with a single product they offer!
On the 12th day of Christmas, Orlando gave me, the craft beer & bottle shop of my fantasies!
Welcome to The Can & Bottle Shop, a local craft beer store and taproom specializing in hard-to-find craft brews from across the US.
The concept is simple: Stop in for a beer & grab a few fun finds to go. Just 8 months into the business, this little shop is making big strides in the beer community in Central Florida!