Christmas gifts Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

My 2020 Christmas Gift Guide – Celebrate With Me

Paula — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 11:48:52 +0000

Happy Holidays! My 2020 Christmas Gift Guide is ready to share. I couldn’t be happier to spread some joy this year and share a few of my favourite things with you. My 2020 Christmas Gift guide contains affiliate links. At no extra fee to you, I receive a small commission off of purchases made via qualifying links. I received product and compensation in some cases for features in this guide. Well, here we are almost at Christmas and this year I am doing a few things differently. One thing I am doing is shopping slowly and in chunks to spread out the cost. We definitely have a budget to stick to this year. Welcome to the 2020 Christmas Gift Guide I am launching my holiday content this week with a great building toy/ craft kit that’s perfect for teens or tweens. The price is amazing so add this one to your list. Better yet order now directly from my Christmas gift guide. Gifts for Teens Creatto 4 in 1 Light Up Crafting Kit Ever since she was a preschooler, my youngest child Ainsley has been fascinated by sharks and dinosaurs. She also loves puzzles, has freakish superhuman strength (could lift a ten pound bag of potatoes when she was not even two) and enjoys building things. Creatto Building Toys/ Craft Kits When this craft kit, stem building toy arrived here recently I was excited to see how she’d react. Immediately after school one night she opened it and tore into the plastic pieces. For a minute she looked at me and considered asking for help and I broke into a cold sweat. Following written manuals and video tutorials is her strength and not mine. This came in from Creatto recently by @thamesandkosmos and by dinner it was done. She patiently built it while I was writing, editing, proofing and helping her sister with remote learning. It was a busy day and I was ripping my hair out at some points. But then this charming package of building toys and memory games showed up. And at least one of the kids was hyper focused. What I Like: The Creatto 4 in 1 by Thames and Kosmos is just right for your kids 9 and up who love to build things. Any younger and it would be frustrating. It’s a 4 in 1 kit. We love toys that keep my builder busy and can actually be kept afterwards. Amazing gift which makes it perfect for my Christmas gift guide and frankly this price is shocking to me. Super affordable. I would actually buy all of these, one for everyone on my list. Now You Can BUY it here – > Creatto 4 in 1 Craft and Building Set Other Notes: It is challenging, so be patient and also use the Youtube tutorial link. Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals includes 140 Creatto pieces, a string of 100 LED lights, and assembly instructions to build a shark, octopus, seagull, and fish, but the possibilities are limited only by your imagination! Lights powered by USB cable; USB power adapter not included. Suitable for ages 9 and up. Buy It Here – > Creatto Craft and Building Set Brainwaves The Wise Whale is a busy memory game from Thames & Kosmos. $14.95 or $14.26 (not a bad price for a game that will last.) Brainwaves is a series of games developed by game designers and neuroscientists with which players can challenge their episodic memory — their recent memory of autobiographical events. These compact, card based games are scientifically proven to exercise the brain to improve memory functions. These innovative memory games place demands on three types of brain functions: fluid intelligence, working memory, and long-term memory. I thought this one would be great for all of us because memory games are as relevant to young people with executive functioning challenges as they are to people who are middle aged. This Christmas gift guide item is great for anyone with memory impairments. What I Like: Easy to play and cute. Brainwaves was a fun game and we will keep it around. Other Notes This memory game was almost too simple. My daughter thought it could have used a deck with more cards. In fairness, I think it would be perfect for someone 7-8 years old. There are several versions of Brainwaves including, Brainwaves: The Astute Goose (AGES 8+ MSRP: $14.95), Brainwaves: The Brilliant Boar (AGES 8+ MSRP: $14.95), and Brainwaves: The Wise Whale (AGES 8+ MSRP: $14.95). Buy it Here: -> Brainwaves Pensilly Get ready to laugh yourself silly this holiday season with the crazy shaking pen, PenSilly! PENSILLY™ is the super, silly drawing and guessing game! It takes creativity, teamwork and imagination to play! Grab your friends, select your cards and sketch out the clues. The team who collects the most points, WINS! But it’s not that simple, you see, PENSILLY™ makes drawing CRAZY! It shakes and moves as you sketch out the clues. There are over 5,500 clue combinations with 2 Levels of play! Are you ready for the challenge? Recommended for age 6 +. This is a game for the entire family which is why it made the cut for my Christmas gift guide. What I Like Lots of variety in the drawings that you get to make as inscribed on the cards. Very funny and works for every member of the family. Pen is not heavy at all even though it looks like it might be. Other Notes Pencil takes three AAA batteries. Buy it Here: -> Pensilly Books to Gift You’re Pulling My Leg Is it a game or a book? This cute activity book/ family game reminds me a bit of charades or Mad-Libs. You’re Pulling My Leg! and You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior, created by award-winning game creator Allen Wolf, lets you test your bluffing skills with entirely new questions that range from thought-provoking to zany. How You Play During the game, players choose a question from the cards within the book. The secret flip of the coin tells them if their answer should be true or made up. When players hear a story, they vote on whether they think a player is telling the truth or pulling their leg. Players win points if you’re right but lose them if you’re wrong. They also try to bluff others and not be fooled. The first player to 21 points wins. You’ll be surprised how much you learn about other players in a short amount of time. What I Like The game can be played in person or remotely. That’s why it is perfect for the Pandemic and the 2020 Christmas gift guide. There are two versions: one for younger kids and one for older kids. From MorningStar Games this book/ game is simple and requires no extras like batteries. Just old fashioned creativity. $12.99 is an excellent price for this game/ book. 2 or more players. Other Notes: I can’t really think of anything negative about this although you are meant to write in the book and I know some people in my home are triggered when people write in books. To circumvent wrecking that and keep it in great shape for years I’d just add a handy scratch pad to keep notes. Get it Here: – > Amazon You’re Pulling My Leg book set MorningStar Games – You’re Pulling My Leg Endless hours of entertainment and a chance to know your family members better. That’s what makes this a great choice for my gift guide. Family Is….by Katya Longhi Alright, originally I wondered why I got this book. It arrived here one day and I was thinking wow this is a really young board book and then I opened it and was enthralled. This adorable board book is a brilliant example of a diverse and inclusive book that shares various examples that reflect how families look today in 2020. What I Like I love it. Period. This book is a keepsake and it is one I would buy for every single baby shower. It fits my vision of diverse families, including foster families, adoptive families, the disabled community (child in a wheelchair), and LGBTQ+ community with examples of two Dads and two Moms. Family is by Clever Publishing is super sweet and it also encourages a bit of counting as well. $8.99 US and $11.99 Canadian. Sturdy construction. Great illustrations. Other Notes None. More PLEASE!! More books should strive to be this open and inclusive. Get it Here – > Family Is by Katya Longhi Great Gifts for Booklovers So, I still love to give people books as gifts. I also love to receive books as gifts. That just makes me happy. Random Acts of Kindness This good-humored guide to being the change you want to see in the world is filled with suggestions for making a real difference. From improving someone’s life with just one penny to ensuring all children are well fed, the day-by-day positive proposals of Random Acts of Kindness combine inspiration with action. We can all make an impact on the environment, throughout out local community, and