This post will be somewhat of a departure from my regular posts- sort of... My aim:
To Keep You SANE in the upcoming Holiday Season by helping you out in the gift shopping department.
Over the years I have searched far and wide to find that perfect, unique and special gift for all my recipients on my list. Gradually I began to avoid the crowded malls of madness that only lead to frustration and misery- and alot of wasted time! I instead turned to the internet- a one stop shopping mall where I could compare prices, find unique items, and stay sane because I avoided the malls (and could better control my budget). Eventually I bought 90% or more from internet stores! So here is my list of tried and true places to do my Christmas shopping...
http://www.grandrivertoys.com/
If you asked me to list only one website to recommend this would likely be it. It has been my secret weapon when shopping for my kids.
~Canadian
~ships to USA and Canada
~has many unique items for all ages
~has deals often on shipping~website is easy to use and had items categorized by age, gender, and type of item for ease of narrowing your search
~customer service is excellentAlbris Books
http://www.alibris.com/
~this is great for finding rare and out of print books
~ships to Canada and USA
Replacements
http://www.replacements.com/index.htm~find a replacement for that long ago broken china piece to locating a collectible thought unattainable- this is the place.
~ships to Canada and USA
PBS
http://www.shoppbs.org/home/index.jsp?clickid=mainnav_home_img
~Public Television products that range from CD's, DVD's and much more. Watch your favorite concert over and over!
~ships to USA and Canada
Wild Horse Feathers
http://www.wildhorsefeathers.com/
~perfect for the girls in your life that are horse lovers!
~ships to USA and Canada
Department 56
http://www.department56.com/
~a variety of collectables, including lighted houses
~ships to USA and limitted locations
Lego
http://shop.lego.com/en-CA/?CMP=KAC-SAHGOOGLECA&HQS=lego
~half the time when I am looking for a specific Lego set at the toy store it is sold out. So here is the solution!
~ships to Canada and the USA
Cherry Lane Keepsakes
http://www.cherrylanecollection.com/
~has everything from figurines, to jewelry and teapots. I bought the cutest tea set that I saw in Banff, but didn't have half the pieces in the store and the teapot was chipped. Still in love with the set, I found it online here.
~ships to USA, Canada and Internationally
NA Noel (artist)
http://www.nanoel.com/
~I have been a fan of her work for many years now. The only way to describe her paintings...stunning. There are a wide variety of pieces to choose from as well as a wide variety in pricing too- something for every budget. Books available too.
~ships to Canada and USA
Donna Green (artist)
http://www.donnagreen.com/index.php
~another amazing artist who came on my radar when I acquired the Velveteen Rabbit. Her illustrations are beautiful. I ordered a print in which the fairy came to make the rabbit real.
~ships to Canada and USA
Dover Saddlery
http://www.doversaddlery.com/
~a wide variety of tack and riding apparel. Some good buys to be had too.
~ships to USA and Canada
Brookstone
http://www.brookstone.com/
~looking for nifty gift ideas- this is the place!
~ships to Canada and the USA
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/
~over the years I have primarily shopped .com vs .ca. Often I have found that there is more product selection on .com as well as faster shipping in many cases. There are however some items occasionally that will not ship to Canada. Also can get Super Saver Shipping.
~ships to Canada and USA
Klutz
http://www.klutz.com/
~I love these "books". If you are trying to find a unique gift that is not a toy for your child, these fit the bill nicely. Everything from making paper airplanes to friendship bracelets, all the supplies are provided along with detailed instructions. There are science based projects as well!
~ships to USA and Canada
Le Cognac
http://le-cognac.com/
~this is Cognac straight from France...need I say more?
~ships Internationally
Fine Cell Work
http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/shop
~this is unique in that here you will only find items made by prisoners in the UK trained in fine needlework. The aim is to not just provide a new learned skill, but to foster hope and discipline. They do beautiful work!
~ships Internationally
Ehrman Tapestry
http://www.ehrmantapestry.com/default.aspx
~if you have a needlework junkie on your gift list, this is the place for WOW.
~ships Internationally
Janine Payer (artisan jewler)
http://www.jeaninepayer.com/
~If you are looking for meaningful jewelry...this is most definitely the place. All items are engraved in poetry. Truly unique.
