Gifts Galore Day SIXTEEN!

Cranberry Joy Heatable Hand Warmers

The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Heatable Hand Warmers ($)

     Sometimes stockings are the hardest part of Christmas shopping. Nobody wants to buy crap, and nobody wants to open a stocking full of crap. However, no one wants to spend a fortune on stocking gifts, either. This year, The Body Shop is my stocking stuffer sanctuary.

    These Cranberry Joy Heatable Hand Warmers are an awesome stocking stuffer for Mom, sis, or your girlfriend. Whoever. These two little microwavable hearts are filled with beans and seeds that retain heat long-term to keep your fingers warm. 

     Just heat them up for 8 seconds on a medium power setting, and pop them in your pockets. Instant cozy warmth on a cold Canadian winter morning! They are covered in soft fleece and release a subtle and comforting cranberry scent when heated. So sweet.

     At only $8 CAD, they are a unique, practical and affordable little stocking stuffer! 

   Check out The Body Shop's other stocking stuffers here!

Buy Cranberry Joy Heatable Hand Warmers online here

Gifts Galore Day FIFTEEN!

PetSmart Adoptions - My kitten Ellie!

PetSmart Adoption ($$)

      Today's gift is one that truly keeps on giving. If you're thinking about getting a pet this holiday season, please consider adopting from PetSmart. Almost every PetSmart has an adoption centre full of cats (and dogs on weekends!) that need forever homes. 

     A few months ago I was visiting a PetSmart in Whitby when I fell in love with a little half-Siamese kitten I happened to see while passing their adoption centre. A few days later my boyfriend and I went to go get her and bring her home. Her name is Ellie and she was 12 weeks old when we rescued her. She was dropped off in front of PetSmart in a cardboard box with her two brothers one early chilly morning, all alone. Fortunately PetSmart fostered her until I scooped her up and brought her home.

     PetSmart animals are about $100 CAD to adopt and come vaccinated, and sometimes chipped and/or spayed depending on the age of the animal. Also when you adopt, they send you home with free kitty litter and a big bag of food. Not a bad price for a new family addition that will provide you unconditional love!

Gifts Galore Day FOURTEEN!

Cabbage Patch Kids "Surprise Newborn"

Cabbage Patch Kids "Surprise Newborn" ($)

     Yay! Another gift for kids! This one is a good one though because it's perfect to give a little girl who isn't old enough for Barbie but is too old for a Glo Worm. Today's great gift idea is Cabbage Patch Kids "Surprise Newborn."

     Who hasn't owned a Cabbage Patch Kid in their life? These things are adorable, chubby-cheeked little classics that can never go out of style no matter how much you might want them too. I really think this particular series is fantastic, because I really like the "surprise" aspect of this doll. 

     Basically, the doll comes all bundled up in some cabbage leaves which hides the gender of the baby. When opened, the gender is revealed! A blue diaper means a boy, and a pink diaper means it's a girl (Duh?). The girl baby has hair and the boy baby is bald. The Surprise Newborn comes with a baby bottle, a surprise outfit that corresponds with the gender, and a birth certificate including the baby's unique birth date and name.

     The Surprise Newborn's come in a variety of ethnicities, with varying eye colours, hair colours, and skin colours. I think they're a perfect doll to give in today's diverse society. I've been very frustrated with the amount of blonde haired blue eyed babies out there, and these dolls actually break the stereotype. I was fortunate enough to find one with lightly tanned skin and brown eyes to give to my boyfriends niece. Yay!

     The Cabbage Patch Kids Surprise Newborn retails for $29.99 CAD at Toys R Us. I know they had a crazy sale where it was 50% for $14.99 CAD about a week ago, which is a steal.

     Buy Cabbage Patch Kids Surprise Newborn online here

Gifts Galore Day THIRTEEN!

2012 Heart & Stroke Lottery Calendar

2012 Heart & Stroke Lottery Calendar ($)

     What's better than donating to a great cause AND having a chance to win a lot of money? Yeah, I couldn't think of anything either. Today's gift is the 2012 Heart & Stroke Calendar Lottery. You literally can't go wrong with this one. Anyone can appreciate the gift of a chance to win big bucks. You buy a calendar and you help support Heart & Stroke research. Boom.

    You can order the calendar in a few ways:

1) Online: here 

2) Phone: 

416-514-7767 ext. 50 or 1-888-514-7767 ext. 50 

 3) Mail: 

Heart&Stroke Calendar Lottery

PO Box 42355 STN BRM B

Toronto ON, M7Y 7J1

     The Heart & Stroke Foundation will then mail you your 32-page calendar along with your Official Calendar Lottery Number. Then, you must write your lottery number on the designated area in the calendar for easy reference. 

