twenty nineteen
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Emily Smith
www.bestofthislife.com
celebrate Wishing you love, laughter, joy, and hope in your home this holiday season and all throughout the new year. Dear Readers, The holiday season is a time of togetherness. A time to connect with the ones we love and hold dear. A time to celebrate, partake in traditions both old and new, and create lasting memories. My simple wish for you this year is that love, laughter, joy, and hope would fill your home, not only this Christmas but throughout the coming year. That in your everyday life, you would find small things and special people that make you come alive and shine bright - and hold them close. As we turn the page on the last decade, I’m reflecting with fondness and gratitude at everything that has transpired in my life these past 10 years. While not without bumps and hardships, the magnitude of joy is far outreaching and for that, I am tremendously thankful. I’m thankful to you, for allowing me the honour of sharing the best of this life with you, for your continued readership, and your friendship. May your days be merry and bright!
Emily Smith WWW.BESTOFTHISLIFE.COM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
07
The Foodie Gift Guide
Gifts for the budding chef on your list.
09
The Mom Gift Guide
Cute and fun gift ideas she'll love.
11
The Skin Care Gift Guide
Give the gift of glowing skin with these pampering sets.
16
The Dad Gift Guide
Practical and cool gfit ideas for dad.
22
The Children's Gift Guide
Take a peek into Santa's workshop for sweet and unique gifts for kids.
Baking Spirits Bright It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, and now's the time for holiday baking! To say I am a Christmas cookie fan might be an understatement. Christmas cookies are a holiday tradition I love, and I am not the only one, I have a whole household of Christmas cookie enthusiasts. One of our family's favourite cookies is my classic glutenfree M&M cookies. For years I have made and shared
When I kicked off our holiday baking,
M&M cookies on bestofthislife.com
out of all the recipes, he was especially
Seeing a bag of the classic red and
excited about the oatmeal M&M
green holiday M&Ms brings me right
cookies! I don’t blame him. They’re just
back to my childhood. I sometimes
so scrumptious with their golden
make them with oats and without,
edges, toasted oatmeal flavour, tender
using butter or coconut oil, or
centers, and chocolatey crunch.
vegetable shortening. I like to play around with them, but no matter how I
This year’s first batch of these holiday
make them, I always love ‘em. That
cookies didn’t last that long but I am
said, I’m particularly fond of the
sure I will be making more. The joy of
oatmeal variety. There’s something
sharing these simple red and green
about that oatmeal and chocolate
spotted cookies with my family keeps
combination that just tastes so good!
me grounded in what I love about this festive season. Enjoying them when I
And I’m not the only one who thinks
was a kid and baking them for my own
so. My son, Aiden, is totally smitten
kids is like a wondrous trip there and
just like his mama.
back through a magical portal in time.
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PAGE 4
Gluten-Free Oatmeal M&M Cookies 1 cup vegetable shortening or room Preheat oven to 350F degrees. temperature butter
Grease or line a large baking sheet
3/4 cup light brown sugar
with parchment paper.
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Cream shortening (or butter) and
2 large eggs
sugar together until smooth.
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Beat the eggs, molasses and vanilla
1 Tablespoon molasses
and then mix into shortening mixture
1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose gluten-
until well combined.
free flour
In a separate bowl, mix gluten-free
1 teaspoon baking soda
flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt
1/2 teaspoon salt
together.Add to shortening mixture
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
and stir together until dough forms.
