Holiday Gift Guide
I LOVE the holidays ! I know this time of year every blogger and their mother puts out a holiday gift guide and you know what I say bring them on!!!! I have gotten some really great ideas in previous years so I think the more the merrier because it just puts out so many ideas you might have never thought of or were having a really hard time thinking of.
Not to bring down this cheery holiday post but I know for some holidays are not always merry and bright. There have been years when me someone who loves the holidays had to fake my happiness because it brought me no joy, and that is one of the hardest things when you really love something and you get no joy from it. My mother always did really great when it came to Christmas and put so much thought into what she got us and as an adult I obviously see that now but as a kid I was probably a brat if it was not exactly what I wanted. But she also always gifted us with the joy of traveling! That is one thing you can always do for your family and kids is give them experiences and I definitely thank my mother for that! Christmas in NYC or for a gift we got to go to Disney World another year. We were not wealthy by any means but my mother probably spent less on physical gifts that year to be able to do a big gift like that. Having those great experiences as a child makes you want to give that to your kids. We have been that family as a whole that could barely afford gifts, I have been that Angel on the tree at the Salvation Army that bought my child gifts that I could not afford. To me each year I really do not care about getting gifts I truly LOVE giving gifts. So please just because you think someone has it all together it is not always as it seems, and if I could also ask something else GIVE BACK! Whenever and however you can. I know I have been blessed with where I am now in life, and again not everyone can spend money they do not have but even donating your time is such a great way to give back. Q and I are definitely trying to work harder to teach the girls more about giving back. So we welcome any ideas on great ways we can give back as a family, and not just during the holiday season but all year!
Our first Christmas out in Seattle I bought too much shit (I mean Santa did), it was the first time we actually had money to buy stuff for our kids and I went toooooo far! Last year I completely changed it up (and I was super pregnant) I did the Something I Want, Something I Need, Something to Wear, and Something to Read. It really worked and the teacher/book lover in me only went overboard on books! But I feel like that is the best thing to go overboard on.
Feel free to scroll through and take a look at him/her/baby/kids/stocking stuffer ideas!
Him
Q is not the easiest person to shop for mainly cause he just buys things for himself, but I have gotten him pretty good with gifts (tooting my own horn but again I love shopping for people so I am super creative when it comes to gifts that sometimes it makes it hard for him to buy me gifts in return, but I really am happy with anything I get.)
I mentioned it in my Amazon post but one of my favorite smells on Q is this in the lotion but the gift set of the body wash and bar of soap is great too!
BEARD WASH!!! Believe invest do it! When I met my husband he had almost no facial hair and hair on his head. Now he has a beard and bald but he takes time and pride in it that beard. Do it guys!!! This is a great wash and a great oil from my favorite Target! He also goes to the Art of Shave and uses these products. And wash and oil cannot be complete without a beard comb!
This toothbrush I think is just so sleek and nice, it is electric but small and fits into a toiletry bag without taking up a lot of space.
LOVE this cologne! Probably my favorite.
Q travels quite a bit so I have in previous years have gotten him a toiletry bag, I have gotten almost this identical one a couple years ago from Nordstrom. Here is another one from Target that I really like the color, and looks easy to clean out if any spills.
Along with having a toiletry bag he needs a quick small travel bag. When he first started traveling for games I got him a bag that could hold his sneakers. I have upgraded him and got a duffel almost identical to this one for his most recent birthday, I know it is really pricey but again he likes nice thangs. His is grey with a blue trim and I really love it.
These slippers are MY FAV they are for men but I still them from Q all the time, his are again from a few years ago same slipper just a different pattern.
For the sneakerhead man do not forget if you are local stop by Likelihood to get some sneakers!
I feel like a lot of men are picky about their underwear or it could just be my hubba. This brand is one of his favorites they come in so many different prints and colors. Also these underwear are another brand he likes that do not slide up and comes in different styles and sizes.
For the football player or any hard working man download the app Soothe, and get him a massage! It is great because you can book it that day or even a few days before and for how long you want it and someone will come right to your house! You can make it special order to what you need whether it is a sports or swedish massage. We have had little to no problems with doing this. So I think it is definitely worth it. You don’t have to get a membership just a one time thing and be done.
