It’s officially December and the countdown is on to find the best gifts out there for you and your loved ones. For some of us, finding the perfect gift is easier said than done, so we usually find ourselves in a mad rush to find the best presents that we can find. My friend did this the other year, and it wasn’t until she decided to personalize a gift did she actually get somewhere. Designed Pillows with photo customization has become popular in the last few years, and can even double up as a holiday and housewarming gift if the recipient has just moved into a new house. Even better, right? There are so many things you can personalise too, anything you can think of I reckon could be a personalised gift. You can design your own photo keyring, canvas, clothes, this list goes on, and they are available all over the world. They can be for any age as well, for instance, what do you get for a teen? They are at such a difficult age to buy for. What do they like to do, other than play games and listen to music, right? Well why not a custom airpods case? Something they can utilise and won’t gather dust in their rooms. Having said that this really could just be for anyone with an phone! As you can see, there really is a custom gift for everyone out there if you look, it’s such a good route to go down at any time of the year. If you’re still not convinced, then don’t fret, that’s why you have come to this page! So, how do we find the best gifts on the market? Luckily, the #DoTheDaniel team has been hard at work finding gifts that we personally have added to our letters to Santa and that you should consider in the coming weeks. Be you a Holistic Nutritionist, a Mom or a Foodie.. We have each come up with a list of items that are this season’s Holiday Must Haves. SO, without further ado, come and see what I have put together for my first ever Holiday Gift Guide for us all!
1. Wheat Canada
Ok ok, not every kid loves getting clothes for Christmas, but they will when they get Wheat Canada clothes! Style, comfort, and durability all combined into one package make for a great gift idea for your or a loved ones lil ones! Even if you’re not sure how to put an outfit together, Wheat Canada is all mix and match. They’ve kept their collection to a colour palate that allows you to simply select the items you like best, and know that they’ll work together! Check out WheatCanada.com to browse through and choose some great pieces to wrap up!
2. Leapfrog LeapPad Ultra XDi
The newest tablet from Leapfrog is definitely at the top of my list for Lyric! While he does love using my iPad, Leapfrog has put the emphasis on learning and entertainment while keeping it kid friendly. Often times Lyric gets lost on YouTube and ends up watching something I’d prefer him not to, and this is a perfect solution. With access to the LeapFrog’s educator-approved library of games, books and more, your child will not just be playing a “video game”, but will be learning at the same time! I know Lyric’s first letters were written with the help of Mr. Pencil! Available in both green and purple, check out leapfrog.com for more information and to order yours today!
3. Kiwi Crate
I hadn’t heard of Kiwi Crate until about a month ago, and immediately became obsessed with it! It’s hands-on fun that encourages creativity and curiosity in children, a crate full of inspiration, materials and a project to create with your child! It’s known that I love Pinterest, and of course see all these cute projects that I’d love to do with Lyric, but they just never come to fruition. With Kiwi Crate, all the work is done for you! Available as single crates or a monthly subscription(!) crates are designed around fun themes and filled with all of the materials and inspiration for hands-on projects. Explore with arts & crafts, science activities, imaginative play, and more. Such a unique gift that just keeps on giving, and besides, who doesn’t like getting mail?! hehe! Check out kiwicrate.com for more details and follow this link to receive $10 off!!
4. ETSY
When you want something custom and unique, the best place to head is Etsy.com! Pretty much if you can dream it, you can find it on Etsy! Now I know it can seem intimidating to log on and see soo many incredible things, where do you start right? Well, here’s an incredible list, and they’re all Canadian!
a) Custom engraved cheese and cutting board ($30) from Engrave By Laser, based in Aurora, ON
b) Initial and heart necklace ($36), from Project Dahlia, based in Toronto
c) Father and son custom matching belts ($130) from Hang On Designs, based in Winnipeg
d) Monogrammed Baby Long Johns ($65.50) from Mabel Retro, based in Vancouver
5. DAVIDsTEA
It’s that time of year, when all you want to do is hide under a nice warm blanket with a cup of hot tea! So why not make it the BEST cup of hot tea there is!? With over 150 types of tea to choose from, DAVIDsTEA is the place to go for the tea lover in your life. From gift packages with multiple teas to choose from, to a beautiful line of holiday tea mugs, to tea scented candles, to spoons and infusers, DAVIDsTEA has great gift ideas to fit any budget! They even have a tea to battle the cold you know you’ll get at least once this season! hehe! The Organic Cold 911! Head over to DAVIDsTEA.com to check out their gift collection and holiday guide!
6. Saumsung Galaxy Camera S2
If there’s anything a parent needs at all times, it’s a camera! (and I’m not just saying that because I’m a photographer!) Capturing all those little moments that become big moments in your child’s life are too important to trust to just your phone! Samsung has always been a leader in technology, and their cameras are no different! I know that a lot of the photographs we take nowadays are not necessarily going to be printed and placed into an album, but will definitely be shared! The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 comes with Tag& Go, which is Wi-Fi and NFC technologies and opens up a world of possibilities. Photo Beam lets you transfer an image or video to a friend’s smartphone when the two devices are placed back-to-back, while MobileLink sends content to another device much farther away! Seriously? SERIOUSLY! This camera is everything and anything you’ll ever need! Check out Samsung.com for more details and to see where you can buy yours! (I mean, to see where you can tell someone to buy yours! hehe)
7. Crabtree & Evelyn
Think someone in your life needs to be pampered? Crabtree & Evelyn have all the gift ideas for that someone. Whether it’s for her or for him they have hand selected and beautifully packaged gifts that will be loved and appreciated. It may be difficult to decide whether to give it or keep it for yourself! The bath gels, lotions, perfumes and soaps feature the finest quality ingredients and extracts from nature. They even have jams, teas and cookies that are virtually home-made! Looking for something for the home? Their scented drawer liners, room sprays and potpourri help to create a warm, cozy ambiance. Check out crabtree-evelyn.ca for an extensive list of gift ideas!
I hope this list will help take a little stress off your plate and point you in the right direction for your loved ones this year! Don’t forget, half of the fun is just spending time with one another. Get those board games out, put a festive movie on, or try out a new activity you’ll all enjoy as a family. (Check out these at-home escape rooms for families for inspiration!) And remember, the holidays are a time for friends and family to come together and celebrate the love we share. So from my family to yours, I wish you the happiest of holidays and the best for the new year to come!
Make sure to stay tuned & follow along with FASHIONIGHTS.com for Julio’s annual 12 Days of Giveaways Contest – #FXMAS14!
Click to see Daniel’s Gift Guide & Catherine’s Gift Guide while you’re in the Holiday spirit with #DoTheDaniel!
Photos: All brands listed above and their subsequent PR firms.
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