Design Your Own Locket For Your Valentine (Giveaway)

Thanks to Pictures on Gold for sponsoring this post and giveaway.

Valentine’s Day is next week and I have the perfect gift for your valentine or “gal”entine. Pictures on Gold has beautiful locket necklaces that can be personalized with your loved ones in mind. They normally ship within a day as well so you can even give a personalized gift if you are a last minute shopper! (Hint hint hubbies….)

I shared about these lockets before Christmas when I made one for myself and was very impressed with the quality. Remember how lockets used to hold cutout photos of our loved ones that would get all tattered around the edges if not cut out perfectly? And how you used to have to find a photo with the faces tiny enough to fit inside your locket? Well all that is a thing of the past because Pictures on Gold can take most images and resize them before they laser them into the locket.

These are the images I chose to be in the locket I made for my mom:

As you can see, these photos would not fit in an old style photo locket because all the kids are spaced apart so much. I could use these photos in a Pictures on Gold locket though because they enhance photos to bring people closer together if they are spaced too far apart. They’ll even remove cluttered backgrounds if you’d like them to! I was very please with the color laser images they put in the locket as seen below:

Along with adding photos you can get messages engraved which they do with a high definition laser engraver. I added text on the front and back of my locket. When designing the locket you can see the preview of what the locket will look like to make sure everything is perfect. This is my locket’s preview of the text that’s on the back of my mom’s locket from her grandkids:

I can’t wait until they give Nana her gift because she will love it. What mom or grandma wouldn’t? Here’s a better look at the locket I made:

Want to win one for yourself? Enter below to win a Build Your Own Sterling Silver 2 Photo Heart Locket on 18 inch Sterling Silver Box Chain (valued at $140.90). The giveaway ends on Valentine’s Day. Good luck!

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Valentine’s Day DIY Sugar Scrub

This post contains affiliate links.

With February around the corner I wanted to share this easy Valentine’s Day DIY tutorial. Whether you want soft skin for your Valentine’s date night or want to treat yourself to a little me time, this pretty pink sugar scrub sprinkled with tiny hearts (and scented to smell like strawberries!) is perfect for Valentine’s Day. It makes a great gift idea for all your GALentine’s as well! The best part? It’s simple to make, because busy moms have enough on their plate without adding complicated DIYs to the to-do list!

Here’s how you can make this Valentine’s Day sugar scrub for yourself or a friend:

Supplies:

Directions:

  1. Mix the sugar and olive oil in a small bowl. Stir well.

  2. Add the soap colorant. Mix well.

  3. Add fragrance oil. Mix well.

  4. Add the heart sprinkles. Give it a quick stir.

  5. Pour into an airtight container such as a mason jar.

If you are gifting the sugar scrub you can add a gift tag to the mason jar. Here are some cute ones that I found:

Looking for other Valentine’s Day gift ideas? Here are some fun date night gift baskets that are perfect to give a loved one for a romantic evening in (which seems to often be the only way my husband and I actually have date nights). My favorite is this “dinner for two” gift basket I put together a few years ago and it’s one of my most popular Valentine’s Day posts!

What are you gifting this Valentine’s Day? Chat with me on social media and let me know!

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Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

This post contains affiliate links and most of the items have been received for consideration.

Typically around this time of December many people are done (or almost done) Christmas shopping. This year though, probably because of how late Thanksgiving was, most people I’ve talked to haven’t finished Christmas shopping yet (myself included!) Some people haven’t even started, or have just picked up a couple items. I’ve bought some things for my oldest and my youngest but I haven’t even started buying anything for my middle child yet (those poor middle children!)

If you are still looking for great gift ideas I have some and, best of all, most of them will arrive before Christmas Day :)

For the gamers…

Any child, tween, or teen that plays video games (which would be most of them) would be appreciative of a new game for their favorite system. Jacob’s top pick of the year is Madden NFL 20 and he loves playing it with his friends. Lucas and I were excited to check out Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 which is exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. These iconic characters bring back nostalgia for us ’80s kids but the game is also fun for kids of all ages who get to compete in more than 30 different events. Then there’s Mario Maker 2, a game that the boys first got a sneak peak at this summer when we went to the Nintendo Switch Road Trip Tour. This game, again made exclusively for the Switch, lets kids play, create, and share the side-scrolling Super Mario courses of their dreams. All these games are sure to bring hours of fun!

For moms, grandmas, and anyone else who loves personalized gifts…

There is nothing much better to receive, as a mom, than something my children have made or something with their picture on it (okay well maybe a self-cleaning house would be preferred but that doesn’t exist yet so….). One of my favorite things I own is my Photospring Digital Frame. I love that I can showcase my favorite photos, relive special memories, and look at pictures of my kids while they are at school or sleeping anytime I want! The new one holds 15,000 photos (WOW!) and it’s easy to upload pictures to wirelessly, directly from your phone. Another item that would make a nice gift is a personalized photo locket and it just so happens I’m giving one away so you can learn more about it and enter to win here.

For little ones…

Anyone with a little one in their life knows that sometimes the best gifts for them are the simplest (which is why they often seem to love the gift box more than the actual gift that came in the box) so I shared over 20 experience gift ideas for toddlers here. Gift-wise I searched Facebook Marketplace for used toys because small kids don’t know the difference between new and used toys so it’s worth it to save some money. My favorite find for Emma was this Little People Disney Princess Magic Wand Castle for $12 and when my boys were younger I got a whole box of Thomas trains for the cost of a couple new ones (that find was such a blessing at a time when our budget was really tight)! I also got a great deal on this Laugh & Learn Food Truck (that has wonderful reviews) and hope that it will lead to hours of imaginative play!

Looking for infant gift ideas? I got you covered with these great gifts for new moms and newborns – a simple but sweet suggestion is putting together a bath time gift basket and diapers/wipes are always appreciated as well since new moms go through those so quickly! I also love Infantino’s baby gear like their 3-in-1 Grow with me Activity Gym (that turns into a fun ball pit when they start crawling and walking) and the Sit, Spin & Stand Entertainer 360 Seat for older babies (that turns into an activity table for toddlers).

Gifts for men…

If you are looking to buy something other than socks and ties for your husband or dad this year I have some suggestions! Hubby will love a romantic date night gift basket because it means he will get to spend some alone time with the woman he loves. I particularly love this romantic “dinner for 2” gift basket but I have a whole bunch more ideas here.

Have a man who loves to cook? The Magic Chef Air Fryer Oven is amazing! It is an airfryer, convection toaster, dehydrator, and rotisserie all in one! We use it several times a week since our oven is on the fritz and I love that it cooks a large amount at a time so it’s perfect for families. We’ve used it to bake cookies, make our own french fries, cook perfectly toasted cheese on our zucchini pizza bites, and make chicken with amazingly crispy seasoned skin.   

Know a guy who spends most of his free time rooting for his favorite football team and playing fantasty football? NFL Shop has hundreds of ideas from holiday pajamas to draft tumblers to throw blankets. You could also gift him a subscription to ESPN+ (while you gift your family Hulu and Disney+ through their great bundle deal).

Then again, if dad asks for socks (like my dad did almost every year when I was growing up), get the man some nice wool ones!

For kids in elementary school…

Out of all the toys my boys have ever owned, none were played with more than their Imaginext toys. My youngest son played with them daily for about four to five years so they were definetely a worthwhile investment! Another great gift idea is to gift board games for a fun family game night. I share 10 of my family’s favorite games here and some more great games here. Football fans will love NFL-opoly Junior and there’s also a new game for Rubik’s Cube lovers called Rubik Tilt that looks pretty cool! (BTW I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to solve a Rubik’s Cube. I had a child show me how “easy” it is to solve them and I’m more confused than ever lol). I also have dozens more ideas on this blog! Here’s last year’s gift guide for kids and 2017’s gift guide for children.

What gifts are you giving this year? Chat with me on social media and let me know!

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20+ Experience Gifts For Toddlers

This post contains affiliate links.

The holidays are here and I’m so excited to be celebrating Emma’s first Christmas this year! Since my other two are older, and were born so close together, I don’t remember much from this stage because it was all a blur and honestly I was just trying to survive with two under two. It’s been fun watching my daughter as she takes in the lights and everything else this holiday season holds. As we get closer to Christmas though I’ve been on the hunt for Christmas gifts for my kids. For Emma (who has a birthday several days after Christmas) I have things I’d like to get her but I’m hoping to find everything I want used from online garage sale sites and thrift stores or at the store if I can find great deals (like I did with this food truck that I got for just a third of the advertised store price using gift cards and a coupon). I’m also adding some experience gifts to the list because a kid can only have so many toys! Some of these are places you can take the kids but some of these experience gift ideas are things you can do at home with your child.

As much as experience gifts are for the child, I think they are just as great for mom, dad, or grandma who gets to join in on the fun with the little one! Here are ten great experience gift ideas for toddlers:

Baking Kit

What toddler wouldn’t want to spend time with his or her favorite adult baking cookies, decorating them with an overload of frosting and sprinkles (like Luke’s gingerbread man above), and then – best of all- getting to eat their creation?! Cookie making will be messy but what fun toddler activity isn’t? A baking kit for a toddler can include a child-sized apron, kid-friendly kitchen tools, a cookie mix, sprinkles in their favorite color, and a tub of frosting.

Zoo Membership

We love going to the zoo and the great thing about zoo memberships is children can enjoy the zoo through all the seasons. Brookfield Zoo here in the Chicago suburbs has many fun events throughout the year including Summer Nights with live music and family fun in the summer, Boo at the Zoo for Halloween costume fun, and Zoo Lights during the holidays.

Craft Supplies

When my oldest was about 18 months old I made him a toddler art station. On the easel there were papers and large chunky crayons to color with (we used Crayola jumbo crayons and crayons I made out of old recycled crayons but now a decade later we have more choices like these 100% natural Honeysticks made from beeswax which won’t harm toddlers when ingested and are almost impossible for them to break). I also put together a craft kit full of toddler friendly craft supplies he could use to create open-ended art projects with adult supervision. I included finger paints, cotton balls, feathers, foam stamps, safety scissors, dot markers, a long sleeved art smock, and more. You can make your own DIY kit or buy a premade one like this kit from Alex.

Tinkergarten Classes

Tinkergarten is a national program that offers children a chance to learn through well-designed, outdoor play-based activities. They help kids develop a number of important capabilities, including empathy, collaboration, creativity, persistence and problem solving. Their expert-designed classes and activities help kids ages 6 months—8 years develop core life skills while enjoying healthy, fun, engaging experiences in the physical freedom of local outdoor spaces. If you are in the Chicago suburbs I’d love to introduce you to some local Tinkergarten leaders I know or you can look for classes nearby you here.

“Snow Much Fun” Kit

Winter means snow here in Chicago so gifting some fun items your toddler can use during the winter months just makes sense. Giving them a sled like this infant boggan could make for a fun afternoon on a snowy day. The Snow Much Fun Kit you put together could also include a snowsuit, waterproof mittens (with strings), and some little shovels, buckets, and shape forms (bonus- the beach toys can then be used in the summer, too). Too cold to go outside? Bring the snow inside and put it in giant plastic tub or the kitchen sink.

Children’s Museum Membership

When my boys were young I loved taking them to our local children’s museum. There they could learn new concepts, be creative, and explore the world around them in a safe environment that was made just for them. Gifting a membership to a children’s museum will give the toddler in your life a place to go on rainy days, chilly winter days, and any time their caregiver wants to get out of the house. In the Chicago area we love the Chicago Children’s Museum and the DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville!

Science Subscription Box

Children ages 2 and up would love to receive a subscription box every month filled with fun science experiments that they can do with their mom or dad. Science concepts for children this young are kept simple, like learning about the colors that make up the rainbox and different animals. For toddlers, the KiwiCo Koala Crate is a good choice along with the Green Kids Crafts Junior Boxes that are made to “deliver discovery, learning and fun to children”.

More ideas….

  • Music Lessons
  • Dance Class
  • Sports Lesson
  • Sensory table or tub (like this hot cocoa sensory tub I made)
  • Membership to a local children’s garden
  • Swim Lessons
  • Water table and other items for backyard fun
  • Nature kit with magnafying glass, bug catcher, and a book about bugs
  • Gymnastics Class
  • Membership to an indoor children’s play attraction
  • Sports sets (like this tball set or this basketball hoop)
  • Musical Instruments (like a classic xylophone or a drum)
  • Trip to an indoor waterpark
  • Gardening kit with seeds to plant, cute rain boots, toddler sized gardening tools, and this cute gardening board book

Then there’s always the greatest gift of all time….a big box that can be turned into anything your little toddler can imagine!

What’s your favorite experience gift? Chat with me on social and let me know!

 

Give A Personalized Photo Locket This Holiday Season (Giveaway)

Thanks to Pictures on Gold for sponsoring this post.

If you are shopping for a gift, and the recepient is a mom or grandma, it’s a pretty safe bet that she will LOVE anything with her child or grandchild’s face on it. And what woman doesn’t love jewelry? That’s what makes a locket, personalized just for mom or grandma, the perfect unique gift this holiday season. I’m excited to share about lockets from Pictures on Gold and give one away to a lucky reader this Christmas.

Pictures on Gold offers a variety of personalized jewelry that can be created online (via mobile or desktop). They make it simple to create custom jewelry pieces and to design your own locket with their step-by-step instructions that guide you through the process. They offer a lifetime guarantee on their laser engraving and the quick shipping turnaround time makes it the perfect last-minute gift. Check out the custom locket I designed in the video below!

When I was growing up I had a locket with my parent’s photos in it. I loved it but I remember how the pictures enclosed inside of it were all curled up and torn around the edges. Technology has come a long ways since then in the past couple of decades and now Pictures on Gold has images put into the lockets with a laser, making the images 100% waterproof and scratch-proof.

Another thing I love about the images on the lockets from Pictures on Gold is that the company makes it easier than ever to include your favorite photo even if it doesn’t fit perfectly or you don’t like the background of it. I had a picture of all my kids with a busy background and their digital artists cut out the images of my three kids and placed them on a white background so their faces really stood out. They also can enhance photos to bring people closer together if they are too spaced apart to fit in the locket. They will color in any white space as well so it’s okay if the photograph you want doesn’t fit perfectly.

Who do you know that would love a locket like this? You can use the promo code HOLIDAY to save 10% off your order at PicturesOnGold.com. Also, enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a locket you design! You can share this giveaway on social media more than once for extra chances to win. The giveaway ends December 24th. Good luck!

 

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Baby Shower Gift Guide

This gift guide contains affiliate links and some samples were received but all thoughts are my own and I’ve only included items I personally recommend.

Looking for that perfect gift to give a mom-to-be at the next baby shower you attend? I’m sharing some of my favorite picks, including some you might not think about gifting for mommy and baby. I’ll be adding to this baby shower gift guide throughout 2019 so come back often to see what’s been added!

Boppy Lounger

I used a Bobby Infant Support Pillow with my first two kids but Boppy recently came out with a Newborn Lounger that I absolutely love. As far as baby items go, our Boppy Newborn Lounger has been the most used item since baby #3 came into our lives a month and a half ago!

Buy Boppy products here.

Baby Bath Time Gift Basket

Gifting baby essentials is always appreciated! I received bath time products from friends, including an absolutely adorable unicorn baby bath towel which I thought was sweet. I put together this baby bath time gift basket which keeps all the bath time essentials handy.

Golden Slumber Organic Baby Clothes

One of my mommy friends owns this company and sent us one of her baby gowns when Emma was born. She has all sorts of fun designs in unique prints for babies and kids but this is one of my favorites! I love the tie bottom and bright, colorful print and Emma loved all the room it gave her to stretch her legs.

Check out the whole line of baby clothes and teethers from Golden Slumber, LLC here.

SwaddleDesigns Safe Sleepwear

Giving the gift of sleep is probably one of the best things you can give a new parent! Emma sleeps best when she is swaddled otherwise her arms flailing about will wake her up. I like SwaddleDesigns 3-step Safe Sleep Program because they have products for each stage babies are in and the SwaddleDesigns product line-up helps new parents and their babies get more sleep with their swaddling blankets, NEW Transitional Swaddle Sack, and zzZipMe Sack wearable blanket.

SwaddleDesigns has an exclusive line on Amazon called Amazing Baby and you can shop the whole line here.

Baby Milestone Blanket

Parents that snap a lot of photos for Instagram and Facebook will love receiving a baby milestone blanket to take weekly or monthly photos on. I had bought a fleece baby milestone blanket but then my friend gave me a really pretty cotton one, too. I have used both and think it’s a really fun way to document baby’s growth as the weeks and months go by.

Find a variety of baby milestone blankets for babies here.

Dry Baby Stain Resistant Baby Clothes

I rarely put my kids in white clothes because of how easily they stain so I was really excited to learn about Dry Baby, the only baby brand on the market that can actually repel liquids, making their clothing & accessories stain & odor resistant! Emma spits up quite a lot so I am loving this brand because liquids simply roll off the fabric! I also appreciate that little ones with sensitive skin can wear these products because they are made of a chemical free, soft cotton material.

Purchase Dry Baby clothes and accessories here.

Gift Card to a Photography Studio for Professional Baby Photos

I love getting my baby’s picture taken each month through the first year of life. I’ve done it with both my boys and I’m now taking Emma for monthly photos. Yes, I can take decent photos of my daughter at home and have had a lot of practice taking photos for blog posts over the past decade, but it’s nothing compared to the shots you can get during a professional photography session. Even if parents don’t want monthly photos they still probably would love to go for a maternity session, newborn photos, their child’s first birthday, or even family pictures during the holiday season (something mom can’t do herself when she actually needs to be in the photos). We take our kids to JcPenney’s Portrait Studio (see image above for a great shot our photographer got) but I recommend looking online for studios nearby where the expectant parent lives.

BooginHead Baby & Toddler Essentials

Ever have a baby or toddler who thinks you want to play fetch with their toy or sippy cup? I have, which is why I love BooginHead products like their PaciGrip and SippiGrip! They also have an adorable new line of Plush PaciPals that help keep track of baby’s pacifier plus give baby comfort. These BooginHead baby essentials are a lifesaver for parents of young kids!

Find BooginHead products here.

Piper Jade Kids Clothing

For those that love gifting clothes and accessories you’ll want to check out Piper Jade Kids. This online boutique has tons of adorable items for baby boys and baby girls (don’t say I didn’t warn you! You’ll want one of everything….). I love their giant bows (like the blue and white striped one on Emma in the photo at the beginning of this post), their selection of knit hats (like this unicorn one Emma is wearing), and the sweet prints they offer (like this little hedgehog covered outfit).

Abiie’s Huggs Contour Baby Carrier

The Huggs Contour baby carrier is the perfect gift for new moms and dads who love to babywear. This innovative baby carrier’s booster seat keeps baby ergonomically seated in a healthy hip position. It originated specifically to prevent hip dysplasia (a medical term for instability or looseness of the hip joint) which is something Emma is currently undergoing testing for since she spent most of the time in a breech position while in utero. Thousands of children are affected each year by this condition, ranging from mild instability to complete dislocation, so I love that this carrier was designed with the help of medical professionals to prevent this from happening to kids from how they are being carried around.

The carrier is lightweight and provides all-day comfort for both the parent and the child. The padded shoulder straps help to evenly distribute baby’s weight in combination with the waistband to maximize parent comfort by alleviating pressure on the wearer’s back and shoulders. It also has a double layer of the center panel which folds down, exposing breathable 3D mesh for fresh air to keep baby from getting to hot

You can learn more about the carrier here.

Photospring Digital Frame

This digital frame has made my Christmas gift guide two years in a row for good reason….I love it! If there was one thing in my home I can honestly say I use everyday it’s this frame. I have it in my tv room and love looking at it throughout the day and my mom loves it so much that she mentions how much she wants one every single time she comes to visit. There is nothing better than sitting and being able to remember our favorite times and see my kids smiling faces. New parents (and grandparents, too!) will love loading all of their favorite images on this frame and they make it easy for sleep-deprived parents to do so with their easy to use app that lets parents send photos from their phone to the frame with a couple clicks. I am obsessed with it still two years later and upload new photos to it weekly (probably more so now that I have a newborn again).

Buy it here.

Other items new parents could probably use include blankets, burb cloths, and diapers. What were your favorite gifts to get when you were expecting? Chat with me on Twitter and let me know!

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Gift Ideas For The Hard To Buy For Adults On Your List

This is a sponsored post and contains affiliate links.

Can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner? I’m not ready! I have so much on my to-do list still and I know I’m not alone. Whether you have all your shopping to do still or you have some hard-to-shop-for people you are still trying to find the perfect gift for, I wanted to share some ideas for all the adults on your list. (Check out my kid’s gift guide if you still have kiddos on your shopping list to buy for!)

For the person who loves to relax at home after a busy day

There’s nothing like slipping off your shoes and putting your feet into a pair of nice, warm slippers after a long day of work or running errands. I’m in love with these “Papa Bear” slippers from Dearfoams! They even make “Mama Bear” and “Lil Bear” ones so the whole family can have a pair of the coordinating slippers. Best of all though, from now through December 25th, for each pair of slippers purchased on the brand site, Dearfoams will donate a pair of slippers – up to 50,000 – to RMHC of Central Ohio. There’s nothing like gifting and giving back to a great cause!

See the whole selection of Dearfoams slippers here.

For Grandma & Grandpa 

Grandma and Grandpa will love seeing photos of their loved ones displayed on a digital frame like PhotoSpring. I have had this frame for over a year and am in love with it! PhotoSpring is great because it allows families and friends to upload and share photos from any location to any digital frame in seconds. This high-resolution digital frame makes photo and video display and sharing easy with automatic selection & optimization of high-res photos and video slideshows, shared images with family and friends through mobile apps and a portable touchscreen interface to browse and interact with images.

Learn more about all the amazing features of PhotoSpring and how to purchase it here.

For the health-conscious

Living healthy is about more than just the food that we put in our mouths and those who are health-conscious realize this. The Eve Room smart home accessory helps monitor indoor conditions like air quality, temperature and humidity. Conditions can be seen at a glance and it can be connected with other smart home devices making indoor climate regulation a breeze. For example, they can have an air purifier turn on automatically when air quality deteriorates or have a humidifier switch on before moisture levels drop too low.

Learn more and buy it here.

For the adventurer in your life

Know someone who always seems to be on an adventure somewhere in the great outdoors? Give them a gift that they can use on their next trip and know they will think about you everytime they use it, no matter where in the world they are! The Sneaky Snuggler Blanket by Montem Outdoor Gear is a great choice. a temperature rating of 40°+, this quilt will keep your loved one warm whether they are camping, hiking, or taking in an outdoor concert. As a bonus, it’s water and puncture resistant and folds out to a comfortable 54″ by 80″ making it perfect for one and cozy for two.

Learn more here and use code ‘makingtimeformommy15’ to get a discount on this amazingly warm quilt.