3 cups gluten-free rolled oats
Add in gluten-free rolled oats and
1 cup red and green M&Ms
M&Ms. Cover and chill the cookie dough in the fridge for 30 minutes-1 hour. Drop cookie dough balls about 1 Tbsp large on the baking sheet. Leave 2 inches space in between each cookie. Gently press them down (not flat) and top with a few extra M&Ms. Bake for 10-12 minutes until they have lightly browned on the sides. Don't over bake! Remove from the
tma Chris
WWW.BESTOFTHISLIFE.COM
s 2019
oven and allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
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THE FOODIE EDIT: GIFTS FOR THE BUDDING CHEF
HOLIDAY VITAL BOX Gift a foodie friend with this one-time Vital Box shipment, specially curated for the holiday season. Featuring Wild Line-Caught King Salmon and Organic Red Raspberries | vitalchoice.com
SMART INDOOR GARDEN For the foodie who loves fresh food! This Click and Grow Smart Garden expertly monitors the health, growth, and life cycle of your plants. |Â bestbuy.ca
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JUST A PINCH AGED BALSAMIC SALT Just a Pinch combines concentrated Modena balsamic vinegar with hand harvested sea salt for a delicious flavour | justapinch.ca
MINT PANTRY CANISTER SET I love this bright and cheerful kitchen canister set that's ideal for storing baking essentials. | wayfair.ca
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PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH POP SOCKETS
STOCKING STUFFER IDEA: POP SOCKETSÂ This nifty phone grip and stand makes holding your phone (and keeping it IN your hands) a more comfortable experience! Available in an array of colours to match your phone case and style. popsockets.com
THE MOM EDIT: FUN GIFTS SHE'LL LOVE
EMBER MUG² No more cold coffee for mom! This smart mug allows you to set an exact drinking temperature, so your coffee is never too hot, or too cold | ember.com
KATE SPADE NECKLACE Engraved with an initial on one side and a sweet "one in a million" message on the other, this everyday necklace is perfect for mom | thebay.com
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FUJFIILM INSTAX MINI LINK PRINTER Prints photos from a smartphone or tablet easily and quickly! Such a fun gift for the snap happy mama | indigo.ca
PUDUS CLASSIC SLIPPER SOCK How cute and festive! These cozy Pudus™ are essential for cabin escapes, or just lounging around the house. |ilovemypudus.ca
PAGE 9
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDNIGHT PALOMA
BRAND SPOTLIGHT: MIDNIGHT PALOMA Small batch skin care, body care and ethically sourced skin tools that will help you in your path to healthy living. Save 15% on your Midnight Paloma purchase with my promo code: bestofthislife
THE SKIN CARE EDIT: GIFT SETS FOR GLOWING SKIN
RIVERSOL MOISTURIZER + CLEANSER GIFT
AVON ANTI-POLLUTION COMBO KIT
Riversol's best-selling Daily Moisturizing Cream paired with a complimentary travel sized Hydrating Cream Cleanser for softer skin | riversol.com
Get skin freshly clean and gorgeously glowing with this powerful trio including a serum, mask, and pore strips | avon.ca
DR. HAUSCHKA CLEANSING CREAM + GIFT
MIDNIGHT PALOMA HOLIDAY BODY KIT
For a limited time, Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream comes with an Eye Make-up Remover sachet and Cleansing Sponge as a gift | drhauschka.com
Smooth, tone, stimulate and balance with this soothing gift set featuring Calming Bath Soak, Fizzy Bath Soak and a Dry Body Brush bundled in a cute pink bag | midnightpaloma.com
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PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Â RIVERSOL
HOLIDAY FAVE: RIVERSOL Keep your skin looking fresh and healthy throughout the holiday season with Riversol skin care, created with sensitive skin in mind! Editor's picks: Micellar Water Makeup Remover, Anti-Redness Serum, The Corrector. Save 15% on your Riversol purchase with my promo code: EMILY 15
When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. Maya Angelou
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOKIA
Nokia 1 Plus Here's Why It's an Amazing Gift There are work days I spend almost entirely on my phone, and I’m sure many of you can relate. From answering emails to editing photos, every single day I use my phone for work-related tasks. That said, I also use it for fun! Like messaging my friends and family, playing a game with my kids and connecting on social media. These days, the investment for a new phone can be pretty steep. So when I was introduced to the Nokia 1 plus, which was released earlier this year, I was really impressed with its price and all the features it has to offer. Retailing for $179.99 CAD, the Nokia 1 Plus is a bargain with a lot of punch! One of the features I loved right away is the screen, with a 5.45” display it makes watching a video a more engaging experience. If you’re trying to catch up on a favourite show or play a game, this smartphone has you covered. The Nokia 1 Plus takes a great selfie (or picture of any subject!). WWW.BESTOFTHISLIFE.COM
With its autofocusing 5MP front-facing camera and Beautify software, you’re sure to get clear shots. It also takes amazing photos with its 8MP rear-facing camera and features 16GB built-in memory to store all your pictures. So whether I’m taking a shot of something I baked or catching my kids in action, I know with the Nokia 1 Plus I am ready for the capture. And just in time for the holidays too! With Christmas around the corner this is a great gift! With its 3D textured Nano pattern and multiple colour options, the Nokia 1 Plus is one stylish looking phone, and it comes in a festive red too! If you’re looking for the ultimate stocking stuffer, you found it! Not to mention, the Nokia Plus 1 comes loaded with the Android 9 Pie (Go edition), the very latest Android system. It receives monthly security upgrades and Android updates as well. This with a fast quad-core 1.3GHz processor ensures you can use the Nokia 1 Plus for catching up on your workload or chilling out and enjoying games, videos, and more. I’m so impressed with this smartphone, I included it in this year’s gift guide. Not only is the Nokia Plus 1 a great tool for everyday use and enjoyment, it’s a fantastic gift for a friend or loved one looking to upgrade their phone this year.
