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Holiday Gift Guide 2016 HUB #HWAHolidayGiftGuide

holiday gift guide
 

Deck the halls with boughs of holly or whatever floats your boat but it is once again time to start shopping for the holidays, which also means our Holiday Gift Guide 2016 is live. Last year we had a lot of single posts of reviews and giveaways which was great but it also meant I couldn’t list EVERYTHING I thought would be a great gift because I couldn’t get my hands on them all (aka the Paw Patroller). So this year we are going to do things differently.

This post will be the hub of our Holiday Gift Guide. I will update it often with new products and the links to features and giveaways we are having. If I can physically review an item it will be linked here and I will also have the link to buy the items here as well to make the whole process more streamlined.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide

Baby
Fisher-Price Bright Beats Dance and Move Beat Belle–Who likes to move Beat Belle does. get the dance party started by pressing Beat Belle’s tummy or any of the buttons on her-feet to activate fun songs, learning content and dance moves. This futuristic friend even allows mommy or baby to record a phrase, and she’ll remix it into her favorite song. Three modes-dance ‘n move, learning and games, and customized sing-along-“grow” with baby to make Beat Belle a forever friend for years to come. And through all the play, Beat Belle’s introducing baby to letters, colors, counting, music, cause and effect and much more.
holiday gift guide

Little Tikes Light ‘N Go 3-In-1 Activity Walker Toy— The 3-in-1 Activity Walker is designed to use lights to inspire babies to get moving. The walker can be used as a floor play toy and converts to a standing activity table. With so many fun and unique features babies will play and learn for hours!

holiday gift guide

Nuna Leaf Swing–Inspired by the carefree float of a leaf on a breeze, the LEAF baby seat treats baby to a similarly mesmerizing ride. I love that this seat has no batteries or cords and also that it grows with baby and can be used up to 60 kg. A great investment piece.

Holiday gift guide

Kids 1-5

Sago Sago Jack’s Diner–If your kids are like mine then they love the Sago Sago apps and just in time for the holidays they have come out with new toys, like Jack’s Diner. Everything from a classic diner — booth seating, a jukebox, take-out window and a washroom. Comes with 10 fun accessories as well as Jack the rabbit and Dennis the octopus.

holiday gift guide

READ OUR FEATURE ON SAGO HERE

Go! Go! Smart Wheels Treasure Mountain Train Adventure— Watch as this motorized freight train chugs around the tracks, through the tunnels and up hills on its own! With a press of a light-up button, the toy freight train plays three sing-along songs and teaches kids the letter “F” and the name of the vehicle.

Holiday Gift Guide
READ OUR FEATURE HERE

Go! Go! Smart Friends Enchanted Princess Palace–Explore the magical world of Princess Darla with the epic Go! Go! Smart Friends® Enchanted Princess Palace. Expanding to more than four feet wide with a variety of luxurious rooms, including a ballroom, music room and kitchen, kids can place Princess Darla throughout the palace to experience sounds, lights and more.
Ages 1.5 to 5 years

holiday gift guide

READ OUR FEATURE HERE

Care for Me Learning Carrier–An interactive pet carrier that lets little ones take their plush pets anywhere! The activity panel on the side of the carrier is packed with learning fun about colours, shapes, pet care and more! The carrier also includes four pet care accessories so toddlers can groom, feed and play with their new cuddly friend.
Ages 9 to 36 months

Holiday Gift Guide

READ OUR FEATURE HERE

LeapFrog LeapStart–Tap into big fun with the amazing, all-in-one LeapStart™ interactive early learning system for Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten, jam-packed with key school and life skills for curious 2-4 year olds. The system works with a library of replayable activity books (sold separately) and comes with a Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten sampler book. Using the easy-grip stylus, kids can tap any page to activate audio responses and play activities designed to keep them engaged and coming back for more

