Holiday Gift Guide 2009

I’ve struggled with this list because kids come in such a range of ages and interests, so this list is by no means exhaustive. Once again, my gift guide is compiled mostly from things we have and love or things that are on our wish lists.

If you’re looking for a special gift to set under the tree for that special child in your life, bypass the cheap plastic crap made in China and give an heirloom handmade gift like this Child Activity Workbench or this gorgeous black walnut Doll Highchair.  BRMill’s Etsy shop is chock full of gorgeous handmade wood toys and furniture.  If you have something in mind, and it’s not in his shop, he takes special orders.

Easel. If your child doesn’t have a sturdy wood easel such as this one, this makes a wonderful gift to set out in front of the tree on Christmas morning.  We have several products by KidKraft, and I’ve always been pleased.

The Wave Original Street Surfing Board.  We have this, and I admit that it has not exactly been a hit with my son, but that’s because he is more into sports and games.  The boys across the street have one of these, and they are on it a lot, and I think it looks like a cool toy, so I decided to include it.  I’m all for anything that gets kids outside and active.

Zyclone.  Speaking of outdoor fun, the Zyclone is a fun foam flying toy that will appeal to the younger set.  I reviewed it here.

Loving Family Minivan.  This is on my 4-year-old daughter’s wish list.  She has the Loving Family Dollhouse, and she plays with her Barbie car a lot, so I think the minivan will be a hit.

Bitty Baby.  My girls both have one of these, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.  They are so well-made and so precious.  They do not make noises or wet themselves or eat or produce any other manner of bodily functions.  They are simply dolls with soft bodies and sweet faces and eyes that open and close.  You can choose from a few combinations of skin and hair and eye color to suit your desires, and beyond that, your child’s imagination is the limit.  There are a plethora of clothes and accessories to compliment the doll that provide an infinite number of gift ideas for friends and family.  Or, of course, you can use generic accessories from other vendors, as the doll is a typical 15-inch size.

Maggie Leigh Magnetic Dress-Up.  I’m a fan of just about anything by Melissa & Doug.  I saw this at ToysRUs a few weeks ago and immediately put it on my 4-year-old’s Christmas list.  I think she’d love it.  It’s like a modern day paper doll set.

Other Melissa and Doug toys that we have and love are the Cutting Food Box and the Pizza Party and the Farm Sound Puzzle, to name just a few.  Honestly, you can’t go wrong with Meliss and Doug ANYTHING.

Style Lab: Jewelry Design.  If your daughter has a Nintendo DS, she will love this.  This game allows tweens and teens to design their own jewelry that they can then purchase for real outside of the game.  How cool is that!?

Rock Band.  I’ve been thinking of getting this as a group gift for my kids.  It looks like a blast.

Green Toys. I love this company.  Last year I received their Gardening Kit for review.  All of their toys are “made in the U.S.A. from recycled plastic milk containers that save energy, reduce landfill waste, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, all in the name of good green fun.”  And there you have it.

Pop Beads. This is the perfect gift for the child who doesn’t yet have the fine motor skills to string beads but wants to make fun jewelry.  It comes in a sturdy container with a screw-on top that conveniently houses all the little pieces.  Both my girls still love playing with this toy.

Non-Toy Gift Ideas

I really try not to overdo it with the toys.  Here are some non-toy gift ideas for kids.

Bathrobes. My girls have been begging for bathrobes since before last Christmas.  This year, I do believe Santa has a few bathrobes in the making.  I have seen them at Target, Gap, and The Children’s Place.

Umbrella. This is another item both my girls have been begging for.  My 4-year-old got one for her birthday, and my 6-year-old wants one desperately.  One of Santa’s little elves whispered in my ear the other night that he might be making some umbrellas for Christmas gifts this year.

Games. Some of our favorite games are Uno Attack, Othello, Sorry!, and for the younger set, Candy Land Castle Game.

Play Doh. I know it’s not very original, but you just can’t go wrong with Play Doh.  In fact, anything by Crayola is a pretty safe bet.  I love companies that inspire creativity.

Piggy Bank. Every kid needs a place to collect their coins, and what better way to teach your kids to save?  My recommendation is to stick with piggy banks of the plastic variety.  Trust me, I know that of which I speak.

Sleeping Bag. Consider a cute character-inspired sleeping bag for the younger set, or a quality piece from Lands End that will outlast their childhood.

Musical Instrument.  My kids are begging to play musical instruments, and we may be making these a part of our Christmas gift giving this year.  I’m all for gifts that are both useful and exciting!

For my other Gift Guide posts, click on the button below (or the one on my sidebar.) I will be adding posts daily.

