Meet GIFTILIA: Your Headquarters for Custom Gifts! 🎁

For Day 16, we are showcasing a local gem! Giftilia.com is an Ottawa-based gift shop that specializes in adding a personal touch to every occasion. From custom t-shirts and balloons to adorable new baby gifts, they make presents that are truly one-of-a-kind.

To celebrate, they have created two hilarious "Grinchy Vibes Lounge Kits" (Size Large) just for our readers! Perfect for the man in your life who needs a little nudge into the holiday spirit (or just a nap).

We are picking 2 WINNERS to take home a set! - Click here to enter for your chance to win!

Toddler Tuesdays at 10am 📍1 Elgin Street Ottawa

Happy Feet Mom & Me Walking Group at 10am 📍St. Laurent Shopping Centre

Homeschool Hangout at 10am 📍OPL Greely

Babytime / Bébés à la biblio at 10:30am 📍OPL Elmvale Acres

Family Storytime (Series) at 10:30am 📍Multiple OPL Locations

Chess & Games Drop-In (Series, Teens) at 11:15am 📍OPL Beaverbrook

Parenting in Ottawa Drop-in (Series) at 1:00pm 📍OPL Ruth E. Dickinson

Babytime / Bébés à la biblio at 2:30am 📍OPL Sunnyside

Video Game Drop-In for Teens at 3:00pm 📍OPL Beaverbrook

Create and Craft - Holiday Projects (Teens) at 3:30pm 📍OPL Carlingwood

Teen Tuesdays | Les mardis ados (Series) at 3:30pm 📍OPL St-Laurent

Homework Help | Aide aux devoirs (Child - Series) Multiple Times 📍Multiple OPL Locations - OPL Elmvale Acres, OPL Orléans, OPL BlackBurn Hamlet

Santa in the Park 4-6pm📍Clare Gardens Park

Casual Teen Crafternoon | Brico-ados relax at 5pm📍OPL Main

OrKidstra Centre Hub Holiday Concert at 6:30pm📍Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre

Winter Lights Across Canada Dec 8 - Jan 9, 2026 Pathway of lights Map

Core memory unlocked! ✨

I took my son for a special holiday date night to see Holiday Dreams, and seeing his face light up was the best gift I could ask for.

This show is such a cool mix of high-tech magic (holograms!) and classic circus talent. We laughed at the comedy, gasped at the aerialists, and just had the best time together. It’s built to appeal to kids and adults, and I can confirm—we both left feeling so festive.

It was such a cool experience to share with him. Highly recommend if you want to add some sparkle to your holidays! ❄️

🎁 A little gift for Ottawa Parents: Tomorrow is the very last show, but if you can make it, use the coupon code PARENTS at checkout for 15% OFF. Hope you guys love it as much as we did!

Here is a video recap - https://youtube.com/shorts/MHKCRs0931I?feature=share

🎉The Family Fridge

A little corner for jokes, hacks, and fun ideas to stick on your mental fridge.

📋 The "Last Week of School" Survival Guide

🔲 Check the Spirit Schedule: Check the school email right now. Is tomorrow PJ day? Crazy Hair day? Write it on your hand if you have to!

🔲 The "Lost & Found" Raid: Go today or Tuesday. Unclaimed items are often donated over the break. Rescue those expensive mitts!

🔲 The Gift Deadline: Aim to send teacher gifts in by Wednesday. Thursday/Friday backpacks get chaotic, and you don't want to forget it at home.

🔲 The "Art" Dump: Send an extra reusable bag in their backpack. They will be bringing home 4 months of artwork and empty glue sticks this week.

🔲 The Lunchbox Purge: On Friday, check for Tupperware immediately. You do not want a banana fermenting in there for two weeks.

💡 Pro Tip: Take a photo of the teacher cards/gifts before you wrap them so you remember who gets what!

We know the December hustle is real, so we’ve done the heavy lifting to keep the magic alive (and your stress levels low!). We’ve put together a complete Elf on the Shelf Survival Kit exclusively for our subscribers.

From simple setup ideas that take less than 5 minutes to interactive scavenger hunts and sweet goodbye letters, we have everything you need to navigate this season with ease.

Check out your full Elf on the Shelf Kit here →

As a special thank you for being an Ottawa Parents subscriber, we've included a festive Christmas Coloring Page PDF just for you.

Print it out and enjoy some quiet, creative time this holiday season!