Our Holiday Wish List
Like any other upstanding blogger on the inter webs, I've spent the last couple of weeks neck deep crafting holiday wish list ideas gift guides for you! I've been going cross-eyed staring at my screen, categorizing gift ideas “for the traveller”, “for the foodie”, “experience gifts”, etc. And, like any other living, breathing human being my choices do, to an extent, reflect my own preferences.
That means, you won't find nick nacky, gag-gifts or low quality items in our guides. Why? Not that we don't appreciate a budget (hey, we get it) but our own personal style is one of quality over quantity. And, if you're one of our readers, that's likely you too! We prefer to invest in (and give) higher-end gifts that satisfy one of more of these criteria:
- Add long-term value to someone's life (heirloom gifts)
- Will (if it's a physical item) stand the test of time (no fast-fashion here)
- creates an opportunity for real connection
- Makes someone's life better, easier, more simplified
- Contributes to someone's well-being
- Makes space for creating memories
We're both big fans of sustainable gift giving, reducing waste, and avoiding giving gifts that will end up in the trash, on a shelf, or in a box. We're also fans of simplicity. That means, rather than having someone take a stab in the dark when it comes to gift giving why not just tell them!
So in that vein, we thought we'd also share our own wish-lists for this year. We hope this serves as inspiration for you too.
Functional Travel Gift Ideas We Love
Brent's Wish List
Take It Outside Gift Cards – 75% of our clothes come from Take It Outside!
Flex Mooseheads Pass – We travel a lot, so a membership doesn't make sense but a 15 game pass does!
Daily Essentials That Brent is Missing:
Sara's Wish List
Wool Coat – I've been searching for a below-the-knee, light grey, belted wool coat like this one forever!
Take It Outside Gift Cards – like Brent, most of my wardrobe comes from TIO!
Our Travel Tech Wish List
There are some things, if you're not a traveller yourself, you'd never know are gold! Things like a laptop stand that takes the strain off your neck (hello…my neck hurts everyday), an adjustable leather camera strap (the strap that comes standard totally sucks), and a drop proof laptop case! If you've seen our Ultimate Travel Gift Guide, this will look familiar but we're including a few things twice because they're that good.
Sara's Book List
As I mentioned in our “favourite things gift guide”, we read a lot! But that doesn't stop me from having an ever-growing list of books I'd like to devour. And, happily, books make wonderfully simple gifts for any book-worm in your life. Here's what's currently on my “must read” list!
Household Wish List
Nova Scotian Crystal – Another local company that we've both fond of. This falls nicely under the “heirloom gift” category I mentioned earlier.
House Cleaning Services – we're big believers in delegating and streamlining. Hiring a house cleaner was one of the best things we've done over the past few years!
Structube Gift Certificates – We love everything inside Structube and already have a list a mile-long of things we want/need for our new apartment like these stools, these cushions, this lamp and SO much more!
Ikea Gift Cards – Ikea gift cards are one of those things you can never go wrong with. We've got our eye on a cow hide for the dining room along with sheep skin throws for our living room and a hand-full of other decor items.
Our Couples Wish List
Stop your scroll! If you've got couples on your list this year, stop right here! We've got a wish-list of our own that I think will help is you've got couples on your list.
Photoshoots – We take more photos than most, sure. But who doesn't love having some special lifestyle photos! The beauty of this gift is that many couples never pull the trigger and spend the money so if you do it for them, you're the hero. Here are a couple of Halifax based lifestyle photographers we'd love to work with again or for the first time:
- Ryan Williams – Ryan Williams Photographhy
- Katherine Gillis – Katherine Gillis Photography
- Genevieve Reynolds – Genevieve Reynolds Photography
- Jenna Crowell – Mountain Primitive (have worked with her, loved it)
Experience Gifts – we've already curated a full experience gift guide and these make perfect gifts for couples!
Smart Home Assistant – Google Home is pretty common these days so you'll be surprised to hear we don't have one yet – but we totally want one!
Did you find our holiday wish list helpful? Do you have have any other great gift ideas? Let us know in the comments below!
Looking for more gift ideas? Check out out other guides:
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Great suggestions! 🙂
Great ideas!
Great suggestions.
Jay Burke
Found some great ideas – thanks!
You guys rock. I love your suggestion especially that they fall in many price points. I wonder if you could do one for volunteering at different agencies? That way everyone, adults and kids could afford to give.