For the tech-obsessed

A virtual reality headset isn’t something anyone really needs but, trust me, it’s something that everyone on your list would be so excited to get! VR headsets allow you to step into another world and explore new things. Our whole family loves the Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream VR headset. It is the world’s first standalone VR headset that sets a new bar for hassle-free VR experiences because it doesn’t require PCs, phones, cables, or external sensors. Equipped with WorldSense™ technology, users can duck, dodge, lean, and move in ways enhance the virtual reality experience. The Mirage Solo also contains a powerful Qualcomm processor, a high resolution low-latency display, and a built-in battery. All of this is wrapped in an ergonomic design that makes the Mirage Solo comfortable and easy to use.

Learn more and buy it here.

For everyone else

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a candle and it will mean even more to the receiver knowing that your purchase of a Bright Endeavors candle supports women as they gain important job skills needed to secure quality employment and begin to lift their families out of poverty. Bright Endeavors is a social enterprise in Chicago that empowers young single mothers through its job training program. Each of the premium soy wax candles are handmade by young mothers (ages 16-24) in the program and 100 percent of the proceeds go back to these women. The candles are available in five sizes ($7.99 to $27.99), and this year’s holiday collection features several scents, including Whitebark Pine (scent of earthy, cool pine boughs blended with a touch of sea salt and evergreen), Almond Berry Galette (blend of roasted nutmeg and almond with notes of wild berry and sweet cream), Holiday Citrus (warm, spicy aromas of cinnamon and clove harmonized with gentle blood orange), and Winter Lodge (a woody, smoky scent with notes of anise, nutmeg, tangerine, and cinnamon).

Learn more about this great cause and order some candles here.

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What gift ideas do you have? I’d love for you to share with me on social media!

Tips For Gifting Tech This Holiday Season

Thanks to the Consumer Technology Association for hosting a lunch & learn and giving me some amazing technology to try with my family. This post contains affiliate links.

Every year so many new tech products come out on the market and sometimes it’s hard to know which to buy, especially when you are shopping for others. I recently went to a lunch where I learned more about new items on the market and also got tips for things to consider when gifting technology items. I wanted to share what I learned and hope it helps you head to the store (or shop online) with confidence!

Virtual Reality Headsets:

A virtual reality headset isn’t something anyone really needs but, trust me, it’s something that everyone on your list would be so excited to get! When shopping for a VR headset you will want to choose one that has a wide-variety of games and apps that are compatiable with it. You’ll also want to make sure the headset has a high-resolution display and comfortable fit. VR headsets allow you to step into another world and explore new things. I learned that students can even use these headsets to view coursework in a whole new way and see it all in 3D! Our whole family loves the Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream VR headset that we received. It is the world’s first standalone VR headset that sets a new bar for hassle-free VR experiences because it doesn’t require PCs, phones, cables, or external sensors. Equipped with WorldSense™ technology, users can duck, dodge, lean, and move in ways enhance the virtual reality experience. The Mirage Solo also contains a powerful Qualcomm processor, a high resolution low-latency display, and a built-in battery. All of this is wrapped in an ergonomic design that makes the Mirage Solo comfortable and easy to use.

Phone cases to protect phones on the go:

With as expensive as smart phones are nowadays, a quality case is a must-have in my opinion. When looking for a phone case you will want to make sure it’s made with materials that absorb shock and that there’s easy access to ports, buttons, and the camera. Personally, I love the Speck phone cases and have a pretty pink sparkly one on my Galaxy S8+. For those with iPhones they have two new products- the Presidio Pro, a protective, slim case with anti-microbial protection tested to withstand drops of up to 10 feet, and the Presidio Stay Clear, that has a new, innovative coating that resists UV-yellowing and discoloration caused by lotions and other oils.

Headphones:

Raise your hand if people blasting music and other media in public spaces drives you crazy! ? If so, give the gift of headphones to anyone who loves listening to music on the go. When picking out in-ear headphones make sure that they come with at least three pairs of eartips for the perfect fit. Also, if shopping for someone who is going to wear them when working out, you’ll want to look for a rating of IPX4 or higher which means they are sweatproof. One pair of headphones that we learned about was the wireless Plantronics BackBeat FIT 3100 earbuds. The Always Aware™ eartips let you simultaneously listen to music and hear your surroundings for safer training in any environment, while soft, flexible and secure-fit earloops provide comfort and maximum stability. Sweatproof and waterproof, these earbuds are designed to hold up against your most intense workouts.

STEM gifts for kids:

As a parent of two tweens I can tell you that STEM gifts are very popular nowadays. When looking for STEM gifts you’ll want to consider the child’s interests to ensure learning will be fun! Gifts that help tweens learn essential STEM skills are a great thing to give because, in the next decade, 77% of jobs will require some degree of technology skills. I also learned that girls who were given early coding experience were more likely to report higher technology interest than girls who did not. One fun gift to give, that I know my Harry Potter loving boys would love, is the new Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit. This is the first ever Harry Potter wand that actually works. The wand its able to detect its position in space and recognizes over 30 signature spell motions from the Wizarding World universe. It takes you on a journey from beginner to coder with step-by-step challenges, creativity and fun.

On-the-go charging:

Whether you are shopping for a busy mom or an always-on-the-go young professional, I can guarantee one thing- a phone charger is an invaluable gift! According to Techlicious, 90% of people worry about losing power on our phones. When looking for a portable phone charger you’ll want to get one that not only charges electronics quickly, but has been rigorously tested to ensure safe charging for devices. The Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE™ Power Bank 10K with Lightning Connector is awesome because it is the first-to-market MFi-certified power bank to recharge via Lightning connector, ideal for on-the-go charging as you only need to carry a single cable.

Health & Ftness Smartwatches:

If you have a fitness lover on your shopping list a smartwatch, if they don’t have one yet, makes the perfect gift. When debating which smartwatch to purchase, one thing you’ll want to consider is if the gift receiver would prefer a rugged look or if they’d prefer a more stylish watch. Fitbit’s newest smartwatch serves as the ultimate daily health and fitness companion that empowers users to make the most every moment, stay connected and reach their goals, and simplify their lives. With on-screen workouts, 4+ days battery life, personalized reminders, female health tracking and all-day activity tracking, the Versa Fitbit is the perfect gift for those at all levels of fitness. It’s also available in rose gold or silver aluminum with a variety of stylish accessories. Have a child interested in a Fitbit? My nine year old asked for one this year and Santa is bringing him the Fitbit Ace!

Makeup mirror:

Searching for that perfect gift for a woman who loves doing her makeup? A makeup mirror is a unique gift she probably doesn’t have yet! When searching for a makeup mirror you’ll want to find one that uses full-spectrum LED lighting to illuminate their face for the most natural makeup application. The iHome Vanity Speaker was designed to be as elegant and full featured as any vanity available and it boasts a tilting, distortion-free mirror on one side with a magnified mirror on the reverse side. Best of all, it’s Alexa enabled with tap-to-talk capability. It can play music and audiobooks along with being able to control smart home devices, get weather, news, traffic and more!

What tech will you be gifting this holiday season?

Great Gift Ideas For Kids Of All Ages

This is a sponsored post and contains affiliate links.

The holidays are here which means it’s gift giving season! I’ve gathered up a variety of gift ideas for kids of all ages- from newborns to tweens! Bookmark this post because I’ll be sharing more great gift ideas as I discover them!

Bobbi-Toads

Bobbi-Toads is a line of stylish kid’s footwear that would be a perfect gift for those that do the four gift rule (something to read, something to wear, something they want, and something they need). They have a line of paintable shoes and a line of light-up shoes. I love the bright colors, fun designs, and sparkles!

Ages 2+.

See all the designs here.

Magna-Tiles®

Magna-Tiles® are magnetic building sets providing safe, imaginative play that makes math and science fun and engaging for children of all ages. They’ve been around for years (when I taught preschool they were the most popular toy in the classroom!!) but now they have 6 brand new sets out including Magna-Qubix™ with 3D cubes, prisms, and pyramids, and Magna-Tiles Freestyle with the patented “X” shape and free-moving magnets.

Ages 3+

Buy them here.

Smithsonian Exploration Station Book Sets: Space, World Atlas, and The Human Body

These books are full of fascinating facts and full-color photographs that make learniing fun! Each set also contains hands-on toys that go with the theme. The Space set comes with a sticker sheet, space figurines to play with, and the glow-in-the-dark stars. The Human Body set comes with a plastic model skeleton and 25 fact cards. The World Atlas comes with an inflatable globe and cardstock models of some of the wonders of the world.

Ages 6+

Buy them here.

Cuddle+Kind

Cuddle+Kind dolls are beautiful, soft, and cuddly dolls, ethically produced in Peru. They are lovingly hand-knit, hand-loomed, embroidered and crocheted by artisans using knitting expertise that has been handed down for generations making them heirloom quality. Best of all, each doll purchased helps feed children! For every cuddle+kind doll sold they give 10 meals to children in need.

Ages 0+

Buy them here.

PlayMonster Yeti, Set, Go! Game

Yeti, Set, Go! is a follow-up to PlayMonster’s Toy of the Year award-winning game, Yeti in My Spaghetti®, taking the mythical yeti theme to a whole new level! In the fast-paced all-play game players help four different Yetis – with four unique personalities – kick meatballs up a snowy mountain, trying to be the first to get theirs on the ledges.

Ages 4+

Buy it here.

Massive Monster Mayhem 

Massive Monster Mayhem is an action-packed, sci-fi action adventure game show starring the greatest Massive MonsterSuperstars in the Universe and they just launched a new toy line this past October. The toys bring kid’s imaginations to life through a variety of battle-inspired items, including a Massive 5-foot Moon Ball, outrageously huge Inflatable Bash Weapons, larger-than-life wearable Bash Armor and Power Punchers – everything kids need to safely step into action, battle giant alien monsters and save the world. 

Ages 4+
Buy them here.

Orbeez Ultimate Soothing Spa

The Orbeez Ultimate Soothing Spa is the perfect gift for a child who wants to have a “spa day” just like mommy! Newly redesigned with bright, lively and fun Orbeez colors, toe separators and nail polish, the Ultimate Soothing Spa comes with everything kids need for the pedicure of their dreams. Complete with 2,000 Orbeez, a cascading waterfall and a built-in strainer, well-deserved relaxation and fun is guaranteed.

Ages 5+

Buy it here.

Monkey Trix Game

Monkey Trix is the ultimate family game with a silly and fierce head to head competitive showdown. Pick your monkey, collect your blocks and turn over the top card. Be the first monkey to build the stack and take the card to win the round. Collect three cards to win the game. (My ten year old son and eleven year old nephew had fun competing against each other and it was hilarious to watch!)

Ages 6+

Buy it here.

Organic Soft Book & Teeter Set from Petit Collage

This is a great eco-friendly gift idea for little ones! Baby’s first organic book is soft and ready for story time. The book features high contrast patterns printed with natural inks on organic cotton. A solid beech wood bunny doubles as a teether and a play pal.

Ages 0+

Buy it here.

Build Your Own Chain Reaction Machines Book

In this entertaining and instructive book, mechanical engineer and educator Paul Long gives step-by-step instructions for making low-tech devices using everyday objects in inspired and ingenious ways. Create machines that flip a light switch, squeeze toothpaste, dispense candy, make music, and more. Each of the thirteen projects demonstrates how to build the machine’s various elements, and explains how they work together to make a mind-boggling mechanism that delivers hours of fun and fascination. Also included are interesting sidebars on the science behind each gadget, plus tips and tricks for success.

Ages 10+

Buy it here.

Artsbot Craft Kits

Artsbot Activity Kits pack hours of creative energy into a small box that’s easy to bring on the go. Each kit contains all the materials needed to create several projects, plus a set of non-toxic markers, a mini sketch journal and pen, postcard and stickers. They also include a cotton drawstring activity bag to keep all the supplies in one handy place.

Ages 5+

Buy them here.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas Video Game

Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a new action-adventure video game tweens will love. In the game, players can travel seamlessly through the exotic alien worlds of the Atlas star system and discover its seven unique planets, each with its own ecosystem, wildlife and secrets to uncover. The world evolves depending on the player’s actions and choices, and continues to evolve even when they aren’t around. The innovative modular toys that come with the game, and are available as add-ons, allow players to build unique starships which can be customized for a new way to play as players adapt to overcome any challenge they encounter in this epic open world adventure. After they build their starship combo they can see it come to life in the game. (Learn more about why we love this game here.)

Ages 7+

Buy it here.

Squishmallows

Squishmallows are a collectible, plush toy line that has been dubbed the “softest” plush toy. From animals to fantasy creatures, more than 50 styles of these marshmellow-soft characters are available and make the perfect gifts and stocking stuffers. Parents have reported that hey are great for kiddos with anxiety and sensory sensitivities as well!

Ages 3 months+

Buy them here.

Geomag Mechanics Gravity

Kids will love creating unique, moving structures while being introduced to important STEM skills and engineering principles through fun hands-on play. This 330 piece set includes a magnetic cannon, stop and go mechanism, magnetic transmission and Gravity Motor. The system is made up of magnetic rods, steel spheres and elements of different shapes such as cylinders, bearings and modular parts so, when assembled correctly, kids can use the force of gravity to create chain reactions for never-ending fun.

Ages 7+

Buy it here.

Carnival Play Set

This beautifully designed, wooden toy set let’s young kids bring three animal friends for a ride on this stylish wooden Ferris wheel. Kids can turn the handle and watch this big wheel spin. They can use the included wooden bead abacus to count rides, ticket holders or the number of spins. Each playset includes a spinning wooden Ferris wheel with three carts and three solid beech wood animal friends.

Ages 3+

Buy it here.

 

Strawbees Imagination Kit

Strawbees is a simple concept of straws and connectors, but a limitless opportunity for kids, or inventors of any age really, to bring their building dreams to life! Kids can build and experiment right out of the box, creating the most amazing stories around the 105 included challenges. This kit will encourage them to develop problem-solving skills as they modify their creations to come up with new and different solutions to challenges.

Ages 5+

Buy it here.

Chrono Bomb Night Vision

Kids get up-and-moving with Chrono Bomb® Night Vision. The Mission: Cross the Laser Field Before It’s Too Late. Kids turn off the lights for a thrilling nighttime mission (or the game can be played during the day with the lights on)! Using the clamps and 37-foot string to create a “laser” field to crawl through, kids wear UV light goggles to illuminate the string, and carefully make their way through the laser field. The game can be played over and over again, building new courses each time or trying to beat your time and master your favorite setup!

Ages 7+

Buy it here.

Hudson Glow Rattle

Hudson is an adorable motion–activated rattle that responds to the way the baby shakes it. Lean the 4″ puppy’s green legs down to see him glow green; lean his red legs down and watch the spots glow red! Hudson’s textured legs are just right for teething babies, and the soft rattling sound will both entertain and stimulate the senses.

Ages 6 months+

Buy it here.

Marvelous Makeable Monsters Book

What can a makeable monster do? They motor, inflate, wobble, drool, soar, and one of them can even do push-ups. Add a pair of wings, subtract a tentacle…the best thing about these monsters is that they’re part experiment, part imagination, and 100 percent customizable. Author Sam Haynor draws on his experience with the San Francisco Exploratorium, Oakland Toy Lab, Goldieblocks, and designing STEAM curriculum to create projects packed with features. While, on the outside, most appear to be built completely from common craft materials, they contain circuits, levers, projectile-launchers, puzzles, and much more. The projects are safe and fun for younger kids working with adults, and most of them can be tackled by middle-graders with minimal adult help.

Ages 10+

Buy it here.

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What gifts are you giving the kids in your life? Share your favorite gift ideas with me on social- Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Gift Idea For The Tween Gamer In Your Life

This is a paid post with MomSelect on behalf of Ubisoft. All thoughts are my own as always.

Have a tween on your holiday shopping list this year? If so, I’ve found the perfect gift for them! Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a game that’s a good fit for the 7-12 year old gamer who is at an age between kiddy video games and older, teen video games which means it’s perfect for kids like my two boys who are nine and ten. This video game has the open world play that has become so popular lately but is in a contained environment that’s safer for kids which means it has all of the challenges and adventure that kid gamers are looking for without the unsafe interactions that are common in other open world games.

In the game, tweens can travel seamlessly through the exotic alien worlds of the Atlas star system and discover its seven unique planets, each with its own ecosystem, wildlife and secrets to uncover. The world evolves depending on the player’s actions and choices, and continues to evolve even when they aren’t around. The innovative modular toys that come with the game, and are available as add-ons, allow players to build unique starships which can be customized for a new way to play as players adapt to overcome any challenge they encounter in this epic open world adventure. After they build their starship combo they can see it come to life in the game.


The game is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. I decided to get the Switch version because I like the idea of being able to take this on the go when we travel. The Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Pack retails for $74.99 and includes the game, a controller mount (which allows you to connect your starship and pilot your controller), a starship, two weapon add-on’s, and two pilots. The box also contains a poster which they were excited about because they love covering the walls of their room with cool posters. 

The game components were simple enough for my ten year old to set up himself and he liked this unique way of playing his Switch. The game also offers the ability to invite a friend to join seamlessly at any time with the two-player split-screen option which is a nice feature. Jacob has recently developed a love of playing video games with his friends so I like that this game has that option and can see him using it often. Overall, he really enjoyed playing this game and I appreciated the fact that it has a storyline behind it and that it kept his interest for a while.

Would your tween gamer love this game? I’d love to hear your thoughts over on social! You can chat with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

5 Pregnancy Subscription Boxes That Make Great Gifts

This post contains affiliate links.

Getting surprise packages in the mail is so fun! I love finding new products through subscription boxes so now that I’m pregnant I started looking into subscription boxes made exclusively for those expecting babies. Here are five fun ones to check out:

Bump Boxes

Bump Boxes is a monthly subscription service that curates fun, healthy products for pregnancy and beyond. Their subscription can be started at anytime during pregnancy and continue all the way until the baby’s first birthday! Products are specific to pregnancy and once mom hits her due date the subscription transitions to both mom & baby products. The subscription is a discovery service tailored to Mom’s due date/baby’s birthday and includes a variety of different products. There are also “trimester” boxes available for ordering with specific items in each box that help with that specific trimester. Each subscription Bump Box contains 4-8 full size products, with a few fun extras sprinkled in.

You can learn more and subscribe at http://bumpboxes.com.

Mama Bird Box

Mama Bird Box is a fun, modern monthly subscription box for pregnant and new moms. Mama Bird boxes come with a mix of 4-6 pampering items. Each box has products that give attention to a pregnant or new mom’s specific needs for health, encouragement, and wellbeing.

You can learn more and subscribe at https://mamabirdbox.com/.

The Stork Bag

The Stork Bag® was created by a Mompreneur and comes each trimester of pregnancy. There is also a post-partum box available. Each subscription is sent in a reusable gift bag and filled with 8-12 useful products, ranging from full-sized to sample-sized. The Stork Bag even has their own line of branded products, including a Bellie Casting Kit and Stretch Mark butter, offered in the bags and individually on the website.

You can learn more and subscribe at https://www.thestorkbag.com.

The Ecocentric Mom Box

Expecting moms who are searching for eco-friendly products will be in love with this subscription box! Each box is guaranteed to contain 4-5 organic, natural and eco-lifestyle products with a minimum of $45 in retail value. The products- including beauty, bath, pregnancy, baby, home and snack- are all thoughtfully chosen for pregnant moms (and their little one) based on the mom’s due date or child’s birth date (up through age four).

You can learn more and subscribe at https://ecocentricmom.com.

9 to Nest

9 to Nest is a creative monthly gift subscription for expectant mothers-to-be that helps moms countdown the months until the baby arrives. The beautiful gifts are carefully selected and many are handmade exclusively for 9 to Nest. Each box comes with a special poem for the mom-to-be as well. Products are BPA free, PVC free and Phthalate free for your baby’s health and safety and all fabric items are machine washable for easy care.

Learn more and subscribe at https://www.9tonest.com.

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BONUS! Pregnant mamas will also love these FREE pregnancy gift boxes from Amazon Baby Registry and Noobie Box (just pay s&h).

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Baby Bath Time Gift Basket

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GetJohnsonsBaby #ChooseGentle #CollectiveBias

Now that I’m in my second trimester I have a bit more energy than I’ve had over the past few months and I’m getting everything ready for baby before we are deep into our back-to-school routine and then before we know it the holidays are here and baby #3 arrives. We’ve set up the crib in our little baby nook and I’ve started buying baby things here and there. I’ll admit I have gotten a few I-don’t-really-need-this-but-baby-must-have-it items from the baby aisles of Target but I’m mostly stocking up on essentials.

 

(Interested in shopping for essentials online? Hover over the photo above to click through to shop JOHNSON’S® products at Target.com!)

When it comes to shopping I’m sticking to many brands I know and have relied on for years. One of those brands is JOHNSON’S® and their baby care line. I used the products with my boys, who are 9 and 10 years old, when they were babies and will use them for our new little one, too.

(Sidenote…) I thought it was hilarious when I went back to look for this photo shared above of my oldest and saw this message from my college roommate…

Little did we both know I’d be sharing it with them all these years later!

Anyways….

Like I said, I loved JOHNSON’S® then and I love it now but I feel even more confident using JOHNSON’S® on baby now because they have reformulated their products, inside and out, to set a new standard for gentle. Their products now have 50% fewer ingredients and contain no parabens, no phthalates, and are hypoallergenic.

I made sure to stock up on all my favorite bath time essentials and put together a little bath time kit that would make a super cute, practical gift for a new mom. It also is something you can put together for your own baby, like I did, if you want all of the bath items in one easy-to-carry container that can be moved from one bathroom to the other.

I included a rolled up hooded bath towel, baby washclothes, a rubber ducky bath water thermometer, JOHNSON’S® Safety Swabs, and a variety of other JOHNSON’S® baby products. I included JOHNSON’S® Head-to-Toe Wash & Shampoo and JOHNSON’S® Baby Lotion which are perfect for daytime baths along with my favorite trio for sleepy nighttime baths- JOHNSON’S® Bedtime Bath, JOHNSON’S® Calming Shampoo, and JOHNSON’S® bedtime lotion. The redesigned bottles are awesome with their easy-to-use pumps that are perfect for moms who are often trying to do everything one-handed as they hold their little one.

Everything went in to a durable container that I decorated with a little sweet, colorful garland. New moms will love getting the essentials their baby needs for a happy bath time routine and they will also appreciate how easy it is to carry baby’s bath essentials wherever they need them in their homes!

Target (my favorite store ever!) has all the items you need for this baby bathtime basket and there’s nothing better than strolling the aisles, coffee in hand, while you do your shopping. Plus, Target currently has a great offer going on for JOHNSON’S® baby products- buy 3, get a $5 gift card – which lasts through September 1st, 2018. And, if you are currently pregnant, don’t forget about Target’s baby registry because once you register you can get their amazing welcome kit (a $100 value) for free! It’s a great way to sample products from great brands like JOHNSON’S®.

Speaking of sampling products, be on the lookout for a Target in-store sampling on 8/26 where you can test out the Cotton Touch and the Bedtime lotions and also get a special coupon for the products.

What essentials do you stock up on for baby gifts or for your own baby? I’d love to hear so let me know on social by tweeting me (@aliciamarie112), PMing me on Instagram (aliciamarie112cb), or sharing on Facebook (/MakingTimeForMommy).

