The Big Question: What do you give a teenager?

I have a few teenagers, both boys and girls, around me that I will be giving a gift to this year.  Teenagers can be a challenge sometimes for a few reasons: there is a generation gap between me and them, the trends change so fast it is hard to keep up with them, and many teenagers already have everything.  I often give clothing as a gift, because I find if you pick the right item and right brand, they are usually happy.  You really can't go wrong with a sweater or graphic T-shirts from their favourite store.  Make sure you know the name of that store and their size.  I like sweaters, sweatshirts or graphic T-shirts because they are easy to size.  Last year I did the graphic T-shirt idea for the teenage girls in my life. I bought them from Armani Exchange rolled them up and wrapped them with a ribbon and I added a nice lip gloss from Murale.  It was a fun and nice looking gift and the girls loved it.  Here is sort of what it looked like.

This weekend I bought this ring from BCBG in three different colours and I think the girls will love them.  You can only buy these online on the American BCBG website and in Canada you can buy them in a store and they are $34CDN.  

Via BCBG

Via BCBG

Click here to check out the rest of the BCBG accessories for a teenage girl who is into fashion.

Here are other items that I think the teenager in your life would love receiving:

Gift ideas for teenage boys

Via Factory Direct

Via Fred Flare

This chair is perfect for the gamer in your life.  It is on sale for $100 off at Best Buy until November 29.

Via Best Buy

There are some great reviews on these Toms for men.

Via Toms

Fragrance Sampler from Sephora - your recipient can choose a favourite and then take the included voucher to Sephora to receive a full-size version of the one he chose  (not available for sale or redemption in Canada - unfortunately).

Via Sephora

Gift ideas for teenage girls

Infinity scarves are very popular with girls these days, but any scarves and glove combinations would be a good gift idea.  Here are a few options:

Via Sporting Life - Canada Goose Cashmere Infinity Scarf

Via Aldo

This watch was made for Target as part of the reduced in price La Mer collection.

Via Target

You can find other La Mer watches on ShopBop in various prices.

Via ShopBop

Fragrance Samplers from Sephora - your recipient can choose a favourite and then take the included voucher to Sephora to receive a full-size version of the one she chose (not available for sale or redemption in Canada - unfortunately).

Via Sephora

Via Sephora

Unisex gift ideas for teenagers

Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones

Via Staples

IHome iPad/iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock/LED Ambient Lamp

Via Amazon.com

A gift for HER!

You know that trendy friend, sister or mom that LOVES the holidays and decorates her house top to bottom every year? The one that put up her Christmas tree up as soon as the Jack-O-Lantern got removed from the front porch? The one who has her Christmas shopping done by October 1st? Yes that friend/sister/mom! Well she would love these!

via Shopbop
Pendleton, The Portland Collection: Tartan Mug Set

via Shopbop
Pendleton, The Portland Collection: Tartan Plate Set

via Shopbop
Pendleton, The Portland Collection: Tartan Plate Set

via Shopbop
Pendleton, The Portland Collection: Tartan Plate Set

via Shopbop
Pendleton, The Portland Collection: Tartan Plate Set

Classic Tartan Plaid never goes out of style and done in these colorways they just scream "Festive Winter Holiday Dinners"! These plates and mugs would be a trendy yet classic touch to any Holiday feast!

As always, inspired by fashion (Tartan is really everywhere this season!):

ASOS Peplum Frill Skirt In Tartan

Zara December Lookbook

Zara December Lookbook

McQ by Alexander Mcqueen

More Cyber Monday Deals

Here are more Cyber Monday deals:

For the kiddies

Via Scholar's Choice

Gift for her, Gift for him, Gift for coffee lover: I love Nespresso coffee so this looks like a great deal!!!

Via The Bay

Via The Bay

Check out The Bay's website for other deals.  Click here.

Hello Monday!: A small gift for the hostess

I find choosing a hostess gift very challenging.  There are some really nice things out there and great ideas but  I always worry that the hostess may already have too many vases or too many bowls, so I struggle.  This weekend while browsing through the aisles of a few home fashion stores I couldn't find a small gift for the hostess of our Saturday casual breakfast.  What do you get the women who decorates perfectly, who chooses every item in her home meticulously and who's house looks like it should be featured in a magazine?   I really didn't know!  But then as I was walking out of one of the stores, I saw a Style at Home magazine and thought, hmmmm, how perfect!  This is exactly her, maybe this could give her more inspiration for her home.  So I picked up a few magazines, namely Style at Home, HGTV magazine, Hello Magazine (for fun reading!)... and wrapped the package up with a nice bow.

Another idea would be to purchase a yearly subscription for Style at Home or HGTV or whatever other magazine you think the hostess would enjoy.  It would be like the gift that keeps giving!  

Hello Monday!: Winners for Christmas gift shopping!

A second visit to Winners this past week-end and I am...(drum roll please)...done my Christmas shopping (well, ok almost...I still need to pick up a few gift certificates and finish up some online photo gifts)! I'm not certain if it's because I went early this year but Winners has a fantastic selection of gifts! The majority of what I bought was for children which was perfect since they carry a huge assortment of Melissa & Doug products.

If you have not heard of Melissa & Doug it's a brand that makes great quality wood toys.  They're sold at Toys R Us as well as many online stores. See below for most of the Melissa & Doug items I saw this week-end.  They were for ages ranging between 1 & 4 years. I've posted the recommended minimum age recommended for each product below each picture.  At Winners, these gifts all ranged between $4.99 and $19.99, now that's a great deal! Most of the ones I bought were $7.99 & $9.99!

Cutting Food - Wooden Play Food (3+ years)

Dinosaur Stamp Set (4+ years)

Dinosaur Sun Catchers Kraft Kit (4+ years)

Bear Family Dress-Up Puzzle (3+ years)

See Inside Alphabet Peg Puzzle (3+ years)

Pound & Roll Tower (2+ years)

First Bead Maze (1+ year(s))

Bead Bouquet Deluxe Wooden Bead Set (4+ years)

Best Friends Forever Magnetic Dress-Up Playset (3+ years)

Barnyard Animals Jumbo Knob Puzzle (1+ year(s))

Wooden ABC/123 blocks (2+ years)

Magnetic Chalkboard & Dry-Erase Board (3+ years)

Caterpillar Gears Toddler Toy (18+ months)

Pattern Blocks & Boards Classic Toy (3+ years)

Wooden Shape Sorting Clock (3+ years)

Alphabet Nesting & Stacking blocks (2+ years)

Wooden Dinosaur Magnets (2+years)

Decorate-Your-Own Door Hanger (4+ years)

Doorbell House (3+ years)

Maggie Leigh Magnetic Dress-Up Set (3+ years)

Rubber Duck (4+ years)

Farm Sound Blocks (2+ years)

Decorate Your Own Wooden Fashion Dolls (4+ years)

Under Water Floor Puzzle (3+ years)

Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Playset (3+ years)

Fold & Go Mini Dollhouse (3+ years)

Rainbow Stacker Classic Toy (18+ months)

Sticker Collection (3+ years)

12" Tabletop Paper Roll (3+ years)

Stacking Train Toddler Toy (2+ years)

I also found a great $20 gift for my Secret Santa at work which I can't share just yet ;)...but it's definitely value for your money!

Last but not least, I found gorgeous Cynthia Rowley and Elie Tahari mirrored contemporary jewelry boxes for my teenage nieces. $14.99 for the small ones and $24.99 for the large ones.  I will add a charm bracelet in each and voila!

You gotta love it when a store makes it this easy on you (and your budget) to give the perfect gift every time!