That’s a great idea!
great ideas, gave me help for the presents I have to buy soon, last minute shopper here. 🙂
Amazing!
Love this list! Some great ideas that I’m stealing…lol.
awesome way to shop,great ideas
great list 🙂
Always interesting !! Great stuff guys! 👍
Nice ideas
My family is past the age of gift giving except for the younger adults still in their 20’s. Instead we’re giving to NS Food Banks this year.
That’s a wonderful idea!
Same here. In fact, I think Dashboard should create a Charitable Giving Gift Guide as well!
That’s a fantastic idea!
Awesome gift ideas!!!
Great gift ideas!
Great idea of a photo shoot for couples
Thanks for all the great ideas!!!
-Stacy
What a great list! First time visiting the blog, your email worked 😉
Yay! We love hanging out over here!
Great gift ideas here 😊
I’ve read about the “Four things Christmas” idea and really love it. It’s where you only buy your kids/spouse FOUR things for Christmas. Something they need, something they want, something to read, something to wear. The idea is the gifts will be more thoughtful, better quality and much more appreciated.
Love this! What a great idea
Thanks for this post. My wife and I are not purchasing gifts for each other besides the stocking stuffers and sucks and undies etc. We do however buy for our children. We save our funds to take a winter vacation together someplace warm.
Same, we usually buy gifts for each other in the form of plane tickets 😉
Hubby & I always do socks for each other. We always spend way too much as they are filled with booze, travel lotto tickets, gift cards!
Love dashboardliving!
haha same, our “stockings” are obnoxious and definitely the most expensive part of our holiday gifts!
Thanks! This is awesome!!
Great ideas !
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Love the wish list ideas!
Another great gift idea in my opinion IS a couple’s massage! Got my very first full body massage when I was 30 now going on almost 32 and I have had maybe 5, changed my life. The BEST thing. Single gift or for a couple. 😀👍
YES, OMG… this is a regular thing in our house. We always go together now…mainly so we can make fun of each others aches and pains!
You have some amazing gift ideas, guys. I love the idea of gift cards for most of my relatives. They are all foodies and have their favourite places to eat out. So that is where I do most of my Christmas shopping.
OMG! I love your ideas – especially massage! I would love to try it. I have never been and from what I hear I am missing out!
What?!? You are! Book one, immediately! You deserve it!
Love the clothes at Take it Outside. A gift card would be a great Xmas gift.
Meeee too… actually MOST of our clothes come from TIO!
Thank you for putting all that work into your wishlists. Great ideas.
I read all your emails although I don’t always comment. There are always a lot of great ideas to try out.
Great ideas! Some of your wants are mine as well😊😊
I figured that our wish list would mirror others’ and be helpful!
Great ideas!!!
Great ideas! I love the idea of giving experiences rather than “stuff”! Thanks for the inspiration!
We’ve been trying to get more experience gifts for there kids too! These are great ideas!!
Absolutely! Especially things like photoshoots with local photographers! Everyone wants great photos these days for social media, what better way to get a bunch!
Your lists are amazing. I think I’ve gotten ideas now for almost everyone on my list.
Experiences Have been go to gifts in the past but these are some fresh fun ideas!
So many great things for Christmas and great places to shop.
Some great ideas here, though my own wish list just got longer!
Great gift ideas! I’m from away and live in Halifax so I always try and bring back unique local gifts for family and friends. It adds a special touch and supports local in Halifax.
Great suggestion….absolutely love Nova Scotia Crystal!!!
Need to study these ideas…….
Love the 15 game mooseheads pkg idea
So, I didn’t even know that was a thing until Brent dropped a hint!
Love the “must read” list! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this is amazing! Thanks
We’re book twins. I listened to Everything is Figureoutable and took action on a passion that day. The Glass Castle was amazing
haha, these are actually on my “want” list… glad to hear you loved them, I can’t wait to read them myself!
I need to go to Structube!
OMG you’ll never leave… I can’t stay away. I swear we go once a week!
Great ideas, very useful!
Great ideas!
Sounds like so much fun ! Great ideas. I have all my shopping completed as I tend to shop all year round. When I see something and I say wow that reminds me of Sara, that’s my clue to buy right then and there. This will be enjoyable to see the 24 days count down. My theme this year as I am on my 23 rd year of different trees (a tradition I gave to my children) is the 12 Days of Christmas. So excited 😊❣️
Sounds wonderful!