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The Best Universal Gift Registry For Those Engaged Or Expecting

Thanks to MyRegistry for sponsoring this post.

Out of all the things there are to do when you are engaged or expecting, one of the more exciting tasks on the to-do list is setting up a registry. Whether you are having a bridal or baby shower, or just have family and friends wanting to buy gifts for you, having a registry is one of the easiest ways to ensure you get things that you (and/or baby) can enjoy for years to come.

There are a variety of stores that offer registries and, often times, couples set up numerous registries to give their friends and loved ones an option when it comes to gift shopping. As a newly pregnant mama with 6 months to go still, and this being my third child, I mostly wanted to create a registry so I could easily keep track of what I wanted to purchase before the baby comes (because many registries give discounts on items when you get closer to the due date) and to have ideas if family asks for them. I had just planned on setting up one registry to have everything in one place and figured an Amazon registry would be great so I could get their free welcome box filled with baby goodies. Then I saw a few adorable things at Target and, before I knew it, I had started one at Target as well. I was recently introduced to MyRegistry.com and am so excited to now be able to combine all of my registries in one place!

 

Setting up an account is really easy and the best part is you can import all of the registries that you already have set up.

 

 

You can also add new registries or items from any website at any time, including the partner sites shown above. MyRegistry makes it easy with a “add to MyRegistry” desktop internet bookmark button, a smartphone app that lets you scan barcodes of items you find in stores, and inspiration boards on their site you can look at to find unique items you want to add to your list. You can also choose to include gift cards and cash funds (like a diaper fund or honeymoon fund) to your registry if you don’t need a lot of “things”. I was surprised that it was so easy to make a registry on MyRegistry.com and how easy it is to add items.

 

Since I just started my registry I only have some essentials and a few adorable outfits I want to get as soon as we find out if we are having a boy or girl. I still want to make an Ikea registry since we are purchasing some nursery furniture from there and they also have a “completion discount” so we can save some money making the purchase through our registry.

When you first set up your registry make sure to check out the offers page, too. They have a great giveaway going on right now through August 31st. Every weekday, MyRegistry will randomly select one winner from its list of new baby registry signups (who have activated their account, confirmed they wish to be entered on their Offers page, and added at least one gift to their baby registry). Winners will receive a Noobie pregnancy gift box containing the newest and best baby products!

The current Noobie Box includes:

  • LansinohⓇ Breastfeeding Set
  • Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
  • MAM Anti-Colic Bottle
  • MAM Newborn Pacifier
  • WaterWipes
  • PurellⓇ Multi Surface Disinfectant
  • Dr Kids Natural Nasal Drops
  • And a Surprise Sample!

Such a great giveaway for those who create a baby registry! Head on over to MyRegistry.com to create your wedding registry or baby registry! Not engaged or expecting? You can make a wish list for your (or your child’s) birthday or Christmas!

Iced Tea Gift Basket For Mom

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TeaProudly #CollectiveBias

Mother’s Day is coming up and I have the perfect gift for you to give to your mom….time with you! My mom always says she wants time to spend with her daughter and it makes sense. Imagine you spend years with your child relying on you and then all of a sudden they are grown up and out on their own- working, raising kids, and just busy with life in general… you don’t see them as much and when you do it’s typically with the grandkids in tow. We know grandma loves the littles but she probably really misses spending time with you.

So, in brainstorming some ideas for mother-daughter time, I thought about a creative gift idea that is super simple and will show mom just how TEA-rific you think she is. With the weather getting warmer, and my mom liking iced tea, I created an iced tea gift basket. This thoughtful gift, complete with two cups (one for you and one for mom!), shows her that you want to spend an afternoon on the patio listening to her tell stories while the two of you sip iced tea.

 

(Hover over the image above to shop for Bigelow Tea at Walmart.com!)

I decided to make the gift basket colorful because iced tea reminds me of summer and I wanted my gift basket to reflect that. I added a handtowel, two tumblers, coasters, a fun-shaped ice cube tray and a cute carafe. I also put Bigelow tea packets inside the tumblers. I chose Bigelow Tea (manufactured right here in the U.S.) because it’s my family’s favorite brand of tea. Known for their quality ingredients and foil packaging that keeps the tea fresh, it’s the perfect addition to a gift basket for mom.

When it came to flavors, I picked out fruity flavors of tea since I thought they would fit in well with the sunny day themed basket. Great choices include: Red Raspberry Herbal Tea, I Love Lemon with Vitamin C Herbal Tea, and Green Tea with Pomegranate.

Along with the gift basket you can also brew some iced tea for mom. I made iced tea using the Red Raspberry Herbal Tea and then put it in a “mom” tumbler before we headed outside to enjoy the sunny day.

Making the iced tea was a lot easier than I realized! Here’s the process to make 3 cups of iced tea:

  • Steep 6 tea bags in 8 ounces of hot water for 10 minutes
  • Pour concentrate into pitcher
  • Add 24 ounces of cold water on top of the tea concentrate and stir
  • Pour into glasses and serve.

So give mom the gift she wants most of all and bond over cups of delicious iced tea. Before you leave make sure to remind her that she’s hosting your next mother-daughter get-together and she has all the tools to do so thanks to the sweet gift you gave her!

*****

Find all your favorite Bigelow Tea flavors at your local Walmart!

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New Kitten Gift Basket

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LitterMaidWalnut #LitterMaid #CollectiveBias

Getting our two cats, and becoming a fur mommy, was one of the most memorable moments of the past five years for me. I remember heading to the store before we went to pick up Peaches and Boomer, and being so overwhelmed by all the options and leaving the store with a trunk full of things. I thought it would be fun to put together a little gift basket that would be perfect for someone adopting a kitten so they can focus on the excitement adoption brings, and not all of the “stuff” they need to buy.

Here are the items I put in the gift basket:

Cat Bed

The base of the basket holds a small, soft cat bed. Kittens may be active but they still enjoy napping in a warm, sunny spot and a cat bed is perfect for this purpose.

Toys

I filled a little plastic jar with small toys because I know from experience that cat toys tend to go missing quite easily (though I’m guessing the majority of them lost in our home could probably be found under the couch!)  Kittens have a lot of energy so little balls and other toys will get a lot of use and putting them in a small container makes it easy to give them and then gives the new pet parent something to hold them in.

Grooming Items

I included a pair of nail clippers and a brush in this gift basket. Since both items are small I hung them on the outside of the basket with decorative ribbon. Other grooming items could include cat cleansing wipes or even a lint brush for the new pet parent who will soon discover that black pants and pets don’t mix :)

Litter

Every cat parent knows that litter is a must-have item and while shopping for litter I look for two main features- that it has odor control and it’s clumping litter which makes cleaning the cat box easier. One great brand I discovered recently that has both of these features is LitterMaid® Premium Walnut which is made with natural walnut shells. Not only does it help neutralize tough litter box odors and have powerful clumping that makes clean-up quick and easy, but it’s 99% dust free which I love.

(Boomer just had to get in a photo. I think some of the toys had catnip so he jumped up and was sniffing around. Sorry Boomer, this gift basket is NOT for you!)

Picture Frame

A picture frame is a sweet idea to include because then the recepient of the basket can display a photo of themselves with their fur baby. When I got my first pet, a kitten named Boots, in 1989 we took a picture of our family all together with him and it’s still one of my favorite pictures to date.

Odor Eliminator Spray

Odor eliminating spray is great for the cat bed, the couch, or anywhere else the cats sleep on a regular basis. Coupled with the LitterMaid® Premium Walnut that neutralizes odors in the cat box, their house will stay smelling fresh and welcoming to guests.

LitterMaid® Premium Walnut is now exclusively available at Walmart and can be found in the cat litter aisle.

You can also add cat food and/or treats, a collar, a cat box, pet food dishes and more to your basket! What would you put in a gift basket to give a friend who was adopting a new cat?

Romantic Scavenger Hunt And A Game Night Date Basket

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SendingYourLove #CollectiveBias

When Sinisa and I first started dating he went all out with the romantic gestures, from roses covering my car to mushy Hallmark cards on the regular. Now that we have kids (and have been together for over 10 years), the daily romance has changed from gifts of flowers, cards and candy to acts of love like doing the dishes and bringing me coffee. I still get cards and flowers and things like that, just more sporadically than I used to.

For Valentine’s Day this year I wanted to surprise him with a romantic gesture worthy of those I received during the early stages of our relationship and decided upon a romantic scavenger hunt to find a date night gift basket. I went to Walmart to get the cards for the scavenger hunt and some special date night gift basket goodies, including some games for us to play on our date-night-in since game nights are such a fun way to spend time together. Walmart has the newest collection of Hallmark Signature Cards for Valentine’s Day, so I picked out a variety of cards to write scavenger hunt hints in.

Hallmark Signature Cards are premium, hand-crafted cards and I fell in love with the beautiful embellishments on them. One of my favorites had a lovely message embossed on wood which reminded me of the game pieces to one of my favorite board games. Since I love to get crafty, this inspired me to make a little gift to go along with the board game that I was putting in the gift basket.

I love cards because you can write special messages in them and another favorite thing to give is personalized gifts, like this letter tile craft. The craft itself is pretty easy to put together but does require some planning when it comes to tile placement (which I learned the hard way lol). I was originally going to just put “Alicia”, “Sinisa” and “Love” but that seemed too empty so I decided to add the word “Family” and add my boy’s names in as well. Everything looked like it fit but then I went to put the frame on and discovered some of the pieces were too close to the edge so I had to use their nicknames so that everything would fit.

Here’s what you need to make this letter craft:

  • Shadow box (mine was 8×8 size)
  • Scrapbook paper for the background
  • Letter tiles
  • Adhesive (I used a photo adhesive to adhere the letter tiles to the paper)

To make the craft:

Cut the piece of scrapbook paper to fit inside the frame and adhere it to the inside cardboard backing of the frame


Arrange letter tiles how you would like them and add adhesive to the back of the tiles, one tile at a time, sticking each tile in place where you’d like it to be. Once all the tiles are on, put the frame back together.

When you are done crafting, it’s time to put the basket together. Along with the frame, I added a snack, something to drink, a board game, a deck of cards and a cute Valentine’s decoration.

With the date night basket ready you are all set to put together the scavenger hunt for them to find the basket. You can choose to do the scavenger hunt around your home or at places that are special to the two of you (like maybe where you had your first date, a place your family likes to go, etc.) Since it’s winter, and I live in Chicago, I decided to do the scavenger hunt around the house.

I wrote notes in a few Hallmark cards and hid them around the house, with each card giving a hint of where he could find the next card. The first place I left a hint was on the front door so Sinisa would see it right when he came home from work.

Inside I left a message about the scavenger hunt and then led him to his next card with this hint: “your love makes my heart make music”. You could also say “your love makes my heart beat faster” or something else cute like that. This clue could lead to a stereo or musical instrument. Our son plays guitar so I put the next clue on the guitar.

The card led to a map (hint: “I’m happiest wherever I am, as long as I’m with you”) which led to a pillow (hint: “I dream about you”) which led to the candy basket (hint: “your love is sweeter than chocolate”) which led to the car where the basket was hidden (hint: “you drive me wild”). This was such a fun thing to do and a cute way to start a date night!

The scavenger hunt was really simple to put together and a lot of fun, especially when it ends with a gift basket and a romantic date-night-in!

Don’t forget your loved ones this Valentine’s Day. If you are short on time just head to Walmart where it’s easy to get everything for your Valentine’s Day celebration – including the perfect Hallmark Cards. And, 1/29 through 2/14 (or while supplies last), earn $1 back on Ibotta at Walmart on any Hallmark Valentine’s Cards priced $2.97 and above! You can also keep your eyes peeled for an in-aisle coupon at Walmart – get $2 off when you buy 3 Hallmark Valentine’s Day Cards!

Visit the Hallmark Valentine’s Day Hub for more inspiration and to find a store near you!

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day this year?

Awesome Monthly Craft Subscription Box For Adults

Thanks to Adults & Crafts for sponsoring this post and inspiring me to get crafty!

Raise your hand if you have ever pinned crafts and DIY projects on Pinterest that you hope to do *someday* ✋ Guilty! I love crafting and projects but I tend to pin way more than I’ll ever be able to make. Sometimes it’s because I don’t think I have the time to craft or I don’t have the materials needed, but other times it’s because the projects I want to create seem way too advanced for a beginning crafter like myself.

Crafting, though I enjoy it, can be intimidating and that’s why I am so excited to have discovered the Adults & Crafts Crate and I’m sharing it with you all because it’s amazing. Having this crate delivered right to your home every month eliminates the tedious prepping – like picking a project, figuring out how to make it, gathering all the materials, and finding the right tools- and lets you skip straight to the fun part! Each kit features a different craft technique with a trendy project to make and is curated with the exact materials and tools you need to create the project, along with step-by-step instructions to help you do so.

I received November’s Adults & Crafts Crate which was the Homemade Embossing Card Making Kit. I’ve never done embossing before! I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a very adventureous crafter and in the past I probably would have never tried making my own homemade cards like this, no matter how many DIY tutorials about it I’d pinned. That’s why I love this kit! It makes it easy to try a new craft technique and I love that it includes instructions to help even a newbie like me feel confident enough to try my hand at embossing. The box included everything I’d need to complete the project, including a heat tool. I was impressed by the quality of the materials provided and am excited to have my very first crafting tool. It makes me feel like a real crafter!

This Adults & Crafts Crate would make a great gift for a friend, give you a reason to make time for yourself, or be the perfect activity for a date night in! It’s up to you but, whatever you choose, I know this is going to make you as excited to craft as it made me because it makes everything so easy! I’ll be sharing my project on Instagram after I make it over Christmas break but I wanted to make sure that I shared about this as soon as possible because the Christmas shipping deadline is quickly approaching. You can order a subscription to the Adults & Crafts Crate here and use code MAKINGTIME to get FREE shipping on your first box!

What craft would you love to try if you had a kit that provided all the materials and instructions? I’d love to try woodburning! How cute is this little cutting board that was made with a previous month’s Adults & Crafts Crate?

Gift Ideas For All The Adults On Your Shopping List

Disclosure: Items were received for consideration and this post contains affiliate links.

Over the past few weeks I’ve shared gift ideas for kids, gift ideas for tweens and games that make great gifts. With the holidays about a week and a half away I’m sharing the last of my gift ideas today- gifts for adults. Whether you are looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything or you have someone on your list who you struggle to buy for every year, check out the ideas below for some “gift”spiration :) You just might find that *perfect* gift!

Nelle and Lizzy Personalized Jewelry

I love personalized jewelry and Nelle and Lizzy makes beautiful pieces including birthstone jewelry, initial charms and more. Their jewelry is the perfect gift for a mom or grandma and would make a sweet gift for a new mom celebrating her first holiday with baby. It can also be given as a special piece of remembrance jewelry for a woman who has lost a loved one. Nelle and Lizzy made me a beautiful custom piece that honored Avery, Jacob’s twin that I had lost during pregnancy, along with celebrating my two boys, Jacob and Lucas. (Stay tuned to Instagram- I’ll be sharing a picture soon!)

Create your personalized jewelry gift here.

Vellabox

Vellabox is a curated candle subscription box that makes a great gift that can be enjoyed year-round. They source the highest quality candles hand-poured by American artisans and combine them with a bonus lifestyle gift and a unique packaging style to create a memorable unboxing experience each and every month. I’ve received a couple boxes and they both included excellent candles that were beautifully packaged in fabric and wrapped with colorful twine.

Order your Vellabox subscription here.

Custom photo blanket

I love getting personalized gifts and the best ones are ones that have my kids pictures on them. If you are looking for the perfect gift for a proud grandma, mom or aunt, how about a custom photo blanket from Collage.com? They have a variety to choose from but my favorite is the custom sherpa blanket. Made out of long-pile sherpa fleece with rounded corners and decorative stitching, the photos of your choice are in sharp detail on one side and cream-colored sherpa fleece is on the other.

Learn more and order them here. (Please note: shipping deadline has passed for Christmas Day but you can always send this as an e-gift for them to design themselves!)

BodyGuardz Smartphone Accessories

Looking for a great gift or stocking stuffer for that tech savvy person in your life? Help them protect their smartphone with a screen protector or case from BodyGuardz. BodyGuardz products are designed to be durable but they also offer a one year warranty on cases and lifetime replacements of screen protectors and skins so you can be confident your gift will last the receiver for years to come.

Learn more and order here with free shipping.

Cookbooks

 

Have a cook in your life? Gift them cookbooks full of delicious new recipes to try! Great new titles include:

Pixie

Have a forgetful friend or family member? Pixie might be the perfect gift for them! Pixie is the item finder that uses augmented reality and an iOS device to show the location of missing keys, wallets, remotes and other valuables down to inches. With Pixie your family will no longer have to waste their mornings hunting for keys or blaming each other over who lost the remote.

Order Pixie here.

Video Games

If you are shopping for a gamer they will always appreciate a new game to play. Sinisa loves playing old-school Zelda at night after the kids are in bed but there are plenty of other new games on the market that the video game loving person in your life might not have yet. Some new ones adults might like include:

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Ancient Egypt & dash : home of colossal pyramids, gilded tombs, tyrannical god-kings, and the origin story of the Assassins. As Cleopatra empire crumbles, the birth of the Assassin’s Brotherhood will lead to an extraordinary shift of the world order. Along your journey, the mysteries of Ancient Egypt will be revealed. Assassin Creed Origins uncovers the beginning of the Brotherhood. Fight in epic battles, master a completely reinvented combat system, and explore the entirety of Egypt. With the all-new quest system, complete missions in any order you choose, and follow your own path to greatness.

Steep Winter Games

Steep Winter Games Edition includes Steep, the massive open world of the Alps and Alaska, where you master the world’s most epic mountains with a snowboard, wingsuit, paraglider, and skis, and now Steep Road to the Olympics takes you on the journey to become an Olympic Winter Games champion. With Steep Road to the Olympics expansion, freely explore a massive open world, including iconic Japanese mountains, and train to qualify for Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Steep Road to the Olympics is a licensed product of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Includes Steep and Steep Road to the Olympics expansion.

Gear.Club Unlimited

Gear.Club Unlimited offers players the opportunity to test their racing skills on over 400 races in 3 exciting modes! Each championship won will unlock new vehicles, new car improvements, and new races. Thanks to the modularity of the Nintendo Switch, players can engage in high-speed competitions on the go, alone or with friends! Take the wheel of over 30 famous cars from sport coupes to powerful rally racers. Access the Performance Shop, where you can customize your vehicles in fully stocked workshops, upgrading them with a complete range of options for the engine, suspension, gearbox and more.

America’s Greatest Game Shows: Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy

Bring your family and friends together with America’s game, wheel of Fortune, the most-watched program on TV, and America’s favorite quiz show, Jeopardy! now, for the first time in full HD, you can test your reflexes, show off your smarts, and experience the thrill of these classic shows with friends and family at home or with thousands of active players online.

Balsam Hill Ornaments

You know those people who absolutely love the holidays? Ornaments and other holiday decorations would be festive gifts they’d love to receive. Balsam Hill makes beautiful ornaments that would look fabulous on their Christmas trees. I love gifting ornaments because they are something that will be pulled out year after year and hold great memories.

Discover the variety of holiday items that Balsam Hill offers here.

Crated With Love Subscription Box

Crated with Love is a date night subscription box that allows couples to save time, money, and stress while creating a moment each month to add some romance! Each Crated with Love box includes four games or activities that focus on inspiring fun while creating quality time with your significant other and all the items you will need for your date night at home are included in the box!

Order the Crated With Love subscription box here.

PhotoSpring Digital Frame

I have the perfect gift to give those who love to take photos or who love to look at photos of their loved ones -PhotoSpring Digital Frame! Nowadays people are taking more photos than ever but they are unable to enjoy them because the images are buried in their devices. (I am guilty of this!) PhotoSpring is great because it allows families and friends to upload and share photos from any location to any digital frame. This high-resolution digital frame makes photo and video display and sharing easy with automatic selection & optimization of high-res photos and video slideshows, shared images with family and friends through mobile apps and a portable touchscreen interface to browse and interact with images. This would be the perfect gift for grandparents because parents can take pictures of their kids and send it directly to the grandparent’s PhotoSpring Digital Frame where they can view and display the photos.

Learn more about all the amazing features of PhotoSpring and how to purchase it here.

Dot Journaling—A Practical Guide

What the heck is a dot journal? It’s a planner, to-do list, and diary for every aspect of your life: work, home, relationships, hobbies, everything. Early adopter Rachel Wilkerson Miller explains how to make a dot journal work for you—whether you find the picture-perfect examples on Pinterest inspiring or, well, intimidating. You decide how simple or elaborate your journal will be, and what goes in there. This guide is the perfect gift for the planner obsessed like myself!

Order the book here.

Edible Arrangements

Headed to a party and need a hostess gift or looking to send something sweet to someone? Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like a hand-crafted festive fruit basket or chocolate dipped fruit box. With tons of options at a range of affordable prices, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect fit and wow everyone on your list. Not only do they make a great gift, but if you’re still unsure of what to bring to your next holiday gathering, surprise the host with an Edible Arrangement to spruce up any dessert table.

Discover everything Edible Arrangements offers here.

Pink Zebra Home Fragrances

Candles and home fragrances are my go-to gifts and I think your friends and family would love Pink Zebra and their line of unique wax fragrances! Custom glimmer candles, simmering lights, and Sprinkles scented beads are just some of the enticing wax products that are shining a modern light on the traditional, boring candle. Pink Zebra can be purchased online through a consultant and you can even earn extra income selling Pink Zebra’s products directly by hosting parties, social media, fundraising etc.

See all the products Pink Zebra offers and learn more here.

Berkey Water Filter

I have the perfect gift for the health-conscious person on your holiday gift list- a water filter! But not just any water filter… the Berkey Water Filter is the world’s most effective and most cost effective personal water purification system available. It uses gravity water filtration technology to remove toxic elements, parasites, bacteria and hundreds of other contaminants from water without removing the beneficial minerals, and without the use of any electricity.

Learn more about Berkey Water Filters here.

Sock Fancy Subscription Box

Socks were the go-to gift for my dad for many years but Sock Fancy takes it up a notch. Sock Fancy is a monthly subscription service that sends awesomely random socks (for men and/or women) every single month. The socks received are high-quality and the hand-picked designs run the gamut from subtle patterns to bizarrely cool graphics and colors. Subscriptions start at just $11 per month.

Get a Sock Fancy subscription here.

Breathe, Mama, Breathe Book

Moms can feel as if they are sprinting through life, crashing at day’s end only to start again the next morning. In Breathe, Mama, Breathe, psychotherapist Shonda Moralis outlines the benefits of daily meditation and shows moms how to do it—in just five minutes! Mindful breaks can be easy, for example, The Three Breath HugThe Sibling Strife Mindful Break, or, with your beverage of choice, choose The Coffee Mindful Break or The Wine Mindful Break.

Get the book here.

Which of these gifts would you or your loved ones like to receive?