~ships Internationally
Boys to Men Gifts
http://www.boystomengifts.com/
~sometimes the men in our lives can be hard to buy for... this has some really neat gifts.
~ships USA and Canada (from Vancouver)
Note: Though I have used them a number of times in the past, I have not been able to get onto their website the past few days. I am not sure if their site is temporarily down or if they are no longer in business.
Discovery Channel Store
http://store.discovery.com/
~a huge variety of items to "discover".
~ships to USA and Canada
New Zealand Nature Company
http://www.nznature.co.nz/default.aspx
~I found this site when I was looking for sheepskin slippers a few years ago.
~ships Internationally
Red Envelope
http://www.redenvelope.com/
~love this site! Only drawback is that they only ship to the USA... So every time I celebrate Christmas with family in Oklahoma, I order and have it sent there. I also use them for birthdays quite often for my family in the USA.
~ships to USA only
LL Bean
http://www.llbean.com/?nav=gn
~from clothing to outdoor gear...it's all here for the outdoorsy types on your list.
~ships Internationally
Lands End
http://www.landsend.com/canada/
~a variety of clothing and outerwear
~ships to Canada and USA
Sharper Image
http://www.sharperimage.com/
~ships to USA only now, and no longer has retail stores
~a gadget lovers dream
~many unique items
I loved them! I bought countless things from them and was never disappointed. Sadly, since they restructured they no longer ship to Canada.
Spoon Sisters
https://www.spoonsisters.com/
~unique all the way- you and your recipient are sure to smile.
~ships Internationally
Ebay
http://www.ebay.ca/
http://www.ebay.com/
This can be a great way to have access to TONS of variety. I have purchased a handmade Quilt, Dishes to add to my china set, a Birdcage, live Orchids, a Designer Diane Von Furstenberg Dress, Collector Comics, a Designer Watch, a Signed OU Football, Collector Figurines, and much much more. Most of the time things have worked out fabulously. However, occasionally I have found myself in a lurch when an item has shown up late, or told weeks later that they are no longer in stock of that item, or the item was sent to the wrong address. My advice?...shop here earlier to give yourself extra time for things to ship, especially if they are international. Surprisingly things from the UK to Canada don't take really much longer (if any) to arrive than from the USA. My other recommendation...check the score or rating of the seller as well as the comments that other buyers have left- this will give you an idea of how reliable the seller is as well as how quickly they ship, etc. Also, don't be afraid to contact the seller either and be aware that not all sellers ship international- when in doubt ask.
Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/
~if you are tired of the same old things...this is the place to look. Handmade, vintage and much much more is what this shopping experience provides. Love it!
~ships USA and Canada, possibly International (check for availability)
Border Free
Border Free
~ this is for just us Canuks/Canadians. Here you will be directed to a variety of shops that will ship to Canada and lay out exactly what you will pay in shipping and duty- no surprises!
Blurb
http://www.blurb.com/
~stumped for the recipient who has it all or just want to give something a bit more personal?...make your own book! Make a collection of photos, or combine your favorite poetry, write down your family stories, or just make one up! The possibilities are endless.
One more tip: Be aware you will be paying not only shipping but potentially duties/brokerage fees as well, depending on what country you order from. You must weigh the cost of this vs what you may be paying for in gas, driving from store to store looking for a particular gift, not to mention your time (and stress) shopping in busy malls and stores. Sometimes things are over priced too in box stores and you can find a better deal online...but remember to factor in shipping and duties too once again. To offset the cost of shipping many online retailers offer deals of various sorts (especially at this time of year). Also consider using the online store's gift wrapping service and mail the item directly to your recipient if you won't be seeing them face to face for the holidays. In most cases it is around a $5.00 fee.
All in all I have preferred my online shopping experiences to that of box stores. The variety is better and I can compare prices with the click of a mouse. Most of all... I avoid the craziness and frustration of fighting traffic to get to the mall, then finding a parking spot (this is the cruel joke of being at the mall but cannot yet enter it's doors for another half an hour or more), and then finally entering the mall to be greeted with long lines and rude people, not to mention sold out items or just nonexistent normal things that are harder to locate than a four leaf clover. At least when I am shopping on my laptop I can drink my tea with my feet up (still in my pyjamas) while watching A Christmas Carol. That's how I like to shop!!!
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