SSJ Advent 2023 Holiday Gift Guide: 50 Christmas Clues for Santa

SSJ 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

I still can’t get over the wonder of the Christmas Clue-Style board game we made with the kids in 2012. I particularly love the rooms they came up with, including the Mail Room, Elf Dormitory, Sleigh Room, and Toy Workshop. [Poison Egg-Nog and “Loaded” Snow Ball were my favourite “Murder Weapons,” by the way.] And, have I mentioned how, sometimes, inspired by that game, I laughingly refer to the rooms of our city house as if they were luxury quarters on a country estate… calling the dining room the “Music Room” and the semi-finished basement the “Library” or “Sewing Room,” etc?

In the spirit of that game of Christmas Clue and the “unattainable” estate homes the O.G. Clue game so often inspires, I’m imagining SSJ’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide as a list of items to fill the dream rooms in an imagined SSJ manor house – albeit without the “murder ensues.” So, without further ado, here are 50 Christmas “Clues” for Santa.

All prices are rounded to the nearest dollar. Links were the most readily accessible and are not affiliate or sponsored.

50 Christmas Clues for Santa

For the Butler’s Pantry:

1. Victoria Stainless Steel 20 qt Multi-Use Canning Pot with Rack, Amazon $152.
   The pantry’s old enamel pot sprung a leak this fall, and we are levelling up with this America’s Test Kitchen Top Pick. This rust-resistant pot offers both water bath and a steam bath.
2. Ball Secure-Grip Jar LIfter, Amazon $22
   Also recommended by America’s Test Kitchen, these are the only canning jar lifters that actually work with one hand due to the spring action! Game changers!
3. ThermoPro Waterproof TP510 Digital Candy Thermometer, Amazon $27
   Our last two candy thermometers failed to operate in our first advent test-batches of jam. This top-rated digital offering is superbly calibrated and easy to read. Hallelujah!
4. Addie Best Studio 2024 Calendar Tea Towel, Addie Best $38usd
   The lady of the manor loves a good calendar tea towel, and Addie Best’s hand-cut lino prints are the absolute Best.
5. Bookhou 2024 Fabric Calendar Tea Towel, Bookhou $35
   We discovered this Canadian maker at the One of a Kind Show several years ago, and they’ve been our go-to for calendar tea towels ever since. Items sell out quickly!
6. Diana Henry’s Roast Figs, Sugar Snow, Type Books $33
   We’re replacing our e-copy of this book with the newly reissued hardcover, because, excellence.
7. Yvette Von Boven’s Home Made Christmas, ebook, Apple Books, $10
   This new-to-SSJ ebook is a true delight. Look for a cook-along in this year’s calendar.
8. Nigel Slater’s The Christmas Chronicles, Bookstores $40
   Our #1 wish-list item for family book exchange 2023, because if an e-book could become tattered, our e-copy of this book would be in shreds. Time to welcome this to the small, and hence, elite cookbook shelf in the SSJ “Butler’s Pantry.”

For the Boudoir Vanity:

9. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow in Amethyst, Sephora $44.
   The world’s most miraculous waterproof shadow pencil. The amethyst shade looks amazing lining the lower lids.
10. Laura Mercier Guiding Star Translucent Powder and Puff Set, Sephora $52.
    Who doesn’t love a holiday gift set, especially one with a puff! Makes skin feel like silk.
11. BKIND Nail Polish in Deep Forest Green, Well.ca $16
    The eco-polish version of SSJ’s signature shade, Hooker’s Green. Good staying power for a polish!
12. Tatcha The Camelia Oil 2-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser, Sephora $68
    When soap and water won’t work, the make-up remover to remove all traces of waterproof colours. SSJ’s go-to at Sephora when trying on items in store. The scent is glorious.
13. Kilian Angel’s Share Eau de Parfum, Holt Renfrew $320
    The Angel’s Share is the liquid that evaporates during the whisky barrel-aging process. This splurge of an EDP smells of ripe sour cherries and dad’s tobacco.
14. Hey Harper Daphne Waterproof Hoops, $44usd (Black Friday Sale)
    Earrings that are tarnish free? Will these be game changers for everyday wear? We’ll bite.
15. Strivectin Get Glowing Duo, Shopper’s Drug Mart Sale $55 on $109
    The iconic Super C Retinol Serum with an SPF 30 moisturizer to match. Grab it on sale when offered. Grab it for “free” with your PC Points during a Shopper’s redemption event!
16. Pat McGrath Matte Trance Lipstick in Full Panic, Sephora $53.
    The most amazing fuchsia to replace a beloved retired drug-store shade. This line of lippies lasts and lasts and lasts with little or no reapplicaiton.
    

For the Sewing Studio:

17. Bohin Sashiko needles, Fabric Spark $6
    We’re going to learn Sashiko this holiday season, aren’t we?
18. Daruma Sashiko Threads, Fabric Spark $3
    These are the most glorious coloured threads. I’ve taken pictures of this wall at Fabric Spark a dozen times.
19. Susan Brisco’s Sashiko 365, Queen Books $37
    Patterns to live by, 365. Learn Sashiko and then quilt together your sampler squares according to Brisco’s excellent patterns and instructions.
20. Kate Strasdin’s Dress Diary of Mrs. Anne Sykes, Ben McNally $43
    Life-writing via dress. “Through small and seemingly inconsequential wisps of fabric, Anne Sykes’s diary lays bare the whole of human experience in that most intimate of mediums: the clothes that we choose to wear.”
21. Prym Darning Mushroom, Amazon $9
    Make do and mend those socks and sweaters with every gnome’s umbrella, a thick red mushroom.
22. Bernina Bobbin 5-Pack with Tube, The Workroom $43
    Because you can never have enough big bobbins for your Bernina 475qe.
23. Clover Desk Needle Threader, The Workroom $25
    Game-changer for those whose eyesight is heading south. Threads a needle in seconds.
24. Clover, Shiro Spring Measuring Tape, The Workroom $11
    Because the retractable measuring tapes keep disappearing. Is this manor house haunted by a seamstress?