Gift Ideas For Tweens

Disclosure: Samples were received for consideration and this post confains affiliate links.

Little kids are so easy to buy for (gift ideas here) but, as they get older and turn into tweens and teens, I feel it gets harder and harder to find things they want. To help you finish your shopping I’ve put together a list of awesome gifts for tweens and younger teens. Grab some of these at the store or on Amazon and cross that hard-to-shop for tween or teen off your list!

Lightseekers (Ages 8-14)

Lightseekers by PlayFusion brings together a family-friendly adventure game, with smart action figures and accessories, and augmented reality trading cards on your tablet or mobile device (no game console required, just an internet connection). No longer just a game or just a toy, Lightseekers has high-tech components that allow for advanced interactive and connected play, and the classic elements of a video game.

Using Bluetooth, the fully-articulated 7” smart action figures connect in real time to your smart device, and give you options and controls we used to dream about. Never before has a toy been the controller for your video game, but now you can fly through the air and fire your weapons without touching a traditional controller (or the screen).

That’s not all – for the kids who are interested in more than mobile gaming, there’s also the Lightseekers trading card game. Augmented reality cards are included in every hero starter pack, and can also be used to unlock special abilities and goods in the mobile game just by scanning with your device’s camera.

Fun With Fidget Spinners: 50 Super Cool Tricks & Activities

Children who are obsessed with fidget spinners will love the book, Fun with Fidget Spinners: 50 Super Cool Tricks & Activities. This book is a new one-of-a-kind guide where spinners can take their hobby to a whole new epic level. Spinners can learn how to master tricks such as spinning on a hat or stacking spinners on top of each other to create mesmerizing whirling towers of color! Spinners can also track their progress and tricks with a handy workbook. Plus, the book provides backstory into the health benefits of spinning.

T-Rex Dinosaur DNA (Ages 8+)

This kit lets kids excavate and build their very own glow-in-the-dark T-Rex model and collect buried DNA. This innovative kit even brings dinosaurs to life through Augmented Reality using the free Dino Codes app (Google Play or iTunes)! Tweens can take photos and videos of themselves interacting with T-Rex and instantly share via email, text, or social media.

Just Dance 2018 (Rated E 10+)

 

Whether you’re a party starter, a dancer in the making, or a seasoned pro, get ready to turn up the volume and unleash your inner dancer with Just Dance® 2018! Dance to 40 of the hottest tracks of the year, including “24K Magic,” by Bruno Mars, “Side to Side,” by Ariana Grande Ft. Nicki Minaj, “Chantaje,” by Shakira Ft. Maluma, and many more! Great for family gatherings, parties, and holidays, Just Dance 2018 brings family and friends together like no other game.

The Official DC Super Hero Joke Book (Ages 8+)

Knock, knock. Who’s there? DC super heroes telling a slew of hilarious jokes, puns, riddles, and more. Packed with more than 600 puns, knock-knocks, one-liners, riddles, gags, and tongue twisters, this book is sure to make kids smile, laugh, and read jokes aloud to their friends. Illustrated with beloved classic DC comic book art, this first-of-its-kind, kid-friendly treasury is a great gift and a super-fun read.

Play Impossible Gameball™ (Ages 9+)

The Play Impossible Gameball™ brings the digital action both indoors and outdoors with seven connected ball games. Manufactured in partnership with Baden Sports, the Gameball has the durability of a small volleyball and is loaded with innovative sensor technology to enhance the play experience. Players can connect, compete and challenge their ball skills with the popular new game ‘Impossible’ and also see how long it takes to reach their vertical limit in ‘Skyscraper.’ There are a host of single- and multi-player games to choose from for endless hours of entertainment. One such game is ‘Sport Labs,’ which empowers players with a new tool to measure speed, distance, spin and airtime so that they can achieve new personal records and create friendly competition. The app prompts gameplay, tracks scores and reports progress. When the Gameball runs low on juice, players can refuel in just 20 seconds with the remarkable Rapid Charger, which will provide another complete hour of fun.

Find it at Target here.

Creation Crate (Ages 12+)

Creation Crate is a subscription box service that improves tech literacy with both children and adults, without the intimidating technical lingo. Beginner friendly, each project is designed to increase in difficulty each month so that users can be fluent in the language of technology by the end of the 24-month curriculum. Projects range from building a mood lamp to a memory game focused on programming, to learning how to input a distance reading from an ultrasonic sensor. Unlike other technology subscription boxes, Creation Crate uses raw electronic components, offering users real-world skills. Subscriptions start at $30 a month with 3, 6, or 12-month subscription packages to choose from.

Learn more and order the subscription box here.

Crayola Fashion Superstar (Ages 8+)

With the 62-page design book, 24 colored pencils, and 18 SuperTip Markers, young designers have all the colorful tools they need to create their own unique designs by hand with Crayola Fashion Superstar Designer. Kids can use their style and creativity to design prints, patterns, and combinations that best express their personal taste. There is also an app to download so Tweens can show off their designs to their friends and put together a virtual closet so they can find their unique style.

Duct Tape Engineer (Ages 12+)

From a working cannon to a bridge, this powerful everyday adhesive is perfect for creating incredible things! InDuct Tape Engineer, master tinkerer Lance Akiyama shows readers how to design and build fourteen mega projects ranging from backpacks to queen-size beds from nothing but duct tape. Every project is specially designed by Akiyama to be a blast to build, and last a good long time. Packed with full-color illustrations and easy to follow instructions, Duct Tape Engineer is perfect for crafters of any age.

Rayman Legends (Rated E 10+)

Following Rayman® Origins, our heroes take a 100-year nap, allowing nightmares to infest the Glade of Dreams. Once Rayman awakes from this mysterious sleep, he must set off on a new adventure with his friends to restore order in the universe. While traveling between five different worlds, players must defeat legendary enemies to save the Teenies from these evil villains. Rayman Legends features a wide range of gameplay, including traditional Rayman platforming action and new music rhythm-based stages.

The Greatest Brick Builds: Amazing Creations in LEGO

This book is a perfect holiday gift for LEGO fans young and old. LEGO bricks have been used for decades by children and adults to create dazzling and playful buildings, vehicles, and unique works of art. In The Greatest Brick Builds: Amazing Creations in LEGO (11/1/2017; ISBN: 978-1684121663; Hardcover $19.99; 112 pages), these jaw-dropping creations are presented in full color, with close-up photos, scale representations, historical commentary on the structures, and details on how each model was constructed using LEGO bricks. Included in this collection are the Golden Gate, the USS Missouri, and the Great Sphinx of Giza, as well as other iconic structures created by LEGO crafters from around the world.

Crystal Growing Experiment Kit (Ages 10+)

Perfect for young scientists, the Crystal Growing Experiment Kit offers hands-on experience that grow and challenge their imagination while introducing them to geology. This science kit contains all the materials needed to perform seven different crystal growth experiments and a special display case is included to admire the crystals once they are fully grown.

Merge Cube (Ages 10+)

The Merge Cube merges the physical and digital worlds using augmented reality technology and the powerful camera and sensors in your mobile device. It’s the first object of its kind, and it’s fundamentally changing the way people interact with technology. Now you can hold a galaxy in the palm of your hand, examine fossils and ancient artifacts like a real archaeologist, watch as a volcano erupts before your eyes, and play games in ways never possible before!

Learn more and buy it here.

Just Joking Jumbo (Ages 7-10)

What do you get when you have 1,000 giant jokes and 1,000 funny photos?  A stocking stuffer that adds up to some seriously big laughs! If you have a budding stand up comedian on your list this year – this is the perfect book for them.  Knock-knocks, puns, riddles, tongue-twisters, photos of silly situations and even the craziest info about the history of funny business – it’s all here!

Monopoly for Nintendo Switch

America’s favorite family board game, Monopoly, makes its debut on Nintendo Switch system with new ways to play! experience three unique 3D boards at home or on-the-go with up to six players in total, or take your game online and challenge players in quick matches. Customize your game by selecting from six official House rules chosen by monopoly fans around the world. Don’t have time for a full game? speed it up with special goals that shorten play sessions, and actions cards to move you around the board and personalize your opponents. Build your empire and trade your way to victory!

Arckit (Ages 12+)

Arckit is a free-form architectural modelling system that allows you to physically explore designs and bring your imagination to life. Unlike traditional ‘cut and glue’ models, Arckit is designed for easy set up and take down with their unique and patented modular system. With multiple models available in varying complexities (prices starting from $39.99) Arckit is the perfect gift for budding architects as well as seasoned builders and experienced designers. Build the city of your dreams with Cityscape and Masterplan, or a beautiful modern home with the GO line.

Learn more and buy it here.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Rated E 10+)

Two worlds collide in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle! The Mushroom Kingdom has been torn apart by a mysterious vortex, transporting the chaotic Rabbids into this once-peaceful land. To restore order, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Yoshi must team up with a whole new crew: four Rabbids heroes! Together, they will battle with weapons through four worlds filled with combat, puzzles, and unpredictable enemies.

What gift would your tween love to get this year?

 

Great Gifts For Kids

(Disclosure: Samples were received for consideration and this post includes affiliate links.)

Raise your hand if you are still looking for gift ideas! ✋ Christmas will be here before we know it so I thought it would be helpful to share some gift ideas with you all that are perfect for kids. I’m also including links to purchase most of the items on Amazon so you can finish shopping easily from your computer and cross that task off your holiday task list! (Stay tuned for my tweens gift guide which will be live in a few days as well!)

CAT Construction R/C Dump Truck

These full-function remote control Cat machines are designed to bring the construction site to your backyard! Scoop up and load gravel, sand or loose dirt with motorized dump bed and shovel.

Disney Princesses Pley Subscription Box (Ages 4-9)

Children get 4-6 official Disney Princess toys, activities and fashion accessories every two months with this subscription box. Learn more and order it here.

Wild Things Animal Blankets

Fin Fun’s Wild Things soft plush hooded animal blankets feature a comfortable design with hand pockets that easily wrap/cascade around the body. Special touches like animal ears, eyes, paws or flippers make these perfect for imaginative play. Styles are available in youth size only, and include: Snowcap Polar Bear, Snapper Turtle, Timber Brown Bear, Cinder Black Bear, and Roary Lion.

A Little House Picture Book Treasury written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Ages 4-8)

Laura Ingalls lives in a snug little log cabin with her ma, her pa, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their dog Jack. Almanzo Wilder lives on a farm with his family and lots of animals. These pioneer children have all sorts of frontier adventures, including trips to town, county fairs, spring snowfalls, finding new friends on the prairie, cozy winter days, and holidays with family. This collection includes the following picture books: A LITTLE PRAIRIE HOUSE, GOING TO TOWN, COUNTY FAIR, SUGAR SNOW, WINTER DAYS IN THE BIG WOODS, and CHRISTMAS IN THE BIG WOODS.

Crayola Magic Scene Creator (Ages 3+)

Turn still pictures into fun animations with Magic Scene Creator. To use, simply place any of the 70 included Motion Cards on the tablet screen and watch the cartoon drawings come to life. You can also make your own drawings and animate them using the Motion Cards .The Magic Scene Creator comes with six Gel FX Markers so you can draw directly on the screen or enhance the Motion Cards with your own embelishments–create your own car with wheels that appear to spin or draw a cool bird with wings that appear to flap! When it’s time for something new, simply wipe the screen and cards clean with a damp cloth. This fun coloring gift set is a wonderful way to experience the magic of animation.

Despicable Me 3

Despicable Me 3 is now available on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand December 5, 2017. The characters beloved by everyone – Gru, his wife Lucy, their three adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions provide hours of family fun in this heartwarming comedy. After he is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down Balthazar Bratt, the latest evil mastermind to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother — a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin’s despicable footsteps — the former super-villain rediscovers just how good it feels to be bad. Despicable Me 3 is the ultimate holiday gift, with almost an entire hour of exclusive bonus features including an all-new mini-movie, a never-before-released deleted scene, and much more!

National Geographic Kids Ultimate Dinopedia (Ages 7-10)

Attention dinosaur fanatics! This is a big, gift-worthy hardcover that is also the most complete and comprehensive dinosaur reference ever. Although these amazing creatures roamed the Earth ages ago, new dinosaur discoveries are still being made today.  The new edition includes favorites, like the fierce T-rex and the gentle Brontosaurus, plus audacious new finds, like the Anzu, Kosmoceratops, and Yi. Every dino profile is colorfully illustrated and features descriptions of when they roamed the Earth, how they lived, what they ate, and more. There are more than 600 dinos featured in all, including 10 profiles of recently discovered dinosaurs and new entries in the Dino Dictionary. Reports from paleontologists present the latest news and insights from the field.

GET QURIOUS Explorer Box (Ages 4-8)

With GET QURIOUS, children engage in creative play with story cards, sticker books, puzzles, masks, and more.  Their play experiences can then be enhanced by playing with the Augmented Reality apps.  Once downloaded, the apps bring endless game and activity variations to the children’s play experiences while fostering their curiosity, discovery, and passion for STREAM – Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math.  Kids can enjoy these activities by themselves, or with others. Different boxes are available. The GET QURIOUS EXPLORER BOX and Augmented Reality app bring the adventures of Manu & his friends – Leo and Emma – to life as they blast off into space together. The fun experience of combining physical game pieces with an interactive world encourages curiosity and imaginative play. The EXPLORER BOX helps you create your own stories, build different spaceships and maneuver them within 3D space animations, record stories with four masks of your GET QURIOUS friends, and discover hidden artifacts in four brilliant 3D animated space worlds.

Hot Wheels Extreme Action

Unique Hot Wheels vehicle styles with cool, characterized actions. Buttons unlock motorized drive action with ‘jaw chomping’, ‘spider crawling’ or ‘tail striking’ fun! Features exciting light effects, fun sounds and character themed music.

Erupting Cross-section Volcano Model (Ages 6+)

There’s nothing like an erupting volcanic eruption to get your child fired up about science! Create your very own erupting volcano with this unique no assembly required model. Includes an easy-to-prepare lava recipe, a 13″ clear plastic tray and a removable tube that allows for quick clean up. Detailed cross-section shows the inside of the volcano. Includes a fact-filled Activity Guide, with all the information kids want to know about volcanoes.

Disney Princess Felt

Stitch together 10 of the most popular princesses from the world of Disney animation! The 48-page instruction book has step-by-step instructions and color photos to help you bring these characters to life. Die-cut templates, felt, stuffing, embroidery floss, and a needle are all included so you can make Snow White, Belle, Cinderella, Ariel, and six other adorable felt princesses. These fun, collectible characters make great gifts for Disney fans of all ages!

Rocketbook Color – Reusable, Cloud-Connected Notebook

Rocketbook Color makes it easy to create, save and share our childrens’ masterpieces without wasting a single leaf of paper. Here’s how it works: kids draw in the Rocketbook Color notebook with Crayola Dry Erase, Washable or Silly Scents crayons and markers, parents tag finished drawings using icons at the bottom of the page, parents scan each page using the Rocketbook app, blasting drawings to each icon’s corresponding destination and then pages erase like magic with a damp cloth after drawings are sent to the cloud.

Street Beats Road Rippers (Ages 3+)

Custom-designed vehicles with high-impact speaker-pulsing action! Features great music, realistic vehicle sounds and flashing lights.

National Geographic Kids Pleybox (Ages 5-11)

This subscription box offers surprises each month with a mission to rescue an endangered animal in a new part of the world. Box includes curated activities and accessories to complete the adventure. Each box provides 5-10 hours of learning, creativity and pure fun! Learn more and get it here.

The King Of Too Many Things Book

King Jasper loves being king. Ruling over his small kingdom, he spends his days reading, coloring, and playing with his dog, Greg. Life in the castle couldn’t get any better! Or could it? With a wizard who can conjure anything Jasper wants—dragons, robots, superheroes, even rainbow-colored kittens—the young king creates a magical mess only he can clean up. A hilarious, modern fairy tale about the dangers of overconsumption, The King of Too Many Things will keep kids guessing with the turn of every page, while showing how always wanting MORE can ultimately lead to LESS happiness.

And, if you are already looking to get ideas for spring and summer birthdays….you’ll want to check out Rocking Monsters!

Rocking Monsters launched on Kickstarter recently with planned production in January and delivery starting in March (for early backers). Rocking Monsters are a unique series of outstanding wooden rocking toys for little kids to get endless fun. Created by professional graphic designer every Rocking Monster is ergonomic, safe, and extremely entertaining. Learn more and back their Kickstarter campaign here.

What gifts would the kids in your life love to receive?

Find more gift ideas for kids below!

Fun gift ideas for kids

Gift ideas for creative kids

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Mommy To “Bee” Gift Basket

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NatureMadePrenatalDHA #CollectiveBias

I think that one of life’s greatest blessings is children so it’s no wonder that pregnancy is celebrated like it is in our culture. From baby showers to gifts, moms to be are often overwhelmed with love from their friends and family. I created a cute little “Mommy to Bee” gift basket that is perfect to give as a gift to someone who is expecting. What you include can depend on the mom that’s receiving the gift basket but I included some necessities that I used when I was pregnant with my own boys.

Essentials I added into my gift basket:

  • Nature Made Prenatal Multi + 200 mg DHA Vitamins from Sam’s Club- because a healthy mom equals a healthy baby
  • Peppermints – relieve dry mouth and freshen breath (especially needed during the 1st trimester)
  • Decorated journal – to document the pregnancy
  • Mom mug – for tea or coffee
  • Nail polish – to brighten those toes before she can’t see them anymore
  • Stretch mark lotion – to help prevent stretch marks
  • Chocolate – does this need an explanation?
  • Tin with lip balm in it – for dry, chapped lips

Other ideas include:

  • Gingerale and crackers – for queasy stomachs
  • Pickles – a commonly craved food during pregnancy
  • A coupon for a month’s worth of maid service – mom will be busy with the baby and will need help around the home
  • Pregnancy book – to refer to when she has questions in the middle of the night
  • “Mom to be” holiday ornament – a cute item to add if you are giving this around the holidays

Before I added the things to my gift basket I decorated the outside of it with letters that say “mommy to” and then I added a large bee shape to make it “mommy to bee”. I added bows to the sides of the container to make it even cuter (I just can’t resist big bows and if the baby is a girl they can be used as hair ties when she gets older). Once you’re done decorating the outside you can add some crinkle paper and tissue paper inside the basket as a base for all the goodies if you’d like.

I tried my best to keep this gift for mom and not add any baby items in it. It was a hard thing to do because there is tons of adorable baby stuff out there! Keep in mind that as the months go by and the mom has the baby she probably won’t get much for herself (#MomLife) so you want to make this about her as much as possible.

What you add will depend on the mom you are giving it to, but I think the prenatal vitamins are must-haves in the basket because a healthy mom equals a healthy baby. Nature Made Prenatal Multi + 200 mg DHA Vitamins provides essential vitamins and minerals (before and during pregnancy) including Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Iodine, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D3†. It also provides 200 mg DHA which may help support fetal brain and eye development † and Folic Acid which is an important B Vitamin for Women of Childbearing Age and Pregnant Women because it plays a critical role in the proper development of the baby’s nervous system.†

Nature Made Prenatal Multi + 200 mg DHA Vitamins, made from carefully selected ingredients under strict manufacturing processes, are available in an easy-to-swallow softgel and can be purchased from Sam’s Club. They contain No Synthetic Dyes, No Yeast or Starch, No Artificial Flavors, are Gluten Free and have clinically proven absorption of Folic Acid and Iron.

What would you include in your “mom to bee” gift basket? I’d love to hear what you think are the essentials for newly pregnant mamas!

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Games For Everyone On Your Gift List

Disclosure: Games were received for consideration and this post contains some affiliate links.

 

Our family loves playing board games and we try to have game night at least a few times a month. I think games make great gifts for the holidays and the boys always get a few new ones on Christmas morning. I’ve shared about our favorite games and games that make great gifts in past gift guides so this year I’m sharing more new games from the Chicago Toy & Game Fair along with other games I’ve been sent to check out!

Utter Nonsense! (Family Edition) – Ages 8+

With Utter Nonsense! The Hilarious Accent Game-Family Edition gather the family around the table and get ready to laugh. You don’t have to be good at accents and the combinations don’t need to make sense, that’s where the fun comes in! Players combine silly accents with even sillier phrases to create sayings and actions that are just plain ridiculous. Players are encouraged to improvise too. Chock full of family fun, you and your family will be rolling on the floor laughing in no time.

Buy it here.

Break Free – Ages 6+

You are locked up in handcuffs, how fast can you Break Free? Use your lock-picking tool to escape and collect most points if you Break Free the fastest. Break Free is a super secret spy mission with challenging action skills. The objective of this fast-action game is to find the exit of the maze to open the handcuff the fastest.

Break Free is a table-top game full of urgency, suspense and tons of fun for one to four players and it includes four handcuffs with twelve unique mazes with three difficulty levels. Each color represents a different level of difficulty, making each round unpredictable. Players must handcuff themselves together and insert an equal difficulty level into each handcuff. Using the lock pick, moving up and down, twist left and right and Break Free first to win!
The fastest to break free from their handcuff receives a token that corresponds with the maze color. There are points on the back of each token, the player with the most points after playing all three rounds, wins the game.

Buy it here.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Card Game – Ages 8+

In the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Card Game, you will be on a top-secret mission to recover the greatest treasures known to mankind – The Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty’s Torch, and more. Get ready to jet set across the globe. Your assignment is to apprehend CarmenSandiego, track the location of her hideout, and determine which loot she stole. Can you catch Carmen?

Buy it here.

You Gotta Know Chicago – Sports Trivia Game

You Gotta Know Chicago is the addictive sports trivia game made just for Chicago sports fans. Teams. Players. Coaches. Buildings. Moments. Traditions. Numbers and records. It’s all in here. With 125 cards and 500 questions, it’s good for hours and hours of play. Each card has a point value (based on difficulty) for easy “race to 21” game play… or just ask the questions to your buddies.

Buy it here.

Ice Cool – Ages 6+

Penguins are running through the school in the first flicking game ever to have pieces which curve and jump!

The fun run begins – the rascals are running everywhere and trying to snatch up the fish on the way, but the Hall Monitor is trying to catch each one of them to have some order in the school. Who will be more successful?

It’s not just cool, it’s Ice Cool!

Buy it here.

Top Trumps – 5+

Everybody loves Top Trumps. They’re fast-paced, super competitive, and easy for anyone to pick up and enjoy. They’re also a great tool for teaching and learning; whether it’s teaching kids the size of jungle predators or introducing them to the history of the USA through the US Presidents pack. Whether your friends and family are into Volcanoes or Star Wars, US History or Harry Potter, there’s a pack for everyone on your list!

Discover all of the themed packs and buy them here.

Simon: Star Wars Darth Vader Edition – Ages 8+

Introducing a sinister twist on the Simon game! The Simon: Star Wars Darth Vader Edition game features a game unit designed like the legendary Star Wars character, Darth Vader. Players need to watch, remember, and repeat the patterns, but they will have to follow along with the sounds and colors, and repeat in the correct order by pressing the pads on Darth Vader’s mask.

Buy it here.

