Christmas may be over until 300-something days into the future, but it’s never too early to start creating a list for when your relatives or friends ask what you want for the holidays coming up once again in 2013! I did some digging around, looking at ideas I first heard from OMG Facts, at school, or out in the city, and there are tons of great gifts to discover, from those under ten dollars to more substantial birthday/celebration/Christmas presents.
De Père en flic -$14.99 in HD on iTunes
This one of the most popular Québécois comedies in years. Don’t be discouraged by the French title. I can’t even count how many non-Francophones I have forced to sit on my couch and watch this film with English subtitles. For a bit of a synopsis, a father-son cop duo, who can’t stand one another, go undercover on a sort of father-son therapy camping trip to get information out of a criminal defence lawyer, who’s also on the trip with his suicidal son. Along the way, the cop son, played by comedian, Louis-Jose Houde (who I may or may not have spotted in Montreal on the SSUNS trip!), is pushed into a lake by his father, screaming «J’ai un têtard dans mes culottes! » (“There’s a tadpole in my underwear!”). The movie continues with its comedic plot, featuring many misadventures for the protagonists. This movie is available on Blu-ray and on iTunes, and is a lot more entertaining than most French movies. And you thought Brice de Nice was funny!
Inkless Metal Pen - $27.99
Those of us in IB know that with the HI, G4, P1, EE, etc. due sometime in the next several months, long-lasting pens are of the essence. A Seven-Year Pen from Indigo? It only lasts that long if you write a mere two metres of text a day. That’s optimistic. Here’s where this neat invention comes in. It supposedly lasts a lifetime (until we snap it in a fit of stress) since it writes with a metal alloy that uses minuscule bits of metal, so small that you can’t notice they’re gone from the tip of the pen. It writes just like a pencil, but won’t smudge (yes!). So there you go, the Everlasting Gobstopper for we academics!
Extra Dessert Delights Gum
To everyone that I’ve turned into a gum addict this year, I have two things to say: one, I’m sorry, and two, put it on your wish-list because we Canadians can now buy it off Amazon, as opposed to having to stock up in the US every summer! Extra Dessert Delights Gum costs $14.51 and up for a case of ten packs that come in flavours like Root Beer Float, Rainbow Sherbet, and Key Lime Pie. Who wouldn’t want an edible gift that lasts months, even if consumed daily?
David’s Tea Stainless Steel Travel Press - $34.99 and/or Noble Glass Travel Mug – $24.50
The travel mug above is genius. Bet you didn’t know that it keeps tea/coffee/other caffeinated drinks warm from your six am bus ride, to Theory of Knowledge until lunch. Both mugs have removable mesh filters to keep your loose-leaf tea brewing all day without those annoying mesh balls that are impossible to close. If you already have plenty of travel mugs, ask for a tin of David’s Tea, perfect for homemade tea lattes. Some great flavours include Birthday Cake (you can smell it for miles), Cookie Dough, Crème Brulee, Cinnamon Heart, and Lime Gelato (which happens to taste like Key Lime Pie. Think I’m obsessed yet? You will be too.
Tetris Animated Alarm Clock - $29.99 and/or Clocky Robotic Alarm $38.99+
Sleep. The lack of sleep is one of the biggest problems plaguing students nowadays. Unfortunately, no one can give you a guaranteed first period spare or a nap time at school, but these two creative alarm clocks can make waking up more entertaining and even more effective. For those of you stuck in the Breakfast Club era, there is a Tetris-themed animated alarm clock that wakes you up with the Tetris theme song and measures minutes passing with blocks falling down the display screen. If that’s not incentive enough to get up and finish last night’s homework, then consider the Clocky Robotic Alarm. Clocky will jump off your bedside table, roll away from your bed in the morning, and shriek until you get up and chase after it. It sounds nearly as effective as a sibling running in and grabbing your phone, only Clocky won’t text all your friends!
Pottery Barn Teen Liquid Image Video Snow Goggles - $299.99
These could be a great gift for anyone who loves skiing, snowboarding or making action videos. These goggles do more than just shield your eyes; they have a camera that records up to two hours of HD video. If you already have an iPod, phone, laptop, and so on, these would make a great new tech gadget for taking videos at C.O.P. or in the mountains. These state-of-the art goggles are destined to make all your friends extremely jealous!
Grow Your Own Coffee Kit - $7.99
Pfft. Who needs Starbucks? Well, I do. If you’re tired of waiting in line to pay three to five dollars for whatever it is you need to wake up before class, growing your own coffee at home might be a great experience and even a way to get CAS hours. This unique gift requires creativity and patience, but imagine becoming that special person who can give extra cups of coffee to the needy on a cold winter’s day. Or maybe not. But either way, it’ll get you your caffeine for much less than the overpriced coffee shops of today.
Zwipes Notebooks and Binders (Various prices under $15)
Do you love to doodle but hate having little drawings everywhere, creeping over your notes? The Zwipes line of stationary is like your own personal whiteboard. Draw all you like on the cover and take notes inside. The markers come with a coloured felt side and an eraser that wipes the marker off, or even Sharpie on some surfaces. Just don’t try to erase the Zwipes markers off of paper. It won’t work. I tried.
So basically, my point is, there’s something for everyone out there, available either in stores we have here in Calgary or within a few days’ shipping distance. So next time your parents/grandparents/ (insert other family member here) ask you what you’d like, there’s no reason to answer with the uninspired answer of “a mall gift card” or, even worse, “money,” because you’ll have a list of way cooler gadgets just for you.
