Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Gift Guide - Younger Kiddos

EEEK! I am so excited about this post - gifts for younger kids are my absolute favorite to buy and while I don't have littles in my home anymore I definitely have some recommendations based on so many fun years of shopping for my own kids.

This mail carrier kit is DARLING and I LOVE anything that encouraged imaginative play. My kids would have eaten this set UP!

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Gift Guide - Boys

 

Okay, y'all.  Boys are up on the agenda today and I feel like I covered all my bases when it comes to tween/teen boys.  Mason has never been big into toys (he has always played with people, not toys) and Luke has aged out so, honestly, a lot of their picks are the same.

First up - the teen boy wardrobe staple items.  White crocs...


Monday, November 21, 2022

Gift Guide - Griffin

 Happy Monday, friends!  This week I'm going to be trying to cram in as many gift guides as I can as we all get ready to (hopefully) take advantage of some deals this week!


Today I'm sharing what I'm calling "Griffin's Gift Guide".  I feel like she's at this weird kind of "in between" phase where she still plays with American Girl dolls but is also asking for hoodies ;)

First up are  these DARLING Sanrio pouches.  If I'm being honest I really just want to order the set so I can steal the Keroppi one for myself ;)  She uses pouches like this for pens, pencils, little American Girl pieces when she's going to a friends house, etc.  I have a set of these myself and the quality is GREAT!  They wipe clean and are generously sized.


Thursday, November 17, 2022

Gift Guide - Favorite Things Party Ideas

Today I'm kicking off gift guides with some of my FAVORITES!  I know lots of y'all are going to favorite things party, doing gift exchanges with co-workers, looking for something under $20 for a friend, etc. and today I thought it would be fun to share some of my all-time FAVORITE under $20 gifts!  

First up are  these nylon bags... now hear me out ;)  They're CUUUUTE, incredibly sturdy and I've used mine daily since August to tote my lunch and other gear back and forth to school and they look brand new.  They're $36 for the back of three which makes them a great price point to split up and they each fold up into their own little carrying pouch.  There are TONS of patterns available but I'm partial to the smileys ;)


Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Guide

  Mother's Day is just around the corner and today I'm sharing a few last minute gift ideas for the moms in your life and/or to email to someone as a hint for yourself :)

I just got a couple of  these night shirts and am in absolute LOVE! The quality is awesome, the patterns are so pretty and they're incredible soft.  They're 100% cotton and don't have any stretch but have that "clean sheets" feel which I love.


I recently threw out all my bathrobes because they were all "pilly" and just worn out looking and also made me super hot so I just cut my losses and ordered this beauty...

 

... it has fantastic reviews and I'm hopeful it will be a cozy layer without being fleecy and hot.

I LOVE getting perfume as a gift because it can be expensive and not always something that feels like a priority when shopping for myself.  I started wearing  Bright Crystal a couple of years ago and I love it so much!  It's bright and summery and not "too much" while still being noticeable. 




A couple of years ago I got a few hydrangea plants for Mother's Day and this year I got a few new viburnum bushes.  I love the idea of having a gift that is a gift year after year.  Mine are way smaller than this but I hope they look like this in years to come! (photo)


Along these lines would be a beautiful flower pot with flowers or a fern in it.  Those can be SO EXPENSIVE and building a little collection of beautiful pots year by year could be a really sweet and special tradition.

These pots are stunning....





Y'all know how much I love an Allie and Bess bracelet :)  Mother's Day would be the perfect time to add a couple of pieces (or start a collection).  How sweet would it be to get a matching bracelet for you and your mom, or you and your daughter.  Their bracelets are such amazing quality and are ones that I reach for daily.  Don't forget you can use the code ANDREA20 for 20% off!


Since we're talking jewelry... I get asked about this necklace ALL THE TIME.   The chain and all the charms are by Waxing Poetic and I've had them for years and LIVE in them and they still look perfect.  They also have GORGEOUS earrings that would make a really special gift as well.  I wear a few pairs from there all the time.


