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Bonus: Outfit your special someone with ideas from the December 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.
Day 12
Colby June Leaf Collection, prices vary by piece
Carbondale-based jeweler Colby June took her first jewelry design class years ago in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, but today it’s the natural world of her home in the shadow of Mt. Sopris that inspires her silver, bronze, and gold designs. Her simple but stunning Leaf Collection pieces provide a refreshing dose of Colorado elegance to just about any outfit.
Image courtesy of Colby June
Day 11
Crescent Moon Snowshoes, from $185
There’s more to the mountains than skiing. Like snowshoeing. Let the folks on your “Nice” list customize their own pair from Boulder’s Crescent Moon Snowshoes. They’ll get to pick the frame size and color, binding type and color, front deck color, and the traction components—all but guaranteeing a perfect alpine outing the next time the flurries fly. (Bonus: Crescent Moon manufactures its gear using wind-generated electricity, so you’re not just savoring the outdoors with your new equipment; you’re helping save it too.)
Image courtesy of Crescent Moon
Day 10
Green Earth Farms body care products, $22
Help your loved one look good and feel good about what she’s doing for the planet with the skincare products from the San Luis Valley’s Green Earth Farm. Made with herbs and essential oils cultivated on Lillian and Thomas McCracken’s Saguache farm, the certified organic skincare sample pack presents eight ways to put your best face forward: Calendula Crème (an all-over moisturizer), Hygeia Crème (moisturizer for your face), Flexagility Balm (for sore joints and muscles), Herbal Lip Balm, Lotus Lotion (a moisturizer for, uh, more experienced skin), Solar Protection Spray, Radiance Complexion Serum, and Tree of Life (a skin rejuvenating blend of essential oils).
Images courtesy of Green Earth Farm
Day 9
The Bear & The Rat Frozen Yogurt, For Dogs, From $6.99
You give the rest of your family the best grub you can buy, so why not your four-legged friends? Launched by Denver wife-and-husband team Meg and Matt Meyer and named after a Lhasa Apso and a rat terrier, The Bear & The Rat’s frozen yogurt treats for pups contain 3 billion live and active probiotic cultures, no added sugars, no corn, nor wheat, nor gluten. With flavors like bacon peanut butter and pumpkin pie, we might just steal some for ourselves.
Image courtesy of The Bear & The Rat
Day 8
Denver-based Chuckle Farm’s modern, playful planters make thoughtful gifts for the green thumb on your list. The hand-glazed ceramic Ladies Who Lunch collection will add a pop of color to any corner, while the elegant Low Tide planter practically begs for center stage on the coffee table.
Images courtesy of Chuckle Farm
Day 7
The Night Before Christmas In Ski Country, $17.95
Colorado author Suzanne Nieman Brown and illustrator Dana Schlingman give Christmas the Centennial State treatment in this fun, beautiful book. Expect snowboards, elk, and of course, plenty of fresh powder throughout this magical tale. Released in 2013, The Night Before Christmas In Ski Country sold out shortly after Thanksgiving last year, but Big Earth Publishing issued another print run and it’s back on the shelves this year. Get yours fast!
Image courtesy of Big Earth Publishing
Day 6
Grasshaven Outdoor Seine Deluxe Picnic Tote for Two, $74.95
Whether you’re headed for Cheesman Park, the Denver Botanic Gardens, or the mountains, the Seine Tote for Two from Boulder-based Grasshaven Outdoor has everything you’ll need for the perfect picnic: two pockets for bottles, insulated compartments to keep food and drinks cold (or hot); a waterproof, removable liner; two floral-design melamine plates with matching napkins; two acrylic tumblers; two stainless steel forks, knives, and spoons; a cutting board; a cheese knife; and a corkscrew. All you have to do is supply the goodies that go inside. Might we suggest some chevré from Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy, a bottle of BookCliff Vineyard’s Reserve Cab Franc, and some truffles from Durango’s Animas Chocolate Company?
Image courtesy Grasshaven Outdoor
Day 5
The Bespoke Edge Daily Rider shirt, $145
Show off your Centennial State pride in style without wearing the flag with the Daily Rider shirt from Windsor’s Bespoke Edge. (Cycling is, after all, the unofficial state summer sport.) A collaboration with Denver shop The Bespoke Pedaler, the 100 percent cotton shirt’s whimsical bicycle inlay makes transitioning from the office to out-on-the-town as easy as rolling up your sleeves.
Images courtesy of The Bespoke Edge
Day 4
Mod Robotics MOSS robots, from $150
Legos, schmegos. These “Legos” walk… and glow and wiggle and bend. Boulder-based Mod Robotics’ MOSS kits let kids (and grown-up kids) build their own robots that will behave in different ways, depending on how the pieces are put together. The Exofabulatronixx 5200 even comes with one piece—the Double Brain block—that allows you to control your robot through a suite of apps.
Image courtesy of Modular Robotics
Day 3
BARE Slate duffel, $429
Boulder-based BARE’s Slate duffel bag won’t get you through security at DIA any faster, but it will get you noticed. The sleek hemp, wool, and leather bag with brass accents is the perfect tote for multi-day business trips or short overnights to the mountains.
Image by Anton Fresco
Day 2
Colorado State Parks Pass, $70
Few national parks allow dogs beyond the parking lot, but most of Colorado’s 42 state parks do. See Spot hike with an annual Colorado State Parks pass.
Image courtesy of Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Day 1
Octa Spider Monkey, $79.99
Thanks to Denver startup Octa’s Spider Monkey, using tablets on the mountain (or in the hot tub, post-mountain) just got a whole lot easier. A spider-latching system holds the machine in place with 360-degree rotation capability and a fully adjustable “tail,” and the gadget’s easy two-part design makes it easy to pack.
Image courtesy of Octa
