2023 Hockey Gift Guide... fantastic Christmas gift ideas for hockey players and fans (of all ages)

 ***Disclosure -This gift guide contains some products I own, some items that I received for free and a few affiliate links. Please be assured that the opinions in this blog are 100% my own, and I've only included items I think would make fantastic gifts for hockey fans and players. Also, if you make a purchase using one of my affiliate links, you will not pay any extra, but I may get a small commission on your purchase. Thank you!***

If you regularly read my blog, or follow me on any of my social media channels, you know that I'm a hockey mom to three hockey-loving boys. Every year, there are several hockey-related items on my Christmas shopping list, so today, I am sharing my top 10 gift ideas for hockey fans and hockey players. There really is something on this list for all ages and budgets.

1) Gongshow Gear - My kids and I LOVE this high quality clothing line, so it's no surprise it made my top ten list again. This year, my boys favourites are the hoodies, pants, and shirts pictured below. The Gongshow clothing is high quality and the designs are always fantastic. We have several items that have been handed down from my oldest to my youngest, and they still look brand new. You can check out all the fantastic styles available for Christmas 2023 here.

Here's my youngest wearing the Post Skate Jogs. Great pants for an active teenager!

Here's my oldest wearing the 1st Round Standard Long Sleeve shirt. I love it!

And here's my middle son wearing the Rink is Calling hoodie. If you look closely, you can see the sherpa lining. So cozy!!!! (And perfect for kids that are too cool to wear a winter jacket. lol)

2) Summer Skates - I love these sandals in the summer... but they are also perfect for hotel stays during hockey season. You can order: custom logos, NHL players, real laces, special edition options, and custom numbers. They make fantastic gifts, and the company also offers team fundraising options. Take a peek at all the styles, and place your order here.

Here are a few of our favourites...

Original summer skates... available in 7 different colours.

The Hip - Canada Flag Road Sign - part of the brand partners collection.

NHL Player Summer Skates - Of course we have Auston Matthews (and a matching skate lace beverage holder).

3) Ollie Bots - These cute little wooden robots are made with love and tied together with hockey skate laces. The Ollie Bots project was started by my son's buddy and teammate (Oliver Smith) who sadly passed away at the age of 12 to a rare form of bone cancer. For a $20 donation, you can help raise funds and awareness for Ewing Sarcoma. Find out more here. 

3) NHL24 - If your hockey fan loves video games, you probably already have the latest version of this game on your Christmas shopping list. Grab a copy here.

4) Hockey books - Books always make fantastic gifts, and hockey books are perfect for hockey fans. Check out the wonderful option here.

5) Personalized Hockey Ornaments - I love a personalized, handmade gift, don't you? I make these high quality tree ornaments in my online shop, and you can order them here for only $10. (Shipping anywhere in Canada for $3.)

6)  Hockey Blanket - This cozy blanket is great for a hockey player to take on the road, or for a hockey parent to cuddle up with in the stands. You can purchase it from Amazon here.

7) Hockey Player Funko Pops - These are such adorable collectibles, and they make a fun and inexpensive Christmas gift. Of course, Auston Matthews is a favourite around here, and you can purchase it here.

8) Wall decals from Oliver's Labels - Personalized wall decals make wonderful gifts for kids. And, and how cute is this large jersey wall decal? Use my link here, and save 10% with code: EastCoastMommy.

9) Hockey Nightlight - This is such a cool nightlight for a hockey fan... and they make them for goalies AND players. Check out all the options for sale on Amazon here.

And... if you are local to Antigonish, you can purchase these colour changing personalized LED lights (with remotes) in my store here.

Any one of the these TEN products would make a wonderful gift for the hockey fan or hockey player on your Christmas list. My boys and I have tried most of these items, so if you have any questions, please just let me know!

Happy shopping!!!

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

When you can't get together on December 25, why not try hosting "Fake Christmas"?

It isn't always possible to be with loved ones on December 25th, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate Christmas together. My husband's family is in Ontario, and we live in Nova Scotia, so we always gather for "Fake Christmas" in November. It's a lot of fun, and a special annual event for all of us. Today, I'm sharing how it works -- and I've got some FREEBIES too!

Here are some of the activities we enjoy. It's a good idea to print off the checklist and see how many items you can "check off" during your time together.

To print a copy of the "Fake Christmas" checklist: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Building gingerbread houses or decorating cookies are both fun.

And exchanging gifts is always enjoyable. We always do a little "gift giving" game. Everyone brings a $5 gift, and we roll the dice to determine which gift each person ends up with.

Here's the chart we use. To download a copy: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 picture.

Don't forget a group family photo.

And, of course, a party favour is always appreciated. This year I used my Cricut to make personalized Christmas tree ornaments. Cute, right?

I absolutely love the idea of celebrating the holidays with family that can't be together on December 25. What do you think of this "Fake Christmas" celebration?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the ideas here...

2023 Christmas Finds for LESS

When it comes to saving money, prepping EARLY for Christmas is key. I also love to stock up on dollar store finds before they are all sold out. Today, I'm sharing some of my favourite 2023 Christmas dollar store finds.

Check out my list below... or take a closer look by watching the video I made here:

1) These LED lights are great. They come with a remote, so you can change them into any Christmas colour you like. They are fantastic plain, but they are also a great surface for Cricut decals. I'm planning to add a nativity scene to mine.

2) Reindeer are super trendy this year, and these dollar store reindeer ornaments are super-cute. I'm planning to paint mine with black spray paint for a high-end look.

