MERRY & BRIGHT | 50 Fun Gifts For Everyone Left On Your List

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

I can't blame you for feeling overwhelmed by it all. I mean, December is always straight up manic - between making plans and hosting parties, grabbing gifts and doing good deeds, this time of year is all about stressing and hurrying and getting it done. But then, when all of that rushing is done, it's all about stopping. It's about pausing and relaxing and fa-la-laaing with your favourites. It's about crisp white days and silent nights. It's about spending time with the people we love. We forget about work and worries for awhile as we watch Clark Griswold light up the night (Joy to the Woooorld) and Kevin experiment with after-shave. We remember what it's like to feel like a kid again as we eagerly wait for Santa to arrive.

As we all learned from Dr. Seuss, we know that in Whoville at least, Christmas came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. We know Christmas doesn't come from a store. We all know it means just a little bit more. But still, you have to admit it - giving great gifts is FUN. Since you're probably a little bit busy right now, I put together a list of 50 fun gifts for everyone on your nice list so you can quickly grab your gifts and get to all the good stuff just a little bit sooner. Happy holidays - hope you're enjoying every manic minute! 

SEE THE GIFT GUIDE HERE...

LUXE VS. LESS | The 10 Most-Wanted Gifts for Her

via HudsonsBay on Instagram

Originally posted in The CLOSET

With gift-giving season in full swing, I keep running into men and women with one thing in common: they have no idea what to buy the women in their life. Women, it turns out, are not always so easy to spoil. I could tell my husband I want makeup for Christmas but he compares Sephora to that time he asked me to go to the hardware store to buy him wood screws. I walked in all confident and, 45 minutes later - after wandering through the aisles, lost, alone, with no Wi-Fi or cell phone reception and a decidedly unhelpful summer student who also knew nothing about screws - left with a bag of nails. I thought they were screws. And why are there 7,000 kinds of screws in the first place? And no, it is not the same thing as nailpolish. We NEED all the colours. 

And so, I consulted my friends, fellow bloggers and female family members to see what everyone is secretly wishing for this year. This guide is personal, as all guides are, but with luxe vs. less options, I hope it helps you in your hunt. And I'm not gonna lie, I also secretly hope this will make it through cyberspace onto the screens of my loved ones, just in case anyone happens to want to get me the Sunday Riley Power Couple Duo. It's at Sephora. And, in case you need a little help when you get there, either ask a Sephora Expert or come back here - last time I checked, they have Wi-Fi ;)

SEE OUR MOST-WANTED GIFT PICKS HERE...

Best. Gift Guide. Ever.

Photo: Burberry.com

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Who am I to say what makes a great gift?  After all, the beauty of giving is always in the eye of the Christmas-morning-bushy-tailed-beholder and of course, it goes without saying that presents are utterly personal.  The thing that might make me squeal with joy might make someone else inwardly cringe, and while a grom (thanks Urban Dictionary) might go mental over that new board, I'd be like, "Ooh, thanks! Um, sorry, what do I do with this?"

Regardless, these gifts are pretty much guaranteed to delight, whether you're trying to find the perfect thing for your stylish sister, your fitness fanatic friend, your teenage Twihard, your Monster High-obsessed mini-me, your husband who doesn't want anything (really), or even your ever-loyal pooch.  Happy shopping y'all! Only 27 more sleeps! x 

1. Legacy Leather iPad Case, $178, Coach; 2. Chiffon Polka-Dot Blouse, $35, Smart Set; 3. Rowenta Precision Valet Garment Steamer, $159.99, Personal Edge; 4. Michael Kors Runway Watch, $220, Watch It; 5. Kate Spade Photo Frame, $50, The Bay; 6. Opera Length Leather Gloves, $85, Danier; 7. Rollover Boots in Tribe Leather, $248, Roots   

1. Metamorphosis by Tracy Anderson Set, $89.99, Showcase; 2. Yoga Mat, $40, Titika; 3. Burton Feather Snowboard, $399.99, SportChek; 4. Under Armour Seamless Tank, $44.99, SportChek; 5. New Balance Ioxnix Runners, $119.99, Footlocker; 6. Nike SportWatch with GPS, $169.99, SportChek 

 1. Nintendo Wii U 8GB Gaming System, $299.99, The Source; 2. Skull T-Shirt, $14.95, H&M; 3. Vanilla Bean Lipgloss, Bath & Body Works; 4. Just Dance 4, $49.99, EB Games; 5. Legacy Leather Large Wristlet, $108, Coach; 6. Sephora by OPI Gelshine At Home Colour System, $189, Sephora; 7. Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith, $15, Spencer's; 8. 4-Pack Hair Ties, $4.90, Garage

