Gift Ideas Archives - London Drugs Blog

Beat the Holiday Rush by Ordering these Creative Gifts Early

In the blink of an eye, the holidays will be upon us. It happens every year – you think you have lots of time, and then suddenly, you’re scrambling to get everything ticked off your holiday shopping list. Why not make this year different? If you’re planning to send gifts or cards by mail, then there’s even more reason to be proactive and start ticking off your holiday gifting list early. To ensure they are delivered in time, Canada Post recommends shopping and getting your parcels in the mail early, as they are expecting to see a short-term surge in packages in December.

Our London Drugs Photolab has all kinds of gift ideas, from greeting cards to tree ornaments, that you can personalize with your own photos for some truly unique and thoughtful gifts. The best part? You can order them all without ever having to step foot in a mall. By ordering early, you can get your gifts delivered to your home well before the holidays – either by ordering online or using our London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android. Or if you need your gifts even quicker, you can opt for in-store pick-up conveniently at your nearest London Drugs store.

Keep reading below for 6 creative gift ideas that will help you beat the holiday rush!

Personalized Greeting Cards

If there’s one thing that belongs at the very top of your to-do list, it’s your holiday greeting cards. Depending on how far around the world you’re planning to send your cards, you’ll want to give them ample time to arrive (preferably at the start of the holidays). Before the holiday rush hits, take some time to design your cards, create your list of recipients, and get them ready to toss in the mail.

Holiday greeting cards are a tradition for many families, as they’re a chance to get your family and friends caught up on your year (and show off your beautiful family with a few photos too). To help you make your cards extra special, we offer personalization options that allow you to add photos and text directly to the cards – no more hand cramps writing them by hand! And pro tip: order a stack of 25 cards to save! Our Photolab also has a variety of themed card templates for Christmas, Hanukkah, and general Winter themes, so no matter what your traditions, you can find a beautiful card to customize. Check out this blog for more ideas for personalizing your holiday greeting cards.

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Gifts like personalized Christmas tree ornaments are an excellent choice for neighbours, co-workers, teachers, or anyone else you want to share a little something with to wish them a happy holiday season. If you’re gifting personalized tree ornaments, it’s best to order them before the holidays begin and give them out early. That way, they have time to hang them on the tree and fully appreciate them during the holiday season!

We have everything from beautiful wood ornaments to ceramic, crystal, pewter, metal, and ball ornaments. Each one can be customized with a photo, as well as a personal message or date if you like.

Puzzles & Playing Cards

With more time spent at home this year, puzzles have had a major resurgence in popularity. Our photo puzzles are a fun and unique gift your friends and family will surely appreciate, especially if they’ve exhausted their own collection of puzzles already. Just pick a photo of your choosing, and we’ll personalize the puzzle with that image! You can even order a puzzle that comes with a matching storage tin. Another option is to personalize a pack of playing cards with a special photo. These make great stocking stuffers too!

Cozy Photo Blankets & Pillows

What do you buy for the person who has everything? Rather than scrambling at the last minute for gifts for those tough-to-buy-for people on your holiday shopping list, here’s a gift idea you can order right now: a personalized photo blanket. These blankets can be customized with either one image or a collage of images and come in ultra-cozy textures like sherpa and fleece. Perfect for the chilly months ahead.

You can also personalize a pillow case with pictures – we even have sequined pillow cases that reveal your photo when you swipe your hand across the sequins! Choose from festive red or silver sequins.

These gifts are a great way to give the gift of coziness, plus the photo personalization adds uniqueness and thoughtfulness that they are sure to appreciate.

Key Chains & Personalized Pet Tags

Know of someone whose pet is their best friend? Here’s a creative gift idea they’re sure to love: a personalized pet tag or key chain! You can order the tag or key chain with a snapshot of their beloved pet printed on it or upload a fun design with their pet’s name. Personalized key chains also make a great stocking stuffer or small gift for anyone else on your holiday list.