within our own hearts. This book of inspired ideas and good deeds conveys how you can make a better world, starting today! What I Like Sometimes the smallest gesture makes the biggest difference. This little book shows how to start. True stories about acts of kindness and generosity of spirit. Suggestions for living more compassionately and inspirational quotes. Other Notes BUY IT Now – > Random Acts of Kindness ISBN: 978-1642504798Price: $15.95 The Declutter Challenge: A Guided Journal for Getting your Home Organized in 30 Quick Steps by Cassandra Aarssen From the Host of HGTV’s HOT MESS HOUSE A guided decluttering journal. Life happens to the best of us, whether we were born with messy tendencies or not. Messes find their way into our homes and lives and we can’t seem to find the strength or time to tackle them. That’s where this motivational guided journal by decluttering guru Cassandra Aarssen comes in. MY older daughter is all over this. At the start of the pandemic she embraced the Marie Kondo decluttering philosophy. Let me just say it’s time to revisit some decluttering in her room. School plus home life all in a bedroom makes for one messy living space. Tested methods that work. Cas Aarssen wasn’t always an organization expert. She climbed out of years of cluttered living and transformed her home and her life through organization. In this self-help journal, Cas guides you through favourite tips and tricks that she used to declutter her home. What I Like It’s the perfect time of year for a decluttering exercise. Most people enjoy a good cleanup and decluttering experience. Get this for your Mom, or best friend, maybe your teenage daughter. Other Notes: Get it here….Buy Now – > Declutter Challenge Books for Mental Health and Self Care Any of you who read our posts or my content over on CBC Parents know we have had our share of mental health struggles and illnesses. So, I was thrilled to get these books which arrived at just the right time. In my world books make great gifts, so here’s a roundup of several that touch on mental health too. Hey! It’s Your Day: Inspirational Quotes and Affirmations to Live By June Cotner Ready to change your life today? Best-selling anthologist June Cotner returns with Hey, It’s Your Day, a collection of her favourite quotes to start the day and delight any friend or relative. Inspiration at your fingertips in minutes. June Cotner has been gathering her favorite quotes for more than two decades. Now, she shares these specially curated words of wisdom to guide readers on their personal journeys of positive thinking. Featuring an eclectic selection of figures like Edward Abbey, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Oprah Winfrey, this positive thinking book captivates readers with fresh, insightful, and engaging motivational quotes. What I Like Everyone can benefit from positive affirmations and we definitely use them here. My mantra when the kids were younger was: I am the adult here. What is yours? Other Notes You should order it now and make it your New Year’s self improvement goal. That works too. Depending on where you live this might not be available again until January but order it now because you can use it in the new year. BUY IT NOW – > Hey It’s Your Day I Believe in Me I Believe in Me: Finding Joy with Heartwarming Affirmations by Chi Sing Cheng A little world of positive mental attitude. No one is all darkness or all light. But sometimes it can feel like we’re walking with a dark cloud over our heads. So, how can we find a spark of joy? Follow author Soolooka through 150 hopeful illustrations to help you overcome bad days and negative thoughts. Cool cartoons that cheer you on. Featuring old and new comics from Reiki master and Instagram illustrator Cheng Chi Sing (a.k.a Soolooka), this short and sweet guidebook is here to help you find joy when you are feeling lonely or anxious. Self-help manuals are often overwhelming and intimidating for someone who just needs a boost during stress. What I Like PERFECT for Teens with Anxiety or any other Pandemic related stress. Other Notes This is ideal for any kid who is old enough to be all in over on Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok. Buy It Now – > I Believe in Me You’re Strong, Smart, and You Got This: Drawings, Affirmations, and Comfort to Help with Anxiety and Depression