Category: Gift giving guides

Texas Food & Wine Alliance celebrating the holidays with curated Texas gift sets

Texas Food & Wine Alliance partners with LifeWorks Restaurant Groups to bring delicious joy to the holidays with curated Texas gift sets by local artisans. Photo: Texas Food & Wine Alliance, used with permission.

As a unique fundraiser, the Texas Food & Wine Alliance (TFWA) announces the nationwide release of curated holiday gift sets so foodies everywhere can get a taste of Texas. Brimming with gourmet snacks, the boxes are the perfect surprise for friends, family, or anyone else in need of holiday cheer. They are also sure to delight Texas expats looking for a taste of home. (Texas Food & Wine Alliance, 2021)

In collaboration with Munch Mail, the foodie gift boxes are available in two sizes to accommodate most holiday shoppers’ budgets. Ideal for corporate giving, the Texas Treats box ($59) includes an indulgent sampling of sweets and savories. The Ultimate Texas Treats box ($99) ups the ante with additional unique artisan treats. Orders can be placed through Munch Mail and shipped throughout the United States.

A percentage of the profits will benefit TFWA to help the nonprofit continue its mission of supporting Texas food communities through its culinary innovation grants and educational programs.

The boxes include delicacies from some of the Lone Star State’s most celebrated small-batch producers. James Beard Award-nominated Chef Anita Jaisinghani of Houston’s Pondicheri impresses with a seven-ounce Bombay snack mix while sustainable San Antonio artisan Tatemada brings the heat with a six-pack of mini salsas. Austin farmers’ market favorite The Sourdough Project contributes a six-ounce box of cold-fermented sea salt crackers, perfect for pairing with saucissson d’Alsace from Wimberley charcuterie experts Visca Charcuteria — available only in the Ultimate box.

Those with a sweet tooth will beam at the Loco for Coco bar from award-winning Dallas chocolatier Dude, Sweet Chocolate and a five-ounce bag of honey almond granola from cottage East Dallas bakery Hippos & Hashbrowns. Ultimate Texas Treats gift recipients can look forward to waking up with an 11-ounce serving of granola drizzled with a three-ounce jar of honey from Austin micro-producer and two-time Alliance grant winner Two Hives Honey.

These delectable holiday boxes are part of a new partnership between TFWA and Munch Mail’s parent company LifeWorks Restaurant Group, an organization that cares deeply about where food comes from, how it is prepared, and the impact it has on the community. From locally sourced products to scratch-made entrees, LifeWorks’ teams build food stories and share them with passion and transparency. The Alliance is proud to work with a company dedicated to working with local farmers, ranchers, CSAs, and small businesses while investing back into the community to make us all better together.

“We are thrilled to work with Munch Mail in bringing cheer to the holiday table. LifeWorks enhances our mission and understands the value of uplifting local food systems.” – Gina Burchenal, Interim Executive Director of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance.

“As we kick off our partnership with the TFWA, we are thrilled to support the Texas culinary community by partnering with them on these unique, curated holiday boxes. We look forward to many more initiatives with the alliance that will foster awareness and support local talent.” – Prentiss Hall, founder and CEO of LifeWorks Restaurant Group.

The Texas Food & Wine Alliance is a 501(c)3nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering awareness, support, and innovation in the Texas culinary community through grants, educational programming, and events. Guided by an all-volunteer board of directors and committees made up of culinary-and-community-minded professionals, the Alliance’s commitment is to promote Texas food, wine, spirits, and craft brews and to increase appreciation of Texas’ culinary impact. The Texas Food & Wine Alliance serves as the umbrella organization overseeing the Austin Food & Wine Alliance, the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance, the Dallas Food & Wine Alliance, and the Houston Food & Wine Alliance.

