Oooh yeah! It’s that time again. The stores are setting up displays while tweets rain down on my feed with complaints of “it’s too early!” and “we haven’t even had Halloween yet.” Well, I love everything Holiday related and have waited long enough.

So, unlike those recipe posts that make you read the blogger’s family relationship with a cookie, let’s get right to the good stuff.

The New Goodies – NEW Gifts for Christmas 2022

• Goldeneye is BACK (soon). Coming to the Nintendo Switch, the game most of us Dads spent our Summers playing has returned.
• Joures is a beautiful creator of gifts for babies, young children, nurseries, and home decor. (More info below)
• Stay Curious and Keep Exploring: 50 Amazing, Bubbly, and Creative Science Experiments to Do with the Whole Family– a book by ‘the Space Gal’ and host of Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix
• Cuisinart have just released a collection of CORDLESS kitchen utensils:
  • EvolutionX™ Cordless Rechargeable 4-in-1 Wine Center
  • EvolutionX™ Cordless Rechargeable Compact Blender
  • EvolutionX™ Cordless Rechargeable 4-Cup Chopper
  • EvolutionX™ Cordless Rechargeable Hand Blender

• A Lectric eBike – The Lectric XP 2.0 is the brand’s flagship ebike: the ultimate next-level ride, engineered with award-winning features that make it the most popular single model on the market.
• My Baskets in Vancouver: For orders over $100, gift basket delivery to Vancouver is free. For your next event, choose from their selection of birthday, holiday, spa, gourmet, corporate, baby, and other arrangements.
•  EZQuest USB-C Multimedia Hub Adapter has 8 ports and USB-C Power Delivery version 3.0 with pass-thru charging up to 100 watts and 5GBs for data. The hub comes equipped with a 4K HDMI port for streaming video and audio, a high-speed Gigabit Ethernet network connection, an SDHC or Micro SDHC card reader, three 5GBs USB 3.0 ports as well as one BC 1.2 capable of charging smartphones.
• Some therapy sessions. Hear me out – this is probably worth discussing with the ‘gift’ recipient first rather than on Christmas morning with the family gathered around, but having some online therapy sessions with a group like Alli Therapy could mean the world to someone.

NEW from TekyGo!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, so you’d better make being indoors super fun. Thankfully, TekyGo! has the good stuff.

TekyGo! Junior Bouncer Bundle – $259

Plug, play, and bounce into a world of learning, activities, adventure and fun.

The TekyGo! Junior Bouncer Bundle is the most talked-about new children’s toy of 2022 and the fastest way to access the TekyGo! platform of learning and activity games. Designed for children ages 2-6, this bundle includes everything you need to get started with no additional accessories required.

The Junior Bouncer Bundle includes  everything you need to get started:

• TekyGo! Portal
• TekyGo! Portal Controller (requires 2 AAA batteries – not included)
• Trampoline Sensor
• Junior Bouncer Trampoline (78lbs/35kg max weight)
• Access to our growing library of games (a new game is released every 1-2 weeks)
• 2 months FREE TekyGo! Premium Subscription 
• FREE access to the TekyGo! Learning and Activity App

Keep an eye out for TekyGo! Black Friday Sale 20% off all products – Nov 18th until the 27th.

Gift Ideas for Grown Ups

• Apple Airtags – track everything! Super useful for keeping tabs on your kids, your pet, and your bike!
• ANIÁN shirts – ANIÁN transforms post-consumer textiles into beautiful and functional garments that are built to last.
• Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con™
• Sleep mask – I have one of these and it’s super cool, never sweaty, doesn’t squash your eyes, and blocks the light!
• Loba a stylish and smart pill and supplement organizer.
• SENDESTAR Water Bottle 64oz (the big one!) Double Wall Vacuum Insulated, Leak Proof, Stainless Steel
• Maple Leaf Wall Mounted Rustic Bottle Opener by SchneidersWoodworks on Etsy
• Adjustable arm weights – Better Body
• DadBod Apparel – hats and shirts for the Dad in your life
• A Lectric eBike – The Lectric XP 2.0:
  • An 850W peak planetary geared motor achieves the perfect balance between torque and speed.
  • A unique combination of variable pedal assist and throttle delivers the speed and sustainability to own the road as either a Class 1, 2, or 3 ebike.*
  • All XP 2.0 eBikes are foldable to 37 x 18 x 28 inches, designed for compact travel.
  • Five levels of pedal-assist enhance the experience of riders of all capabilities.
  • Versatile throttle delivers pure power on demand; the flexibility of an on/off switch enables access to any trail, including controlled access to national parks.
  • Ultra-reliable gear selections provide seamless shifting, boosted by a 7-gear drivetrain.
  • Puncture-resistant fat tires, coupled with adjustable oil front fork suspension (40mm of travel), are designed to power through all types of terrain.