by Kate Allan It’s not easy to discuss mental health, even though it affects everyone. We want to believe we can handle anything that comes at us, but the reality is we all have good days and bad days. Because of this, it is important to check in with our mental health. Through guided illustrations, author Kate Allan opens the door to discussion about mental health in an approachable and unassuming manner. What I Like Any book that helps people who are living with mental illness to feel less alone is a worthy addition to my Christmas gift guide and to your home. Other Notes Cute cover and the notes are accompanied by adorable animal illustrations that we love. Buy it Now – > You’re Strong, Smart and You Got This! Start Here, Start Now…Start Anywhere: A Fill-in Journal to Discover Your Best Year Yet! by Ronnie Walter Mindful Journaling and Self-Care Strategies for a Better You(Part coloring book, part guided journal Start Here, Start Now…Start Anywhere!) is specially made to help you accomplish your ambitions, meet your goals, and enjoy moments of mindfulness. Personal growth starts here. With not enough time in the day, it’s hard to find room for self-reflection and short-term goals. From best-selling author and illustrator Ronnie Walter comes an eye-catching, guided, fill-in journal that will produce some clarity on your goals. Buy It Now – > Start Here Awe Factor: How a Little Bit of Wonder Can Make a Big Difference in Your Life by Allen Klein How to Find Awe, Meaning, and Wonder in Everyday Life Bestselling author and TEDx presenter Allen Klein returns to find and define awe. In his latest book, he shows readers how to escape the everyday ruts of life by opening their eyes to the wonder around them. Exploring the human ability to be in awe. What does it mean to be awestruck? Or more simply, what is awe? Backed by the latest scientific research, Klein sets out to define awe and its effects on health and happiness. With a sprinkling of the spiritual and scientific, The Awe Factor takes readers on an exploration of a human phenomenon. From research to first-hand awe-inspiring stories, Klein reflects on feelings of awe, meaning and purpose. This is simply uplifting. Buy It Now – > The Awe Factor Be True To Yourself: Daily Affirmations and Awesome Advice for Teen Girls by Amanda Ford In this book of short daily meditations and essays, Amanda Ford, a young adult herself, offers stories, information, and advice on all the important issues facing young women today: boys, dating, drinking, self-respect, self-love, fights with friends, dealing with parents, and more. Support for young women as they navigate one of the most confusing and challenging times of their lives. When Amanda Ford emerged from her tumultuous teenage years, she saw the need for a guide to help girls learn to listen to their inner voices and think for themselves. Be True To Yourself is the big sister Amanda never had. It provides the encouragement and guidance she wished, as a teenage girl, that an older sister had given her, as well as stories and advice that she would have loved to share with a younger sister during her own teen years. What I Like This is very much needed Other Notes A very positive book for young women. BUY IT Now – > Be True to Yourself The 7 Habits on the Go by Stephen R. Covey A Condensed Guide to Improving Personal and Business Health and Reducing Stress Everyone has heard of the original 7 Habits book by now. Here’s a followup to that. Check it out. For the Home What good is a Christmas gift guide without gifts for the home? This gorgeous collection of furniture is something you need to look closer at. We are redoing our living room soon. Oh, I know I have been saying that since we moved in five, no six years ago. But, this is not something that can wait any longer. Here’s some of my inspiration this year. Eternity Modern There are several gorgeous stylish pieces at Eternity Modern. My favourite is the stunning Mario Bellini Camaleonda Sofa, available in numerous rich shades. The turquoise shade is my favourite and frankly I am swooning over that right now. Sofa Mario Bellini Camaleonda Sofa : Provides endless flexible solutions for any project or living room. It’s a sectional that you can configure many different ways. The sectional elements of Camaleonda sofa can be used freely and apart...