PAGE 14
TECH PICK: NOKIA 1 PLUS Whether you're looking for a first phone for your tween, or a simple smartphone for dad that's fuss-free and offers great display, the Nokia 1 Plus has our vote. It also comes unlocked and can be used with any service provider in the world that operates on a SIM card-based GSM network. The Nokia 1 Plus is available for just $179.99 CAD from Best Buy and Drexel retailers.
THE DAD EDIT: PRACTICAL GIFTS HE'LL LOVE
PRORASO WOOD AND SPICE BEARD OIL
BLUETOOTH SHOWER SPEAKER
For the bearded dad! This oil hydrates facial hair, making it lustrous and easy to style. Ideal for thick, tough beards that must be softened | simons.ca
With battery play time up to 2.5 hours, Dad can listen to his favourite songs in the shower. Super stylish and budgetfriendly | indigo.ca
VSSL CAMP SUPPLIES MINI This one's on my husband's wish list! This LED flashlight houses a weather-resistant firestarter kit, rope & razor kit, sewing kit, and a small first aid kit | vsslgear.ca
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CHEMEX 6-CUP COFFEE MAKER If he enjoys pour over coffees from the local coffee shop, he'll be a big fan of this coffee maker that allows for great complexity to come through in the coffee's flavours | bridgehead.ca
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PRO WRAPPING TIP: SIMPLE FOR THE WIN! Wrapping doesn't have to be a chore! If you're intimidated, go simple. Choose a colour scheme (3 colours) like gold, white, and dark green. If you have a hard time handling wrapping paper, go with gift bags. Wrap your gift in tissue paper, put it in the bag, add peaks of more tissue, tie twine around the handle and add the tag. Voila!
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DAYS OF WONDER
A Fun New Board Game for the Whole Family Board games are quickly becoming one of our favourite family pass times. My children are at the age where they grasp game concepts quickly and get excited to take on mommy and daddy for the win! When it comes to game night, we set up at the dining room table with an assortment of snacks and drinks and make an evening of it. With the winter holiday break ahead and our kids having time off from school, we’ll definitely be pulling out our game stash and now we have a new one to add to our rotation. Ticket to Ride: London is a fun board game set in the 70’s! It features London’s historic streets, double decker buses, and famous landmarks like Big Ben and the Thames. In this game, players are in a race against each other to claim the most important bus lines and complete their Destination Tickets.
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Each player gets a set of different coloured double-decker buses with the mission to “claim routes”. When you claim a route, by working towards lining up your buses along the lines of the route, you acquire points. You also acquire points by claiming a district and claiming your secret destination (given to each player by way of a card at the beginning of the game). The point of the game is to get the most points. As I mentioned above, there are different ways to get points! It’s a bit of an initial learning curve to grasp the game concept and rules, but once everyone understands them, it’s fun to jump in and strategize. Ticket to Ride: London is both a game of chance and strategy which makes it exciting and interesting. For our first round, we played teams and then we played as individual players once everyone got the hang of it.
MAKE A “GAME NIGHT” THEMED GIFT AND INCLUDE POPCORN AND CANDY WITH IT! PAGE 18
The game lasts about 20 minutes,
You can make a “game night” themed
depending on the flow. It’s really
gift and include popcorn and candy
different than a lot of other board
with it!
games we have, which makes it a novelty and a great addition to the
Ticket to Ride: London is
mix.
approximately $34.99 CDN and recommended for ages 6 and above.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a Christmas gift for the board game
It’s great for both beginners and
aficionado, Ticket to Ride is a fast-
seasoned players! Have you played any
paced and thrilling game they’re sure
of the other Ticket to Ride games?
to enjoy! It also makes a great present
What are your family’s favourite board
to give to a family.
games?
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PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DAYS OF WONDER
FAMILY FUN WITH BOARD GAMES With kids on holiday vacation this month, board games are a great way to bring the family together for a fun afternoon of play. Make some hot cocoa, round up some snacks and create memories!
