Dear Diary

Merry Christmas week everyone!

Sorry I haven’t been around as much lately- I’ve been going through a lot of big changes over the past couple of months, and though I have a lot to say about all of that, I’m going to try and keep things as on-subject as possible today.

Well, to be upfront, I’ve somehow ended up with a boyfriend for Christmas.

As you know I try not to get too personal around here, but it feels odd not to share such a big part of my life with all of you, especially when it’s something that I’m so excited about going into the new year. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart, and to say I’ve fallen head over glittery heels is an understatement. I don’t want to get too detailed, but it suffices to say that I’m really, truly happy, and though I learned a lot from my breakup and being single, I think this new relationship is exactly what I needed to get my sparkle back.

Of course as a huge Christmas lover, finding romance just in time for the holiday season is a total dream come true, and my December has been spent cuddled up watching “The Holiday” with hot apple cider, and Christmas shopping hand in hand. The best part? I got a last-minute chance to gather all sorts of wonderful boy gifts, which happens to be my absolute favourite thing to shop for. Though my beau won’t be getting a peek until Christmas day, I figured I’d share some of my favourite items here with you in case you’re still on the hunt for your handsome partner!

scroll down to find the guide!

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In order of appearance from top to bottom, right to left:

Nike Tech Fleece Sweats and Roshe Run Sneaker Boot // When I hopped onto the mystery bus for the Project North trip my first thought was “Omg those boy outfits are way too good!” Seriously, this sweatshirt/sweat pant combo is the perfect gift for your partner, if only because you’ll definitely steal it to wear yourself sooner or later, and don’t even get me started on the fleece lined sneaker boots.

Richer Poorer inc. socks and boxer briefs // I’m a huge fan of Richer Poorer, and I seriously might have to buy their awesome socks for everyone at every special occasion from now until the end of time.

Commodity Goods Gin Cologne // I’m crazy about cologne, but Commodity Goods makes scent shopping so easy that even the most fragrance-phobic folks could find a perfect fit. Offering adorable sampler packs in case your partner is extra picky, Commodity is truly the best brand for scent gifting. If you’re feeling super confident, splurge on a full size bottle of Gin, Whisky, or Book– all three are irresistibly good!

Linneas Lights candle in “Vetiver” // There’s nothing more attractive than dating someone who not only smells good, but knows how to make their house smell fancy too. I’m a huge devotee to Vetiver, and Linneas Lights’ rich earthy take is the perfect fragrance to spice up a living space.

Muttonhead Toque // Designed and crafted right here in Toronto, Muttonhead is a unisex local brand with a super cute shop near my house and endless amazing gift ideas. I actually own this toque and I can safely say it will make anyone on your list warm and cozy.

Raised by Wolves Trap Life Tee // Another local brand, Raised by Wolves has that handsome woodsy Canadian thing down, and this holiday Trap Life print is so Canadian in the best possible way.

Ursa Major Trailside Candle and Traveller’s Skin Care Kit // I love Ursa Major’s all natural take on skincare, and their swoon-worthy packaging doesn’t hurt either.

Questions? Thoughts? Confusions? Let me know what you’re thinking in the comments and I’ll do my best to get back to you! 

*Note: Some or all of the items featured in this post were given to me as a gift from the maker, but I only write about products I genuinely adore, I promise!*

Oh so Pretty

I’m a massive perfume fan, but at this point I have so many scents that it can be pretty hard to impress me. I have sniffed so many beautiful bottles containing so many strange and exciting scents, and every time I’m at a department store I can’t help but feel a little bit overwhelmed by all the millions of choices.

That being said, when I first received my samples from Commodity, I was totally 100% blown away.

Commodity Goods is a U.S. based company with a brilliant concept for perfume shopping. All of their gorgeous scents are lovingly blended in France, then shipped to California to be bottled by hand. They use only the highest quality ingredients and offer intriguing fragrances like moss, gold, and book. But that’s not that makes Commodity special.

Commodity offers something called a “fitting kit”, which is essentially a $9 pack of tester vials from each scent collection (for men and for women). The tiny bottles are shipped right to your house to try on, and when you decide on a favourite, you can knock that $9 off of your full size bottle purchase! It’s so brilliant that you’ll wonder how you ever bought perfume any other way.

RAOP Picks:

Whisky and Wool for men

Gold and Ivy for women

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*Note: Some or all of the items featured in this post were given to me as a gift from the maker, but I only write about products I genuinely adore, I promise!*