Ready to get a head start on your holiday gifting? You can order your personalized gifts and greeting cards online through our London Drugs App (iOS and Android), or using our in-store kiosks. Don’t forget: you have the option to have your order shipped directly to you or pick it up conveniently at your local London Drugs once it’s ready.

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas That Will Warm Her Heart

If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, not to worry! With Mother’s Day being a bit earlier this year, even the most seasoned gifter might be a little off their game. Luckily, there are still plenty of Mother’s Day gift ideas that are not only quick and easy to order but are still thoughtful and made with love. From one-of-a-kind cards to personalized mugs and photo books, below are some of our Photolab’s top last-minute gift ideas that will warm her heart.

A Thoughtful Mug for Mom

Showing mom you think she’s the best mom ever is easy: just put it on a mug! You can add personalized text to any of our Photolab’s mugs, so you can tell her exactly how much you care for her. Add a photo of your choice as well – one she will be able to cherish for years to come.

If you have young kids, you can encourage them to design their own special mugs for mom with the help of our Take and Create Books. These books are full of templates for items including our mugs, which they can draw their own artwork in, and then have those drawings digitized and printed on a mug (or other gift items). You can learn more about our Take and Create Books here.

Our mugs can be ready for pick-up in just 24 hours, making them an excellent choice if you’re in a pinch for a last-minute gift. Plus, they only take a few minutes to customize!

A Special Locket Full of Love

With a personalized locket, mom can keep her loved ones close to her heart at all times. Choose from locket-sized photos in various shapes, including circle, heart, oval, and square, to match your chosen locket. Each print also comes with a variety of sizes from 1”x1” to 0.2”x0.2” so you can pick the one that fits perfectly.

If you’re gifting to a senior/grandmother, it could also be a thoughtful surprise to include old photos of her and her children. Rather than cutting up the originals though, make sure they’re digitized first! Our Photo Scanning Box service can help you digitize large amounts of old print photos quickly and easily.

These locket prints are ready for pick up in just 24 to 72 hours at most of our locations.

A Photoshoot Just for Her

Treat mom to a photoshoot that’s all about her! This gift requires no prep time at all but is a thoughtful way to show your appreciation for your mom and how beautiful she is inside and out. Hire a local photographer, or pick up a camera and stage your own photoshoot at home for her. You can include the kids as well, but take some photos just of her too. Make sure to mention in your ‘Mother’s Day Photo Shoot’ gift that she’ll receive a selection of prints/enlargements or a canvas gallery wrap to commemorate the experience and preserve those special images. This can also be a thoughtful gift for a mom-to-be!

If you’re looking for pointers for doing your at-home photoshoot, make sure to check out our DIY Studio modules; it’s free to sign up, and you’ll get all kinds of helpful tips from pro photographer Erin Manning in each module. For your Mother’s Day photoshoot, we recommend checking out the modules on ‘Composition Tips’ and ‘Lighting Techniques.’

A Photo Book of ‘Moments with Mom’

So many of our most memorable moments in life are often with mom. Help her cherish them by preserving all of your favourite moments with mom in a fully personalized photo book. Hand-pick the photos displayed on each page, and even add thoughtful notes to tell her why those moments mean the world to you. Don’t worry about the design element – we have a Mother’s Day template all set to go for you, so you can simply drag and drop your images!

If you’re tight on time, not to worry. Our Express Book, an 8×8 photographic book with a leatherette cover, is easy to customize and ready for pick-up in just 24 to 72 hours.

A One-of-a-Kind Mother’s Day Card

Sometimes there just isn’t a Mother’s Day card in the card aisle that says exactly what you want to say. That’s where our personalized greeting cards come in. They can be customized with any theme and photo(s) of your choosing, plus you can add a truly personal and heartfelt message for mom that is one-of-a-kind. Just knowing you took the time to make a card for her is sure to warm her heart!

