We are headed into the full-swing shopping season now that our Thanksgiving celebrations are complete and I'm thinking it'd be a good time for a giveaway. Take a look at these most excellent gift idea suggestions and then enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card, so you can pick up one or more of thse for yourself or your loved ones! Each of these items are true blue items I love, that have been in my house, by choice, on one or more occasions.
1. FAO Schwarz! This is my all-time favorite toy store in the whole-wide-world! Yes, I think of the movie 'BIG' with Tom Hanks, but I also think of Christmas, and nostalgia and wonderful gift ideas for the holiday. This year, we have the 12" Hedgicorn Plush Stuffed Toy with LED lights and sounds.
This cute little unicorn/hedgehog hybrid is the perfect size for kids, big enough to tote around, and small enough not to take up too much room. It also has an easy to trigger sound and light system that even the youngest of kids can use. Just give Hedigcorn a little squeeze and he will light up and play music. The perfect way to get little ones to go to sleep. Just demonstrate how they can use their new toy for a nightlight any time they need one, and a cuddly friend to keep them company as well.
Then there's the cute factor. Your little one is going to love it, as are you, because it's adorable and guaranteed to get an 'awww' from my little loved ones. Finally, there is the quality. This is a high-quality toy, as are all toys sold at FAO Schwarz. It is 'designed from scratch with tough and secure stitching and fine attention to detail.'
Take a look at the FAO Schwarz website.
So many wonderful gift ideas to choose from for the little ones in your family.
I cannot remember a Christmas without at least one VTech item under the Christmas Tree and this year it is going to be this VTech Pop and Spin Mower Toy. If you have a small child in the house, you know this is just the kind of toys kids love. In addition to having interactive phrases and light, it also has a selection of sing-along songs. We'd expect nothing less from VTech as they always go above and beyond with awesome kid-loving features.
- Pull the cord just like a real lawn mower to hear mowing sounds; push the mower to see the pretend blade spin and the multicolored beads pop
- Sit and play with the roller and five light-up buttons that explore garden tools, gardening, colors and music
- A bright yellow caution button introduces lawn mower safety including avoiding hard objects and turning it off before cleaning
- Intended for ages 2-5 years; requires 2 AA batteries; batteries included for demo purposes only; new batteries recommended for regular use
Check out the VTech Kids website to learn more and to see many more wonderful gift ideas.
The zoo-animals love playing peekaboo! Can you spy with your little eye where these fun-loving animals need to go? Choose a challenge and try to stack the right cubes as shown on the challenge card. Peek-A-Zoo is a great educational game for pre-schoolers to practice language skills, learn about colours, animals, and concepts as above, below, inside and outside. This educational game is made of qualitative, durable cardboard and is easy to store and take with you wherever you go.
Nothing flimsy is found with Smartmax toys that are heavy and heavy duty. These are the kind of toys that survive generations and they stand out amongst toys in the same category because of their exceptional quality. This particular set is the Roboflex Plus. It is magnetic and many of the pieces can bend or extend. Recommended for ages 3+
Create even more robots with Roboflex Plus! Get creative and make your own colorful, crazy robot friends. The new, flexible, extendable magnetic bars add an extra dimension to the SmartMax playset. Choose your parts, bend, extend, assemble, and play! Will your robot fly, jump, grab, wobble, or drive?
This twenty-piece set (including an inspirational poster) helps develop fine motor and creative STEM skills. Roboflex Plus can be combined with all other SmartMax sets. Are you ready to meet these flexible friends?
Check out the SmartToys website to learn more about these
and the many other children's toys they have for sale.
Each year I have considered getting a DoodleJamz drawing pad and this year I went ahead and did it. It's cute, with a squishy gel face that allows you to move the beads around to create drawings on the screen. It uses non-toxic materials and it reminds me of finger painting, but without the mess. :)
Recommended for ages 3+
LUGZ!!! Every one of my grown kids has Lugz shoes/boots in their home, and I've had and loved them too. Just like one of the toys mentioned above, I can't remember a Christmas without Lugz under the tree. It's just a matter of deciding who to gift them to, and this year my daughter and son-in-law are going to be the recipients who get to enjoy some new Lugz this year.