Why not add a large basket? From a cooler on a hot day to a pet carrier on a morning ride, the Large Basket is ideal for taking all of your favorite on-the-go items with you!

• Steel encasing and hardware ensure extra stability.
• Full compatibility with the Lectric standard and Premium Headlight.
• Easy installation – basket is attached with just a few pieces of hardware, included in your purchase.

Gift Ideas for Moms / Sisters / People who need a nap

• Sleep mask – This is in the Dads’ list, but they’re good for anyone.
• Satin pillowcases – Good for hair, apparently
• A new water bottle – Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Straw Lid
• DETOX Home SPA Gift Set / Bath Soak Organic Skin Care by ELUCX on Etsy
• New kitchen knives from House of Knives
• Tickets to their favourite artist or band
• A dinner reservation or date night – then make it special, book the time in your calendar
• A reservation for a spa date with a close friend (not the family or kids!)
• I asked some friends and the popular answer was “an uninterrupted nap”, but good luck getting away with giving that as a Christmas gift.

Locally Made (Canada)

Here are some of the best Made in Canada gifts that are always great to receive but support small businesses in our hometowns.

• CDN Made in Canada clothing
• Personalized Gift For Christmas – Custom Family Portrait From Photo
• I Love Poutine Fork 
• Handmade Unicorn Doll
• Waldorf cuddly doll > 20cm / 8″ pocket doll

Gifts for Babies

• Knitted animals for baby – Gio play gym accessories – Dino mix 
• My Little Morphée – Children Meditation Box
• Affiche Mes Premières Fois à Tamponner – Bébé peau foncée
• Circus Advent Calendar – Blue

Gift Ideas for Kids

• Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young ChangemakersThe Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series, featuring amazing young activists, innovators, creators, and more

• Slime – Momo Slimes – handmade, seasonal, and really special
• Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con™
• Wooden Beauty Set (play kit)
• Koolorez Dolls – share the beauty of the Caribbean and African culture. In two doll styles for children aged 2-10
• ALEX Toys Hair Chalk Salon Girls Hair Activity
• Josie’s Busy Calendar – A children’s book about self-care and managing overwhelm.
• Rock Painting Kit, Exssary Kids Crafts 
• Knex Lincoln Logs Collector’s Edition Village Building Set
• All the LOL Dolls and assorted things – houses, cars, books, and more

Decor gift ideas – via Etsy

• House watercolour print by Micush
• Macrame wall hanging, woven wall art by TamarSamplonius
• Pottery pour over by Emburr
• Half face vase by NewChapterNewHome

Top Books for Gifts

While books are a highly personal choice and everyone has something different they want from a new book, these are a few of the books trending on TikTok (#BookTok), Amazon, GoodReads, and a few of my own personal favourites.

Kids Books

• Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years
• Sparky!
• Princess Naomi Helps a Unicorn!
• Hey Girl! Empowering Journal for girls: To Develop Gratitude and Mindfulness through Positive Affirmations

Books for Teens

• HeartStopper – Graphic Novel Series
• A Broken Blade
• The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue

Books for Adults

• The Secret History (James’ top pick)
• 101 Essays that will change the way you think
• Book Lovers
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
• Girl In Pieces
• Hidden Pictures: A Novel 

Gifts for Nature-Lovers and Outdoorsy People

For those of us who would rather be outside than bundled up indoors, these are the coolest gifts to encourage their insanity passion.

• Apple Watch Ultra – longer battery, extended cell coverage, compass, maps, fitness tracker, and siren (just in case!)
• Waterproof hiking pants: YSENTO Men’s Winter Fleece Skiing Snow Pants Waterproof Softshell Insulated Hiking Cargo Pants
• Snowshoes: MSR Lightning Ascent Backcountry & Mountaineering Snowshoes with Paragon Bindings

• Snow pants/bib: Mountain Hardwear Firefall™ Bib – Men’s via Altitude Sports or Newffr Men’s Snow Bib Water-Resistant Insulated Waterproof Snow Pants Ski Snowboard Overalls
• Snow-ready goggles: Oakley Fall Line M Goggles – Factory Pilot Black – Prizm Snow Sapphire Iridium Lens
• Coffee mug / Water bottle for any adventure: Anything from HydroFlask is a win!
• Adventure-ready snacks: Cliff Bars – Energy Bars – Variety Pack – Plant-Based

• More to come…

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