personal, practical gifts
Top Tips for Shopping Season Hits 2021
The joy of giving is pretty universal, but its precursor - the season of shopping - calls up different reactions from different people.
To help shoppers out we’re sharing an original series 'Top Tips for Shopping Season Hits' with posts from a wide variety of shopping types, and many wonderful ways to buy, eat and experience local.
Meet Stella Maguire of Logy Bay, Middle Cove, Outer Cove: she's a very late boomer, awesome entrepreneur, and family woman. She likes good things and gets things done, and goes for gifts that are personal and practical.
Stella Maguire
We're a family of five (three adult daughters!), and we just love Christmas. We enjoy being together at home especially since our girls are travellers and it’s always very busy and jolly and musical. It can also get hectic.
So even though we needed it to be easy, we want gifts to be special! And practical. And personal! Here are some of my favourite choices.
hand-made by artisans
The Wreath Maker - What better way to begin the festive season than placing a locally made wreath on your front door. For the past 10 years, in November, we receive an email from Mike Fleming, who makes beautiful natural wreaths and Christmas centrepieces from the bounty of our forests, to ask if we’d like to place an order. Mike is old school and his business operates out of his basement at 31 Cowan Avenue and has grown entirely through “word of mouth.” He can be reached at 709-986-9998 or michaelepfleming@gmail.com
Newfoundland Craft Council – I love visiting their shop on Duckworth Street – stunningly beautiful gifts by NL artists to fit a wide variety of budgets and tastes. We have a mug collector in the house and I always find a unique mug to make her coffee and tea taste extra special. They also have an online shop if you can’t make it downtown. https://www.craftcouncilnl.ca/shop
special recipe sausages
Irish Breakfast Sausages – This Christmas tradition began with my Irish father-in-law many years ago who missed the authentic, simple yet delicately seasoned sausage of his homeland. These days Halliday’s on Bond Street make the sausages for us but have kept our recipe top secret. We deliver the sausages to friends and family on Christmas Eve to serve with breakfast on Christmas morning. Meanwhile, Halliday’s have created their own sausage recipe which works perfectly for a Christmas morning breakfast.
Christmas cookies
Christmas Cookie Boxes – Making shortbread and gingerbread cookies are a long-standing tradition in our house and a great gift for family and friends. If you’re feeling pressed for time head over to Gingerly to order a Christmas Cookie Box – extra yummy and a delicious treat for your family and friends. https://www.facebook.com/GingerlyG/
books books books
Books, books and more books. We are a family who loves to read and no Christmas would be complete without at least one book for each of us at Christmas. Thankfully, our province is alive with acclaimed writers – many local shops and Costco carry a wide selection from which to choose. And you can’t beat Elaine’s Books for a special book choices - signed by author, rare books, first editions - and a great selection of Newfoundland content.
personal notes and currency
We have a good number of grandnieces and nephews and love to all get together between Christmas and New Year. These little guys and gals are the sweetest and grow like weeds. Rather than attempt to buy individual gifts, we give a “universal gift card” for each of them - $20 placed in a funny card with a special note just for them!
Really though, the special part is getting together and enjoying some food and fun!
more than what's under the tree
At the end of the day, the best part about Christmas is spending some relaxing time together!!
It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters but who’s around it! Happy Holidays to one and all!!
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Stella Maguire
Stella is a very late member of the boomer generation, and woman who gets good things done. Along with husband Mike, Stella raised 3 daughters, ran a very successful franchise, and always made time for the important things: family, friends, and music.
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