Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List!

Is anyone else panicking with me?!  There are only NINE SHOPPING DAYS until Christmas!  As we did some last-minute shopping and Googling, we came across some gift ideas that we thought would be great for the people on your list.  Don't worry, Bunchems didn't make it, because it's probably not a good idea to curse in front of your kids. (All prices listed in CAD, unless otherwise stated).

Gifts for Kids

• Re-Play divided plates ($9), bowls ($7), cutlery ($5), sippy cups ($9) and snack containers ($7.50) - made from recycled milk jugs, they're cute and good for the environment! 
• Happy Mats ($30) - for the child who likes to throw the bowls around...this one won't budge!
• My Monopoly game ($39) - the classic game can now be customized with your own photos, so you can personlize the board and characters!
• Play All Day Elmo ($50) - it's the new, more educational version of Tickle Me Elmo!
• Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes ($17) - a highly rated toy for your little one
• Inside Out movie Blu-ray & DVD ($24) - we're all about empathy and feelings, and this movie is a great way to start a conversation with your child about them!
• The Book With No Pictures ($15) - if you have any doubts about this book, watch this video of author B. J. Novak entertaining a crowd of kids with it!

By Camilee Designs on Etsy

Gifts for Gals

• Color Me Swooooon colouring book ($13-$15) - a unique spin on the ever-popular adult colouring book!  Here, you can colour in your favourite heartthrob and learn stalker-worthy facts about his life. 
• Josie Maran Argan Oil ($60) - my dad used this and people kept commenting on how much younger his skin looked!  Sounds like it's time for me to bathe in some!
• #girlboss book ($15.16) - Part biographical, part motivational, all bestseller!
• A pretty planner ($50 USD) - It's not just for time management anymore!
• Personalized necklace ($48) - customize it with kids' names and have them close to her heart, awww
• A jogger pant of some sort ($60) - they're the fashionable mom sweatpant that's great for both comfort and style
• A beauty box subscription like Birchbox ($15/month) or Topbox ($10/month)
• Beautiful ear jackets ($54) - the new trendy earring, where there's as much going on behind the ear as in front!
• Luxury candles from Jo Malone ($75) - if it's good enough for Kate Middleton, it's good enough for me!

Gifts for Guys (you should also check out the list we compiled for Father's Day!)

• Herschel Duffle bag ($90) - so you can toss that free Goodlife bag he's been sporting 
• Leather smartphone gloves from J. Crew ($128) - cashmere-lined for warm and comfortable smartphone use in the cold winter
• Leather coasters from Frank & Oak ($40) - not your grandmother's doilies!
• Cedar shoe tree ($35) - for the guy who loves his shoes
• Jack Black Power Pack gift set ($85) - certified organic facial care for men!
• Samsung Occulus Gear VR ($99 USD) - it's a virtual reality headset so your neighbours can't see what you're watching 
• MVMT classic leather watch ($109) - so he'll be on time for your dates? 
• Chromecast Audio ($45) - so you can play all your music on any speaker using wifi

Funny Gifts

• Hotline Bling Sweater ($24) - because who doesn't want a little Drizzy on their ugly sweater?!
• Boyfriend Pillow ($40) - popularized by a cameo on the TV show Glee.  I can't decide if it's creepy or really brilliant. 
• Reusable toaster bags ($8) - so you can make grilled cheese in your toaster!
• Poo-Pourri spray ($14) - to prevent foul odours from escaping the bowl when you're doing #2
• Go the F*** to Sleep book ($15) - a funny and honest look at getting your kids to sleep
• Zombie Survival guide book ($16) - in case you haven't watched enough Walking Dead
• Face Butt towel ($41) - so you never wipe your face with your butt ever again

Unisex Gifts

• Kindle e-reader ($65) - This is a great gift for the commuter or traveller in your life!
• A humanitarian gift of education, animals, nutrition or medicine (prices range) - bless those in need with a practical gift this holiday
• Tile: The Tile App Tracker ($25) - attach this cute little square to anything you want to track, and you can find it using your smartphone if you ever lose it!  I wonder if I can attach this thing to my kids?? 
• Nanotech Titanium Diaphragm In-Ear Monitors ($70 USD; $125 CAD) - for the audiophile in your life 
• Humans of New York: Stories ($20.70) -  It's the new Chicken Soup for the Soul, don't you think?  (Did I just age myself there with the Chicken Soup reference??)
• Melaleuca (Tea Tree) oil ($39) - for natural treatment of skin issues, and for cleaning around the house
• Dyson DC34 Animal vacuum ($230) - a practical gift for cleaning crumbs, and especially great for the car!
• Meal subscription from Chef's Plate (starting at $50/week) - get all the ingredients and a recipe; all you have to do is cook it!

