Gift Guide 2020 for Christmas in a Pandemic!

Last updated on April 21st, 2021 at 01:42 am

Some content creators are like Andrea and plan their gift guides months in advance, helping their communities see what’s on-trend for the holiday season so they can buy the best and brightest gifts for the people they love. You have hundreds—if not thousands—who put holiday content out in the months that follow, keenly aware that it’s the time where internet searching’s at its highest and want to get in on the action.

And I try—my lead-up to Christmas sees no end to the email exchanges, nights of writing, and the piles of to-do lists that are generally a lot more to and not nearly enough do. In some ways, I wish I could be more on top of things and be ready for all the holidays, but the juggle is real and I always have less time than I have imagination.

But you don’t let good content go to waste, and that’s why I still wanted to get this year’s gift guide out, even if it meant I needed to do some tweaking in the process.

After all—most of us want to see something special under the tree no matter how old we are, right?

But enough preamble. Without further ado, I’m proud to present my 2020 Gift Guide: “The Things You Want to See Under that Tree!”

I hope you enjoy it!


What do you really hope to see under the tree on Christmas when a pandemic has you stuck at home?

Does Santa Still Visit in a Global Pandemic?

The Palmer Boys Horsing Around at Christmas

COVID-19‘s made for a very different holiday season, changing the things we look for when there’s nowhere to travel to or nothing to dress up for. For me, these past nine months have really put a focus on the world immediately around me, obsessing over using up all these things I already have before I even think about adding more stuff to the mix.

But pandemic or no, Christmas is still a thing, and even without the grandiose dinners with our families or so many of the traditions passed down for generations, I have this sneaking suspicion that people are still expecting gifts under the tree on the 25th!

It wasn’t easy to get our shop on this year, though, with retail stores on lockdown, supply chains askew and our wants and needs becoming so much simpler. Instead of fancy new gadgets, we just wanted a meal from our favourite restaurant. Or we’d swap expensive clothing for a night out drinking with friends in a heartbeat. This list has been so strange to put together, but it’s finally here, filled with plenty of things that should catch the attention of all sorts of people in your life! Kids. Coders. Spouses, influencers and everyone in between. If you don’t see something that strikes your fancy, here’s hoping it helps you think of someone else!

A Selfish Father’s Day Gift Guide by Casey E. Palmer

Last updated on April 13th, 2021 at 03:45 pm

As a Dadfluencer who’s worked hard to tell a fatherhood story that stands on its own, Father’s Day is a time of year where a lot of people reach out to see what a Dad like me would like to see when I wake up Sunday morning.

Now I’m not an easy guy to shop for—as a “Buy it for Life”-type, I’ve scaled down to owning things I actually use.

But it’s not impossible. There are still things I use up. There are things I need to upgrade as my needs and understanding of the things I need continue to evolve. So this list isn’t just what’s new or what’s hot—it’s a take on what can help your Dad be even better than he is today without needing to go bankrupt in the process.

AIR MILES | Father’s Day Special!

Last updated on March 30th, 2021 at 03:42 pm

People often forget about Father’s Day. You know—that day between Mother’s Day and summer where we celebrate dads with their ceremonial dress shirts and ties.

Well… not anymore.

See—Father’s Day doesn’t have to fall short in the effort department. It doesn’t need to be so routine or predictable. You might think you know everything about dad after all these years, but the man might surprise you! Part of agreeing to do this gig is giving up some of the man you were before, and you eventually forget that guy as you get used to your new normal.

But you can do better – and I have the solution! You can get a gift that truly matches dad, and get some benefits for yourself along the way. Friends—let me introduce you to the world of airmilesshops.ca and the curated Father’s Day Gift Guide that AIR MILES has created to help find that perfect match.

The AIR MILES Father’s Day Gift Guide

Let’s face it—everything’s online these days. You can buy just about anything from one of a million places out there, but that’s also kind of the problem, isn’t it? You use all this time visiting sites. Making comparisons. Trying to find the perfect place to buy from that won’t charge an arm and a leg for shipping.

