2021
Home for the Holidays
GIFT GUIDE
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let it snow Dear readers,
Happy December! I hope you are enjoying this time of year with your loved ones and embracing the wonder of the season. Even though it's a busy month, my family and I are carving out time for our favourite holiday traditions we love so much. This holiday season, remember to look for the stillness, and the peaceful moments, where you can pause, reflect, breathe deeply and connect with the wonderment, the joy, and the hope in your life. While the world spins around and it sometimes feels like everything is out of sorts, remind yourself to create space for merriment, laughter, cuddles, love, and most of all, create space for the people and activities that bring you happiness. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
Emily Smith xo WWW.BESTOFTHISLIFE.COM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
04 09
Activities To Do With Kids This Christmas
15 activities you can do with your kids this holiday season to make special memories together.
Cuddly Gifts for Kids
We love plushies and cuddly toys. Here are a few 2021 favourites we picked out, that are perfect for snuggling and playtime.
11
Fun Playsets for Kids
These play sets are great for hours of playtime. Whether kids are enthralled in a battle or acting out their favourite storyline.
12 14
Cute Craft Sets for Kids
We're sharing some of our top choices for craft sets your kids will love.
Books We Love for Kids
The gift of reading is always a wonderful idea! Story time during the holidays is extra special too.
16 20 22 23 26 27
Gift Ideas for Foodies
Surprise your foodie friend with these delicious gifts.
Kitchen Gift Ideas
For the cook and baker on your list, here are some fab finds.
Home Gift Ideas
Cozy treasures for the home are always a fantastic gift idea.
Beauty Gift Ideas
For the beauty lover in your life, spoil them with our top picks.
Timeless Style Gifts
These classic pieces are the perfect addtion to their wardrobe.
DIY Wrapping Paper
Get creative this holiday season with DIY wrapping paper!
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ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH KIDS THIS CHRISTMAS Do you want to make special
If you want to see some incredible
memories with your children during
lights on display, be sure to see what
the holiday season? If so, check out
types of light shows are available in
this list of 15 activities to do with your
your area. The children will love
kids throughout December. These
seeing the bright lights and incredible
activities are fun, entertaining, and
colors while walking around.
sure to leave everyone smiling and laughing.
2 // Check Out Your Local Farmer’s Market
1 // Visit a Light Show Consider taking a trip to the local Once it gets closer to the holiday
farmer’s market, where you can take
season, it’s common for different
a hayride and get a bunch of delicious
places to have light shows that you
treats. (continued)
can walk through. WWW.BESTOFTHISLIFE.COM
PAGE 4
Merry & Bright Holiday Activities Some of the treats you might find while you’re there include fresh apple cider and baked treats to serve at Christmas dinner to your loved ones. You can’t go wrong when going to one of these hot spots. 3 // Do a Drive-Thru Light Show If you don’t want to do too much walking, consider going to a drivethru light show. With these light shows, you can stay in the car and ride through a path to see some incredible light displays, including fun Christmas-themed characters, such as Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus. It’s an experience of a lifetime that you don’t want to miss. 4 // Have an At-Home Holiday Movie Night Pick out a holiday movie to watch with the family, such as The Grinch. Set the movie up and prepare some hot chocolate and other delicious snacks to eat while watching the movie as a family. It’s a fantastic way to spend quality time bonding while enjoying a Christmas movie.
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5 // Bake Christmas-Themed Goodies Get the kids to lend a helping hand with preparing Christmas-themed goodies, such as cookies, pies, and other delicious treats. You can teach them how to make some of your favorite desserts! 6 // Make a Gingerbread House Buy the supplies needed to make a gingerbread house. It’s fun trying to get the pieces of the house to stick together before adding gumdrops and other candies to them for decorative purposes. 7 // Create Christmas Wreaths Grab some supplies from your local arts and craft store and work together with your children to make Christmas wreaths. Each person can create a custom piece that you’ll get to hang somewhere around the home for decorative purposes. 8 // Go Ice Skating Don’t miss out on the opportunity to go ice skating. Even if you don’t have much experience on the ice, it’s a way to have fun and try something different with your loved ones while creating some great memories. PAGE 5
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9 // Visit Santa at the Mall
12 // Build a Snowman
Be sure to take your children to the mall
If you have any snow outside, take full
to see Santa. Not only can they tell him
advantage by building a snowman with
what they’d like to get for Christmas,
the kids. You can wrap his neck in a
but they can also take a picture with
scarf, add some button eyes, and put a
him to have as a keepsake for years to
carrot in his face for his nose.
