35F: Christmas Wishlist
Here are some gift ideas for the 35 year old on your shopping list. These items help make life easier.
Give a gift to the men in need at the Ottawa Mission.
Here is a wish list of their Most Needed items - should you with to purchase anything from this list, it will be sent to my radio station (CHEZ 106, Rogers Sports and Media, located at 2001 Thurston Drive). CLICK HERE to buy something today & I will deliver it for you. You are also able to direct shipping to your house.
Air Purifiers. So hot right now.
These could be considered modern day ‘snake oil’ but when something very smelly sprayed my cottage and I couldn’t get the stink out… I gave this Hamilton Beach model a whirl and have since used it to rid the sour milk stink from our car (which was extreme) and refresh common areas in our house with great success! I am convinced that these things are the real deal but buyer beware: there are many brands and models out there to choose from. Lucky for me, I seem to have chosen wisely out the gate.
The Best Underwear: Period.
I had always been interested in ditching tampons and pads but they just seem to be a necessary evil. Until someone recommended Knix and flipped the script on free bleeding. You heard me. Comfiest underwear (and bras) ever. I would like one of each of this Canadian owned businesses’ offerings. They often have good sales, too. Not sure which size or style to purchase? Gift cards work.
Smart Devices make Life Easier.
Some people love ‘em, others hate ‘em and almost every tech company you can think of has something voice-activated on the market. Here are some of my favourite brands and suggested items that really elevate my quality of life. I’m physically disabled so every step matters in terms of pain management, energy conservation and accessibility.
Google: hub, mini, chromecast and display.
Globe: light bulbs and LED strip
Wyze: camera and plugs
Geeni: outdoor plug, smart strip (power bar) and wall tap
I tried getting into IKEA’s smart home line (Tradfri) but my experience with their hub, dimmers and bulbs was excruciating. Would not recommend.
Everyday Things.
Lip chap, toothpaste, gas & grocery cards, hair elastics, a good travel mug, socks, winter weather accessories or heated items for maximum comfort. Little things that get used every day always make a great gift because… they get used frequently and are likely to need replacing or replenishing.
There’s nothing terribly flashy about My Wishlist this year. If you are hoping to purchase a gift for someone like me (35F, mom, FT career, commuter), I would suggest grabbing something that helps to make their life easier. I think this advice could apply to anyone on your shopping list at any time of year. Pandemic life has been tiring. If you can’t think of anything your giftee needs, consider donating to a favorite charity in their name.
Here are some of my favourite charities: the Ottawa Mission, CHEO, Minwaashin Lodge, the Food Bank, the Ottawa Hospital and the Canadian Cancer Society. Leave yours in the comments below!
UPDATE: the 2020 Christmas Mission
Help Santa deliver to children who may not have a fixed address by donating a NEW, UNWRAPPED gift to the Christmas Mission.
UPDATE on November 26th: Reps from the Mission, my coworkers and I have all been talking, trying to see if we can make Project: Christmas Mission work this year but it isn’t an option with new COVID-19 restrictions. The Ottawa Mission is even doing dinner service differently. Like Thanksgiving, the dining room will not be used.
“Because of our new food truck service, which will serve Christmas meals the week leading up to Christmas in addition to our Christmas meals for shelter guests and vulnerable community members, we anticipate that we will serve 3,500-4,000 Christmas meals from December 13 – 20.
Frozen turkey donations can be dropped off between 7 am – 5 pm at the garage entrance to The Ottawa Mission at the corner of Waller and Besserer. Please ring the bell and a staffperson will arrive to receive your donation.”
- Aileen Leo, Director of Communications at the Ottawa Mission
If you would like to donate online to the Mission, CLICK HERE.
Do you want to buy a toy for a little one in need?
I definitely have some options!
You can donate to the Salvation Army’s Toy Mountain 2020 fund by CLICKING HERE.
You can also give to CHEO’s Child Life Fund through my annual Birthday Wish campaign by CLICKING HERE. 100% of funds go towards buying games, toys, books, crafting kits, movies & other forms of entertainment (for patients aged 0-18) who may be spending the holidays in hospital.
If you have any questions about how to help this holiday season, please feel free to message me. Thank you for considering others! It just feels better to extend your hands to help lift others up, than it does to hold them down.
Same person (me) but a different radio station now (CHEZ 106) & a new way of approaching my Christmas Mission… I haven’t strategized anything just yet. Essentially, I ask for NEW toy donations for children of all ages to be given to the Ottawa Mission. Children experiencing homelessness can be sure to get something - even if Santa couldn’t find their address! There is a ‘gift room’ at the Mission where clients can ‘shop’ for their loved ones.
Gifts aren’t what Christmas is all about. Or birthdays. Or whatever. It’s not material things that mean the most to us… but over the holidays, it’s a simple gestures for some to provide a token of ‘brighter days’ to a child.
That’s what the Christmas Mission is all about. I’ve been doing this for a few years now and it’s been a success because of your generosity.
This year, I am not able to accept in person donations. Parcels cannot be directed to our radio station either as we do not have an open reception area. I’m not sure how to go about collecting toys but I hope to sort out the fine details over the next few weeks.
Please, stay tuned! And if you have a great idea, get in touch.
HUGE SUCCESS on the Birthday Wish Front!
Thanks to YOU - we delivered a whole lotta awesome to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario!
Toys, craft supplies, books, DVDs, cash and more were given to help put smiles on the faces of children receiving treatment at CHEO as part of my ‘Birthday Wish’ campaign.
I have decided to leave this campaign active. We have surpassed my initial goal (set at $1,000) but I would like this to stay active for ongoing donations. This will be an annual thing, so long as I have support of my employers, the hospital and wonderful humans like you.
Thank you for giving. Thank you for sharing. Keep this cause in mind, 100% of the proceeds go directly to FUN STUFF for kids (aged 0-18) at CHEO.
If you want to launch your own fundraiser the process is very simple.
Visit cheofoundation.com/donate, create your page and decide where you’d like the funds to go then get raisin’!
Mandy Arsenault, CHEO’s Community Engagement Officer, says she there are so many options for people to give back to the hospital “[ranging] from birthdays... fundraisers [things like] lemonade stands and bake sales'... i'm here to support them."
Mandy helped set me up to raise funds for the Child Life department. Here’s more information that could help you if you’re considering the same for your next birthday, event or in honour of someone who’s life was touched by CHEO:
Thank you!
Julie Anne Brown from Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
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:
Hudson's Bay Co., Gap, Roots, Nordstrom and Banana Republic.
Dream BIG:
2017 VanVan 200, $4,300 @ Suzuki