Left it a little late? Just because you’re looking for a Mother’s Day card last minute doesn’t mean it can’t still be thoughtful. Our single-sided photo cards and premium folded greeting cards on photographic paper can be customized and ready for pick-up in just 24 to 72 hours!

A Photo Button for the #1 Mom

Tell the world your mom is #1 by designing a photo button that she can proudly wear all Mother’s Day like a badge of honour! Want it to say something else besides ‘#1 Mom’? While ordering, add any text (and photo) you like! Our buttons are fully customizable. We also have both 3” and 1.25” round buttons, as well as heart-shaped buttons to choose from.

If you’re thinking of ordering one for your mom, just make sure not to leave it too last minute: our photo buttons are ready for pick-up in just 5 to 7 days.

To customize your Mother’s Day gifts on-the-go, just download our London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android to order straight from your smartphone! Otherwise, you can also always order through our Photolab online or in-store using our kiosks. For exact turnaround times, please check with your local London Drugs Photolab.

5 ways to Have a Fantastic Mother’s Day at Home

Mother’s Day will feel a little different than normal this year, but it doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate your mom! In lieu of going out, we’ve come up with 5 ideas you can do indoors to still help your mom feel special.

Home Spa

Forget trips to the spa or the cancelled mani-pedi appointments – bring the spa to you at home. Set the mood with a diffuser and your mom’s favourite essential oil or use a bluetooth speaker to play soft spa music.

Breakfast in Bed

Let mom sleep in, then bring her breakfast in bed to help her feel extra special. Blend up a smoothie, whip up an omelette, or prepare fresh waffles with a cup of coffee. Go that extra step and make sure to clean up afterwards!

Movie Night

Throw on some pajamas, get comfy, and throw the ultimate movie night at home for mom. Browse our selection of DVDs and Blu-ray to pick out some of her favourites. Don’t forget to grab some snacks and beverages for mid-movie munchies!

High Tea

Celebrate mom and help her feel like a queen with an afternoon of High Tea at home. With our tea selection, we’re sure you’ll find her favourite flavour. Plus our range of European snacks and crackers are sure to make this tea time feel extra authentic.

Games Day

Have a little fun by organizing a games day for mom. Pick up her favourite board games and let the competition begin, or even tackle a 1,000 piece puzzle with her. Not only is it a great way to spend indoors, but we’re sure she’ll appreciate the quality time.

Celebrity-Approved Gifts to Help You Finish Your Holiday Shopping

With literally millions of gift ideas at our fingertips these days, narrowing down the best of the best to give to your family and friends can be a daunting task – especially as the holidays quickly approach. Over the years, celebrities and influencers have curated their own holiday gift guides, in the hopes of helping you narrow down your options and find the perfect gift for each and every person on your list. To help make your gift shopping experience even easier, we’ve compiled some of the top celebrity-approved gift items that you can conveniently find at London Drugs! From Oprah Winfrey to Mariah Carey, here are the celebrity-approved gift ideas that will help you tick off the last few names on your holiday shopping list.

Oprah’s Picks

Oprah’s Favorite Things 2019 list is full of covetable items, expertly curated by Oprah and her team. This year, that includes the Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender and Sony XB12 Extra Bass Portable Bluetooth Speaker, which you can both find at London Drugs! The Ninja Foodi brings the heat, with its new heating element that can boil in minutes to cook soups, simmer sauces and even melt cheese for fondue! Plus, it can still blend your favourite frozen drinks and smoothies with ease. The perfect gift for a foodie. Meanwhile, the Sony Extra Bass Speaker is a must-have for the music lover on your holiday shopping list. The speaker is waterproof, dustproof, rustproof and washable, meaning they can take their music with them pretty much anywhere. They’ll love the enhanced low-end tones, and the Li-ion battery that will last up to 16 hours.

