Sometimes when we are out and about around town, something special catches our attention in a local shop or restaurant or we stumble upon a hidden gem we never knew existed. So we snap a picture to share our new find with friends and family. Because our readers are an extension of our friends and family in this community that we call home, we want to share these finds with you too.

This month we found great gifts for Mom, your favorite teacher or graduate, and even a few items you’ll want to run out and pick up for yourself. In this edition of “Around Town” our picks were chosen by contributor Pascha Franklin and editor Ammie Bryant.

Have you seen something great around town you think we should know about? Submit it for an upcoming “Around Town” feature by emailing our editor ammie@stillwaterliving.com with a good high resolution photograph, a few sentences about what it is, where you found it, and why you think it’s so great.

At Bliss Books and Bindery

The nervousness. The anticipation. The hope for a good ending. Blind dates are usually greeted with feelings of dread. But a blind date with a book is a much better feeling! Visit Bliss Books and Bindery to pick out your own book version of a blind date. The books are wrapped in plain paper with only a genre handwritten on the cover to give you just the tiniest hint of what could be inside. Expand your reading choices and make the exciting choice to go on a blind date…with a book!

At Stillwater Summit Co.

We recently received a sample of Green Goo Animal First Aid to use on our Llewellin Setter’s sensitive, dry and cracked paw pads. So we were excited to find Green Goo available locally at Stillwater Summit Co. Green Goo is made in the USA with all natural herbs and oils, there are no artificial ingredients.

After seeing the relief our pup experienced, we picked up some lip balm (the cool mint is extremely soothing!); Green Goo Skin Repair for sunburns and minor burns; and Green Goo Dry Skin for dry cracked skin, rashes, eczema, and psoriasis. Our 7th grader found the Skin Repair extra soothing after a day competing at a track meet (Oops! We forgot the sunscreen!). The Green Goo for Dry Skin healed our dry, cracked hands without the angry allergic reaction several of our family members experience with most other hand lotions. It’s perfect for sensitive skin!

Be sure to visit Stillwater Summit Co. in Downtown Stillwater for the perfect Green Goo product to fit your needs before embarking on your outdoor adventures.

At the 405 Mercantile

When we visited 405 Mercantile on Main Street, we had difficulty choosing just one item. From quirky coffee cups, decorative signs, leather earrings, notepads, and candles, 405 Mercantile has a great selection of products that make great teacher appreciation or Mother’s Day gifts. These are just a few of the items that caught our eye.

We couldn’t help chuckling over this cute mug. It is perfect for the gal with a fun sense of humor. If this mug isn’t quite your cup of tea, 405 Mercantile has a broad selection to choose from; we think you are sure to find one that hits just the right note.

If you are looking for something classy, you can’t go wrong with these notecards. Perfect for thank you notes or just a friendly missive to say that you are thinking of someone special, these notecards are great for any occasion. Made from heavy, quality cardstock, you’ll love sending handwritten notes to the people who matter most in your life–and they will love receiving such a personal touch that you can’t get with email. The ladies at 405 tell us they try to always keep these in stock.

Located in the Nook and Cranny Cottage inside 405 Mercantile, Milkhouse Candle Creamery candles are not only adorable but they smell good too. Made from a soy and beeswax blend, these candles are all natural and clean burning. We took home the Limoncello scented candle. If you are thinking that the opening of the cute little milk bottle will be hard to get a lighter into, Milkhouse Candle Co., suggests using a piece of dry spaghetti to light your candles. What a great tip!

At Oklahoma Harvest located in Showplace Market

As we have sniffled and sneezed our way through this spring, we’ve been on the hunt for some locally sourced honey to help with our seasonal allergies.  The Oklahoma Harvest booth at *Showplace Market on Main has 24 oz jars of pure raw, unheated, wildflower honey was made from pollen located about thirty miles from Stillwater near the Cimarron River, away from commercial spraying. The honey is coarsely filtered, so it contains pollen. Consuming locally made honey has been found to help people with seasonally related allergies.

*Editor’s Note: Right after going to press, we learned that Showplace Market will be closing its Stillwater location on May 31, 2018. We hear Oklahoma Harvest is looking for a new venue and we will be happy to visit and report back on their new location when we can. In the meantime be sure to visit Showplace Market at 615 S. Main St. to take advantage of their closing sale while vendors still have their products available at this location.