The holidays are here! They've been here, you know that, and yet, you still haven't finished your gift shopping. Don't worry, neither have I. If you're anything like me, every year, you say you'll start shopping earlier to alleviate the chaos and stress of last-minute searching, purchasing and overnight ordering, but somehow, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day always seems to pass by more quickly every year. (To be fair, we do have less days this year between the two holidays, only 27 days, almost a week shorter than last year.)
If you're still searching for the perfect gift to get your loved ones, especially those that are hard to shop for, look no further than this mini gift guide go-to, featuring curated items and our favorite gift ideas from Prussian Street Arcade. The marketplace, located in Manheim, is home to more than 100 small business, vendors and crafters, offering goods ranging from clothing to purses, to candles and vintage homeware. We recently took a trip to Prussian Street Arcade to find a few items we think will be perfect to add to your shopping list and ensure this season's gift exchanges are successful, even including the ones with those people you love dearly, but can't stand when they say "I don't know" every year when you ask what to get them.
Susquehanna Style's Simple, Short and Sweet 2024 Gift Guide Go-To:
Gift Idea #1: Blind Date With a Book
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This is the ultimate gift for booklovers, but it's also a great option for those who want to get more into reading, but can't decide where to start. Pick a genre, gift the mystery book to your loved one, and let them unwrap the surprise. Better yet, buy one for yourself as well, and you can both read your books at the same time and discuss your progress. Books are $20 each and are curated by The Booktrovert Society. These blind dates won't break any hearts!
Gift Idea #2: Trendy Bags
Bags are always a classic gift for any woman, and this year, these specific types and colors of simple yet chic totes and shoulder bags are trending. This trendiness is guaranteed to be timeless due to the versatility of these bags, so gift one, and it'll never go out of style. They can be casual, worn while running Saturday errands, or classy, paired with a sleek dress and heels. Grab a bag before they're gone at Prussian Street Arcade!
Gift Idea #3: In Good Taste
Let your family and friends boast that you have good taste in picking out gifts when you gift them something from Founders Market & Co. at Prussian Street Arcade. Tomato sauces, unique condiments, oils, jams, pastas, jerky–find a gift full of flavor for that person that's hard to shop for. Everyone eats, so you can't go wrong with selecting a gift that caters to the taste palate. Sweet, savory, spicy, plain–there's options for all.
Gift Idea #4: Gifts They'll Treasure Forever
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This is the gift that keeps on giving. For the sentimental people in your life (which, let's face it, is most of us), gifts from Purple & Pine will bring lots of joy, and some tears, when opened. Purple & Pine is a baby boutique at Prussian Street Arcade, so there's plenty of gift ideas here for little ones and new moms in your life. Personally, the "Letters to My Grandchild" gift stands out the most to me, as it's a very unique and touching idea that I haven't thought about before, but I know I would've loved to receive growing up. These gifts can be turned into traditions that are shared every year, and that is truly what makes them gifts to be treasured forever.
Gift Idea #5: Adventure Awaits
We all have friends and family members who love to travel, whether they're on a plane every few months (and you can't keep track of where they've been) or they save new places for special occasions. Regardless, a map that can be personalized is a great, versatile gift. It serves as a memory board, a story and a decoration for the house. I was personally gifted this map last year for Christmas, and I love it. I have been to 11 countries and at least 25 states, so being able to put a push pin into each place helps me visualize where all I've been and have yet to go. And there's something so inspiring and satisfying about pushing the pins into places; it's like an elevated way to cross something off your bucket list! This vendor carries a variety of map sizes and other outdoorsy goods, like the pictured mugs and t-shirt. Gifting a map to someone may even encourage them to start following their own travel bug!
Gift Idea #6: Eccentric Jewelry
Jewelry is known to be a risky gift to give. Jewelry preference and taste varies greatly between each person, however, Crafted by Faith has a variety of fun, funky and festive options that'll make it easy to pick something to gift. There's plenty of holiday-themed earrings, like the wreaths (one of our personal favorites), trees and snowflakes pictured, and these can be worn by anyone, regardless of style, during the season. Eccentric earrings like the double diamond outlines and half moons are great for your artsy friends and family. Minimalist studs and modest hoops work well for those looking for a neutral, simple look to pair with anything.
Gift Idea #7: Who Doesn't Need a Tote?
I have a confession: I am a tote collector. I don't have a lot of purses, but I do own about 20 tote bags. They are my go-to souvenir when I am in a new state or country. I use them as a work bag, an everyday bag, a gym bag, for groceries, etc. I almost always have a tote bag on me. I've gotten my friends into them too. What started as a singular tote bag gifted from me to them turned into their own collections of 5+ totes. So I can confidently say a tote bag is a great gift–and who doesn't need a tote? Tote bags are gender-neutral, can be worn with anything and brought anywhere, and are a simple yet fun way to add a bit of personality and self-expression to any outfit. There are a lot of beautiful tote bags at Prussian Street Arcade, but this one stood out to us during our visit. The design is clean, the bag is spacious and the dog is adorable. Gift a tote bag to pretty much anyone in your life, and soon, you'll turn them into a tote collector too.