Thanks for sharing this awesome gift list ❤
Saxx ✔️
Brent: FLEX Mooseheads tickets?? How did I not know about these?!
Sara: The nano – GAME CHANGER! I bought one for myself last year (to me from me) – I LOVE it! I actually bought it through my stylist
LOVING these guides you two
I’m so glad!
I really love Sara’s book list! I may have to check some of these books out.
This has been the year of books for me and I’ve read some wonderful books! I actually joined a real, in person book club and it’s been a great way to read some books I wouldn’t have normally picked for myself!
Love these ideas all very thoughtful ! Have you checked out moonglow jewellery you pick the date of your birth or any special date and it tells you what kind of moon was out during these special occasions and the reproduce the moon in jewelery that actually has a glow❤️🥂hope I get one for Christmas but probably not the other half is bahhh humbug!
Oooooh no I haven’t but I’ll certainly check it out!
Love these gift ideas!
First time reading your blog. Love it. Actually first time ever reading a blog. You guys are awesome. Meet Christmas to You both
Really! First time! Amazing! Hope to see you around here more frequently 😉
I loved all the book suggestions! I love to read and I love to share books with the people I care about! Thank you!
I struggle with gift ideas for my four grown children and there are some great ideas in your lists. Thanks for the help.
Great ideas! Thanks!
Great ideas!
Love these ideas! Will definitely be using a few
Some great ideas in your wish lists!
I really love the book list. I’m giving my whole family books this year!
I think the idea of giving a photo shoot as a gift for a couple or family is a fantastic idea! Great blog for unique gift ideas for those hard to get people.
Thanks for the gift ideas! I’m definitely going to look more closely into some of your suggestions.
Great ideas thanks!
Love unique gift ideas. Oh And the direct links to each gift you guys provide are SO great. Makes it easy for us last minute shoppers haha
Really nice suggestions! and that’s a helluva cocktail set!
I know right… I think it’ll look FAB on our bar 😉
These ideas are great I love online shopping. Thanks for your shows . You guys are great.
These are fabulous ideas…sometimes it’s hard to think of unique and fabulous ideas for family and friends (and something they don’t already have!). Thank you for the ideas!
Those wooden sunnies! 😍
Wonderful ideas for the “hard to buy for” folks!! Thanks.
Love some of the books on the wish list
What a great list of ideas!!
Love your blog and all your suggestions especially the Christmas gift giving ideas!
Lots of great ideas! I love finding a gift I know someone will love!
Fabulous suggestions!
Awesome ideas!
I was here 😉🤞
Thank you for all the great gift ideas! I’m always trying to find unique things to get people, instead of the same things every year 😊
Yes! The glass castle, oh so very good.
Yeah? I haven’t read it yet but I have bookie friends who LOVED it so it’s high on my “must read” list
neat!
So many ideas. Something for everyone on my list!
Thanks for the ideas!
These are all fantastic ideas! Thanks for putting them all in one place
Fantastic suggestions 🙂 Merry Christmas
Absolutely great gift ideas! Thanks so much for the ideas.
These are amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
A cross-body bag is such a good suggestion for a gift especially for someone that likes to travel! These lists with links to the actual product are really handy! Thanks!
The cross body bags are everything! I can’t stand a regular purse anymore!
I like the travel items,.
Great gift ideas!
Great little list to get people thinking! Love what you two do keep it up!
Thank you for the great gift ideas. I especially liked the housecleaning and Nova Scotia Crystal suggestions.
Fantastic ideas!
Great ideas! Merry Christmas.⛄😊
Enjoyed viewing your wish list:)
All great ideas!
Loving some of the gift ideas , especially on Sarah’s list.
A lot of great ideas!
You guys are awesome! Thanks for sharing so many great ideas 🙂
Wow, thanks for all the great ideas. We are trying to focus on experiences and gift cards instead of “stuff”
Great ideas!
my wish list includes comfy socks
Beautiful gifts
The clutter after the holidays drives me nuts! I would much rather not receive a present than get something wasteful just for the sake of the exchange. Sometimes we do donations to small, local charities in lieu of physical gifts and I love it!
Donations are such a lovely idea. I couldn’t agree more – getting a “thing” that you don’t want or need just for the sake of a gift is (to me) very wasteful and that energy, time, money & love could go somewhere more meaningful
There are so many great travel gifts.
I keep coming back for gift ideas
Smart choices and good taste Sara and Brent.