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Festive Watercolour Christmas Gift Tags

Paula — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 15:02:00 +0000

Today I am giving you a peek at some of my new Christmas printable content. These Watercolour Christmas gift tags, for instance are a pretty addition to your gift wrapping station. By now you probably know I am a big fan of pretty Christmas tags and embellishments for presents. I love this time of year, especially in 2020. It just seems like Christmas, no matter what that looks like, is even more important than usual right now, this holiday season. All over town we can see it already. People getting ready early this year, putting their trees and lights up. It seems super early, but at the same time I applaud their energy. Print out these gorgeous watercolour Christmas gift tags and use them on your holiday gifts this year. All you really need is a printer, loaded with ink of course and card stock paper. More Christmas Ideas Learning Tools For a high quality print out of the life cycle content do not miss this downloadable Bee Life Cycle activity. Watercolour Christmas Gift Tags Christmas is a great time to get outside and have some fun too. Make a snowman, go for a toboggan ride, strap a pair of skates or skis on and have fun! If at all possible, I will be tubing and skiing outside with my family! Merry Christmas My one daughter has already been wrapping her presents for under the Christmas tree. Do you make or print out your own tags and embellishments?

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Make Coding Fun with Botzees Now

Paula — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:41:00 +0000

Make coding fun with a toy that combines building and lots of entertaining puzzles alongside simple to understand coding. Botzees is a toy that combines all these elements into one experience that helps to make coding fun for kids. I received product for consideration here. I love that because as any long-time reader knows, I’m a huge supporter of STEM and figuring out ways to introduce it to our kids at an early age. That’s why I’m so excited about Botzees and how they approach coding. Technology is moving so fast these days. A few years ago, apps were an amazing new development. It seemed like we were in the dawn of a new age. Now I have a phone that has as much RAM and processing power as the computer I replaced a few months ago. Make Coding Fun for Kids The driving force behind these advancements is STEM, and the driving force behind that is the workforce that understands it. As our children grow, technology continues to advance. Whether they pursue a career in the sciences or not, it’s important for them to understand STEM. Botzees helps them do that from a young age. Botzees is designed to make coding fun for kids starting at as young as four years old. It combines coding with construction and puzzles to create an engaging platform that gets kids excited about what they’re doing and eager to learn more. Using coding, kids can make Botzee move, drum, dance, make sounds, and light up with a free app. The uniquely shaped, easy to grab coding blocks are designed to make coding easy to do and to understand for youngsters so they actually learn coding concepts as they play. The 30 interactive Augmented Reality puzzles allow for even more fun and learning with visual cues as well, which is important at that age. I had a blast setting this toy up, downloading the app and making my robotic Botzees work. Botzees Highlights Botzees are uniquely designed to capture the imaginations of young children. These incredible robots come with: 130 coding blocks. 6 pre-designed Botzee layouts and the freedom to create their own. 30 interactive Augmented Reality puzzles that teach coding concepts like sequencing, looping, and conditional coding. Make Coding Fun Now for a Better Tomorrow Of course, gifts that promote a love of learning are great in the moment, but even more important is the future that they help build. When you make coding fun now with Botzees, you’re laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning in the future, and that translates to a more successful human being down the line. I’m in love with Botzees, and I think you will be, too. So grab one for the creative child in your life and make coding fun.

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30 + Christmas Gifts for Tweens

Paula — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 13:18:18 +0000

Ah Tweens. That comical challenging stage between childhood and the teen years. When you can almost see what’s about to come, but still there are many days when they happily slip back into their childish pursuits. One moment moody teenager wannabe and the next minute playing with Barbies again. Kids are comical. But they are often easy to please when it comes to Christmas presents. So, this year as part of my Christmas holidays content I wanted to share all sorts of gift ideas. 30 + Christmas Gifts for Tweens Under $5 Gifts for Tweens Uno Eos Lip Balm Holographic Nail Polish Poop Emoji Keychain Under $10 Spoons Game Birthday Cake Bath Bombs Glitter Tattoo Kit Nail Pen Kit Paint Your Own Bag Kit Elmers Slime Kit Under $15 Engraved Inspirational Bracelet Bath Bomb Kit Bicycle Wheel Light Echo Dot Buttons Squishies Jewelry Making Kit Bring Out the Tween or Teen in Anyone I am stoked about a few of these gifts actually. If I were a kid I’d love this strong art kit again. Remember when that was all the rage the first time around? Love craft kits and artistic creative gifts. My girls do too. We have seen these onesies at the mall too just in case you are interested in shopping in person. This year I will be getting a couple of these. This bean bag chair for storage too is exceptionally awesome. In fact, I might get one for one of the kids even though they are teenagers. I feel like this gift is timeless plus it encourages clean up. Who needs that more that teens or tweens? Under $25 String Art Kit Ocean Waves Light Projector Mermaid Tail Blanket Tropical Terrarium Bean Bag Toy Storage Chair Cupcake Pillow Unicorn Onesie Under $50 Gifts Indoor Snowballs Plasma Ball Echo Dot Hooded Unicorn Blanket Kit 3D Drawing Pen Kindle Fire The Nightmare Before Christmas Edition: Monopoly Under $100 Splurge Christmas Gifts for Tweens LOL Surprise Bigger Surprise Fuji Instax Mini Camera We have a Fuji Instax Mini Camera and love ours. My daughter got one for Christmas one year about 5 years ago as a tween and she’s been using it ever since. They are fun, travel well, and are really great Christmas gifts for tweens. Plus occasionally they can take them on RV trips and to camp. Hatchimals Surprise Twins Canopy for a Bed Hoverboard Do you parent tweens? I know it seems like nobody has it as bad as you do when the tweens start with that moodiness and hormonal behaviour. Trust me, they are still super impressionable and they mostly like having you around. A lot of tweens are just growing and testing their independence in baby steps. Give them supervision and love and build in ways to help them find their way. They will need all your love and support when they get to the next stage. What’s on Your Tween’s Gift List? Tweens are actually pretty easy to please. Technology, clothing, gift cards and fun cameras are all hits with this group. This post contains affiliate links as a service to my readers. Purchases made via qualifying links mean that I receive a small commission.

