HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
In the spirit of the season, here are some suggestions for last-minute gift purchases
If you’re anything like me — that is, a chronic procrastinator — you like to wait until the last minute to do, well, anything.
But just because you’re what I like to call “deadline-oriented” when it comes to getting your holiday shopping done doesn’t mean it has to be any more stressful — or any less meaningful, for that matter — than it is for people who start their gift buying in January. Who
are those people, anyway? With just days left before Christmas, here are some gift suggestions for everyone from food lovers and fashionistas to fitness fanatics and the person who has, well, everything. FOR HER Beauty aficionados are the easiest to buy for because there is always a new must-try product out on the market for them. Case in point: the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
($500). With intelligent heat control that measures air temperature 20 times a second and airflow that travels at 105 miles per hour for fast, precise drying, the hair dryer is quickly becoming a legend in the beauty community — not to mention the fact that it comes in a super cute box. Available at Sephora and Hudson’s Bay.
A subscription to FabFitFun is another great bet when it comes to the beauty-product-inclined. Every box includes more than $200 worth of products delivered right to your door for only US$50, plus shipping. There is also an annual subscription plan that allows members to get four seasonal boxes for US$180 a year, plus shipping. Each box comes with eight to 10 full-size products that span fashion, beauty, fitness, and more. A subscription to the service is available at fabfitfun.com.
Smith Farms products like the Vitamin Rich Hand Cream ($20) — great for Canadian winters and lightly scented with lavender and peppermint essential oil — make for great stocking stuffers. The cream comes in a nice box with the story of the farm on the back, a note from the founders, and a natural list of ingredients. The threepack of their Shea Butter Lip Balm ($12) is another popular seller, and is made from an ultra-rich formula that protects and heals dry, chapped lips. Smith Farms also has an array of gift sets, including one that contains both the cream and lip balm for $20. Available at Bio Terre, Fleur Sauvage Aliments Naturels and Vert Essentiel, among others. As for men (with facial hair) who like to look their best, Jack Black
Beard Oil ($28) can help them achieve a healthy looking beard — and put an end to the flaky, itchy skin beneath it — with a blend of organic natural oils, powerful antioxidants and vitamins. Marula oil, which is rich in fatty acids, offers fast-absorbing hydration while plum oil softens brittle and dry facial hair, which helps with control and shine. Available at Sephora and Hudson’s Bay.
Health and wellness types are in for a treat this year, as there is a virtual cornucopia of products and services aimed at keeping them healthy and happy. A subscription to Men’s Health magazine, which is available for one year (10 issues) for US$15, plus shipping, or for two years (20 issues) for US$20, plus shipping, is a great choice for men who are interested in health, nutrition and fitness and can easily be ordered at menshealth.com.
A gift certificate for an ayurvedic treatment such as Shirodhara ($105) at Espace Ayurvéda, which consists of a continuous stream of hot oil being poured over the width of the forehead to help calm mental activity and establish a deep state of relaxation, is an interesting choice. A soothing head and face massage precedes the treatment.
Consider giving yourself a gift certificate (or, in true holiday spirit, pass it on to someone else) when buying a gift card for $125 or more by Jan. 15, 2018, at Spa Eastman. The gift card can be used for anything from massages to facials and hair removal and the Destination-les-Bains gift certificate has a value of $69, and includes unlimited access to the outdoor hot tubs, saunas, hammam and polar bath as well as the gym and 15 kilometres of trails. This offer is valid at Spa Eastman in Montreal or the Eastern Townships.
Located in the heart of the Eastern Townships, the Bleu Lavande farm is an experience in itself and can be offered as a gift in the form of a tour, massage or bistro meal, or via one of their best-selling products, such as the lavenderpatchouli body soap ($9), linen water ($18), room spray ($20), hand soap/hand cream duo ($35), or diffuser/essential oil duo ($85). The products can be purchased onsite as well as at a variety of pharmacies, such as Jean Coutu and Pharmaprix, in and around Montreal.
FOOD & DRINK LOVERS
Foodies who are fans of celebrity
chef Chuck Hughes will surely appreciate one of his staple products, such as My Woodsman’s Canada Grade A Maple Syrup ($15), My Greek Landlord’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($17), and My Mild Holy Hot Sauce ($8), or a gift certificate to one of his restaurants: Garde Manger or Le Bremner. Both the products and gift certificates are available at Garde Manger. The foodstuffs can be purchased at Hudson’s Bay as well.
For cheese lovers, there are a variety of specialty cheeses at La
fromagerie Hamel, including Pic Amour, which is coated with a blend of blueberries and cranberries that have been soaked in Sortilège for $60/kg; Stilton au porto, which is a holiday classic and is aged in port for four to five weeks for $60/kg; and Comté 3 ans, which is only available a few times a year and costs $76/kg.
