HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE | The Bloom

Holiday Reading from The Bloom: A Child’s Christmas in Wales

Trudy WakefieldDecember 26, 20250555 views

Over the years, our family has enjoyed some Christmas reading. We’ve read through The Little Match Girl, The Elves and the Shoemaker, A Christmas Carol, Sherlock Holmes and The Adventures of the Blue Carbuncle, and many other great stories. But one of our favorites is poet Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales, which we read every Christmas Eve. It’s a beautiful story that shares Christmas memories from over one hundred years ago. If you’re looking for an enjoyable short read, here’s a link to a public domain version:http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks07/0701261h.html

Last-Minute Holiday Shopping (Without the Panic!)

Trudy WakefieldDecember 19, 20250309 views

I love to be one of the last-minute holiday shoppers. But more for the fun than the pressure. It’s not the “I haven’t even started my holiday shopping, and Christmas is less than a week away, and I’m so panicked” type of shopping. No, I’m talking about stocking stuffers, gift cards, and that “oh, what a find for so-and-so” type of shopping. There is a bit of magic in the air, along with a hint that anything is still possible.

Little Gifts, Big Smiles: Local Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Trudy WakefieldDecember 12, 20250322 views

There’s something magical about stocking stuffers that brings the biggest smiles on Christmas morning! This week, The Bloom’s Holiday Shopping Guide is all about finding those perfect little gifts.

Beyond the Wrapping Paper: Gifts of Time Together

Trudy WakefieldDecember 5, 20250308 views

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is looking back over the years, especially to 2020, the year of Covid. Amid the challenges, family game nights became a cherished tradition, creating fond memories. This week, The Bloom’s Holiday Shopping Guide highlights gifts that keep on giving throughout the year!

Supporting Community, One Gift at a Time

Trudy WakefieldNovember 28, 20250251 views

“I observed an interesting conversation on Facebook over the weekend that had to do with shop small versus shop local,” begins Nicole Flora of the Lake County Economic Development Corporation. She highlights the importance of supporting both locally-owned small businesses and chain stores that contribute to our community. This holiday season, remember that every dollar spent in Lake County makes a difference, whether at a local favorite or a chain store. know you are making a positive impact on our local economy!

No Dishes, All Joy: Your Holiday Dining Guide

Trudy WakefieldNovember 21, 20250355 views

For me, eating out with friends and family is one of my fondest memories because it almost always accompanies Christmas shopping, a holiday concert, a festive parade, or driving to see a holiday light display! And the best part? No dishes for one meal, all the while patting yourself on the back for supporting a local business. Does it really get better than that?

It All Starts With Wine: A Lake County Holiday Guide

Trudy WakefieldNovember 14, 20250308 views

One thing I tell my kids year after year is that, at some point in their lives, they will look back on the weeks and days leading up to the holidays as some of their fondest memories of the season, even more so than the big days. I think the older I get, the more I agree with myself. It’s the last-minute dinner with friends, gift shopping in the rain, long drives in search of holiday lights. In the spirit of that, I’ve come up with a foolproof holiday cheer for you this holiday season, and it all starts with wine.

Beyond the Holidays: Supporting Local Business Year-Round

Trudy WakefieldNovember 7, 20250275 views

Lake County had practically coined the trending term “shop local” long before my family and I moved here in 2012. I soon learned it was the “thing to do” in this area, and I quickly adopted the spirit and pride of supporting my local economy.

Three Ways to Handle a Holiday Hangover

Trudy WakefieldDecember 27, 20240676 views

New Year’s Eve is one of the best party nights of the year. It’s a great chance to get together with friends, enjoy some good food, and laugh the night away. If, like me, you enjoy having a good time on December 31st, you may have experienced a vicious New Year’s Day hangover. You go to bed happy, albeit a bit dizzy, and wake up the next morning in misery. Your head’s pounding, your stomach’s in knots, and you can’t quite remember the three hours leading up to midnight. But have hope! (Sorry for the exclamation point; it even reads too loud.) Here are three great ways to handle a hangover.

Twelve Places in Lake County to Pick the Perfect Gift

Trudy WakefieldDecember 13, 20240810 views

One special thing about Lake County is that we don’t have all the chain stores you’ll find elsewhere. And while it’s always fun to take a trip to the city to do some shopping, there are plenty of places right here where you can pick out the perfect gift for a loved one. Here are a dozen of our favorites.

