Dec
2018
Thinking of you: Three sentimental gifts for the holidays
Okay, so we all have that friend who may not be into makeup as much as we are.
The best part about the holidays is when it comes to gifting, really, the skies the limit. Maybe an eyeshadow palette may be high on one person’s list, but someone else would rather have a donation in their name. Hey, to each their own, right?
Anyways, since not everyone is into beauty, I wanted to mention a few other goodies which would make fabulous gifts this season. From a book that does an animal good to ways to share memories.
Drawn Free
It may not come across here as much, but I am absolutely obsessed with dogs. My American Eskimo dog Ziggy is my best friend and soul mate. If I could, I would do absolutely everything with him. Unfortunately though, only some businesses allow dogs in their stores 😛 (God bless you Indigo and Urban Barn).
Anyways, if you have a dog lover in your life, then take a look at the book Drawn Free, which chronicles dog’s adoption stories all through watercolour paintings. Available to order online, Drawn Free is a beautiful work of art that shares stories of adoption dogs from all over the world. Mostly happy stories (although there are a few sad ones), artist and writer James Wadley will have you tearing up reading about these sweet angels.
Best of all, each book sale directly benefits no-kill shelters and rescue organizations around the world in the country in which the book was purchased. For instance, if you buy the book from Canada, he will donate a portion of the sales to a no-kill shelter here in Canada. Same if you are from Brazil, Columbia, the U.S. etc.
I keep mine on my coffee table and read it to Ziggy before bed. Ziggy was purchased from a breeder, but my parent’s American Eskimo dog Chase was adopted from a rescue here in Winnipeg, so rescue dogs are very near and dear to my heart (I mean, all dogs are very near and dear to my heart). James also offers watercolour portraits of your own pets (he drew Ziggy for me earlier this month), so if you wanted to send him a photo of your bestie’s dog for him to draw, then make sure you check out their website and get in touch.
Instax Share SP-3 Printer
I absolutely love my Instax cameras, but since the film is so expensive, I hate it when I take a photo and then turns out I blinked (or it was overexposed/too dark).
Instead of gifting an Instax camera this year (although the new Instax Square SQ6 are sooo cool as well!), take a look at their printers, which print photos on the same film but allow you to choose the photo from your phone, edit it, and then print it the same way as the cameras (perfect for your friend who always travels and wants to print off some memories the old fashioned way).
The Instax Share SP-3 (available in white and black) connects to your phone through a WiFi connection and the Instax SHARE app. Choose the photo you want printed, edit it, then send it to the printer. The app also allows you to throw a filter on the photo, tinker with the lighting, collage a couple photos into one, and put a caption on it. This way you know you aren’t wasting the film and always end up with the perfect shot every time.
The Instax Share SP-3 retails for a little more than the cameras (honestly, both are great gift ideas though!) at C$249.99. I also want to note that the printer does not include the film, which I feel like for $250 FUJIFILM could have included a 10-pack in here. Also, this particular printer only takes the square film, which retails for C$12.99 a pack (although if you buy them in bulk, it’ll cost a little less).
These things are so fun that I guarantee you anyone you gift it to will absolutely adore it (and maybe print off a couple photos of you guys together as well).
Coal and Canary Sweater Weather candle set
We all know that certain scents evoke memories for people, so for that friend who wants to feel cozy this season, take a look at gifting some candles (which are always a good idea, might I add).
I’ve chatted about various candles on here (I love Nest Fragrances as well), but Coal and Canary are very near and dear to my heart since they’re based locally here in Winnipeg.
Although there are a ton of different sets to gift this year (including these Sephora-exclusive ones), I’ve been obsessed with their Sweater Weather gift set (C$50), which includes five fall-scented votives to fall in love with.
Included in this set are five three-ounce votives in the scents Chunky Knit Sweater (notes of pumpkin, pecans, vanilla cake, and hints of spice); Cable Knit Scarf (notes of toasted hazelnuts, vanilla and butter); The Cider Made Me Do It (notes of McIntosh, Red Delicious, and Fuji apple); Gimme Some Sugar (notes of brown sugar, yam, honey, and vanilla); and Warm Wooly Mittens, which is only available in this set (notes of almond, cherry and orange blossom).
If you’ve never experienced a Coal and Canary candle before, they feature a wooden wick, which crackles when lit. It’s like you have The Fireplace Channel on in your bedroom/living room (but on a much smaller level). Trust me, you’ll love this set so much that you’ll even want to pick one up for yourself!
If you are interested in this set, you can score an additional 15% off with code SHAYNA15 on their site.
From candles to printers to even dogs, there’s lots to gift this year that will go above and beyond and might even make your recipient tear up a bit. I think all of these gifts make amazing presents and show that it’s the thought that truly counts (but in a good way of course).
Do you have someone who is hard to buy for on your list?
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