Coffee connoisseurs will enjoy 49th Parallel coffee beans available at Café Myriade, from $18 to $20 a bag; 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters, which is located in Vancouver, B.C., establishes relationships with producers in coffee-growing nations to improve the quality of coffee and pay a premium above fair-trade prices, making it both delicious and good for the planet. An Avanti Capri Espresso Machine for $460 or an Avanti Bari Coffee Grinder for $290 from Boutique Espresso Mali would be a great accompaniment.
Gourmet doughnuts from
Léché Desserts ($18.50 for six and $30 for 12) are sure to please anyone with a sweet tooth, and are available in festive flavours like hazelnut cream, peppermint hot chocolate, white chocolate mousse, and tiramisu. There’s even a convenient delivery option.
As for those who enjoy a nice bourbon after a delicious meal, the SAQ offers a wide variety, including Knob Creek Kentucky straight bourbon ($46.25), Bulleit bourbon that has been aged for 10 years ($50), and Maker’s 46 Kentucky bourbon ($63.25).
Cheers to that!
After all that eating and drinking, fitness fanatics will go head over heels, quite literally, for Equilibrium Yoga, which offers a variety of classes (including kundalini and hatha) that start at $10 a class. Any denomination of gift card is available, and cards can also be purchased for specific packages (including five, 10 or 20 class passes) or specific periods.
A gift certificate for Ballet Hop! is a great opportunity to unleash your inner Karen Kain and can be used in exchange for classes or the shop, where items like ballet shoes are available. Get one class for $22; six for $120; 12 for $216; 26 for $442; or 38 for $608, plus tax.
The Sensoria Smart Running
Shoe is currently available for pre-order online, for US$99. The shoe, which helps runners improve their form and increase performance thanks to an AI coach that understands where and how they run, also provides real-time audio and visual feedback. Check sensoriafitness.com.
Fans of Carrie Bradshaw, on the other hand, will appreciate a different kind of (high-heeled) shoe: Manolos! Manolo Blahnik shoes are available at Holt Renfrew for a variety of prices.
Fashionable gents will be pleased with most anything from Clark Street Mercantile, a menswear boutique in Mile End. Suggested items include: the $40 Mohair
Watch Cap by Clark Street Mercantile, which is made in Montreal with a wool/mohair blend knit; the super-soft $165 Covilha Flannel
Shirt by Portuguese Flannel, a fourth-generation fabric manufacturer in Porto, Northern Portugal; and the Winter Down Parka by Quartz Co + Clark Street Mercantile for $895, which is designed to cover a sport jacket and is made in Quebec.
TECHIE TYPES
Busy people on the go can’t get enough of the Google Home and
Google Home Mini, making it a safe bet for most anyone, really. The helpful voice-activated smarthome personal assistant/speaker that’s available in two sizes is powered by Google Assistant and gives users hands-free control of their smarthome, answers questions, helps them stay organized and much, much more. Available at Best Buy for $180 and $80, respectively.
Techies will enjoy Bose QuietComfort 35 II Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
($450) that are designed to keep amazing audio and virtual assistance at their disposal with built-in Google Assistant, and the
GoPro Karma Drone with Controller & HERO6 ($1,600) which is designed to give users full control of the action camera during flight, making it both fun and easy. Available at Best Buy.
PERSONAL PASSIONS
As for book lovers and cinephiles, they might be tempted by one of
Rupi Kaur’s releases, such as Milk and Honey ($20) or The Sun and Her Flowers ($20), which are both available at Indigo, or a movie card for the Cinéma du Parc or Cinéma Beaubien. Get a movie card for either theatre that includes admission to six films for one person for $54, instead of $60.
Canadian Tire has a variety of options for motorheads, mechanics and the like, such as the AutoTrends 10,000 mAh Power
Bank ($71), which recharges a device multiple times with a single charge and comes with dual charging ports so you can help a friend, too; the Coast PS400 LED
Flashlight ($40), a high-powered light source for the home, vehicle, or work site; the Worx Pegasus Worktable & Sawhorse ($200); and the ProStart 1-Way Remote Starter ($80), which helps you start your engine remotely with the push of a button.
Aspiring horticulturalists will appreciate the residential plant design service ($90) from Vertuose, which has a team of specialized designers to help people integrate plants and flowers into their home environment.
For amateur astrologists (or just the curious-minded), there is The Year Ahead for Your Sign, by Chani Nicholas. The online course explores how the astrology of 2018 will affect a given sign, key dates to work with, and the major themes of the year. A link to the package will be emailed to recipients by Dec. 23. The package costs US$40 (USD) and is available for order on chaninicholas.com.
Finally, give the gift of opportunity with a Kiva card ($25), which gives someone the chance to lend money to a borrower who inspires them. When that loan is repaid, they can lend those funds over and over again to make an even bigger difference. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving. More info at kiva.org.