Category: Gift Guide

Family Activities

12 Days of Gifting-Ideas for Everyone In Your Life: Neighbors and Friends

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Hiya Loves!

We are half-way through these gift guides and don’t be shocked if you see them again next year! These gifts are kind of timeless, especially today’s gift guide for neighbors and friends!

  1. Baked Treats: Understanding we are still in a pandemic, maybe you opt for store bought, maybe you still bake. It is the thought that counts!
  2. Wine Subscription: My mom sent me one and it was so fun trying brands you can’t find in local stores and broadening your pallet.
  3. Personalized or Sentimental Ornament: If you know me, you know annual ornaments are my jam! I also love sharing this tradition with friends!
  4. Family Movie Night: This can be done many ways. Redbox codes, Amazon prime gift card to rent a movie, popcorn, candy and snacks, or even a movie projector or some or all of the above.
  5. Donation In Their Name: For those you know well, donating to a community cause, organization or charity in their name is the way to have a gift make a resounding impact.
  6. Family Game Night: Similar to the movie night above, this can be done several ways- just snacks, inexpensive card games, board games or classic family games. Of course you could mix and match some of these!
Family Activities

12 Days of Gifting-Ideas for Everyone In Your Life: Investment Gift Ideas

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Day 5 is here my Loves!

We are nearly at the half-way point and I figured this would be the best time to share some investment gifts. These run from the low to high $$$ and are an investment financially but also in space and care. 

So, don’t just jump into these all willy-nilly. Think carefully and consider all the pros and cons.

1. Nugget Comfort-Full disclosure, we have two and my whole family, even grandparents, have used and love them.  We use them everyday and they truly add to our lives.

2. Sensory Table- Note, not all of these are created equally. My friends who have the one from Ikea raved about it.

3. Play House- Oh what joy and fun from imaginative play in a playhouse! Not to mention, you can dress these up for each season and holiday!

4. Pretend Kitchen- Similar to above but inside-all the imaginative play and seasonsale decor! I’ve had both wood and plastic and prefer wood.

5. Light table- We don’t have the space for this but it is a cool learning tool!

6. Bunk Beds- Hands down, best gift my kids ever got. My kids now sleep in the same bunk so we want to make the top bunk themed for adventure and play.

Bonus: A market stand or cart is the cutest addition to any dramatic play set up and cultivates so much learning!

Gift Guide

12 Days of Gifting-Ideas for Everyone In Your Life: Gifts for Gaming, Gadgets, Tech & Stem

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We are moving full-steam ahead into Day 4 and if you have a  gamer, techie and gadget collector in your life, this is for you!

  1. Roblox Bucks- Honestly, I have no idea what these do or where to get them, but every parent who has a child that plays Roblox apparently asks for this.
  2. Snap Circuits- Honestly, if a kid is into STEM, get it!
  3. Gaming Accessories- headphones, controllers, cases, game cards-you name it, the gamer in your life can use it.
  4. Osmo- This company sure knows how to make a good product and littles can have fun while they learn!
  5. Kids Echo Dot- This is one of our favorites, Her skills, stories, jokes and routine settings are such a life saver.
  6. Gamer Gear- We have a thing for jammies in our house but t-shirts, sweatshirts and joggers are a win too.
Family Activities

12 Days of Gifting-Ideas for Everyone In Your Life: Games and Quiet Activities

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Hey Loves!

Day 3 is here and these are my favorite gifts-Kids can be kids without batteries and sounds and let their imaginations run free!

  1. Marble Maze– Not to be confused with marble run, these wooden planks, trunks and squares allow for so much building, solution solving and engineering.
  2. Logic Games- I mean, let the littles think, get stumped and try again! We have a quite a few from stacking rocks/stones, to Mental Blox to Smart Cookies and I have more I want to add to our collection.
  3. Sumblox– Also on my kids’ list and these are not just for math my friends. These are for fun! They can grow with my kids as well.
  4. Puzzles- One of our favorite activities and they can grow with the child. We love Puzzle Huddle Puzzles.
  5. Magnatiles- Again, our favorites and I love watching their imaginations work. We do stick with the actual brand name because that is what works for us but feel free to try another brand.
  6. Keva Blocks– Can you see a theme? This is also on our list. Let the city building begin! These are different than your traditional building blocks and you can find building challenges!

*Note* Legos are another great one. This year, my kids are getting this and this to add to their collection and skill set.

