We all can agree that a fireplace is the perfect way to stay warm and cozy in a cold Canadian winter. But with more and more people moving to the city and downsizing their homes, a real, wood burning fireplace is becoming a rare thing these days. If you find yourself without a hearth this season but you still crave that #FireplaceFeeling in your home, here are some tips to help you really warm things up.
Fake It
Can’t do without a fireplace, but don’t have a chimney? Get yourself a lifelike replica! Electric fireplaces give the glow and the warmth of the real thing, without the mess and hassle of firewood, and come in many different styles and price points.
Heat It
One of the best benefits of having fireplace is the heat they give off, but it’s not practical to just crank up the thermostat when you want to warm up your old bones. A smarter way to thaw out your frozen toes is a portable heater. You can move it to any room that you’re in, and it will save you a bundle on heating costs.
The scent of a crackling wood fire is one of the more difficult effects to replicate in your home without actually lighting something on fire, but you can can come close with some earthy, woodsy aromatherapy scents like balsam, sandalwood and patchouli.
Atmosphere is the #1 element of the hygge manifesto, and these tips will have you on your way to achieving Hygge Master status. Let’s get cozy!
Everyone has their own cherished holiday traditions, but if you and your family are looking for a new way to celebrate and connect, get inspired by these fun and cozy traditions from around the world.
Candle in the Window – Ireland
The Irish tradition of lighting a candle in the window is hundreds of years old, and many Irish people will tell you that it signifies lighting the way for Mary and Joseph to help them find the stable in Bethlehem. Historians, on the other hand, will tell you that this tradition started sometime in the 17th century when the Penal Laws in Ireland suppressed the Catholic religion. Catholic churches were outlawed and priests hid in fear of their lives, and they often visited homes in secrecy to bless a family and to say Mass. A candle in the window signalled to any passing priest that this was a Catholic home, and a priest was welcome to enter silently and join the family in prayer for Christmas. The Irish are renowned the world over for their hospitality, and this tradition is still widely practiced in Ireland and North America as a sign of welcome for anyone, friend or stranger, who might be passing by on Christmas Eve.
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas happens right at the beginning of Australia’s summertime, so it just makes sense that many Australians spend their holidays in the great outdoors. Beach days, camping, barbecues and outdoor festivals are common Aussie holiday traditions.
How to adopt this tradition: Obviously, Canadian Christmas looks a lot different than in Australia, but why not take a cue from the adventurous Aussies and get outside? Bundle up the family and go for an after-dinner walk to look at Christmas lights, ring in the New Year with backyard snowball fight, or try a new winter sport like snowshoeing or ice skating. Stay warm with winter accessories from London Drugs.
“Merry Christmas, Mate!”
Declaration of Christmas Peace – Finland
The Declaration of Christmas Peace is publicly announced in many Finnish cities on Christmas Eve. The oldest and most popular event is in the old capital of Turku, which is broadcast on the Finnish Broadcasting Company and is viewed by millions of Finns and Swedes. The tradition goes as far back as the 1320s: the reading of the declaration, the wording of which hasn’t changed much since the 19th century, is accompanied by traditional music performed by local choirs and bands, along with a public rendition of the Finnish and Swedish national anthems. Originally used as a reminder for citizens that offenders who committed crimes on religious holidays were given harsher punishments, it is now a reminder for people to keep peace in their lives and treat each other with love and respect.
How to adopt this tradition: Have everyone write their declaration for peace in the coming year, and list all of they ways they will promote peace and respect in their lives, then share them at the family holiday gathering.
“Hyvää Joulua”
Giant Lantern Festival – Philippines
Photo by Caryl Joan Estrosas
The Giant Lantern Festival signifies the beginning of the Christmas season in the Philippines. Each year on the Saturday before Christmas, revelers gather in the capital of San Fernando to witness the splendid display of colourful electric lanterns, or parol, which symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. The festival evolved from an older tradition called lubenas, where a lantern procession would travel through neighbourhoods to take residents to church on Christmas. But, when electricity was introduced to Philippine cities in the 1930s, all bets were off, and neighbourhoods began competing against one another for the coveted championship. These impressive lanterns can be made of up to 10,000 light bulbs! Here’s a little taste:
Ever wonder about the “figgy pudding” from “Deck the Halls?” Wonder no more! The old English tradition of “Stir-Up Sunday” had everyone in the house take a turn stirring the Christmas pudding while making a wish for the coming year.