3) These snow globes are cheap and super cute. The DIY possibilities are endless. I bought a bunch, and I have some fun plans for them, so stay tuned. 😉

4) I've been seeing a lot of "bell" décor in high-end stores this year, but it's quite pricey. I have a plan to DIY my own bells using these dollar store supplies. I think it's going to be great! :-)

5) Kleenex boxes look ugly and can take away from the look of Christmas décor. That's why I love this plain white kleenex box cover. Cute, right? You could also DIY these boxes. You could add a monogram... or you could add something with a Christmas theme.

6) Bottle brush trees are versatile and inexpensive. I love these beige ones with a wooden vase. They look great on a tiered tray, and they are fantastic for DIYs.

7) I love lights that add a nice glow to décor. These dollar store lanterns are a great size, look fantastic, and add a festive glow to the holidays.

8) The dollar store has really fun wrapping paper options, but the good ones sell out quickly... so make sure to grab your favourites right away. Here are the ones I bought...

9) You don't have to be a child to have fun with a toy train. I found this one at the dollar store, and it's a great size. I plan to put it around the base of my tree. 

Which of these 2023 Christmas bargains is your favourite? I love getting ready for Christmas early so I can relax when the holiday season arrives. Where do you fall -- team "early" or team "last minute"?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the ideas here...

7 DIY Gifts Made Using DOLLAR STORE Blanks

I love a budget friendly gift, don't you? And when it comes to saving money, the dollar store is your best friend. Today, I'm sharing the BEST dollar store blanks for making DIY gifts!

1) Movie treat caddy - These caddies are great for school and cleaning supplies, but they are even better for holding movie treats. There is a section for popcorn, a drink, and a treat. Cute, right?

2) Personalized drinkware - The dollar store has so many fantastic glasses, water bottles and mugs. They are inexpensive, practical, and perfect for personalizing.

3) Dog/cat treat container - If you have a cat or dog on your list, you can make them an adorable personalized container for their treats. I love the paw print on the top, don't you?

4) Personalized cookie jar - I love the shape of these jars, and they make perfect cookie jar containers. I added the words "Mom's Cookies... hugs accepted as payment" to mine, and I absolutely love how it turned out.

5) Treat bowls - Putting together gift baskets is one of my favourite things to do, and I love using a reusable container. Who wouldn't love to receive this family movie night popcorn bowl filled with goodies?

6) Tray for Santa - I love this tray, don't you? It's made from a dollar store cutting board, handles I salvaged from my kitchen renovation, and a Cricut decal. Santa is going to LOVE it!

7) Custom night light - Dollar store nightlights can be customized for any gift recipient. I made a Santa Cam, but characters or names can be added instead.

For a closer look at all these projects, check out the short video I made (below).

Do you have a favourite?

If you are looking for a thoughtful, unique, and budget-friendly gift idea, you should definitely try one of these DIY gifts.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the Christmas DIYs here.

15 TOP Christmas Family Movies... and a FREE printable checklist

Aren't Christmas movies a special part of the holidays? I really feel like the season isn't complete until I watch all my favourites with my boys. Today, I'm sharing a fun checklist of family-friendly Christmas movies you can all watch together. You can even print off my list to keep you on track -- that's what my family is doing. 😄

To print a copy of my top 15 family Christmas movies: click on the photo above, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Did YOUR favourite make my list? What would you add? I found it really hard to narrow it down to just 15. There are so many great ones!

1) Elf

2) Home Alone

3) The Polar Express

4) The Santa Clause

5) It's a Wonderful Life

6) Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus is Coming Town)

7) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

8) A Christmas Story

9) Miracle on 34th Street

10) Arthur Christmas

11) A Christmas Carol

12) A Charlie Brown Christmas

13) The Grinch

14) The Christmas Chronicles

15) One Magic Christmas

I put my list in a cheap dollar store frame, so we have it handy when we are picking movies.

I hope you enjoy this list and it inspires you to have some themed movie nights with your friends and family this year.

Happy holidays!!!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You may also enjoy the fantastic Christmas ideas here.

11 Inexpensive, unique, and fun STOCKING STUFFER ideas

Still need stocking stuffers? These ideas are inexpensive, original, and fun!

***Disclosure -This gift guide contains affiliate links. Please be assured that the opinions in this blog are 100% my own, but if you make a purchase using one of my affiliate links, I may get a small commission on your purchase. Thank you!***

1) Handmade ornaments - I love a personalized ornaments, don't you? I sell them in my shop (Cute As A Button Designs) for $10 each, and I can ship anywhere in Canada for $3.

2) Variety pack of lip gloss - These flavours are soooo fun... and perfect for a stocking.

3) Labels - The best way to make sure you don't lose your stuff is to label it, and these labels are super-cute and make great stocking stuffers. (This site and fun personalized stickers too!) Check out all the designs here.

4) Hot chocolate - This coloured hot chocolate is stinking adorable! It comes in purple, blue, and orange too.

 

5) Coupons - I love the idea of including coupons in a stocking, and these ones are FREE here.

6) Chocolate - Who wouldn't love to find chocolate in their stocking? This Reese gift pack is a favourite in my house.

7) DIY Candy ornaments - Fillable ornaments are cheap and easily customizable. I filled them with Skittles for my boys. Find the details and the FREE printable tags here.

8) Slippers - Give the gift of being cozy. Socks and slippers make great stocking stuffers.

9) Books - I love books, and I think they make fantastic gifts. You can find something to suit every interest.

10) DIY Snowmen gum - This a quick and fun DIY. You can easily turn a pack of gum into a bunch of these adorable snowment. You can find the full instructions here.

11) Screaming Goat - I don't know why, but I think this is hilarious! lol Wouldn't it be great sitting on a desk?

What stocking stuffer are you hoping to find in your stocking? Do you have a favourite on my list? Feel free to leave me a comment below. Merry Christmas!!!

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the Christmas DIYs here.