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As I said, my gift guide is very personal this year — all things we love, things we want, or things we are buying for people, so I’m including several items from my husband’s Amazon Wish List for this post.

If you have a photographer-wannabe living under your roof as I do, any of the digital photography books by Scott Kelby should be a sure hit.  From what I understand, they are very easy to read and follow, even for the very amateur photographer, and the advice is excellent.

Not only is my husband an aspiring photographer, he is also an aspiring guitarist.  This Intellitouch PT1 Tuner made his wish list, and I thought it might be a helpful gift idea for someone else.

My husband always complains about dry hands, and I always tell him if he’d wear gloves, it would help a lot.  There is NOTHING like a nice glove, for man or woman.  I saw these in an email I got from Saks, and I know they’re extravagant, but don’t they look DIVINE?  Oh hey, they’re on sale for a mere $136.  I can hear my husband croaking all the way from the office.  (Don’t worry, Dear, I won’t be buying these.)

For the man who travels, I thought this travel-ready alarm clock was pretty nifty.  And this Saks purchase is actually quite affordable.  My dad always asks to borrow an alarm clock when he comes to my house to visit.  If I thought he’d actually bring it with him, I’d get this for him.

My husband absolutely loves his Leatherman.  He carries it with him everywhere he goes, and it comes in handy at the most unexpected times.  This all-in-one tool makes a great gift for the DIY guy (or gal.)

So this gift could be for him or her, but I’m putting it in the For Him section because we were going to get one for my FIL before he went out and bought one for himself.  You can’t go wrong with a GPS by Garmin.  Well, unless they already have a navigational device of some sort.  My mom gave one to me for Christmas last year, and I love it.  I did a thorough review here.

If you REALLY want to spoil him, I hear the PlayStation 3 is phenomenal.  We have PS2 and Wii, so we won’t be investing in the PS3 anytime soon, but it sure would be nice to have the Blu-Ray.  Our current DVD player was the $30 model from Target, and it leaves quite a lot to be desired.

I always struggle the most with buying for the men in my life, especially the fathers.  What about you?  What are you getting for the men on your list this year?

For my other Gift Guide posts, click on the button below (or the one on my sidebar.) I will be adding posts daily.

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This post is for the guys out there.  Ladies, you may have to pass this along to your man because let’s face it, this blog doesn’t exactly appeal to the male contingency on the ‘Net.

Gentlemen (all two of you who read this blog, and husbands of my fair readers): I want to let you in on a little secret.  The woman you love wants to be pampered. Yes, she does.  EVERY woman likes to be pampered.  It’s all about knowing what it is that sets her heart on fire.  Is it bling?  Is it an event that you can share together?  Is she a gadget girl?  Or does she like to cozy up in front of the fire in luxurious loungewear?  I can’t help you there.  It’s up to you to figure out what she likes.  Then come back here, and I hope I have an idea that will inspire you to pamper your sweetheart this holiday season.

Cashmere. I’m a firm believer that every woman should own at least one piece of cashmere.  I’m particularly fond of JCrew’s cashmere sweaters — like how about this zip-front hoodie?  I’ve wanted one of these since I saw them last year.  It’s perfect to throw on over your favorite tank top or tissue-tee with a pair of jeans.  Or you can dress it up with an embellished top and a skirt or dressy pants.

Or this turtleneck.  I have two of these turtlenecks, and I wear them ALL the time in the winter.  So warm and soft and comfy.  DIVINE.

Ann Taylor has their cashmere turtlenecks on sale for $50 off this week.

Or if you don’t know what size she wears, you can’t go wrong with this ribbed cashmere scarf.  She can wear it with her winter coat to keep warm outside, or she can use it as an accessory to dress up her favorite t-shirt.  Cashmere is amazingly soft and sumptuous, and never scratchy.

Ugg Slippers.  I know this doesn’t sound particularly romantic, but I promise she will love you forever if you pamper her with the Coquette slipper by Ugg.  I’m telling you, I would live in these things if I could.  I tried them on in the store, and not only are they soft and fuzzy inside, but they instantly conform to your foot so it’s like you just grew a paw.  Unlike my Tar-jay knock-offs which come off my feet when I walk upstairs or take a turn too quickly.  I’m hoping to find a pair of these under MY Christmas tree this year.

Pajamas. There’s nothing like a brand spanking new pair of cute pjs.  Old Navy is my go-to store for pajamas.  They are cute, affordable, and they wear well.  And wouldn’t they go great with those cozy Ugg slippers up there?

Jewels. Of course jewelry is always a hit.  I’m a sucker for anything designed by Lisa Leonard, particularly her custom necklaces.  My friend has this one, and I admire it every time she wears it.