How to adopt this tradition: Now, not everyone is a fan of old-fashioned Christmas pudding (or fruitcake as we call it here in Canada), so if you’d rather sink your teeth into some delicious cookies or pie, get the whole family involved! Make your favourite holiday treats at home, with everyone taking a step in the baking process, while making a wish for the new year. London Drugs has all the gear you need for your next baking project, from the very practical, to the silly fun.
“Happy Christmas!”
Christmas Eve Book Exchange – Iceland
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash
Along with the usual gifts on Christmas Day, Icelanders also exchange books with family members early on Christmas Eve, then spend the rest of the night in at home, reading and relaxing. Sounds like winter bliss, doesn’t it?
How to adopt this tradition: Easy – give books as gifts to your family or friends! Just make sure to tell them they have to open them on Christmas Eve, and make them promise to settle in for a cozy night at home. Check out London Drugs’ book selection here.
“Gleðileg jól”
We wish you a memorable holiday with family and friends, whether you’re celebrating time-honoured traditions, or discovering new ones.
These days, when nearly everyone seems to have a smart device in their pocket, it can be tough getting the whole family to spend quality time together. But some things never change, and nothing brings families together quite like Games Night!
Need some new ideas for Family Game Night?
Here are nine suggestions in three categories to get you started.
The Classics – with a twist!
Monopoly Deal: A twist on arguably the best known board game of all. Some would say a needed twist. Monopoly, after all, takes a while to play and has lots of pieces to keep track of. Monopoly Deal offers a brand new, streamlined experience. It’s fast, about 20 minutes, but delivers all the financial ups-and-downs and excitement you’d expect.
Star Wars Operation: We all know Operation, the classic game of carefully removing bones from a patient. That zzzz-zap sound still brings back memories, and now you can introduce the fun to a new generation. Star Wars Operation lets you repair Rey’s adorable companion, BB-8.
Ages: 6+ / Players: 1 or more
HedBanz – Act Out!: Charades, arguably the world’s oldest still-popular party game, dates back to at least the 1700s in France. Your whole family will love this modern twist that sees players acting like the clue cards on each other’s provided headbands. Get ready for LOLs galore, IRL! It’s perfect for birthday parties, too.
Ages: 8+ / Players: 2-6
Board Games: The Next Generation
Ticket to Ride: Released to award-winning acclaim in 2004, this game sold 4 million copies by 2014. So it has laid more than enough track by now to be considered a true modern classic. Players race to establish train routes between major transit hubs, and to connect their own tracks onward in unbroken chains. Strategy. Secrecy. Subterfuge. This game has it all.
Ages: 8+ / Players: 2-5
Pandemic: The family that saves humanity together, games together (or something like that). Released in 2007, this game is spreading virally toward legendary tabletop status. Players assume the roles of globetrotting scientists, medics, and logistics experts, working together to stop not one global pandemic…but four. Finished it? Don’t worry, expansions are available to continue the story and the fun.
Ages: 10+ / Players: 4
Dixit: Want a game to set your imagination soaring and help develop your family’s storytelling skills, look no further than this fantastic game. Designed in France in 2008, it has since won multiple international games awards, and the hearts of players around the world. Basically, players take turns creatively describing a famous story and the others try to guess it using the cards in their hands.
Ages: 8+ / Players: 4-6
Video Games…Can’t beat ’em? Join ’em
Just Dance 2018: The latest edition in a beloved series, it’s available on seven gaming systems. So if your family likes music, movement, or generally having fun: this one’s for you. It has variable difficulty settings, too. So even those with the freshest moves around can play with the rest of us. It’s also a great way to add some exercise to games night.
Rating: E10+ / System: Ps4, XBox One, Nintendo Switch, WiiU, PS3, XBox 360, Wii
Splatoon 2: The follow up to the silly-but-serious WiiU stand-out, players race to splatter turf in ink of their team’s colour. Players also don sweet, swaggy street gear and use a variety of inky weapons and marvelous moves. Families can also play together over long distances with online play.
Really, this is just one of several great family games for the Nintendo Switch, probably the best bet overall current console for family game night.