Mariah Carey’s Pick

Mariah Carey is the queen of Christmas. After all, can you even think about Christmas without ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ popping into your head? This holiday season, Mariah is spreading Christmas cheer not only with her tunes, but with her hand-picked gift ideas too. Some truly unique items made her list, including the Arcade1Up Pac-Man Arcade Cabinet. These Arcade1Up games just launched at London Drugs this year, and they’ve already become a huge hit with customers! Enjoy the nostalgia of playing Pac-Man and Pac-Man Plus with this classic upright arcade cabinet. Gift it to someone with a love for old school arcade games, or introduce it to your kids as a way for them to explore the wonderful world of arcade gameplay for the first time. Plus, it’s the perfect way to get the whole family engaged in some fun together once the gifts are unwrapped on Christmas Day.

Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to pick up one of Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas albums on CD or vinyl too, to get you in the holiday spirit this season!

Ellen’s Pick

The official ‘Ellen’s List’ is out, and there’s one particular gift that made the cut and caught our eye: the Nintendo Switch Lite. No surprise this made the list, as it makes a great gift, especially for kids and teens. In fact, Ellen called it “the hottest toy of the year.” This new small, light version of the Nintendo Switch system has been optimized for handheld play. It’s also compatible with the popular Nintendo Switch games, like Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and more. They’re sure to keep the kids occupied for hours on road trips or anywhere else!

Jessica Simpson’s Pick

As you may have already learned in our blog on the resurging trend of film photography, film cameras have become a hot item once again. And not just with those who have used film before. A whole new generation is now exploring film photography for the very first time! That’s why it makes perfect sense that Jessica Simpson would pick the Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera, when she shared her favourite holiday gifts with People Magazine.

“We love all kinds of photography in our house! I can’t get enough of this precious time with my three kids without documenting everything. Capture memories in the moment and give friends an artistic keepsake. This camera is also fun for kids to use and create cool collages.”

Know someone who already has an Instax Mini camera? Fujifilm’s themed film (like Star Wars and Frozen 2) make great stocking stuffers, as does a stylish Instax Mini camera case or a cute little Instax Mini Album to store their snapshots.

Christina Milian’s Picks

The Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera clearly is one of the hottest holiday gift ideas for 2019! Not only did it make Jessica Simpson’s top picks, but singer (and actress – have you watched Falling Inn Love yet?) Christina Milian shortlisted the fun instant film camera on her holiday gift guide with E! News. She also featured another hot item on her list – Apple Air Pods. These are a must-have for any techies, or really anyone with a compatible Apple device (think: iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Mac). They deliver a fully wireless headphone experience and include a handy charging case, so they’re always ready to use. They’re automatically on and always connected, so you can change a song, make a call or even make a request from Siri on the fly.

Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka’s Picks

When it comes to the holidays, actor Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burtka are known for going all-out. Their home is immaculately decorated, and they’ve become experts in holiday entertaining. With two 9-year-old twins, they also now have a pretty good knack for finding the perfect gifts for kids. In their 2019 holiday gift guide, the couple named Squishmallows stuffies and The Lego Movie 2 – Benny’s Space Squad set as must-have gift items. Apparently, both their kids will be getting Lego this year, according to David and Neil’s holiday Q&A in People Magazine!

Jillian Harris’ Picks

Local celebrity Jillian Harris, co-host of HGTV Canada’s “Love It or List It Vancouver”, and former Bachelorette, has shown time and time again that she can curate the best of the best in her annual holiday gift guides. This year, her ‘Gift Guide for Him’ included some of her husband Justin Pasutto’s favourite things. He earmarked both the Apple Watch and Apple Air Pods as his top tech picks. Showing up in several holiday gift guides, it’s safe to say Air Pods will be one of the most popular items gifted this season. Apple Watches also make a great gift, with various models and price points to choose from. The newest model, Series 5, comes with both GPS and Cellular capabilities, so you can stay connected with just your watch. It’s also swimproof, has an always-on retina display, and Emergency SOS among other handy features. If they already have an Apple Watch, accessories like these Spigen Rugged Armor cases, or style-conscious Apple Watch Straps would also be a smart gift idea.

