With Halloween and Thanksgiving long behind us, it’s almost that time the next big Holiday! Though I’m a big advocate for making heart-felt gifts (I love gifts that are handmade and have lots of thought put into making them) and I love locally made gifts, I admit that I do have a few items on my wishlist that are not local or handmade. *Ahem* VITAMIX.
Do you do your shopping in advance or are you a last minute shopper? We’ve put together a 2014 Holiday Gift Guide to make shopping a bit easier. Here are some of our favourite 2014 Holiday Gift Guide ideas.
For Kids
Jill Yoga active wear – For kids who are on the go and just don’t seem to stop moving, Jill Yoga is the perfect active wear. My daughter loves to be run around and be active…without compromising style. Do you have a little girl who is a running, dancing, yoga-loving, gymnast and acrobat all in one? Little One loves the comfort and look of Jilly Yoga active wear and her Mommy loves the quality of the clothing!
Hot Wheels – Hours of creative play! All the boys we know are big Hot Wheels fans. Not only boys love Hot Wheels though! Little One and her friends love building tracks and doing stunts too! Little One and friends play for hours and have their own Hot Wheels Track Builder challenge when she has friends over for play dates. I love that Hot Wheels gives kids the opportunity to problem solve, learn about cause and effect, and figure out how to make cars go super fast vs. not fast at all! They’re learning through play!
Barbie – If you have a little girl who enjoys playing with dolls, chances are she will love Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse The Amazing Chase Glam Camper.
I See Me – My little one loves books. She loves reading books and she loves being read to. I See Me books take the reading experience to a new level by giving readers personalized stories. Not only is your little one the star of the story, but they’ll be excited to see that the character is actually them! I See Me uses your little one’s actual photo in their books! You can customize to make it a very special reading adventure.
Magelica’s Voyage – My daughter has a deep love and fascination for all things magical right now. It’s really refreshing to see! She also loves books! One of her favourites is Magelica’s Voyage. She loves it so much, she wanted it included in our Holiday Gift Guide! Check out our post! We’re giving away 3 Magelica’s Voyage sets that each include the book, a pouch to carry the book in and Magelica’s Magical Feather Necklace! Enter to win 1 of 3 sets here!
Curiosity Box – Imagine receiving something fun and exciting (and educational!) in the mail every month?! Curiosity Box monthly boxes help parents cultivate creativity in their kids by offering monthly crafts and activities to do with your kids! The best part is that it gets delivered to you! What kid doesn’t love getting their own mail? The subscriptions also make great presents!
Mabel’s Labels – One thing I know as a Mom is that I can never have enough Mabel’s Labels. I label all of Little One’s items and she loves having her name on her belongings so that they don’t get lost! If they do, they usually get returned to her because her name is on all her items!
Glama Gals gift certificate – What little girl doesn’t love to be pampered once in a while? A day at Glama Gal Tween Spa is bound to make your little one feel special and pampered! What a great treat!
Teddy Bear Loft – Imagine all the fun of building your own stuffed friend in the comfort of your own home? The Teddy Bear Loft experience is an unforgettable experience for little ones and their friends! You can choose from a wide selection of stuffed friends too!
Kinder Surprise – Kinder Surprise has been part of the lives of many in my “vintage”. Now that we’re parents, we’re sharing some of those memories with our own kids. For the holidays, Little One enjoys the GIANT Kinder Surprise as well as the Advent Calendar! Of course, there are many Kinder Surprise items to select from, but those are Little One’s favourites!
For Foodies
Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer – The holidays aren’t complete without lots of baking! Whether you’re the one baking up a storm or on the receiving end of some delectable homemade treats, the holidays just aren’t the holidays without some festive baked goods. What better help in the kitchen could you ask for? I am so pleased with my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer and use it to make my batter for cookies, cakes, brownies, cupcakes, muffins, and my pie crusts and bread dough. For the foodie on your list, the Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer is the ultimate present!
THERMOS – I’m all about the litterless lunch. I send my Little One to school with minimal waste. If there are food scraps, they can be composted and I give her cloth napkins and reusable cutlery (so they can be washed and not thrown out). For the foodie on your list, a THERMOS makes a great stocking stuffer or addition to a foodie-themed gift basket. I have to say that I love this vacuum insulated jar with microwavable container. If you have someone in the family who likes taking leftovers for lunch, this is ideal. The Thermos vacuum insulation technology allows for maximum temperature retention, whether it be hot or cold! The wide mouth also makes it easy to clean.
It’s a practical gift that can be used every day!
Summer Fresh – As someone who loves cooking and all things food-related, gifts that include cookware, gadgets, and food are always welcome and high on my list. A basket that includes Summer Fresh items and some festive cooking supplies would be something I would like to receive.
Planet Box – Again with the litterless lunch theme! One of the coolest things I’ve ever given Little One has been her Planet Box lunch box. Packing healthy lunches is so easy with the convenient compartments. You can pack all your food groups in there! Planet Box lunch boxes are easy to clean too!
