The Awesome Guide to Gift Giving

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Last year we compiled a series of detailed gift guides for the host/hostess, the sports nut, the person who has everything, the fashionista, the foodie, the world traveller, and the music lover.  This year we’re going to let you in on our favourite places to pick up unique and specialty gifts, both in store and on-line.  Some of these shops win huge bonus points for helping you check off multiple recipients all in one go and if you’re not a fan of the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, not to worry, you won’t find a single one of these places in the mall.  Yay for (quasi) independent retailers!

Online

Etsy: This site gets mentioned in what feels like every other post, and for that reason, needs no introduction. We love Etsy for just about anything handmade, but in particular for accessories, art prints, stationary and small home decor items. Check out Pomp & Ceremony for awesome Liberty of London pocket squares and ties, Shay D Design for funky bohemian jewelry, Alexandra Ferguson for cheeky throw pillows, Arkens Jewelry Box for microthin gold and silver stacking rings, LoVintage Finds for awesome vintage decor, and JM Barclay for affordable photographic prints.

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Uncommon Goods: This site is home to a huge array of unique and unusual gift ideas at a variety of price points. Many items are quirky and highly specialized, so if you’re looking for a gift for a music loving wino or a sailing chef, this is the place. Uncommon Goods has something for everyone, from your free spirited sister to your introverted uncle.  I am personally a fan of the wide array of fun foodie focused gifts, from a molecular gastronomy kit to an epic artisal salt chest.

In Toronto

The Distillery District Christmas Market and Distillery Shops: I have purchased some of my best gifts ever (last year’s tin can banjo was a major point scorer) during the holiday market in the Distillery District. On now until December 15th, the market opens the district up to small retailers and artists who sell their wares in huts placed along the cobblestone roads alongside the permanent shops. I’m a big fan of Blackbird Vintage for pretty vintage inspired gifts and Jacob & Sebastian for amazing high end bath products and candles, but the district is yet another goldmine for hostess gifts and food lovers. The beautiful, rustic decor, mulled wine, and gourmet food huts also go along way to making this a prime holiday shopping destination.

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Niagara’s Wines

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This past weekend, we gathered Kelly’s closest girlfriends for a weekend to celebrate her upcoming nuptials in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This post isn’t meant to be a play by play of the weekend’s activities and events, though.  Rather, the time away served as a great reminder of the fantastic wines this region of Niagara produces. With the holidays and New Year around the corner, I thought I’d share my favorites, whether to take to a party or to pour a glass (or three) and enjoy in your cozy home with dinner as the temperature dips outside.

wine collageI should preface this by saying I am by no means an expert. I know a little about tannins (bitterness), sweetness, acidity, weight and the very basics where wine pairings are concerned. But let me to point you in two directions for more information: your local LCBO staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful and a visit to the wineries themselves is extra special (not to mention much cheaper to buy the wine).

This weekend we traveled around to a handful of vineyards with Niagara Getaways. Jeff, our tour guide, was really informative and entertaining, and incorporated larger and more well-known, award-winning wineries in our tour along with smaller ones (Between the Lines, as an example, only sells out of their store and online). Taking the tour allowed us all to sample the wines as much as we’d like without having to spit out our samples and worry about driving. Of course, by the 5th winery, our discerning tastes were long gone. If you take an afternoon tour, you may be lucky enough to catch a gorgeous sunset like we did – picture perfect against the vineyards.

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And here you have it.. my favorite Niagara wines: Continue reading →

Holiday Host(ess) Guide (part II)

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With Hanukkah officially under way and Christmas right around the corner, our calendars are already jam packed with holiday parties. While outfits and accessories might be the priority for big events, for those hosted by friends or family members you may want to turn your mind to how to say thanks to your host or hostess. While a bottle of wine is always easy, we prefer gifting something creative and/or personal. T’is the season after all! Last year we blogged about hostess gifts at a variety of price points (including several DIY options). We’re still pretty big fans of all those ideas, so we’ve simply added a few new items to the list. Happy party hopping!

1) Hostess gift box. Not the creative type? Let the people at Brika do your work for you and pick up one (or several) of their specially designed hostess gift boxes. Too late to order on line? Not a problem – Brika currently has a pop up shop at the Bay.

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2) 2014 Calendar. While paper calendars have lost much of their utility, I still appreciate them as a functional piece of art. Last year I picked up two beautiful art print calendars in the Distillery District (I believe they were from Blackbird Vintage) and still have a small 2012 calendar from Labour of Love hanging in my kitchen.

3) A Growler. While a bottle of wine might be readily overlooked, a spunky reusable growler like this one from West Elm is sure to stand out. Fill it with mulled wine or cider.

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4) Cocktail syrups or bitters. Help stock your host’s bar with specialty items like ginger syrup from the Drake General Store or some Woodford reserve spiced cherry bitters from BYOB Cocktail Emporium. Continue reading →

Keep Warm: Homemade Wonton Soup

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One of my favorite ways to spend an evening with friends is cooking together.  Last week as the temperature dropped in Toronto, a good friend and I decided to spend our planned evening of quality time and catching up by reprising what was a most successful cooking evening last year: making fresh wontons.

After reading through a few different recipes and settling on pork and shrimp as the main fillers, we doubled the recipe, wrote out a shopping list and headed out to the grocery store together. You’ll see that the ingredients are simple and lean and the recipe couldn’t be any less demanding: just throw all of the chopped ingredients into a bowl and mix.  While years ago it may have taken a trip to Chinatown to get wonton wrappers, they are available in your most basic of grocery stores around town now – just take a look in the refrigerated tofu areas, usually near the produce and fresh herbs.

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Holiday DIY essentials

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Whatever holiday you’re celebrating this winter (if any), if you’re looking to add some festive decor to your home or a personal touch to gift-giving, there are a few DIY essentials you should have in your toolbox. With these ten items you’ve got everything you need to make homemade gifts, wrapping paper and labels; to decorate for holiday parties; to get cozy for the winter weather; and to turn inexpensive items into showpieces.

1) Spray Paint: My love of spray paint knows no bounds. Particularly if your holiday decor has a specific colour scheme, it’s time to make spray paint your best friend. Matte white has long been an essential in my home, but metallics are an amazing addition for the holiday season. Turn cheap dollar store or garage sale tjotkes into Anthropologie-esque ornaments, gild that ugly green tree stand, coordinate pinecones, customize serving ware (handles only please!) or even add a festive touch to furniture.

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2) Twine: A roll of twine has the power to give boring every day objects a rustic flare. Wrap around glass candle holders or mason jars to cover ugly labels or turn a plain jar into a winter vase; use in place of ribbon to wrap gifts or to hang DIY ornaments; or tie a cinnamon stick around cloth napkins for a festive place setting.

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