We hope some of these celebrity-approved holiday gifts ideas will help you finish off your holiday shopping! Need your gifts delivered extra quick? When ordering from londondrugs.com, check and see if Same Day Delivery is available in your area and make sure to order before the designated cut off time!

The Mommy Mix’s Top Holiday Gifting Ideas Using Your Own Photos

Photographer, blogger, wife and mom of 2 boys, Amanda from The Mommy Mix is here today to share some of her top holiday gift ideas! Her secret? It’s all about the personalization.

Photo credit: The Mommy Mix

The holiday shopping season is here, and that means our minds are focused on the perfect holiday gifting ideas. When choosing early Christmas presents, there are a few key questions you need to ask yourself.

Will this gift be useful to the recipient? “This frame will perfectly showcase some portraits from her photography hobby.”
Is the gift touching?“He will weep with joy when he sees this keychain with his favourite people on it.”
Is this gift thoughtful? “She will cherish this ornament forever.”
Does this gift show how much the recipient means to you?“He is going to love this gift filled with a few of his favourite things.”

London Drugs can help you get the answers to these questions and check off the loved ones on your holiday shopping list early.

Perfect Holiday Photo Gifting Ideas

Nothing says “Christmas” more than family, and friends, therefore the obvious choice for gift-giving is a personalized item. Something that they will never outgrow or get tired of, something that they will want to keep for a lifetime. The London Drugs Photolab has many options for the perfect personalized photo gift.

Christmas ornaments are the gifts that will keep on giving year after year. Metal, pewter, crystal, ceramic, and now a wood ornament that allows the natural grain to come through. Every time your recipient trims their tree, they will think of you, and all of the joy you bring to their lives.

Photo credit: The Mommy Mix

The wood ornaments are so durable – even a child can’t break it. Also, they make great personalized gift tags.

Create a photo keychain for the special people on your list. These keychains are not like the cheap plastic ones you used to find at your local portrait studio. No, these personalized keychains are stunning and make great gifts for grandparents or parents who love to show off the little ones in their lives.

Photo credit: The Mommy Mix

I have to say I wasn’t sure what to think when I placed my order for a Tanner and a Panda Keychain. However, I am in love, and only sorry I didn’t order one for myself.

Does anyone print photos anymore? I know I have a ton of memories sitting on my computer and phone, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. Bring those images to life in a photo book or even just a good old fashion photo print on matte, glossy or fine art paper – Baryta and Kauai – with a beautiful frame around it. The gift that speaks volumes without using words.

Photo credit: The Mommy Mix

Other Holiday Gift Ideas from the London Drugs Photolab

Create individual cards for everyone on your list with personalized holiday greeting cards.
Show the pet lovers and furry friends on your list you care with pet tags or a personalized pet bowl.
Photo fleece blankets will keep your loved ones warm and toasty during the winter chill.

What are you waiting for? Beat the rush and skip the stress of being a last-minute shopper with the personalized gift selection at the London Drugs Photolab. For more details and to order your photo gifts or prints, visit your local London Drugs in-store kiosk, the London Drugs Photolab website or download the London Drugs Photolab App on iOS or Android.

Which personalized photo gifts will you be buying this holiday season?

To help you get a jumpstart on your holiday gifting, Amanda is giving away a $100 London Drugs gift card to one lucky Canadian reader over on The Mommy Mix! Head over there to find out how you can enter for a chance to win.

5 Ways to Show Dad You Love Him This Father’s Day

Dads of all kinds have been there for us, from our first bike ride without training wheels to when they shed a tear at our high school graduation. After all the birthdays, soccer practices, and comforting hugs, we’re all grown up—but our dads get to still play a huge part in our lives, especially as we have kids of our own.

What Does Your Perfume Say About Your Personality?

Choosing your perfume is a highly personal adventure. Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, a woman’s signature scent can say a lot about who she is. It’s not a surprise that most of us choose carefully! If you’ve taken the journey of spraying and smelling many different fragrances to find the one—either for yourself or someone else— then you know there is so much more to choosing a perfume than meets the eye (or the nose).

