Without fail, this ends up being my most popular post of the year – and for good reason. It’s a huge gift guide packed with amazing gift ideas for women you can buy in Canada. And, as per tradition, I’m giving away everything I am featuring in this post. Interested? Read on to check out some of my top gift ideas for 2016 for women!
Joe Fresh Holiday Collection: Embellished Dress – $49, Woven Jogger Pant – $39, Lace Hem Sweater Dress – $39
I was so hard-pressed to pick a favourite item at Joe Fresh this season, so I landed on three of ’em – but really, they’ve outdone themselves this year with their luxe, sparkly line! With Miranda Kerr as the brand’s face for this year’s holiday collection, there are dozens of fun pieces that are perfect for partying (like the shimmery jogger pants above, also available in black), brunches with friends (hello lace-trimmed sweater dress) and even day-to-night looks for that hustle and bustle holiday schedule.
PosterJack Custom Gifts – From $3.29
Nothing feels better than a gift from the heart – and PosterJack is here to make it a breeze to turn your photos into truly unique one-of-a-kind products. Naturally, the most basic item of them all is a photo print, but what caught my eye were all the unique applications PosterJack offers. You can create custom multi-panel canvases, print on unique fabrications like metal, wood, or acrylic, and even get a framed version of your photo. Best of all, it’s all done in three simple steps: Select the product, choose the size, and upload your photo. There’s still time to order your custom photo gifts before Christmas – so jump on it! Gift her a favourite memory of the year together, or a look back at some important milestones, like a wedding or first year of mother. The options are endless!
Lonely Planet’s The Travel Book – $70
Think of this as a new school atlas. Only, instead of gazing at maps, you’re getting an inside look at what it’s like to travel to every country in the (United Nations-approved) world. Spoiler alert: We live on a great, big, beautiful planet. With spectacular photos, each country is given a two-page(ish) overview of top things to see, cool stats, and other tidbits. What’s particularly cool is the way the book is arranged alphabetically. If you read it that way, you’ll bounce between far-flung nations with wholly different cultures and climates. The result is a breathtaking coffee table book that’ll have you itching to book your next vacation.
Saint Sinner Clutch – $59.90 @ Express
Finally, a fashion accessory that’s ready to indulge in both your naughty and nice sides. This playful lucite clutch is a must-have accessory for NYE (and beyond). Featuring dual glittery messages in both silver and gold, you can flip it around to match your outfit – or your mood. With enough room inside to easily tuck your phone, lip gloss, and credit card, it’s a cheeky pick that’ll have everyone asking where you got it!
Deck the Halls Gift – $149 @ Lush
I’m relatively confident that 99% of women would flip out if they saw this decadent tub of treats sitting under their tree come Christmas. Lush’s wrapped gifts are perennially covetable – and this awesome collection is ideal for any lady that likes to lounge in the bath. Jam-packed with a dozen soaps, bubble bars, and bath bombs, plus other goodies for your skin and showers, you’ll find a perfect mix of classic Lush holiday favourites and new products all in one neat little (er, big) package. A wonderful gift for the lifelong Lush fan – or to introduce a woman to her new obsession.
Kate Spade New York Earbuds – $69.99 @ Bell
Leave it to the queens of cute at Kate Spade to make an everyday gadget – earbuds! – into a way chic fashion accessory. These petite earbuds come in two variations – Aquamarine / Gold (pictured above) and Crystal / Rose Gold. Both iterations come with an inlaid sparkly stone that brings new meaning to the term ‘ear candy’. With sharp sound and an even chicer look, its a subtle little way to add fun to her favourite tech.
Bend Beauty Anti-Aging Formula – $80 @ Thermae
Ah bliss. That’s pretty much what you’ll say every time you slather on this potent anti-aging formula, which is technically a digestible product to help you glow from the inside out. With six powerful active ingredients, you’ll be wowed by the product’s ability to turn back the clock. Plus, in a breakthrough clinical trial, users built up a higher resistance to UV rays by 83%. You can pick up this and tons of other get glowing and gorgeous gift ideas from Thermae, a Calgary-based cosmetic skincare clinic that tailors skincare programs to nurse your skin back to health, at any age. Consider picking up a few products from them this holiday season – and booking a consultation for a loved one while you’re at it!