Her
For the lady/wife/mama in your life here are some great things that I am loving right now! Remember for the holiday season treat your lady nice and sometimes a little can go a long way. I know that I am someone who is fine with one gift because it means so much more to me that you took the time to think about me and appreciate what I like or love then buying me 10 things of crap. Again every lady is different!
Uggs you either like them or you don’t plain and simple. I have always had a high pair but more recently I have gotten a short pair and absolutely love them. I think they go better with jeans or still leggings. They are just so easy to throw on and head out the door for school runs with the cooler weather.
When we moved here we had the best neighbors ever! And they happened to have a little girl who was also born in July and named Quinn (my twins are born in July and one of them is also named Quinn!) It was fate!!! The girls would literally wake up go to the back deck and play with Quinny through the bars. Ok long story BUT Quinny’s mama has this super amazing family business called Sherpa Adventure Gear! They have a store in Seattle but you can also order online for the adventurer or every day women I would suggest here. I have a couple beanies and a poncho I love.
These pullovers are SO cute ! And I think my 12s this pullover would be so cute and warm at a game. I love me a pullover and a pullover with pockets, I think it is a slight addiction I have that and crew neck sweatshirts. I just got the green one for myself!
Again mentioned these bags before I think for my fellow sports goers these bags are cute and affordable and perfect for stadiums!!
I am a beautiful tan or at least I believe I use to have more color when we lived on the east coast! These have become my favorite, especially after I had Yasi and was just exhausted and no time for make-up these were perfect. You are not orange!!!! For me I really feel like my face glows. And I like these because I like to show my freckles and they aren’t being smothered in foundation.
I got one of these last year as a gift from a holiday Oprah party or a favorite things party! Definitely trying to use it more and more.
Taking better care of my skin is something I know as I get older I am trying to do more and more again. I have this product and just makes my face feel really clean and imagine if I got work done would look like afterwards. They do have a gift set of smaller products of the same brand figure out what you like without paying full price for the bigger size versions.
I know I am not a flashy person and recently got this necklace as a gift and I love it. Just simple, pretty and comes in all types of different colors. Definitely look around on the site because there is all types of jewelry you can get.
I saw this luggage at Target and thought it was so adorable and love the colors!
Most women might hate getting a vacuum for Christmas so buy this with caution BUT I know I LOVE mine.
Just as much as a man may love it ladies will love it too download the Soothe app get a lady you love a massage! They even offer prenatal ones.
Kids (ages 4-7 because those are my kids ages!)
So my kids are at the age they still believe in Santa (and I hope they do forever). I think Christmas with small kids gets better and better each year. They sort of each year find new magic in it and then in return makes it more magical for me seeing how magical Christmas is for them.
Zoey is super into origami and Star Wars (blame us for this love because me and Q are both Star Wars lovers) and ta-da found this awesome combo Santa will be bringing.
I love Zara. It is just clean-cut well made stuff. Zo is also a tomboy but is into the sequins flipping trend so these 2 have been married and have already gotten her this crew neck but got her this one already for Christmas. The twins would probably die over this tutu.
I have mentioned these already but again get you some! Nothing will make getting kids out the door fast or easy but these shoes could help a little. Great for girls or boys and all types of colors.
The twins LOVE dress-up and just princess dresses in general. Again they are lovers of all these bright, sparkle, dresses, unicorns, and tutus. I have heard nothing but great things about these dress-up outfits and they are washable! I am probably going to get the twins each one for their “something to wear” category
Last Christmas I got these slippers for twins, wore them to the ground. They have hard sole so they wore them outside of the house and even to school! Last year they did have more colors so I don’t know if more will come or this is all they will have this year. Also again I waited until they were having a sale before buying them.
This pajama set is pricey but SO cute for a little boy (or girl) I could picture giving this to Yasi even next year. And this book we own and the girls love so would be perfect pajama and book set.
If you don’t know this Anthropologie has a whole kids section! This is obviously a pricey store but I really love the selection they have and just wait for when a sale is about to start, that is what I did last year. And I am just a sucker for books in general but also pretty books
Zoey is again at the perfect age for jokes! I am also just a sucker for books and helping teachers out so I got Zoey her joke book from Scholastic but I am pretty sure you can do the same through your child’s school if they’re in school or find on Amazon. Even for the twins they would get a kick out of this Shopkins one!
Zoey has two versions of this game! It is really fun its like bingo but you have to be quicker!! And it actually helps her get practice with words and one of the versions is specifically just sight words.