come. 13 // Make Ugly Christmas Sweaters 10 // Collect Food for the Less Fortunate
Grab some old sweatshirts and customize them to create ugly
Give the gift of giving back to others by
Christmas sweaters. You can get
collecting food for the less fortunate
creative while using paint, fabric dye,
with your children. It teaches them to
bleach, hot glue, and other items to put
have compassion and empathy for
the sweaters together.
other people in difficult situations during the holiday season.
14 // Create Homemade Ornaments
11 // Make Christmas Character
There is nothing quite as special as
Masks
preparing homemade ornaments with your children. Look up some tutorials
Use paper plates, paint, colorful cotton
online and get the supplies needed to
balls, and pipe cleaners to make
make these special ornaments that you
Christmas-themed character masks. You
can hang on the Christmas tree.
can make reindeers, Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, and other neat
15 // Prepare Custom Hot Chocolate
characters. Make homemade hot chocolate with the kids and let them customize their drinks. For example, you can let them add extra marshmallows, caramel syrup, chocolate syrup, and other addins that will taste great.
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SOME CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS DO MORE THAN GLITTER AND GLOW, THEY REPRESENT A GIFT OF LOVE GIVEN A LONG TIME AGO Tom Baker
CUDDLY GIFTS FOR KIDS CARE BEARS TOGETHERNESS BEAR This year the Care Bears will continue to share and care with the introduction of a NEW Care Bears Friend – Togetherness Bear!
WALMART.COM
SQUISHMALLOWS FOOD SQUAD The new Squishmallow Carry Over Food Squad features everything from appetizers to a cheeseburger (and fries, of course!) to luscious desserts and even drinks! WALMART.COM
PRESENT PETS With two new themes, Princess and Fairy, and four different pups to discover, these playful pooches will melt your heart. Featuring 100 new sounds and 2 themed interactive games. WALMART.COM
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PLAY SETS FROM SANTA ROBLOX NINJA LEGENDS Join six famous characters from the world of Roblox and create your own imaginative adventures. Mix and match parts to build your own unique Roblox character. WALMART.COM
BEYBLADE BURST SURGE SPEEDSTORM MOTOR STRIKE BATTLE SET Supercharge the battle strategy with Beyblade Burst Speedstorm tech! Launch into a high speed head-tohead. Action-packed and entertainting for kids! TOYSRUS.CA
BLUEY FAMILY HOME This toy playset includes fully molded details with opening doors for some added fun. The Bluey Family Home Playset has 4 different rooms and an outdoor patio. So much fun for imaginative playtime! TOYSRUS.CA
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CUTE CRAFT SETS
LEGO® DOTS BRACELET MEGA PACK
BIG GEM DIAMOND PAINTING: MAGICAL
Make your own neat friendship
Diamond painting made simple! Larger
bracelets and share them with your
gems and adorable magical designs
best friends! indigo.ca
make this activity easy and fun to do for kids and beginners. mastermindtoys.com
PLAY-DOH KITCHEN CREATIONS SUSHI PLAYSET Imagine your own sushi bar! This toy sushi making kit comes with a pretend bento box and all the right Play-Doh tools.
SAND ART BOTTLES CRAFT KIT Add a pinch of this color and a scoop of that color to create a unique sand art project inspired by you and your imagination! melissaanddoug.com
mastermindtoys.com
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BOOKS WE LOVE FOR KIDS GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS The Guinness World Records book is an annual bestseller packed full of the most inspiring, and jawdropping record holders from around the world. Great gift for the curious mind!
