Archive for December 2009
I don't know about you, but this time of year just isn't as fun as I rememeber it being as a kid. As a kid what was your major responsibility when it came to celebrating the holiday season? For me, it was to make my parents some crude holiday-related craft at school and wake up at dawn on Christmas day to open presents. Totally stress free. Now that I'm an adult (and I use that term lightly), there are a lot of stresses associated with the holiday season. Family obligations, friends to see, dinners to cook, dinners to attend, the endless parade of holiday parties, and I haven't even mentioned gifts. It's not the gift giving I have a problem with, it's the shopping - scavenging through the overcrowded malls and waiting in long lines with other tired and stressed-out shoppers. I said, No more! and for the past few years I order all my gifts online. Of course, this is not a novel idea and many people shop this way year round, myself included, but it can become a bit more daunting when you have several people to shop for. What sites should you visit?
I'm a big fan of department store sites where you can order gifts for your whole family in one spot, such as Nordstrom (they deliver to Canada too), and John Lewis in the UK. Most places will gift wrap, and shopping for one household on the same site saves on shipping costs too.
Gloves and Scarves for Her from Nordstrom
Hampers are terrific for families and couples because you only need to send one for a household and there is generally something in every hamper that will appeal to everyone. Once reserved solely for the British elite, high end grocer-turned-department-store Fortnum & Mason's charm has spread to to the masses, and now even delivers their world famous hampers to North America. With prices to suit all budgets they are really great way to send some love in a basket. They sell out quickly this time of year, but they still have several varieties available, so don't miss out.
Fortnum & Mason Christmas Hamper
For friends, co-workers and everyone in between, check out FredFlare.com. This quirky site has all kinds of inexpenisve gift ideas from the silly (bacon bandages anyone? $9), to the downright pretty (gold brocade tulle corset dress $52). And with almost everything under a hundred dollars, you might even have enough left over to buy yourself something to!
Pocket Guitar Hero from Fred Flare
Happy Holidays!
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