Just Goods
Prize: Book (Global Babies) and a $10 Gift Certificate
Location: 214 E Jefferson Blvd
Online: http://www.justgoods.mobi/infant-child/

Visitors always receive a warm welcome at Just Goods. They are the oldest sustainable-living general store in Indiana, offering products that are gentle on the earth and produced in fair working conditions.

Puzzles, blankets, toys, candles, special ordered items, and much more – Just Goods is a great place to find gifts for children and adults. Items in the shop are both practical and beautiful, and are affordably priced. Locally crafted items make the shop a fun and unique shopping experience.

Just Goods encourages conscious consumption to everyone this Holiday Season. So, stop on by to find that perfect gift!

Buttons and Bows – Unique Children’s Clothing
Prize: $25 Gift Card
Location: 712 E Jefferson Blvd
Online: https://www.facebook.com/ButtonsandBowsSouthBend

Shopping at Buttons and Bows has become a tradition for many in Michiana since the store was established over 40 years ago. Here you’ll find style and quality that parents and children will love.

Buttons and Bows is a charming family-owned children’s apparel store. High-quality modern and traditional clothing adorns the shops walls. From winter coats to flower girl dresses, the boutique offers an array of options for children of all ages. Gift cards are available for those having a hard time deciding on style or size.

During December, Buttons and Bows will be offering various savings specials including up to 30% off holiday outfits, coats, dresses, and more. See their Facebook page for dates and details. They even provide a free wrapping service on all full-priced items.

“We can outfit the special little someone in your life for any occasion,” says the owner, Kathy.

Memorial HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum
Prize: A Free Day Pass (valid for a family of up to 6)
Location: 111 W Jefferson Blvd
Online: http://www.healthworkskids.org/

Children climb, dance and play at HealthWorks! Kid’s Museum every day. What they don’t realize is that they’re learning the entire time!

HealthWorks takes fun and learning to a whole new level. Once inside, children are surrounded by questions, answers, and games that encourage a healthier lifestyle.

HealthWorks offers memberships, day-to-day passes, and regular kid’s events. Many events allow for drop-off, or parent-child interaction! From winter break activities to year-round health-themed games, HealthWorks has it all. Impress the whole family with a membership. It’s a gift that parents and the little ones will both love!

South Bend Museum of Art
Prize: A Family Membership
Location: 120 S St Joseph Street
Online: http://www.southbendart.org/

South Bend’s Museum of Art features regional and local artists, and strives to display as well as teach art to all ages. For the young, or young at heart, curiosity never gets old.

With five different galleries featuring both permanent and traveling exhibitions, SBMA offers a great escape from the cold and snow. Color, art, and inspiration fill the walls and offer a perfect afternoon of browsing for the curious guy or gal on your shopping list.

“A membership is a great gift because it gives all year long,” says the Director of Marketing, Joel Barett.

Check out their website for New Member December Deals. Membership also includes events such as Museum After Dark, Artists Talks, and Family Days, and discounts off classes in pottery, weaving, knitting, watercolor, drawing, painting, and more. The Dot Shop, a store inside of the Museum, offers gift certificates.

The Music Village
Prize: A Child-Sized Music Village T-Shirt and A Kazoo
Location: JMS Building, 108 N Main St – Basement level
Online: www.themusicvillage.org

The joy and entertainment of making sound is a gift you cannot put a price on. The Music Village offers this gift to the young (and young at heart) at its Downtown location.

Down the colorful hallways of the JMS Building’s basement is a music and dance haven. Classes in guitar, piano and vocal performance are available for all ages. For the older kids, ages 12 to 15, there is a build-a-band Rock Star class offered. If you feel your child is too young for a class, you can take them to a Make a Joyful Noise or Music Play group for infants and toddlers.

Gift cards, private lessons, and T-shirts are available from The Music Village.

Griffon Bookstore
Prize: $25 gift certificate
Location: 121 W Colfax Ave
Online: http://www.griffon-bookstore.com/

Griffon Bookstore is a multi-dimensional, majestic, and treasure-filled place. Once inside, your inner-child will jump with joy. With 4 stories and over 4,000 square feet of space, you are bound to find the perfect gem for your young (or young at heart) friend.

Step through the front door and you will be greeted by an eclectic assortment of books, games, records, curios, miniature supplies, dice, cards, accessories, figurines, and so much more. For once, you’ll have a hard time deciding how to narrow your options down rather than searching for inspiration.

From curious children to stamp collectors, the shop is filled with treasures for all ages, and the staff at Griffon have an infinite knowledge of the gaming and reading world! Gift certificates are available if you’re struggling to make up your mind.

South Bend Chocolate Café
Prize: One Bag of Crunch or Pretzels
Location: 122 S Michigan St
Online: http://www.sbchocolate.com/

Only the Grinch would leave South Bend Chocolate Café and not be in the Holiday spirit. You’ll find nutcracker shaped chocolates, edible snowball candies in bags, and…wait for it…a solid 65 pound chocolate Santa!

The Twelve Cookies of Christmas, Indoor Snowballs, children’s indoor snow forts, fake snow, train sets, and countless candies and specialty Christmas items can all be found inside the Chocolate Café. For the Holiday Season, the store is offering “3 for $10” stocking stuffers, and “2 for $15” on all crunch and pretzels! Gift cards are available.

Each and every candy is made right here in South Bend, and the business supports over 250 local families. Pop on by for one of their incredible hot chocolates!

Idle Hours Bookstore
Prize: $25 Gift Certificate
Location: 212 S Michigan St
Online: http://www.idlehoursbookshop.com/

You may find yourself lost in thought, browsing the shelves of books inside Idle Hours Bookstore. Used books tell stories beyond the words on their pages that appeal to both the young and young at heart.

Popular Fiction, Classics, History, Art, Politics, Religion, Cookbooks, Children’s books, and much more fill the store. Not sure where to begin? The staff will help you. With sales running all month long, your best bet is to become a regular at Idle Hours. Books are sometimes priced as low as fifty cents, leaving quite the savings in your pocket. A mystery or sci-fi book may be just the escape your friend will need when they are snowed in come January!

To encourage education and early childhood literacy, Idle Hours also offers events such as book-themed parties, and you stop by any Friday at 4 PM for kids’ story time.

The Pigeon and The Hen Pottery
Prize: $20 Gift Certificate
Location: 217 S Michigan St
Online: https://www.facebook.com/pigeonhenpottery

From finished works, to creating your own gift, The Pigeon and The Hen Pottery allows you to give your loved ones something they will cherish. Here it is all about an artistic experience that will leave you with a very personal gift.

The Pigeon and The Hen Pottery offers classes, unfinished pottery for you to create yourself, gift certificates and more. The Nest gift shop in the store offers locally produced jewelry, sculpture, scarves and more.

The business donates to charitable causes, including World AIDS day, food drives, and school fundraisers. Here you can have fun, create gifts of functional art, and give back to the community. How about that for Holiday spirit!

About The Author

Kelsie Ferguson is the enFocus Ambassador of Buzz for Downtown South Bend. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Indiana University South Bend, with a concentration in Journalism and a minor in Art History. She developed her talents as the Staff Writer and then Managing Editor at the IUSB campus paper, The Preface.

Competition Details and Rules

The Facebook promotion being run in parallel with this Gift Guide article is administered by enFocus Inc., a non-profit business-consulting firm located in South Bend, Indiana. It is open to residents of the South Bend region over the age of 18 years. The deadline for entries is 9:00 AM on December 14th, 2014. There is a limit of one entry per person. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, OMG Photography or DTSB.