Kuraidori Induction Cooker – $99.97 @ Home Hardware
For the chef in the house comes this very handy big meal lifesaver! Mimicking the power of an induction stovetop, this portable single burner has multiple functions to let you steam, simmer, or boil your food. It’s a must-have when making a multi-course meal where every burner on your stove is gobbled up, but it’s also great for bringing dishes best served warm to the dinner table. This ain’t your college dorm room hot plate my friends – this efficient little home appliance is also great for when you don’t want to waste energy by using the entire stove, plus it’s made for easy cleanup.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Artistic Brush Set – $103 @ Sephora
Any makeup artist will tell you: You’re only as good as your tools. Given that MAKE UP FOR EVER is a brand created by and beloved by makeup artists, it’s no wonder their brushes are held in such high regard. Having used some of their brushes myself for many years, I have to say that with proper care, they hold up beautifully. This luxury four-piece set contains four essential brushes: Foundation, Highlighter, Concealer, and Correctional. Learn to wield them properly and you’ll have a flawless face in no time. With sturdy wood handles and whisper soft bristles, this travel-friendly case of petite-sized makeup brushes is great for makeup mavens looking to upgrade their collection.
Ayla Bamboo Gloves – $26
And another Canadian-made gift idea for you this season! Ayla Gloves is a Vancouver-based brand that specializes in crafting gorgeous fingerless gloves from eco-friendly bamboo fabric. Way soft and way warm, these chic gloves come in a huge range of colours and prints, as well as different lengths and cuts to suit your needs. Ideal for texting whilst walking the dog, or simply keeping your arms warm in an overly air conditioned office, these sweet gloves make wonderful gifts for your BFFs, or even stocking stuffers. Available online and at a range of independent retailers across North America, including Favourite Gifts in Lower Lonsdale, Art Mania in West Vancouver, Granville Island Hattery, Maclaren Art Gallery in Barrie, Ontario, Sage n’Smudge in North Carolina, and Weeds n’ Glass in Yaletown.
Quo by ORLY Perfectly Painted Collection – $35 @ Shoppers Drug Mart
Talk about reinventing the definition of a bucket of paint! This adorable collection of pint-sized polishes proves that amazing holiday gifts don’t have to break the bank. With 12 stunning shades to choose from ranging from classic rich reds to avant garde metallics to glittering shades of silver and red, there’s a shade in here for every month of the year. Or more realistically, a new shade to try out every week you give yourself a manicure! The small bottles are an optimal way to try as many fashiony shades before they go stale too – so smart!
Santa Baby Tea Collection – $28 + Ski Mouse Colour Changing Nordic Mug – $23
I don’t know about you, but sipping on tea on Christmas morning is pretty heavenly. So why not get the lady in your life one step closer to bliss by including a gift set of DAVIDsTEA amongst their gifts (you have plenty to choose from if this nine-pack doesn’t suit). Of course, to help her make the perfect cuppa Apple Strudel or English Toffee tea, you’ll want to get the perfect tea mug. I *swear* by them my friends – these all-in-one looseleaf tea diffusers come with a handy lid to lock in warmth while it’s steeping, while doubling as a place to let your infuser drain when you’re ready to imbibe. Plus, they’ve got plenty of cool colour-changing variations for a special surprise!
MizDragonfly Cuffs – $125 each
Make a serious fashion statement with a bold cuff from Canadian brand MizDragonfly. This cult fave is perhaps best known for their uber cool cuff bracelets, inspired by Wonder Woman but since applied to a range of pop culture heroes. With multiple options available for art scene icons like David Bowie, Prince, and Marilyn Monroe, plus other cool pieces of chunky superhero-esque jewelry, you’ll have no trouble finding her new favourite jewelry piece. Best of all, you’re supporting Canadian business. What’s not to love?
Hoover Cruise – $249.99 @ London Drugs, Best Buy Canada, Amazon.ca, and Business Depot
Give the gift of way more time and way less stress with this multi-tasking cleaning tool from Hoover. Ultra lightweight and adaptable, the Hoover Cruise weighs less than five pounds and offers cordless freedom. Hallelujah right? Even better – it can be used multiple ways. Take it for a spin on your carpets and hardwoods, use the extendable arm to reach hard to get high up or tight spaces, or detach it for an easy-to-use handheld unit to clean away pet hair or under the sofa. Clean has never been easier: a simple press of a button releases a dirt cup for hands-free disposal. Genius, from top to bottom!