     Every day from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 there will be 3 prizes of $5,000 dollars to be won! There are also weekly prizes of $10,000 every Friday, a $100,000 prize  at the end of each month, and $25,000 every month as a holiday prize! The odds are pretty damn good, especially because this calendar is for Ontario residents ONLY (Sorry!) :D 
   
     So go on, get ordering! At $25 CAD it makes a great gift for anyone, and you should even buy this one for yourself.

Gifts Galore Day TWELVE!

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Gift Set

Jean Paul Gaultier "Le Male" Gift Set ($$)

     Today's gift is for the MAN in your life...If you couldn't tell already by the shape of the cologne bottle. "Le Male" is my favourite smelling cologne of all time. It's been on the market for over a decade and it still a top selling scent. This gift set includes a 4.2oz Eau de Toilette Spray, 1.6oz of Shower Gel, and 1oz of Soothing After Shave Balm.

     It suits every man, and every personality of man. You know how some fragrances smell different on different people? A fragrance on one person can smell great and that same fragrance on another can smell terrible...This smells great on EVERYONE. Seriously. 

     The undertones of the fragrance are wormwood, bergamot, cardamom, lavender, orange blossom, cinnamon, cumin, wood, musk, amber, vanilla, and tonka bean. The overall result is warm, fresh scent with a hint of musk and the perfect amount of sweetness. If I was a dude, I'd wear this every day.

   This would make a great gift for your boyfriend as it might be a little bit too suggestive to give your Dad (so make your Mom buy it for him!) At $79 CAD, this is a really great price for the trio of Le Male products. However this particular set is only offered online.

     If you want to take a good whiff of this scent before you buy, hit up your local department store because they're guaranteed to have it. 

Buy Jean Paul Gaultier "Le Male" Gift Set online here 

Gifts Galore Day ELEVEN!

Indigo Down Slippers - Amethyst/Steel

Indigo Holiday Throw - Grey Dusk/Winter White

Indigo Down Slippers and Holiday Throw ($$)

     Today I am featuring two gifts from Indigo - Down Slippers and a Holiday Throw. Pair these two items and give them to Grandma and I promise you, you'll be her favourite grandchild forever.

     These slippers aren't just any ordinary slippers. They are down-filled with premium duck feathers. They feature an incredibly soft plush lining. The slippers come in Seagrass (cream), Steel (grey), and Amethyst (light purple), and the cuffs fold down in a fashionable way that reveals the pretty lining. It is impossible to slip in these slippers as they have a lightly treaded sole. These slippers are awesome, and keep your feet at the perfect temperature. The down ensures your feet will be cozy, warm and comfortable, but not all hot and sweaty. At $34.50 CAD, they are a great investment for your tootsies. 

     Now onto the Holiday Throw...I love this blanket. Don't be surprised if you see me at work cuddling this thing behind cash. It is a reversible throw made of soft, plush polyester. On one side, the plush is longer, and the other side has more of a suede feel. It is the softest blanket I have ever touched. The Holiday Throw comes in Dusk Grey and Winter White. It is plenty nice and big too, at 5 feet by 4 feet in dimension. This blanket retails for $79.99 CAD, but if you spend over $50 CAD at any Indigo store you can purchase it for only $30 CAD. Sweet!

Buy Indigo Down Slippers online here

Buy Indigo Holiday Throw online here 

Gifts Galore Day TEN!

The Night Before Christmas Recordable Story Book - Clement C. Moore

The Night Before Christmas Hallmark Recordable Storybook by Clement C. Moore ($)

     Everyone who knows about Christmas, knows the story "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore. It's a Christmas classic and my favourite Christmas tale. This edition of the book is extra special because you can record yourself reading it. Isn't that cool?!

     The book is powered by 3 AAA batteries, and the first time you turn the pages and example recording plays for you. It will teach you how to record yourself reading the story. It's as simple as that. As the child turns each page, your voice will be amplified through tiny speakers.

     
     This makes the perfect gift for a child of any age. I often have grandparents requesting this book at Coles to give to their grandchildren. It's such a beautiful keepsake that they can keep forever. There isn't anything more comforting than hearing the voice of someone you love, as often as you want.

     Because it is lightweight, it is very easy to mail overseas as well. At only $19.95 CAD, the price doesn't get any better than this for a really personalized gift. If you're looking for this in-store you need to go to a Hallmark or Indigo/Chapters/Coles as the book is exclusively sold by them.

Buy The Night Before Christmas Recordable Storybook online here