Ultra Dash – Ages 6+

Move fast when the colors flash! Set out the targets to design your own course however you want! Use the tagger to choose from 3 game modes: beat the clock, target tally and relay race! Whatever color your tagger flashes, race to that color target and “tag” it; tagger detects targets and scores on accuracy!

Buy it here.

Safe Breaker – Ages 6+

Use your memory and spy skills to crack the code on the exciting game of safe breaker. Electronic safe has diamonds and gold inside; use the fingerprint scanner and spy gear ear piece to listen to clues. To play, pick a card from the pack and turn the safe combination to the corresponding number. Next, use the fingerprint scanner to test the number. If the light is green you have cracked the code and the safe will burst open to release some coins. No luck? use your spy gear to hear the clue and help you deduce the correct number. Is the correct code higher or lower than the number already tried? make sure you keep a straight face and don’t give anything away to the other players. The player who collects five golden coins is the winner. But beware of the “alarm bell” coins – they will alert the police and the player must return all their coins to the safe!

Buy it here.

Soggy Doggy- Ages 4+

Soggy Doggy is the action-packed, suspense-filled board game of bath time fun! Race around the board and take turns giving Soggy Doggy a bath. But watch out! He loves to shake himself dry! Get soaked and you’re sent back to start. Make it around the bathtub and you win!

Buy it here.

What games are on the top of your wish list this year?

Sensory-Friendly Gift Ideas

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and includes affiliate links.

When my boys were first diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder I spent hours searching for the best items that would help them regulate their little bodies. Now years later, we’ve tried a number of things- some we’ve loved and some they didn’t really use. Today I’m sharing my favorite sensory gifts for sensory seekers.

ZURU’s Tangle

The ZURU Tangle is a fidget toy that provides sensory and motor stimulation that has been found to help stimulate and maintain attention. It’s also a great tool as a means to relieve stress and anxiety. The shape, color, texture and visual impact of Tangle stimulates the brain and makes Tangle a fun and functional toy for children and adults alike. Tangle come in a variety of colors including Classic, Crazy, Metallic, and Sparkle. You can get multiple Tangles and connect them to create longer and more colorful Tangles! For under $5, it’s an affordable and collectable toy for everyone. ZURU’s Tangle is available at Walmart and Toys “R” Us.

Doorway Gym

In our old home we had a doorway “gym” hanging in the doorway of the boy’s room. The most used piece was a hammock but our set also had a swing, rings, pull up bar and rope to climb. The set was perfect for days we were stuck inside and the hammock swing was good for restoring balance to the vestibular system and providing deep pressure (both of which help kids on the spectrum feel more in balance). I can’t recall the name of the set we had but it was similar to the one linked below on Amazon. Whichever set you choose I recommend finding one that doesn’t need to be screwed in and has multiple ways it can be used.

Lycra Tunnel

If you are looking for a sensory toy that doesn’t take up much space you’ll want to consider a lycra tunnel. These soft, resistant fabric tunnels encourages heavy work and is the perfect activity for coordination, gross motor skill development, low tone and sensory-seeking.

Mini Trampoline

If you have a child who constantly has to be moving you will want a trampoline to let them burn off energy- especially during the colder months. We had a small square one with a handle that my sister-in-law had bought but I really like this one because it’s enclosed.

Theraputty

Theraputty is great for strengthening hand muscles and improving fine motor skills. It is sold in a set of various colors, each one having a different firmness. Children can start with the softest one and switch to different colors as their hand muscles strengthen and they find the putty easier to manipulate.

HOOT for Kids Subscription Box

Children on the spectrum can have a limited range of interests and play materials, which can make it difficult to engage in purposeful play. HOOT for Kids encourages the use of sensory materials that can help children reach developmental milestones in a unique way by tailoring each toy and activity to their specific needs. HOOT for Kids’ Treasure Boxes are tailored for your child by the in-house Pediatric Occupational Therapist. Starting at just $34.99, each Treasure Box includes a personalized activity card with suggested tips for play, including instructional tips for parents on how to play with their kids utilizing each of the hand-selected toys. This subscription box is well thought out and I love that it comes with the activity card to help parents navigate playtime with their child.

Weighted Blanket or Lap Pad

Weighted products, including lap pads, have proven useful as a calming tool for individuals with sensory issues, ADD, ADHD, autism and hyperactivity. I’m linking to one that has good reviews and is affordable but you’ll want to ask your child’s therapist what weight they’d recommend since each child’s needs will vary. You can also look online for tutorials to make your own weighted blanket or lap pad.

Playfoam

We didn’t have playfoam when the boys were younger however we just recently got some of this last weekend at the Chicago Toy & Game fair and it’s great for creative tactile play! Kids can squish, squash, roll, and sculpt while molding the muscles they need to write, draw, and manipulate objects with their little hands. Best of all, playfoam has a great no-stick formula and never dries out.

What would you add to this sensory-friendly gift list?

You might also like the following posts:

 Tips for navigating the holidays with a child who has special needs

15 Christmas Themed Sensory Activities

Double Date Idea And A Paint Night Gift Basket

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FronteraExperience #CollectiveBias

For a while now I’ve been wanting to go to one of those places where you can hang out and paint. It sounds like it would be such a great time but I really don’t get out that much for girl’s night or date night since becoming a parent. Because of this I thought it would be fun to put together a paint night gift basket to bring the painting fun home! The basket is perfect for a girl’s night in or a double date night with another couple. (Personally I love the double date in idea because you get time with a friend and your man – just get a sitter to share and enjoy some adult couple time.)

Along with the painting there’d have to be food because a fun evening isn’t complete without it! When I thought about the bright colors of paint I had bought, I immediately knew they would pair perfectly with the vibrant flavors of one of my favorite cuisines- Mexican! I also knew I wanted something simple because nothing kills the fun of an evening for the hostess like being stuck in the kitchen while everyone else enjoys time together. Luckily I knew just the right ones that would work- Frontera® Frozen Skillets, inspired by Chef Rick Bayless. They only take about 15 minutes to cook so they can be made before guests arrive or while everyone’s artwork dries.

The paint night gift basket makes a great gift for a friend or your significant other. To make it for a double date night just put enough of everything for four people in the gift basket!

Here’s what I put in my gift basket:

  • 4 Canvases to paint
  • Acrylic paint in various colors
  • 4 Paint palettes
  • Paintbrushes (fine and wide tip)
  • Colorful plates and napkins

The gift basket is easy to put together. I used a black tin and decorated it with some paper flowers on the outside and added some crumpled paper inside the bottom of the tin. I added in canvases to paint (two 5X7 and two 8×10 sizes), paintbrushes, tubes of acrylic paint, paint palettes, and colorful napkins and plates for our dinner.

Speaking of dinner….if you love Mexican food you have to try these skillets. Frontera® Foods brings premium ingredients and flavors into the kitchen so they make the perfect dish to bring friends together. I bought two flavor varieties, the Frontera® Chicken Fajita Skillet (made with tender cuts of seared chicken simmered together with fire-roasted poblanos and chipotle chiles) and the Frontera® Carnitas Taco Skillet (made with slow-cooked pork with tangy tomatillos and roasted poblano chiles).

I loved that the meal’s ingredients and directions read in plain English and were simple to follow. They are so easy to cook that it took less than fifteen minutes to go from freezer to table.

I bought the Frontera® Frozen Skillets, along with two jars of their salsa (Frontera® Jalapeño Cilantro Salsa and Frontera® Tomatillo Salsa), at Target. We found the meals in the freezer aisle and they had a variety of flavors to choose from.

And, if you are into saving money (who isn’t!?), from now through November 25th use the Cartwheel coupon below to get 25% off Frontera® Skillets at Target!

Have you ever had a double date night in? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Last Minute Gift Ideas For Dad {Giveaway}

Thanks to Sears for sponsoring this post and giveaway.

Father’s Day is this Sunday! Anyone still need to buy a gift for dad? My boys have reached the age where they like to help pick out gifts to give for occasions like this so we are headed to the store tomorrow for some last minute shopping. While they try to convince me we should go to a toy store and get him toys because “daddy really likes toys”, I know better and will be taking them to Sears where there are plenty of things that their dad actually would want.

From tools to small appliances to trendy clothes, Sears has the perfect gift for every dad. I checked out Sears.com to get an idea of what we’d find and am sharing some of my favorites here so you can make sure to visit Sears online or in-store for all your Father’s Day gifting needs! I also have a $50 Sears e- gift card I’ll be giving away for those last minute shoppers.

Gift idea #1: A new grill and/or grilling accessories for the dad who loves to grill

Several years back I shared here on the blog how we got a new grill from Sears. I think it is one of the best gifts I’ve given and something that gets used on a frequent basis. They have a number of grilling accessories too so dad can grill everything from fish to shish kabobs.

One of my favorites is the Kenmore 4 Burner LP Mocha Gas Grill with Searing Side Burner. I love the fact that it has the side burner plus the storage space on the bottom is perfect for all of the grilling accessories and seasonings dad might want to keep in it.

Gift idea #2: Craftsman Tools for the handyman

As a girl growing up I remember being amazed by how many tools my dad had. I never knew what all of them did but he always seemed to know which tool was perfect for the job. I think tools are the perfect gift for the handyman dad.

Sears carries an assortment of Craftsman tools and toolboxes. This Craftsman 254 PC Mechanics Tool Set with 75Tooth Ratchet is the only tool set dad will need to complete any and every mechanical job and it’s nice because all of the tools come in a well constructed tool box. Sears is offering up to 50% off Craftsman tools for Father’s Day (sale runs through 6/18).

Gift idea #3: Home theater system for the movie buff

Some dads are all about movies. They come up with a movie quote for every occasion and always know what movies are playing at the theater and what new movies are coming out every week.

Those dads would love a home theater so that every movie watched at home would make them feel like they were at the movie theater. The Samsung HT-J5500W 5.1 Channel Home Theater System w/ Bluetooth and Smart Blu-ray Player brings a cinema atmosphere to your living room. This package includes immersive speakers, a subwoofer and a smart Blu-ray player to enjoy all types of content in vivid color and robust audio. With 5.1 channels and wireless rear speakers, dad can create an immersive experience when watching sports or the latest blockbusters.

Gift idea #4: Rding lawn mower for the dad who prides himself on how his yard looks

Recently I saw a photo online of a dad mowing his lawn with a tornado in the distance. While I thought he was crazy because you should always take shelter in bad weather, it just goes to show that some dads will not let anything stop them from making their yards picture perfect. If you have a dad in your life who spends hours outside every weekend, a gift that would help make yard work easier would probably be appreciated.

For those with a large area to mow every week, a riding mower would make the perfect gift. The Craftsman Pro Series 42″ 20 HP V-Twin Kohler Hydrostatic Riding Mower w/ Smart Lawn Bluetooth Technologymakes me want to type all the heart eye emojis because this thing is amazing. Dad can get the job done quickly with this mower and it has Consistent-Cut™ technology so he’ll get the perfect cut even if your yard includes uneven terrain or areas of tall grass. Caring for the riding lawn mower is easy too with the Smart Lawn app for iPhone and Android smartphones that includes a run time tracker, service reminders and everything he will need to maintain the riding lawn mower.

Gift idea #5: New tent for dads who love to camp

Growing up we went camping often and I loved it so I think that camping equipment is a great gift that can help make memories for years to come. This would make a great gift for a new dad accompanied by a note sharing some of your favorite camping tips and tricks. Even seasoned campers could use some new equipment and I found this out the hard way! I had borrowed my dad’s tent that was probably more than 25 years old and woke up in a puddle of rain water in the middle of the night. So if dad enjoys camping, maybe surprise him with a new tent before he discovers he needs a new one while in the middle of nowhere.

Sears has tents, sleeping bags and everything else a camper needs. For smaller families, this Coleman Sundome® 4-Person Dome Tent would be ideal. Easy setup means less time setting up the tent and more time roasting marshmallows! This tent is compact, yet spacious and has a ground vent and two windows to help your family stay cool and comfortable. If it rains, the WeatherTec™ system with its patented welded floors and inverted seams will help you stay dry and the compact dome shape stands up to wind.

Gift idea #6: Mini-fridge for the beer drinker

I find that we always need extra fridge storage so mini-fridges are great. If your hubby enjoys a cold drink while watching a baseball game or enjoys entertaining, this might be a great gift for dad.

The Whynter Mini Stainless Steel Refrigerator is sleek and will fit in dad’s garage workshop, office or his man cave. This fridge holds an amazing 117 12-ounce can beverages or up to 27 wine bottles.

Gift idea #7: Mountain bike for the explorer

One of the things Sinisa wants this year is a bike so he can go bike riding with the boys. It’s a great way for dads to spend time with their families- whether they are just going on a ride down the street or exploring a wooded trail.

There are a number of bikes to choose from at Sears from well known brands like Schwinn, Mongoose and Iron Horse. The IRON HORSE 29″ Men’s Warrior 3.2 Mountain Bike is the perfect set of wheels for dad. This mountain bike is built to take all the bumps, dips and holes in stride and is designed to make even rough roads feel freshly paved.

As you can see, Sears is definitely a one stop shop for your Father’s Day shopping because they offer a wide range of home merchandise, apparel, automotive products and more! Sears provides shopping convenience – letting members shop wherever, whenever and however they choose, both in stores and online. They even have an awesome rewards program called ‘Shop Your Way’ that is a free social shopping destination and rewards program offering millions of products, personalized services, and advice. The program rewards members for buying the products and services they want every day. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you will want to sign up!

Enter below to win a $50 e-gift card to Sears! The winner will receive it before Father’s Day so they can pick out some last minute gifts for dad!
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Father’s Day Gift Guide

Disclosure: I received samples of all products featured but all thoughts are my own.

Father’s Day is in a few weeks and, if you are like me, you probably still need to find the perfect gift. Let’s skip the tie and socks this year, okay? Today I’m sharing 8 gift ideas that might be just what the man in your life wants. I’ve got something for the grill master to the tech geek and everyone in between.

For the well-groomed man – The Good Stuff

The folks over at The Good Stuff have created the recipe for a flawless barbershop shave. Founded by real barbers with over 140 years of combined experience, they’ve perfected the art of shaving with their premium line of products. The Good Stuff Shave Lather is infused with pre-shave oil to reduce friction and nourish the skin. Their Aftershave has a light, clean fresh scent that protects with SPF15 with no greasy, shiny residue. Does your dad have sensitive skin? Their One of a Kind original formula can be used in replace of after shave or in combination and is recommended twice a week to create healthier skin and softer facial hair.

The Good Stuff monthly subscription lets the dad in your life experience the smoothest shave at home, each and every morning. They are so confident in the quality of their Shave Lather that they are letting everyone try it for just 5 bucks when they sign up! Learn more and subscribe here.

For the tech geek – Navdy

Navdy is the first Augmented Driving device that leverages augmented reality to project information directly in the driver’s line of sight, for an all new driving experience. Navdy enables simple, gesture-based access to the phone functions drivers need most and projects everything directly in their line of sight on the road ahead. A comprehensive eyes-forward solution, drivers can manage all their phone necessities like maps, calls, and messages, while keeping their eyes on the road. Read my full review of Navdy here.

For the man who loves to grill – Zach’s Wing Sauce

Designed with the griller in mind, Zach’s Wing Sauce is the first ever sprayable wing sauce. Crafted like great beers with premium ingredients and even packaged in a beer bottle with a sprayer on top, Zach’s aims to make grilling wings an experience that wing lovers will want to repeat…often. This sprayable sauce means less cleanup and allows grillers to use just the right amount of sauce. It’s made with quality ingredients and are Vegetarian, Dairy Free and Gluten Free.

They offer a $20 Mix Pack online that lets you mix and match your dad’s favorite flavors, like Chocolate Chipotle, Sriracha Lime and Better Buffalo. They can also be find in stores like Jewel Osco here in Chicago.

For the traveler – ModernMapArt

Have a dad who loves to travel? ModernMapArt takes his favorite cities, mountains, and places and turns them into beautiful works of art. If you’re looking for the perfect way to help him remember that trip to Europe, honeymoon, place you got engaged, his alma mater, hometown, or anything else, their maps are a great way to display that nostalgia. ModernMapArt creates museum-quality posters made on thick, durable, acid-free paper. The prints are created using UltraChrome ink so they are fingerprint resistant. Order one here and get free shipping on all US orders.

For the gift basket lover – BroBasket

The BroBasket offers the coolest choices of custom baskets that include all his favorites like craft beer, fine wines and spirits along with his favorite brand name gear and goodies. All baskets are 100% customizable and come in non-alcoholic versions too! The Craft Beer Tasting Kit is designed for those men who scoff at typical domestic beer and want something you can’t find at your local corner store. This basket offers a sampling of the top 4 beers from the 8 California breweries that BroBasket carries. Have a golfer in your life? The Golfers Delight basket above may be the perfect choice! Check out all the baskets available here.

 

For the outdoorsy guy – Family Camping Trip

What better gift to get the outdoorsy dad in your life than a camping trip with his loved ones? In my opinion, the gift of time together is the best gift you can give! Find a camping location here (kids camp free Father’s Day weekend!) and then enjoy it! For added fun, you can customize special shirts for dad and his lads. See how I made our camping shirts (pictured above) here.

For the musician – Yamaha Electronic Drum Set

Whether the dad in your life is a drummer looking for a space saving set to practice on or a beginner hoping to start a garage band, the DTX400K electronic drum kit from Yamaha would make an amazing gift! It’s really like having ten professional drum sets in one compact electronic drum kit because they can freely mix any of the 169 organic drum sounds to create customized kits that suit their style. They can try a heavy metal double bass kit one day then change into a dance kit the next, or keep their ten favorite kits of all time. They get a world of choices in this electronic drum kit: 23 snares, 21 kicks, 36 toms, 31 cymbals, and 42 percussion instruments. Learn more about the Yamaha DTX400K here.

For the coffee adventurer – Atlas Coffee Club

Trying to find a great gift for someone who loves trying new coffee flavors? Atlas Coffee Club is a travel-themed coffee of the month club that explores the world’s best coffee; Tanzania, Burundi, Congo, and beyond. Atlas Coffee Club curates only the finest coffee, paying above market prices to ensure that farms can produce high quality coffee year over year, and roasts each batch to accentuate flavor profiles distinctive to the each coffee region. Made to order to guarantee freshness, a subscription is the ultimate opportunity for organic flavor discovery and global variety. Each month Atlas Coffee Club highlights a new coffee growing country and shows the unique differences in both taste and culture.. To go a step further, they’ve designed their coffee bags as a celebration of culture for each country as each design was inspired by local textiles and landscapes. Order a gift subscription here.

What gift would the dad in your life love to receive?

Jar Of Wisdom And Love For A Graduate

This post contains affiliate links.

Graduation season is just around the corner which means that many are busy planning parties to celebrate their graduate. There are a number of things to think about, from the food you’ll serve to the decor you’ll have to the gift you’ll give. Today I wanted to share an idea I had that is perfect for graduation parties but also doubles as a gift for your graduate.

I created a Graduation Jar of Wisdom & Love. This jar can be set out on a table at the party for guests to leave words of wisdom and love for the graduate. It’s simple to make, too! Just get a large jar and decorate it with ribbon or scrapbook stickers. Leave pieces of card stock, washi tape and a pen on the table with a sign asking your guests to leave their words of wisdom and love. When they are done writing their note on the card they can roll it up and wrap tape around it.

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

Glass jar

Graduation cap for top of jar

Letters to spell out words on jar

Skinny washi tape

Card stock

Pens

 

Once the party is over you can put the lid on the jar and present it to your graduate. You could also roll up dollar bills and add them to the jar before you give it to the graduate (if you were planning on giving them money anyways). Your child will love all the advice and kind words from their friends and family members and will appreciate this gift for years to come!

What words of wisdom would you give someone graduating junior high, high school or college?

 

Creating A Gift Basket For A Sick Friend

This post is written by me on behalf of Geometry Global. All opinions are entirely my own. This shop has been compensated by Acorn Influence, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

Being sick is difficult for anyone, but it is especially difficult for moms who have households to run and little people to take care of. I’m currently sick with bronchitis so I thought this would be the perfect time to share about things we can do for our friends when they are sick. Personally, I’m lucky to have such sweet friends, who have been checking on me, praying for me to feel better and have dropped off food to my family. These friends have been such a huge blessing to me and have inspired me to think about ways I can give back to my friends when they are sick.

Along with bringing food and offering a listening ear, a couple other ideas that might help a friend out when they are sick would be offering to watch their children or offering to help with any errands or work they might need assistance with. Another way to let a friend know you care about them is by creating a gift basket to cheer them up and help them feel better. I thought about what things might be good to include and wanted to share what I came up with.

Things to make them feel pretty– I love this “hello gorgeous” sign (pictured above). Sometimes when we are sick the last thing we feel is gorgeous so this sign is a great reminder for us. You could also include a little tube of lip gloss because we all know that a little swipe of pink lip gloss adds a bit of a pretty glow to a tired face!

Something warm to drink– Coffee or hot cocoa in a pretty mug can soothe a sore throat and the mug is a nice reminder of friendship that will put a smile on your friend’s face every time she drinks out of it.

Snack– I filled a little bag with sweets because everyone could use a bit of chocolate when they are sick. (I may or may not have picked up a candy bar while I was picking up my medications at the pharmacy last night…..) Find out your friend’s favorite snack and add it to your gift basket for her.

Relaxation essentials– When moms are sick the most important thing they can do is get some rest. Help them relax with a soothing candle they can light while they take a bubble bath or watch a favorite movie. A cute notebook they can write or draw in would be nice as well.

Flowers– It’s hard to keep the house tidy when we are sick isn’t it? Bring your friend some pretty flowers to help brighten up their home and help them forget the mess for a bit.

Kleenex – Most of the time I’m sick the one thing I use the most is tissues. I found a four pack of Kleenex Anti-viral facial tissues at Walmart which lets your friend (or you!) be able to keep a box of tissues everywhere they might be needed- whether it’s on the nightstand or next to the couch. These Kleenex are great because the active ingredients in the middle layer of this 3-ply tissue kill 99.9% of cold and flu viruses* in the tissue within 15 minutes. As moms, the last thing we want is for our kids to get sick, too, so the added anti-viral feature of these Kleenex is helpful in reducing the spread of germs to our families.

How do you bless your friends when they are sick?

 

———

Disclaimer: *In the tissue in 15 minutes.  Virucidal against: Rhinoviruses Type 1A and 2 (Rhinoviruses are the leading cause of the common cold); Influenza A and Influenza B (causes of the flu); Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV – the leading cause of lower respiratory infection in children).

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Disclosure: Products were received for consideration but all thoughts are my own.

Valentine’s Day is almost here and, for many, that means it’s time to show love with cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts. I thought I’d share some gift ideas with you all in case you still haven’t had a chance to go out and find something special. Whether you need a gift for your significant other or a “GALentine” gift for a friend, I hope this gives you some ideas!

“Dinner for 2” Date Night Gift Basket

I shared this romantic date night gift basket a few weeks ago but I love it so much I just had to share it again. It’s super easy to put together- just put some dinner ingredients in there, a bottle of wine, some candles and some Valentine’s Day decorations and you are all set to make dinner in with your sweetie!

