Our #1 Tip for Christmas Shopping This Plaid Friday

Written by Elisabeth Lopez

Oh, the annual list of holiday to-dos! They’re endless, we know, and with so many ways to shop, it’s hard to know where to begin! So, we’re offering our two cents and recommending kicking off your holiday shopping in a small (but big) way, by shopping local with us this Plaid Friday! What’s Plaid Friday, you ask? Well, it’s like Black Friday, but for small businesses. Because why should the big box stores have all the fun? Your local retailers are excited to bring you all sorts of steals and deals the day after Thanksgiving, too!

We aren’t ashamed to admit Plaid Friday might be one of our favorite days of the year. After all, it celebrates small towns, the holidays, AND shopping with friends—and in our humble opinion, there’s just no better combination than that. Besides, who wants to drive ALL the way into the city when we’ve got everything you need right here in Boerne? 

Small shops dressed to impress for the holidays never fail to bring back special memories. So this year, make it a full day on Main Street and create some new memories with your family. Try starting off at The Dienger Trading Co. for a perfect latte, where you’ll need to prepare yourself to make the difficult choice between a flaky croissant or a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin. Then, shop your way up and down both sides of the Hill Country Mile until you run into Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. That’s where you can drop your shopping bags next to an old-school porch swing and enjoy a well-earned glass of seasonal craft beer. Just make sure to pair it with a basket of the most amazing sweet potato chips for the full effect!

But of course, hitting the street and stopping for tasty eats and brews (coffee or beer!) is the easy part. What about the actual “crossing off names on the gift list” part??

Let’s face it, even with all the cinnamon and nutmeg, your neighbor’s Griswold-inspired light display, and Bublé all-day, there’s no denying December’s gift giving expectations can leave even the most jolly person feeling stressed and more than a little overwhelmed. Add in a limited budget with lots of names on the list and there goes your Christmas cheer faster than you can say, “All the Who’s in Whoville,” three times fast.

So, let us leave you with the best tip we know of for successful gift giving:

As you make your way to the register, make sure you’re holding something you’ll have a (really) hard time giving away. You’ll know you’ve nailed it when you have to fight the urge to buy more than one! And of course, the key is to make the present meaningful, not necessarily big. Good gifts come from the heart. It’s that kind of giving that practically guarantees that whatever they open, it’ll bring a smile to their face and leave them feeling special, long after the wrapping paper makes its way to the recycling bin.

Oh, and make sure there’s chocolate: that helps too.

For more than thirty years now, Corner Cartel has housed seven-thousand square feet of vintage finds, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade bath and body products, home decor, candles, souvenirs, and more…right in the beautiful heart of Boerne. Whether you're looking for one of a kind vintage treasures, classic antiques, or on-trend home decor, you're sure to find something to love inside our doors.