Can’t be bothered to make a list, much less check it twice? Tired of racking your brain to think of presents to buy for friends and extended family? Fashionista wants to make life easier for you. That means showing you the easiest and fastest ways to do your Christmas shopping.
Here are my clever tips:
1. Buy gift cards online – It’s fabulous. You don’t even need to go to the store. Most stores allow you to buy their gift cards online, including Winners, Homesense, Indigo/Chapters, Cineplex Odeon/Famous Players, Yorkdale mall and others. Who doesn’t love a gift card? Great idea for legal assistants who are tired of getting Pot of Gold.
2. Go to a one-stop shop – Yes, Chapters/Indigo sells books. But they also sell great little home décor products, bath products and children’s gifts. Also try the good old reliable department stores our parents used to frequent. Think how wonderful it would be to pull up to The Bay, run in and buy everything you need in one trip? Trust me, it can be done.
3. Buy everything online – As you know, I’m a big proponent of online shopping. Now that the Canadian dollar is so strong, it’s a good opportunity to buy something from the States that you know your gift recipient can’t get here. Check out Sephora’s website for great gift sets.
4. Be charitable – Do you really think your mother wants another small appliance or an apron with her name on it? Not likely. However, she may appreciate a charitable gift made in her name. Unicef has great ‘gifts’ where you can spend a certain amount and let the recipient know exactly where their money went – i.e., a “Gift of Care” provides vitamins, medicine and school books and fees for one year for a child orphaned by AIDS. The cynic in me can’t help but point out that the gift-giver gets a tax receipt.
Of course, Fashionista would be pleased to receive any of the aforementioned items from her loyal fans and readers.
Fashionable Find Alert! Hidden in the depths of TD Centre is an amazing little bath and beauty boutique that has taken in a lot of Fashionista’s money lately! Blossom Lounge is located in the concourse level right beside Bymark Restaurant. They carry Cake, Philosophy, Pacifica Candles and other amazing smelling bath and beauty lines! Lovely gift packaging is free!
Purse Accessory Alert! Want to buy a fashionable gift and support a law student at the same time? Western law student Dana Bennie has a company that sells purse hooks. The hook attaches to most tables and counters and gives you a clever way to keep your purse off the floor when you go out. Hooks are $15. To order, visit the Purks Inc. website.
Have a question for the Fashionista? Seek her counsel at fashionista@lawandstyle.beta-site.ca