It’s usually that time… time for me to roll out a bigger, better Holiday Gift Guide than I did year before and watch y’all go nutso with excitement, which always brought me more joy than you can even imagine. This would have been my 11th year.
Change is hard, but often necessary.
After clocking 485 volunteer hours on last year’s gift guide, which was an absolute beast of a project and quite likely Canada’s biggest holiday giveaway, I had two choices this year: (1) make my 2022 Holiday Gift Guide even bigger or (2) stop while I was on top.
While the guide was often my biggest project every year, last year darn near broke me. So, with that, I am choosing to protect my time and mental health.
Instead of a gargantuan gift guide of epic proportions — whereby I let you have all my best holiday gift ideas, leaving me to scrape every other nook and cranny to gift my own loved ones — this year, I am delighted to bring you a series of Holiday Gift-Aways featuring great gifts and awesome giveaways. (Because what would a Mommy Gearest holiday look like without some giveaways, right?!)
Like any pilot project, I’m starting off small this year with a trusted group of brands that I genuinely love. Maybe this new format will grow…maybe it’ll morph into something else entirely next year. We like to evolve around here and the gift guide is no different.
One thing’s for sure: over the years, I’ve earned your trust to showcase only things I authentically adore. And even though it looks a little different this time around, I hope you know that your trust is still more important to me than my bottom line.
With change also comes some nice improvements that I’ve always wanted to make but, with the former format, proved impossible. This time around, some of the contests are open to my followers in the USA, too! Some are open just to Canadians and some drill down even farther and I am so, so stoked to be able to include more of you. I’m also able to share gift ideas from brands that simply don’t do giveaways.
Now let’s get down to business! I’ve kicked things off over on Instagram today where you can find more information and an important scam alert. CLICK HERE to see that post and be sure to bookmark this blog post, too, because I’ll be updating it below with each new Holiday Square as they go live on Instagram.
Holiday Gift-Away links
Revisit this post throughout December to find out when new Holiday Gift-Aways are posted. There is NO LIMIT to the number of giveaways you can enter nor are there limits to the number of bonus entries you can earn!
First up will be my longest Holiday Gift Guide partner…
Holiday Gift-Away No. 1: Hasbro
CLICK HERE to learn more about the hottest gifts from Hasbro and enter for a chance to win more than $600 in the season’s most-fun gifts for kids of all ages. Good luck!
Holiday Gift-Away No. 2: Little Canada
CLICK HERE to learn more about the most unique holiday ornament ever from Little Canada and enter for a chance to win a $500 gift set that includes your own Littlization experience. Good luck!
Holiday Gift-Away No. 3: Lucky Iron Fish
CLICK HERE to learn more about a small but mighty gift that shows you care and enter for a chance to win a $133 gift set that includes everything you need to help combat iron-deficiency without taking a single pill. This one’s also open to U.S. residents!!! Good luck!
Holiday Gift-Away No. 4: STONZ
CLICK HERE to check out all of the awesome stuff from STONZ, a brand my own family has trusted for more than a decade. Prize value on this one is more than $500! This one’s also open to U.S. residents!!! Good luck!
Holiday Gift-Away No. 5: AnteAGE
CLICK HERE to behold the most beautifully packaged Holiday Box — from AnteAGE! I’m OBSESSED with this skin care. Prize value on this one is more than US$500! This one’s also open to U.S. residents!!! You can read my full review of AnteAGE in this post about professional skin care lines. Good luck!
Important scam alert
Influencer giveaways are a big draw for scammers. Please note that random winners for all of my upcoming Holiday Gift-Aways will be selected on December 23, 2022, and I will personally reply to the winner’s comment in the Instagram feed AND follow the winners temporarily to facilitate prizing via Instagram DM. Please be aware of scams. Only the official @mommygearest handle will contact you; you will not be asked for your birth date, banking or credit card information.
But, wait — I want more!