While nothing can beat a "real massage" I can personally attest to the magic that is  this massage gun :)  A have a co-worker who's a chiropractor and he recommended this to me and it has been everything he told me it would be plus more.  It's incredible powerful, charges with a USB and is teeny.


A linen pillow from Sugarboo would be a fun item to get/gift.  There are lots of special patterns and they're super unique.


If you're local and need to order flowers for your mom, mother-in-law, friend, etc. I can't say enough great things about  Abundant Floral Design!  She can do any scale project and she grows and/or locally sources everything she uses.  Their family is PRECIOUS as well!



For the last several years I've been collecting  dessert/side plates from Anthropologie.  I love it because Dave can take the kids to Anthro (my FAVORITE!) and let them each pick a plate that they think I'll love (or that they love!) and it kind of reins them in a bit with their selections :)
The best part is that now I have this mismatched set of plates that we use daily for breakfast, dessert, etc.  I also love pulling them out when I entertain and having a pretty assortment. 



Other easy ideas are a game/puzzle to play/complete as a family, a day of family fun that's already planned/organized, a Bogg bag (if you can track one down) and a large framed photo or canvas. 

I'd love to know what special gifts you've given/received on Mother's Day!  Let me know in the comments!

HAPPY Thursday, friends!!!

PS - this post contained affiliate links... thank you so much for reading/supporting my blog!

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Spring Gift Guide: Toddlers

Happy Thursday, friends!  Today I'm sharing a few fun ideas for Spring birthdays, Easter baskets and any other occasions you may be shopping for the younger crowd in your life :) 

First up is a spring staple at our house -  a big ol' box of chalk!  I still give at least one of my kids this box in their Easter basket and somehow it gets used up every year.  You're NEVER too old for somechalk!


Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Spring Gift Guide: Boys

Happy Tuesday, friends!!! Today I'm sharing a few gift ideas for Spring birthdays, Easter baskets, etc.  My boys are a bit older now (and harder to shop for) so I'm hoping y'all find these ideas helpful and then next week I'll share ideas for younger kids!

First up is my go-to Spring gift...  this set of playground balls.  My kids LOVE THESE!!!  They're perfect for kickball, dodgeball, all the trampoline games and everything in between.  They last forever and are fun for a wide variety of ages.


Thursday, February 24, 2022

Spring Gifts - Girls

Happy Thursday, friends! Irony of all ironies I'm finishing up this post while it's sleeting outside and school is canceled ;) Spring Break is just around the corner and I feel like after that the "end of the year" ball starts rolling and I just have to hold on and hope for the best.  I'm going to share Spring Gift Guides for girls, boys and toddlers in case you're shopping for birthdays, Easter baskets, etc.  This year Griffin's birthday will fall on Easter (all three of my kids have had Easter bdays now!) and so I've already started putting gifts away for the next couple of months.

First up -  this swimsuit!  I ordered this for Griffin and it is puff-sleeve PERFECTION!  It runs true to size and the colors are just as good in person.  It's absolutely darling and I love that it provides a little extra shoulder protection for long days in the sun.


Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Last-Minute Women's Gift Guide

The only gift guide I haven't done (up until today) is for women!  Moms, sisters, friends, YOU... today I'm sharing lots of my personal FAVORITE things that would make a great gift for lots of the ladies on your lists.

First up - Colleen Rothschild products!  I've used her skincare daily for over 3 years and couldn't love it more.  I have suuuuper sensitive skin and her products do what they say they're going to do and NEVER irritate my face which is rare.  

The Discovery Kit is on sale today and would be a PERFECT gift for anyone who hasn't tried Colleen Rothschild before or travels often.  The kit includes 6 of her best products as well as a muslin cloth and really pretty cosmetic bag.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Gift Guide: Teachers

Happy Thursday, friends! Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite things to give (and receive!) as a teacher.





Maybe it's just me but I go through notebooks like CRAZY. I'm constantly taking notes, making lists, etc. and a pretty one like this would be such a great gift.


If you have a teacher who enjoys a cup of coffee (or tea!) this mug has amazing reviews and would be great alone or with a package of k-cups, coffee shop gift card, etc.


