Dear Diary

There may not be a single special boy (or partner for that matter) in my life this holiday season, but I still can’t help but love shopping for all things handsome man. I am powerless not to spoil the imaginary man of my dreams, and if you have a real live one by your side I encourage you to spoil on my behalf.

Whether this gift is to help you with a father, son, boyfriend or just friend, I like to think we’ve included a great selection of items that would impress just about anyone you’re shopping for, especially a deserving prince! Though after the year we have had it’s entirely possible A LOT of men will be receiving coal…

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1. Baxter of California White Wood #3 Candle / 2. Le Labo Hinoki Shower Gel & Body Lotion / 3. Woodlot Cinder Soap Bar / 4. Cinnamon Projects Insense / 5. Baxter of California Comb / 6. Sugarfina Pale Ale Pints / 7. Milk and Honey – Rupi Kaur / 8. Baxter of California Hard Cream Pomade / 9. Gaston Luga Backpack / 10. Grimm Artisan Ales / 11. Richer Poorer socks / 12. Aesop Hand Balm

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Oh so Pretty

And so it begins- the long line of pastel gift guides I’ve been crafting for months is finally here! I’ve got a whole bunch of ideas fit for every pastel princess (and prince) on your list, but I thought it made sense to start with one of my favourite themed categories: beauty!

I don’t know how many of you have been watching Birchbox rapidly expand into a massive curated beauty destination over the past two years, but from their incredible NYC brick and mortar shop opening to their launch in Canada it’s been a pretty exciting brand be involved with. I had the pleasure of helping the Birchbox team decorate for a magical event a few months ago, and you’ll notice a whole bunch of collaborative products with them over the holiday season here at RAOP.

I truly love making wish lists and gift shopping no matter what the season, but nothing rivals the joy of curating gift picks for Christmas morning. Here are some of my favourite finds from Birchbox’s awesome new Canadian online shop (don’t worry USA, you can still shop everything too!)

1// Not Soap, Radio Body Wash

Bubble bath is one of those products that no one can ever have enough of (like candles, or wine). I’m a massive sucker for good branding, and Not Soap, Radio had me at first glance, despite my confusion over their mysterious name. Created by two sisters who used to make soap concoctions in the bath together growing up (SO cute), this line can be used as both shower gel and bubble bath, and the clever names and descriptions are so fun to read.

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2// BKR Heart Water Bottle

It’s extremely important to stay hydrated over the holiday season, and by that I mean it’s important to be sipping a fancy cocktail or champagne at all times. BKR’s glass water bottles are an absolute staple when it comes to cute beverage transportation, and when you decide to smarten up and get healthy in the new year this little guy will be your best friend (if you actually start using it for water that is!)

3// Davines OI Oil

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it 100 times again: this stuff is GOLD. Anyone and everyone with hair should own this product- it smells amazing and leaves even the most damaged locks shiny and silky smooth. Buy your mom a bottle, buy your bestie a bottle, buy your boyfriend a bottle… and make sure you scoop one up for yourself while you’re at it!

4// Cynthia Rowley Liquid Liner

Liquid liner is a staple in my makeup bag, and I can’t think of a better excuse to perfect your cat eye skills than over the month holiday parties. Exclusive to Birchbox, this Cynthia Rowley liner pen is super easy to use, stays put no matter how much sweaty dancing you do, and it’s oh so festive too!

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5// Ban.do Flash Bobbi Set

Tis the season for sparkle! A super simple way to add a bit of glitter to any hairstyle, these colourful clips will have you sparklin’ around the Christmas tree all year long.

6// Birchbox Subscription

You know what no one hates? Receiving Mail! Nothing beats the rush of finding a package waiting outside your door, especially one filled with surprise treats and unexpected finds. Birchbox got started as a monthly beauty sample delivery service, and their still the best in the business. Why not treat your friends and loved ones to the gift that keeps on giving?

Birchbox – The Box is Monthly, the Beauty & Grooming Possibilities are Endless! Sign up for just $10/month.

Sips, Sweets & Snacks

As much as I hate to admit it, I’m not really into board games. As a generally mega-impatient person I have a horrible time committing to anything with the potential to stretch on and on, and though I try my best to be a good sport I almost never actually manage to stick with a game till the end. The only exception to this rule is a game that really plays to my strengths- movie trivia.

In case you haven’t noticed I’m hyper detail-oriented, which makes me the ideal candidate for everything from trivia to reading comprehension. I’m also an avid movie watcher, and I love testing my knowledge and stumbling across new films to add to my “to watch” list. For these reasons and so many more, I have totally fallen for Pop Stream, a new interactive movie trivia game that connects to your iPad.

In all honesty, my relationship with this game started with aa lot of hesitation and distrust. I generally avoid anything I perceive as unnecessarily tech-focused/futuristic, sticking to analogue versions of almost everything I can. That said, I brought the game over to a hangout with a group of friends on a whim, and within minutes we were all totally hooked. With fun question categories, video clips, and really hilarious moving avatars, its the perfect accessory to tote to holiday parties and family gatherings this Christmas. The only thing that makes playing Pop Stream even MORE fun? Cocktails of course!

Scroll down for a fun game night cocktail recipe…

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We wanted to pay homage to one of our favourite pastel movies with this recipe, so we chose a California girl-pink concoction inspired by our girls Romy and Michelle. With great diet advice (candy corns and gummi bears anyone?) and exceptional taste in music, this movie has everything you need to throw an awesome themed movie-trivia girl’s night- and with the help of these cocktails that’s exactly what we did!

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Ingredients //

Sparkling Lemonade
Grenadine
Peach Schnapps
Vodka

Method //

Pour sparkling lemonade over ice, then add a shot of both vodka and peach schnapps. Top it off with a splash of grenadine, and cheers to your genius invention of Post Its.

Glasses via. Overstock.com

This post was sponsored, but all opinions are my own. To inquire about sponsored posts, please email jess@shineinfluencers.com