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...

GIVE JOY | Our Lovely Last-Minute Guide

via theofficialpandora on Instagram

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Whether you've finished all of your shopping or haven't even started yet, I'm not here to judge. After all, life is busy and December? Well, judging by my headache and ever-growing list of things to do/places to go/people to see, it's even busier. Since my job involves shopping and research, I love putting together gift guides each year. It's a win-win: I get to figure out what I'm buying everyone, I think of ideas to give people who ask what I want, and I get to share all of it with you in case you're super busy, too. 

These gifts are luxurious but come in all shapes and sizes for a wide range of holiday budgets.  My favourite thing to do when I can't afford to go it alone? Round up my family members or friends and go in on a bigger gift - strength in numbers, as they say. I found tech gifts and sweet gifts, fun gifts and fashionable, expected gifts and some not so much. Take a look and hopefully it will inspire you as you head out into the snow to pick up things for the ones you love. Good luck out there and remember, the best gift of all is you. And my daughter would argue a hoverboard...

SEE THE GUIDE HERE...

The Little Things | Under-$30 Gifts

A scene from ELF. Classic.

Originally posted in The CLOSET

It's always the last little things that take the longest. The randoms. The extras. The add-ons. You know, those under-$30 things that take up all your time and quickly add up to you splashing an extra few shots of rum into your egg nog after the kids have finally nodded off. Hypothetically speaking.

Whether it's stocking stuffers yet to buy, add-on presents you forgot to purchase, or gifts for the random people who help you throughout the year that you just haven't gotten around to picking up, I've done up a list of the perfect under-$30 gifts. You can always do gift cards (word from my teacher friends is that GC's are the best), but it's always nice to have personal options to wrap up, too.

READ MORE...

SEEING STARS: Celeb-Approved Gifts

An ela Star Clutch in the making. Photo courtesy ela

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Okay, so you don't have the bodyguard or the private plane or the second home in St. Tropez. Yet when it comes to shopping, most celebs like to shop just like us. They see something, they like it, they buy it. Since I love to see A-listers wearing things I can actually afford, I've rounded up my favourite celebrity musts, just in time for the holidays. Luckily, you can head to the mall without an entourage, screaming fans and the Twitterverse exploding that they just saw you at Gap. Sometimes it's actually pretty nice being normal, don't you think?

Whether you're in last-minute shopping mode or just want to pick yourself up a little something as a proverbial pat on the back, I've rounded up celeb favs to add to your list this year. From Beyonce's favourite wellies to Gwyneth's Canadian clutch, these star-approved finds will shine bright under any tree...

READ MORE...