BC Living
Where to Find Low- and Zero-Proof Drinks for Dry January in BC
Recipe: How to Make Brownies from Scratch
3 Mocktail Recipes for Dry January
Nature’s Pharmacy: 8 Herbal Boutiques in BC
How Barre Enhances Your Flexibility
Top Tips for Workout Recovery
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
Getaways for busy entrepreneurs
Exploring Vancouver’s Top Wellness Spas
Local Getaway: Hide Away at a Lakefront Cabin in Nakusp
7 Beauty and Wellness Influencers to Follow in BC
B.C. Adventures: Things to Do in January
Making Spirits Bright: Where to See Holiday Lights Around B.C.
9 Essential Winter Beauty and Skincare Products
5 Books You’ll Want to Cozy up to This Winter
The Best Gifts for Homebodies in 2024
Your guide to thoughtful and quirky gifts for all of the homebodies on your shopping list this holiday season.
If you’re looking for gifts for homebodies—the perfect present for that friend or family member who loves spending a cozy evening on the couch—read on to discover 40-plus suggestions for everything from crochet kits and snack foods to weighted blankets and portable heaters. (And if you end up buying a few of these items for yourself? We’ll never tell.)
Choose a favourite photo, drawing, saying,or other personalized design to be printed on a pack of custom playing cards ($16) from Staples Canada. The company can also customize calendars, socks, wine tumblers, blankets and more.
There’s no need to leave the chesterfield to grab more sweet sustenance, thanks to the Chocolate Survival Kit ($23) from Purdys Chocolatier. It contains a Coffee Break Bar, a Peanut Butter Bar, a Chocolate Chewie Bar, a three-pack of Hedgehogs, and a two-pack of Sweet Georgia Browns.
Dubbed “An Eye for Curiosity,” the Uniqlo x Anya Hindmarch Winter 2024 Collection features smile-inducing clothing such as Heattech socks ($10). Other fun pieces include arm warmers, a cashmere crew-neck sweater and an oversized cardigan made from merino wool.
Anyone who can’t resist the lure of a night in with a good book would appreciate the OUI Book Lover Definition pillow cover ($40) from Indigo. It’s made from a soft blend of viscose and linen and is machine-washable.
The eos Holiday Peppermint Twist/Candy Cane Swirl super balm two-pack ($10) delivers festive flavours along with 24 hours of hydration, thanks to a combination of butters: shea, cocoa and avocado.
Kooshoo was founded with the goal of eliminating plastic waste from hair accessories. The company’s plastic-free scrunchies (two-pack $16) each have soft organic cotton on the outside and, on the inside, a strong but stretchy hair tie that’s crafted from natural tree rubber and organic cotton. Kooshoo also makes flat hair ties, round hair ties and headbands, all plastic-free.
Unshackled and The Prisoner Wine Company teamed up with Toronto artist Ben Johnston on a special sleeve for their Cabernet Sauvignon ($36) this holiday season. The packaging’s shape and design suggest a spray-paint can—a nod to Johnston’s background as a street artist. Just 1,000 of the limited-edition tins are available on BCLiquor shelves.
Points of Interest: In Search of the Places, People, and Stories of BC ($25) features quirky essays by 30 writers and storytellers, ideal for a booklover to dip into occasionally between naps on the sofa. Published to mark the 20th anniversary of independent daily news website The Tyee, the anthology was edited by Tyee editor-in-chief David Beers and senior editor Andrea Bennett.
It’s a little-known fact of the season that cocoa tastes sweeter when sipped from a holiday mug. Fortunately, the Canvas Santa’s Workshop Christmas Collection Santa and Mrs. Claus mugs with spoons ($15) from Canadian Tire are both adorable and practical, since they can go in the microwave and the dishwasher.
With flavourful options such as white cheddar, wasabi ranch, black pepper and tomato basil, Harvest Snaps ($4) deliver the taste and crunch of potato chips but with much less fat, and they’re high in fibre. Find these gluten-free baked veggie snacks at retailers such as Loblaws, London Drugs and Shoppers Drug Mart.