Get all the details to make your own gift basket here.

Sweets Gift Box

Does your loved one have a sweet tooth? If so, you’ll want to get them this subscription box!  The SweetsGiftBox is filled with 4-5 goodies ranging from gourmet chocolates and cookies to artisan candies and treats. I loved the variety in the boxes and the few things I’ve tried so far from my sample box are delicious! I like that they are all items from brands I normally wouldn’t be able to find in a grocery store.

Learn more about the subscription service here.

Love’s Passion Bouquet by Teleflora

Heat up the romance and passion with this stunning floral arrangement that is sure to capture your Valentine’s attention. This gorgeous bouquet features a bountiful display of classic red roses, tulips, and white Asiatic lilies nestled within an elegant red glass vase. Each bouquet is professionally-arranged and delivered by a local florist so you can guarantee that every petal of your bouquet is freshly cut, carefully prepared and hand-made with love.

See Teleflora’s full line of Valentine’s Day bouquets here.

Custom Print from 78th & Newbury

I love getting personalized gifts and 78th & Newbury is one of my favorite online shops that offers them. At Christmas I reviewed their personalized canvas travel maps which would make a cute gift for travel lovers but I also think this love song print would make an amazing gift as well. If you are buying a gift for a spouse you could have a print made with your wedding song lyrics on it. How sweet would that be?

Find more gift ideas from 78th & Newbury here.

I love reading romance books so I’m very excited to read about the real life love story of Chip and Joanna Gaines, the stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. If your valentine is an avid book reader you may want to surprise them with this cute book!

Buy the book on Amazon here.

What is the best Valentine’s Day gift you have ever given or received?

Gift Basket For New Cat Parents

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NewPetNoStains #CollectiveBias

A year and a half ago we adopted our two cats, Boomer and Peaches, from someone who had rescued them after they were abandoned in a park. Our two little fur babies have added a lot of love to our home and I’m so thankful for that.

Though I had cats growing up, it wasn’t until I became a pet parent as an adult that I realized just how many things that cats required. There were the obvious things we had to buy, like cat food and litter, but then also things I hadn’t thought about. Things like tags for their collars and carpet cleaner became must-have items on my list.

I decided to create a special gift basket for a new pet parent with all the essentials they would need before taking their cats home.

The first thing I did was find a basket big enough for all my items and then add in a pet bed to the bottom of it. Though my cats rest wherever they please, it’s always nice to have a comfy place for them to nap. They love their cat tree but, for most cats, a cat bed placed in any sunny spot will do and it’s small enough to fit into the basket.

The next item I put in the basket was STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover which is perfect for the inevitable pet messes that will happen on your rugs and carpeted areas. I never realized just how much this would come in handy. It removes stubborn pet stains but also can be used on everyday stains. I’ve used it to clean up a number of accidents and hairballs along with spills due to overexcited cats (like those times when my cats are chasing each other and one jumps up on the coffee table and knocks a cup down on to the rug…)  Not only does this remove stains but it has ODOR REMOVE™ Technology that eliminates odors and leaves behind an invisible shield as it cleans so that it repels dirt to protect against re-soiling which means it’s easier to clean the next time. It’s also nice because it doesn’t leave a sticky residue behind.

Another thing I like to add in to the gift basket are cat treats. For a pretty look just put the treats into a clear cellophane bag and tie it closed with a colorful string. Catnip is also a fun addition to the basket and can be added to scratching posts, toys and a variety of other pet items you want to draw your cat’s attention, too.

And speaking of toys, you’ll want to add in some of those! I included some cute little mice and a yarn ball to keep active kittens entertained.

Other PURRfect essentials I added include a water bowl, a lint roller to get cat hair off of clothes, and a brush. You may also want to include an air freshener for them to put near the litter box, a collar and a little note with the recommendation of a veterinarian you love.

Whether it’s a gift for someone bringing a little kitten home for the first time or you are adopting a cat yourself, check out the great selection of pet products at Target! I found the STAINMASTER Carpet Pet Stain Remover in the cleaning aisles by the other floor cleaners in the Orland Park, IL Target. (It is not available at all Target locations, but is available online. Click here to find it, or have it shipped for free, to your local Target store.)

Also, make sure to use Target’s Cartwheel app to save 25% on STAINMASTER Carpet Pet Stain Remover (Cartwheel offer good through 3/4). The only thing better than wandering the aisles of Target is saving money on what you find while you are there :)

What would you add to a gift basket for a new pet parent?

50+ Stocking Stuffer Ideas {Something For Everyone!}

Disclosure: Some items were received for consideration but all thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

One of the last things “Santa” has to purchase every holiday season is stocking stuffers. “Santa” tries to limit the candy in the stockings and instead stuff it with small necessities and a few fun items. If you are still looking to fill your stockings I wanted to share some ideas of things you can put in them. This list has something for everyone from kids to teens to adults!

1) Nail polish and nail art – Espionage Cosmetics offers a line of cruelty free nail wraps in fun designs like the rose ones pictured above. They are easy to apply, do not require a heat gun, and when mastered it only takes 5 to 10 minutes to apply.

2) Socks

3) Deck of cards

4) Bath toy

5) Mini screwdriver

6) Keychain

7) Hair ties, bows or headbands

8) Gloves 9) Toothbrush – The kids love BrushBuddies! There’s a new Shopkins Brite Beatz one that plays the Shopkins theme song along to synchronized lights. Brite Beatz helps improve oral care making brushing fun for kids. Shopkins theme song will play for the dentist recommended two minutes. Shopkins Brite Beatz has fun characters on the handle and a comfortable grip for kids.

10) Gift card to their favorite restaurant

11) Chewing gum

12) Stickers

13) Small bottle of alcohol (21+)

14) Crayons

15) Body spray 16) Reusable bags – Urban Market bags are stylish, high quality, reusable shopping bags that are eco-friendly and completely washable. These bags are made from a lightweight nylon fabric with strong stitching that makes them extra durable and the ideal reusable tote bags that will last for years. Best of all, they are compact when not in use which make them ideal for stashing in your glove compartment box, your purse or anywhere else you may need to keep it.

17) Hot sauce

18) Makeup brushes

19) Money clip

20) Ornament

21) Gift card to a coffee shop

22) Stuffed animal – Bears for humanity is a great choice because for every stuffed animal purchased, another is given to a child in need. The bears are made using only certified organic materials by at-risk women in welfare-work programs right here in the US. They have a number of animal pals to choose from so you can find the perfect companion for the little one in your life!

23) Lip balm

24) Small notepad

25) Movie tickets

26) Jar candles

27) Comb or small brush

28) Luggage tag 

29) Headphones – Cozy Phones are awesome because not only are they headphones but they keep the head and ears warm at the same time. There are lycra, mesh lines ones for active people and also fun, fleece animal ones for kids.

30) Lotion

31) Coffee beans or K-Cups

32) Handmade soap

33) Things for their hobby- guitar picks, paintbrushes, soccer shin guards, etc

34) Makeup

35) Guides – You can purchase a guidebook that teaches a new language or skill but Deckopedia is cool because it makes guides in deck form. Fun ones include Mixology 101: The Art Of Crafting Cocktails and Natural Beauty Skincare, a collection of homemade beauty recipes.

36) Hand warmers

37) Bubble bath

38) Tie

39) Coffee Cozy

40) Hair gel or spray

41) Small games

42) Bubbles

43) Face masks – 7th Heaven makes a variety of single use masks that are available at Walmart. Their mud masks are enriched with nourishing active ingredients to deep cleanse, leaving skin fresh, clean and glowing. Peel off masks purify skin enabling all the natural goodness to nourish and pamper skin to perfection. Exfoliating masks deep cleanse and polish to remove stubborn surface blackheads and awaken dull skin and renew skin texture.

44) Tiny puzzle

45) Phone case

46) Scalp massager (I got these ones on Amazon for less than a $1 each!)

47) Pens and pencils

48) Selfie stick

49) Coins

50) USB charger – Ezisoul’s multi-port charger is the perfect travel charger because it let’s you charge 5 devices (phones and tablets) at once using only one charger. Engineered with Auto Detect Technology, this USB port charger lets you plug any device, Android and Apple, into any port and the smart charger will get exactly what it needs to charge the device rapidly and effectively.

I’d love to hear any other ideas you have!

Gifts For The Home {Giveaway}

(Disclosure: Samples were received for consideration but all thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links.)

A few years ago I wrote about how one of the top gifts on my Christmas wish list was a stock pot to make soup. I realized at this point that I had matured because I was asking for something practical that I needed for our home. Ever since then I’ve had gifts for our home on every wish list I’ve written. This year my top wishes were a KitchenAid mixer, an Instant Pot and the Nutri Ninja Nutri Bowl DUO along with some photography related items for the blog. I thought I’d put together a list of great gifts you can add to your wish list or that family and friends may like to receive.

Ninja Coffee Bar

Raise your hand if you spend way too much on coffee every week. {Raises hand…} You’ll want to add the Ninja Coffee Bar to your wish list. Get a better than coffee house experience, at home, without pods. This system includes an integrated milk frother and makes 6 brew sizes and 5 brew types – including the Ninja exclusive Café Forte, which amplifies the natural subtle flavors of your favorite coffee. While my Starbucks runs won’t stop, this is the perfect addition to my kitchen so that I can visit the coffee shop less often and save some money as we head into the new year. I’ll be sharing coffee drink recipes on the blog soon!

Buy it on Amazon here.

Honeycomb Speaker

Have someone in your life that loves music? They will enjoy using this new compact, wireless Bluetooth® portable speakers by Honeycomb Sound LLC. The unique honeycomb cell design easily fills a large room or outdoor space with quality sound proving that big sound and deep bass aren’t only produced from the bulky, wired stereo system of the past. I love that this speaker has a long-lasting battery which allows for portability. This speaker also has some great additional features like a USB flash drive input and a power bank function that allows for the charging of mobile phones.

Buy it on Amazon here. 

Switchmate

Smart home tech is all the rage nowadays and these Switchmate light controls are the perfect gift for someone looking to automate their home. It also makes a great gift for someone with mobility issues who has a hard time getting around because they don’t have to get up from the couch or bed to turn the lights on or off. What I love about these are that you get the security and convenience of smart home lighting without the hassle of complicated and sometimes expensive rewiring and installation. Switchmate magnetically attaches to any standard light switch immediately and syncs with the Switchmate companion app which is used to control the switch. There is also a cool “welcome” feature that senses the sync’d phone via Bluetooth and turns on the lights so they come on when you enter the home.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Shark Rocket Complete with DuoClean Technology

Shark’s newest upright vacuum is the perfect gift for anyone who is sick of using a vacuum that doesn’t clean like it should. With it’s dual brushroll system, it easily transitions from floors to carpet, picking up everything from sand and dirt to cheerios. On carpets, the self-cleaning soft velvet brush roll pulls in large particles, while the deep-cleaning bristle brush works at removing embedded fine dirt. On floors, large and small particles, as well as stuck-on dust, are pulled in by the velvet brush roll and then drawn into the high velocity suction channel by the bristle brush roll, leaving nothing but clean floors behind. What I love most about this vacuum is it’s versatility because, not only is it an upright vacuum, it can also be converted into a handheld to clean narrow, hard to reach places.

Buy it on Amazon here. (P.S.- It’s $100 off as of the writing of this post!)

Magic Chef’s Red Portable Ice Maker

If you entertain a lot, this portable ice maker would be perfect for you! The ice maker products up to 27 pounds of ice per day so you don’t need to worry about running out mid-celebration. For any holiday events you are hosting, the red color one would add a pop of color to the party. The ice maker includes a removable ice basket and ice scooper for simple, convenient serving as well as a see-through window to view the ice level at any time.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Philips Wake-up Light

Know somebody who is NOT a morning person? Get them the Phillips Wake-Up Light! This light is clinically proven to provide a more energetic wake-up in the morning. Designed to mimic a sunrise, it slowly gets brighter 30 minutes prior to your desired wake-up time (you can also have relaxing music kick in to help with the wake-up as well). The result is a gentle and refreshing wake-up experience that gradually raises you out of sleep – instead of a jarring alarm clock. What does this mean for your morning? This natural wake-up will leave you feeling more effective and alert – ready to conquer those essential morning tasks.

Buy it on Amazon here.

WellnessMats

Nobody likes doing dishes but at least your feet will be happy when you are standing on one of these WellnessMats. Customized comfort, rich colors, lovely patterns, WellnessMats look good, and feel better. They boost energy, increase circulation, and eliminate foot fatigue. I love that they can be monogrammed and customized so that they fit in perfectly with the decor in your kitchen.

Buy it here.

Nutri Ninja Nutri Bowl DUO

Anyone who loves to create new recipes will be over the moon excited to receive Ninja’s newest appliance that packs a lot of power and versatility into it’s small footprint. This groundbreaking innovation combines Ninja’s powerful Nutrient & Vitamin Extraction—breaking down fruits and vegetables to unlock their full potential– with the all-new Nutrient Fusion that brings fresh, vibrant ingredients together for flavorful, nutritious meals, snacks, and desserts worth savoring. I was amazed to discover how many recipes that can be made in this, from soups to burgers to desserts.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Debbie Meyer CakeCutters

Looking for a cute hostess gift under $20? Debbie Meyer CakeCutters would be perfect! Those who love to entertain will like how easy it is cut and serve the perfect slice of cake every time with these stainless steel cake cutters. The CakeCutters come in V-shape, for round cakes, and U-shape, for square and sheet cakes. 

Buy it on Amazon here.

 

Shark Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System

Anyone with kids or pets will appreciate the new Shark floor cleaning system, with it’s flexible, tailored, all-in-one solution that delivers improved and easier cleaning than before. The new system offers more control to customize the way you clean finished wood and hard floor surfaces, with up to three settings of electronic steam control- from a light dusting to deep cleaning, to steam blasting- cleaning the dirt you can see and sanitizing the floors when and where you need it. The washable steam pocket pad has special technology that locks in more dirt than ever and the new Steam Blaster technology delivers high velocity, targeted steam to eradicate stains. Along with the steam power of this mop, I love that I never have to touch the dirty pad again because it’s easy and mess-free to attach and remove the cleaning pads.

Buy it on Amazon here.

New Pillows

Nothing is worse than sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress or a lumpy pillow. While new pillows might not be the most glamorous gift, giving someone a good night’s sleep is a practical gift that everyone would love to receive! Brentwood Home makes a variety of pillows and other healthy, luxurious home essentials, all handcrafted in California and shipped to your doorstep.

Buy the kid’s pillow here. Here’s a 10% discount code, too! The Code = OURHOME 10% Brentwood Home Coupon

The folks over at Brentwood Home are offering a giveaway of their Kid’s Space Bundle (ARV $190) to Making Time For Mommy readers that includes a kid’s pillow and a lounger, perfect for any kid’s bedroom or playroom. Here’s a little bit about the products in the bundle:

Lounger

  • Made with nontoxic polyurethane and gel memory foam
  • Has a plush, hugging sensation, so your child feels cradled and secure
  • A perfect place for your child’s “me” time, where they can read, snooze, create, and relax

Kids Pillow

  • For the health-conscious parent who wants the most natural night’s sleep for their child
  • Filled with a mixture of silky smooth kapok, plus the texture of all natural latex for extra supportive resilience
  • The 100% organic cotton cover is detailed with a delicate plaid pattern for a playful touch
  • Has a slim/low profile design perfect for children
Enter the giveaway below to win this bundle!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fun Gift Ideas For Kids

Disclosure: Samples were received for consideration but all thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

How’s the holiday shopping going? If you still have some children to shop for you are in luck because I’m sharing a bunch of fun gift ideas for kids today!

My Fairy Garden Magical Cottage Playset

Have a child who loves fairies? This fairy garden playset would make the perfect gift! Your child can grow their own magical garden and play with their own fairy, Freya. This set has charming details including moving doors and trickling water.

Buy it on Amazon here.

 

Star Wars Felt Book

From Han Solo to Boba Fett, kids can create these ten adorable Star Wars figures from a galaxy far, far away! The 48-page instruction book has step-by-step directions and color photos to help kids advance from padawan crafter to Jedi felt master. The kit includes everything they will need to make all ten characters, including multiple colors of felt, stuffing, a needle, embroidery floss, and die-cut templates.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Stompeez! Slippers

Kids love these slippers! They can walk, stomp or jump and the slippers pop to life! They are warm and comfy which makes them the perfect gift for all the cold days ahead.

Buy the T-Rex slippers on Amazon here. (There are a variety of other styles as well. Just type “Stompeez” in the search bar.)

Magnutto Junior Make a Mood – Educational Magnetic Activity

Looking for a gift to give a child on the Autism Spectrum? This “make a mood” activity board would be great for them because many children on the Spectrum have a hard time recognizing emotions. The Magnutto™ Make a Mood is designed to help children identify, express, understand and respond to feeling and emotions. Children use thick, foam, low-strength, safe magnets to create facial expressions and represent a variety of emotions and feelings. I love that the box also includes samples questions for role play that will engage children in conversations about emotions.

Buy it here. 

Marvel: The Amazing 1000 Dot-to-Dot Book 

I guarantee your child has never done a dot-to-dot book like this! Their  favorite Marvel superheroes are presented in 20 dot-to-dot puzzles and a 19” x 14” wall poster that are amazing enough to display! More sophisticated than the one-dimensional dot-to-dots you knew as a child, these puzzles take about 30 minutes to complete.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Mermaid Cuddle Tail Blanket

Know someone who dreams of becoming a mermaid? The Cuddle Tail is an adorable, custom printed soft fabric mermaid blanket that is the coziest way to make those dreams a reality! They come in three sizes- toddler, youth and adult so they make a fun gift for every age.

Buy it here. Make sure to check out the special deals they have going on!

iClever Headphones

Headphones are the perfect gift for any music loving kid in your life. We love the ones from iClever because they have fun designs like these Christmas themed ones, cat ear ones and dragon ones. The headphones have kid-safe volume limiting technology to protect little ears. They are designed well with an adjustable head band, comfy ear pads and lightweight materials.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Stomp Rocket Ultra LED

We love the original Stomp Rocket but their new version is even more awesome because it lights up! This 100% kid-powered activity will keep kids busy for hours as they try to launch the rockets as high into the sky as they can. They’ll love trying these at night so they can watch them light up.

Buy it on Amazon here.

MagicMeeMees

If you have a little collector they are going to love MagicMeeMees. These cute little characters interact with one another and show their moods by vibrating and lighting up. There are a number of character toys to collect!

Buy them on Amazon here.

 

Superhero Jacket

How about gifting a practical gift? These Super Hero jackets from fun.com will keep your kids warm while letting them pretend to be their favorite super hero! Heroes featured include Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Batman, Justice League, Thor and Superman. There is even a cool Marvel Comic Print jacket.

Buy them here.

Zoonicorns

Zoonicorns are the perfect gifts to stimulate your child’s mind, sharpen critical thinking skills and discover life lessons through magical adventures. Zoonicorns is a collection of four adorable plush toys, each with their own unique and loveable personality. They make the perfect companions for the fun-loving and highly imaginative child. Soft and snuggly, Zoonicorns will take your youngster on fun adventures as they play on the Zoonicorns new app (available for download). The app further expands the Zoonicorn world through interactive activities which help kids feel better connected to their new best friends, while being entertained and educated.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Thames and Kosmos Magic: Silver Edition

Have a budding magician in your life? If so, they’ll love this Thames and Kosmos magic kit! With high-quality magic props and simple illustrated instructions, the 100 magic tricks in this kit can be easily learned, practiced, and mastered — to stun and amaze audiences! Tricks include making playing cards change places, making coins disappear into thin air and knots that untie themselves! This kit will keep them busy all winter long.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Marvel Universe Crochet Kit

Crafting is even more fun when characters that kids love are involved! The kit contains all the materials they need to crochet Spider-Man and Captain America including yarn, a crochet hook, stuffing, safety eyes, felt, an embroidery needle, and thread. Colorful photos and step-by-step directions in the 76-page instruction book will also guide kids to crafting other characters including Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Falcon, She-Hulk, Daredevil, Groot, and Rocket. These cute and cuddly superheroes will help your child remember that there’s a hero in all of us! There is also a fun Rudolph Christmas set as well!

Buy it on Amazon here.

 

Fuzzy Flyers

Get the kids to drop the tech and get moving with Fuzzy Flyers, the cute interactive plush. These toys come to life with a toss, shake, or tap and provide entertainment with hilarious phrases, challenging games, and social interaction!

Buy it on Amazon here.

Magnetic Stick N Stack Tiles

When I taught preschool, toys like this were the most popular in the classroom. I love this set by Shape Mags because they are just as high quality as some of their competitors but cheaper! Kids will have fun building everything from houses to rockets with this set.

Buy it on Amazon here.

 

So many fun gifts to give. Which would be your child’s favorite?

Gift Ideas For Women

Disclosure: Samples were received for consideration but all thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Can you all believe that Christmas is next week?! Today I’m sharing Christmas gift ideas for women. There’s something for everyone on this list, whether you are looking for a gift for your mom or friend. I also won’t tell if you want to go ahead and treat yourself to one of these gifts ;)

Perf Shirts

I’m so in love with this customizable shirt company. With sayings like “work at home mama hustle” and “mornings are for mimosas” you are bound to find a shirt for every woman on your list. The best part? If you don’t see one you want you can create your own! I chose four different sayings from their site and picked the colors and shirt style and they were at my door days later. The shirts are super soft and the printing is done with great quality, especially considering the quick turnaround time.

Buy them here. (They currently have coupon codes posted on their site so make sure to grab one!)

Kiehl’s Hand Salve Trio

Lotion is one of the easiest gifts to give everyone from siblings to teachers. Kiehl’s is known for their quality skin care products and this Ultimate Strength Hand Salve Trio, that is part of their annual limited edition holiday line, is no different. This moisture treatment offers all-day protection to actually draw water from the air, preventing moisture loss. This is also a product you can buy and feel good about because 100% of sales of this collection will benefit Feeding America. Purchasing this set will provide 295 meals to those in need! I love when companies give back like this! There are also a number of other gift sets that give back to charity as well.

Buy Kiehl’s holiday gift sets here.

InstaShiatsu+ Neck and Back Massager with Heat

Not much is better than a massage at the end of a long day (bonus points if it’s accompanied by silence and chocolate). The InstaShiatsu+ Neck and Back Massager with Heat by TruMedic provides the perfect at home massage that women can give themselves. I love that you can control the intensity of the massage using the built-in wrist supports. Just relax or tighten your grip for your perfect massage!

Buy it on Amazon here.

Bullet Shell Swarovski Crystal Stud Earrings

I love the uniqueness of these earrings. Handmade with real bullet casings, they are an edgy new conversation piece that comes in over 20 different colors.

Buy them here.

Back To The Roots Gift Set

This company is helping people grow their own food- no large plot of land necessary! These Back to the Roots gift sets are a wonderful gift idea and let people reconnect with their food and how it’s grown. They can grow herbs in a can or have their own little mushroom farm. This is a great gift for parents who like to do a lot of hands-on-activities with their kids, too!