Holiday Gift Guide

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Charley the Chameleon™ from Cloud b is a premium plush cuddly companion that helps children transition from playtime to sleep time with scales that light up to ease fear of the dark and soothing sounds that help make every kid feel safer at night. Children’s imagination lights up as Charley projects a rainbow of colours and plays delightful night sounds. Kids can choose between three LED light options to morph between amber, blue or green. This plush body pillow is the perfect companion for kids that are transitioning from crib to their own big bed!

holiday gift guide

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 Dream Buddies–are compact, ultra-plush pals that help ease children’s fear of the dark by projecting a starry night sky onto ceilings and walls. From blue to green to amber, the slowly morphing colors will mesmerize your little ones and lull them into deep, sweet sleep. Dream Buddies are the perfect calming companions that your tiny tots can tote with them wherever they go. With multiple characters to choose from, your little ones can collect them all!
holiday gift guide
10” Lullaby Laa Laa–This cuddly Teletubby is the perfect bedtime companion! Children can set how long their plush friend will sing to them with a built-in switch, while a soft night-light show helps ease them into a peaceful sleep. AGE: 18+ MONTHS AVAILABILITY: WALMART AND TOYS R USholiday gift guide
Feature coming soon

Tekno Newborn–The new and improved Tekno Newborn puppies and kittens come in 6 different colours including blue, pink, purple, teal, special edition Dalmatian, as well as a Toys “R” Us exclusive all-black puppy. The newest features include the ability for your Tekno Newborn to jump into your arms like a real puppy or kitten! These ultra-smart ultra-small pets are light, sound, and touch sensitive and respond to various commands and prompts for tons of fun play time!holiday gift guide

Squinkies ‘Do Drops–Dress up your Squinkies with a new ‘do! Best-selling Squinkies are back with new characters and a whole new look. Create 1000s of new stylin’ combinations with Squinkies ‘Do Drops! These interchangeable head pieces range from silly hats and gear, to cool hair dos and can be worn on any Squinkies figure. Test your luck with collector’s packs to find super rare characters and gather your Squinkies around the Squinkieville clubhouse for endless play. Squinkies are better together, collect them all!

holiday gift guideEnter to win a Clubhouse

Peekaboo Beans–Peekaboo Beans is a grassroots brand. It began with one Mom and has grown to include hundreds – all with a shared goal. We want better for our children. That’s why their clothes are safe from toxic dyes; free from snaps, buttons and fuss. They’re made to last through climbing, twisting, jumping, and crawling on all fours (while barking!) They are basically kid proof and good until size 10.

holiday gift guide

Kids 6-10

Xbox One S Minecraft Favorites Bundle (500GB)–If you have a boy/girl in your life that has an avid imagination and loves to see it come to life I think this bundle is amazing. My kids are really into Minecraft right now and it keeps them quiet for hours. Another perk of buying right now is the FREE game, including Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, The Crew and more (Pick after clicking “Add to cart”)‡ when you buy online.

The Xbox One S Minecraft Favorites Bundle (500GB)1 includes:

  • Xbox One S 500GB console
  • Xbox Wireless Controller
  • Minecraft: Xbox One Edition Favorites Pack
  • Minecraft Builder’s Pack
  • Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta
  • 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial

home with aneta holiday gift guide

Ooka Island– Ooka Island is an adaptive, game-based learn to read program that develops strong early reading skills through 24 levels of educational activities and 85 ebooks.

ooka island

READ OUR FEATURE

Lego Dimensions–If you have a child that loves to play video games, build Lego or both then the Lego Dimensions set is for them. The LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack is all players need to begin – they build the Lego base and embark on a fantastic quest on their game systems. You can then purchase expansion packs that will add new characters and levels to the game. Characters and locations from DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, The LEGO Movie, LEGO Ninjago, Back to the Future, The Wizard of Oz, Scooby-Doo!, LEGO Chima, Doctor Who, Jurassic World, Ghostbusters, The Simpsons, Portal, and Midway Arcade, making it truly a gift for the whole family. 

holiday gift guide

Read our feature

CURRENTLY 50% OFF ON AMAZON

 