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Five Ways Kids Can Give Back at Christmas

Paula — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 08:42:00 +0000

Wondering how to get your kids invested in the true spirit of the season? There are several easy ways kids can give back at Christmas. Here are a few that have worked for us. My girls are sensitive compassionate kids. When others are hurt, it hurts them too. My oldest girl, in particular, my creative Type A, is an empathetic soul. Her report card always contains comments about “a kind, caring girl who always helps others and makes friends with new students. She is first to care for her friends when they are hurt.” Showing You Care is Always Important These are the things I hold close to my heart as a parent and value more than grades. My daughter does well at school and both of my kids make me proud daily with all they have overcome and all they bring to each and every day. There are nine million things I love about my daughter, but her heart is her best feature. A better world will be built by our caring kids. I truly believe that. KinderCanada is an organization I support and am proud to share here on this blog because of their partnership with Children’s Miracle Network. For the last two years Kinder has given back to Children’s Miracle Network, supporting children with life threatening illnesses. For the second year, KINDER®has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network with the “A Joy To Share”program. The “A Joy to Share” program is one of the ways KINDER® is helping bring joy to families this holiday season. As families come together this holiday, it is a wonderful opportunity to teach our little ones (and loved ones) about what it means to help others. Over the years, my husband and I have worked hard to show our kids compassion at work, to help them build a good moral compass and give them opportunities to help others. These are a few of my thoughts on how children can give back at Christmas. Five Ways Kids Can Give Back at Christmas 1. Find an Angel Tree. We have done this ever since the kids were small. Find an Angel Tree in your community and have your children pick out a name, then purchase a gift for the child. 2. Visit a Retirement Home (or longterm care facility volunteering or visiting.) When my Mom was in Kensington Village, my kids would visit often. We made friends with staff and residents and my kids would randomly hug seniors. It was a spontaneous gesture that was always appreciated. People sometimes don’t get many visitors when they are living in a retirement home or care facility. 3. Donate. Donate toys, clothes, books – fill a shoebox for Christmas. There are several organizations that do this type of activity that’s simple and rewarding for kids. This is one of those organizations: Operation Christmas Child. This is a great way kids can give back at Christmas. 4. Volunteer Together. Spend an afternoon volunteering together at the Food Bank. It’s a task simple enough for kids to do with some instruction. It feels good and can easily become a tradition. Your heart will feel full and you are accomplishing something useful while also encouraging kids to recognize the importance of community. 5. Card Writing Campaigns. Visit the Kinder® Facebook page and create a card for the Children’s Miracle Network. For each greeting card that is created, KINDER® will donate $1 to the Children’s Miracle Network. KINDER® hopes to reach a goal of $25,000 this holiday season. There are many card writing opportunities every year and you can probably find one easily in your community. You might send cards to the local hospital, or to the university to support kids doing their exams away from home for the first time.

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Gift Ideas for Tweens this Christmas

Paula — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 13:59:39 +0000

Gift ideas for tweens is the name of the game today. While a lot of other gift guides feature dozens of toys, many of them high priced gaming platforms, I’m taking a different approach. I’m going with two affordable options that make great stocking stuffers or straight up gifts. Why you say? Well, not everyone can afford to buy a Nintendo Switch or iPhone X. And more than that, sometimes it’s the little gift ideas that are really the most fun. Two Gift Ideas for Tweens that Cover All the Bases These two gems are perfect for any tween. They pretty much cover everything. One is super cute with just the right amount of grossness, and one makes for an easy, non-violent way for kids to get out there competitive angst. Everybody wins! Poo-Nicorn Emoji Pillow That’s right, Poo-Nicorn. As in poo. The Poo-Nicorn is an 18″ cuddly blue poop emoji pillow with a rainbow tuft of hair surrounding a unicorn horn. It’s awesome! The Blue Poo-Nicorn Emoji Pillow also features adorably huge eyes and a cute little smile, that make the entire pillow so incredibly cute while having just enough gross to be an absolute delight. They make the perfect gift for any tween girl, because even girls appreciate potty humor. Trust me my youngest niece gets this kind of humour even while still dressing like a princess. My girls still enjoy it too. Never gets old. HEXBUG BattleBots Rivals (Minotaur and Beta) If your kids are like mine, Hexbug is a brand that is well know and loved. So this year the addition of BattleBots to their lineup is a welcome one. I love that the kids are into it, because it promotes an interest in STEM using (robot) violence. LOL. Building these robots requires the ability to code, wire, and construct robots, which serves to get the kids interested in learning about the science behind it all. Now tweens can bring the fun of steel cage robot death matches into their living rooms with HEXBUGS BattleBots Rivals. This pack features Minotaur and Beta. Both robots have magnetized and snap-together pieces that fly off on impact for authentic battle damage. They’re an excellent toy for the kids – both boys and girls – to engage in a little friendly rivalry. The best part? Emphasis on the word “friendly”. 😉 Gift Ideas for Tweens that Won’t Have you Taking out a Second Mortgage These two gift ideas for tweens are perfect for bringing joy to the holiday season without woe to your bank account. The Poo-Nicorn is just the cutest pile of poop I’ve ever seen, and the BattleBots set is fun and exciting for both boys and girls. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to make the season bright without dipping too deeply into your bank account, these toys are the answer for you! I received product in order to facilitate this post. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful. I have also added native shopping ads and links to simplify buying. If you purchase, I make a small commission at no extra cost for you.