But with over 200 online retailers to shop from with all sorts of unique gift ideas, the airmilesshops.ca Father’s Day Gift Guide lets you find just the right thing while getting Miles on gifts you’d buy anyway! That’s right—while shopping for others you can get Miles for yourself! I got spoiled with some of these gifts this year, ones that are both practical and personal.

HP Tango Printer

The HP Tango Printer is an all-in-one device that prints whatever you need, whenever you need, wherever you are – you don’t even need Wi-Fi!. I’m a dad constantly on the go, so being able to have the luxury of last minute prints from my phone is life changing. Not to mention the fact that with a young family, free space in our home is a commodity. So having a more compact tool that makes my life easier is a win-win!

Lenco L30 Turntable

The Lenco L30 Turntable has stirred up feelings of both nostalgia and curiosity in my house this Father’s Day, letting me revisit all the records I’d forgotten about while introducing my sons into the world of vinyl. Music is a big deal to me, and being able to share this new experience with my children is better than any gift I could have imagined.

So if you’re on the hunt for something unforgettable this Father’s Day, make sure to check out airmilesshops.ca—trust me; your dad will thank you!

Good luck, fellow shoppers, and until the next, I remain,

The second logo for Casey Palmer, Canadian Dad

The TELUS Holiday Gift Guide

Last updated on January 24th, 2021 at 02:16 pm

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Okay, everyone, it’s not too late. I know you’re stressed out—there’s not enough time to buy all the gifts, bake all the treats, see all the people and wrap all the things… but we’re a species that’s all too good at overcomplicating stuff for ourselves.

Ladies and gents, I’m here to show you a better way.

It wasn’t so long ago that people just knew TELUS for its phones. They’ve always had more services out west, but it’s not like you’d think to give the gifts of a mobile plan when Christmas came along.

But things have changed. Now you have the TELUS Connected Experience Stores and plenty of offerings online from their many brand partners. It’s a brave new world my fellow last-minute shoppers, and TELUS might just be the ones to help save your Christmas!*

(*Perhaps your Christmas doesn’t need saving at all and you just like cool stuff. If that’s you, don’t worry—this post’s for you, too!)

My Christmas Gift Guide for Grown-Ups!

Last updated on April 20th, 2021 at 10:19 pm

Estimated reading time: 19 minutes

Grown-ups need love, too!

The Casey Palmer, Canadian Dad Christmas Gift Guide... for Grown-Ups!—Gift Basket

As we close in on Christmas, it becomes blindingly obvious there’re two classes of shoppers during the holiday season—the ones who know exactly what they’re getting for every person on their list… and the ones who keep it all ’til the last minute, ‘cuz they’ve no idea what they’re getting!

You might think it too late in the season to be looking at gift guides, but I know we’ve all been the victim of a poorly planned gift at least once. The kind of gift where it’s clear the giver didn’t really think about you—merely crossing another name off their list so they can pat themselves on the back.

But if you’re not putting any effort into it, why give a gift at all? Christmas isn’t about presents, right? It’s about family. Quality time. Going to church one of the few times many of y’all make it there. (I see you!)

I think you get the picture.

All that said, there’ll always be some grown-ups in your life to shower with gifts. Parents. Spouses. Maybe some teachers or a chiropractor. (They might be really good at what they do!) No matter who’s on your list, here are a few gifts I hand-picked for the occasion!

(And with it being so close to Christmas, here are the direct links so you can get what you need with the quickness!)

Google Home & Google Home Mini
The Google Pixel 2/Google Pixel 2 XL
Google Chromecast
The Brewscovery Box
Philips Sonicare 9300 DiamondClean Smart
Altec Lansing Mini H2O 3
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
GoPro Hero 6
Küssi Stampede Classic 6-Piece Knife Set
Ice Evo Tweezers—Elegance
Ice Glass Foot File—Foot Care Pedicure — Lavender
Nespresso Vertuo Single-Serve Coffee Maker

%d bloggers like this: