Local Love List: How To Help Local Shops Now!

Hidden gems and cool local product in the Edmonton area.
Here’s what’s on your Local Love List this week!

The Local Love List is typically published every Friday at KariSkelton.com but for as long as this goes on, I will continue to update and add to this one, as opposed to writing a fresh one each week. Be sure to check back for updates and fresh tips. Thank you for continuing to read my blog and support my small business!

Here’s how local businesses are adapting in of the state of our world right now.

Clear Your Junk

This will come in handy as many of us get spring cleaning done early and tackle home projects. The Junk Guys will give you a quote, coordinate, and complete transactions over text and phone (no in-person interaction required). You can leave what you’re getting rid of outside and they’ll come pick it up or they can come in to collect. Crews are equipped with haz/mat PPE (personal protective equipment) if required. Plus, all sales until the end of April will be donated to the St. Albert Food Bank. Book them here.

Local Hand Sanitizer

The team at Strathcona Spirits whipped up a special small-batch of hand sanitizer. They want to donate Scona Community Hand Sanitizer directly to businesses, facilities, and individuals truly in need during this time. If you work or volunteer somewhere that needs access to hand sanitizer, or if you need it for personal reasons, please email them at info@strathconaspirits.ca. ⁣Go here for more details. You can support these guys by purchasing spirits from their online store or at your local liquor store.

Black Diamond Distillery has also created some awesome hand sanitizer. There’s a limit of one bottle per customer with a “Karma Donation” (whatever you’re able to contribute to help off-set costs of materials). Precedence will be given to health and emergency care workers. You can pre-order it by emailing them and then pay electronically. Pick up is at the distillery Wednesday-Saturday from 12-6pm. More details here.

FB Live Sessions

The Creative Hive is hosting a Facebook Live series every day at 11:30 a.m. Each day will be a new local speaker giving tips, sharing stories, and inspiring others! It all goes down on The Creative Hive Facebook page. I’ll be hosting a session on Friday, March 27 on Family Scheduling. Would love for you to tune in!

Mental Health Support

The amazing team behind WABIY (We All Believe In You) has a place where you can share your struggles and anxiety and receive feedback. They’ve increased meeting frequency from once a week to two times a day. They say, “…because some people have lost all of their group programming and therapy appointments (and while these meetings do not provide therapy of any sort…connecting with individuals who understand can be really helpful”). Meetings will be held on Zoom with a link to the meetings posted in their Facebook group. The noon meeting will more of a hangout and the 7 PM meeting will be hosted by Blake Loates (founder of WABIY) or a mental health clinician.

Pet Care

Awesome Pawesome Ranch Luxury Pet Hotel has lost literally ALL of their business (because their business relies on travel). However, they are still helping others through their Project Awesome Pet Food Bank which provides food for fur babies to pet owners who have suffered job loss. They’re doing donation pickups and curbside drop-offs to those affected. They’re also helping Elder Dog Edmonton which assists seniors who can’t get out to walk their pets or buy food. If you need help or want to help them – contact them through DM or through their website.

Business Help

The Complement is gifting 30-minute consultations with local business owners to help them get creative on how to thrive in this situation. She’s also hosting one-hour business therapy sessions where people can vent, share successes, and ideas. Connect with Amanda from The Complement here.

Food + Drink

Stock Your Freezer With Local

Northern Chicken on 124th now offers frozen wings, and (very soon) frozen mac’n’cheese you can bake at home, and biscuits you can heat up in the oven. They’re also doing beer off-sales (eliminates a stop on your outing). You can order everything by calling 780-756-2239 with pick up from the store. Menu items are still available on Uber Eats, Door Dash, or directly from the store here. Northern Chicken is also donating and delivering meals to front line health workers. They say locals have also donated cash to help cover the cost of the donated meals. Everyone coming together. Amazing job!

Just down the street at Woodshed Burgers they’re doing delivery and takeout. They’ve also added frozen pizzas to the menu so you can stock your freezer. Pop on their website to place an order or call the restaurant at 780-752-2874. They also teamed up with the crew at Delux Burger Bar to donate 120 burger and fries combos to Alberta Health Link workers. So good!

Love Pizza

Our friends at Love Pizza are also doing take-and-bake pizza. Order online only and it can be delivered to your door the next day. They also delivered 20 donated Big Love pizzas to the staff at the UofA Hospital delivery room. Nice job, guys!

Family-Style Take Home Meals

One of Edmonton’s top restaurants RGE RD has launched RGE RD AT HOME. Family-style meals for the weekend ‘so dining in can feel as close to dining out as possible’. Every Thursday, they’ll release a menu for Friday and Saturday with curbside pick up. They’re also doing pork and cider and bison whisky pot pie orders. Call 780-447-4577.

Brunch Plans

Looking to still enjoy one of the best brunch spots in the city? Pip is doing limited-run daily brunch orders and they’re offering a new deal each day. You can place orders for pick-up by calling us (780)760-4747 between noon and 8pm.

YEG Survival Kit

A group of Famer’s Market vendors have teamed up to create a curated box of locally-made goods that can be delivered right to you. The YEG Survival Kit comes in a Mixed Box or Vegan Box option. Limited quantities are available. Pick up is also an option.

Stew & Brew

Check out Three Vikings Stew and Brew! Pre-packaged take home soup or stew that you can enjoy on the day or freeze for later, sliced baguette, and a litre of draft beer! Call to order at 780-249-6302. Curbside pickup is available.