Maplelea Girls–Our home loves Maplelea Girls, with even my boys playing with them. With so many dolls and accessories this is a wonderful gift idea for the little girl (or boy) who like to use their imaginations and dream big. You can even purchase matching clothes so that your child and doll can be twinsies, and there is nothing cuter than that.

holiday gift guide

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YUMMYNUMMIES S’MORE MAKER PLAYSET–On the menu this evening are tiny s’mores packed with huge flavour! Sit back and relax as your kids play chef and make a family summer classic. Yummy Nummies are safe, kid-friendly miniature snacks that require no ovens (or fires!), just a microwave and your eager cook-in-training. Spark an interest in baking and have a delicious little snack, too!

holiday gift guide

Tweens/Teens

 

Xbox Design Lab— If you have an avid gamer on your list then this is such a thoughtful gift. You can design a personalized Xbox remote and even add custom engraving to make it one-of-a-kind.

home with aneta holiday gift guide

VEX® Robotics Zip FlyerTM–Ready? Set. Take to the sky! Introducing the VEX® Robotics Zip FlyerTM, a re-envisioned take on airborne adventures. This robotic gadget is capable of shooting propellers over 30 feet in the air! Pull the zip-cord stick to release, the faster you pull, the higher they’ll go. The excitement doesn’t stop there, the VEX Robotics Zip Flyer can be built for both hand-held and tabletop action. Two ways to build, two ways to launch. Once it’s up and running, this model is fun for hours. VEX Robotics is dedicated to promoting the rewarding and exciting hands-on learning that comes from its STEM-based construction kits. Challenge yourself and your friends, how far can you make your propellers travel? VEX Robotics Zip Flyer (CDN $18.19) is compliant with CPSIA standards. Includes 3 propeller flyers. Batteries not required. Available at Toys R Us, Mastermind Toys and HEXBUG.com. Ages 14 years and up.holiday gift guide

 

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VEX® Robotics Snap ShotTM– Wield the power to defend your turf by building your own handheld space blaster! Sneak up on friend or foe with the VEX® Robotics Snap ShotTM. Watch as the ammo drops down and secures into position.  Lock target, aim, and send projectiles flying over ten feet for long-range attacks! Open construction with snap-together pieces allows for a glimpse at the planetary gears and real working shock absorber style springs. Learn how simple gear ratios and spring energy ensure that no one down range is safe. VEX Robotics is dedicated to teaching kids the science behind the fun through hands-on learning with its STEM based robotics construction kits. Assemble and annihilate.

holiday gift guide

Read Our Feature

Instax Mini 8–Fujifilm’s new Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera has a cute and compact body design available in 7 colours. Bring instant fun and excitement to your everyday life – Instant photos, instant fun! Available at Staples and currently on sale!

holiday gift guide

Quo by ORLY Perfectly Painted 12-Piece Mini Nail Lacquer Set $35– A beautiful selection of the best Quo by ORLY nail polishes in mini bottles. Available at your local Shopper’s Drug Mart

holiday gift guide

 

Protocol Dronium III Quadcopter Drone with Camera & Controller  – Give the gift of aerial exploration to yourself and your live stream audience this holiday season with the Protocol Dronium III quadcopter. Through the app on your smartphone, you can live stream your footage and let friends on your network stream it too.

Holiday Gift Guide

Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats 2 In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones – Stay in your zone as you cut those holiday pounds with the great sound and reimagined design of Beats Powerbeats 2 wireless in-ear headphones. Inspired by basketball player LeBron James, these water-resistant headphones can endure even your most grueling workouts.Holiday Gift Guide

Men & Woman

Surface Pro 4–The Surface Pro 4 is both a tablet and a computer in one that is not only light but also 50% faster than the MacBook Air 13”. It is #1 on this mom’s ‘wish-list’ for the holidays. If you want great quality, an amazing screen and drool-worthy battery life then this is the gift for you.