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25 Most Popular Dolls Gift Roundup

Paula — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 22:12:12 +0000

I am the Mom of girls. I am more than familiar with dolls and brands of dolls and all their glorious accessories. From pretty much the moment my girls could speak, they were asking for dolls. Dolls for Christmas presents and dolls for birthdays too. This year there may be a couple of dolls on the Christmas lists too. Not saying which ones because my kids sometimes read this blog. Anyways, over the years I have formed some opinions on the dolls that are trendy and the dolls that are timeless too. Barbie never gets old. She is pretty much always a hit. Monster High is on almost every little girl’s list that I know of this year. With that in mind, I thought it might be helpful to list the 25 most popular dolls and share some thoughts on where you can find them. Top 25 Dolls What girl wouldn’t love to open a gift to discover it is her most dreamt for doll? My list of the top 25 dolls will help you find that perfect doll for the special gal on your gift list. Happy Shopping! Barbie Holiday Collector Doll 2014 Monster High Freaky Fusion Cleolei Melissa & Doug Jenna Doll Frozen Royal Sisters Doll Set Barbie Dream House Monster High Freaky Fusion Lagoonafire Barbie & The Secret Door Princess Alexa Singing Doll My Little Pony Equestria Girls Doll Set Chatsters Gabby Interactive Doll Barbie Feed & Cuddle Tawny Horse & Playset Monster High Freaky Fusion Catacombs Playset Monster High Freaky Fusion Dracubecca Ever After High Thronecoming Apple White Doll Barbie Skipper Doll & Tiki Hut Playset Doc McStuffins Walk ‘N Talk Doc Mobile Disney Princess Glitter Glider Castle Kraft Majestic Mansion Dollhouse Monster High Jane Boolittle Frozen Elsa Toddler Doll Flutterbye Fairies Magic Flying Tinkerbell Frozen Olaf Doll Barbie Loves Girl Scouts Paradise Galleries Realistic Baby Doll Little Mommy Bubbly Bath Time Doll My First Dolly This post contains affiliate links.

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Hoover Air Upright Cordless Vacuum #Giveaway #TMMGG2014