GUINNESSWORLDRECORDS.COM
JUNIE B. JONES BOOKS SERIES Meet the World’s Funniest Kindergartner—Junie B. Jones! Junie B. is the bestest spier in the world. That’s ’cause she has sneaky feet in JUNIE B. JONES AND SOME SNEAKY PEEKY SPYING. INDIGO.CA
DOG MAN: MOTHERING HEIGHTS Dog Man is down on his luck, Petey confronts his not so purr-fect past, and Grampa is up to no good. The world is spinning out of control as new villains spill into town. Can the power of love save the day? INDIGO.CA
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GIFT IDEAS FOR FOODIES WILTON GINGERBREAD KITS When it comes to choosing a gingerbread house kit, Wilton is always an excellent choice. Wilton Gingerbread House Kits are well-designed and come stocked with lots of icing and candy for decorating. WILTON.COM
EATABLE GOURMET POPCORN EATABLE Popcorn offers an assortment of delicious, gourmet popcorn and popcorn gift sets. We love their Pop the Salt & Tequila and Pop the Champagne flavours. EATABLE.COM
CHOCOLATS FAVORIS FONDUES When it comes to parties, dessert charcuterie platters are just the thing to get everyone in the holiday spirit, especially with your favourite Chocolats Favoris fondues.
CHOCOLATSFAVORIS.COM
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CITY SIDEWALKS BUSY SIDEWALKS DRESSED IN HOLIDAY STYLE IN THE AIR THERE'S A FEELING OF CHRISTMAS... SILVER BELLS SONG
GIFT IDEAS FOR FOODIES
WABANAKI MAPLE: AUTHENTIC INDIGENOUS MAPLE SYRUP Wabanaki Maple is 100% Indigenous female-owned. Their maple syrup is
WHITTAKER'S CHOCOLATE Crafting New Zealand’s finest chocolate since 1896, Whittaker's offers a range of delicious classic blocks, specialty blocks. and slabs - in a variety of decadent flavours. A must-try
delicious! wabanakimaple.com
this holiday season! whittakers.co.nz/en_CA
REISHI HOT CACAO
MAILLE MUSTARD
Creamy, chocolatey goodness. This
Maille has been using the finest
vegan hot cocoa is made with a special
ingredients and crafting gourmet
ingredient: mushroom! Known to help
mustard flavors for 270 years. A
reduce stress, improve sleep, and
beloved foodie gift to receive!
boost immune system.
maille.com
itsblume.com
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KITCHEN GIFT IDEAS WILTON BAKING SETS This Diamond-Infused Non-Stick Navy Blue Baking Set, 9-Piece, is a dream present for the avid home baker. Built to last with a durable non-stick coating that's infused with diamonds! WILTON.COM
KITCHEN TRIO CORIANDER AND OLIVE TREE With this Cucina Kitchen Trio and its exclusive bamboo tray, enjoy a sensorial ritual as gentle on your hands as it is on the environment. FRUITS-PASSION.COM
CUISIPRO’S SOFT-TOUCH NONSTICK ALUMINUM COOKWARE SET This 10-piece cookware set is designed to deliver heat quickly and evenly and then retains that heat better for more consistent cooking. CUISIPRO.COM
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HOME GIFT IDEAS THE POSTER STORE PRINTS The Poster Store offers beautiful posters that display the wonder of nature and botanicals, detailed maps, inspirational displays of typography and quotes, and stunning architectural posters POSTERSTORE.COM
PREMIUM PHOTO BOOKS BY MPIX Fill the pages of your story and relive your favorite times with a handcrafted Photo Book, complete with seamless spreads and a premium linen or custom photo cover.
MPIX.COM
CLEAN CRATE SUBSCRIPTION Give the gift of clean! The Clean Crate subscription or gift box (one-time delivery) would be a thoughtful gift for new parents, your neighbours, or a friend who you know likes to clean with non-toxic products. CLEANCRATE.CA
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BEAUTY GIFT IDEAS CLAYTON SHAGAL MUST HAVE This gift set treats anti-aging and provides intensive in-depth moisturizing for optimal skin hydration and plumping effect, which significantly reduces signs of aging. CLAYTONSHAGAL.COM
BIO SCULPTURE GEMINI PLUM & GOLD We love festive nails for the holiday season! Gemini by Bio Sculpture offers an assortment of nourishing polish in beautiful hues for the holidays and all year round.
