Christmas seems a lot closer after Thanksgiving and Black Friday, and with the end-of-semester exam crunch and other extra-curriculars, you might be feeling overwhelmed with not knowing what to buy someone for Christmas. It seems like there are endless possibilities or no good choices. This article will hopefully be a guide to giving thoughtful presents. While picking out a present, make sure to consider the recipient’s personality, likes and dislikes, hobbies, and what they need.
Here are some ideas to get you started. These products have a varying budget so you can pick accordingly.
- Neon light
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A fun and quirky light for a cat lover. Amazon also has different designs and colours.
- Fujifilm Instax Mini (with film )
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Who doesn’t love Polaroids? Anybody who is into photography or aesthetic decor will love this gift.
- Throw blanket
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This super warm and cozy throw is sure to be inseparable from the giftee’s couch (and them). Another option is this blanket from Pottery Barn. I’ve gifted these to family members and they’ve been a tremendous hit.
- Toque with inbuilt headphones and touchscreen gloves
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The toque has in-built Bluetooth so you can listen to music while staying warm. The gloves complement it nicely!
- To Shake The Sleeping Self (novel)
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A narrative of an almost two-year journey from Oregon to Patagonia on a bicycle, this is sure to be a hit with the biking aficionado you know. Jedidiah Jenkins is incredibly insightful and witty, which has made this book one of my favourites. You can get a copy here or from your local bookstore.
- Crêpe Maker
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There’s a slight learning curve, but once you figure out how to roll them, crêpes will become a breakfast staple. A perfect gift for the culinary adventurer in your life.
- Kombucha Brewing Kit
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I’ll be gifting this to my mom as she recently became a fan of kombucha. It’s an apt gift for somebody looking to start out brewing their own batch.
- Beer cap map
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A souvenir board to pin and display bottle caps from craft brewers from all over Canada, perfect for the beer fan on your list.
- David’s Tea
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Choose a pre-bundled box or mix-and-match to create your own! You can read this article on tea flavours for inspiration.
- Puzzels and Games
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Oscar and Libby’s (Gifts for the Upbeat & the Offbeat) is one of my favourite stores in Victoria for quirky things, board games and puzzles. Winter break is the perfect time to cozy up next to the fireplace and work on jigsaw puzzles. You can also shop online for them here.
- Moss Street Market
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This is a hub of local artists and vendors from Victoria. From artisan scented candles to handmade kitchen utensils, you’re sure to find quality, local products.
- Redbubble and Society6
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Phone cases, laptop decals and sleeves, mugs, travel flasks, and (of course) socks! You can find a great galore of gifts while supporting independent artists.
- Indigo books
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Indigo is a Canadian store with a great collection of books and extremely aesthetic decor and stationery products. A similar store that’s local to Victoria is Bolen Books in Hillside Mall.
- The Body Shop
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Known for its high-quality vegetarian and vegan bath, beauty and grooming products, The Body Shop prides itself on ethically producing its products, being especially against animal testing, as the brand believes in cruelty-free beauty.
Did you find this article helpful? Do you have any ideas of your own? Let me know by commenting!