I LOVE giving out stickers and am constantly on the lookout for new fun ones. This roll of smileys is SUPER cute!


This is my favorite hand cream of all time and with all of the hand washing that's been going on I think it would be a much appreciated gift. The smell is SO GOOD but not over powering and it's a shea butter cream so it lasts a long time without feeling greasy.

These are hands down the BEST pens out there and I can't think of a single teacher who wouldn't love to receive a package of these :)


My favorite teacher gift to give and receive. $5 to Sonic or Starbucks... A Baskin Robins gift card to take their kids out for ice cream or a Cinemark card to check out a movie with their kids over break. Write a note, pop the card in the envelope and call it a day! I know gift cards get a bad wrap for being impersonal but I think if you pick a place that you know a teacher loves or write a note about enjoying a meal with their family it can make it super personal and special.


If you have a middle or high school student, want to get their teachers a gift but are overwhelmed with your student having a LOT of teachers you could always find a few other parents who want to go in together and gift each teacher a card.


A s'mores kit, bag of candy/popcorn for movie night, board game, etc. would be so fun for a teacher with kids. 


A couple of things that I forgot about while making my graphic...


I feel like the description is enough said :) With SO MUCH TIME being spent on the computer I can't think of a single teacher who wouldn't love a heated shoulder and neck massage - myself included!


I included this in my guide from last year as well because it's seriously one of my favorite things ever. Our campus is outdoors so when it rains it can be a huge pain in the butt but this umbrella makes life so much easier! It's essentially "inside out" so when you collapse it the water stays "inside" the umbrella instead of getting all over you, your car, the floor, etc.


HAPPY gifting, friends!!!

PS - this post contained affiliate links - thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Gift Guide - Toddlers

Today I'm sharing some gift ideas for toddlers, but in reality a lot of these would be great for toddlers through elementary-aged kids depending on their interests.


Sometimes the simple gifts are the very best and  a roll of craft paper with a holder is honestly one of the most-used items at our house and has been for years.  Whether it's finger-painting with toddlers, tic-tac-toe games with older kids or even scratch paper for Algebra homework this is a gift that EVERYONE needs at their house. 

There are a few items of my kids that I have kept from when they were younger and have no intention of getting rid of and our  Thomas the Train track and trains are one of those items.  My kids played with these CONSTANTLY and it's still the first thing that my nephews get out when they come over.  

We have a white play table and chairs that is currently living in our attic because it's something (again) that I want to hold onto.  My kids ate meals, did play dough, colored and created so many memories at our table.  This table and chairs set looks great!

These wellies are so cute and they last FOREVER!  This color is perfect for hand-me-downs as well and would be such a cute gift with a little umbrella for puddle splashing on rainy days.

Duplos and  Magnatiles are also all-time-favorites.  The more pieces you have the more you can build, they're great for tons of ages and they're pieces that you'll keep for years and years. 

One of G's favorite gifts were pink scrubs and a  doctor's kit.  Also - one of my FAVORITE games to play when they were little and I was exhausted was "check-up" where I would lay on the couch and they would give me a check-up and then prescribe rest.  hahahaha. This doctor's coat and stethoscope would be a great gift for you AND your kids :)

This doll has great reviews, comes with several accessories and is a perfect size.  The price is fantastic and there's also  a set of twins that is super sweet as well.

This retro record player and  cash register are exactly what I played with as a kid and I love the nostalgia!

My boys both had  these tricycles and they're the best because they're low and the seat adjusts backward and forward to accommodate kids of all ages/sizes.  It's easy to pedal and comes in lots of fun colors. 

It wouldn't be a gift guide without a jellycat stuffed animal.  This bear is PRECIOUS and, honestly, I want it for myself.  Jellycats are hands down the best stuffed animals out there - they're soft and wash well and last forever. 

These gears are another go-to-gift... perfect for little engineers and fun for assisting adults as well :)

Chunkies paint sticks are so much fun! Perfect for smaller hands (and great with that large roll of paper from above!)