1. Toddler Boys Knight Hoodie, $26.95, babyGap; 2. Monster High Skull Shores Doll, Walmart; 3. Apptivity Angry Birds Game, $19.99, Showcase; 4. VTech Text and Chat Walkie Talkies, $39.99, The Source; 5. Cat Slippers, $9.95, H&M; 6. My Pretty Petal Dollhouse, $82, Walmart

   1. Sephora Favourites Shaving Kit, $25, Sephora; 2. Bowery Quilted Jacket, $448, Coach; 3. Halo 4 Game, $59.99, EB Games; 4. UGG Ascot Men's Slippers, $164.99, Soft Moc; 5. Trans Canada Airlines Small Banff Bag in Tribe Leather, $448, Roots; 6. Samsung Galaxy Tablet 16 GB, $299.99, The Source

1. Jonathan Adler Dog Bowl Mat, $13, The Bay; 2. Printed Legacy Stripe Leather Dog Collar, $88, Coach; 3. Jonathan Adler Chevron Leash, $16, The Bay; 4. Temptation Treats and Hartz Cat Toys, Walmart; 5. HBC Collection Striped Dog Bed, $82.50, The Bay 

All They Want for Christmas...

Source: Necessary Objects
         

Once upon a time, I would write pretty ambitious Christmas lists.  I'd ask for ridiculous things like ponies, and the ability to fly and pink hair 'like a mermaid'.  But always, always, my #1 wish would be 'neat stuff.'  Back then, that meant strawberry-scented erasers, sparkly stickers and lipgloss rings.  While I've lost my love for horses (well, riding them at least...), opt to fly Porter, and have already indulged in pink highlights at least once, I will never stop loving neat stuff - though I've graduated from e-rasers to iPads and from lipgloss rings to the sparkly cocktail versions.

If your list is long and ideas hard to come by, check out this, our first gift guide for the holidays full of new, neat and super stylish gifts for your favourites.  It being Black Friday and all, I can't think of a better time to start (or finish?) checking off your list! xo

1. Lana Del Rey: Born to Die/Paradise Edition, $12.99, HMV; 2. Pebbled Leather Satchel, $199, Danier; 3. Nixon The Time Teller Acetate Watch, $199.99, Boathouse; 4. Multifaceted Ring, $12, RW&CO., 5. Vera Wang LOVE Diamond Studs, $2,299, People's Jewellers; 6. Quilted Fingerless Gloves, $39, Danier; 7. Metallic Cap Toe Pumps, $110, Le Château; 8. Tablet Case in Croco, $58, RW&CO.  

 

1. Roll-Up Sleeve Loungewear Top, $29.50, RW&CO., 2. AEO Ribbed Beanie, $19.88, American Eagle Outfitters; 3. Fifty Shames of Earl Grey, $13.99, Spencer's; 4. GRRR!: 3 CD Set by Rolling Stones, $34.99,HMV; 5. Buffalo Check Boxers, $12.45, American Eagle Outfitters; 6. Persol 649 Sunglasses, $360, Sunglass Hut; 7. UGG ASCOT Moccasins, $164.99, Soft Moc; 8. Wooden Dominoes Set, $16.99, HomeSense; 9. Citizen Eco Drive Watch, $487.50, Charm Diamond Centre 

1. Pink Sunglasses, $12, ALDO; 2. Marled Sweatshirt ($48), and Cable Knit Slippers, ($26), RW&CO; 3. iPod Nano 16GB, $149.99, The Source; 4. True Blue Spa Super Softening Hand Lotion, $15, Bath & Body Works; 5. Aero 1987 Heritage Cinch Sweat Pants, Aeropostale; 6. Faux Fur Throw, $, HomeSense; 7. Hair Ties Set, $9.47, American Eagle Outfitters; 8. Glass Teapot with Removable Strainer, $19.50, DAVIDsTEA 

1. Monster Beats Solo HD Headphones, $179.99, Champs Sports; 2. Helly Hansen Insulated Jacket, $349.99,SportChek; 3. Reebok RealFlex Runners, $119.99, Footlocker; 4. Under Armour Charged Cotton Crew Socks 2 Pack, $11.99, Champs Sports; 5. Nike + Sportwatch with GPS, $169.99, SportChek; 6. Burton Honcho Snowboard, $449.99, SportChek ; 7. Call of Duty Black Ops II (for PS3, XBox360, Wii U, PC), $59.99, EB Games 

P.S - Is this how you feel when you go shopping?

Originally posted in The LOOK