home with aneta holiday gift guide

Halo Pendant–This delightful halo necklace features a round-cut morganite and 23 round white diamonds set in rose plated silver. This dazzling pendant is hung on a cable chain and is secured with a spring ring clasp. Bestpart though? It’s 50% off right now at Staples.ca

holiday gift guide

Happiness Is Inc–A new casual clothing line that is the brainchild of Canadian Gordon Carton, it is pushing people to find their moments of happiness. From concept to manufaturing this brand is all about supporting Cananda. 10% of net proceeds go to charity, currently the David Suzuki Foundation, they are dedicated to conserving our environment and finding solutions that will create a sustainable Canada. Since we really want you to rock this amazing Canadian gift we have an offer for 15% off anything until Dec 31 using the code ANETA15  GIFT THAT GIVES BACK

holiday gift guide

READ OUR FEATURE AND ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 2 T-SHIRTS

Skechers Shoes–The Skechers brand is a family favourite and everytime we go out we get stopped because the girls wear their Twinkle Toes. Now it’s time for the parents to get spoiled 🙂

holiday gift guide

Enter our Giveaway

Oral Genius Pro 8000 The OralB Genius offers several new and best-in-class features like groundbreaking position detection technology that combines motion sensor tech with video recognition using your Smartphone’s front facing camera to track areas and ensure that no zone is missed. We’ve found 80% of people spend insufficient time brushing at least one zone of their mouth so this holiday season and with the Genius you can give your loved ones the gift of a cool new gadget that also helps bolster great oral health!holiday gift guide

Ste. Anne’s Spa-Whether you are looking for some peace and relaxation on the beautiful site of Ste. Anne’s Spa, some delicious gluten-free goodies from their on-site bakery or just want to take their body care line of goods for pampering at home you can find it all here. They try to source most of the ingredients for their products straight out of the gardens on site and they are superb.

Holiday gift guide

Lazy Pants–Veritas has teamed up with Lazypants to honour of Nicola Moore – Veritas’ former Chief Strategist with the creme de la creme of comfy sweats. Each purchase is also a charitable donation towards the Canadian Cancer Society and Movember in support of both cervical and testicular cancer research. They have a fundraising goal of 10K and I have already picked up a pair for my hubby. I mean look at these guys! GIFT THAT GIVES BACK
• Men’s are a simplistic black and white design that say “We’ve Got Balls”
• Women’s are a chic grey and red design that say “Outside The Box”

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Rent Frock Repeat–So many holiday parties and who wants to be caught wearing the same dress. Splurge on a rental of a designer frock for that special someone this holiday season. Cinderella only got the dress till midnight, let the special lady in your life feel like a princess all night long. Get $30 off with promo code IMPRESS

holiday gift guide

For The Home

Zwilling— SOMMELIER 4PC SET. INCLUDES: FOIL CUTTER, CORK SCREW, DECANTER (INTEGRATED SIEVE FOR FILTERING TARTAR0, INTEGRATED SPIRAL FOR OPTIMIZED AERATION OF THE WINE, DROP RING MAGNETIC SYSTEM FITS ALL BOTTLE NECKS.

holiday gift guide

Lampe Berger–With Comète, Christmas will be magical and sophisticated. Designed by Rozenn Mainguené, the bottle evokes a precious stone decorated with its ultra-shiny silver mounting and dressed in subtly shaded black lacquer. Delicate silver sequins are scattered on the lamp’s shoulders. With its 180ml Subtle Almond fragrance, this is an ideal gift to enhance our festive tables.

holiday gift guide

AspenClean—this Canadian cleaning company also sells their all-natural cleaning products. They smell delicious, really work and for the month of December when you purchase a Whole Home Cleaning Kit a donation will be made to the SPCA GIFT THAT GIVES BACK

aspenclean

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Unicef Canada–Survival Gifts from Unicef are gifts that make an impact and are the difference between life and death for children and families around the world. The range from Bed Nets to ward of malaria ($10), Plumpy Nut which is a food pack to boost malnourished children ($12 for 21 packages, help save lives of 7 children), or a whole school in a box that would provide education to 40 children ($269). My favourite it the ability to Restock an Emergency Medical Centre for just $50. Teach your children the joy of giving back with this! GIFT THAT GIVES BACK

holiday gift guide

Oculus Rift VR Headset – Embrace your staycation this holiday season by exploring a whole new world right at home. The Oculus Rift’s next-generation virtual reality experience completely immerses you in fantastic game worlds, intensely emotional movies, and much more.Holiday Gift Guide

