Every year I put together a few gift guides with ideas for specific people on your holiday shopping list, but I always find myself wanting items from each list, even if I don’t formally fall under its exact title category. With that in mind, this year I’ve put together one big guide for everyone on your list so there’s no need to switch between lists/posts!
I’m dividing this guide into categories based on The Five Gift Rule: Something they WANT, Something they NEED, Something to EAT (or drink), Something to WEAR, Something to READ.
Happy shopping, little elves!
Something They WANT: Everything Luxe
Just like she says in Love Actually: “I don’t want something I need. I want something I want – something pretty.” Well, here is the list of everything gorgeous to gift this year!
All That Glitters
I’m a huge fan of Canadian-based brand Hillberg & Berk. Their Sparkle Ball Stud Earrings are a staple in my jewellery drawer as I really love the simple things in this department. This year they’ve released a Holiday Gift Box that features five pairs of earrings that includes hoops, studs and special editions, each in a gorgeous velvet box. This set is amazing as one big gift or split it up to gift five people on your list!
Luxe Beauty Sets & Tools
Every year I anxiously await to see what amazing sets and limited edition products my favourite beauty brands are going to release – and I’m never disappointed. Here’s what I’m coveting this year:
Every year I include a grouping of Charlotte Tilbury items and it’s because I love love love them. This year I am loving their Pillow Talk Lip Secrets set (a perennial fave!) and I’m also loving this new Pillow Talk On the Go set, which I plan to gift to a few on my list! I definitely want to pick up this Super Nudes Nudegasm Bronze, Sculpt & Glow Face Palette for myself, too! Looking for a great stocking stuffer? A classic lipstick like this Limitless Lucky Lips is always great. Want a big splurge? This limited edition Pillow Talk Dreams Come True set is a sure-fire winner!
Luxe Body Treatments: I live in an incredibly dry climate and so being able to take advantage of the intense moisture that comes from MoroccanOil products is a welcomed treat! I personally love their Body Polishing Scrub and Body Soufflé! These products are SO gift-able to anyone on your list and make amazing stocking stuffers, too! They’d definitely be the most coveted items at a White Elephant exchange, too!
Splurge worthy: Dyson Hair Tools: I have the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and it is every bit as amazing as you think it is….but that means I know I’ll love their Corrale Hair Straightener and Airwrap Styler as well. Each holiday season, Dyson comes out with limited edition colours (shown above) with extras found in their gift sets, too! This is a can’t miss time to treat yourself, too!
Creative Stocking Stuffers
Sometimes you want to splurge but you don’t know which direction to go. Here are a few other luxe gifts worth giving this year:
Drybar Products & Tools: Drybar is one of my favorite hair brands – their products have such clever names and I love their styling tools and brushes, especially for travel. These gifts are luxe and easy to slip into a stocking! Be sure to check out their holiday bundles, too!
Paris Jewellers Star Wars Collection: I love when something whimsical can be done right! I know themed jewellery can often seem a little tacky, but these Star Wars jewellery pieces are honestly gorgeous. I recommend the Grogu Pendant with its .13 CW diamonds and probably the coolest packaging ever (the box lights up!).
Fresh Lip Balms: You’ve probably seen lip products from Fresh on my holiday gift lists year after year but that’s because I love them. They are a staple for me but they’re a little spendy for some, which is why I always list them as a splurge-worthy gift. My favourite thing about Fresh is that they always offer up amazing holiday gift sets, too.
Something They NEED: Comfort & Rest
Whenever I try to buy something for someone that they need, I try and think of the nicest version of that item. Although it’s something that they need, I want to splurge on that need item with something that they might want in that category, but not treat themselves to. This year’s “need” list is full of items that are sure to make your loved ones feel comfort and joy!
Splurge on Sleep
A great sleep isn’t exactly something you can gift to someone but you can definitely give them some of the essentials to have a wonderful sleep! Here are some of my absolute faves that we have in our house that have us sleeping soundly!
Endy Matterss & Bedding: I know splurging on the gift of a mattress is a big spend, but if you can afford it, I highly recommend Endy. We are absolutely in love with our mattress and sleep really well every night (and nap!). This might be a good “couples gift” idea, by which I mean that often rather than gift each other things like clothes or jewellery or other small items, couples will splurge on something like this for themselves together! I should mention that we also love our Endy bedding, too, so if a mattress is a budget buster, new bedding and pillows like this can make a world of difference! Click this link and use code STYLEDTOSPARKLE10 until December 7th for 10% off their entire sleep collection!
Bearaby Cotton Napper: Not everyone likes to dive under the covers of their bed for a nap. Many prefer the comforts of a blanket – and this weighted blanked, the Bearaby Napper is amazing for those on your list! I love how many colours this blanket comes in and at 15lbs, it is certainly weighted, which should make for a more sound sleep. What I love about it is that it still looks stylish over the side of a sofa or draped across the foot of your bed!
SmartSilk Bedding: I know I love to talk about bedding but it’s because it makes an amazing gift. Something I like about SmartSilk is that they offer great pet and crib bedding for little ones – i.e. all my kiddos are covered! I love that everything is organic which is something that is really important to me for gifting for my little ones and for the little + furry ones of others!
Gift Comfort & Calm
I’m an incredibly busy human and I know I’m not alone in that department, but something that I find to be a little bit of awesome through the day are a few luxe wellness items that I now don’t want to live without!
Saje Wellness Products: Although I could recommend so many things from Saje for you to gift this season, I have a few faves. If you’re looking to splurge a little, I would go for a cordless diffuser with a few nice oils. I’m also a huge fan of their pocket pharmacies: Physical Edition, especially, and I actually take this little set of oils with me every time I travel. It offers natural remedies for anything that may ail me! I am also a huge fan of their bath soaks, particularly the Unwind. My recommendation: pop into one of their stores and discover the product lineup for yourself, too!