The scalp massager ($20) from Pomme can be used on either wet or dry hair to exfoliate and energize the scalp, which stimulates circulation—and feels heavenly. The massager also helps with product buildup.
Raise a glass to Nk’Mip—North America’s first Indigenous winery, located in the sunny Okanagan—and be sure to fill that glass with Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Merlot ($38). With its flavours of black cherry, black currant, plum, vanilla, spice and chocolate, the wine pairs well with comfort foods such as pasta marinara and roasted pork tenderloin.
The Long Knit and Sherpa Gingerbread Socks ($17) from La Vie en Rose are cute—check out those cheerful pompoms!—but also useful, with their warm sherpa lining and anti-slip bottoms.
Sensible Sweets ($10) from Huer—which is based in Langley, B.C.—deliver fruity flavours but with less sugar and fewer calories than most other gummy candies. They’re also gluten-free and contain no sugar alcohols.
Raw Sugar’s Healing Power hair masque ($19) helps to protect and repair thanks to nourishing ingredients such as shea butter and vitamin E, resulting in smoother, shinier tresses.
Charming and cuddly, the Magic Bag Warmy Sam the Cat hot and cold compress ($17) has a removable insert that can be warmed up in the microwave—to banish chills or ease inflammation—or chilled in the freezer, to use as a cold compress on minor bumps and bruises.
Roam the Brand’s holiday collection includes the O Christmas Tree travel candle ($28), with its aromas of fir trees, cedarwood, bayberry, and citrus, and the ’Twas the Night Before travel candle ($28), which has hints of spiced rum, roasted chestnuts and caramel. Based in Vancouver, Roam uses natural coconut and apricot wax along with wooden wicks to make small batches of vegan, toxin-free candles. The company also offers three- and six-month candle subscriptions.
Outfit the whole family in the Jammers Red Truck family pyjama line from Canadian Tire. The PJs come in sizes for men ($30), women ($30), kids/teens ($28), and toddlers ($25). And check out the matching onesies for babies ($20) and bandanas for pets ($15).
I Hear You, Mountains ($23) is part of Kallie George’s “Sounds of Nature” series, which teaches young children mindfulness, observation and imagination while also developing empathy and engaging with nature. BC resident George has crafted a series of quiet, thoughtful books, just right for reading at naptime or bedtime.
For the dissectologist (person passionate about solving jigsaw puzzles) on your gift list, the Snowed In 500-piece puzzle ($20) from Indigo is sure to provide hours of enjoyment.
The lightweight Nota Rechargeable book light ($23) from Indigo can clip to any hardcover or softcover book, offering three light settings ranging from cool to warm. Its USB port allows for easy charging.
The Canvas Santa’s Workshop Christmas Collection Gingerbread House cookie cutter set ($13) from Canadian Tire contains 10 stainless steel cookie cutters ready to handle the most delicious building material known to humankind: gingerbread dough.
The Loop Brigade DIY Mini Crochet Plush Toy complete kit for beginners ($25) from Showcase is the perfect gift for anyone new to crocheting. Each kit includes everything needed to make a cute plushie: yarn, stuffing, plastic eyes, a crochet hook, a tapestry needle, a stitch marker and a pattern, along with an instruction manual and a QR code leading to video tutorials. Choose from the blue Charlie the Penguin (pictured), pink Lily the Axolotl, brown Oliver the Capybara, grey Mandy the Mouse, or green Noah the Dinosaur.
The Magic Bag Spa Chic Lavender Aromatherapy hot and cold eye mask ($23) does more than just block out light. Its gentle pressure promotes relaxation, reduces tension and stress and helps to relieve tired, puffy eyes. Consider it the perfect naptime or bedtime companion.
Part hoodie, part blanket, and 100% cozy, the Gingerbread Soft Plush oversized hoodie ($60) from La Vie en Rose is the perfect holiday garment to wear while nibbling gingerbread cookies on the couch.
The HeatMatez portable ceramic heater ($70) from Showcase offers the flickering glow and cozy warmth of a wood-burning fireplace but with none of the hassle or mess. And its flame-only mode is a useful option in the warm summer months.