Paula — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 04:11:07 +0000

Meet my new dance partner. I am actually not the world’s biggest cleaning fan. Happily my husband doesn’t seem to mind and often takes over the dishes, laundry and vacuuming.But this beautiful cordless vacuum has me changing my tune. The Hoover Air Cordless Upright provides fifty minutes of cleaning and good suction power. It’s a full-size cordless, cyclonic vacuum that can clean your whole home using lithium-ion battery technology. The vacuum comes with two LithiumLife batteries and when combined; provides an average of 50 minutes of fade-free power to clean both carpets and floors. I have a mixture of floors and carpets and it switches easily between the two. The see through canister is curiously compelling. I know we clean, but there’s really this much dust? That’s stunning. The canister needs to be emptied every couple of uses. This particular unit comes with two filters. The filter should be cleaned every three to four uses. It also comes with two lithium batteries and a charger. I find that I can vacuum my whole house and then recharge the battery. There is enough power to clean a 2,500 square foot home with no loss of suction and without recharging. The WindTunnel 3.0 technology allows you to clean deep with three nozzle channels of powerful suction to capture dirt — other vacuums rely on one. The head of the vacuum swivels easily and I love that. I have an older vacuum with the canister that you drag that is not an upright and although my old vacuum has good suction it is a complete beast to lug around the house. Forget doing stairs with it. It’s heavy. This one is not! The Hoover Air Cordless Upright vacuum weighs less than ten pounds! Here are a few more stats: * It includes a steerable design. (I can’t tell you how awesome that is getting around furniture.) * weighs just 9.9 lbs * removable cleaning tools. And did I mention that it is backed by a five-year limited warranty. This unit sells for $399. Not only will you have the freedom of vacuuming all the floors in your house without having to unplug and plug back in, you’ll now be able to get into those hard to reach spaces. The powerful and light weight design allows for you to really get a deep clean with the easy maneuvering of vacuuming without an immobile cord attachment. I had no idea how much I would love a cordless vacuum. Now I have no clue how I lived without one this long. This post contains affiliate links. I received product in order to facilitate the review and giveaway. My opinion is all my own. I love this vacuum. It’s the nicest and lightest one I have ever had. It takes the chore out of doing the vacuuming. Entry-Form

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Elegant Christmas Tea Lovers Gift Ideas #TMMGG2014

Paula — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 05:02:57 +0000

My Grandmother on my mother’s side was British. She was a total kick in the pants, a mom to five boys and one daughter and she was a huge tea drinker. Of course she also rolled cigarettes back when Virginia Slims make smoking appear sexy, then quit cold turkey one day after smoking for 30 years. She was a great, quirky and inspirational lady who loved to talk politics with me even when I was only nine or ten. As a child, when I went to her house (every single sick day) I would marvel at the teas (mostly Tetley and Red Rose because those were her brands) and the little tea figurines all piled in tidy rows in her living room. I have always been a coffee drinking mom, but when Denby sent me this lovely tea set in Monsoon pattern I became my grandmother’s granddaughter again and started enjoying a lovely spot of tea. This set makes me wish I could still share an afternoon with my Grandmother, or even my Mom for that matter. They both enjoyed tea far more than coffee. There’s something relaxing about tea and the ritual of it. I think that’s part of why I welcome this tea drinking habit again. I need the permission to indulge in a break and reflect on a regular basis. Plus it warms my hands and my heart just remembering all the tea times my other and grandmother shared. Yesterday when my girls got in from school I met them with this treat of pie with hot chocolate and tea for me. So, maybe we are onto a new tea drinking tradition that we can share. Denby has some stunning and elegant tea lovers gift ideas for any occasion. Of course because the holidays are fast approaching again, I felt this set warranted a mention in my gift guide this year. I like the look and feel of this set and after I watched the Denby video about how the pottery is created I felt compelled to browse their site and see if I could round out the set at all. My husband likes the pattern and asked me – “Where did this come from? Can we get more to complete the set?” We have been hunting for a new dish set that we both like and it appears that Denby has solved our dilemma. Denby’s new Monsoon collection comes in two very distinct styles called Antalya and Cordoba. The collections blend together trendy colours and patterns with a traditional style leading to an overall balanced design. You can blend together patterns and pieces to make your collection or gift set unique. Also included is a range of different materials used in each design such as ceramics, tins, textiles, glass and cork mats, bringing further options to the table, literally. Did you know that Denby is made in England and is so durable that four upturned Denby mugs could hold a double decker bus? It’s the truth. Check the video for more about the history of this handcrafted pottery. Pieces are unique and the Cordoba collection we received is mustard yellow with deep navy. It comes in four different patterns that have a Moroccan feel. Monsoon has bold florals Antalya is aqua and dark blue. Both sets are lovely but I really like the Cordoba one we received. It’s nothing I would have ever found myself because I just don’t seem to have that trendy design finder gene that some people have. You can buy Denby on line. Click here and find the pieces you like. Denby is also dishwasher safe and microwave safe! Disclosure: I received product for purposes of writing this post. My opinion is all my own.

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