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCOOP MAGAZINE
WE LOVE THE GIFT OF LITERATURE FOR KIDS A magazine subscription is the gift that keeps on giving! Each issue of Scoop includes short stories, non-fiction, poetry, comics, interviews, reviews, activities and quizzes. They explore everything from punk to painting, from science to poetry, from super-natural phenomena to playwriting. Essentially it’s for children who are passionate (or about to be passionate) about reading. Learn more: scoopthemag.co.uk
THE CHILDREN'S EDIT: GIFT IDEAS FROM SANTA'S SHOP
THE CHILDREN'S PLACE MATCHING DOLL PJS How cute are these PJs for dolls! You can get a matching set for your child and their doll | childrensplace.om
TWEET BEATS Create your own songs! Each bird has its own unique music style, so by combining them, you can make loads of unique songs | tweet-beats.com es with She com , charm a charm t, bracele towel, swaddle nd bottle a more!
4M® HYBRID-POWERED SOLAR SYSTEM PLANETARIUM
BABY BORN BATHTUB SURPRISE
A great introduction to hybrid power technology! Watch the planets rotate in their orbits under sunlight. We love this interactive gift! | indigo.ca
Such a sweet doll kids will have a lot of fun interacting with. Use water to wipe away her sleepy eyes, give her a bath in her glittery tub, and then swaddle her up | babyborn.mgae.com
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MATCHING PJS FROM THE CHILDREN'S PLACE
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH POP POP HAIR SURPRISE
On My Daughter’s Christmas Wishlist: Pop Pop Hair Surprise Pop it, spray it, unroll your hair! Brush it, braid it, clip it in... You may be asking yourself, what is a Pop Pop Hair Surprise? I know, because I had to ask my daughter to explain it to me, a few times. Is it a toy? Is it a hair accessory? What IS it! So here’s the scoop, Pop Pop Hair Surprises are a whole lot of everything, including fun! Each Pop Pop Hair Surprise comes with 3-in-1 Pop Pets: 1 Pop Brush, 1 Pop Roller, 1 Pop HairPet. There are over 25 characters to collect! To answer my own questions, it is a toy and it is a hair accessory. Kids can wear their Pop Hair Pet in their hair using the elastic band, they can brush their hair with the Pop Brush or brush their Pop Hair Pet’s hair. The cute characters are to play with and wear. Oh, and they can be used as a pencil topper too. Because, why not!
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Like other surprise series, they are collectable little figures that kids have a blast playing with, sharing, and trading. My daughter loves playing hairdresser with me and her dolls, and this is right up her alley for imaginative and interactive play. We had fun styling her new Pop Pop Hair Surprise characters and trying out a few new hairstyles with them! With each different character comes different hair colours, which are washable and perfect for styling. You can spray it with water, braid it, twist it, intertwine it and create lots of different looks and styles, both on your kiddos hair or the Pop Hair Pet itself. Pop Pop Hair Surprise is a great gift idea for Christmas for kids who love to get creative with their own hair and dolls hair; it combines both of these categories of play. Plus, they’re adorable!
POP IT, SPRAY IT, UNROLL YOUR HAIR! BRUSH IT, BRAID IT, CLIP IT IN... PAGE 24
COLLECT THEM ALL! There are tons of Pop Pop Hair Surprise characters to collect and trade! We're smitten with BOOGIE, just look at those star glasses!
tis the season to sparkle
SPREAD JOY When you're out and about this
So don't be shy, okay?
holiday season, remember that your kindness makes a big difference in
Spread your joy!
someone's life. You never know who's day you'll make, Whether it's the sales associate at a
and what effect your kindness will
retail store or a fellow shopper, your
have.Â
everyday interactions can lift a person's spirit up.
Some of the ways you can share the holiday spirit this season is by serving
Maybe it's a warm smile, a heartfelt
meals to the less fortunate, visiting a
thank you, or holding a door open.
nursing home, donating gifts, helping
Your sparkle makes the people around
clear snow from a neighbour's yard,
you sparkle, which makes our world a
and sending cards to your family
better place.
around the world.
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From my home to yours, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
xo Emily
THANK YOU FOR READING Thank you so much for taking the time to look through The Best of This Life's Home for the Holidays gift guide 2019! I hope some of these ideas have inspired your Christmas gift-giving. For more holiday spirit, follow my festive hashtag #BOTLjoyfulchristmas
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