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You make your list; you check it twice. Then there’s nothing nicer than settling back in your comfy chair and shopping online for all the gifts you need for the holidays. This season, you can support small, local business owners who sell meaningful, creative gifts while enjoying the convenience of online shopping.

Earlier this year, votes from 36,000 Northeast Ohioans were compiled into The Cleveland Hot List, featuring 6,690 businesses competing for the title of greater Cleveland’s best through CityVoter, an online ballot. Within that listing were 58 nominees for Best Gift Shop.

We whittled finalists into these top-rated gift shops that also offer online shopping. From fun stocking stuffers to keepsake legacy items, you can buy creative and meaningful gifts from local shopkeepers — all from the comfort of your own home.

 

STEM Handmade Soaps

This small company offers premium handcrafted soaps, using 100 percent all-natural ingredients. Only high-quality pure vegetable oils and high-concentration glycerin are innovatively combined to create hydrating soaps. Products also include lip balm, deodorant, body butter, scented candles, men’s grooming products, hygiene accessories, pet shampoos and gift sets.

Price range: $3-$40

12405 Madison Ave., Lakewood

stemsoaps.com

Wood Thingamajigs

A female veteran-owned and -operated woodworking shop, this may be Northeast Ohio’s premier source for all custom furniture, home items, decor and outdoor games. Products include cutting boards, Cleveland- and Ohio-themed wall hangings, customized family trees and special orders.

Price range: $10-$125

Newbury Township

www.woodthingamajigs.com

Earth Angels Holistic Health

Earth Angels Boutique provides “Tools for better living — Release. Balance. Restore.” Products include incense sticks and burners, worry stones, selenite and quartz products, gemstone sets, salt lamps, sterling silver/stone jewelry, and even an Amethyst Geode Calcite Quartz Healing Empowerment stone.

Price range: $2.50-$185

3518 Scranton Road, Cleveland

earthangelsholistic.com/boutique

The Framer’s Gallery

Choose from a wide selection of artwork and gifts created by local, regional, national and international artists.

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Veterans, thanks for your service. And pull up a seat for free meals and other discounts on Veterans Day this year. You've earned it. ...

Ohio Living Breckenridge Village has opened a 2,400-square-foot Smart Living Lab at its Willoughby campus in partnership with researchers from Case Western Reserve University. The lab was designed to allow seniors to work with the devices before the technology advances to the marketplace—and where university faculty and students can immediately relate with the residents to address their daily challenges. ...

The study shows that older adults (defined as 65 and older) are less likely to advocate for their own health concerns the more they trust the role is being taken on by their doctors. ...

As digital records and cloud storage become the norm, the stodgy safe deposit box is under threat to join our growing list of things that will soon disappear forever. But don’t rush to declare the safe deposit box a relic of the past just yet. You still need to be able to produce certain original documents, rather than digital scans or photocopies, and some valuables simply can’t be digitized. ...

Isn’t it nice to know what other seasoned NEO residents consider to be the best restaurants, parks and broadcasters in town? Think you know which ones came out on top? See how your favorites compare. ...

There are plenty of options in this digital age: online chat, online video chat, video on your phone, email, etc. While learning a new digital platform can be challenging, once you get the hang of it, advantages include convenience and accessibility. Most tech-based communication channels are free or included with other bills you’re already paying such as phone and internet. ...

One of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, Tremont's tree-lined streets have an eclectic mix of shabby and chic residential architecture, historic churches and some of Cleveland’s best restaurants, shops and galleries. It’s home to both A Christmas Story House (from the movie) and St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Church, from “The Deer Hunter.” ...