I love the holidays! I love my friends and family! And I absolutely love both giving and receiving gifts! It’s that time of year where most people are starting to create wish lists for the holidays, or (if they’re on their game) already in the midst of buying gifts for others. As mentioned in my first blog post I’ve discovered some pretty cool brands lately that I’ve been wanting to share with you. More than just being unique gifts, all gift ideas listed below are from 100% Canadian companies. I think Canada is pretty great, and we’ve got some amazing brands in our own backyard. It’s important to me to support local companies who are kicking butt in their respective fields, and have something of value to share with people like you and me. And don’t worry – if you don’t live in Canada, lots of these companies ship worldwide! So you can take home a little piece of Canada too. Want to know what the best part is though? All of these gift ideas are under $50!! So if you’re tight on money, or need some stocking stuffer ideas that aren’t Christmas oranges and chocolate (or like me, have a bunch of Texas Gift Exchanges to take part in), the below 10 gifts are great ideas for you! So without further ado, here is my Canadian Holiday Gift Guide for Under $50.
1) Milk Jar Candle Company – @milkjarcandleco
Candles are a huge part of my daily life. I almost always have them on my wish lists – “delicious, yummy smelling candles please”. Whether it’s adding them to epsom salt baths or just having them lit on the coffee table while working on my computer, they just change the feel of a room in an instant. What we’re not always aware of though is that there are a lot of harmful chemicals in most candles. We so regularly associate candles with “self-care”, but are we actually taking care of ourselves if we’re exposing ourselves to toxins in the process? That’s where Milk Jar Candle Company comes in. Their soy candles have a natural wood wick and are free of paraffin wax, palm wax, and dyes. They focus on clean burning – the way it should be. Hand poured in Calgary, Alberta (wooo hometown!), I almost died of ecstasy when I smelled the Suede candle THROUGH THE BOX. That’s how delicious it is. And on top of that, Milk Jar donates $1 of every sale to special needs programs for youth in Calgary. If you have a candle lover in your life, look no further than these amazing hand crafted pieces.
2) Kozliks – @kozliksmustard
I will admit my mustard game is pretty weak. Old style dijon mustard is probably the most daring I’ve gone when purchasing mustard. Well – that has officially changed. Kozliks mustard has introduced me to the exciting world of this beloved condiment. Family owned and operated for over 60 years, Kozliks produces hand made mustard in small batches that is gluten free, non-GMO and contains absolutely no additives or preservatives. Oh, and they also have some wild flavours. My favourite is Amazing Maple, but some other noteworthy jars are Balsamic Fig and Dates, Delectable Dill and Orange and Ginger. On top of mustard they also sell rubs and BBQ sauces (Bryan now puts their Maple Whisky sauce on EVERYTHING). Kozliks retail shop is located in the St. Lawrence market in Toronto, and they also sell in various grocery stores throughout the country. Or you can order an array of kick-butt mustards for any of your foodie friends right from their website.
3) Etee – @shopetee
I first heard about Etee the way many of us learn about cool new brands nowadays – social media. I was scrolling through Facebook, and saw an ad for these food wraps. It seemed interesting and different so I watched the video. The second it was over, I went online and ordered a Starter Pack. I loved the concept and also felt really good about spending the money because of what they’re all about. Etee stands for everything touches everything else. Essentially, Etee strives to reduce our daily waste and exposure to the toxins found in plastic. Their food wraps are reusable, compostable and completely plastic free. I ordered my Etee wraps almost a year ago, and they are still alive and kicking! I use them to cover bowls of half eaten meals I want to save and all of my fruits and veggies that are cut up in the fridge. Etee now has even more products available like snack and sandwich bags, so that you no longer have to pack your food to go in a ziplock bag. I didn’t realize how much plastic I was wasting on a daily basis until I started using my Etee wraps. Now I am so aware of every time I reach for plastic wrap or ziplock bags, and I’m so grateful to companies like Etee for helping change the way we store food! This is the perfect gift for anyone on your list who loves food and is environmentally conscious.
4) GoodStuff – @viraonehealth
I met Mark, one of the founders of ViraOne, this past September at a TIFF event. We chatted about the GoodStuff Chocolate Chaga smooth mix, and I loved everything about it. It’s filled with superfoods and super herbs, is vegan, gluten free, non-GMO and sustainable. It also has no fillers, no sugar, soy, dairy, corn, pesticides, additives, or preservatives. Hello, sign me up! He gifted me with a bag, and I couldn’t wait to try it when I got home. And then, well…life. It sat at the bottom of a box while moving stuff around my place and I completely forgot about it. Fast forward two months later and after rediscovering it, I decided to add it to my morning smoothie. Oh. My. God. What had I been doing missing out on this heavenly mix? I was utterly blown away at how delicious it was. I generally make pretty healthy and decently yummy smoothies, but the addition of this mix made it taste like a dessert. But a dessert filled with no sugar and the best ingredients ever for your system. This gift is perfect for anyone health conscious, that also wants their food to taste great!
5) ME to WE – @metowe
For those of you who haven’t heard of this incredible organization, here’s what they’re all about: ME to WE is an innovative social enterprise that empowers people to change the world with their everyday consumer choices. There are many branches within the organization including WE Charity (formerly Free The Children), and the hugely popular and inspiring WE Day events. I could go on forever, but I highly recommend visiting the website, as there are so many incredible ways to get involved. I purchased the beautiful bracelet pictured above, which was handmade by a woman in Kenya, empowering her and all of the other women who create these gorgeous products. On their website (and in store in Toronto and Ottawa) they’ve got a wide array of stunning jewellery, chocolate, bags and totes, notebooks and stationary, and the list goes on. This gift is perfect for someone who wants to make a difference in the world!