A Stylish Handbag. Now you should know I couldn’t do a post on gift ideas without including at least one handbag.  I discovered Teresa Cowley’s handbags from Arianne and Sara Sophia’s Eco Lovely Gift Guide (y’all should totally check this out, by the way!)  Aren’t these just gorgeous?

iPod Touch. When we got married almost 15 years ago, my husband promised never to buy me a gift that plugs in.  But I guess it’s safe to say we threw that rule out the window last Christmas when he surprised me with a MacBook.

In this day and age, some gals get as excited about electronics as the guys.  If your beloved is more of a gadget girl than a mall rat, get her an iPod Touch where she can keep all her favorite tunes and photos in one handy device.  She can also surf the net and download all kinds of cool apps to keep herself and her little ones busy as they wait in busy doctor’s offices and car rides.

A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Perhaps your sweetheart’s love language isn’t indulgent gifts.  Some women prefer to be pampered with activities or events that they can spend with their special someone.  (Is it wrong if you like all three?)  This morning I asked the ladies on Twitter, What is your favorite way to be pampered? The most popular answer, by far, was a massage, followed by a pedicure as a close second.  I know that when I get a gift certificate to my favorite spa or nail salon, I am one happy camper.  And this is SUCH an easy gift to give!

The gift of TIME. Is money tight this year?  Several of the answers on Twitter involved having time to themselves — to read, shop, or nap.  One year my husband gave me a handmade gift certificate for a day alone at the mall.  I posted about it on my blog, and the comments from the ladies blew my husband away.  He thought he was taking the easy way out, but they all thought he was wonderful.

OR.

Spend time with her.  Take her somewhere SHE wants to go.  Maybe it’s the Nutcracker, or to the movie theater to see New Moon (I know, gag, but whatever floats her boat, ya know?), or for a drive around the neighborhood to admire the Christmas lights.  For many of us, the opportunity to spend time with our special someone is the best gift of all.

Acts of Service. Wash her car.  Clean up the dinner dishes every day for a week.  Offer to put the kids to bed while she puts her feet up and enjoys a glass of wine.  Let her sleep in on Saturday while you get up with the kids, and make sure you clean up after you make breakfast!!!  Obviously you can do these things all year round (and you SHOULD) but giving them to her as an intentional gift so that she knows she can cash in on it when she needs it the most is a great way to show her you love her without spending a dime.

Ladies, let’s hear from you.  What is your favorite way to be pampered for Christmas?  Help the guys out.

For my other Gift Guide posts, click on the button below (or the one on my sidebar.) I will be adding posts daily.

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As I said a few weeks ago, I’ve been working on a series of posts full of things I love, things I’m giving, and just things I think would make great gifts for the holidays.  Or anytime, really.  I hope you find it helpful, or at least interesting.    I’ll be releasing these throughout the next week or so, in addition to my regular posts.

This post is dedicated to the busy moms you may be buying for — girlfriends, sisters, mothers, whoever is on your list.

Mom Agenda. I absolutely ADORE my Mom Agenda.  It features a unique week-at-a-view format with space for mom and up to four children, plus monthly views at the beginning of the book.  If you look at it every morning, it will keep you right on task.  I keep mine open beside my computer at all times.  It’s the perfect gift for the busy mom in your life.

Bityse Reusable Bags. Reusable bags are all the rage, but this is unlike anything you’ve seen yet.  The Bityse is this pretty little duffle that comes stuffed with reusable mesh and rip stop bags.  I use mine all the time, or, you know, when I can remember to bring it out of my car.  I get compliments on this everywhere I go.  It’s the perfect gift idea for your stylish, eco-conscious girlfriend.

Citizenpip Reusable Lunch Kits. Speaking of reusable products for greener living, the Citizenpip Reusable Lunch Kits are a great way to avoid wasting all of those plastic sandwich baggies.  And they’re hip and stylin’ too.  AND right now I am giving away a Square Meal Kit at Reviewsings.  (A winner will be selected on December 5.)

Haute Lunch Bags. And if a lunch bag is more your style, check out these Haute Lunch bags.  I think these may have been in last year’s gift guide, but I absolutely love these and had to include them again.

And if you need some fresh hostess gift ideas this year, I will simply refer you to Darcie’s 10 Hostess Gifts for the Holidays post in which she outlines 10 fabulous and easy hostess gift ideas.  Make sure you have a few of these on hand, and you won’t find yourself scrounging around for something to re-gift when you’re headed out the door to a party.  Not that I would know anything about that…

For my other Gift Guide posts, click on the button below (or the one on my sidebar.) I will be adding posts daily.

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