For the Spa & Grounds:

25. Hot Pink Toque for the Hot Tub, Cozy Does it Beanie, Athleta $49, or similar, Winners $16
    Who doesn’t love a hot tub in winter? Also works for cold plunges in the lake if you’re up for a dip.
26. Pink Studio 5-Pack Dance Pass, $95/Variable
    For contemporary at the local studio (your happy place!) or online work in front of the (wink) giant wall-screen in your (wink) palatial exercise room.
27. Buck Naked Soap Company Juniper & Spruce Bath Bomb, Well.ca $7
    Soak festively in a hot bath after a fab holiday sweat sesh.
28. Wilson NCAA Legends Basketball, Sportchek Sale $27
    For the basketball enthusiast in the family.
29. Lululemon Black Align Ribbed Yoga Pants, Lululemon $128
    The ribbed black exercise (or lounge) pants of dreams.
30. Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat, Amazon $52
    Master Padangusthasana on a grippy mat in SSJ’s signature colour or meditative mandala design.
31. Gift Pass to Spa Nordik, Chelsea, Quebec, Variable
    A milestone birthday approaches in 2024. And our lady of SSJ loves the Aufguss ritual at the Nordik.
32. Safety Lights for Two: LED Reflective Belt Sash $26 and Multicolour Dog Collar $20 at Amazon
    One for the bernedoodle puppy and one for her mistress to hit the paths on dark winter mornings and wolf-walk nights.

For the Dressing Quarters:

33. Wilfred Free London Cardigan in Light Birch, Aritzia $148
    A dressy cardi for the uni student.
34. Babaton Dome Puffer in Black, Aritzia $250 (Look for sales!)
    Winter-weather uni student replacement short black puffer for the well-worn short black puffer of yesteryear. A smark, sleek design.
35. Jon Solomon’s 25-Hour Radio Show Robots Tee 2023, TeePublic Sale Prices of $20-$30
    WPRB Xmas Marathon shirts for the whole family, of course.
36. H&M Pajama Shirt & Pants in Blue Stripe, H&M $55
    Mother-Daughter mix and match? She can have the sleep shirt. I’ll take the pants to dress up with a blazer and hot pink heels, please.
37. Wilfred Free Souvenir Pant in Black, Aritzia Sale $99
    The lady of the house’s go-to easy-waisted pant. Sweater-weather on fleek.
38. Jerzies Black Adult Hoodie Pullover, Amazon $18
    A great soft hoodie for all of our Cricut vinyl iron-on transformations.
39. Blundstones Women’s Series Heel in Black, Softmoc $255
    It took two years to break in this heel in brown, but the black ones are calling.
40. Me Moi Sewing Crew Socks, Great Sox $12
    Sewing socks! We repeat, sewing socks. And from a great shop in our hood!

For the Library and Billiards Room:

41. Apica Notebooks, CD 10, Nota Bene $5
    Lightweight, go-to notebooks in green, of course.
42. Sharpie Fine Point Felt-Tip Pens, Dollarama from $2
    The frivolous study does not require a frivolous pen. To me, you are perfect, Sharpie felt-tip.
43. XPaoFey Dual-Tip Acrylic Paint Markers, Amazon $36
    For various painty projects during SSJ Advent 2023.
44. Bluecorn Beeswax Taper Candles in Moss, Amazon $11
    A glorious green taper with a sweet scent.
45. Ravensburger Castles of Burgundy Board Game, 401 Games $55
    One of many board games for the gamer boys in the games room.
46. Boss 7 Band Graphic EQ Guitar Pedal, Long & McQuade $180
    For the first year university student and his long weekends at home.
47. Annual Crave Subscription, Black Friday Sale, Approximately $120
    Understanding why a sub directly through Crave is half the cost of the same sub via our cable provider is beyond the scope of this brief. But, you’re welcome.
48. Apple MacbookPro, Apple Store, Prices Vary
    A necessary upgrade for the author of Bar Delicious cannot come soon enough.
49. Plane Tickets, Air Canada, Prices Vary.
    Boarding Passes to complement the large spinning globe that must be somewhere in this study.
50. Valley of Mother of God Smoked Gin, LCBO $73
    A smoky gin for the bar and an upcoing feature of one of SSJ Advent’s 2023 evening cocktails [Think obscure holiday noir and plenty of smoke.] Of course, this manor house cannot close its doors without ensuring it has a well-stocked bar.

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Look for SSJ’s Iconic Advent 2023 Love-to-do List TOMORROW, Thursday, Nov 30th!
SSJ’s 2023 Advent Calendar begins on Friday, December 1st, 2023!

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ON THIS DAY

2022: Giving Tuesday, Support the Daily Bread Food Bank
2021: Make-Ahead Monday: SSJ’s Best Mulling Spices
2020: Advent Kick-Off Post, 2020: Tree Trimming Party with Favourite Photo Ornaments
2019: Advent Love-To-Do List 2019
2016: Adopt an Animal from WWF Canada #givingtuesday
2015: Family Advent Calendar 2015 : Family Tree Trimming Party
2014: Kick-Off Party: Stir-Up Saturday: Make a Twenty-First Century Canadian Christmas Cake
2011: Advent Shadowbox: Day 3, Letter to a Friend

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SSJ ADVENT 2023, ALL THE POSTS
SSJ ADVENT 2023, CALENDAR VIEW