Something to EAT: Drink & Be Merry
The holiday season is definitely a time to eat, drink and be merry and I’m hoping that some of these suggested gifts are exactly what you’re looking for this year. Some of these make excellent stocking stuffers, others are amazing host/hostess gifts and others you might want to gift yourself…or you know, to have on hand in case someone stops by!
All The Tasty Treats
I am someone that loves to indulge in tasty treats over the holidays and I’ve found some really, really yummy ones to share with you this year! I am a huge popcorn lover and have to carefully ration myself when I open a bag of EATABLE Wine & Spirits-Infused Popcorn. I am definitely more of a savoury treat lover, but when I do go sweet, these salted caramels from Hummingbird Chocolate are incredible! These are also both Canadian brands and of course they make great stocking stuffers, too!
Everything For a Fancy Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is undoubtedly my current favourite cocktail and bar go-to but rather than make it the same way every time, I like to mix it up a bit (pun definitely intended). I like to use maple syrup instead of sugar and these Barrel-Infused Maple Syrups from Wabanaki Maple Syrups are fantastic; plus they come in super cute bottles for gifting. I also love to switch up the flavour profiles a little which is why I’m loving these Craft Bitters from Middleton’s Bitters; they also come with droppers so they’re easier to measure and less messy than traditional bitters bottles.
It’s also important to consider those who may love a good cocktail but aren’t partaking in spirits this holiday season (or ever). For those on your list, I highly recommend Monday Spirits. This non-alcoholic spirits company offers a non-alcoholic gin and non-alcoholic whiskey – both in gorgeous art-deco style labeled bottles that look great on the bar cabinet!
P.S. Click here for some great Old Fashioned Recipes!
Limited Edition Scotch Whisky
Scotch Whisky is one of those gifts that I love to gift to members of my family over the holidays and something I always try to find is something that is limited edition or a small-batch run because they’re extra special. This year, Glenfiddich has released Glenfiddich Grand Cru, a 23-year-old expression, exquisitely finished in rare French cuvée casks. To quote: “Daring and unexpected, Grand Cru encapsulates the very spirit of luxury and craftsmanship of Glenfiddich while surpassing the very notion of Single Malt Whisky. Created for the whisky non-conformists, the liquid sets out to redefine moments of celebration through a new and extraordinary drinking experience uniquely crafted to toast”. This amazing Scotch is arriving just in time for the holiday season and comes in what I think is one of the most gorgeous bottles ever – in a stunning gift box – no wrapping required! Available HERE.
A Special Bottle From an Classic Favorite!
Grant’s whisky was a personal favorite of a late family friend of mine, so seeing this gorgeous bottle of 12 Year Old Whisky from his old favorite gives me all the feels this holiday season. The Grant’s Triple Wood 12 Year Old whisky makes a great gift, but also a great staple on your own liquor shelf. I recommend pouring over ice cream for a great evening treat! Why? Because this delightful bottle was matured in three different types of wood: sherry, American oak and bourbon, giving it an added depth. Complex notes of cereal, peat, honey, oak, dried fruit, vanilla and toffee lead to a sweet, fruity and medium-bodied palate with a long, rich finish.
Splurge-Worthy Cookware: Le Creuset Oven
I may not cook often but I do love high quality (and colourful!) cookware items. When I do cook, it’s often one-pot meals, roasted meats, curries or even a ratatouille and my Le Creuset cookware is perfect for that. These are what my husband calls a “buy once, cry once” item because you only have to splurge on it once and you’ll use it for years and years (and even more years). The only reason I have so many of this delightful coated cast iron is because I need different sizes.
Something to WEAR: Over & Over Again
The “something to wear” category can be kind of tricky. In previous years I’ve shared some of my favorite t-shirt brands, fun socks, luxe slippers and robes but those all feel a little cliché this time around. I’m hoping that these few ideas help you find something that they will love and wear on repeat.
Roots Cabin Collection
I don’t think that my love of Roots clothing is a secret at this point! It’s something that I wear all the time but also love to gift. Their kids clothes are such amazing quality that they will last through sets of siblings and their sweats are so cozy that your fave pair is good for longer than you need them to be. One of my favorite things that comes along every year is The Roots Cabin Collection. We love these cozy items so much that we’re wearing them in our holiday card photo this year!
Affordable Cashmere
It’s a bit of a well-kept secret, but H&M offers a Premium Collection of items online, and that collection includes affordable cashmere. There is nothing like cashmere knits and they are so luxe to gift and receive. My faves are the cashmere joggers, gloves, hats and classic sweaters.
Something to READ: & Inspire
I may not have time to read as often as I’d like, but I certainly have made time to purchase the books that I want to get to reading! I love to gift books and these nine are the ones that have made my list this year! These are books that I have on my reading list this year (some I’ve already purchased for myself). These are titles written by incredibly inspiring women, celebrities with incredibly fascinating stories to tell, autobiographies and books that will help you find joy and a better life in the new year!
1: Jody Wilson-Raybold: Indian In the Cabinet
2: Rick Mercer: Talking to Canadians: A Memoir
3: Peter Mansbridge: Off the Record
4: Stanley Tucci: Taste: My Life Through Food
5: Laurie Woodlever: Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography
6: Will Smith: WILL
7: Perdita Felice: My Mother’s Daughter
8: Debbie Travis: JOY: Life Lessons From a Tuscan Villa
9: Emily Ley: Growing Boldly
