Accessories
Bombas socks – I know, they’re kind of expensive. But I love how the ankle socks feel on my feet and in my shoes.
Braided band for my Apple Watch – I asked my 16-year-old daughter to find me a watch band that was comfortable and dried easily. This is what she came up with, and I love it. In fact, I recently ordered a second one.
Crossbody bag – I have loved this Lululemon one for a while, but I found an even better and cheaper one on Amazon. Truly, hooray for liking the off-brand one better!
Madewell bag with flower strap – My friend Ashlee carries this Madewell bag and I loved it so much I bought it too. I didn’t love the thin strap on it. I probably put too much stuff in my “medium tote.” But I bought a wide, pretty strap on Amazon and it makes the bag nearly perfect.
Pura Vida bracelets – I have loved these for a while for myself and others, but I found this Daybreak one that matches my new book. There are so many options and colors – and they make great gifts!
Household
Blink outdoor security cameras – I’ve shared about these before, but they’re easy to set up and use. I can see movement on my porches, which I especially like at night or if the kids are home alone. We recently added the doorbell to our system.
Line-a-day journal – I’ve gifted so many of these. It’s a journal that gives you space to write a sentence or two for each day for five years. I’m on my second journal, and I’m going to keep giving them away like candy. Documenting my day briefly each night before bed as become over the past five-plus years one of my very favorite habits.
Pellet ice maker – This is our second counter ice maker and I love it! It’s bigger than our previous one and makes the soft, crunchy Sonic ice. (PLUS it’s currently on sale!)
Pioneer Woman stuff – Pretty much of any of these kitchen & household accessories would make great gifts. I have plastic plates and bowls, mixing bowls, various utensils, cookware, and an Instant Pot in her lovely designs. I’ve gifted items in the past and will likely again in the very near future.
Technology
AirPods – My eldest has AirPods on her wish list. She has some she’s used for years, but she lost one. I saw Walmart and Amazon had them on sale right now.
Echo Show – We have this Alexa in our kitchen, and it’s so convenient! We set timers, ask her questions, find recipes and ingredient substitutions, and add items to our grocery list. It’s a great helper in the hub of our household. (And you can save 62% right now!)
Kindle Oasis – Like a Paperwhite, but this Kindle has page-turning buttons. Y’all, it’s waterproof and there’s no glare. It’s the best for hauling around a ton of books on a device that’s about the size of a mass market paperback, although it’s much thinner than that.
Toys & Games
I don’t love giving toys as gifts, but if I’m going to I lean toward activity and building toys like Legos or Magna Tiles. Amazon has lots of options on sale right now. So many of these are things my kids – especially the second-grade girl and teenage boy – would love.
I do love giving family games as gifts. We have so many favorites! Several are included in this sale, such as Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Mancala, Phase 10, Rummikub, and Blokus. (Here are other favorite family games!)
Handheld video games – We don’t allow much playing on phones for my 8-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy, but I don’t mind these handheld games. They are great for car trips or waiting rooms. They also think I’m kind of cool because I know how to play Mario Bros.
Services
Audible – If you know someone who likes to listen to books as they drive around or do chores at home, consider gifting a subscription like this. Trust me, they’ll appreciate it.
Book of the Month – Way better than Jelly of the Month, this gives the gift each time your loved once received a blue box with an early or new release they’ve chosen. Again, as a reader myself, what a great gift!
Crunch Labs – Ben gets excited each month when these boxes show up on our porch. It’s a great subscription box for my teenager who loves to build things. Plus the whole family likes Mark Rober’s videos that go along with the projects.
Walmart delivery – I am a paying member of Walmart+ and don’t regret it. When my groceries and household items show up on my porch while I’m working, I feel like I’m multi-tasking in the best ways! Plus you get other perks, like free, quick shipping on items not available in the local store. (Save $20 if you sign up through this link!)
YouTube TV – We ditched cable a while ago and love this streaming option. The channel selection is good and it’s cheaper than cable. (Save $15 if you subscribe through this link!)
Online shopping tip!
‘Tis the season! Here we are shopping online, so who doesn’t want some extra money to come their way?! That’s what Rakuten does! I have the extension installed on my Chrome browser on my MacBook and the app on my phone. Just look up the store from which you’re going to shop or use the Rakuten website and earn cash back from so many places.