Rating: E10+ / System: Nintendo Switch
NHL 2018: Take to the ice as your favourite team (or try out life as a member of the new expansion team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights). Play locally with family, or expand your competition to online play. You might be surprised at how much Mom enjoys throwing a check.
Still shopping? No sweat! We’ve collected all our 2017 Gift Guides into one convenient list.
Starting back in November, we created gift guides to help you surprise and delight every type of person on your list. In case you missed them, or need a refresher, you’ll find each gift guide below.
Christmas is a time of epic food and meals shared with friends and family. Tis the season for those who love to cook! This guide is for those who love spending time in the kitchen.
Top tip: If you’re not sure they’ll use the latest gadget, a tried and true kitchen basic is always appreciated.
Is there anything kids love more than tearing into a wrapped present? Maybe the surprise item inside! This guide is for the kids in your life, with gift ideas that parents will love too.
Top tip: Board games and lego are classic toys for a reason! And they’re great fun for the whole family.
A guide for those who love to do it themselves—“it” being anything and everything! These folks can be among the hardest to shop for, since they prefer experiences over things.
For more gift-giving advice for the music lover on your list, speak to an LD Expert today. To make a purchase, visit London Drugs in-store and online. And find more gift ideas from the London Drugs Christmas Experts.
London Drugs wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Ellen Degeneres likes to give away swag. We get that! This year, for her annual 12 Days of Giveaways promotion, she included a product that we know and love, too. As you can see in this clip from Day 5 of her 12 Days of Giveaways, she gave away some true winter classics.
We’re taking about… Heat Holders!
Heat Holders, the oh-so-cozy winter gear that provides warmth on the chilliest of Canadian winter days. London Drugs offers a wide selection of Heat Holders, and we’re partial to these soft grey crew socks. In need of a few final stocking stuffers? These toasty warm socks are a great way to go!
With families spread out across the country (and sometimes across an ocean), it’s unfortunate that some loved ones can’t make it home for the holidays. The next best thing is to send a little piece of home to them with a thoughtful care package. Here are some tips to make it the best care package possible.
First, do your homework. Check rates and timelines at Canada Post before you pack your box, and make sure you know what can and can’t be sent through the mail. If time is of the essence, you’ll have to use a more expensive shipping option like Priority service, or a private company like FedEx or UPS. Money-saving tip: use the shipping company’s flat-rate boxes instead of your own to ensure you’re getting the best rate and not shipping something that’s an unusual weight or size.
If you’re shipping baked goods, sturdy treats like small cookies, brownies, quick breads, and non-fragile candies are better for shipping than delicate sweets that can easily fall apart. To ensure that everything arrives in one piece, stuff the boxes with plenty of soft packaging. Keep it green by reusing newspapers or use clothing that you’d be sending anyway. Pack at least 2 inches of cushioning around each item. And it might sound fun, but avoid using real popcorn, as it can attract unwanted pests.
Every care package is different depending on the recipient, so here are some ideas for a custom-made package from the heart.
University Student – If the hard working student in your life can’t put down the books for the holidays or just can’t afford the trip, he’ll need some love from home.
Military – If your loved one is serving overseas, you already know that care packages are essential for surviving lonely days and nights away from home. First, consider where she is. If she’s somewhere cold, send warm socks, long underwear, hand and foot warmers, and hot chocolate packs. If she is somewhere hot, items like lip balm, sunscreen, personal fans, deodorant and clean t-shirts are always appreciated.
Definitely include something that reminds them of home, like treats made from an old family recipe, prints of photos you know she hasn’t seen in a while, or merchandise from a favourite home team. Boredom is often a factor for service members, so consider including some fun, like card games, puzzle books, Mad Libs, magic tricks, books, or magazines. Military shipping tips: If you’re sending edible gifts, make sure to secure and tape your package really well, as little critters often make their home on ships and aren’t shy about chewing through boxes to get to the goodies.
Ex-pat Friend – Most ex-pats say that the thing they miss the most about home (after friends and family of course) is the snack food – so why not send exactly that!
Working Away From Home – Yes, a quiet hotel suite and room service can sound pretty glamorous, but family members who travel a lot for work get tired of those perks pretty quickly, and really they just miss home. To help bridge the gap, send some of your child’s newest artwork or a hand-written story, a customized photo desk calendar, or a pillowcase that smells like home. Stress is also a hardship while working away from home, so send easily-pack-able items to de-stress the space wherever they are staying: candles, aromatherapy diffuser with lavender, rose or sandalwood essential oil, noise-cancelling headphones, a sleep mask, a yoga dvd, and some healthy snacks. For an extra thoughtful touch, have some fresh flowers delivered to his room.
Hopefully, the separation from your loved one over the holidays is just temporary, but the memories of a perfect care package will last a lifetime.
We get it. The holidays aren’t everyone’s cup of egg nog. They can be stressful, expensive, wasteful, and the music…sigh. Heck, you may not even celebrate any holidays at all! If you’re feeling grinchy-er than normal this holiday season, we’ve got some tips to help you stay jolly.
Avoid Stress
If the thought of cooking all day is enough to jingle your bells right off their bobtails (what the heck are bobtails, anyway?), look into having someone else do all the cooking. Many restaurants and caterers offer Christmas dinner service for not much more than you would spend buying all the supplies yourself. Some even have same-day pick up, so all you’ll have to do with the delicious food is eat it. Someone will still have to do the dishes, though. Sorry.
It’s not always easy at this busy time of year, but try to make sleep a priority. The more rested you are, the better you can deal with outside stresses. If you have trouble sleeping, try a natural sleep aid like white noise, a sleep mask or aromatherapy.
Everyone knows that exercise reduces stress, so between office parties and gift wrapping, sneaking in a workout can really help ease the pressure. Bonus – the gym is almost empty around the holidays. Not a fan of the gym? Most home workouts only require a yoga mat and hand weights to start.
Some people would rather eat tinsel than go to the mall around the holidays, but there’s really no reason to step into retail hell when you can you now get gifts online for everyone on your list. LondonDrugs.com has a huge selection of everything you’ll need for the holidays, and you won’t even need to change out of your jammies to get it.
Don’t Overspend
Give homemade gifts – if you’re a motivated home cook, make a big batch of cookies or preserves and wrap them up in cute gift packages, for much, much less than buying gifts.
Give gifts of service – This could include shovelling the sidewalk for elderly relatives, running an errand for a friend, or cooking dinner for a busy parent. Babysitting services are always appreciated, too!
Set a family spending limit of $10 or $20 per person to avoid overspending. It will challenge everyone to be creative with their gift giving, and avoid bad feelings. Or, if everyone is on board, do a Secret Santa gift exchange instead of gifts for everyone. That way, you can spend a little money on one really thoughtful gift instead of lots of money on many smaller, cheaper gifts.
Reduce Waste
Instead of disposable gift wrap, make the wrapping a useful part of the gift; put cookies in a flower pot or hide jewelry in a new pair of socks.
Be selective when deciding how many holiday cards to send. If you don’t want to send cards at all, choose a few people you’d like to connect with, grab some stationary paper and a great pen and write a letter instead for a touching surprise.
Plug your indoor and outdoor lights into timers for energy savings and peace of mind while you’re away.
I Don’t Celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah
If you don’t celebrate the holidays, you probably already do this – hit up your favourite Chinese restaurant! Most are open on Christmas holidays, and it’s a fun and delicious December tradition.
Start your own, brand new tradition! Take your cue from Seinfeld – George’s father Frank Costanza invented Festivus so he could reject all the commercial and religious aspects of Christmas but still maintain a family tradition. If you like the sound of it, you’ll need a Festivus pole, meatloaf on a bed of lettuce for dinner, and some space in the living room for the Feats of Strength. Don’t forget the Airing of Grievances!
Oh, and about that Christmas music…here’s a great Spotify playlist called “Christmas Songs (For People Who Hate Christmas Music)” to help ease the burden of hearing that Mariah Carey song for the 27,346th time.
The scent of a crackling wood fire is one of the more difficult effects to replicate in your home without actually lighting something on fire, but you can can come close with some earthy, woodsy aromatherapy scents like balsam, sandalwood and patchouli.
send some of your child’s newest artwork or a hand-written story, a customized 
It’s not always easy at this busy time of year, but try to make sleep a priority. The more rested you are, the better you can deal with outside stresses. If you have trouble sleeping, try a natural sleep aid like 
Give homemade gifts – if you’re a motivated home cook, make a big batch of 
