Shopping for mom is never easy. What do you give the woman who gave you the gift of life? The trick is to get her things she wants but won’t splurge on herself. These stores make it quick and convenient to find that special Christmas present for your mom or mother-in-law.
If your mom is anything like mine, she appreciates decadent skin care products but won’t splurge on them for herself. Christmas is the ideal time to treat the woman who gave birth to you to some truly amazing skin and beauty products, such as a Clarisonic Smart Profile face cleansing brush, face masks from Nugg or masks, serums and lotions from Caudalie or Ren. Throw in a bottle of S&P Factory Marine Luxe Bubble Bath for good measure.
Treat ma to a pair or luxurious silk pajamas or fuzzy faux fur slippers. This cute shop sells every kind of sleepwear you can imagine, from onesies and flannel PJs to night shirts and silk chemises. They also carry bathrobes, slippers and sleep masks, all guaranteed to give mom incentive to take a nice, long nap this Christmas. Brands they stock include Hanky Panky, The Cats Pajamas, Wrap Up by VP, Barefoot Dreams and Snug As A Bug.
This huge store is full of sugar and spice and everything nice for Christmas. Restock mom’s kitchen after her Christmas baking spree with fancy sea salts, exotic spices, herbs and basics, such as cinnamon, cocoa and cloves. They also have some amazing baking spices, such as Chai spice baking blend and pumpkin pie spice. Their spice sets, consisting of four basic spices, are a great gift, as are the grinders, graters, mortars, jars, tins and cook books they also sell.
A clothing boutique located on the south side of the city, Sonia’s Runway sells everything from beautiful clothes to extravagant iPad covers. They stock a mix of high-end, well-known brands, including Michael Kors and True Religion, as well as some Canadian brands, such as Covet, Louben and Cartise. The store caters to mothers and daughters, so you may just find something for yourself while picking out a gift for mom.
This olive oil and balsamic vinegar store sources its olive oil from its own olive farm in South Africa, resulting in olive oil that is branded as “branch to bottle.” They sell a variety of olive oils, with flavours such as butter, garlic, hot pepper, bacon and Parmesan, in addition to flavoured white balsamic vinegars, including coconut, kiwi, honey and ginger, and cranberry and pear. Pick up a few bottles for your mom’s kitchen, or browse their selection of hand soaps and body butters.
This locally owned book store is a great spot to pick up a book or five for your novel-loving momma. Either pick up a new book by her favourite author or choose a new series to introduce her to – it’s a gift and a conversation starter! If you’re at a loss for which books to grab, check out the staff’s recommendations.
This cute tea shop sells hundreds of different kinds of tea, including white, yellow, green, oolong, black, pu-erh, herbal, fruit, rooibos and yerba mate. Their loose tea comes in reusable tins, in three different sizes (small, medium and large). They also sell a ton of different infusers, so you can get your caffeine-addicted mother everything she needs for a lovely spot of Arabian camomile or classic Earl Grey.