Beer Delivery

Get local beer delivered right to you. Sea Change Brewing is offering four-packs, new growler fills, kegs, merch and gift cards delivered for free Wednesday-Sunday between the hours of noon and 8pm. To put in an order call 780 784-2996 or email taproom@seachangebeer.com.

Immunity Kit

Boost up your immune system with Hutch and Howl’s Immunity Kit. Leafy greens from Heal and Hulk to increase cell metabolism and reduce inflammation from stress, lemons and oranges to beef up your vitamin C intake, and carrots for beta carotene to slow the rate of infection and increase healing. Order yours here and have it delivered for free (where applicable).

Shop Local Food Online

There’s a new online shop with a whole bunch of locally-made product that can be delivered to your door. Uproot Food Collective was started by two farmers market producers, South Island Pie Co and Honest Dumplings. You can visit uprootfoodstore.ca to place an order and have it delivered to your home or pick it up from the store. In addition to meat pies and dumplings, products include local brands such as Irvings Farm Fresh, NKD Chocolate, Drift Food Truck, Poko Loko, Nabati Foods, Caramunchies, Little Bear Gelato, Boocha, Mojo Jojo Pickles, Meadow-Sweet Apiaries and more will be added each week.

Cupcake Delivery

Cake Affair in Spruce Grove is now delivering its sweet treats. Order a 12-pack of cupcakes or doughnuts for $25. They deliver in select areas in and around Edmonton each day so be sure to check their Instagram for an updated schedule. You can call or text 780-292-1577 with your name, delivery address and quantity by noon each day and they’ll do a porch drop-off in the afternoon.

Take & Bake

There’s a whole bunch of ways you can still get delicious treats from Sugared and Spiced. They have pre-orders for pick up or delivery and a take & bake menu with frozen, unbaked items you can whip up yourself at home! See all of the options for supporting here.

Art Stuff

Art Kits For Kids

Our friends at Creation Space art studio are busy packing up creative art kits for your kiddos! They’re hoping to have everything organized later this weekend so be sure to keep checking their Instagram page for updates. Kits will be available for pickup. You call message Ali (the owner) directly and she’ll run it down to you (don’t even need to get out of your car).

Puzzle Cookies

This should keep them busy for a bit! Or, maybe you can do these yourself as a de-stressor after they’ve gone to bed. Sweetness has launched it’s Spring/Easter collection which includes a puzzle made of cookies you can colour. Right now they’re offering buy one get one 15% off! Perhaps purchase one for your family and have the second set sent to a friend. Support with an online order here.

Art Tutorials

Two local artists – Amy Dixon and Brittany of Paper Peak Co. have started an open Facebook group where artists across the country will host 30-minute live art tutorials every week. Check out Canadians Create here. Topics will include (but not limited to): watercolour painting, acrylic painting, introduction to calligraphy, card making, cross-stitching, watercolour lettering, and more!

FREE Spring Printables

Designer Justine Ma is offering downloadable colouring sheets and bunny cut-outs. Get the download here! While you’re there check out her adorable online shop with decals and party supplies!

FREE Yoga Online

Metta Yoga is offering LIVE online classes through Instagram. They’re posting at least one class a day and if you can’t make the class time, it will still live in their stories for 24 hours. Head to their Instagram and click on our top left image and watch the LIVE video. These classes are completely FREE. They’re hosting a kid’s yoga session on Monday, March 23 at 10 a.m. Nice job, Metta!

Floral Subscriptions

Now is a great time to sign up for a floral subscription for yourself or gift it to someone you care about! The Little Flower Truck has several different subscription options which you can check out here. Arrangements can be made for porch drops but be sure to peek out the window to check out their adorable little blue truck.

Virtual Party

Looks like Cory Christopher may be hosting more virtual parties on his Instagram Live (the first one was last night), filled with beautiful flowers, great conversation and arrangement tutorials. Stay updated here.

Local Boutiques

Red Ribbon is offering buy one get one 50% off (including new arrivals) and FREE shipping. Shop them here.

Jilly Boutique has 20% off in-store or online until March 21st, with FREE delivery over $50. Use Online Code: QUARANTWENTY. You can shop three different ways: online, curbside pick, or in-store with one customer allowed at a time. More details here.

Shop the Skinny has closed it’s Southgate store but their WEM location is available for curbside pickups on Saturdays between 10am-2pm.
Shop them online here.

Bella Maas Boutique has a buy one get one 50% off right now with FREE shipping on all orders. Shop them here!

Bamboo Ballroom’s entire online store is 20% off and shipping is FREE. Use code YEGROCKS at checkout. Shop here.

Portage and Main launched their new spring line this week! They’re also featuring rotating sales on their site. Use the code Kari20 fo 20% off your entire order. Shop here.

Mint Collective, which includes three consignment shops – Mod Uncorked, Tipsy Palm, and Mood Consignment, is selling inventory through Instagram and Poshmark. They’re offering drop box pickups and store pickups on Saturday from noon-4pm for online orders. Connect with them here.

Love Plus Design is offering 15% off everything in their online shop and FREE shipping. Get it here.

Elle’s Closet has FREE shipping with the code FREESHIP. A ton of adorable spring stuff in -store. Shop them here.

Cloud Nine PJ’s has FREE shipping on orders over $50. Basically, we’re all in our jammies more now so good investment! 🙂 Shop them here.