This is a house hold favorite! The Nintendo Switch I think is super great I am technologically challenged so me and electronics do not work out so great. But if my seven year old knows how to set it up and use it then I am sure anyone can figure it out. We have traveled to Hawaii and to the east coast with it. Perfect size, really fun even on the plane, and just a great family activity!
I really love family gifts just stuff we can all do together and I told Q I want to get this for the house! A family laser tag set like come on how fun is that?!??!!
If I could recommend anything for kids when grandparents/aunts/uncles/friends ask you “what should we get______ for Christmas?” Buy experiences not gifts! Ask if they would love to buy a membership to the aquarium or local children’s museum. Maybe even if they want to pay for gymnastics or basketball classes! I think those are always GREAT gifts and get so much more value then a toy they might play with for maybe a week if you are lucky.
Babies
Yasi’s birthday is 5 days before Christmas sooooo he drew the short stick in getting gifts for one or the other. BUT I have made promise myself to make sure he always gets a real birthday and it isn’t passed over because Christmas is coming up. A real birthday also does not always mean gifts either!!!! My twins turned 4 and this was their first party ever in July with real presents they did not even know how to act. Back to Christmas!!! Here are some super adorable things I have found and still going back and forth on what will be birthday and what will be Christmas presents.
Hello my name is Nadia and I am a stuffed animal addict. Seriously I am but it is probably unacceptable for me to buy them for myself at my age so I live vicariously through my children and buy them a whole bunch and drive my husband crazy (win win!) For Yasi’s first Christmas I got him this bunny! And each monthly picture I have him take with it, the bunny is so soft. But I mean come on the flamingo??? SO CUTE !
Yasi has this set! Here is the sweatpants and sweatshirt. I get so many compliments and ask where it is from so here it is! Great for something to wear category. Cause again might be his first Christmas alert and moving around but not a reason to go overboard. He is gonna love the wrapping paper and boxes the most. This set is also freaking adorable for Christmas!
Hanna Andersson I think is another company that makes great quality clothes, and I am a sucker for holiday pjs. I bought these for Yasi and they have soooo many other styles and designs, I wanted them all.
We have a mini trampoline that Yasi loves but also the girls love too so definitely a win win!
My baby turned into a walking machine way too quickly and we have carpets so he never really used a walker instead he used this pushing walker (I got mine used from Buy Nothing on Facebook for my area! WORTH IT) My kids have never really used a walker the pushing one has always been my favorite and he likes to sit and just play with the toys on it.
This is obviously a much pricier gift to give but I am thinking about this being his one birthday gift he gets. The rocker comes in all different animals and you can get it personalized!
These are my favorite baby books! Yasi loves all the textures on each page!
Again sucker for books! For football camp I made Q a photo book he could travel with that had pictures of me and the kids and just fun adventures without having to look at his phone! The site is called Pinhole Press and seriously it was just the perfect book and such a great price. I am thinking of making Yasi his own colors book and his own little first year of life book. Let you know how it goes!
Stocking Stuffers
I think a stocking is just one of my favorite parts of Christmas! This is where I get my fun sort of junky stuff in. Here are some quick things I am will probably do for the kids this year and have done before. A lot of this stuff is from one of my favorite stores Paper Source!
I did these books for Easter but would be cute and perfect size for stockings!
For Yasi, how I usually give him strawberries or bigger size fruit in this spoon.
This is another favorite game in our house! Play with Zoey all the time and she always beats me and everyone she plays
These are always a fun adult stocking stuffer and I may or may not have given these as a holiday teacher gift before (every teacher deserves alcohol).
I got these glasses one year for the kids they all loved them!
I have already gotten this avocado game and I will probably do for Zo’s stocking!
We got this pig game last year and the kids got a kick out of how funny it is!
Twins will get a kick out of anything nail related so these mixed with one nail polish each will make them so happy!
Please please get this for all of your children, it will bring a smile to your face watching them enjoy reindeer poop!
I have gotten these candies in previous years just for something fun! I told you I love filling stockings with fun junk
I really hope you find some great things you maybe never thought of for gift ideas! Any questions feel free to reach out and ask them. I cannot wait to start shopping for everyone!!!! Below is little slideshow of past Christmases (don’t know and don’t care how that is spelled). Those smiles are everything!