BIOSCULPTURENAILS.COM
CLAYTON SHAGAL HOMME INDISPENDABLE This essential gift set is for a daily moisturizing care routine. It is designed to maintain healthy skin, radiant complexion and prevent the premature signs of aging. CLAYTONSHAGAL.COM
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BEAUTY GIFT IDEAS
MEDIHEEL FOOT PERFECTOR
VÉILMENT HEMP SEED OIL COLLECTION
the Elim MediHeel Foot Perfector, a
Elevate your body care routine with the
For smooth and crease-free feet try medium weight cream that brightens and softens the feet. irisbodyandbeauty.com
LAVAMI THE BODY BUNDLE A gorgeous set that includes body polish, hand and body soap, and hand and body lotion. Perfect for gifting your bestie! lavami.ca
Veilment Hemp Seed Oil collection from Avon for ultra-nourishing skincare. avon.ca
HAPPY DUO TEXTURE FACIAL ROLLER We can't get enough of our texutre facial roller. A wonderful gift for selfcare and stress-relief. happynaturalproducts.com
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T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WHEN ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE, NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING, NOT EVEN A MOUSE. Clement Clarke Moore
TIMELESS STYLE GIFTS MEJURI JEWELRY Fine jewelry for everyday. We're smitten with the dot ring and large gold hoops (so lightweight!) Visit their holiday gift shop for the latest styles and classic pieces. MEJURI.COM
SOHO DOUBLE GUSSET CROSSBODY Timeless crossbody that goes with everything! The Soho Collection is made of a soft textured pebble P.U. (polyurethane) material that is biodegradable and safer for the environment and lightweight. SHOPBENTLEY.COM
TOQUES FROM THE HEART Soft and stylish toques! For every toque purchased, Toques From The Heart will give a toque to a Canadian experiencing homelessness so we can all stay warm together.
TOQUESFROMTHEHEART.CA
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5
GREAT DIY WRAPPING PAPER IDEAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS The holiday season is such a
But, I also like to take my gift
wonderful time for so many
wrapping more personally too. That is
traditions. Gift-giving is one of the
why DIY wrapping paper is another
biggest ones, and right in-between
way I show affection to my loved
finding a lovely present and giving it
ones.
to someone special is one of my favourite things about Christmas: gift
So gather up your bows and ribbons
wrapping!
and check out these perfect DIY gift wrapping ideas to take your wrapped
I am a huge fan of wrapping paper of
gifts to the next level!
all kinds, such as ones with snowmen on them, ones with reindeer and
Just a little bit of extra attention goes
Santa, and brightly coloured ones.
a long way.
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Reuse what you have on hand. 1 // Brown or kraft paper Wrap your gift with kraft paper and decorate it however you wish, or write a nice message on top of the present itself. One thing I like to do when using kraft paper is to wrap the gift, then use Christmas cookie cutters as stencils to colour in some fun designs. 2 // Fabric wrapping paper Whether you pick up a few rolls of fabric from your local fabric store or use linens (like a tea towel) to wrap gifts, using fabric adds dimension and texture to your wrapping. You can tie a knotted bow, decorate with fresh pine and dehydrated oranges, and voila!
3 // Use an old map Not only is this a great way to reuse a map you may have around. Or an old atlas book. Additionally, you can find a map of a place that is important to the recipient, making the gift all the more special! 4 // Old newspapers This is another good way to reuse paper you may already have. You can paint the paper. Add stencils or motifs. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also include an old newspaper with a specific date on it or include some old comics. 5 // Scrapbook paper Use different pieces of scrapbook paper with a range of patterns, motifs or a specific theme. Add decorative lace, stamps, and stickers to personalize the look. Whether you use store-bought paper or try out one of these DIYs, wrapping someone's Christmas present is very thoughtful. And, if you love these DIYs, there are plenty of other ones you can try out too. Have fun wrapping!
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Happy Holidays! Wishing you love, joy, and hope. Thank you for taking the time to look through The Best of This Life's Home for the Holidays gift guide 2021. I hope you found some ideas and inspiration for your gift-giving this season. Follow our festive hashtag #BOTLjoyfulchristmas for more holiday fun.
Emily xo