All of us have unique tastes when it comes to the perfect fragrance. But what if you could have a peek into what your scent preferences say about your personality? Here are the four key scents and how they link to dominant personality traits. So whether you’re choosing a fragrance for yourself, your mom, your significant other or your best friend, we’ve got you covered!

But… why should you trust your nose?

We know from Alan R. Hirsch, a smell and taste researcher, that certain fragrances can be indicative of one’s personality. To explore this concept further, we’re taking you on a spin around the fabulous Fragrance Wheel by Michael Edwards, to see what your scent preferences might say about you. Edwards’ fragrance wheel describes four families of scent: Floral, Oriental, Fresh, and Woody. No matter which scent your nose gravitates toward, these four act as the primary bases for all perfumes.

Floral and Introspective

The floral family highlights the aroma of fresh flowers like rose, jasmine, lily, and frangipani to create classically feminine perfumes. Have you ever tried Acqua di Gioia Eau de Toilette, Viva La Juicy, or Marc Jacobs’ Daisy? It has been suggested that ladies who love fragrances with floral notes are the introspective, sensitive, and considerate type.

Oriental and Lively

The oriental family features orange blossom, incense, resins, and sandalwood with sweet and warm notes like vanilla, musk, cinnamon, and cardamom. These fragrances are said to attract the woman who is the life of the party—lively, energetic, and social. Ready to go out on the weekend? Before you hit the dance floor, try these fragrances La vie est belle by Lancôme or Burberry Brit Eau.

Fresh and Ambitious

The fresh family draws in the aromas of bergamot and citrus oils for bright sporty scents that invigorate and energize. Women attracted to the zesty, tangy smells of citrus are strong-minded, ambitious, and natural leaders. If you’re headed into the boardroom, try My Fifth Avenue from Elizabeth Arden or Clinique’s Happy—the freshest of the bunch, worn and loved by power women.

Woody and Curious

And then, of course, there is the woody family, centred on aromatic woods and herbs. This is where you will find the lavender lovers. People who are a little more reserved but curious, love these notes. These women value friendship and teamwork, and can be thoughtful and contemplative. Fragrances such as Calvin Klein’s Euphoria and Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist will captivate these quiet observers.

Next time you’re on the hunt for a new fragrance, take notice of the ingredients that trigger your fancy. Do they reflect your mood or personality? At London Drugs, you’ll find a plethora of perfumes spanning from soft florals to deep woods to guide your nose in the right direction.

Beat the Holiday Rush by Ordering these Creative Gifts Early

Personalized Greeting Cards

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Puzzles & Playing Cards

Cozy Photo Blankets & Pillows

Key Chains & Personalized Pet Tags

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas That Will Warm Her Heart

A Thoughtful Mug for Mom

A Special Locket Full of Love

A Photoshoot Just for Her

A Photo Book of ‘Moments with Mom’

A One-of-a-Kind Mother’s Day Card

A Photo Button for the #1 Mom

5 ways to Have a Fantastic Mother’s Day at Home

Home Spa

Breakfast in Bed

Movie Night

High Tea

Games Day

Celebrity-Approved Gifts to Help You Finish Your Holiday Shopping

Oprah’s Picks

Mariah Carey’s Pick

Ellen’s Pick

Jessica Simpson’s Pick

Christina Milian’s Picks

Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka’s Picks

Jillian Harris’ Picks

The Mommy Mix’s Top Holiday Gifting Ideas Using Your Own Photos

Perfect Holiday Photo Gifting Ideas

Other Holiday Gift Ideas from the London Drugs Photolab

5 Ways to Show Dad You Love Him This Father’s Day

What Does Your Perfume Say About Your Personality?

But… why should you trust your nose?

Floral and Introspective

Oriental and Lively

Fresh and Ambitious

Woody and Curious

Archive

Categories

Pages

Newsletter

Tags