WonderBra Meant to Be Seen Bra – $48 @ Hudson’s Bay
It makes sense that one of the best-known bra brands in the world would constantly be innovating. With a sleek and smooth profile, this lace-trimmed bra looks as good as it feels. And honestly? It’s actually designed to work with your body in more ways than one. The Meant to Be Seen Bra is made with the brand’s unique X-temp feature, which adapts to your skin’s temperature for total comfort. With WonderBra’s legendary fit, she’ll want to pick one up in every colour after trying one out as a gift!
DENY Designs Art Prints + Hangers – From $49 USD
Add a little artistic flair to any woman’s life with one of these amazing works of art, crafted by talented designers and artisans all over the world! In fact, DENY Designs specializes in handcrafting art printed goods to order right in the good ol’ US of A (which equals lower duties thanks to being NAFTA-friendly), with a portion of proceeds going back to support the artists behind the prints. I’ve highlighted the Art Prints + Hangers above because A) they’re new and B) they’re awesome. You can get them in a huge range of sizes to suit whatever wall space you’ve got, from 8 x 10″ to 40 x 60″! With whimsical designs, fun sayings, abstract minimalist designs and more, there’s a DENY Designs style for every room in your house. Be sure to check out their other products, like vibrant duvet covers or even art-printed furniture!
So…as promised, I am giving away every single thing I wrote about in this post. That’s crazy right? One lucky lady (or her lad, I suppose) will be showered with nearly $1,800 worth of prizes if you win, including:
$100 Joe Fresh Gift Card
$100 PosterJack Gift Card
The Travel Book
Saint Sinner Clutch
Lush ‘Deck the Halls’ Gift
Kate Spade New York Earbuds
Bend Beauty Anti-Aging Formula
Kuraidori Stovetop
MAKE UP FOR EVER Artistic Brush Set
Ayla Gloves Mini Glove Wardrobe
Quo by ORLY Perfectly Painted Collection
MizDragonfly Cuff Bracelet
Hoover Cruise
WonderBra Meant to Be Seen Bra
DENY Designs Hanging Art Print (Your choice of size!)
I honestly feel my heart skip a beat every time I write this post and see what amazing gifts I’ve rounded up – and am so excited to give away. Want a chance at winning EVERYTHING? Here’s how to enter:
1) First off! You must be a Canadian Gift Guide subscriber to enter this giveaway. Just find the ‘Gift of Gab’ box on the righthand side of this page and either hit ‘Follow’ or enter your email address. Once you’ve done that, leave me a comment by December 29, 2016 telling me your three favourite gift ideas for her featured in this post!
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 30, 2016 to select the winner(s), who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry Opportunities:
Follow Joe Fresh on Twitter and send out a Tweet that links back to this post and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide). Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Follow PosterJack on Twitter and send out a Tweet that links back to this post and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide). Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Follow Raincoast Books on Instagram and either regram one of their photos or share a photo of The Travel Book onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them! Link back to your photo in a separate comment below.
Follow Express on Instagram and either regram one of their photos or share a photo of your favourite gift idea from their site onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them! Link back to your photo in a separate comment below.
Follow Lush on Twitter and send out a Tweet that links back to this post and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide). Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Follow Erikson on Twitter for the latest news on their electronics brands and send out a Tweet that links back to this post and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide). Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Follow Thermae on Twitter and send out a Tweet that links back to this post and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide). Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Follow Home Hardware on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway, tagging me (@cdngiftguide) and them and linking back to this post. Be sure to leave a separate comment below that links to your Tweet!
Follow Ayla Gloves on Instagram and either regram one of their photos or share a photo of your fave pair of their gloves onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them! Link back to your photo in a separate comment below.
Follow ShopprsDrugMart on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway, tagging me (@cdngiftguide), using the #QuoCosmetics and linking back to this post. Be sure to leave a separate comment below that links to your Tweet!
Follow MizDragonfly on Instagram and either regram one of their photos or share a photo of your favourite cuff from their site onto your own Instagram, using the #winmizdragonfly. Be sure to tag them! Link back to your photo in a separate comment below.
Follow Hoover on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway, tagging me (@cdngiftguide) and them and linking back to this post. Be sure to leave a separate comment below that links to your Tweet!
Follow WonderBra on Instagram and either regram one of their photos or share a photo of your fave bra of theirs onto your own Instagram. Be sure to tag them AND use the #bewonderful! Link back to your photo in a separate comment below.
You may have noticed this post’s close date goes a bit longer than some of my other giveaways – keep your eyes out for bonus entry opportunities peeps!