One of my favourite things about Christmas is buying gifts! I say that with a little smirk because I also find gift-buying to be stressful. My intentions are good, but the process can be a little… murky. It’s not easy to find a gift that adequately expresses the love and appreciation that you feel for the person you are buying for! Also, it should be a gift that will be meaningful to the receiver in some way. Something that will delight them while also being useful and fitting into your budget. And it’s even better if it supports a smaller business in some way!
That’s a lot to think about! (Or am I overthinking it?)
In case you are feeling a little overwhelmed or underwhelmed by gift-giving this year, I have compiled a list of some things that I think would be great things to gift. It could also be useful as inspiration for your own wish list if you are coming up blank this year!
When purchasing gifts, I like to consider the meaning (how will the receiver connect with this gift?) and functionality (what role will this play in the receiver’s life?).
Gifts geared towards children
1. Warmies. My heart was warmed just by scrolling the website! (Heads up about shipping… from what I can tell, they do not currently ship to Canada. You may need to make arrangements with your American friends. 😊)
2. Gift cards. I know that it might not feel like the most fun, personal gift to give, but I loved receiving gift cards as a child and teenager. (I still do!) You are giving the child the gift of choice, which is both exciting and a great learning experience for them!
3. Real life items. Allow me to expound on this one. One Christmas (I may have been twelve years old?) my nana gave me a set of towels. It included a couple washcloths, a hand towel, and a bath towel. Now, I will admit that it may not have been the most exciting gift to open. (Although it did make a positive impression on me as being a very “grown-up” sort of gift to receive.) I soon realized the value of this gift when I had my very own towels to take with me when going on trips, youth retreats, sleepovers, etc. AND the towels were lime green. I still have them and use them. You do not have to buy towels for the child in your life. But is there some interest they have (cooking, baking, art, making videos, photography, wood-working, camping, etc.) that you could purchase a “real life” tool for, rather than a toy version?
4. A book of writing or drawing prompts. Just make sure the prompts are appropriate for children before purchasing. (This gift is great for adults too. My brother Kenton gave Ricky a book of drawing prompts and thus began drawit366!)
Useful Gifts
1. Suitcase/duffel bag. These are gifts that keep on giving for years to come. And it’s handy to have them in a variety of sizes too! What is more adorable than a tiny suitcase in a fun colour/design?
2. Tote bag. I love my black tote bag. It’s the perfect combination of style and function. Consider including a classy little pouch of some sort too, as it’s handy to have a place to corral your smaller items in so that they don’t get lost in the beautiful, yet mysterious depths of your tote bag.
3. Packing cubes. (I think these ones are beautiful, but there are less expensive options out there too! ) These allow you to organize your belongings inside your suitcase/duffel bag. Once you start using these, there is no turning back. Bags inside bags. I LOVE IT.
4. Blueland hand soap. I have not tried products from Blueland yet, but someday… someday I will. Blueland’s mission is to help reduce the use of single-use plastics. I think that this set of holiday hand soap looks lovely.
5. Refillable shower gel from The Body Shop. This is another great gift for that friend who would like to reduce single-use plastics in her routine. In order for this gift to work well, you’ll want to make sure that she lives close enough to a Body Shop location for refills to not feel inconvenient. You could also include a Body Shop gift card to help pay for refills! She’ll be able to choose whatever scent she wants when she refills.
6. Monk Manual. If you know someone who loves using a day planner and journaling, this could be the perfect gift for them! This is beautiful and thoughtful product. Check out their website to learn more.
7. Electric toothbrush. LIFE-CHANGING.
8. Cord organizer. Cords can quickly get out of control. These help so much to keep cords organized, both while travelling and just in daily life. If you want to take your cord organization gift even further, you could include these little leather loop things: I use these all the time!
9. Darn Tough Socks. I do not own any personally (YET), but I know people who do and really like them. I love the life-time warranty!
Gifts that Celebrate Beauty
1. A large plant. A large plant is an impressive gift! You can even have them shipped to someone. Here’s one website that offers that option.(Really, you should visit the website just to enjoy their names and descriptions for each plant!)
2. Perfume samples. I think these look fun!
3. Art. If you feel confident about choosing a piece of art that would be meaningful for the person you are buying for, it makes a truly special gift. Some artists whose creations I enjoy: Scott the Painter, Lore Pemberton, and Lindsay Letters.
Small, but-don’t-underestimate-them gifts
1. Consumable gifts: Artisan bread (homemade or purchased), high quality balsamic vinegar or olive oil, hot sauce, good quality tea or coffee, a creative selection of cheeses, a collection of your favourite charcuterie board additions, etc.
2. Electric candle lighter. It’s rechargeable. It’s amazing. (In good conscience, I do feel that I need to warn you that it makes a momentary high-pitched, gets-in-your-bones-and-makes-you-shiver, kind of sound when you use it. But that’s not a reason not to buy it.)
3. Reading light. Your marriage will thank you, if it is the sort of marriage where one partner wants to stay up reading while the other one wants to fall sleep in the dark. (Does anyone else have that sort of marriage? :))
A Gift to Cultivate Connection
Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First. by Laura Tremaine. Grab at least two copies- one for a friend and one for yourself- and enjoy learning about each other and yourself as you work through the questions that this book asks.
In conclusion…
I realize that it’s a little bit late to be posting a gift guide, but most of these ideas are not exclusive to the holiday season! I hope that this list provides fresh inspiration for you in some way over the coming weeks and months.
May our giving and receiving this season can be done from a place of peace and love. May we be people who give generously, receive graciously, and feel delight easily.