LifeWorks Restaurant Group, an independently operated division of Aramark, designs custom solutions for clients looking to take amenities to the next level. Our team of forward-thinkers look at each opportunity as an experience—not a requirement—and deliver out-of-this world, truly sensory experiences, feeding your company culture.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving’s Black Friday exclusive package

iFLY Indoor Skydiving has an exclusive Black Friday package perfect for holiday gift giving. Photo: google

Just in time for holiday shopping, iFLY Indoor Skydiving’s Black Friday Exclusive Package features savings of 50%-off. The package is available for purchase online and will run beginning Black Friday (November 26) through Cyber Monday (November 29).

The package includes the following and is valid *Monday – Friday at participating US locations: 

  • 10 Flights Shared by 1-5 people
  • 5 Amazing High Flights
  • 5 Videos from Flight Session
  • Flight Gear Rental
  • Pre-Flight Training
  • One-on-One Flight Instruction
  • Personalized Flight Certificate

*Blackout dates include 12/20/21-1/2/22 and guests will need to fly by 5/27/2022 to redeem the offer.

Austin-based iFLY Holdings, LLC., is the world leader in the design, manufacturing, sales, and operations of wind tunnel systems for indoor skydiving. The company has flown more than 9,000,000 people in a dozen countries and at sea since launching the modern vertical wind tunnel industry in 1998. iFLY has over 81 facilities operating worldwide with 36 wholly-owned in North America. iFLY supports and utilizes the safety and training guidelines set out by the International Bodyflight Association (IBA) to ensure the safety and progression of the sport of indoor skydiving. iFLY makes the dream of flight a reality by giving their customers “wings” in a safe and reliable environment.

Photo: iFLY Indoor Skydiving, used with permission.

Hiatus Spa + Retreat’s holiday shopping specials

Hiatus Spa + Retreat has gift cards and Cyber Monday deals perfect for holiday shopping. Photo: Hiatus Spa + Retreat, used with permission.

Looking for holiday gift shopping ideas? Hiatus Spa + Retreat’s Bright + Early Gift Card sale is now live and their Cyber Monday sale is coming up. This is the perfect time to stock up on self-care gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. (Hiatus Spa + Retreat, 2021)

Bright + Early Gift Card Sale
Dates: November 15 – December 5, 2021
Offer: Buy $125 in gift cards for $99

Cyber Monday
Dates: November 28-29, 2021
Offer: 20% Off all products on eCommerce only + Free Shipping (excludes SkinCeuticals)
Online Promo Code: CYBER20

With eight locations across Texas, eight years on Inc. 500’s fastest-growing companies, and an innovative spa subscription model, Hiatus Spa + Retreat is a fresh kind of full-service spa that has changed the wellness industry. Powered by products with green ingredients and a high-touch experience, Hiatus’ personalized approach to wellness is driven by the view that regular relaxation should be an empowering part of a healthy, happy lifestyle.

Twin Liquors launches entertaining guide for holiday season

Twin Liquors’ entertaining guide features cocktail combo packs, gift ideas, wine pairings, and more. Photo: Twin Liquors, used with permission.

Twin Liquors is excited to announce the launch of the new Holiday Entertaining Guide designed to provide advice on hosting this holiday season. Featuring cocktail combo packs with recipes, wine pairing suggestions, gift ideas, and more, the Entertaining Guide has something for everyone. (Twin Liquors, 2021)

In addition to cocktail combo packs conveniently packaged with recipes and available for purchase, the Holiday Entertaining Guide is jam-packed with helpful information such as: a Texas timeline highlighting local brands; a Bourbon 101; an Easy Guide to Wine & Pairing; a Taxonomy of Cocktails chart for those looking to get inspired by a new cocktail; and a home bar checklist. The guide also features classic items and new releases for gifting and sharing, like Bombay Bramble Gin, Lalo Tequila, Pierre Ferrand Memorable, and A Tout de Suite Pinot Noir. 

Complimentary bottle and bag gift wrap is always available in-store and online. 

This holiday season, Twin Liquors is continuing to offer online ordering for in-store pickup and/or delivery in all stores. Check Twin Liquors for a location near you. Customers are able to shop through the website or the Twin Liquors app, available to download on iOS and Android app stores. 

