excelHR Gift Guide 2020 GTA

Gift Guide 2020 FROM YOUR RECRUITMENT PARTNERS, ALL YEAR LONG

EXCELHR.COM

Table of Contents A Letter From Us to You

Technology

How It Works

Outdoors

Shop Local

Parents & Babies

For Someone Special

Stocking Stuffers

Traveler

Deck the Halls

Pet Lover

For Kids

Stay at Home

For Teens

Deal Hunting

Book Lovers

Healthy Living

Foodies

Beauty & Self Care

Luxury

The Host

Do It Yourself

Newlyweds

Recipes

A Letter from Us to You You have been an essential part of our community – and you’ve motivated us to reach for the best we can be in this year of change. We’re sharing with you here our Annual Gift Guide, early this year, because we want to inspire you to close off 2020 with brightness and joy. xx It’s an important chance for us to say … xx Thank you to the coffee houses and lunch spots that stayed open so we could get take out during our work day, whether remote or onsite.

Thank you to all of the Techies who helped us become fully remote and patiently addressed our most minor technical issues.

Thank you to the healthcare and first response community for putting the health of others first.

Thank you to our clients who reached out to us beyond staffing for advice and ideas to support their teams.

Thank you for the job seekers who have worked with us patiently as the job market did a 180, 360, and back again.

Thank you to our HR network for coming together as community to share knowledge with no motives.

Thank you Canada for acting quickly, being resilient and proudly demonstrating our kindness. xx This collection of gift ideas is our team’s gift to you. We all contributed with our favourites from DIY to gifts under $100, and beyond, with a penchant to buy local when possible. xx All our best to you!

March 2019

How it Works LOVE, CLICK, SHOP

1.

2.

3.

PICK A PRODUCT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

HOVER OVER THE PRODUCT SO THAT THE PICTURE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE.

CLICK TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE STORE’S WEBSITE AND SHOP!

Shop Local Greater Toronto Area

Restaurants & CafĂŠs

Clothing & Jewelry

Boom Breakfast: For eggs & waffles of your dreams What A Bagel: Homemade bagels and pastries Bread & Butter: A family restaurant since 1979 Pukka: Forward thinking take on Indian cuisine Kost: A heated patio with brunch and city views Fet Zun: Cozy fire pits, blankets and great food

Ease: Well crafted, modern, slow fashion 100% Silk: Clothing grounded in ancient textiles Latre: Vintage and locally sourced pieces Soop Soop: A friendly neighbourhood fashion store Park Province: Pieces for your wardrobe, life, and home Biko: A modern nostalgic jewelry brand Warren Steven Scott: One of a kind jewelry made from mixed materials

Drinks

Other Goods

Northwood: Mulled cider and other fabulous cocktails Trinity Common: Hot drinks to warm up with this winter Bar Poet: Tasty pure Ontario hot apple cidre Tango Palace: A coffee hub with drinks for everyone Arvo Coffee: A fine coffee roaster with a toast bar

Tonic Blooms: Toronto's on-demand flower delivery Juxtapose Home: Unique home and kitchen goods Hollace Cluny: Inspiring furniture and decor Gee Beauty: Toronto makeup company you can shop online Health Hut: Natural daily care and green beauty Timmie Doggie Outfitters: Clothing, accessories, and treats for you pet

For Someone Special The More the Merrier

For Someone Special The More the Merrier

Traveler

Pet Lover

Make Staying at Home Comfortable

Deal Hunting HOW TO FIND DEALS & COUPONS ONLINE

DOWNLOAD 'HONEY'!

Honey.com automatically finds the coupons for you!

All you have to do is click Apply when it pops up.

You can download it as a browser extension here.

POP UPS!

You know those annoying pop-ups that come up when you open a website? Don’t X out! Most of the time, they offer 10-15% off if you enter your email. If you want to get crafty - create a junk mail address so you aren’t bothered in the future.

ONLINE COUPONS!

Use RetailMeNot.ca to find coupon codes for discounts and free shipping.

LEAVE ITEMS IN YOUR CART!

Many big retailers will send you 5-10% off if you leave items open in your cart for 24 hrs.

DEAL NEWS!

Find out the latest discounts by using RedFlagDeals.ca.

CYBER MONDAY!

All of the Black Friday deals, right from your home. Make sure to put November 30th, 2020 on your calendar!

Healthy Living

Beauty & Self Care

The Host

Engaged & Newlyweds

Technology

For the Outdoors

New Parents & Babies

Stocking Stuffers

Deck the Halls

For Kids

For Teens

Book Lovers

Foodies

Luxury

DIY

(do it yourself) click on the picture for directions

Maple Nut Toffee INGREDIENTS

2 cups butter (4 sticks) 1 1/3 cup sugar 2/3 cup maple syrup 3 oz. water 1/4 cup light corn syrup 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 cups chopped pecans 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips Cooking oil spray

BEFORE YOU START

Read instructions all the way through. Have your ingredients prepared ahead of time and work methodically.Hot sugar can be dangerous. Take extra care when making candy and keep small kids and pets away from the work area.This job requires your full attention. Constant stirring is required as is watching the thermometer.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Spray four sheets of parchment with cooking oil spray and set them aside.

2. On a clean, flat surface lay out four more sheets of parchment overlapping the long edges by

about an inch. Spray the sheets with cooking oil spray.

3. Place butter, sugar, syrups and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.

4. Have vanilla and salt prepared in a small bowl near the stove.

5. Cook the mixture over mediumhigh heat to 298° on a candy

thermometer (about 10 minutes).

Stir constantly.

6. Immediately remove from the heat and quickly stir in vanilla and salt.

7. Pour onto the four pieces of parchment.

8. Sprinkle the pecans over the entire area of the candy.

9. Place the other parchment, oiled side down, on top of the candy.

Use a rolling pin to roll out to about 1/4 inch thick.

1 0 .M e l t c h o c o l a t e c h i p s e i t h e r i n t h e

microwave or double-boiler style.

11. Pour melted chocolate over candy and spread to cover surface.

1 2 .A l l o w c a n d y t o c o o l c o m p l e t e l y and then break into pieces.

Recipe & Photos by Sam Henderson

Banana Pancake Snowmen INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1 cup complete buttermilk 1. Stir the pancake mix, water and pancake mix banana just until moistened.

3/4 cup water 2. Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter onto a 1/3 cup mashed ripe banana greased hot griddle, making three 1 teaspoon confectioners' circles to form a snowman. Turn when sugar bubbles form on top. Cook until the Pretzel sticks, chocolate chips, second side is golden brown. Transfer dried cranberries and/or to a serving plate. Repeat with halved banana slices remaining batter.

3. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Decorate snowmen with pretzels, chocolate chips, cranberries and/or banana if desired.

Reindeer Brownies

DIRECTIONS

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped 3/4 cup butter, cubed 3 large eggs 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 can (16 ounces) chocolate frosting 48 candy eyeballs 24 red-hot candies 48 miniature pretzels

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13x9-in. baking pan with foil, letting ends extend up sides; grease foil. In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly.

2. Whisk eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt until blended; stir in chocolate mixture.

Gradually stir in flour; spread into prepared pan. Bake until edges begin to pull from sides of pan, 25-30 minutes.

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

3. Lifting with foil, remove brownies from pan. Spread frosting over top. Cut into 12 squares; cut each square into a triangle. Attach candies and pretzels to make reindeer faces.

Recipe & Photos by Taste of Home

Stay tuned for our Winter Event Guide EXCELHR.COM