Buy gift sets here and use the promo code MakingTimeForMommy10 to receive 10% off of the entire Ready to Grow collection through 1/31/17.

BUILT City Carryall Bag

As a mom I love any bag that’s cute and easy to clean and this one, made of durable neoprene (the wetsuit material), meets both of those requirements. Fashion and function collide in this light-weight, ultra-durable tote bag. The City Carryall helps keep daily essentials together. It even folds flat so it can be kept in the car or closet when not in use.

Buy it here.

Thermos Brand Connected Hydration Bottle with Smart Lid 

Know a health nut that’s also a techie? This is the perfect gift for them! This hydration bottle has a smart lid that connects to iPhones/iPads and Fitbits with it’s Bluetooth Smart Wireless Technology. It will calculate your suggested hydration goal based on your personal data, measures the intake of liquids and keeps track of how much water you get over a daily, weekly and monthly time period. Drinking water is so important and I love that this makes it easy to keep track of how much you are getting.

Buy it here.

Rhea Footwear Daphne Black Booties

Can a woman ever have too many boots? Nope! The Daphne Black Bootie by Rhea Footwear is a comfortable, classic boot she’ll wear for years to come. What I love about this brand is that they have special patented NeverSlip™ outsoles that allows their shoes to have more traction on slippery surfaces, ice and snow. These would be perfect for those who work in places that require nonslip soles on shoes or for anyone that just wants to be able to walk to their car and not fall on their butt if they step on an icy patch.

Buy them here.

Empower Cardio Dance Hoop

Exercise won’t seem like work with this cardio dance hoop! It’s the perfect gift for someone who is looking to change up their fitness routine or start one in the new year. Burn as many calories as aerobics or running and have a whole lot more fun with the lightweight Empower Cardio Dance Hoop. Learn the basics-Latin moves and Hip-Hop grooves and more! Start with five Cardio Dance Hoop instructionals and then get your groove on with five workouts. Once you master the routines, keep learning new tricks with additional free online workouts.

Buy it here for $29.99 and use code SkipFree to get a free Skip Fit and free shipping!

Nowvel Photo Books

Looking for that perfect gift for mom or grandma? I’d love to suggest Nowvel photo books! With their specially built software you can create a book in just minutes! Best of all, they offer a FREE 4X4 pocket book to all new users! All you have to do is pay for shipping (or you can share it on Facebook and even get that FREE). You can also choose to make a larger photo book with either a soft or hard cover. I made a photo book with pictures from our Florida trip and love how it turned out! See a photo of my 4X4 book here on Instagram. The small photo book is the perfect size for photos you’ve taken with your phone camera.

Make your book here.

 

Chicago Cubs Sports Apparel

Chicago Cubs fans across the nation are still celebrating the Cubs’ World Series win so Cub’s merchandise is sure to be a big hit when it comes to holiday gifts this year. Clark Street Sports, Chicago’s premier sports apparel retailer, has over 23 locations across Chicago and an online store with the newest and hottest World Series Winners gifts for the ultimate Chicago Cubs fan. My favorite is this women’s 3/4 length tee celebrating the historic win.

Buy this shirt, and other Cubs apparel, here.

Gratitude: A Prayer & Praise Coloring Journal

Coloring books are really hot right now and I love that this one is a combination coloring book and journal. Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal invites you to bring creative journaling and the calming act of coloring into your quiet time with God. This beautifully designed interactive prayer book from Tyndale’s Living Expressions collection helps guide your thoughts as you pray about concerns such as health, overcoming stress, personal relationships, and more. Gratitude gives you a way to celebrate and give thanks to God for the many blessings he provides. Filled with over 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling and sketching, and 40 needs-based prayers, Gratitude helps you express your devotion to God with your whole heart!

Buy it here.

What gift will you be giving this holiday season?

Gift Ideas For Tween Boys {Skylanders Giveaway}

(Disclosure: Samples were received but all thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links.)

Christmas is coming and if you have a tween boy on your shopping list you might agree with me when I say they are kind of difficult to shop for! I feel like pre-teen girls are pretty easy to shop for (maybe that’s because I was actually one myself at one time?) but I tended to struggle with boy ideas. With my oldest in the tween stage now I feel a little more confident in knowing what they want so I thought I’d share. (I also want to preface this with a note that girls may like these ideas as well. This is just a list of ideas for boys because I am a “boy” mom and I want to help those looking for ideas. We don’t really stick with gender specific labels on toys at my home.)

Make sure to check out and enter the amazing Skylanders giveaway at the end of this post!

LEGO

Like I said in a recent Huffington post article, you can’t really go wrong with a LEGO set. My boys love any that are Super Hero or Star Wars themed. Generally the boxes have the age ranges on them to help you pick the right one for your child but I’ve found Jake can do ones that are made for children a couple of years older than him. Amazon has the best assortment of LEGO sets including this Star Wars one for ages 8-14 years old that is listed as the #1 new release on Amazon.

The 2016 World Series Film

Being from Chicago, I had to include this DVD! Baseball fans, whether a Cubbies fan or not, will enjoy reliving this moment 108 years in the making! This sports documentary can be found on Amazon here.

Sky Rover Voice Command Missile Launcher

Ready, aim, fire! Kids can fly this toy helicopter and launch “missiles” all by voice command! They’ll enjoy watching as their heli flies in a circular motion in response to their command “enemy scan,” and launches missiles when they say “missile fire”. The helicopter comes with 8 missiles and has a gyro balanced engine for easy and stable flying. This would make the perfect gift for an aspiring pilot or person going into the military. Buy it on Amazon here.

iTunes Gift Card

My boys have been all about music lately. If the boy in your life is all about music then they will love an iTunes gift card to download their favorite songs!

G-Form Youth Apparel For Athletes

Jacob plays multiple sports and I think sports gear always makes a great gift for the young athlete. G-Form’s youth apparel offers specialized products to fit your aspiring athletes. If you have a soccer player, they will appreciate a pair of G-Form’s Pro-S Shin Guards ($44.99).  The Pro-S Shin Guards offer a broader area of coverage than traditional shin guards. They are constructed as part of a sleeve so your sports player will never have to worry about their shin guards falling down. They also have breathable air vents which is perfect for playing during the hot summer months!

Turbo Runner 

Has your tween been asking for a drone? The Turbo Runner is a great option that’s affordable and perfect for kids. Capable of going just about anywhere, the Turbo Runner climbs walls and ceilings with ease. The Turbo Runner is a master of all tricks. Transitioning from flight to running mode, it darts across walls then dashes across ceilings – it even runs down staircases. Mimicking a design that was developed in conjunction with the U.S. Navy for a real-life UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), the Turbo Runner fears no trick thanks to its patented cage, which minimizes any force of impact. Master the trimming controls, and soon you’ll be performing amazing stunts never before possible with a flying RC vehicle. Buy it on Amazon here.

Ball Sports Trivia Book

Any sports fan would love the Ball Sports Trivia book. Whether you’re tweens a football fan, a rugby player, a tennis aficionado, or  baseball player or a soccer enthusiast, they’ll love this fascinating collection of over 250 sport facts. Over 20 sports are covered and they can find out why the number of dimples on a golf ball can make them a better player, how many tennis balls are used each year at Wimbledon and who is the world’s highest-earning ball player (among other things). Buy the book on Amazon here.

Skylanders

The top gift on my boy’s lists for the past few years has been Skylanders,  the toys-to-life video game series that can be played on a number of different video game platforms. There have been new games each year and this year’s Skylanders game is Skylanders Imaginators. In this new Skylanders game, children use the power of their imaginations to create their own Skylanders to battle in the ultimate adventure alongside the almighty Senseis to save Skylands. All characters from the previous Skylanders game are compatible with this new game and of course there are new Skylanders to collect, along with Creation Crystals and Sensei Skylanders that are now available. Skylanders Imaginators can be bought on Amazon. Here are links to the game for specific systems so make sure you buy the one for the system you have :) XBOX 1, XBOX 360, Wii U

I’m so excited to be giving away one new Sensei Skylander character and one new Creation Crystal, along with a code for your child to create their own Skylander character in the Skylanders Creator App and bring it to life as a 3D printed character. Jake was so excited about creating his own character that he immediately started working on his creation as soon as he found out about it and he will not stop talking about it. The boys have quite a collection of Skylanders but there is nothing quite like having one you’ve created yourself! This will be an awesome gift for any Skylanders lover and these three items are a $75+ value total. (Please note: this giveaway does not include the game. You will still have to purchase the game for the console of your choice.) You must be 18 or older to enter and have a US address to enter. Giveaway ends 12/28 at 11:59pm CST and I will contact the winner via email. Prizes will be received after the holidays.

HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me why you want to win.

For an extra entry, share this giveaway on social media and leave the link in a second comment

Which of these gifts do you think the tween in your life would love? Have any other gift ideas? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Games That Make Great Gifts

(Disclosure: Samples were received but all thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links.)

I love the idea of giving a game as a gift because it encourages family time and fun for years to come. I wanted to share some games I think would make great gift ideas. Some of these are for kids and some are for adult game nights :)

For Kids

 

Wethead- Remember Pie Face, the game that was all the rage last Christmas? Wet Head creates similar suspense and fun! Wet Head is an all-new water roulette game. To play you fill the helmet with water, strap yourself in, and give it a spin. Players can play with the included spinner or can download the free Wet Head Challenge app for some tricky trivia questions.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Abundant Harvest for Kids- Abundant Harvest is a one of a kind board game designed to help families and educators open the door to more effective communication and encourage decision making based on principles such as honesty, loyalty and commitment. The intent of the game is to reinforce the Law of the Harvest, basically “you reap what you sow”.  The situations presented in this version of the game are directed towards children who are learning the importance of making decisions based on principle. The scenarios provide parents, caregivers and educators the opportunity to teach children, and allow children to begin to develop and apply principle-based, reasoning skills as they work their way through situations common in today’s world.

Buy it on Amazon here.

TMNT Battlesnap Mutagen Mayhem Game- Looking for that perfect gift that will make your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) fan say “Cowabunga!”? This it it! The TMNT BattleSnap Game is a fun battle game that brings the TMNT heroes and villains to life allowing kids to experience battles in a completely new head-to-head way! They choose their Battle Power (Pizza, Weapons or Mutagen) and their  Game Figure. Then they snap in their Game Figure onto the Battlesnap Card and load it onto the Mayhem Collision Rail before releasing them on a collision course to excitement. The strongest power wins the round and the first player to collect 4 delicious pizza slices wins!

Buy it on Amazon here.

Kerfuddle- The best games are ones that we can play at home or take on the go. Kerfuddle is a fun word game that comes in a small jar so it’s portable. The object of the game is simple; score more points than your opponents by finding words they haven’t found on the 14 Letter Cubes. With the added dimension of the “Shake It Up” cards and the Number Cube, each round is unique. This game is perfect for those just starting to spell but it’s also fun for word game pros.

Buy it here.

Wise Alec Family Trivia Game- This is a great game for families to play together because there are hard questions for the adults and easier questions for kids. The trivia game includes over 1,000 questions from elementary school curriculum including history, science, and spelling. Kids will giggle at parents struggling to remember what they learned all those years ago!

Buy it on Amazon here.

50 Road Trip Games Card Deck- If your family is on the go a lot you will want this card deck that features 50 fun games that can be played in the car or airplane, or even at home! Each card lets you know the rules of the game, and materials, if any, that might be needed, such as a notebook and pen. You’ll find a variety of games for ages 3 and up, including brain games, cherished classics, just for fun cards and pop culture quizzes. This card deck makes a perfect stocking stuffer, too!

Buy it here.

For Teens And/Or Adults

The Agenda Game- Know someone who can’t stop talking about politics? They’ll love this game! To start, players choose one of seven political personas (Conservative, Environmentalist, Liberal, Moralist, Libertarian, Corporatist or Socialist), each with specific agenda “planks.” Players travel around the pitfall-laden road that is American politics – from scandals to buying off politicians to filibusters – where the object is to win over the public in votes and polls and gather enough money to implement the most agenda planks. Along the way there is political humor, trivia to test political knowledge, and scandals to avoid.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Backgammon- Backgammon, a simple game of tactics and chance, was one of my favorite games growing up. This set by GrowUpSmart is beautiful. It comes in a leather briefcase and is a larger set than some I’ve seen on the market. GrowUpSmart’s set is great for beginners because it includes a learners’ instruction manual and access to an online video course that teaches the basics of the game. Unlike many other backgammon games, this game has been tested for compliance with US toy safety standards which I think is great.

Buy it on Amazon here.

KinderPerfect Card Game- This game is basically Cards for Humanity- but for parents! Played in a group,  the “Parent” player will read out a red Question Card and other players will submit their white Answer Cards. The Parent picks the winner they like the best, well, because they said so. The winner then becomes the Parent for the next round and the game is won by accumulating the most Answer Cards. This game would be great played with your mom friends and hopefully will lead to deeper conversations about parenting.

But it on Amazon here.

The Best Gift For People Who Love To Travel

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

One of my favorite things to do is travel. I love going new places with my family and spending quality time with them away from all of the household chores and to-do’s. Though our trips are limited to a few days or a week, I like to keep the memories alive by incorporating bits of my travels in my home. I shared before about some of the travel collections I have, including mugs and magnets, but one thing I always wanted was a giant map to hang and mark our travels on.

I finally found an amazing travel map at 76th & Newbury, an online shop that specializes in custom designs for the home. I love that their maps are made of high quality canvas and can be completely customized. Not only can they be personalized with names, but you can pick the colors of the canvas and the text and choose a quote that’s meaningful to you. Each custom design comes with a proof so you can see what it will look like and request edits if needed. I decided I didn’t like the color combo I had originally requested and asked for an image that was on it to be removed and both requests were done without problem. They want you to LOVE your custom creation!

There are a number of travel quotes I love but in the end I decided to put this one on our map:

I chose to get one of their world maps that I could put pushpins in to mark our travels but they also have some you can put pictures on. I think this is such a cute idea:

Know any newlyweds? How adorable is this personalized map for couples:

76th & Newbury has so many wonderful gift ideas! Do you know someone who would love one of their travel maps this Christmas?

STEM Gift Ideas For Kids And Tweens

(Disclosure: Samples of these items were received for consideration but all thoughts are my own. Some links are affiliate links.)

Fun toys are great but fun toys that reinforce concepts of STEM subjects are even better! Toys that have a science, technology, engineering and/or math focus have been popular the last couple years and I wanted to share some great gift ideas with you that the kids on your Christmas list are sure to love!

Dash & Dot Robots

What child wouldn’t want their very own robots?! Dash is a real robot, charged and ready to play out of the box. Responding to voice, navigating objects, dancing, and singing, Dash is the robot your child always dreamed of having. They can use Wonder, Blockly, and other apps to create new behaviors for Dash — doing more with robotics than ever possible. Dot is Dash’s companion and a brainy little robot on its own. Dot comes with several games built in, such as Magic Dot Ball, Dot of Music, and Light Sword. Using free apps Wonder and Blockly, you get to make over a hundred more games with instructions in the apps.

For children grades KG and up. The Dash & Dot pack is currently on sale for $169.95 with promo code DASHDOT (Save $30) until 12/31! Each can be bought separately as well, with Dash costing about $150 and Dot costing about $50. Purchase them here.

 

Scratch Programming Playground 

For children interested in coding, there is a great new book out called Scratch Programming Playground. Scratch, the colorful drag-and-drop programming language, is used by millions of first-time learners, and in Scratch Programming Playground, kids will learn to program by making cool games. Each game includes easy-to-follow instructions, review questions, and creative coding challenges so kids can make the game their own. They can even add more levels or add cheat codes by writing some code. Learning how to program will be a game with this book!

Kids will learn to make games like:

  • Maze Runner: escape the maze!
  • Snaaaaaake: gobble apples and avoid your own tail
  • Asteroid Breaker: smash space rocks
  • Fruit Slicer: a Fruit Ninja clone
  • Brick Breaker: a remake of Breakout, the brick-breaking classic
  • Platformer: a game inspired by Super Mario Bros.

Scratch is geared for ages 8+ but I think that children ages 6 and 7 would enjoy doing this with a parent. Buy the book on Amazon here. Today the book is $10 off so go buy it! :)

Roominate

There has been a big push lately to get girls interested in STEM subjects to bridge the gender gap in STEM. Roominate is an award-winning line of complete building sets that was started with one simple mission: open up possibilities for girls by showing them that creativity and engineering are fun. While this set was created for girls, some boys may like it as well (like my youngest son who was so excited to receive a set). What I like about the Roominate line is that creations can be built as shown or children can use their imaginations to “think it, build it and switch it on” and create their dream project. The Roominate line has unique building pieces with motor power and even comes with play-friendly dolls.

Roominate is for ages 8+. Sets vary in price from about $20 to $50 and are available at Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Find the one featured above on Amazon here (most sets are on sale as of the writing of this post).

The Future Architect’s Handbook

Have a child or teen who seems to be really interested in architecture? Children with dreams of designing buildings will discover how architects actually work in this workbook, which builds on the concepts introduced in The Future Architect’s Handbook. It walks readers through the drawings created by Aaron, a young architect building his own home. Going a step further, children will learn the steps necessary to create their own drawings and build a model of their design, using an included tool kit consisting of graph paper and an architect’s scale, pencil, and drafting eraser. Finally, readers are challenged to design homes for an eclectic group of clients. Freehand pen-and-ink drawings bring the instructions to life. This book is the perfect introduction to what an architect does at work and why buildings look and function as they do.

This set is ideal for ages 8–13, but creative teens and adults will also find it inspiring. This hardcover book and set is $29.99 and can be found on Amazon here.

Puzzlets

Have a younger child you want to introduce coding to? Puzzlets would be perfect! Puzzlets combines hands-on play with interactive gaming to form one seamless experience, engaging the mind and teaching the player new ways of thinking. The Starter Pack comes with everything you need and setup is simple. Puzzlets connects wirelessly to a personal device like an iPad or Android tablet or to a Mac computer through the included USB cable. What I like about Puzzlets is that it’s not just a series of interactive video games, it’s a toy as well. Only half of any game for Puzzlets is played on a screen; the other half is played by arranging and rearranging the Puzzlets Tiles on the Play Tray. Because there are these two modes of play in each Puzzlets game, it makes working toward a common goal with a friend, parent, or teacher a natural way to experience the game collaboratively.

Puzzlets is great for grades K-2 but I think children a little older would enjoy it as well (especially if they are coding newbies). The starter pack can be found on Amazon for $99.99 here.

Have you found any great STEM gifts for your kids or tweens? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

5 Subscription Boxes That Make Great Gifts

Disclosure: Some samples were received but all thoughts are my own.

Subscription boxes are all the rage nowadays. From snacks to makeup to pet products to crafts to candles, there is a subscription box out there for everyone on your list. I thought I’d share some of my favorites that would make great gifts for those hard to shop for people!

SnackNation- A snack box subscription perfect for college students and families

Previously a subscription service only for offices, SnackNation just launched their service to homes nationwide. They are a healthy snack delivery service that curates new, innovative snacks from emerging brands and delivers them all in a monthly subscription box. Each box contains 15 full-size, healthy snacks to try. Each product contains no artificial anything, including colors, sweeteners & flavors. They offer a variety of box choices including a favorites box with their top picks and a gluten-free box. In my box, my favorite snacks were barkTHINS snacking chocolate in dark chocolate almond with sea salt flavor, basil and garlic olives from OLOVES and sweet Maui onion flavored potato chips from Deep River Snacks. SnackNation also donates a meal to Feeding America for every box purchased (which I love).

The monthly cost is $24.99 but you can get your first box FREE (just pay S&H). Learn more and subscribe here.

 

Vellabox- A curated candle subscription box

Know a person who loves candles? Vellabox is a curated candle subscription box that sources the highest quality candles hand-poured by American artisans and combines them with a bonus lifestyle gift and a unique packaging style to create a memorable unboxing experience each and every month. My sample box contained a candle from Glint Candles in ‘Firewood Spice & smoke’ scent and one from Often Wander in ‘Amber Vanilla’ scent along with two snack bars and a coupon for a free organic drink. The box also includes a card with more about the brands and the U.S. cities they were made in.

Vellabox offers 3 monthly subscription options, ranging from $10 to $30 a month. Learn more and subscribe here.

Kiwi Crate- A hands on learning subscription box for children and tweens

Kiwi Crate offers a STEAM subscription box service that is perfect for children and tweens. They offer four different boxes: Koala Crate (play and learn activities for ages 3-4), Kiwi Crate (science and art activities for children ages 5-8), Doodle Crate (art and design activities for children ages 9 and up) and Tinker Crate (science and engineering activities for ages 9 and up). New crates are sent monthly and each box will arrive with the materials and instructions for hours of hands-on fun so kids can learn crucial STEAM skills as they create and tinker!

All boxes are $19.95/month. Learn more and subscribe here.

 

Mantry- A food subscription box for men

Mantry is a subscription box that features hand-selected products from the top American food makers. Every two months six full-size products are delivered in a nice crate. Each box is curated around a unique theme, like “Bacon Nation” or “Bourbon BBQ”.

Mantry offers 3 different length subscriptions with one month costing $59 (which is about $8/product when you figure in shipping). Learn more and subscribe here.

Play! by Sephora- A beauty subscription box

The Play! by Sephora subscription box brings you the best of the best products. Each box contains five deluxe sized samples plus a fragrance bonus. Each month subscribers also get a cute, reusable bag that goes along with the box’s theme. What I like about this subscription box is that it’s great for pros and newbies alike because it gives tips and ideas for using each product.

Play! by Sephora is only $10 a month. There is usually a waiting list to get the box but I was only waiting for a couple weeks for spots to open up. Learn more and subscribe here.

Have you ever gifted a subscription box before? I’d love to hear which ones are your favorite to give (and receive).

The Gift Of Writing

Thanks to CROSS pens for sponsoring this #LongStoryShort post.

For as long as I can remember I have loved to write and it’s something that’s come out in various ways as I have grown. In grade school one of my favorite assignments was to create a homemade book, and I spent hours perfecting my story line and illustrations. When I was in Junior High I wrote the story of my sister’s preemie birth to document that day and share about my experience during her NICU stay and beyond. Throughout the years I have had dozens of book ideas in my head and have half written manuscripts tucked away in my home. As an adult I started a blog to express myself after giving birth to my first born child.

This blog, Making Time For Mommy, started as a hobby for me. I wanted to write about my dreams and goals and how I made time for myself, even if nobody ever read it. I realized that I could connect with other moms through it and started writing to them and sharing my posts on social media.

Eventually I discovered that this hobby of mine was turning into a business. Though I still wrote for myself and for my readers, I was able to start making a bit of money to help contribute to our family (which, with the addition of my youngest, had become a family of four). At that time, even a tiny bit of income helped greatly and brought us from poverty level into what is considered the lower middle class. It also allowed Sinisa to cut down his work hours by only having to work one job instead of two.