All Twin Liquors locations are open Monday – Saturday from 10a.m. to 9p.m. 

Born and raised in downtown Austin, Texas, Twin Liquors began as one small store and has developed into a successful “home-grown” Texas family-owned company. Twin Liquors’ has a unique and well-respected reputation throughout the United States for having impeccable team members, outstanding customer service, conveniently located stores, extensive selections of fine wines and premium spirits from around the world, and substantial community involvement. Twin Liquors currently operates 100+ neighborhood stores from Austin to San Antonio, the Hill Country to Houston and the DFW area with their Sigel’s branded stores.

Whataburger announces new holiday retail lineup

Whataburger’s new holiday sweater design featuring a serene snowy scene at Whataburger on Christmas Eve. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

Get ready for the holiday season with Whataburger’s new 2021 holiday retail lineup, launching today. Deck your halls and your closets with flying Ws and orange and white with a variety of new apparel styles and seasonal collectables. Whataburger is debuting a new holiday sweater design featuring a serene snowy scene at Whataburger on Christmas Eve. Guests can elevate their new holiday look with a matching beanie and holiday socks to complete the outfit. (Whataburger, 2021)

Also debuting this week on Thursday November 11 is a new pajama set with sizes for the whole family. Start a new family tradition by keeping cozy all winter long in this new diamond flying W pajama design. Available in adult and youth sizes. These are not the only festive new additions to the lineup. Whataburger will surprise fans with new product drops throughout the holiday season. Look for a new collectable ornament, more pajama sets and beanies, outdoor décor, and more. All items are in stock, ready to ship, and are available at the Whataburger online store.

The magic of Whataburger started on August 8, 1950, in a tiny burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. An entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson set out to build a burger so delicious that customers would take that first bite and say, “What a burger!” Today, Whataburger is known for delicious burgers, big flavor, and the brand’s pride in taking care of its guests, communities and employees, known as Family Members. Orange Spirit Week celebrates its founding and the foundation for success that Dobson created. Today, Whataburger is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 850 locations across its 14-state footprint, and sales of more than $2.8 billion annually. Whataburger has 50,000 Family Members (employees) and more than sixty million customers who like to customize their Whataburgers just the way they like it.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving offers holiday packages

iFLY offers the gift of flight with three different packages perfect for gift giving this holiday season. Photo: iFLY Indoor Skydiving, used with permission.

This holiday season, iFLY Indoor Skydiving will celebrate with three special “Gift of Experience” packages that will run beginning through January 3, 2022 and are available for purchase online and at participating local iFLY locations. The three packages include The Exclusive Gift featuring four flights, two high flights, and two videos shared by 2 people; The Elevated Gift featuring four flights and two videos shared by 2 people; and The Essential Gift featuring two flights for 1 person. Shop online or at participating iFLY locations to save up to 27% on the only gift loved ones will remember. Online orders deliver directly to email. In store purchases also receive their choice of a free holiday gift box with their purchase. (iFLY Indoor Skydiving, 2021)

iFLY is a sports and recreation company with the mission to deliver the dream of flight. The company pioneered the body-flying “indoor skydiving” experience and is the world leader in vertical wind tunnel technology. Guests do not need to be an athlete or in the best shape of their life. iFLY’s world-class instructors are pros at making flying fun for everyone.

Each iFLY tunnel is taking the proper precautions to ensure guests enjoy their flying experience by investing in new safety measures to create new ways of keeping people safe in their buildings. In fact, iFLY’s wind tunnels have a fresh air advantage over other experiences. Advanced wind tunnel technology provides guests with clean air while flying by recirculating and refreshing the air from outside the iFLY facilities. Tested and proven, iFLY’s wind tunnels create an environment at least 10x fresher than the average store or gym when flying guests—even at slow wind speeds. As temperatures drop, this is a fun and safe activity to do indoors with your loved ones. Prices vary per iFLY location.