This Ice cream set is one of my favorite toys ever.  Perfect for imaginative play and comes with the cutest menu that kids can use to create cones and would be great with the cash register as well!

If you don't have  a play kitchen that would be at the top of my gift list.  We had one in our kitchen for YEARS and it was one of the most-played-with items in our house.  This one is super cute and a great price as well.

How sweet are  these town blocks?  Would be great to go along with hot wheels cars, dolls, etc. 

I've seen  this treehouse at Target before and it is SO GOOD!  If my kids were younger it would 1000% be under our tree this year.  

HAPPY Wednesday and happy shopping, friends!!!

PS - this post contains affiliate links... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

Monday, November 15, 2021

Gift Guide: Boys

 Happy Monday, friends!  Today I'm sharing my gift guide for boys!  I always find boys stuff to be way harder to shop for so I'm excited for these finds :)

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Gift Guides: Girls

 

EEEEK!  Today is one of my FAVORITE posts of the year!  I LOVE shopping for girls gifts and sharing some of the things that Griffin is loving right now.  If you're shopping for a younger girl you can check out my girls gift guides from 202020192018 and 2017I've also shared a gift guide for toddlers  HERE and teen/tween girls  HERE.


I bought  this drawing book a couple of weeks ago and was SO IMPRESSED when it arrived!  I love that it shows different handwriting styles (block letters, etc.) for her to work on a well. 

Volleyball has been the hot topic at our house lately and I have my eye on  this rebounder (it has great reviews) and  this net is super similar to the one we have and love (which is unavailable now).  These nets are great because they're portable and are perfect for backyard practice.  This volleyball is the one that she uses and she may need an extra color for practice as well ;)

I LOVE gifting games (you can check out our favorite card games  HERE and board games  HERE) and  this math game is on it's way to our house right now! I love that it works on mental math skills and that it's geared toward that later-elementary/early-middle school age group.

Barbies aren't at the top of my list (ALL THE TINY PIECES!) but they're at the top of Griffin's and I totally had  this camper as a kid and so nostalgia won me over ;)

I feel like headbands are this years scrunchies and  this set has every color ever and the price point is great.

I'm not sure Griffin is quite at the tumbling level yet to require  an airtrack but on the other hand having one may help her be able to practice at home.  Either way - I think they're one of the coolest things EVER and a gift that would get a ton of use.

I've declared my love for OOLY art supplies repeatedly and  this set of duo markers is one of our faves.  I love that they come in a case that makes them easy to tote to church, games, etc.

Speaking of toting things to games and church how PRESH is  this little mini backpack?  A friend of mine bought her girls these to keep their Bibles in with pens and such as their church bags and I think that's the cutest idea ever.

Griffin got  this robe for pj day at school and it's on repeat over here.  The pattern is so cute!

I've heard lots of fun things about  Blingle Bands and I think Griffin is going to FLIP over this little set!

These earrings (and their packaging) is OH SO CUTE and after having her ears pierced for over a year G is finally ready to start changing out her earrings so I've been on the hunt for fun ones for her.  These are a little on the expensive side but if they don't get her ears infected I'm willing to pay $8000 for a pair :)  (kidding, but there is NOTHING worse than trying to deal with little girls with sore ears)

We love painting rocks and I love that  this kit comes with everything you need - even the rocks!

This is the bike that Griffin got for her birthday and it's somehow even cuter in person.  It's great quality and is a bike that she'll be able to ride for lots of years.

I'm not going to pretend that I understand the hype behind  pop-its... I just don't get it.  But they all love them and  this set of 4 is a great deal.

I buy puzzles for my kids but really they're just gifts for me since puzzles are my favorite :)  This one is really fun and we listened to some great music while we did it.

I showed  this baby on my instagram stories because I was SO IMPRESSED with it and I am seriously so excited to give it to G for Christmas.  She's been all about babies lately and she's going to LOVE this one. It's realistic, has some "heft" to it and is a soft body.