Nerdy Gifts (it seems really expensive to be a nerd!?)

• Back to the Future Flux Capacitor Watch ($50 USD) - hop in your DeLorean and grab one of these
• Star Trek Klingon weapon replica ($240 USD) - for that friend who is constantly telling you to, "Live long and prosper."
• Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Kit ($110 USD) - perhaps this isn't totally useless?
• Star Wars Light Saber ($289 USD) - you'll definitely need to get this once the movie comes out!
• Sphero BB-8 App-enabled Droid ($190) or the remote-controlled version ($70) - seriously, my son is obsessed with balls and loves watching this thing move around (maybe I should move this one to the kids category?)

If you're still not sure what to get, you could always try a DIY, like the Mason jar gift sets we made!

What are your best picks for gifts this holiday?  Let us know, and we'll add it to our list for Santa!

Advent GIVING Box

I was thinking of a special advent calendar to make for my daughter this holiday season. I scoured the interweb trying to find something unique but I really couldn't find what I was looking for. When I stopped to think about, I realized I couldn't find what I was looking for because I didn't want yet another advent calendar that counts down the days until Christmas with a daily gift or treat. The idea of my daughter getting a daily present to count down the days until she gets even MORE presents didn't sit well with me. I want her to learn the importance of giving and not just receiving. So I decided to make an advent calendar that allows her to give daily. Each day starting December 1st, my daughter will remove the numbered tag and add one item that she would like to donate to the less fortunate into the box. It can be a nonperishable food item to give to the food bank, a new or very gently used toy/clothing item to donate to local shelter, a winter hat/mittens for the homeless etc. By the time December 24th rolls around, there will be 24 items to donate!!!

This is how I imagine the box looking as it fills up!

What a great way to celebrate this wonderful time of the year. I love that my daughter will spend each day thinking of ways to give to others. I can't wait to see the items she picks out (hopefully her baby brother won't end up in the box!).

Materials

• Large cardboard box (I used a diaper box) or any large bin/container
• Festive wrapping paper
• 24 small tags (I found mine at a scrapbooking store, but you can easily make your own by cutting out small rectangles and hole punching the top)
• Number stamps or number stickers (or a marker to write them by hand)
• Paper straws
• Scissors
• Tape
• Pen
• Glue gun
• Decorations (i.e. ribbon, stickers etc.)- optional

Instructions

1. Cut flaps off cardboard box.
   
2. Cover box with wrapping paper. 
   
3. Stamp numbers 1 to 24 onto paper tags.
   
4. Space out tags evenly on one side of the box (I made 3 rows of 8). Using a pen, mark the location of each tag.
   
5. Cut paper straws into 24 small pieces (approx. 3/4 of an inch).
   
   
   
   
6. Using a hot glue gun, put a small amount of glue on one end of the straw piece and adhere to the marked pen spots on the box.
   
   
   
   
7. Hang tags onto straw "hooks".
   
   
   
   
8. Count down the days until Christmas by giving back daily:)

Just to sum it all up! Feel free to pin and share with others!

Alternative Calendar Ideas (if you really don't have the time to be so crafty, try using one of these ideas instead):

• Paste the month of December (just cut it out of a calendar or print off the computer) onto one side of the box and cross out each day using a pen/marker, a bingo marker or with a cute sticker.
• Adhere rows of string onto the box and use clothespins to clip on the days.
• Buy 24 cheap plastic hooks from the dollar store to hang up each day.
• Simply stick the days onto the box using tape.
• Fringe sheets of paper, add numbers 1-24, rip off each number to count down the days (just like  flyers posted on bulletin boards with phone numbers to rip off).

Have you decided how you are going to count down the days until Christmas? Try making a Giving Box; after all, the gift of giving is the GREATEST gift of all<3

P.S.  I really should have let my daughter help decorate the Giving Box...don't be a crafty control freak like me and let your kid have some fun with it!