3 Easy Gift Ideas to Make the Last Minute Christmas Gift Dash a Breeze

Three more sleeps until Christmas! Which means… The last-minute Christmas shopping dash! So fun. Not. But it happens to all of us, whether by circumstance or habit. I’m lucky this year because I did most of my shopping online. So my inevitable dashing will involve clicking a couple buttons for something that I can print, an evening of baking, and buying a couple bottles of wine.

But, if you’ve missed the online shipping deadlines (or don’t think you’ll get to clicking on time) or are feeling a bit overwhelmed, here are three failsafe last minute Christmas gift ideas.

1. GIFT CARDS

I talked about this in my purposeful online shopping post. Gift cards are an amazing gift. Both for the person receiving, and for the busy and well-meaning person buying them. Yes, there is the convenience, but more so, they are great if you know where someone likes to shop, but don’t know what to get them and also make fantastic stocking stuffers or nice appreciation gifts for staff. We are also living in a world where things are very expensive. Helping your college-age sibling or your assistant fuel up their mornings with a nicely summed Starbucks card or to buy something nice for themselves from a favourite shop will be appreciated. (Trust me!)

Some good gift card ideas are:

• IKEA
• Sephora
• Local Coffee or Tea Shop
• Book shops like Indigo (Canada), Barnes & Noble (USA) or Waterstones (UK)
• Clothing – Banana Republic, Aritzia, or Nordstrom are great options!
• Athletic Apparel – RYU or lululemon
• Halfmoon Yoga
• Amazon

2. GIVE BACK

Donate to a Cause – Make a donation to the person’s favourite or meaningful charity.

Make an Impact with WE.org – Buy a goat or a clean water well for a family, or purchase some quality handmade jewelry (made by African artisans) for the females in your life. Anything you buy has a positive social impact in Africa and other countries that WE.org works in (including Canada, because they are Canadian!), and that specific impact can be tracked online so you can see your contribution in action. I love this organization so much and did some work with them at my old company. I buy a couple goats and/or a year’s worth of school lunches for a child in need on behalf of my family every year, and like donating at this time of year because they usually multiply your impact. Check it out!

3. COZY CLOTHING

Bring some hygge into your loved ones’ lives! Men, women, children. Everyone likes to be cozy! And the good news is that you can usually get things like this all in one department store – like Nordstrom or The Bay – or a boutique type shop. Boom. (Some even offer that you can buy online and pick up in-store! Nordstrom is one of those and their holiday slogan is “we got you.” So you know everything’s going to be okay!)

Sweaters

I recently spent some time chatting about cozy clothes with Anita Dunn, a new friend who owns a really great boutique in New Westminster called Mila & Paige. She has a lot of fab hygge pieces in her shop, and when I asked her what her favourite cozy items were, turns out I was already trying one of them on (an oversized blue knit pullover).

But then she rocked my world with a kimono style cardigan and a very soft and cushy ivory coloured piece that I could have fallen asleep in – so soft! All of them are by a Vancouver-based company called Gentle Fawn.

I also really love a lululemon Scuba hoodie and any of their wrap sweaters. The men’s hoodie options are also really nice. They also last a long time, so that’s a bonus!

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]‘Tis the Season Tip – If they offer free gift wrapping, say yes! Otherwise, gift bags and tissue paper are your friend![/perfectpullquote]

Winter Accessories

Toques. Gloves. Mittens. Scarves. It’s winter. At least, it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In my experience, these things are always welcome.

I’m a scarf girl. When I travel, I always bring a blanket scarf (like this one from Aritzia – I love mine!) to keep warm on the plane, and if I’m going to Scotland, a light toque and thin gloves are also tucked into my suitcase. (Yes, even in the summer. It’s a cold and rainy place for most of the year!)

There are subtle, practical, and fun options out there, so just know who you’re buying for.

• Women: Aritzia / Nordstrom / The Bay / Orb Clothing
• Men: The Bay / Nordstrom / lululemon
• Kids: The Bay / Nordstrom / lululemon

Pajamas/Lounge Wear

Christmas PJ’s are the best! Flannel, bamboo or merino wool are the best fabrics to be cozy in. Check out Nordstrom,  and American Eagle.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]#GetThrifty – It’s obviously not Boxing Day yet, but many things are on sale right now. But remember to buy with purpose not ‘sale eyes’! Very important: MAKE A LIST![/perfectpullquote]

Socks/Slippers

I LOVE getting socks for Christmas, and my mum gives the best ones. (One year, she didn’t get me socks, but gave my then partner some. I was devastated. Ridiculous, I know.) Socks are the best kind of stocking stuffer presents!

My favourite sock brands:

• Darn Tough – This Vermont-based company guarantees their socks for life. So if you need to replace a pair, they will do that for free! My friends at Tilley Vancouver sell them and their women’s options are made with merino wool. (Use code WCCGTV205 for 25% off at tilleyvancouver.com!)
• Friday Sock Co. – Calgary based and ethically made. They have perfectly mismatched patterns and are made with lovely and soft cotton yarn. Super cute options for both adults and children.

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A post shared by Friday Socks Mismatched Socks (@fridaysockco)

• Blue Sky Clothing – Vancouver-based and ethically made. Their bamboo socks are heaven. They have men’s and women’s options.

As for slippers, the Brit bought me a pair of warm and toasty wool and suede slippers for my birthday from the Sunshine Coast Slipper Factory. I love them and my feet will never be cold!

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]‘Tis the Season Tip – If none of the above works for the kids in your life, check out this great list from my friend Stefanie at broadworld.co![/perfectpullquote]

At the end of the day, it’s the thought that counts. You’ve got this. When all else fails, buy that goat!

*Photos by Jessica Glass.

** Thank you to Anita at Mila & Paige for letting us use her shop for some photos. 

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“Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values.”

Thomas S. Monson