Gift Guide

12 Days of Gifting-Ideas for Everyone In Your Life: Gift Ideas for The Reader

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Hey Loves!

Day 1 was about gifts for the teacher and now to day 2!

I’ve teamed up with my love, Lakeisha from Maya’s Book Nook to share some great gift ideas (for christmas and all year long).

  1. Gift Certificate to Local Bookstore (non-chain), even better if it is Black-owned.: Buying and shopping locally is a great way to support local infrastructures and communities. It is also a great way to experience a place you haven’t been before! Not to mention, the lives you are changing by supporting people and families.
  2. Seasonal Book: Go ahead and add to the seasonal shelfie and add more proverbial doors to the season.
  3. Epic Book Subscription: I only found out this existed several weeks ago but my kids already love it! They have ebooks, read-alouds, audiobooks and read to me options for every interest and phase. You can get an annual family subscription or look into the free educator program.
  4. Kindle Unlimited: This one is on my kids’ list. I can’t keep up with the reading and book demands with my two, so we decided to try this for a year!
  5. Kindle E-reader: If e-books are your thing, these lightweight and light-controlled devices make reading easy and accessible. There are lots of different versions.

6. Addition to Favorite Book Series: In the past year, my family has really gotten into book series so adding the best book or two in that series is a great gift idea!


Subscription Box Ideas

Subscription boxes are perfect for every person on your gift list! There’s something exciting about getting a package in the mail and being surprised at the contents inside. 

  1. Just Like Me! Book Box – Just Like Me! was our first subscription box and it’s been so fun to see the books evolve as my little one gets older! Each box is customized with 2-3 age appropriate books that feature characters of color.
  2. Because of Them We Can Box – If you’re looking for a gift that celebrates Black History 365, this is the subscription for you. Each curated box features a person or iconic moment in Black history and is filled with apparel, worksheets, and other fun swag.
  3. Izzy and Liv Brown Sugar Box for Kids – With boxes for both girls and boys of various ages, Izzy and Liv provide a mixture of melanated swag on a bi-monthly or quarterly basis. Apparel, stationary, books, and beauty products are just a sample of the items in each box.
  4. Jambo Books – Jambo Books is another great option to build a home library, filled with multicultural children’s books. 2-3 age-appropriate books are sent monthly. 
  5. Bitsbox – Do you have a STEM lover on your hands? If so, Bitsbox is a great gift for kids ages 6-12 to engage in fun coding projects.

Little Global Citizens – This one is on our list because not only is it a book box, it also pairs the book with resources, crafts, and other fun activities about the represented country.

Gift Guide

12 Days of Gifting-Ideas for Everyone In Your Life: Gifts for Teachers and Homeschool Mamas

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Hey Loves!

For me, your favorite enneagram 6 and planner, Today kicks off the most wonderful time of year! Yes! Break out those lights, stocking and garland and get you holiday calendar in order! I was chatting some of you who are IG friends with me and gift guides were a need this year. I get it, I need help too. 

So, today and for the next 11 days, I’ve got some sustainable, no junk, limited parent involvement gift ideas with all budgets in mind. All of these gifts can be given to and from multiple people. Sometimes, a gift is better when it can be shared. Let’s go!

Our teachers, and yes, our homeschool mamas, work incredibly hard and deserve, well, all the things. For the sake of our time and budgets, I’ll keep this one brief but pertinent. Note* Stay tuned for day 2 if books are a favorite thing of your teachers! These also work for our therapists too!

*Note* An awesome way to involve your little one is to have them make an ornament or gift tag!

  1. Their Favorite Things- Seriously, get them what they love and adore and if you don’t know, ask. You can get a questionnaire here!
  2. Cozy Throw Blanket– Cable knit, chenille, microfleece- wrap it in a bow and a bag and boom! Paired with a nice note, coziest gift ever!
  3. Gourmet/Speciality Coffee- If coffee makes their heart sing and brains activate, introduce them to a niche, special or gourmet brand like Black Nerd Coffee.
  4. Gift Card to Their Favorite Retailer– Again, if you don’t know, ask.
  5. Essential Oils– Some staple oils such as lavender, peppermint and stress away are great gifts! Ensure they do not have any harmful additives or toxins. This is what we use.
  6. Quality Stationary- Feel free to personalize it, throw in a 2022 calender and add some great pens!