Dallas Hotel Magazine is the definitive guide for discerning visitors to Big D. For the past several years I have been asked to curate a Holiday Gift Guide and present a selection of goodies that kids of all ages might like to receive. That guide has apparently become so popular that I’ve been asked to make it a regular shopping feature in every issue! When I travel, I love to find items unique to the city or area of the country I am exploring – things you can’t get anywhere else that will bring back great vacation memories of my vacation every time I wear or use them. I also love products and brands items or brands that have an intriguing great backstory, and, in curating this Guide, I discovered heard a lot of wonderful great stories right here in Texas.

For example, in 2011 when a historically severe drought swept through the state Texas in 2011, the Falla family ranch in Cat Spring , TX, lost everything from century-year-old oak trees to hay. But the yaupon shrub, typically considered a pesky weed, was still green thriving. They discovered that this naturally caffeinated native American plant had been used to brew a healthful tea for millennia. How had it something so special been forgotten? So they took a risk and went all in on utilizing this natural resource, and thus, CatSpring Yaupon Tea was born. Today, the brand is a thriving robust, woman-led company creating very special cups of “tea” with varieties named after small Texas towns. T Now, that’s a cool story you will remember every time you sip a cup of this delicious tea, which happens is loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds..

Another story I connected with was the fingerprint medallion necklace created by Love Talla out of Austin, Texas. In July 2011, Talla Kuperman’s vibrant, loving brother Amir bravely surrendered to his battle with cancer. She wanted to create something that would capture his beautiful spirit, so she came up with the concept of fingerprint jewelry to tell the story of how his soul had left the the most profound imprint he had on her life and to keep him with her always. I have a passel of monogrammed items and am a fan of anything that can be personalized and have a million monogrammed items, but this idea really moved me because it is so deeply personal and such a beautiful way to honor someone you love, living or deceased.

Texas was built on the passion and tenaciousness of our Pioneer founders, and those are just two examples of how that spirit continues to thrive in small towns all across this great state. What you will see in the following pages showcase 18 are items items carefully crafted by Texans, and all of them are accessibly priced at an approachable price point of under $200. Happy shopping!