By: Cherry Ng

As the holidays draw closer, we begin to wrack our brains in our free time between finals and papers to think about what to send our friends.  The giant stuffed teddy is too big to fit in the mail, the latkes are too easily perishable, and the SAT-prep book is much too heavy.  Never fear, for there are many other gift holiday gift items that can bring a smile to your recipient’s face.  Be it a friend who lives in a nearby state or all the way over on the other side of the world, we’ve got a list for you!

Holiday Cards:

This is, for sure, a staple that can accompany any gift.  It is a lovely way to say ‘Hello, happy holidays!’ in a warm manner.

Tea and Hot Chocolate:

Image Credit: Teavana – Press Information

The white ayurvedic chai tea ($10.98) or spiced apple cider rooibos tea ($8.98) from Teavana is a great gift for any tea lover.  Both have hints of fruits and spices that will cheer anyone up on a cold winter’s day.  We also love Starbuck’s Create Joy Cocoa Kit ($17.95) and Dean & DeLuca’s Winter Hot Chocolate ($16).  After all, there’s hardly anything better than curling up in front of a fireplace with a cup of tea or hot chocolate, and maybe some s’mores on the side.

Books and Movies:

Books and movies are also great gifts for any OHSer.  Go check out your local bookstore for some ideas, or send a copy of your favourite novel—John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars or Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York is sure to capture imaginations, and maybe some feels, over the holiday.

Pens and Pencils :

SMENCILS!!  These are lovely holiday scented pencils ($9.00) that come in packs of five.  They look wonderful and they smell delicious, and are bound to be used during the school year.  Paired with a notebook or sketchbook, these are bound to make a lovely gift.

Scarves, Hats, and Gloves :
For anyone who lives in a cold climate, there can never be enough winter accessories.  We love the Toronto Maple Leaf’s toque (which happens to be 20% off right now) and any of the infinity scarves on Etsy.

Happy Holidays! And may the odds be ever in your favour.

Categories: Arts & Culture, School