Austin-based iFLY Holdings, LLC, is the world leader in the design, manufacturing, sales, and operations of wind tunnel systems for indoor skydiving. The company has flown more than 9,000,000 people in a dozen countries and at sea since launching the modern vertical wind tunnel industry in 1998. iFLY has over 70 facilities operating worldwide with 32 wholly-owned in the US. iFLY supports and utilizes the safety and training guidelines set out by the International Bodyflight Association (IBA) to ensure the safety and progression of the sport of indoor skydiving. iFLY makes the dream of flight a reality by giving their customers “wings” in a safe and reliable environment.

Hiatus Spa + Retreat’s holiday spa packages

Hiatus Spa + Retreat has several holiday spa packages perfect for holiday gift giving season. Photo: Molly Culver, used with permission.

This holiday season, award-winning Texas day spa Hiatus Spa + Retreat has created the perfect packages and offerings to give others, or yourself, a day of self-care. Spa packages this year include two-plus hours of one-of-a-kind experiences with The Merry + Bright; three of the most in-demand spa services in The Peace, Love + Joy; and an age-defying facial and restorative Body Wrap package that connects your mind and skin, Wrap You Up. In addition, guests can enjoy a special Gua Sha Glow Facial and a Yuletide spa retreat this holiday season. (Hiatus Spa + Retreat, 2021)

Holiday Spa Packages: Available November 1 – December 31

The Merry + Bright
Two is better than one. Pick any two Essential Services– The Tailor-Made Facial, The One & Only Mani-Pedi, The Signature Massage, or The Body Wrap–and make a day of your getaway.

2+ hours, $179 (up to $220 value)

The Peace, Love, + Joy
Our three most in-demand services —The Signature Massage, The Tailor-Made Facial and The One & Only Mani-Pedi — are bundled up and tied with a bow, for your sugar plum.

3.5 hours, $259 ($320 value)

Wrap You Up

Set the tone with our most positive service yet, The Optimist – an age-defying facial that connects your mind and skin to leave your feeling renewed and radiant. Hold on to that feeling with our essential Body Wrap – hydrating, exfoliating, and restorative from head to toe. Sure to lift your spirits this holiday season!

2+ hours, $249 ($305 value)

Face the Holidays – Gua Sha Glow Facial: Available November 16 – December 31

Sculpt, tone and lift with our Gua Sha Glow Facial. This unique treatment uses the ancient Chinese techniques of Gua Sha to increase circulation and boost overall skin health and function. Each step in this restorative facial incorporates detoxifying ingredients that will address the daily effects of stress on the skin. You will leave this facial with a sense of balance from the inside out as well as a visibly more radiant complexion.
45 minutes // $85 | $59 H-Circle

Holiday Retreat – Yuletide: Available November 29 – December 31

Embrace the Holiday season with a reviving retreat featuring an uplifting aromatic blend of Blood Orange, Cardamom, and Pine Needle. Yuletide begins with a refreshing aromatic foot soak ritual, followed by a detoxifying back and hand exfoliation with our white sage and spearmint charcoal body polish. Banish Holiday tension with a warm body butter and hot stone massage, while a comforting Holiday Old Fashioned cocktail will keep your spirits bright.
80 Minutes // Pricing: $195 | $139 H-Circle

Celebrate Father’s Day at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa

JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora, Tx. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Need some last minute Father’s Day gift ideas? Show Dad some love this Father’s Day and treat him to a weekend at the stunning, 13,000-acre JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora Texas. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2021)

Families can celebrate Dad with a gourmet brunch from JL Bar’s expert culinary team on Sunday, June 20, with two exclusive seatings between 10a.m. – 2p.m. (locals and day visitors can book, too). For $39.95 and $12.95 for children, guests and locals will be treated to a special menu of signatures dishes including Brisket Eggs Benedict, Southern Style Chicken Fried Steak, and Chef Carved Mesquite Smoked Rack of Pork. There will be two reservations on The Ranch from 10a.m. – 11:30a.m. and 12:30p.m. – 2p.m. with limited seating for both.  

