The best early bird gifts for your entire list

Look at you: You’ve heard about the looming Supply Chain Problems, and you’ve decided to get your holiday shopping done early, using the designated budget you’ve been squirrelling away all year. (You’re a Virgo with a Capricorn moon and a Taurus rising, right? Thought so.)

The beauty of shopping this early? You’ve got lead time for thoughtful gifts that might take a little longer to arrive than your average Prime Next-Day Panic Present. Want to add monogramming? You’ve got the seven-to-10 working days that’s required! Plus, you’re in no danger of missing out on this year’s “It” gift (the Cabbage Patch Kids of current day).

All that’s missing is a little inspiration, and some guidance on those Will Sell Out By November items, which is where this roundup of the best ideas for everyone on the early-bird shopper’s list comes in.

The New York Times custom front page puzzle, $69, uncommongoods.com

Early bird gift for your dad: Combine two things fathers almost universally like — obscure moments in history and reading the paper — and you get this fun customizable puzzle. Pick a sentimental date (say, your birthday or the day his favourite team won the championship) and gift pops hours of puzzling.

Grape Witches advent calendar, $500, grapewitches.com

Early bird gift for your mom: This natural-wine advent calendar is inspired, particularly if your mom really appreciates a nice glass of organic and biodynamic vino at cocktail hour. Not only will she be surprised by 12 unusual natural wines she won’t find at the LCBO (there’s even a wine-cider hybrid in there), she’ll also get a festive treat from Toronto bakery Robinson Bread to snack on while she sips. This one’s available Nov. 15, FYI.

Saje 24 Days of Wellness countdown calendar, $250, saje.ca

Early bird gift for your best friend: Nothing says, “I see you, Bestie” — and I thought of you well in advance — like an advent calendar filled with therapeutic treats, one for each day of the silly season. They’ll be grateful to you for life for the headache-soothing Peppermint Halo rollerball alone. FYI: This launches on Oct. 29, and you’ll want to be quick.

Swanky Badger personalized decanter, from $57, amazon.ca

Early bird gift for your partner: Their family crest, your relationship portmanteau, a reminder to throw out empty containers instead of putting them back in the fridge … whatever meaningful message you’d like to convey to the love of your life, etch it in crystal with this customizable decanter.

Jen Russell Smith custom house portrait, from $223, etsy.com

Early bird gift for your sibling: You could do the usual joke gift, but the biggest “psych” of all for your sibling may be an unexpectedly meaningful gift in the form of a painting of your childhood home, or the house they’ve finally managed to buy, courtesy of London-based artist Jen Russell Smith. Her holiday schedule tends to book up quickly, so get in ASAP.

Camellia sinensis Méduse cup, $19, camellia-sinensis.com

Early bird gift for your work pal: Raise a toast to the person whose Slack DMs have gotten you through the past 18 months of Zoom meetings (while also commemorating your Before Times coffee runs, may they rest in peace) with this hand-thrown, hand-painted cup from Quebec ceramicist Catherine De Abreu, featuring her signature jellyfish.

Squeakee the Spotty Balloon Animal Dog, $80, amazon.ca

Early bird gift for little kids: An animatronic take on a balloon animal — yes, as in those things scary clowns would tie at birthday parties — this genre of toy has a track record of selling out (see: Furbies) and 2021 looks like the year of the talking, helium-filled canine.

Lego Super Heroes Avengers: Endgame Final Battle, $100, chapters.indigo.ca