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What to Buy the Person Who Has Everything
We all know at least one…that person who is impossible to buy for. Whether every year they claim they just ‘don't need anything', they're very picky, or they're so up on what's new and cool they've already got the latest ‘it' thing. Click through our guide for some unique, ‘didn't think of that!' gift ideas that are sure to please even the fussiest of friends.
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Yoga Design Lab Mats
Hands down, these are the prettiest yoga mats we've ever seen, and they'd make a chic upgrade to your favourite yogi's current mat. They're pretty as a work of art, and functional, too. You can also buy hot yoga towels and travel mats.
$78 per mat, available at yogadesignlab.com.
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Ticketmaster Gift Card
Giving the gift of a concert or show is a lovely idea—but the logistics of picking a time and place that work for your recipient make this a tough one to give. Which is why giving a Ticketmaster gift card is a favourite gift idea of ours. Your friend can put it towards the performance of their choice at a time that works for them—but it feels more personal than a gift card to Tim's.
Available at ticketmaster.ca.
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Custom Photo Bag
Did you know Staples will whip you up a canvas tote bag with a photo on it? What proud parent or grandparent wouldn't love a tote with their favourite family pic on it?
$26, available at staples.ca.
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‘Favourite Things’ Gift Basket
A bottle of wine may feel ho-hum on its own, but when paired with some cheese and crackers, olives, spreads, and fancy mustards, you suddenly have a gift that's special and thoughtful. Pick a theme like 'Movie Night In' (wine, popcorn, Junior Mints, and a few DVD's), 'Date Night' (high-quality dried pasta, fresh homemade or store-bought sauce, champagne, and chocolates) or 'Spa Night' (face masks, nail polish, and a fluffy robe) and you're set. For families, we love giving a Sundae Kit (sprinkles, cones, jars of sauces, and candies). It's never not appreciated.
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Crafting with Feminism: 25 Girl-Powered Projects to Smash the Patriarchy, by Bonnie Burton.
For your bestie with a fun sense of humour, or the smart and spunky millennial in your life, this crafting book is sure to elicit a wide grin. Author Bonnie Burton married two things she feels passionately about, feminism, and a love for fun, whimsical crafts in this books that's hilarious, light-hearted, and sassy. It's as much fun simply to read and flip through as it is to make the crafts. A few of our faves: the ‘Pizza Not Patriarchy Reusable Lunch Bag', ‘Feminist Badges of Honour', and ‘Peace and Equali-tea Aromatherapy Candles'. Can we glue it? Yes we can!
$19.78, available at amazon.ca.
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Tile Tracking Device
Find your bike, the remote, your phone, your keys, a kiddo's favourite stuffie, or anything else by attaching a Tile to it. It wirelessly connects to a mobile device and works for up to 100 feet. Perfect for that friend who is always late because they couldn't find their keys.
$25 for one, available at thetileapp.com
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The Grace Factor, by Deborah Williams
Ladies, question for you: who taught you how to do your makeup? Did you figure it out as you went along? When was the last time you were taught any techniques by an expert? Deborah Williams is a Toronto-based makeup artist who is filling a huge gap in the market: makeup tips, instruction, and products made specifically for women over 50. (Because we all know that the products and techniques we used at 20 are not working at 50.) We are in love with Deborah's ethos of simple beauty that's all about bringing out your inner confidence and making you feel happy. Deborah recently published a book of makeup tips and instruction, and if your recipient is based in Toronto, you can arrange for a makeup lesson (which includes colour advice, brow analysis, product recommendations, full make-up application and step-by-step instructions) with Deborah at her Beaches studio.
$20, available at gracemakeup.com
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FitBit Blaze
Part watch, part wearable fitness tracker, this sleek device will track your steps, heartrate, sleep patterns, and much, much more. It's smart enough that tech-lovers will be thrilled, but approachable enough for folks who have never used a fitness tracker will love it too. It's sweat, rain, and splash proof, and comes in a modern unisex design. Since it looks like a watch, it's more wearable and fashionable than other fitbit's on the market.
$300, available at thebay.com and fitbit.com.
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The Chef and the Dish Culinary Experience
The Chef and the Dish is an online culinary school that connect chefs with home cooks (and their friends!) for a private cooking class via Skype. Each class lasts 2 – 2 ½ hours and celebrates the culinary culture of the region selected, taught by professionally accredited chef. Ideal for tech savvy and adventurous foodies! See our full review of this experience here.
$300, available at thechefandthedish.com
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Consonant Gym & Travel Starter Kit
Consonant specializes in high quality natural skincare, and their motto is ‘what goes on you, goes in you'—so all their products are formulated without scary dyes, fragrances, and chemicals found on the ‘hot list'. Their products are gentle on sensitive and eczema-prone skin, and we've been fans for years. We love this gym or travel kit which contains all of their best sellers and comes in a cute travel bag made from organic cotton.
$50, available at sephora.ca.
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KATE SPADE NEW YORK Stainless Steel Tumbler
Tea and coffee drinkers can always use a new travel mug (they're always getting lost, left behind, and dented). And chances are whatever they're using now is nowhere near as pretty as this Kate Spade stainless steel beaut. The double wall insulation keeps drinks hot, it fits in a cup holder, has a non-slip bottom and is BPA free.
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Adopt an Animal
Our fave gift for animal lovers: adopt an animal in their name. The gift supports the conservation efforts of WWF and helps to protect wildlife and their habitats. Keep it Canadian and adopt a caribou, narwhal, grizzly bear or Arctic hare, or go international and adopt an African elephant, hippopotamus, snow leopard, tiger, giant panda or white-handed gibbon. The 'adoption kit' comes with a stuffed toy, adoption certificate, poster, conversation work info, WWF tote bag, and a tax receipt for the purchaser.
$40, available at wwf.ca.
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DYSON Supersonic Hair Dryer
It's the hairdryer that blew the beauty world away this year. It smoothes, protects, de-frizzes, adds shine, doesn't damage hair and dries locks in a fraction of the time. It also comes with an eye-popping price tag. Group gift anyone? (PS: read the ‘is it worth it?' review our friends at Urbanmoms wrote).
$500, available at thebay.com.
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TOMS Tote
This big, sturdy tote can take whatever you throw in it. Perfect for lugging groceries, packing up to go to the cottage, or as a catch-all when you've graduated from a diaper bag but still have a ton to pack when you leave the house. Plus, for every bag purchased, TOMS will help provide a safe birth for a mother and baby in need.
$41, available at toms.ca.