By Rebecca McKillican & Erin Young, Well.ca CEO & CMO
Let’s face it, the holidays are a stressful time. As much as we aspire to get ahead every year, we often end up scrambling at the last minute. To beat the last-minute panic this year, we’re both aiming to do all of our holiday shopping online, mostly from Well.ca.
We are constantly trading ideas for great gifts! Here are a few of our top holiday gift giving tips as well as some of our favourite gifts this year. Check our all of our Holiday Picks here:
Tip #1: Make the Ordinary Extraordinary
Don’t drive yourself crazy trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to checking off your gift list. Instead, get them what they really want (and actually need) by taking an everyday item and gifting a special version of it!
1. S’well Bottle
We know, we know…we all have cupboards full of water bottles that never get used. But we promise that this one will be different! Not only do S’well Bottles look amazing, they actually work, keeping beverages cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. Plus, with a huge assortment of S’well bottles available at Well.ca, you’re sure to find the perfect colour or design for anyone on your list.
2. Moleskine Notebook
This is the classic notebook high-quality notebook, beloved by writers, business types, artists, travellers, and everyone in between. It’s a practical gift that everyone will love getting – why not give a twist on the classic with a fun color like teal?
3. EOS lip balm
Who doesn’t love (and need) lip balm? This EOS kit comes has three great flavours and comes with gem stickers to make your lip balm even more special!
Tip #2: Invest in Quality Toys That Will Grow With Kids
Rebecca has two kids aged 3 and 18 months and Erin has three, aged 5, 3 and 6 months. We love toys that are durable and that can be passed from child to child as they grow — or, even better, toys that can be enjoyed by kids of multiple ages all at once!
1. Melissa & Doug Chore Chart and Let’s Play House! Set
We’re both on a bit of a chore kick with our kids at the moment. Recent studies have shown that children who start doing household chores at ages 3 or 4 are more well-adjusted, have better relationships with friends, and are more successful in their careers. Plus, who doesn’t love it when the kids pitch in? This year, we’re enlisting a little bit of help from our best-selling toy brand Melissa & Doug to help everyone get on board with chore time at home.
2. Tegu Magnetic Block Sets
These award-winning building systems combine the timelessness of wood toys with the magic of magnets! Made of durable, sustainably sourced Central American hardwoods, these are great toys that will be enjoyed for years. Both Rebecca’s 18 month old Jack and Erin’s 5 year old Alex will be finding some Tegu under the tree this year!
3. Hape All Season House
Hape Toys makes high-quality toys, primarily made of wood. Both of us own several Hape toys, and we love that they’re creatively designed, eco-friendly, and totally safe our kids. This year, our 3 year old daughters Victoria and Madeleine will both be getting this dollhouse. We love that it comes fully furnished (one less thing to worry about!) and we’re sure it will be a favourite for years to come.
Tip #3: Share Your Favourite Things
Oprah has her list of “favourite things” every year, and you can too! We’re constantly asked by friends and family about what’s new and hot, and this year we’ll be taking our cue from Oprah and sharing some of the things we’ve loved most in the past year.
1. NOW Foods Essential Oil Kits & Aromatherapy Diffuser
Essential Oils are one of the fastest growing categories Well.ca, and we’ve both been experimenting with DIY aromatherapy, bath & body, and house & home recipes using essential oils (check out some of our favourite recipes here). This year, we’ll be sharing the essential oil love by pairing a gorgeous diffuser with one of these NOW Essential Oil kits for the perfect aromatherapy starter gift.
2. The Honest Company Baby Basics Gift Set
We were so excited to launch Jessica Alba’s Honest Company into Canada earlier this year. If you’re not already familiar, it’s an amazing line of eco-friendly baby, home, and personal care products that’s super popular stateside — we especially love the adorable prints on the diapers! This gift set is full of some of their most popular products and is the perfect way to introduce the brand to a new mom
Tip #4: Stock Up on Teacher & Hostess Gifts
We’ve all been there, but who actually wants to be the person frantically running around trying to find a gift right before a dinner party or on the last day of school? One of our tried and tested tips for holiday gifting is to stock up on these gifts early in the season, all in the ~$20 range.
1. Wildly Delicious Infused Balsamic Vinegar Trio
This trio of delicious infused balsamic vinegars is perfect for the foodie on your list. Wildly Delicious is a great Canadian brand and we both stock our pantries with their great cooking sauces and jams.
2. Pacifica Mini Body Butter Collection
Pacifica makes the most gorgeous gift sets. We love that the products are all green & natural, plant-based, and smell amazing. Plus, they come in gorgeous packaging that’s so pretty you don’t even have to wrap it! This body butter set is a great teacher’s gift.
3. Fraktals Handmade Chocolate Cashew Buttercrunch Gift Box
Words cannot even describe how delicious these are. When we have samples in the office, they ar gone in seconds flat. They’re a gift that everyone will love. Take our word, just buy them!
Tip #5: Make the Stocking Special
The stocking is the best part of Christmas! It is the first thing the kids open, and who doesn’t love discovering all the little treats and treasures within? At Well.ca, we’re all about making your stocking stuffing easier with over 1000 perfect stocking stuffers, with curated lists for every member of the family. These are a few of our personal faves, but don’t forget to check out the full list here.
1. Crocodile Creek Sleepy Owl Mini Floor Puzzle
These floor puzzles are beautifully designed and fun to work on with your kids. They’re also great for travelling (perfect for holiday trips out of town!) because of their small size.
2. Plan Toys Duck Racer
As moms of little ones, we know that finding the right stocking stuffers for babies can be a tough task. This small wooden toy is safe, fun, and perfect for little hands to hold.
3. Be Delectable by Cake Beauty Daily Dry Oil
When we met with Cake Beauty founder Heather a few weeks ago, she gave us some of her favourite product to try and we’re officially hooked! This dry body oil smells like sugar and cream and moisturizes without a hint of greasiness. We don’t want to spoil any holiday surprises, but our moms and sisters/sister-in-laws might just be finding these in their stockings on Christmas morning!
The post Rebecca & Erin’s Holiday Gift Giving Tips appeared first on Well.ca Blog.