Don’t we all?! But, seriously, I get it. You need more ideas than I can dole out in a few Holiday Squares. With that in mind, I’ll invite you to revisit all of my previous Holiday Gift Guides (linked below). If you’re sorta new ’round these parts, this might even be fresh reading.
In some cases, especially in older gift guides, there may be products that are no longer available or functions, like slide shows, that no longer operate smoothly since it was in a previous website iteration. I apologize in advance, but I’m not going back to do updates. I’m protecting my time this year, remember? That said, perhaps you’ll find them helpful in one way or another.
As always, thank you for supporting my little corner of the internet and I wish you and your families a Merry EVERYTHING!
Holiday Gift Guides of yesteryear
Let’s take a holiday stroll down memory lane, shall we?
- 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
- 2020 Holiday Gift Guide
- 2019 Holiday Gift Guide
- 2018 Holiday Gift Guide
- 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for adults
- 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for teens
- 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for big kids & tweens
- 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for little ones
- 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for babies
- 2016 Holiday Gift Guide
- 2015 Holiday Gift Guide
- 2014 Holiday Gift Guide
- 2013 Holiday Gift Guide ($26-50 gift ideas)
- 2013 Holiday Gift Guide ($25 and less gift ideas)
- 2012 Holiday Gift Guide, part 1 (newborn-12 months)
- 2012 Holiday Gift Guide, part 2 (ages 12-24 months)
- 2012 Holiday Gift Guide, part 3 (ages 2 & 3)
- 2012 Holiday Gift Guide, part 4 (ages 4+)
- Plus this bonus gift guide: Best experiential gifts & unique gifts for friends
Peace and love,
Andrea
Gayle B says
I’m so happy that you are putting your wellbeing first, advocating and setting a fine example for us all. I’ve followed you for several years and plan to keep on. Change can be so good for us all. Happy Holidays to you and your beautiful family.
CathyInCanada says
Always take care of you when you can, so you can continue to be who you are and take care of yourself and others. Never apologize for needing that. Congratulations on being able to recognize it and take action. 🙂
Mommy Gearest says
Thank you so much. <3
Barbara Di Mambro says
Love your post. You do put so much work and love in your blog. I will reread again. Take care of yourself and showing the way for all of you for self care.
Kristy Reid (@kristy_reid) says
As one of last year’s winners, I know first hand how much you put into not only putting the gift guide together but also chasing after sponsors to send out prizing. I am looking forward to the new format. Thank you for all that you do. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas! Take care of yourselves!
Jay M says
Good for you! As a winner of one of your amazing gift guide contests a few years ago, a big thank you for all of the time and effort you put into this every year! I honestly don’t know how you did it!
Enjoy the extra time with your beautiful family!
Mommy Gearest says
Thank you so much and happy holidays!
Kathy downey says
It’s time to relax,refresh the mind. Hope you and the family have a healthy safe Christmas !
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks! I do have some fun gifty things rolling out, so definitely stay tuned. It’s just a bit more CHILL! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Diana Roach says
I just now realized how many years I’ve followed your guide for new ideas. Thank you for all that incredible work. I’m excited for a new format. Change is good and providing all of us with a good example of prioritizing our health is a wonderful way to kick off this season.
Mommy Gearest says
This totally made my day – thank you so, so much.
Mishelle G says
I’m glad you are taking/making time for yourself! I can understand the decision behind it – must have been quite the decision. Enjoy your Christmas!!
Mishelle G
Mommy Gearest says
It was SUCH a tough decision and weighed on me really heavily until I hit “publish” this morning. Now I am feeling much more at peace. Thank you for the support!
Elizabeth Vlug says
I’m really happy to see that you are talking care of yourself. Truly appreciate everything you do for us.
Mommy Gearest says
You’re gonna get me all choked up. Thank you so very much.
Julie F says
Your mental health is the most important thing to take care of!
Mommy Gearest says
Thank you and I agree! I think it’s the best gift we can all give to ourselves this year!