Ten Places in Lake County to Buy One-of-a-Kind Gifts

Trudy WakefieldDecember 6, 20240769 views

Are you looking for something unique, one-of-a-kind, and truly original? Look no further: Lake County has some spectacularly interesting places to get that special person a gift that is impossible to find anywhere else. From antique stores to wine accessories to handmade ceramics, you’ll find something distinctive, special, and quite possibly quirky, at one of these ten stores.

Fifteen Lake County Restaurants You Have To Try This Holiday Season

Trudy WakefieldNovember 29, 20240256 views

I know. Fifteen is a lot of restaurants to go to in the short holiday season. But why not? There’s always a good excuse to get a bite to eat: You’re already cooking a huge holiday dinner, you’re tired from all the shopping, or you just plain ol’ feel like it. Lake County has a lot of places to get great food, but here are fifteen of our favorites.

Your Guide to Lake County Wines Made for Holiday Meals

Trudy WakefieldNovember 22, 202401.1K views

If you’re looking for something great to pair with your holiday feasts, look no further. Lake County has an abundance of high-quality wines. It’s all because of our unique volcanic terroir, the secret that makes Lake County unique. Here are eight recommendations to make any meal better.

Discover Local Artisans at maker.

Trudy WakefieldNovember 25, 20220730 views

Sebrina Andrus, owner of maker. in Kelseyville, reaches far above her head and pulls hard on the window shades, swinging the blinds high up the large windows of what at one time was Kelseyville’s Farmers’ Savings Bank. Winter light shines through them, illuminating the hand-crafted products of maker.

Fashion, Friendship, Fun: Style and Soul Boutique

Trudy WakefieldNovember 4, 20220758 views

It’s another beautiful fall day in Lake County, where the days are shorter, and the bright golden light is slow to give way to cooler temperatures and blustery winds. It’s Tuesday afternoon, and it feels like fall could last forever. Orange, brown, and yellow leaves adorn the display window of Style and Soul Boutique on Main Street in Lakeport, whether it’s autumn sweaters, tops, or dresses that tempt window shoppers to come in for a quick look around.

Wine, Ice Cream, Gifts, and a Facial: Sophie’s Day Spa

Trudy WakefieldDecember 17, 20210931 views

In their expanded location at the old Wildhurst tasting room, Jamie still will greet you at the front door. Odds are she’s chatting with another of her many friends, but she’ll always take time for you. And, if you’ve booked an appointment, you’ll get a chance to experience Sophie’s beauty skills. She offers complete makeup services, facials, waxing, and many other treatments. But if you didn’t make an appointment, don’t worry. The store’s full of beautiful things and stuffed with a combination of locally-made and thoughtful gifts, beauty supplies, and unique items. Each time we visit, we end up picking up something. And, as a testament to Jamie and Sophie’s eye for lovely things, the decorations change regularly. Right now, the store’s a holiday extravaganza. In Spring, it’s bright and festive. And each decorative change creates a new experience; it’s like stepping into a new store each time we visit.

Peppermint Dreams and Why Your Positive Thoughts Can Help Promote a Healthy Brain

Lori ArmstrongDecember 16, 20210618 views

Feeling discouraged at times but realizing the importance to always discover a solution to pick myself up serves as one of the key traits to achieve true happiness in life. This rule of thumb should be in in all of our playbooks. We all have our burdens to bear but no one can make a better life for themselves until they look deep and rediscover the past magic. I am not referring to a hocus-pocus type of magic but a sense of recalling better days. It may be different for every one of us. Think back. Keeping the warm memories alive is not hard. It is a habitual ritual that began for me after my father’s sudden death at the young age of 57.

Photography, Art, and Whimsy: The Painted Bird Gallery

Trudy WakefieldDecember 13, 20210724 views

Bob Phillips stands in front of one of his photos, his feet spread slightly wider than shoulder-width, a facemask hiding his bearded face. Under his opened flannel shirt, a ‘D’Art Frog logo shows, half-hidden. “I consider myself a landscape photographer,” he says, thinking for a second. “I’m really an old school photographer.” On the walls around him hang his photographs. Sure, there’s a spectacular photo of Mt. Konocti shaded in the purples and blues of sunset on one wall, but near it, an image filled with holiday revelers hangs. Close-ups of radial airplane engines and painterly photographs of downtown Lakeport fill the walls next to them, showing that Bob’s more than just a landscape photographer. When I mention it, he smiles. “When the gallery was just my work,” he says, “I would have people come in, look at my photos, and ask, ‘How many photographers do you have?’” he laughs.

