5 last-minute holiday gift ideas (so you can stop stressing!)

So … you’ve left it quite late. Again. Hey, we don’t blame you. It is the silly season, after all, and for some reason, this year, the holidays seem to have crept up on us even faster than usual. But don’t worry, whether you’ve got two hours to go or a blessed 24, there is such a thing as a great last-minute gift — and one that you can get online, so you don’t even have to think about battling the crowds or finding a parking spot. Rebecca Tay showcases five last-minute presents so sure to impress, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of them sooner.

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Dirty Apron gift boxes, from $85 at Dirty Apron, dirtyapron.com. Handout/

DIRTY APRON GIFT BOXES AND GIFT VOUCHERS

Celebrating 15 years in business this year, Dirty Apron up-skills more than 10,000 students and home chefs each year at cooking school classes. Not only are their workshops a fun day or night out, they are a great way to spend time together — ideal if you have a couple on your gift list. Pop into the school on Beatty Street and pick up a popular gift box, too, or place an order for an e-gift card, although note that the latter can only be emailed out during business hours (Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

The Dirty Apron, dirtyapron.com | Gift boxes from $85; gift vouchers from $100

Our Little Flower Co. three-month flower subscription, $180.50 at olfco, olfco.ca. Handout/

OUR LITTLE FLOWER COMPANY THREE-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION

There’s nothing better than a subscription to make someone think of you each time they receive and use it — even better if it’s something lovely and uplifting like a subscription to flowers. Bear’s Blooms offers delivery subscription throughout Greater Vancouver, Greater Toronto, Victoria and Calgary — ideal if you’re buying from abroad — or you can prepay for three months of monthly deliveries from Our Little Flower Co., which operates from West Van to White Rock and Pitt Meadows.

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Olfco, olfco.com | Three months for $180.50

SIMONS VERY LONG FLORAL BOW BARRETTE

Having a fashion person on your gift list can be seriously intimidating: get them something too trendy, and you risk them already having one or it already being on its way out — get them something totally irrelevant, and it could end up feeling random or like an opportunity missed. We suggest an approach that’s guaranteed to please: choose an accessory or small item — a very cool hair accessory, perhaps — and supplement it with a more substantial gift certificate from a multi-brand retailer or department store like Holt Renfrew or Simon’s.

Simons, simons.ca | $19; gift cards from $25

Indigo gift card, from $25 at Indigo, indigo.ca. Handout/

INDIGO BOOKS GIFT CARD

Receiving a good book for Christmas is a little bit of a false hope — you appreciate the gesture, but with a book comes the realization that you probably won’t have time to crack it open until, well, the festivities are over. That said, why not wrap up a paperback bestseller AND a gift card? That way, you can recommend that book you’ve been telling everyone to read (and perhaps make the giftee feel “seen” with your choice), while also giving them the gift of choosing something else for themselves down the line. Indigo’s holiday selection includes cards for Hanukkah and Diwali, too.

Indigo, indigo.ca | From $25

Mudlab gift card, from $50 at Mudlab, mudlab.ca. Handout/

MUDLAB GIFT VOUCHER

Gifting a voucher for a ceramics or a pottery class is perfect for anyone who is a little bit crafty, creative, or house proud — and already has everything you can think of. There are studios around the city to choose from, including Claymates, Hide Ceramics, Hand Eye Design, or Mudlab, and most offer the option to purchase a gift card that will cover a multi-week class or one-time workshop. Include a small trinket with your voucher if you really want them to be able to open something physical.

Mudlab, mudlab.ca | From $50

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