A caboodle is always a great gift idea - alone or filled with fun hair ties, scrunchies, lip gloss, etc.  I also think they make a great art caddy filled with markers, a note pad, stickers, etc.

I add  this microphone to every gift guide because it's SO MUCH FUN!  It acts like a bluetooth speaker as well and is something that Griffin uses and plays with all the time.

Griffin got  this ballet barre a few years ago and it's one of her favorite things.  It's easy to move around and adjust and will grow with her which I love.

Would it even be Christmas without Legos?  Griffin loves Lego friends and  this set is so much fun.

Last, but not least - books!  I LOVED Babysitters Club when I was growing up and am crazy about this boxed set of original cover books.  They come in a cute little tin as well which makes it even sweeter!

HAPPY Thursday and happy shopping, friends!!!  

PS - this post contained affiliate links... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Gift Guide: Guys

I'm kicking off Christmas gift guides today with the one that I typically put off until the very end - GUYS!

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Gift Guide for Women

 I realize that this is pretty much my 75th blog post for the week BUT I really wanted to get this up before Black Friday (because SALES!) so here we go!

You can shop any of the items by clicking on them in the graphic below.


You can shop any of the items by clicking on them in the graphic below.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Gift Guide For Boys

Sharing some gifts today that would be perfect for any little boys (or girls!) on your shopping list this season.




Luke has a set of these Keva planks and they're super well made and their simple design lends itself to all kinds of building projects.  Buildings, roads, garages, etc.

This is one of our FAVORITE family games.  We learned how to play it at family camp a few years ago and it's a weekly play at our house.

My boys got a laser tag set a couple of years ago and it's brought TONS of entertainment for them and their friends. They can play with each other or with a group and it's great indoors or out.

Luke is getting one of the larger Spheros for Christmas and I CAN'T WAIT for him to open it.  I've heard great things about it from teacher friends and it looks like so much fun!  The sphero mini looks like a great option as well!

Mason has been asking to wear my apple watch because he wants to see how many steps he's taking and know what time it is (so cute!) and the Garmin has great reviews.  It can keep track of chores and tasks as well and I think Mason will love it!

Mason got the star projector earlier this year and it's one of the coolest things I've ever bought.  It projects a GORGEOUS starry sky onto the ceiling and is so much fun!

This set of 6 playground balls is under $30 and is one of my kids most played with items.  Kickball, basketball, on the trampoline, wall ball... they use these daily.  We've gifted sets to friends and they're just an old school, fun gift.

Because it wouldn't be a gift guide without some Legos on it :)  Both of my boys have a few different sets on their list this Christmas and I am Legos #1 fan!

This magnetic race track can be built in a ton of different configurations and comes with two electric cars that care on the track.  It's compatible with other picasso tiles which are great for tons of ages.

My boys LOVE NERF guns and I think that this would be a fun way to play that doesn't involve shooting each other (or me!) hahaha

My kids got these a few years ago and they LOVE THEM!  They're super fun to ride and are adjustable so they're great for kids of varying ages.

Mason has had these in two different sizes and they are RIGHT UP HIS ALLEY!  They are for sure a statement piece but if you have a kid who likes to make a statement they may be right up their alley as well :) 

Mason has had these before and he really enjoyed coloring and building them.

My boys love playing with Lego sets but they also love to tear them apart and build "scenes" with all of their pieces.  These big base plates are what they use to build their scenes on and they love receiving these.

This R/C car can go on all kinds of surfaces and has great reviews!

Another pick that's great for lots of different ages.  My boys will take turns stoping and catching the rockets and we've had lots of competitions to see who can get it to go the farthest.

This book makes stop motion super easy and I LOVE IT when my kids get creative and make them.

Osmo Pizza is a game that you can use with the OSMO base (for your iPad) where the kids have to take orders, create the pizzas and then make change as people pay for their orders.  The difficulty increases as you pay and the math can be pretty challenging which I think is awesome.  You can read more about why we love OSMO in THIS POST.

Zoob are one of our favorite gifts to give for birthday parties because EVERY KID loves them.  They're easy to build with and flexible when they're connected.  They're awesome.

