The holiday season is a fascinating time of year for many. Christmas is on the same day every year. There are millions of dollars spent by companies of all sizes reminding us to get our holiday shopping done early – every store, shopping centre and coffee shop is transformed into a holiday wonderland almost as soon as the pumpkins from Halloween are stashed away. And yet, for oh so many, it tends to all come down to a mad rush at the 11th hour to accomplish those little tasks we need to do before December 25th!
If you are one of the MANY who find themselves racing about to get their holiday ‘to do’ list actually done, here are some fantastic resources to help you along the way:
- Need a personal, thoughtful gift but no time to wait in long shopping line-ups?
- Finding the perfect gift for someone who seem to have everything they ‘need’ and is always on the move can be very challenging – and the ‘gift card’ option can lack the personal touch! We each have small ways that we like to pamper ourselves – which can be quick and easy to set up.
- To ensure your loved one has something more than an envelope to unwrap under the tree combine a gift certificate option with a related physical item: for the spa lover tuck a half or full day spa treatment certificate into the pocket of a plush robe, for the athlete – include introductory sessions to a new sport/activity with a piece of athletic apparel, for the photo buff/ fledgling artist insert a certificate to their favourite camera/art shop or a digital photography class into a picture frame, for the foodie – wrap a bottle of wine with a dinner certificate to that new restaurant s/he has been eyeing
- Have children to shop for but unsure as to what is appropriate?
- Children can be difficult to buy for – especially for those who aren’t parents themselves, and ensuring that a gift is age appropriate is very important. Toys R Us takes some of the guess work out of toy shopping with a very convenient on-line shopping guide for every age group ranging from infant to 16yrs. Visit their web guide at Toys R Us and shipping is still guaranteed in time for Christmas if you act quickly.
- Holiday baking causing you to panic?
- When you need to provide dinner or even just dessert to a group of people it can be harrowing if you haven’t had time to research or test a recipe. There are some fabulous online resources which include step by step recipes, time-lines, ingredient ideas and most importantly – public reviews to help you decide what falls within your skill level and the satisfaction expectations. Visit Epicurious for thousands of recipe ideas, tips, recipe ratings and user reviews. Using your mobile you can also download the app which is helpful when shopping for required ingredients.
- Need somewhere to take visiting friends and family?
- Every city/town or community generally has an event calendar with activities ranging from free ice skating sessions, artisan events, donation based garden and light displays, paid holiday concert listings and community theatre plays or performances. A quick Google search with ‘holiday event calendar’ and the location you are looking for should assist you in finding easy, local outings to impress your visitors and add some interest to your holiday calendar. For Toronto listings visit Toronto Event Calendar.
All the best to you and yours during this holiday season!