Gift Round Up

So yesterday I alleviated some of my stress and bought almost all of the Christmas gifts I have to buy.....from my iPad, sitting on my couch, watching 30 Rock. Isnt online shopping the best way to go? $7 for shipping? Ok. I didnt have to load my kids up in the car and deal with a double stroller. Win for me! There are still a few that are lingering, but most of those are gift cards. 

Anyway, I thought I would post some gifts I think are neat in case you need some inspiration for your gift giving. Its my mini gift guide :)

Rifle Journals. Set of 3. $12

*Who doesnt love a pretty little notepad to jot lists down? I would love to get this.

Voluspa Japonica candle tin. Goji Berry.$18

*I have to say, this scent is my FAVORITE of any candle I have ever had. EVER. If you dont want to take my word for it, 3 other friends of mine would say the exact same thing. You cant go wrong with this candle. Citrus burst!

Birchbox. $10 a month.

* I literally just found out what this was maybe 30 minutes ago. One friend had blogged about them before, and another friend of mine just posted about them on FB. I checked out the website and its awesome. For $10 a month they send you 4-5 deluxe beauty samples. I see Nars, Stilla, and Redken right there, it looks awesome already. They have the option to gift this, and you can pick between a 3, 6, or 12 month gift subscription. Or, you could just order it for yourself and get billed monthly ;)

  Miette: Recipes from San Francisco's most charming Pastry Shop. $27.50

*There are over 100 recipes in this book, and hello, each page has scalloped edges! This is in my own wishlist.....          

                  Blue Turquoise Ring. $57. 
* I love this hammered band. If you're not into Turquoise, there are so many other pretty rings here. 

 Fleur de Sel Caramels. DIY

*Creature Comforts is one of my all time favorite blogs to read. She gives you the recipe for the caramels(which is an Ina Garten recipe, I LOVE HER!), and gives you free printables to pretty up your boxes. These would make sweet teacher gifts, which is why all of Ryder's teachers will be getting some! 



            Ok! That's it!     

Sorry there are no gift ideas for husbands, dads, brothers, etc. I am struggling with that myself! Boys are so hard to buy for. All George ever wants is music equipment and computer programs for recording. Um, hello $500+ per item! 

Is there anything you would add to my list? Do you have a great "boy" gift I should know about? Tell me! I am still on the hunt :)            

Weekend run-down

 We went to the Arboretum and had fun

 

Our awesome friend Jarrod designed George's logo

And I chipped my top front tooth on a ring pop. Sorry, no pic for that. Its pretty hideous.

It was a lovely weekend overall. Gah where is this month going though! I know its only the 5th, but its only three more weekends until Christmas! This morning a wave of stress hit me about my forever long To Do list. We have our Christmas decorations up, which includes our Christmas tree, Ryder's little tree, a little something in our entry way and an Advent Calendar. I dont go crazy with decorations. I need to confess though, our advent calendar is little muslin bags with numbers for each day and are supposed to have a few little candies for the kids. Um, I have yet to fill the bags, which means that days 1-5 havent been taken down :/ .

It is on my list of things to do today though, so tonight we can just catch up on all the days we missed! 

Added to my list is getting my tooth fixed and taking care of the ticket the State Trooper gifted me. He shouldnt have. Thanks for the errand!

Are you overwhelmed with things that need to get done and gifts that need to be bought? Or do you buy throughout the year? I read somewhere that after you make your Christmas To Do list you should assign each task a specific day. Maybe I should go do that right now.

New Toys

This past weekend the same question was brought up several times with my friends....

"What are you getting your kids for Christmas?!"

We talked about how last year some of us (me) got their kids tons of little things just so they could have lots of presents to open. 

I have learned my lesson.

Let me tell you a something. Getting a ton of cheap crap is so much worse than getting fewer,  quality(more expensive) toys.

You would think this is common sense, but for some reason when it comes down to a week or so before Christmas, i find myself grabbing at every little $10 item in Target. Just so they will have "one more thing".

This year I am prepared. I am shopping early, ONLINE. That's key I think. $7 for you to ship it to me vs. picking up 3 more craptastic $10 toys in Target? Oh, I think I'll go for $7 shipping.

So, here are some of the things I have picked out to give to the kiddies this year. Good, quality toys that make them think. Im sorry, but as cute and as many fisher price toys that we have, they only keep interest for like 2 weeks....if that.

Here we go!

Dantoy Crocodile Rocker. $43.13 from Amazon

I like this because both the kids can use it at the same time or alone. Its small enough to go in our house, and i know they will love it.

 

 Kid-O Bilibo. $22.84 from Amazon.

Im getting one for each of the kids. These things are awesome, there are so many different things they can do with them. Use them as a helmet, bowl, sit in them, stand on them, use them as a shovel, its endless. 

 

Wood Stacking Robots. $13.95 from Amazon.

These guys can stack upside down and balance on each other. So simple, but I think Ryder will love them. 

 

Plan Toys Dancing Alligator Pull Toy. $15.08 from Amazon.

So cute. I know Lucy will love it. I also know that I will catch Ryder pulling it around too....Im sure it will be a favorite.

 

Hide and Squeak Eggs. $9.99 from Amazon.

There are so many reasons why this toy is awesome. Taking the eggs out, putting them back in, taking their tops on and off, hearing them squeak, learning colors. I already love it!

 

Star Crayon in the Tub. $5.49 from Amazon.

Getting one of these for each of the kids. Yay for all the colors being together! I cant tell you how many times I have decided to take nice hot bath only to discover a blue crayon hanging out in there with me. Stocking Stuffer!

 

Melissa & Doug Bug Jug Fill and Spill. $19.28 from Amazon.

This is one of my favorites. Lucy LOVES LOVES LOVES  "filling and spilling" things. She doesnt have any toys like this yet, so she resorts to filling and spilling the laundry hamper. But I must say, there is more spilling going on than filling...

Well, that's it! That's everything in my Amazon cart. PS: if you have never used Amazon before YOU SHOULD! Everything will be shipped free, except the wooden Robots. They dont qualify for some reason.

Oh, and one last thing! I found this awesome toy site yesterday!

Moolka Toys.

I found that Crocodile Rocker on their site but knew I could get it on Amazon for way cheaper, and I did, about $15 cheaper! But its still a great place to find unique toys. Sometimes Amazon beats them, sometimes they dont!

I am going to have to get a few more things that Ryder has been asking for....like a Pillow Pet. Which means Lucy will have to have one too! Maybe one or two more things for him and I will be done. That's so exciting to say! And its not even Thanksgiving yet!

Have you thought about what you are getting your kids for Christmas? Are you awesome about Christmas and shop year round? 

Let me know if there are any other unique toys I should know about!