6) Perth Soap Co. – @theperthsoapco
Surprise – another brand I met during TIFF! This was serendipitous though, as I had just visited Perth, ON for the first time the weekend prior. I walked into their booth, and my first thought was “wow, this product is gorgeous”. Then I started exploring the different scents they had to offer, and I was even more in love. From Sparkling Champagne to Rosemary Mint, the combinations they have created are subtle yet so refreshing. Bryan and I now have all of our bathrooms decked out in Perth Soap Co. products, with our favourite scent being Moroccan Spice. On top of luxury soap bars, Perth Soap Co. also has body lotion, liquid soaps and cleansing oils (which I didn’t think I would enjoy using, but it’s my new favourite shower product). They design their products with the belief that they “should create an experience that will enrich your daily routine and enhance your quality of life”. I can attest that they do, and think this would be the perfect gift for anyone on your list who loves to feel (and smell) good!
7) Indigo – @chaptersindigo
We all know about Indigo Books. I walk in the store and am filled with a sense of possibility and curiosity. I could browse through books forever. While a book is always a fantastic gift, that’s not what I want to talk about here. Over the past few years Indigo has really upped their game in the home decor department. It’s another one of my go-to’s for gifts – you can never have too many buttery softs throws, now can you! And it doesn’t matter if my kitchen cupboards are overflowing with mugs, I MUST have that new adorable gold trimmed tea cup. But what I was surprised with during my last visit was how expansive their fashion section is now. There were purses, backpacks, ponchos and sweaters that I would have snatched up in a HEARTBEAT if I had an extra couple hundred bucks to spend that day. Instead, I settled on the blanket scarf pictured above because hello – Canadian winters. I wear it every day now. So if you’re looking to get all of your shopping done in one visit to the mall, don’t skip out on Indigo. You will be pleasantly surprised with what they have to offer!
8) DAVIDsTEA – @davidstea
While DAVIDsTEA may be more well known than other brands on this list, I couldn’t help but add it to my guide. They have the holiday gift thing on lockdown. When you walk into the store, there are ENDLESS option for fantastic gifts. Know the specific type of tea your loved one likes to drink? The incredibly helpful staff will guide you to teas that are similar, and also make fantastic suggestions if you feel like pushing the envelope a bit (guys, tea life can be crazy too!) Know that your person likes tea, but not sure what kind? Get them a tea set! What I love most about DAVIDsTEA is that you can purchase box sets with multiple different types of tea, which allows the drinker to try out teas they normally may shy away from in bulk. For example, as I’m writing this I’m drinking “Turmeric Glow” from the Wellness Book Box pictured above. I know that turmeric is fantastic for you, but I didn’t know it could be this delicious in tea form. Boom. Now I’ll go back to the store and grab a larger tin on my next visit. You really can’t go wrong with DAVIDsTEA!
9) Save Our Scruff – @saveourscruff
I was introduced to Save Our Scruff a couple of years ago. It all began with a follow on Instagram (who doesn’t love seeing dogs in their feed??). After learning more about them, I was hooked. SOS is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and finding suitable homes for dogs, while also raising awareness and finding fun ways to educate people on fostering and adoption. It’s run by dog loving volunteers, and they’ve got tons of incredible initiatives. You can purchase merchandise (like the shirt pictured above), sell calendars in your office to raise money, host an event with the proceeds going to SOS, donate old doggie supplies you no longer need, be a flight parent for a dog travelling from another country, volunteer at SOS events, foster a dog…the list is never ending. Save Our Scruff’s “Holiday “Pawty” is coming up on December 13th from 8pm – 11pm, so if you want to get involved while learning more about the organization and also have a really fun night out, this is the event for you! And if you have a dog lover on your list, SOS is the perfect place to purchase a t-shirt or even make a donation in their name.
10) Decadently Yours – @decadentlyyours
This is another company I met during TIFF. I came across their booth and obviously stopped to chat because – hello – cupcakes. Being gluten and dairy free, I don’t usually get to enjoy baked goods. I just look at them, salivate, shed a tear, and move on. But then…I saw that they had a whole section of vegan cupcakes. It was my lucky day! I quickly devoured one of their mini cupcakes and froze on the spot, filled with panic because I must have grabbed one of their regular cupcakes. There was NO WAY these cupcakes were gluten and dairy free, they were way too delicious. I think I had to ask three or four times if they were SURE these were vegan. They assured me time and time again that they were, and so I had a couple more and died and went to heaven for a few minutes. For those of you with no dietary issues, they also make regular cupcakes. And the most decadent cakes ever (hence the name). Baked fresh everyday with locally sourced ingredients, Decadently Yours is the perfect spot to go to if you’re on dessert duty for a holiday party! Or if you just want to treat yourself to some pre-holiday goodies 🙂
There you have it – my list of 10 Canadian brands with gifts under $50 for the 2018 Holiday season! If there are any other local brands you love, please comment below as I’m always on the hunt for great product! And if you have a budget over $50, click here for another great gift idea. In the meantime, happy shopping, and may you spend this Holiday season spreading health, love and joy <3