Blending education with cozy comfort, Hugg-A-Planet pillows range in size from the 6” Baby Earth ($25 US) to the 12” Classic Earth ($45 US) to the 24” Super Earth ($150 US). These soft and squishy globes make napping—and learning geography—far more enjoyable.
The only thing better than lounging on the sofa? Lounging on the sofa with a lap cat—unless that contented cat’s “biscuit-making” threatens to destroy clothing, furniture, and human skin. The Knead-It pad ($65 US) from Fluff & Boots is thick enough to stop sharp claws from poking through but small and light enough to be comfortable on a lap. Its faux-fur cover can be removed and tossed in the washing machine.
In Danish and Norwegian, the word hygge refers to a feeling of coziness, comfort, and contentment. Nothing says hygge quite like a pair of Glerups slippers. Made from wool—which naturally regulates temperatures and resists odours—these Danish slippers come in three unisex styles: slip-on (pictured, $100), shoe ($110) and boot ($120). Available at Australian Boot Company and MEC.
Safer to use than a space heater—and occupying far less space—the Cozy Products carpeted foot warming heater ($93) from Rona keeps feet toasty warm, and it consumes very little energy to do so.
Weighing in at just 1.2 pounds, the Theragun Portable massage device ($249) from Hudson’s Bay is surprisingly powerful for such a small device, delivering deep-muscle treatments. This mini massager runs quietly and has an ergonomic grip.
The Muslin cotton robe ($106) from Silk & Snow looks elegant enough to belong in a five-star hotel but feels comfy enough for a night of Netflix on the couch. Each robe is made in Portugal using organic cotton muslin and is machine-washable.
Easing anxiety, reducing stress, improving sleep quality, enhancing feelings of calmness and security—these are just a few of the benefits that weighted blankets can deliver, due to deep-pressure stimulation. Research shows that the blankets can also help with conditions such as restless legs syndrome, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and sensory processing disorder. The New Season Home Premium compression weighted blanket ($108) from The Home Depot weighs 19 pounds and has a washable cotton cover.
Comfy, warm, and water-resistant, the Campfire Unisex hybrid slipper ($96 to $120) from Baffin is perfect to wear while lounging inside by the fire, or popping outside to grab more firewood.
Bound in Tiffany Blue leather and featuring gilded page edges, the Personal Essentials notebook ($200) from Tiffany & Co. was inspired by the beloved company’s Blue Book covers of the 1900s. It contains both lined and unlined pages, perfect for jotting down important thoughts, random doodles, and everything in between.
The Stadler Form Zoe Amber Light aroma diffuser ($110) from Hudson’s Bay emits a fine fragrant mist along with a gentle amber light that mimics the glow of a flame, giving any room the ambience of a luxury spa.
Made from a soft blend of organic cotton and Tencel, the Grateful shrug ($138) from Rose Boreal feels like a warm hug. It can be worn while meditating, after yoga class or when sprawled on the sofa.
As its name suggests, the new Kobo Libra colour ($250) from Indigo can display colours, so book covers and illustrations really pop. Plus the Kobo’s screen is easy to see even in the brightest sunlight, making e-books equally readable by firelight or during a sun-drenched vacation.
The UGG Men’s Tasman sheepskin slippers ($135) from Sport Chek have stylish suede on the outside, durable outsoles,and cozy plush insoles made from 80% upcycled wool and 20% Tencel Lyocell.
The ingenious design of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds ($330) from Staples Canada means the wearer can listen to high-quality sound—that no one else can hear—while also hearing what’s happening in their surroundings. Plus these open-ear wireless headphones are lightweight and ergonomic, boasting a long battery life.
Warm and soft, the Coyuchi Horizon Supersoft organic throw ($229) from Resthouse is made from thick organic cotton yarns.
The GoChess Mini ($200 US) combines traditional chess with AI technology, all in one portable package. The user can play against another person—in the same room or anywhere around the world—or against the AI. Blunder alerts and lights indicating the best moves are useful for those just learning chess, and the 32 difficultly levels mean there’s something for every skill level, from beginner to Grandmaster.
With its soft Nappa leather in Tiffany Blue, the Backgammon Set ($10,100) from Tiffany & Co. is the ultimate splurge for the game-lover on your gift list.