When my blog led to a full-time job online we became a two-earner family and I quickly became the breadwinner in our home. Me. This mom, who had never finished college, was able to make an income from home while raising two children and it was all because of my writing “hobby”.  I now blog full-time and feel so blessed to be able to do something I absolutely love every day.

Do you know a budding writer? Give them the gift of writing and encourage them to follow their dreams- whether it’s writing the novel that’s in their head or turning writing into a career like I did. A fabulous gift for them this holiday season (or really any time) would be a beautiful pen by CROSS. CROSS pens are luxury fine writing instruments that symbolize achievement, accomplishments, and human potential. The pens can be engraved with the word or saying of your choice. I chose to get mine engraved with “MOM BOSS” to celebrate my blogging business but the options are endless!

What writer in your life would love the chance to express their dreams with one of these amazing pens?

10 Gift Ideas For Creative Kids

Disclosure: Products were sent for consideration but all thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Black Friday is here and everyone is in the shopping mood- including me! I have been online all morning shopping for gifts. I have a lot of great gift ideas I’ll be sharing over the next couple of weeks but today I wanted to share ten gifts that are perfect for the creative boys and girls in your life.

Crayola Air Marker Sprayer: This electric-powered toy turns Crayola markers into spray art, just like a real artist’s airbrush but without the mess of paint.  Kids can create realistic-looking airbrush art for craft projects, school projects, windows and more. Air Marker Sprayer features an electric pump which eliminates manual pumping so kids can solely focus on their artistic creations.  For children ages 8 and up; suggested retail price is $29.99.

Our thoughts: Another great Crayola product. It’s a unique way to use markers and the airbrushing looks cool!

Get it on Amazon here.

IDO3D Vertical: 3D drawing pens have been introduced as the newest way to create remarkable artwork, especially for kids. IDO3D Vertical makes 3D drawing accessible for all families with sets starting at only $9.99. Unlike many other pens in ever-growing market, the IDO3D Vertical technology uses no heat or plastic filament and the pens are designed to use cool ink that reacts instantly to the built in LED light, allowing users to draw up over and in 3D!

Our thoughts: Everything is cooler in 3D! This was the top crafty item on Jacob’s list this year!

Get it on Amazon here.

Fright Factory™: Kids can make scary 3D creations with Fright Factory™! Use the special light curing EwwGoo™ gel to fill creepy molds and then flash them with the eerie light from the Fright Factory Creature Creator. Kids can create insects, reptiles, rats, bats and more! Fright Factory™ uses ultra-safe LED light to develop the creations. Gels are quick curing, non-toxic and kid friendly. MSRP: $24.99 Age: 6+

Our thoughts: My boys are excited to create their own bugs :)

Get it on Amazon here.

Pom Pom Wow!: Pom Pom your world! Create custom pom-poms with the Decoration Station. Choose from the six different techniques to decorate your very own pom poms. The set folds up for easy mess-free transportation. The Decoration Station comes with 1 portable play set, 75 pom poms in 4 colors, 85 adhesive dots, 8 removable pom pom trays, 1 removable water tray, 1 adhesive roll dispenser, 2 markers, 1 blotting cloth, 1 paintbrush, 1 pipette, 4 stamper pads, 4 watercolors, and 1 glitter gel pen.

Our thoughts: This was a hit with kids at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair! They’re easy to use and you can decorate just about anything with them.

Get it on Amazon here.

Pete the Cat- I Can Draw: Kids will enjoy following the easy step-by-step diagrams to re-create Pete and their favorite stories. This 160-page activity book is packed with everything from the world of Pete the Cat that aspiring artists will want to draw and will be a hit with young fans and budding artists.

Our thoughts: We love step-by-step drawing books, especially when they are fun characters like Pete the Cat!

Get it on Amazon here.

Magic Sketch: Magic Sketch is a fun new way for your kids to draw, play, and learn!  The flexible, LCD screen is transparent, allowing kids to trace with the provided stencils or from their own images! With Magic Sketch your kids can create all kinds of amazing art and, unlike most tablets, the Magic Sketch is super kid proof!  They can drop it, toss it, even step on it — it won’t break!  It’s completely water resistant, so if they have a spill, just wipe it off and keep going!  With the advanced internal electronics, you can clear the screen with just the push of a button! Magic Sketch retails for $29.95.

Our thoughts: Magic Sketch is great because it can be used again and again. It’s perfect for traveling, too!

Get it on Amazon here.

PBS KIDS Do It Myself Cookbook: This cookbook by Laurie Goldrich Wolf features fully-illustrated ingredients, tools, and steps so that children as young as 4 years old can make dishes completely on their own! This exciting cookbook kit includes a 128-page wire-bound cookbook, 45 simple, tasty “nothing sharp, nothing hot” recipes, step-by-step illustrations and a set of measuring cups and spoons.

Our thoughts: This cookbook is perfect for the little aspiring chef in your home.

Get it on Amazon here.

Gemmies™: Gemmies are the next evolution of the popular 3D beading craft. Following a simple process, kids clip Gemmies crystals to elastic rings then join completed rings to create a 3D sparkling creation! Design templates are intuitive and use a repetitive pattern that lets kids develop their cognitive abilities and progress to designing their own creations. Kids can make anything out of Gemmies crystals. starting series include animals, flowers and more! Store all your Gemmies crystals and accessories in the Gemmies Design Studio and display your favorite creation on the light up pedestal. MSRP: $24.99 Age: 6+

Our thoughts: This is such a great open ended crafting activity where kids can really use their creativity to make their own creations. They are all so pretty, too!

Get it on Amazon here.

The Official DC Super Hero Cookbook- Deluxe Edition: This cookbook by Matthew Mead comes complete with 60+ simple, tasty recipes as well as 3 cookie cutters (a bat, a lightning bolt, and a shield), logo stencils and character cut-outs for awesome food styling.  More than sixty tasty, simple recipes are inspired by DC’s beloved characters including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman, and many others! From the Up, Up and Away Parfait to Green Arrow Fruit Kebobs to Holy Guacamole and the Martian Manhunter Malted, the colorfully presented recipes are fun to prepare and to eat. Step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and fans of all ages will enjoy flipping through finish photos featuring classic DC comics art and action figures. An extensive super hero party section offers dozens of drinks, snacks, and desserts as well as cool, clever serving suggestions.

Our thoughts: This is a must for every super hero fan! Imagine how excited they will be to help make “super” fun treats in the kitchen.

Get it on Amazon here.

 

Crayola Emoji Maker: Drawing inspiration from the growing popularity of emojis, kids can experiment with Crayola colors to make 16 custom color emoji stampers and share their unique emoji messages with friends.  Using the included design labels, kids can also create custom color names for their stampers as well as customize the boxes to their liking (each kit allows for 2 packs) . For children ages 6 and up; suggested retail price is $19.99.

Our thoughts: With the popularity of Emojis this is a great gift idea for older children!

Get it on Amazon here.

 

Have you found any great gift ideas for creative kids? I’d love to hear about them!

20 Gifts For Chicago Cubs Fans

As a Chicagoan I am so excited that the Chicago Cubs won the World Series last night! Jacob, my 8 year old, is a big fan of the Cubs so I thought I’d put together some great gift ideas for all those who love the Chicago Cubs. Click on the images for details/pricing. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Chicago Cubs White Sweatshirt

Warm Chicago Cubs Blanket

Chicago Cubs Earrings

Chicago Cubs Garden Flag

Chicago Cubs Subway Art

Chicago Cubs Winter Hat

Chicago Cubs Jacket

Chicago Cubs Pajamas For Kids

Chicago Cubs Santa Ornament

Chicago Cubbies T-Shirt

Chicago Cubs Alex & Ani Bracelet

Chicago Cubs/Skyline Blanket

Chicago Cubs Girl’s Bow

Chicago Cubs Socks

Chicago Cubs Baseball Tee For Girls

Chicago Cubs Sweatpants 

Blue Chicago Cubs Hoodie

Chicago Cubs Hat

Chicago Cubs Thermos

Chicago Cubs Baby Bib

What other gift ideas do you have for Chicago Cubs fans?

Creating A Nursing Home Care Package

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CaringMadeEasy #CollectiveBias

It’s important for me that my boys grow up to be kind to others. I believe teaching this character trait is not something that can be done only with words but has to be modeled through actions. Whether it’s dropping off toiletries to a homeless shelter, holding a door open for the person behind us or assisting a friend, there are a variety of ways to model kindness. One of my mom’s groups has arranged for visits with a local nursing home so I figured it would be the perfect time to talk with my boys more about caring for our elderly and ways we can show kindness to them. We talked about how some residents of nursing homes may not have any family around and how excited they would be just to have some company.

We wanted to make their day extra special and decided to create a care package to bring along that had some gifts to pass out along with some essentials that residents may need. The first thing I did was find a reusable container to put everything in. Since space is probably at a premium I wanted to bring something someone could use for storage. Once I had my small plastic bin I thought about what they might like to do and bought some things to keep them busy. I chose to add in an adult coloring book with colored pencils, some blank cards for letter writing, a crossword puzzle book, some women’s magazines and a small embroidery craft kit.

I wanted to include some essentials as well so I added in some luxury hand soap, pocket packs of tissues, slipper socks with no-skid bottoms and a blanket.

One other important thing I chose to bring along for the staff to hand out to those who need it is Depend® Fit-Flex® Underwear for women. These new Depend products provide protection with a smooth, close-to-body fit for outstanding comfort.

I found a great deal on Depend products at Sam’s Club and you’ll want to be on the lookout for the special packaging shown above. When you open your Depend packaging it will have a sticker inside that you can use to redeem at the pharmacy for an awesome caregiver sample kit. I’m going to stop by Sam’s Club to redeem it and add the items to my nursing home care package.

Other things you may want to add to your nursing home care package include:

  • Lip balm
  • Poise® pads or liners
  • Housecoat
  • Book with large print
  • Newspaper
  • Flowers
  • Lotion
  • Reading glasses
  • Tea
  • Small seasonal decor

There are so many things you can add to your nursing home care package. You could even write a handwritten card or note and add in some hard candies as a special treat.

If you are a caregiver to a parent or grandparent, or just want to learn more about the resources that Sam’s Club offers, there is an app to download called Digimarc Discovery where you can scan the Depend product box to be taken to the Sam’s Club Caregiver website. On the site you can place orders online for nutritional, incontinence & personal care products to have them delivered to your home or to be ready for you at your local club with free Club pickup. It’s such a convenient, time-saving perk of being a Sam’s Club member!

Have you ever visited a nursing home with your child? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.

Ghostbusters Themed College Care Package

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BTSSpirit #CollectiveBias

This year my little sister will be a junior in college. It’s hard to believe because I can still remember the morning my mom went into labor and the months of hospital trips to the NICU that followed to visit this little one pound, fourteen ounce miracle baby. She’s turned into a beautiful woman and I’m so proud of the amazing, caring person she has become.

Since the new school year is just starting I thought I’d send her a college care package. When I was in college I loved having movie nights with my roommate and friends in my dorm so I thought it would be fun to send her a movie themed package she could enjoy with her friends. With the new Ghostbusters movie out in theaters, and the all-women cast of leading ladies, what better to send for a movie night with girlfriends than a SLIME-tastic college care package?!

When trying to figure out what to put the care package in I chose to use a clear container that my sister could reuse for storage. I started by loading it with a ton of candy. I added in some fun Ghostbusters M&M’s® bottles that I had found plus a variety of other chocolate favorites like SNICKERS®, Twix® and Milky Way®.

I then added in two of the old Ghostbusters movies. Since both Ghostbusters 1 and Ghostbusters 2 came out before her and her friends were even born, I thought they should watch those before they went to see the new movie. I also included a green portable speaker so that they could get better sound when playing the movies from their computer. This little Stay Puft Marshmallow Man character was the perfect addition as well and will put a smile on the face of anyone who sees him.

Another thing that is a must have while watching movies is popcorn. I added some microwavable popcorn packages in the care package and decided to take it a step further by sending additional supplies to make “slime” popcorn. It was super easy to make and can be sent in separate containers so that it can be made fresh whenever they are ready for movie night!

Directions:

Mix green food coloring into the marshmallow cream until you get your desired shade of green.

Pick out green M&M’s® candies from the bag.

Put both the marshmallow cream and the candies in their own separate containers.

Once they get to your student it’s easy for them to make the microwave popcorn, drizzle the green marshmallow “slime” on the popcorn and top it with green M&M’s®. It’s the perfect combo of sweet and salty!

The last thing I added in was a Ghostbusters tin container and a container of green Peanut M&M’s®. Feel free to add in anything else your college student needs while they are away at college or that they could use for a fun girls night!

I found all of the chocolate, and everything else I needed for the college care package, at Walmart. Look for the fun Ghostbusters M&M’s® display near the front of the store and keep an eye out for the in store coupon with savings of $0.75 off 1 M&M’s® Bottle now through September 30th!

Have you ever sent a college care package? What would you have added to it along with the chocolate?

5 Gift Ideas For Dads

Father’s Day is this weekend and if you are still looking for a gift for the dads in your life, don’t worry. I have you covered! Here are 5 gifts that I think any dad would love. Thanks to the companies featured in this post for sending me samples so I can make Sinisa’s Father’s Day extra special this year.

GrafoMap

This is the perfect gift for any dad who loves to travel or has a special place in his heart for any city. I chose to order a map of Sinisa’s hometown, Zagreb, Croatia, that we are going to add to our travel wall. Though I’ve never been there I hope to visit someday with our children and I love that it will remind him of his home country.

GrafoMap uses Open Street Maps – an open source database – to make it possible for users to create an artistic map print of any cityin the world to hang on their walls and enjoy for years. GrafoMap users act as designer, choosing from a range of text and color options to create the perfect map art for their home. 

Learn more and order here.

Mr. Awesome Tshirt by Load Failure

Does your dad or husband have a great sense of humor? Let him show it by wearing a tshirt by Load Failure. He will wear his Load Failure proudly because well, who doesn’t want to make a statement with not-so-subtle humor? And these are not your typical silly shirts in those unflattering boxy shapes that always seem to look loose and too large. These shirts combine both humor and fashion with sayings like “Mr. Awesome,” “This is my Drinking Shirt,” and “Best Husband Ever.”

View all their styles and order here.

Gift Card to a Favorite Restaurant

If going out to eat is rare for your family consider getting him a gift card to his favorite restaurant so that he can go out with friends, enjoy a date night with you or go out to dinner with his family. One of our favorite restaurants, Hard Rock Cafe, has a Burger Tour going on that Sinisa was excited about. Some dads love nothing better than a burger and beer! Along with the meal consider going on a hike together, catching a movie, or doing something else he loves to do.

Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth

Does the dad in your life love technology? Let him geek out over the Oral-B 7000 SmartSeries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth. Everything else in his home is “smart” so why not his toothbrush, too? This “smart” toothbrush removes up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush and offers up to six different cleaning levels.

This toothbrush connects to the enhanced Oral-B app that provides real-time guidance while users brush, and records brushing activity that he can also share with his dental professional. It helps users focus brushing on their most important areas by allowing users to work with their dental professional and set time in each quadrant of the mouth. The app also motivates users to brush the dentist-recommended 2 minutes with entertaining news and weather, plus helpful oral care tips and rewards.

Learn more here and look for it at your favorite retailers.

What man wouldn’t be excited to get tickets to a local festival, a sports game, his favorite band’s concert or a fun event? Think about what your dad or husband enjoys and then get him tickets for that. I took Sinisa to a live WWE event and he loved it! He would also enjoy going to a soccer game or country concert.

What are you getting the dad in your life for Father’s Day?

10 DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day is coming up and with it families are trying to think of gifts they can give mom on this special holiday. I recently shared some gift ideas but some of my favorite gifts to receive can’t be found in stores. Instead, they are things that are personalized and made with love from my kids. I wanted to share 10 DIY Mother’s Day gifts that kids can help make for all the important ladies in their life- from moms to grandmas!

Bouquet Of Sunflowers Made With Handprints – Kid Friendly Things To Do

Lemon And Raspberry Sugar Scrub – Reasons To Skip The Housework

Handprint Frame – Messy Little Monster

Footprint Stepping Stone – I Watch Them Grow

Jar Of Love – Crafting A Green World

Handprint Table Runner & Brunch For Mom

Mom’s Emergency Stash – Eighteen25

Mason Jar Succulent Planter – The Golden Sycamore

Egg Carton Flowers – I Heart Arts N Crafts

Picture Flowers

What has been your favorite DIY gift to receive or give?

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Still looking for that perfect Mother’s Day gift? Don’t worry because I have some amazing ideas that mom or grandma will love no matter what she enjoys! Please note: This is a sponsored post and contains some affiliate links but all thoughts on the products are my own.

For the active mom

Mio FUSE, is a waterproof wrist-based heart rate, sleep and activity tracker that completely eliminates the need for those bulky and uncomfortable chest straps. The heart rate monitor also works with the Mio GO App (available for Android and iOS) to monitor progress overtime or analyze individual workout data (max heart rate, steps, speed, pace, distance, time and calories burned).

I love that the Mio FUSE is not bulky and comfortable to wear on my wrist. It’s waterproof so I can wear it anywhere I go all summer long without having to worry about ruining it. The FUSE easily connects to the app I downloaded on my phone so that I can track the steps I’ve taken and a number of other things.

FUSE is available on www.mioglobal.com for $129 and Mio is offering $30 off through May 8th.

For the young at heart mom

 

Coloring books are all the rage now and if your mother enjoys coloring this is the perfect choice! Illustrator Eleri Fowler’s intricate, gorgeous illustrations in My Mother, My Heart: A Joyful Book to Color depict the joy and tenderness of a mother’s love. From flowers to birds to hearts and more, these pages of delicate pen-and-ink drawings are waiting to be brought to life through her artistry.

Save 30% plus get free shipping when you use code: MOM30 at HarperCollins.com.

For the dessert lover

Doorstep Desserts is a subscription dessert kit for fun and easy dessert recipes (red velvet cake pops, chocolate overload truffles, éclair cake, etc.) delivered directly to your door. You can choose to have mom receive desserts weekly, biweekly or monthly. My family loved our subscription and it was nice to be able to make desserts together during our busy weeks. This would be perfect for a grandma to do with her grandkids because it is so easy with minimum mess.

Use code “mtm75” for 75% off your first kit!

For the mom who needs to relax

The Anjou Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser & Complete Anjou Essential Oils Gift Set are the perfect items to lift mom’s mood and bring some relaxation to her hectic life.

Both items can be found on Amazon. Get 20% off all Anjou products on Amazon with code M8WC289G.

For the mom who just needs time with Jesus

In Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet with Jesus, Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk offer moms a calm way to start their day, to refresh themselves in Jesus and drink deeply of His presence so that they are ready to pour out love, time, and energy into the people who matter most to them. This book reach moms where they are with short devotions tailored specifically to their needs. In these pages, moms will learn to resist the rush, halt the hustle, press pause, and find calm in the chaos. Just a few minutes each day can help moms center their heart and mind on what God has for them as His beloved daughter.

For the mom who loves to make her home look beautiful

Make mom’s heart melt this Mother’s Day with a special gift that comes with your own personal touch. PosyBox bouquets offer a beautiful flower delivery service that you can customize. And, unlike other flower delivery options, PosyBox provides a tech twist: with each package, gift givers have the option to record a video for mom or include a photo to be delivered with her flowers! Not only will she be surprised by the brilliant bouquet, but she also gets to hear and see a personalized message that will likely bring her tears of joy!
What gift ideas do you have?

Two Gift Ideas For Creative Kids

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

With the holidays here my mind has been on Christmas shopping. Each of my kids has a list of things that they hope to get. From video games to building sets to puzzles, everything they see in the commercials seems to end up on their lists. Most of their wish lists are similar but Lucas has a lot more variety on his. Lucas loves everything from cars to dolls and I love this about him because he is his own person and likes what he likes, no matter what other kids might say.

Some of his favorite activities are arts and crafts which he developed a love for at summer camp. He loves colors and has a keen spirit for all things creative and playful. In order to make Lucas happy and encourage his artful side I introduced some new crafty kits to him this week. The two kits are TEXT COOL Bracelet Studio and the The KNIT’S COOL Knitting Studio.

Lucas loves to dress himself in unique outfits and now he can send the ultimate fashion statement message with a bracelet. He loves being in control and designing his own things and this kit makes it as easy as 1-2-3 to create. Just turn, reveal, and press! He can even make message bracelets to share with his friends by using TEXT COOL. Text Cool includes an easy to use Bracelet Studio, featuring over 60 letters and emoticons and 35 bracelets to wear and share. Text Cool lets Luke get his creative messages on his wrists for the world to see! He is overjoyed to create and show his creativity with Text Cool.

The other kit Lucas liked is KNIT’S COOL. The Knit’s Cool Knitting Studio is an amazing new tool that makes learning to knit super easy. With the Knit’s CoolStudio, any kid can easily design their favorite fashions – like scarves, headbands, bags and more. The knitting studio kit has everything you need to start knitting right away, including fashion yarn, patterns and accessories to make three complete Knit’s Cool™ projects. Lucas is excited to see his Auntie over the weekend and make a phone case with her. Anyone can learn to craft fun and fashionable accessories with Knit’s Cool by watching the easy How-To videos online!

Do you have a child who loves art and crafts? These would make a great gift for the holidays!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Last-Minute Gift Idea: Sponsor A Homeless Pet

Did you check your list twice and realize you’re not done shopping? Don’t dash out to brave the crowds just yet: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary has the perfect holiday gift. Sponsor a homeless pet!

When you make a sponsorship gift, your loved ones receive an e-card with a photo and story about the animal you chose for them. Homeless pets at Best Friends and around the nation get your love and support. Sponsoring a pet is one way you can help Save Them All®.

Check out all of the animals you can sponsor to make a difference in the lives of homeless pets. Some of these animals have a special place in my heart, especially Bob the cat who I got to walk on a recent trip to the Sanctuary!

This would make such a great gift for the animal lover in your life!

Crayola Gift Ideas For Your Little Artist

Lucas loves anything to do with crafting, coloring or art so it’s a given that we have a huge variety of Crayola products at our home. From coloring supplies to tools to the easel in our living room, Crayola is the brand we trust to bring us quality and fun. The boys were really happy to receive a box of goodies from the brand and especially excited to try out one of their new products, the Crayola Widescreen Light Designer.

This Crayola Light Designer lets your budding artist bring his or her creations to life. They can choose from seven different light-effect combinations that create the animations. The boys loved seeing their designs light up!

There is a built-in easel so they can draw while the screen is lying flat or standing up and easily display their designs. I love that this product has such a large screen which allows both of my kids to create a masterpiece together. I enjoyed watching the boys explore how different colors mixed together, too.

I see this product being used for years to come. It works for them now but as they get older, and their drawing skills improve, I think they will really explore how to make their pictures animated with the lights. After finishing one drawing, the screen can be simply wiped clean and used again. I found a damp cloth works best on it since paper towels seemed to be too rough on the delicate screen. No need to worry about losing the markers because they store in the back of this Crayola toy, so they are always within reach.

Still looking for more gift ideas? Check out Crayola’s site!