These Steel-Toe 6-inch Drifter boots for men are going to belong to my son-in-law. Hopefully he will love the rich walnut color and the sturdy construction of these boots for work. He deserves to be spoiled for the holiday, and this is a good way to do so. What guy wouldn't love to find a pair of these high quality, attractive boots from Lugz?
My daughter won't be surprised with this gray/white marble (or is more like a tie-dye?) print Clipper shoe from Lugz because she picked them out!! She said she wanted some new shoes, so I told her to pick a pair out and let me know and I'd give them to her with her holiday gifts. She chose these, and I was delighted because it is a brand we know and love. Yes, Lugz makes sneakers and slip-on shoes too!
These easy slip-on style shoes are perfect for my daughter who has two toddlers and is always on the move. No more having to worry about shoestrings, she can just balance (and I say balance because she'll probably have one of my sweet granddaughters on her hip), slip her feet in and go. Sturdy canvas makes them easy to keep clean too because you can just throw them in the washer.
Visit the Lugz website and check out the shoe and boot collection for men and women.
This is a useful and welcome gift to give for the adults on your holiday shopping list
(and they have selections for kids as well!).
This UBER Chill mini refrigerator holds 6 cans. It keeps them hot or cold and you can take it on the go, which makes it perfect for camping or road trips.
I'll be gifting this to my nephew for his desk at work. He works long hours, and is always very busy, so busy he often skips lunch or snacks. With this mini fridge by his side, he can grab a snack or drink and just keep working. It's a small gesture to remind him I am thinking of him and always on the lookout for his well-being (a man's gotta eat/drink!). I'm sure when he takes his lil' darling to the park for an all-day family outing, this will be coming along as well.
Features:
Benefits:
- Great for the Office or bed side table to keep drinks and snacks cool and in arms reach or even as a coffee station fridge to keep coffee creamer cool
- Keeps baby formula and breast milk for pumping moms cool or warm in a nursery or at the office
- Awesome as a Beauty fridge extending the life of cosmetics and cooling facial masks for a fresh depuffing feel
- For the Man Cave, Garage or by your gaming system!
- In the car on the go for long road trips using the 12v plug in
Check out the Uber Appliance website to see more gift giving ideas.
The 20V Worx Portable Air Compressor is something I wrote about earlier in the year. I can't tell you how many times we have used this since it came into our lives and when I took it out yesterday to fill up a basketball, I said to myself that I was going to include it in my holiday gift guide...and here it is!! This is a wonderful gift idea. Perfect for bringing along in the car for air tires, or to keep at home for things like pumping up the air mattress (for holiday guests, sports balls, bicylcle tires, etc.). It comes with 3 adapters and has a 3-foot long high pressure hose.
Worx has a whole array of gift ideas to buy for the people on your list.
Power tools, crafting tools, and even lawn/garden selections, it is a one-stop shop
for so many people you are looking to find gifts for still.
Visit Worx to learn more.
OH my goodness, you've probably seen the Time Life TV Informercials where they share these DVD sets. I will sit and just listen to them sometimes because I love to hear the music clips that come up. Songs I forgot I knew and loved once upon a time and those commercials make me feel some kind of way! I love that kind of nostalgia.
If you have music lovers on your list, these gift sets are a wonderful idea. You can get pay the one-time reasonable cost (reasonable because you get so much music) or you can break it down into payments, which can be convenient this time of year.
Amazing Grace-country singers singing traditional favorites
Inspirational songs have always been an important part of country music. Now for the very first time, you can enjoy live performances of the greatest country artists performing songs of faith and hope, all in one collection. From George Jones and Loretta Lynn to Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and Randy Travis. All these top country stars and so many more are together in one inspiring collection.
Amazing Grace - Country Stars Sing Songs Of Faith And Hope 10-DVD Collector’s Set includes:
- Live performances of gospel songs, beloved hymns, inspirational pop songs, and patriotic favorites by top country stars including Alabama, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, The Statler Brothers, Randy Travis, Josh Turner and dozens more.
- Bonus Performances include Alabama's Randy Owen singing "Amazing Grace" with his mother and Marty Stuart singing "Keep On The Sunny Side" with the Carter family.
- Interviews with artists including Vince Gill, George Jones, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Statler Brothers, Marty Stuart, Josh Turner, and more.
- 36-page collector’s booklet filled with photos, artist quotes, and liner notes about the music.
- 2 FREE Bonus DVDs of Opry Gospel Classics. Rarely seen historic performances from the archives of the Grand Ole Opry by Johnny Cash, The Hee Haw Gospel Quartet, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Porter Wagoner, and many more.
For the Rock 'n Roll lovers on your shopping list, this Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Concert Set is nothing short of spectacular.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: In Concert brings together the very best performances from 34 years of induction ceremonies. You’ll see poignant reunions, one-of-a-kind collaborations, moving and often hilarious induction speeches, and so many unforgettable performances.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: In Concert is the biggest and best video music collection Time Life has ever produced, and only Time Life and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame could have put something like this together.
- 201 Total performances!
- 22 performances from 2018 and 2019 that have never been available before by artists including Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Roxy Music, Stevie Nicks, The Cars, The Cure, The Moody Blues, The Zombies, and more.
Austin City Limits is the longest-running music show in television history, and since the beginning it has held a special connection to country music. Beloved by artists and fans alike, Austin City Limits is known for authentic music presented in live and uncut performances. This collection has been hand-selected from over 40 years of Austin City Limits archives to find the greatest country performances.
Austin City Limits Country brings together 5 decades of country’s greatest artists from legends like Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins and Buck Owens to superstars like Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, and Randy Travis plus today’s greats including Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, and Brad Paisley. Plus, Austin City Limits Country includes once-in-a-lifetime collaborations like Sheryl Crow and Kris Kristofferson singing “Me and Bobby McGee” and Emmylou Harris singing “Crazy” along with Willie Nelson who wrote the song.
- 164 live, uncut performances from 1974 – 2018 featuring country legends and superstars performing their biggest hits
Visit the Time Life website to see these and other music and TV sets.
Books!! Every year, I gift books. I wanted to feature this children's book because it is author Steven F. Miskimen's debut children's book. It's always inspiring to see someone living out their dream instead of just wishing about it, and that is what Miskimen has done with this cute book that follows the daily adventure of Digger the Dog.
Every day Digger wakes up and goes for a daily walk in the bright sun to look for places to do his favorite thing: digging holes! One morning when Digger wakes up and sees dark clouds and rain instead of the sun, he decides to go on his walk anyway. After he jumps in one puddle after another, a soaking wet Digger heads to the park. Will he find a good place to dig despite the rain? In this charming children's tale, a dog with a passion for digging sets out on a great rainy day adventure around his neighborhood to find a place to create a new hole.
Digger's Rainy Day is available on Amazon.
EATS AND TREATS
I wanted to give a mention to Tidbits and Johnson's Popcorn. This has been my go-to for work and family get-togethers and for making donations to the local food eatery where we used to volunteer to help feed those who are having trouble making ends meet.
What if I said you could overindulge in a little sweet tooth delight without having any guilt? These delicious treats are less than 2 calories per little meringue snack. They come in so many delicious flavors like strawberry, chocolate, cotton candy and more. Even the packaging is eco-friendly. Tidbits has really thought of everything.
A staple on the Ocean City, New Jersey Boardwalk since the 1940s, these days you can buy this classic Johnson's Popcorn online. A large variety of flavors and if you're shopping for the holidays, you can pick up one of their pretty holiday tins. Flavored popcorn is always a hit when there's a crowd.
In honor of great items like all of those above, and holiday shopping ('tis the season!) one lucky winner is going to get a $100 Amazon Gift Card to do some shopping of their own.
Worldwide Entries (wherever Amazon gift codes are accepted).