Your Lower Lake Holiday Shopping Guide

Trudy WakefieldDecember 10, 20210850 views

Lower Lake is a town filled with history. It’s home to the Historic Schoolhouse Museum and Lake County’s first jail, still standing and available to visit. It also has the honor of hosting the first jailbreak in the county, one of my favorite stories. The builders, happy to finish their work on the jail, celebrated a bit too hard and ended up being the first incarcerated. However, the roof wasn’t secured, so, in the middle of the night, they lifted it and made their way out. It’s also a great place to spend a holiday afternoon filled with shopping. Park your car anywhere on Main Street and spend the day wandering. Not only does it have a broad selection of unique items, but it also has some great restaurants. Here are a few recommendations of great places to grab a bite to eat and pick up the perfect gifts for your loved ones.

A Gamer’s Paradise: The Game Hub

Trudy WakefieldDecember 9, 20210789 views

Kyle’s owned The Game Hub for ten years now, and he’s gotten to know his customers. “I wanted to be a teacher,” he says, “but went a different direction. I fell in love with running a business. But it’s cool to see people grow up and keep coming in.” In light of that, Kyle has made the game section of the store easy to understand and broken down into sections: New to the Hobby, Family Fames, Kid’s Games, Small Games, Intermediate Games. Anyone from a young parent to an involved RPG junkie will feel at home.

Antiques and Good Conversation: Two Sisters Antiques

Trudy WakefieldDecember 9, 202101K views

Entering the courtyard’s just the beginning of the journey when you head in to meet the Two Sisters. A couple Radio Flyer wagons and a bubbling fountain filled with fish first greet you, followed by metal buckets, washbasins, and statues, the appropriate overflow of any good antique store. Then you’ll make your way up the stairs and meet them. Tina and Robin Kingsley stand in the middle of their store, looking at all the things they have collected over the years. They’re surrounded by embroidery, ceramics, galvanized tubs, candles, figurines, games, and various other good finds.
We’ve got a little bit of everything,” Robin says, a smile in her words.
“A lot of everything!” Tina interjects.

Your One-Stop Shop: Middletown Florist and Gifts

Trudy WakefieldDecember 3, 20210920 views

It was a spontaneous stop. I happened to already be in Middletown with some time to spare when I remembered a little shop I wanted to check out for a potential Bloom review. That’s when I met Ellen Munk, co-owner of Middletown Florist and Gifts, standing behind the florist desk cleaning up the last bit of greenery from a bouquet.
“Welcome!” came her greeting. “Feel free to look around and let me know if you have any questions,” she said, moving back to the front of the shop. The unmistakable smell of fresh-cut flowers filled the room.

Get Your Dose of Coolness at Koontz Mercantile

Trudy WakefieldDecember 2, 20210613 views

Reuben and Kassie Koontz moved back to Lake County in 2015 after living in Santa Rosa for years. There, Reuben did high-end autobody work and made great money. But they wanted a different, more rural lifestyle. So Kassie moved back home to Middletown, where her family has lived for four generations. There, she and Reuben created Koontz Mercantile, an eclectic shop filled with all kinds of cool stuff.
And ‘cool’ is the right word. The place has an aura of hipness. A surfboard serves as a shelf in the outdoor room, while a bicycle turned into a side table sits underneath rows of aprons filled with different sayings. “Shut up Liver, You’re Fine,” one reads.

A Perfect Place for Last-Minute Presents: Lakeside Arts and Gifts

Trudy WakefieldDecember 18, 20200681 views

It’s the holidays in Lake County. The pale winter sun reflects in spots and flashes off Clear Lake. A few bass boats putt along the shoreline, their owners flicking their lures into nooks and crevices, then winding them slowly in. At the nearby park, a couple sits at a picnic bench, eating lunch. And hidden off to the side, tucked like a treasure to the left of the boat launch, sits Lakeside Arts and Gifts.

For Quality, Handmade Soaps, Visit The Soap Shack, Baby!

Trudy WakefieldDecember 4, 20200572 views

“It all started when we went to a craft fair,” James begins. “We bought some soap, and I said, ‘We could make soap better than this!’”
Tiffany laughs as she remembers the conversation. “But you know, he went home and did it! We’ve been making soaps ever since.” A drying rack sits a few feet behind Tiffany with an array of different colored soaps arcing like a rainbow on it. Shelves line the walls, filled with essential oils. Their converted bus looks and smells like soap-lovers heaven on wheels.