By Courtney Bondar Multimedia Journalist Published Nov 30, 2023 at 5:01 PM

Snuggle up with some holiday cheer as OnMilwaukee shares stories of everything merry and bright in the spirit of the season.

The OnMilwaukee Ho Ho Holiday Guide is brought to you by Educators Credit Union, Harley-Davidson Museum and MolsonCoors

This holiday season is giving self-care! Prioritize caring for the mind and body this chaotic shopping season by gifting others (and yourself too!) creative activities, essential oils, relaxing massages, facials or simply a glass of decadent wine. 

We’re less than a month away from Christmas, so get started today and seek out these self-care gifts to give yourself or others this holiday season!

Art

Art ‘N Oddities
5833 W. Lincoln Ave., (414) 329-2788
artnoddities.com

Center your self-care journey around the arts and allow your mind to relax and focus on something more creative. Art ‘N Oddities provides a variety of two-hour classes, such as drawing, painting, dinnerware sculpture, jewelry and faux mosaic frames. Create a new mosaic, piece of jewelry, signature goblet, piece of furniture and more! Purchase a class today and craft your self-care day away!

Cream City Clay
7105 W. Greenfield Ave., (414) 249-5902
creamcityclay.com

Pick up a pottery class at Cream City Clay! Participate in wheel throwing and ancient pottery techniques like hand-building in this adult class. All skill levels are welcome at each session. Check the schedule of classes today and give the gift of a pottery class this holiday season. 

Creative Fire Pottery
6427 W. North Ave., (414) 443-9402
creativefirepottery.com

Get creative this holiday season! Channel your inner artist and create your next masterpiece during an adult pottery class. Purchase group classes, studio time or single lessons today to explore the art of pottery making today. 

Splash Paint Studio
175 S. Water St., (414) 939-8592
splashmilwaukee.com

Gift the ultimate painting experience at Splash Studio! Create your own space to paint with friends or family with Splash Studio virtual events or take-and-make painting kits for special in-person events at your space of choice. Choose your painting adventure with Splash Paint Studio today!

Milwaukee Art Museum
700 N. Art Museum Dr., (414) 224-3200
mam.org

Experience an art class at the iconic Milwaukee Art Museum! Learn about the variety of art collections in the gallery, history, techniques and even create your own art! Art clubs are available in fall, winter and summer – register today to attend a class and experience the wonderful world of art at our one-of-a-kind museum.

Candles 

Blossom Candle Co.
Online/pop-up, (262) 299-7555
blossomcandleco.com

Nothing sets a mood like a candle! Purchase a local and handmade candle from Blossom Candle Co. this holiday season to spruce up your season of self-care. Shop through a selection of intention candles to pick out the best self-care candle for someone or yourself. Check out their variety today!

Lit MKE
Online
litmkecandles.com

Give a candle made with good intentions this giving season. At Lit MKE, their candles are made from recycled liquor bottles, beer or sparkling water cans. Owner Mike Bates has proven that you can change the gift-giving game with his unique and handcrafted candles, made from a premium blend of soy and coconut waxes with a 100 percent cotton wick. Each candle will smell similar to the contents that once sat in the recycled bottle – or you can give Bates a recycled bottle to turn into a candle. 

Milwaukee Candle Company
524 S. 2nd St., (414) 250-8946
milwaukeecandle.com

Give a piece of Milwaukee this holiday season! Milwaukee Candle Company prides itself on building candles on the basis of a scent-memory connection. Find a candle today through their collection that compliments self-care and choose from something spicy, sweet, woodsy, hometown, natural incense and more!

Wick + Bean Candle Company
Online
wickandbean.com

Shop local this season! Wick + Bean hails from the Washington Heights neighborhood, creating 100 percent soy wax candles with clean fragrance oils free from toxins and carcinogens. Choose from a variety of featured candles like winter, fall, 3-D, sports and other classics with unique and addictive fragrances.  

Wisconsin Candle Company
119 W. Main St. Waunakee, (608) 850-7177
wisconsincandlecompany.com

Shop small batch soy candles! Wisconsin Candle Company will give you a sensory experience that will aid in your self-care activities this holiday season. Shop through their home collection, brandy old-fashioned candles, Wisconsin Lingo candles and more! 

CBD

Canni Hemp Co. 
810 S. 5th St., (414)488-9319
mycanni.com

Treat yourself or someone close to you to Canni Hemp Co. products! Sign up for a Canni subscription box today to receive curated hemp, mushroom or Delta 9! Or choose from a variety of CBD oils, topical salve sticks, edibles, and more to create your own gift bag to gift someone.  

Kind Oasis
2169 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 877-0253
kindoasis.com

Choose from a selection of premium CBD and Delta 8 THC for someone this season! Shop from small batches of hemp-derived products and treats to gift someone or throw in a self-care basket this holiday season. Relax and enjoy the benefits of Kind Oasis products. 

