Being the nosy curious Enneagram 5 that I am, I loved this post from Everyday Reading about what she’s actually getting her four girls for Christmas. While gift guides are so helpful, seeing what others actually choose for their own kiddos from the sea of options helps me to narrow down my own list — and is just fun! In that spirit, I thought you might like to see what June and Shep will find under the tree this year.
We don’t officially subscribe to the want / need / wear / read philosophy of gift giving (though I do keep it in mind), and some years we give more gifts than others. At my children’s current ages, I’m also not at all concerned about matching amounts spent or number of gifts given. They already both have more than enough, but these are a few things we think will delight them this year!
Sorry not sorry this is the actual cutest photo you’ve ever seen — Anagram, you are my hero!!!
June (who is almost 4) will be receiving: — A rock polisher. She LOVES collecting “crystals” everywhere she goes (she sounds like a bank vault because of the rocks constantly jangling in her pockets) and I predict she will be obsessed with shining up her finds. — A book about rocks, gems, and minerals that we picked up from our Museum of Life & Science. — A set of 10 My Little Ponies, similar to this. This was a total spur-of-the-moment purchase at Costco (of all places), but I think she will love it. My all-time favorite activity from the ages of approximately 3 to 8 was making “pony houses” for (you guessed it) My Little Ponies, so there is a good deal of nostalgia at play. Shout out to my BFF, pony-house-making accomplice and across-the-street neighbor, Emily – I know you’re reading! :) — Light-up sneakers, because they are the number one item on her wish list. Found a pair that is not too garish :)
I also have my hopes that a loved one will get her a doctor’s kit, and if I see no one has purchased it a few days before the 25th I may snap it up – or might wait for her birthday :)
Shep (who is about 1 and a 1/2) will be receiving… — A dinosaur backpack and dinosaur lunchbox for his big upgrade to preschool! — The most adorable apple sweater. Since I buy 90% of my kids’ clothes secondhand, I don’t mind splurging every so often, and I thought this top was so cute! Heirloom-worthy :) I’d been eyeing this for months and snagged it on Black Friday. — A photo memory game with all of his grandparents, cousins, and aunts and uncles. We made one for June around this age and she loved looking at the cards even before she could play the game! — The Christmas version of his favorite book, because he is OBSESSED.
As well as stockings, of course! Below, tell me what you’re getting your kiddos this year — I love seeing people’s actual lists!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with delicious food and the people you love! We celebrated with our dear friends and their parents, as has become our tradition for the last many years, and today we’re headed to Charlotte to be with my family! Then we get our tree on Sunday :)
And in between, we shop a few sales! I’m so glad my gift guides — for ladies, men, and parents/in-laws and your favorite kids — have been helpful. As promised, here are a few suggestions for kiddo stockings. I’ve mostly linked to Amazon, but this is an instance where I’m actually quite practiced at picking up little treasures throughout the year — another great opportunity to shop small and local!
Plus we always include basics like toothpaste, a new toothbrush, sweets and snacks (bunny grahams are a favorite!), and my Mom always adds chocolate gold coins to everyone’s stocking :)
Happy shopping, friends! And psst — I collected a few grown-up stocking stuffer ideas here, with the hopes of adding a few more over the next few days!
So happy to hear this year’s stripped-down gift guides are helpful! Two things I wanted to note before we dig into kid ideas today:
First, they’re not as conducive to internet gift guides, but don’t discount the joy in giving experiences. I actually went back and added a few ideas to yesterday’s grown-up guide, and have included a few here! Some of the best gifts I’ve ever given or received have been carefully-selected adventures (bonus points for a surprise element!).
Second, if it’s important to you, shop local when you can! Of all the categories, I find kiddo gifts especially easy to score at my favorite local boutiques (because everything is just so cute!!). Similarly to shopping from an online small business, your local purchase makes SUCH a difference to those business owners, especially at this time of year!