This is another go-to gift... it lights up, turns off automatically when you're not using it and the basketball itself is great quality.

Luke LOVED this series and it's one of his all-time FAVORITES.  Mason is BIG into Captain Underpants (and Diary of a Wimpy Kid) right now and I think a book series always makes a great gift.

 Snap Circuits involve building models of working electrical circuits and kids can follow the guide book to create circuits that make things move, light up, make noise, launch things, etc. or (once they're a little more comfortable) make their own creations.

HAPPY Wednesday, friends!!!

PS - this post contained affiliate links... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

Monday, November 16, 2020

Gift Guide - Girls

This is one of my FAVORITE posts of the season!  Girls gifts are so much fun!

You can click on any of the images to shop or click on the link in the descriptions below.



 - SWITCHEROO MARKERS -

We LOVE Ooly art products and these switcheroo markers are so much fun!

This set looks soooo pretty on a shelf and ifs perfect if you have a book lover on your hands. 

I've pondered this gift for Griffin for a few years and I think this year I'm going to pull the trigger on it.  She LOVES to play music and is constantly taking the iPad up to her room to listen to music and I think that this would be so much fun for her!

This bag lasts FOREVER and comes in a ton of great colors.  We love that it zips all the way to the bottom and I think with a notebook and some markers and stickers in it it would be such a cute (and practical) gift.

This bracelet kit is colorful and comes in a cute bag and is right up Griffin's alley.

Griffin is asking for all American Girl doll things for Christmas.  Dolls, accessories, clothes, etc.  

This is one of my favorite things to gift to elementary school aged girls.  It can change your voice, connect to a phone and act as a speaker and holds charge forever!

This is such a sweet little series for early-elementary aged girls.

These little mice are toys that Griffin reaches for over and over again.  They're heirloom quality and she likes to take a couple of them in her purse when we go to church, dinner, etc.

Griffin got a really sweet banana seat bike a couple of years ago but when she needs a larger bike I think that these cruisers are SO MUCH FUN!

These books are so much fun and the perfect no-mess craft time.  The pictures turn out so pretty and it's great hand-eye coordination practice as well.

We're huge OSMO fans - the integration of screens and hands on learning can't be beat and this new game looks like it would be perfect for early elementary.

I feel like "rainbow plush" says it all :)  Plus, it's Jellycat brand which are the softest plush toys you can get!

Such a cute idea!  Perfect for your little artists!

Griffin would FLIP for these sequin UGGS :) She wears her glitter UGGS from last year constantly and tif you buy up a size (or two!) they'll last for at least two seasons.

This purse is half off right now and the sequin-fill is so fun!

I'm not sure anything says little girls Christmas like a set of Lip Smackers :)  This set has 24 flavors and would be perfect paired with the little sequin heart purse.

Mudpuppy puzzles are Griffin's favorites and they couldn't be cuter.  The 500 piece ones are manageable for kids to do on their own and we've given this one as a gift several times.

I've heard great things about these kits and this one looks perfect for kids!

We made red, white and blue friendship pins last summer and had a blast and this kit has everything G would need to make more for her own backpack and for friends as well.

Qwirkle is one of our Top 10 family games and is perfect for kids of various ages.

Griffin got this ice cream truck from her grandparents for her birthday and it was a HUGE hit!  The price point is great and it comes with one million accessories (which is great and a pain hahaha)

Light boards are so much fun for tracing and learning to draw.  My kids love tracing pictures out of books and making them into their own pictures and cards.

Griffin LOVES to bake and I know she would be all about this cake pop maker.  It has great reviews and makes me feel brave about letting her do the melting chocolate and sprinkles :) 

I'd love to know any other ideas y'all have for the girls on your lists!

PS - this post contained affiliate links... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Toddler Gift Guide

 Toddler gifts are some of my FAVORITES and I'm so excited to share this list!!!  I tend to go for non-electronic, long lasting toys that encourage creative play so here we go!

 


Teacher Gift Guide

Today I'm sharing gift ideas for teachers!


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