For those lucky enough to stay for the weekend, there is an activity for every type of Father. From a full equestrian program featuring horseback riding and a horse psychology experience to off-road ATV adventures, a putting/chipping Green, and clay and skeet shooting, families will be able to make many memorable moments at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa. 

Celebrate Father’s Day with special sales from Twin Liquors

Twin Liquors has special sales just for Father’s Day. Photo: Twin Liquors, used with permission.

Twin Liquors is excited to announce that from now until Saturday, June 19, the Austin-based liquor store will be celebrating Father’s Day with sales on select whiskeys, spirits, and wine. Customers can save on top liquor brands such as Crown Royal, Highland Queen Majesty, Mr. Whiskey, and more. Treat yourself to a special bottle, or get a gift for the father figure in your life. Twin Liquors offers complimentary gift wrap and you can get it delivered right to Dad’s door. (Twin Liquors, 2021)

Additionally, be sure to also check out the Twin Liquors Summer Entertaining Guide designed to provide advice on hosting this summer season. Whether “Entertaining at Home” means making a nice meal for dad this weekend or having a few friends over for a backyard get-together, Twin Liquors has you covered with everything you need for beverages. Featuring cocktail combo packs with recipes, wine pairings, and tips for hosting, the entertaining guide has something for everyone.   

The Father’s Day sale on select whiskeys, spirits, and wine will run through June 19. Twin Liquors is open Monday – Saturday from 10a.m. to 9p.m. Online hours are 11a.m. to 8p.m. 

To find a Twin Liquors store near you visit Twin Liquors online. You may also through their website or Twin Liquors app, which is available on IOS and Android stores. Twin Liquors also offers online ordering and in-store pickup and/or delivery to all stores.

Born and raised in downtown Austin, Texas, Twin Liquors began as one small store and has developed into a successful “home-grown” Texas family-owned company. It has developed a unique and well-respected reputation throughout the United States for having impeccable team members, outstanding customer service, conveniently located stores, extensive selections of fine wines and premium spirits from around the world, and substantial community involvement. Twin Liquors currently operates 100+ neighborhood stores from Austin to San Antonio, the Hill Country to Houston, and the DFW area with their Sigel’s branded stores.

Father’s Day gift ideas from Twang

Father’s Day gift ideas from Twang. Photo: Twang, used with permission.

Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday June 20 and to help celebrate dads, Twang, a family owned and operated manufacturer of salts, seasonings, michelada mixes and more, has created a bucket full of things beer aficionado dads will love. Twang is offering a limited amount of Father’s Day Buckets for $29.99 a piece, plus shipping. Shipping is free with purchases of $40 or more. (Twang, 2021)

The Twang Father’s Day Buckets include the following items:

• Beer Salt Bucket
• Beer Salt Bandana
• Beer Salt Hat
• 2 Beer Salt Pint Glasses
• 2 Camo Holster Koozies
• 1 Pickle Beer Salt Bottle
• 1 Lemon-Lime Beer Salt Bottle
• 1 Lime Beer Salt Bottle

The Twang Father’s Day Buckets are available for purchase here starting June 1, 2021 and are available for nationwide shipping. Please note that the beer is not included in the Twang Father’s Day Buckets.

Based in San Antonio, Texas, Twang Partners Ltd. is a family-owned and operated creator and manufacturer of premium-flavored salts, sugars and seasonings and credited as being “The original beer salt.” Since 1986, Twang Partners has produced the highest quality products designed to enhance the taste, appearance and enjoyment of food and beverages. Brands include Beer Salt, Twangerz, Twang-A-Rita, Clamato Salt, ZAS! Super Seasoning, Twang Reserve Michelada Cocktail Mixes and Cafe Zuca. Find Twang products in grocery, convenience, liquor and specialty store shelves across the country. Twang Partners has successfully collaborated with some of the top food and beverage companies around the world to create innovative custom blends.