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Holiday Gift Ideas for That Weird 30something in Your Life

I am a *weird, working parent in my mid-30s living in downtown Ottawa. Currently working on my annual Top 10 Wish List blog for personal gifting this holiday season. 🎄 Here’s what I’ve got so far…

Every year around this time I throw out into the blogiverse items from my personal Wish List.
If you know someone like me (33, mom, weird) & are a little starved for good/great gift ideas, here’s a start:

  1. A gift card to Victoire; high-quality, eye catching, ethical, Canadian made clothing in the heart of Wellington West (bonus points for being close to my house)!

  2. A unique, hand printed piece from Thief & Bandit. They have a new print out (Stardust) and I am obsessed.

  3. Andrew King’s ‘Ottawa Rewind” (see tweet/link below)! Also available at Maker House on Wellington St.

4. The only Lip Balm EVER = Carmex.
5. Google Home accessories; this one is subjective as there are loads of ‘assistants’ out there. I have successfully integrated Geenie and IKEA brand ‘smart bulbs’ on different levels of our home and I just love not having to walk up and down the stairs when a light needs to be turned on or off. We’ve got a smart display (Lenovo), a Hub and several Minis to connect every area and level of the house. This is a super helpful when my arthritis is flaring up!! If the person you’re buying for has mobility challenges, consider ‘smart home’ gifts… they rock!

6. Does the person you’re buying for lose things ALL. THE. TIME? Check out tiles. The device that helps you find your stuff. I love these for personal items (keys) and I also use them to keep tabs on the kids when we visit crowded places in the unlikely event we become separated. Tiles bring me peace of mind and would make an excellent gift.
7. Ozzy Osbourne’s new album ‘Ordinary Man’ should drop sometime in January so a pre-order from any rock music loving fan would probably be appreciated! This album is going to be all over the map, featuring Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, Post Malone and more. Keep an eye out for the official release date.
8. Beer; local suggestions include Whitewater, Ashton Brewing Co., Beau’s and Beyond the Pale. Looking for something a little fancier? Prosecco’s my fave and this one is sure to please, IMO: Blu Giovello, $15-ish.

I’m struggling to top this Wish List off at an even ‘10’, so if you have any suggestions send them my way!

ADDED NOTE:
I’m, for the first time ever, hosting my family’s Christmas feast! Since I don’t know how to cook and the holidays are hectic enough, I decided to let Farm Boy do the work. I’ll let you know how that goes towards the end of the year. I’ve heard good things!

I’ve also decided to start including an Archival Index of my previous blog posts in case you’re bored.

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Wishlist for the 30 Something in Your Life

Every year around this time I post a blog about things I'd like for Christmas. It's a good baseline for you if you're shopping for a 30 something (mother of two?) and need some guidance. Some of these gifts are every day items while others are a touch more indulgent. 

Leading with Local:

goods in Wellington West or the Byward Market, Beaded Dreams on Bank St., Vertigo Records on Rideau St., JV Studios in Wellington West, Wunderkammer in the Byward Market, Top of the World on Rideau St., Birling on Somerset St. W.

Skin Care, Hair Care & General Beauty:

FIrst Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum, $45 @ Sephora, Carmex Lip Balm, $3 @ Walmart, M-A-C Brushstroke Liner (black), $24 @ M-A-C, M-A-C Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, $34 @ M-A-C, M-A-C Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer, $24 @ M-A-C, Ouai Hair Oil, $35 @ Sephora, M-A-C In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Mascara, $29 @ M-A-C, 

Clothes:

2017 VanVan 200, $4,300 @ Suzuki

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