 

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1040This holiday season, give movie buffs the gift of a cinematic adventure in the comfort of their own home with the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1040. Movie fans will love watching the year’s biggest blockbusters, sporting events and award shows on the big screen in high definition with 3,000 lumens of colour & white brightness and built-in colour modes. It’s easy to project up to 300 inches on virtually any screen for a larger-than-life viewing experience. Portable and lightweight, the projector can move quickly from room to room. The stress-free setup and instant image adjustment means that it’s easy to enjoy the Home Cinema 1040 right out of the box.

holiday gift guide

House of Marley Get Together Bluetooth Portable Speaker – Rock out to big sounds wherever you go this holiday season thanks to the small and stylish Get Together Bluetooth portable speaker from House of Marley. It blends earthy beauty and crisp, detailed performance with its stained bamboo panels and 3.25″ high-output woofers.

Holiday Gift Guide

Hisense TV–Have the world at your fingertips with the Hisense 4K Ultra HD TV. The H7B Series brings you such extreme detail that what you’re watching feels incredibly real. Experience the new world of 4K Ultra HD from the comfort of your own couch with the Hisense H7B series. Make sure that you visit the Tradefix website for your fittings if you are looking to wall mount this product, you could even bundle this together with an Android TV box, so that you have internet TV from the get go!

holiday gift guide

Feature coming soon

Epson Expression Premium XP-640 Small-in-One Printer–  Delight the DIY fanatic in your life with the Epson Expression Premium XP-640 Small-in-One Printer. This small-in-one printer can transform any DIY project from average to amazing with its superior print quality and versatility.Add a personal touch to your projects with custom prints. The XP-640 prints borderless photos up to 8”x10” on specialty paper and DVDs. With auto 2-sided printing and lab-quality 4” x 6” photos in as fast as 20 seconds7 your DIY projects will be faster and easier too. Short on time? Print directly from a tablet or smartphone at home or on the go, with or without a router. Print Facebook photos, colouring books and more with Epson’s Creative Print App. Scan directly to Facebook or the cloud for easy image sharing.

holiday gift guide

Stocking Stuffers

Trudeau Baking Goods–Whether you are looking to make some holiday cookies and treats or you have an ambitious foodie on your list, Trudeau has some great ideas for gifts.

holiday gift guide

Enter our Giveaway

Shop A To Z is about making dreams happen and getting shit done! They sell custom and designed dream catchers, along with hand-stamped hand-dyed custom genuine leather keychains. From swear words to sweet dreams, we got you covered!

holiday gift guide

 

Netflix Canada–God I love me a good binge session or two. We almost went back to cable last week and then made the realization that we can’t handle commercials or waiting for our favourite shows. So we instead saved our money and went back to searching for the perfect show to keep our attention. Since we love it so much we want you to try it out for 3 months to see if you like it as much as we do.

netflix

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Hallmark Canada–Hallmark is like the gift that keeps on giving. Whether you are for their Signature collection or the fun and whimsy stuff they hold a special place in our hearts. It’s pretty amazing when most of your most treasured moments have a Hallmark Card or momento to match. holiday gift guide

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Me to We Waterbottle--Every Me to We purchase makes a positive impact by giving a gift in a Free The Children community overseas. To see where your gift was delivered, enter your code found on your product at TrackYourImpact.com GIFT THAT GIVES BACK

holiday gift guide

Asana–As a parent I want to do what is best for my daughters and when they hit puberty and start the dreaded visits from “Aunt Flo” I want to give them the goods to do things well. Every Asana product contains an exclusive nano-technology application that naturally reduces two of the most commonly occurring bacteria – and a common yeast — that cause odour: escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus bacteria and candida yeast. This super-absorbent layer absorbs more than twice the fluid of any napkin available today, and does it faster than any other napkin. Also locks fluid beneath first layer, keeping you feeling dry and comfortable. So although Asana may not be the most popular product in the stocking it will be one that will be appreciated, month after month after month. <-I crack myself up! holiday gift guide