For Grandparents
Kobo – The gift of reading is one of the greatest gifts to be able to give. For grandparents who have it all, a Kobo is a handy gift. You don’t have to carry around a dozen heavy books when you go on vacation. Just take your kobo with you! There are also a myriad if things one can do on a kobo. To find out more, visit the kobo site.
Netflix subscription – For that person on your list who already has it all, a Netflix subscription is the perfect gift. Give the gift of hours of favourite shows, movies and documentaries! I admit that I’m guilty of having binge-watched entire seasons of The Mindy Project, The Walking Dead, and a few other favourites. Hubby and I discovered a series that we could watch together too! We both got hooked on CHUCK and looked forward to our time together in the evenings. Subsriptions are really affordable. I love that you can set up accounts for members of the family and that there are parental controls so that Little One can only watch what’s on her “kids’ account”.
For Teachers
TOMS for Target Coffee Mugs – Little One made me laugh when we were shopping at Target. She picked up some TOMS coffee mugs and asked, “Mommy? Can I get these for my teacher? She said she can’t live a day without coffee!” I don’t know if Little One’s teacher does in fact love coffee, but I do know that with every #TOMSforTarget item purchased, Canadians in need will be helped. When you purchase a limited edition item, either a blanket, a pair of shoes or a week of meals will be donated to Canadians in need. That is a good enough reason for me to buy the coffee mugs that Little One picked out for her teacher’s Christmas present.
Tim Hortons Tim card – A Tims card is always a great go-to gift. You can load whatever amound you want on the card and whenever your friend or family member is out and about, they can grab a Tim Hortons coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and even pick up a soup or sandwich while there!
Tim Hortons gift set – If someone on your list loves coffee, hot chocolate, tea and gift baskets, you’re bound to find the perfect something for those on your list.
Chapters Indigo gift card – Everyone loves Chapters Indigo! Give the gift of reader (and/or gaming) Your gift card recipient can purchase whatever he or she wants, whenever he or she wants!
Free the Children Rafiki – Give a gift that will make a change and impact the world.
Every rafiki friend chain purchased gives one year of school supplies to one child in a Free The Children community overseas, giving them the tools to succeed in their studies and opening doors for the future.
For Dad
BlackBerry Passport – For anyone on the go and needing technology at their finger tips, the BB Passport is a great gift item. Writing and reading email messages is made easier with the BB Passport. It really is like having a little computer because it can serve as one!
TOMS shoes – The story of TOMS founder, Blake Mycoskie befriending children in a village in Argentina in 2006 pulls at the heartstrings. For me, there’s nothing like hearing stories like this that makes me even prouder to be a supporter of a brand. Who would have thought that shoes and philanthropy could go hand in hand! Not only are TOMS shoes comfortable and stylish, but with every product you purchase, TOMS will help a person in need. One for One. Getting Hubby a pair of shoes never felt better!
For Mom
TOMS poncho – I bought myself a TOMS poncho at Target and picked up a few more for Christmas presents for my sister-in-law and other people on my list. I went back to Target to pick one up for my mom and mother-in-law and they were sold out! The TOMS poncho in grey is comfortable, keeps me warm on chilly days and nights, and pairs well with jeans and a top when you feel like going casual. Like other #TOMSforTarget limited edition items, by purchasing this product, you are helping someone in need.
The purchase of this poncho will help give one blanket to a person in need. One for One®, For All.
Donation to Mom’s favourite charity – I’m not sure about you, but this Mom has pretty much all one can ask for (and then some!). I really don’t need anything except for a happy, healthy family. I know it sounds super cheesy, but it’s true. I joke about how I want my kitchen and basement to FINALLY be 100% finished (it’s been taking a long time to get renos finished), but in the end, I just want a happy, healthy family. I don’t need material things, and would actually prefer donations to charities I believe in and support. Charities and causes close to my heart are Mount Sinai (because Little One would not be with us today without the medical team at Mount Sinai), Sick Kids Hospital (Little One had to go to Sick Kids as a teeny tiny preemie), and the March of Dimes (for all the work they do re: premature birth awareness and research).
I really like the idea of “I See Me” books! So cute and thoughtful!
This is an awesome gift guide girl thank you!! I’ve picked up some great last minute ideas.. well not quite last minute but if I keep holding off the way I am it’s going to be!
I had a couple of older family members on my list that are impossible to buy for and you gave me a couple of ideas I had never even thought of. Yeah!!
YAY! That’s awesome to hear! Thanks, Xenia!!
All great holidays gifts! I am actually giving my Dad a year of Netflix this year as part of his gift because he really doesn’t need anything.
Judy, I’m thinking of getting my parents Netflix as well! What a great gift. Plus, like you said, they don’t really need anything. My parents have everything they need…except maybe more time with all the grandkids together 🙂