Holiday Gift Guide

Genius Square: this game is completely mind-blowing to me. My 10-year old beats me every time. It’s fun…and it makes my brain hurt in a good way!

Bamboozled: this game is fun for the whole family (ages 10-45), and we quickly learned who can bluff the best…and who…well…does not have a good poker face. 🙂

Brain Bolt: this is a one-person memory, problem-solving game that is great for kids (6+), teens and adults! If you’re an adult, you might quickly realize, like me, how slow your brain has become.

Color Brain: my 10-year old would like to tell you this is her favorite game of all time! I think we played it every night for two months straight (got through all the questions!). Apparently the Disney version is even more fun, and since my daughter doesn’t read my blog, I know what she’s getting for Christmas this year!

ROKR Assembly Treasure Box: my kids have been gifted and put together a lot of ROKR 3-D puzzles and structures over the years (big fan of all of them!), and this treasure box was a hit last Christmas with my 13-year old who loves building and figuring out things.

Microwave Popcorn Maker: not only is this microwave popcorn maker exceptionally cute, but it works amazingly well (we don’t use the option to melt the butter on top). It comes in several colors!

Taco Holders: I bought these taco holders for these crispy shrimp tacos because we make them all.the.time. Turns out, we use these taco holders for that recipe AND any time we make tacos. Very handy!

Crispy Chocolate Pearls: every time I post about these crispy chocolate pearls, they sell out almost immediately! They are a) extremely delicious and b) the perfect topping for cakes, cupcakes, cookies (or just eating by the handful). Orson Gygi sells them in larger bags here.

Beautiful Boards Book: I have this book (and have gifted it to several friends!), and while I’m pretty low maintenance at holidays, I’m finding I love the inspiration to make things a bit fun and festive, and this book is such a great place to start (and you can easily make lots of adaptations to the ideas!).

Large Serving Bowls: these large, shallow serving bowls are perfect for salads, fruit, pasta, bread…so many things! They are pretty and unique (you can choose different size combinations).

Glow-in-the-Dark Basketball: this basketball bounces perfectly but it also has a superior glow-in-the-dark factor that makes it extra fun! We gifted this to my nephew for his birthday, and it’s the first thing my kids want to play with when we go over there in the evening.

DayBetter LED Lights: My 10-year old daughter got these for her birthday this year, and immediately had us help her put them around the perimeter of her bedroom. She loves them! They change color with music/sound and add a fun touch to her room.

Chain Bracelet: I am a super (super super) simple jewelry wearer. This linked chain bracelet is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. It is elegant and pretty but still casual and understated. Gold version here.

Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard: this keyboard is great for anyone who uses their phone/tablet to type notes, emails, or longer-than-a-text communication. I use it all the time to journal and write down impressions from morning scripture studies (sidenote: I keep it all stored in the Evernote app). It connects seamlessly!

AeroGarden: my friend told me about this unique indoor garden and I had to try it out. LOVE IT. The key is to continuously trim the herbs and use them (or freeze them). Mine is in my office and I often find myself just starting at it. It’s amazing how quickly the plants grow!

Modern Manners Book: I can’t say enough about this modern manners book. We have volume 1 and 2. It sits open to the current week’s manner in our kitchen, and we use it as part of our family council each Sunday. It has opened up a lot of conversations with our kids (and their friends who see it!).

Laneige Lip Gloss: at the risk of sounding completely cliche, I’m obsessed with this lip gloss. I have the grapefruit gloss, and it is truly amazing. Glossy without being super sticky. This would make a great stocking stuffer!

Face Masks: I keep these on hand to give as gifts to friends that have birthdays. And…I can’t help but use them now and then for myself. I love the variety AND how they make my skin feel!

Melixir Tinted Lip Balm: I don’t like the thick smeariness of regular lipstick. But sometimes my lips need a boost of color. This tinted lip balm is perfect for giving a hint of color without being lipstick. It’s light in texture, and it doesn’t dry my lips out either! Another great stocking stuffer. I have the nude crumble color.

Noco Boost Plus: pure functionality, this portable car battery pack can jump start a dead battery in just seconds and makes a great gift for anyone who owns a car and drives!

Saranoni Outdoor Blanket: Saranoni blankets are some of the highest quality, most luxurious blankets ever (and the company is family-owned and run with the type of integrity I wish every company had). Their new outdoor blankets are exceptional! We’ve used ours nonstop this fall. They are definitely a splurge for a blanket…but 100% worth it! I keep ours in the car so we always have it to sit on or bundle up with at fall sporting events.