Milwaukee Hemp Co. 
(414) 877-0253
milwaukeehempco.com

Self-care and hemp are a perfect match made in Milwaukee. Shop online through Milwaukee Hemp Co. and choose from CBD lotion, CBD topical roll-on, oil and more to gift someone to enjoy while they relax. 

TruCanna Bliss
8311 W. Brown Deer Rd., (414) 792-9681
trucannabliss.com

Treat yourself to TruCanna Bliss this holiday season. Take a look through their featured products like THC edibles, THC beverages, tinctures, pre-rolls, CBD flower and more! Take a look through these local products and order in time for the holiday. 

Bath essentials 

Cream City Soap Co. 
6927 W. North Ave., (414) 322-7690
creamcitysoapcompany.com

Take a relaxing bath with essentials from Cream City Soap Co. during your self-care adventure! Browse through local and handmade soap, essential oils, hair care, body lotion and more! Find the best bath gifts here. 

Fern & Nettle
Online
fernandnettle.com

Find handcrafted soap and skincare products made locally by Fern and Kettle online! Scroll through endless options of handmade vegan soap, gift sets, essential oil roll-ons and other bath essentials that are perfect for bath time! Catch Fern and Kettle at local markets and events featured around the city. 

Halo Soap 
(414) 810-7627
halosoap.com

Enjoy all sorts of bath essentials through Halo Soap! This artisan skincare company features all your premium bath essentials like candles, bar soap, face, body, bath bombs, bath salts and more! Shop through and pick out your favorite items to gift – or purchase a Halo Soap gift card to send to someone special off on a self-care shopping spree. 

Lush
2500 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 257-1838
lush.com

Fall in love with skin-loving Lush bath products! Shop online or in person at Mayfair Mall to search through numerous bath bombs, lotions, gift sets, shower gels and more all appropriately named for the season with featured scents that’ll help you soak in the holiday spirit. 

Spas

Destination Kohler
501 Highland Dr., Kohler, (855) 444-2838
destinationkohler.com

Discover the art of total relaxation at Kohler Waters Spa! Make a reservation or gift a reservation to experience the natural elements of the earth’s minerals and waters during this calming immersive waters spa. Choose from other services such as hydrotherapy, relaxation pools and more at Kohler. 

Massage Envy
Multiple locations 
massageenvy.com

Feel like you again this self-care season with a massage that’ll allow you to relax and relieve all the built-up stress and tension from life, the holiday season and more. Allow your body to melt into the table as your masseuse works through your muscles, flow with a stretching session to help alleviate key areas or give your skin a sense of clarity with a facial that’ll give you a glowing appeal. 

Pfister Well Spa + Salon
424 E. Wisconsin Ave., (414) 277-9207
pfisterwellspa.com

Located in the heart of Downtown Milwaukee at The Pfister Hotel, immerse yourself in the Well Spa + Salon's services. Book services such as fingers and toes, salon, hair and nail, spa, skin-care and bodywork, and more! Choose the service that best suits your relaxation needs and spend your self-care day at Well Spa + Salon. 

Studio D Day Spa
1658 N. Van Buren St., (414) 870-1529
studiodspa.com

Spend a day at Studio D Day Spa for your self-care and relaxation day! Relieve stress and allow yourself to melt the tension away during select spa services like facial, body or nail treatments. Purchase gift certificates for that special someone this giving season or make an appointment to schedule your service. 

Sunflower Wellness MKE
2724 W. Lincoln Ave., (414) 375-5676|
sunflowerwellnessmke.com

Spend a day at Sunflower Wellness MKE and allow yourself to experience another level of spa services. Choose from Ayurvedic Bliss treatments that uses ancient practices and modern technology to relax the body; spa services like facials, body steams, wraps and more to rejuvenate your whole body; or simply purchase organic products to give you that extra glow. Choose the service that best suits your self-care and spa needs. 

Fitness

Hot Yoga
2084 N. Commerce St., (414) 264-9642
17800 W. Bluemound Rd. Unit E., Brookfield, (262) 439-9020
yogamke.com

Turn up the heat during this yoga session! Self-care comes in the form of Hot Yoga this holiday season, where you can choose from several classes like HOT 26, Vinyasa, Sculpt and more! Experience large yoga rooms set to 95-100 degrees with 40-50 percent humidity and a yoga session that’ll give you something to sweat about. Experience Hot Yoga this giving season.

Spinn MKE
309 W. Brown St., (414) 249-3119
spinnmke.com

Try something new! Attend a spin class at Spinn MKE to give a whole new meaning to your self-care routine. Sign up for a class to engage in a holistic community-driven toward health and wellness through spin cycling. Feel the power of spin through each and every class designed to educate, empower and push you toward your fitness goals. 

The Barre Code
225 N. Water St., (414) 488-9555
thebarrecode.com

Experience self-care in the form of a fitness program that practices a radical form of self-love. Join today and get the first three classes free to experience a bada** fitness course where everyBODY is welcome to join. Choose from classes such as Barre, a 50-minute low-impact class that’ll work your entire body; Bootcamp, a cardiovascular conditioning and functional strength course; or Brawl, a 50-minute powerful cardio kickboxing sequence set to music. 

Medical Spas

Aesthetically Well
222 E. Erie St., (414) 331-8852
aestheticallywell.com

Make your way to Milwaukee’s first holistic medspa located in the heart of Downtown. Aesthetically Well features non-invasive skincare treatments that’ll give you balanced and nourished skin. Choose from their selection of services like BioLift PRX-T33, which stimulates collagen, improves skin texture, minimizes aging and more; DMK Enzyme Therapy, a skin tightening and firming treatment that’ll enhance circulation, improve skin function and address skin concerns; and Dermal Nutrition Infusion, a deep nourishing treatment that’ll improve texture and overall apperance. 

Bare Beauty
726 N. Milwaukee St., (414) 763-6307
barebeautyskin.com

Embrace your bare beauty with Bare Beauty Medspa and skincare! Enjoy the variety of self-care services built to give you medical treatments, injectables and lasers, facials, makeup and more! Check out the full list of treatments and treat yourself to this beautiful experience. 

 MKE Aesthetics & Wellness
1233 N. Mayfair Rd. Suite 120, (262) 415-9005
mkeaesthetics.com

Interested in reducing fine lines or stimulating collagen production? MKE Aesthetics & Wellness provides Botox, other facial injections, SkinPen Microneedling and more so you can achieve your skin goals. Take a look at their full list of treatments you can receive to aid in your self-care journey.  

Nails 

Nail Bar MKE
2580 N. Downer Ave., (414) 973-2910
234 W. Florida St., (414) 973-2275
nailbarmke.com

Sometimes self-care starts with your nails. Treat yourself or someone near and dear to you to a day at Nail Bar MKE at either their Downer or Walker’s Point locations. Get the full experience of professional nail technicians who pride themselves on nail treatments, nail art trends, body waxing and more.

Gloss Nail Spa
1545 N. Water St., (414) 273-1741
glossnailspa.net

Get over to Gloss Nail Spa today for the ultimate nail care this self-care season! Choose from a variety of services like nail enhancements, manicures, a la carte and more to enjoy beautifully manicured nails! Give the gift that keeps on giving, and purchase a gift card and gift it to someone who would like to attend a nail spa day! 

Self-care kits

Wisconsin Made
Online, (877) 947-6233
wisconsinmade.com

Skip the hassle of putting together your own self-care basket or gift! Wisconsin Made has you covered this holiday season with their own self-care kit with Door County cherry goat milk lotion, soap and lip balm! Purchase your kit today and give Wisconsin-style self-care gift this season!

Wellness

Elle Studio + Wellness
106 W. Seebooth St., (414) 378-5379
www.ellewellstudio.com

Personalize your self-care at Elle Studio + Wellness this season! Personalized self-care offers a bodywork practitioner who’ll guide you through a private 60-minute session in the studio. Experience restorative postures, elements of mindfulness and restorative yoga. Give the gift of healing and growth this holiday season. 

Float Milwaukee
211 W. Freshwater Way, (414) 273-7258
floatmilwaukee.com

Focus on relieving stress and welcoming peace at Float Milwaukee! Give the gift of float therapy, an efficient form of relaxation to help minimize external stimuli and reset your senses. Float in a 200-gallon water tank with 900 pounds of dissolved Epsom salt with water temperatures averaging at average skin temperature. Try other therapy sessions like NovoTHOR Light Therapy too.  

MKE Mindbody Wellness
3174 S. Howell Ave., (414) 367-7023
mkewellness.com

Experience wellness through Reiki, Sound Vibration Therapy and more this giving season. Channel your inner peace through a variety of services like Acupuncture, facial rejuvenation, Reiki, Vibrational Sound Therapy, massage therapy, meditation, Far Infrared Sauna Therapy and Aromatherapy today! Improve your overall wellness today. 

Courtney Bondar Multimedia Journalist

Courtney Bondar is an adventurous Multimedia Journalist at OnMilwaukee, covering all things Milwaukee. Born and raised in Greendale, WI, Courtney has a deep-rooted connection to her hometown and a strong desire to explore and showcase the vibrant city of Milwaukee.

You can often find Courtney all over Milwaukee, attending exciting events - documenting her experiences on her Instagram stories. Her genuine enthusiasm for her work shines through in her posts - as she strives to capture the beauty of the city and shares it with her followers.

Courtney's passion for writing is evident in her engaging and heartfelt articles. While she covers a wide range of topics, she particularly enjoys delving into the intricacies of dating culture and the art of mixology. Her insightful and thought-provoking pieces offer a unique perspective on these subjects, captivating readers with her authenticity and wit.

After dedicating herself as an intern at OnMilwaukee, Courtney's hard work and dedication paid off when she earned her well-deserved diploma. Now, as OnMilwaukee's first full-time multimedia journalist, she is fully committed to continuing her journey - bringing her distinctive voice and storytelling skills to the forefront.