Lif3 Smartchip-A lab tested product that will reduce radiation exposue by up to 99% from cell phones, it is a perfect way to take care of those you love. With the increased use of mobile devices in use, and the increased amount of small children using their parents phones it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Holiday Girg Guide

Arm & Hammer Dental–Arm & Hammer Dental wants to offer you the perfect stocking stuffer for your children, and their smile! From beloved classic characters to customizable toothbrushes, brushing has never been more enjoyable for kids, and healthy holiday presents have never been easier!

holiday gift guide

READ OUR FEATURE AND ENTER GIVEAWAY

Tim Hortons– Starting November 12, head into your local Tim Hortons to grab a variety of gifts including patriotic animal mugs ($7.99), keychains ($2.99), festive candy cane hot chocolate ($5.99), tree ornaments ($5.99) toques ($14.99), best-selling mits ($14.99) and more.   Plus you can never really go wrong by picking up a bunch of Timmies gift cards for stocking stuffers and unexpected guests.
Holiday Gift Guide

The Real Shaving Company Grooming Collection ($24.99) at Shoppers Drug Mart
Treat the man in your life to a professional 3-step skincare system from The Real Shaving Company. Yes, great skincare for him is as simple as 1-2-3: Cleanse, Shave, Moisturize. The popular British brand has been offering superior shave and skincare products since 1953, with new formulas designed for sensitive skin and real results. The holiday gift set includes Sensitive Face Wash, Sensitive Shave Cream and Sensitive Anti-Aging Moisturizer, in a sleek toiletry bag. The Real Shaving Co. is available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart.  

Holiday Gift Guide

Joe Fresh Jewelry at Shoppers Drug Mart (starts at $6)

Joe Fresh has unveiled an exclusive new holiday jewellery collection at Shoppers Drug Mart for women, including an entire line designed just for kids. Colourful, stylish and fun, the kids’ lineup features a sweet selection of bracelets, earrings and necklaces inspired by travel, friendship and nature. This means lots of great gift and stocking stuffer ideas for the little fashionista on your list. Each piece is hypoallergenic and safe for children 3 and up.

Holiday Gift Guide

PC Caramel Popcorn $11.99

Irresistibly crunchy clusters of almonds, popcorn and pecans covered in buttery caramel and sprinkled with cinnamon.

Holiday Gift GuidePet Lover

Petcube Interactive Wi-Fi Pet Monitoring Camera – With the Petcube interactive Wi-Fi camera you can watch, speak to, and play with your pet wherever you are this holiday season. Stream HD video from the camera to your smartphone so you can see what your pet is up to when you’re not home. You could evne check out some home security cameras reviews if you wanted a camera for your house rather than your pet! Holiday Gift Guide

 
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Some of these items have been sent to me for review, some I just love and want to include. There are some affiliate links in this post as well where I will receive a small percentage if you purchase something (Amazon.ca). All opinions are my own.
Aneta Alaei
Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

Find me on: Web | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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5 Comments

  1. Jared Denison
    November 22, 2016 / 9:31 pm

    My niece loves Maplelea dolls.

  2. Julie
    November 24, 2016 / 10:00 am

    Wow, thanks for the great list! Lots of things to check out!

  3. Victoria Ess
    November 26, 2016 / 7:53 am

    What a great list for people of all interests!

  4. Stephanie
    November 27, 2016 / 1:08 pm

    Great gift guide. Love that Teletubbies are back!

  5. Carole Dube
    December 7, 2016 / 10:57 pm

    Wow! I love everything in your gift guide! I wish I could buy it all!