Gifts for your favorite girls: — A caboodle. What is it about storing treasures neatly that gets kids so jazzed? — Dreamy castle pajamas — A beautiful blanket for her bed or a picnic in the yard (unicorn-esque colors but amenable to mama, too!) — Herd Your Horses, a board game I was OBSESSED with as a girl! If you have an equine lover in your fam, this is a slam dunk. — THE CUTEST slippers! June has the rainbows and I also love the shooting stars! — A friendship bracelet making book. You had and loved this as a kid, yes?? — A perfectly pink fleece — A horse-print top — The most MAGICAL play mat. The price is hefty – maybe a good grandparent gift? Or maybe they’ll have a Black Friday sale? June would flip over this. — Non-hideous light-up sneakers. One of the three things on June’s dictated Christmas list this year, ha! — A fabulous red cape for dress-up
Gifts for everyone: — A sweet peg nativity set — A rock tumbler. This is one of June’s gifts this year :) — A marble race track — A play kit or subscription to Loveverybaby. A few family members chipped in for the 13 to 15-month kit for Shep for his first birthday and it was a HUGE hit! — A book – always a book! Lots of favorites here. — A cooking class, sewing workshop, or other fun activity — A doctor play kit (on June’s wish list!) — June and her weather-loving daddy would love this weather station. I could see us doing it at the breakfast table! — A children’s museum membership (the Museum of Life and Science, if you’re in the Triangle!) — A cute hat. I just bought a pom pom number for Shep from this company at Tiny! — A checkout register with endless possibilities but no beeps — A Kiwi Co. Crate box or subscription. (June would LOVE this and we are considering getting for her birthday!) There’s a Black Friday sale, too! — An ice cream scooper set. June’s cousin has this and she has spent HOURS and HOURS and HOURS playing with it every time we’re in the vicinity. — Tickets to a performance, like a ballet, concert, or ice skating show — Sleeping Queens, a card game you’ll actually enjoy playing together :)
These are loose categories (mostly just to break it up a little!), so of course feel free to mix and match for your favorite kiddos! And check out my past kiddo gift guide for even more ideas.
I’ll be back with kiddo stocking stuffer suggestions on Friday, but until then, Happy Thanksgiving, friends!! I am thankful for your thoughtfulness, good humor, and smart ideas each and every day! I’m lucky to have you here.
Psst–gifts for your favorite grown-ups are here!Affiliate links are used in this post!
Friends — welcome to the most spectacularly visually UNimpressive gift guide you’ve ever seen on the internet, ha! It’s been a hot minute over here, and though my time is short right now, I’ve been collecting gift ideas for months and can’t let Black Friday sales pass us by without offering up a few ideas for the ones you love!
But first, let’s talk about something. I think we can all agree that the best gifts are personal to the recipient, and perhaps even say something about the giver, and/or about the two’s relationship? What, then, would I have to offer as you search out gifts for your people? Why are we here??
The short answer: while I can’t pretend to shop for your sweet mom who calls you every Monday on your drive home from work, your sister who just moved to a new city, or your husband who is adjusting to life as a dad of two, I can offer up my best ideas for gifts that have been hits with the people I love. My hope is that somewhere in the list, you’ll find something that DOES speak to a personal connection — or will at least get your wheels turning!
With that, let’s get this show started!
For husbands, dads, and brothers: — A pair of Allbirds. John has the Runners in natural grey and loves them so! — Our friends brought this camping and I’ve wanted one ever since (they really work and we really need one for our backyard!). It looks kind of scary, but it shoots salt (!), which “decimates flies on contact.” — The comfiest joggers. John has a similar pair and changes into them almost every day after work in the winter. So cozy! — An old-school mug with one of his favorite places on it. — A fun book comparing ballparks then and now — Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit. I didn’t know this existed until a few months ago and now I must have it?! — A subscription to the Goodnewspaper (a quarterly print publication filled with really good news – and great design) — A custom photo mug. I had this lightbulb moment earlier this year that cute/slightly cheesy photo products don’t just show up on your doorstep when you have kids – someone has to get you them. Get him one :) — Sagrada or another great board game for a group or for two — Tickets to a sporting event, concert, or comedy show. I got John tickets for Jim Gaffigan two years ago and it was a huge hit!
For parents or in-laws: Obviously many of the above options would be good fits, but a few additional ideas…
— A sculptural watering can — A pretty insulated cooler bag (especially if your in-laws take long road trips like mine do!) — A lovely fireplace basket (or log holder) — A gorgeous wreath straight from the wilds of Maine (my favorite!) — An indigo block print tablecloth. We have and love this one! — The coolest wooden puzzles — A pretty straw hat (my Mom and I both have a similar one and get compliments all the time!) — PowerSheets, because they’ll help her figure out what’s next with the kids all grown up — A magazine holder. Bonus: include a subscription — my current favorites are Bon Appetit, Our State, and The Atlantic. — Cafe lights, if they have a little outdoor area. Offer to hang them as part of the gift! :) — Pretty potted rosemary — A cool pillow showcasing their home state (look closely!) — A keepsake interview book, to record their stories — A quirky baking kit, because retirees have time on their hands — A gorgeous gold cookbook and tablet stand — A sweet frame with a picture of grandkids, because that’s all they really want :) — A cooking class they can take together — Tickets to a show, concert, local river cruise, train excursion, sleigh ride, etc.! (<– all things my in-laws have done and enjoyed, ha!)
