So this isn’t something I normally do but I decided to share a few items that I have stumbled across lately that would be great Christmas gifts! A couple are things I’ll be getting for my crew, some we already have and love, but others I’m keeping in mind for later. Hopefully these spark some ideas for you as you are making your lists and shopping….and maybe they’ll let you do most of your shopping in your pjs with hot chocolate or coffee by your side instead of losing sleep on Black Friday. ;]
Fat Brain Toys Tobbles – These are adorable little stacking bowls, perfect for little ones working on motor skills!
Fat Brain Toys PipSquigz – I actually asked my MIL to get these for Gunner so I can take it to Peru to keep him occupied on the plane. I’m not even gonna lie because I’m so excited to play with these! haha
Fat Brain Toys Dimpl – I got this for Gunner for the trip to Peru as well. It’s one piece, easy to clean, lightweight, and great for motor skills!
OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser – Y’all, I won this thing in a contest and it’s been great for the past 4 years! It’s weighted so you only pull one wipe out at a time and all the moms say “hallelujah” cause #poopydiaperchanges
Himalayan Salt Lamp – Now this makes a great gift for adults too but I’m putting it here because it’s great if you have to get up in the night to nurse a babe. Make sure you buy one with a dimmer switch if you want it in your little one’s room. The soft pink glow is easy on your eyes and is relaxing. Plus it helps keep the air fresh!
Stainless Steel Cups + Sippy Lids – So I hate sappy cups. They drive me nuts. There are always a zillion pieces and it seems like no matter what I do gunk gets caught somewhere and then they are gross. I am on the verge of tossing all the zippy cups and going this route. If you do, let me know how you like them! (According to some reviews, make sure you buy cups with the rounded edge so the silicone doesn’t get cut by the stainless steel.)
Magnatiles – Now, there are a zillion brands to choose from out there so look around before you buy. Magnatiles are the original brand and while they are great quality, they’re also a little pricey. We have Discovery Kids magnetic tiles at our house and Ellie plays with them almost daily! The only downside is that I recently discovered they’re smaller than several other brands so they aren’t compatible. Oops! If you don’t want to be tied to one brand, these are supposed to be compatible with most other magnetic tile sets out there.
Fat Brain Toys Squigz – We don’t have these yet but I think they are so cool! They have Mini Squigz that look really cute so check them both out.
Fat Brain Toys Simpl Dimpl – Ellie doesn’t know it yet but she’s getting one of these for her stocking stuffer. Think fidget spinner but even cooler!
Marble runs – This was a suggestion from a friend last year and Ellie (and Mr Engineer husband of mine) loves these! We don’t play with it as often now BUT that’s only because Gunner is a stinker who is obsessed with shoving everything into his mouth (I need Jesus to help me survive this season because this kid has given me so many heart attacks!). There are a lot of brands to choose from but most are compatible so your kiddos can build to their heart’s desire! And adding sets makes it easy to give grandparents gift ideas for birthdays and such…you’re welcome. ;]
Piggy Paint 100% Non-toxic Nail Polish – Somehow I ended up with a very girly girl who loves pink + dresses + nail polish! Regular nail polish is full of a lot of harmful chemicals so I found Piggy Paint last year and Ellie loves it! I’ll probably get a couple new colors for stocking stuffers.
The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis was an incredible author and if you haven’t read Narnia, you are missing out. I’ve read it several times and I love it more every time. Ellie and I read it this year and even at 3-4 years old she loved them!
Those Darn Squirrels series – These are hilarious little books about a grumpy old man and the bothersome but brilliant squirrels who live by his house. They go on vacation together in the second book and in the third they deal with the mean cat next door. Ellie thinks they are so funny!
Half Baked Harvest Cookbook – This is quickly becoming my favorite cookbook!
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet – If you like to cook, you need to have a cast iron skillet!
Instant Pot – Y’all this thing get used all the time in our house. I even took it on our youth retreat last weekend! ha! I make soups, roasts, whole chicken, ribs, pork BBQ, wings, boiled eggs, steel cut oats, yogurt, and so much more in it. I have the 6 quart but as my kids get older I may wish I had the 8 quart.
Bonus: Make sure you get the glass lid. This makes storing leftovers in the fridge a breeze!
Chocolove Chocolate Bars – These are the most delicious, smooth chocolate bars. My favorites are the Toffee + Almond and the Salted Caramel. (p.s.- If you sign up for Thrive Market you can save on these ;] and so many other healthy foods! If you use my code you’ll get 25% off your first order.)
Magnolia Journal subscription – Yes, I went there. I love getting this magazine quarterly. It’s beautiful on the coffee table (if Gunner doesn’t rip it haha) and so is the content inside.
The Magnolia Story – While we are at it, might as well list this one. I read it earlier this year and loved it. I was so inspired to dream and then to buckle down and work hard to take my business to the next level.
Instax Printer – Do you love the look of the Instax prints but don’t want to carry around the camera? Well, I have the perfect solution for you! I love to print my photos and the instant prints are so cute but I knew I wouldn’t actually carry one around…enter the printer! This little guy lets you print any photo from your photo! I promise it’s so worth it. Be sure you get film with it too.
Essential oils – So I’m a big fan of DoTerra essential oils. The quality is great and their rewards are on point. If you want to know more about oils feel free to shoot me an email! If you know you want to get oils for Christmas just use my ID# 492296 to start saving!
Wool Dryer Balls – If you haven’t gotten dryer sheets out of your routine, jump off that ship and get these for yourself or a friend. They help cut down on dry time and static, plus they pair so well with essential oils to make your laundry smell amazing without any artificial fragrances.
SanDisk iExpand Flash Drive – This little gizmo is the perfect way to get all the photos off your phone and save them in a second location so your memories are safe in case of a phone crash.
Beartown Crossfit Membership – If you are local to Lebanon, VA, sign up for a membership at Beartown Crossfit! I joined about 18 months ago and I love it. I have gotten stronger and healthier. I worked out through pregnancy and it helped me feel great throughout pregnancy and after. Best of all, the community is incredible!
Settlers of Catan – If you enjoy a good board game and haven’t played this, you are missing out! It’s lots of fun. (p.s.- make sure you get the extension pack so all of your friends can play together)
Bonus: So since becoming parents Mike and I haven’t played the full board game with friends as often so I surprised him for our anniversary last year with this two person card game version! It’s so much fun. There are several variations to play that make the game longer of shorter.
Take advantage of the BOGO deal I have going on right now! Purchase 1 session and get a 2nd one 50% OFF! This is perfect to gift one to a family member or friend then you can finally book those family photos you’ve been talking about for who knows how long! Get all the info here then send me a message to book!
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones!
-Emily
Disclosure: Sometimes the links in my posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I earn a very small commission (just a few cents). You are never charged any additional amount but sometimes you may get a discount! Any products I link to are ones that I personally am using or would love to use for myself/my family.
© Copyright Emily Rogers | All rights reserved.
Emily is a southwest Virginia-based destination wedding photographer + videographer specializing in telling the love stories of farm girls + guys—the ones who love adventures on farms, barns, and mountaintops!
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS