Gifts Boys are Gonna LOVE This Holiday Season.

Holiday shopping is in full swing and I want to help you find great gifts this year! I have compiled this list of m favorite options and I can't wait to hear what is on your must buy list! This list of Gifts for Boys has options for every budget and so many fun ideas!

Promotional samples were provided to me in exchange for inclusion in my gift guide. The opinions are my own.

Gourmet Christmas Stocking
Boys like snacks as much as anyone else, so one of my favorite ideas for a boy gift is the Christmas Stocking from Gourmet Gift Baskets. The stocking itself is handsome and classy, but the goodies inside really steal the show. Filled with things that any boy will love to snack on like a huge Hammond's candy cane, chocolate covered pretzels, truffles, hot cocoa and peanuts, this is a tasty gift that boys would love to have to fuel their late night holiday gaming sessions. The Christmas Stocking retails at about $30 and is a good choice for just about any boy you are shopping for this holiday season.

Go Trax ION Hoverboard
This self balancing hoverboard is nothing short of awesome for kids. It is fairly lightweight for a hoverboard and can go up to 4 miles on a single battery. The fact that it self balances is perfect for beginners, and makes for a gift that encourages outdoor activity for the win. I was a little nervous about my son on a Hoverboard truth be told, but this has been a fun choice for him that was easy to learn. Retailing under $200 this is a perfect idea for tweens and teens.

Home Planetarium
My son loves astronomy. He goes to a local club about every month to view the night sky and he loves to go to the observatory with his dad when they get a chance! This 8,000 Star Home Planetarium is a perfect gift to encourage his curiosity while helping him to discover new pleasures in the night sky.
This is a desk top model that accurately displays 61 constellations found in the Northern Hemisphere. The built in bluetooth speaker pairs with iPhone and Android devices to play a stargazing soundtrack of your choice.  Retailing for under $130 at Hammacher Schlemmer this is one of my favorite gifts for anyone with a love of the stars.

Magic Tracks
Boys love toys! This year I think Magic Tracks is the way to go for fun for younger boys. These tracks are unlike any other I have ever seen. They bend, flex and glow. I love how kids can customize the race track, even when the race is in motion. These are an affordable and fun way to foster creativity, retailing at about $20 a set.

Stone8
My kids love robots; it has been an ongoing fantasy to have one of their own for quite some time. I have looked at so many, but felt that they were more of a glorified remote control toy. When we hear about Stone8,I was instantly intrigued as this is a truly interactive friend, and a cute little friend he is! I love that he expresses emotions and works with or without a device. Retailing at less than $60, this little guy has enough sensors to allow him to explore with our child and the multicolored antenna allows Stone8 to let you know how he is feeling. This is a really fun option for Christmas that gives your child someone to play games and have adventures with in a variety of ways.

Modarri Car
This is fun for any kid who likes cars or building! This kit allows kids to design and build their dream car, then race it! Named to of the year two times for great reason Modarri is a hands on adventure that kids will be revving up their engines for. My kids were entranced by the idea of building their dream cars and had so much fun doing so. I would highly recommend this gift for any boy. It is engaging and tons of fun. The kits range in price from about $30 and are available at Target, Walmart and amazon to name a few.

Itty Bitty Buggy
If you have a boy on your list that loves creating and has an interest in coding, the Itty Bitty Bug kit is going to be a great gift. This allows fun and creativity to come to life with coding four different creatures. Packed with a rich, fun-filled feature set, the Itty Bitty Buggy kit includes Bluetooth, remote control, voice-control, line tracing, musical color recognition, and LEGO®-compatible pieces, providing users with endless design possibilities and playful configurations. As coding skills become more advanced, users can program and modify the behaviors of a specific creature using a variety of coding languages, including Scratch, Python, and Arduino. The itty bitty bug retails for under $60 and can be found at stores like Target that carry Hasbro products or online in the Hasbro Toy Shop.

FANTASTIC GYMNASTICS VAULT CHALLENGE Edition
This is just plain fun. It reminds me of the tech free toys of my childhood and I love that it takes some skill to land the gymnast! I think kids will love this for those times when there has been too much tech and they need a way to unwind with some good old fashioned play! Retailing at under $20 you can find the Fantastic Gymnastics Vault Challenge at most major retailers that carry Hasbro products.

Connect 4 Edition from The Hasbro Road Trip Collection
There seem to be a lot of road trips to visit loved ones around the holidays, so te Connect 4 Edition from the Hasbro Road Trip  Collection makes it on my list of gifts for boys. This is a fun way to keep the kids busy in the car without turning to tablets. This game is portable but packs a ton of fun and is easy on every budget. Get it at Walmart for about $8 for hours of friendly game play on the next long car ride.

T Rex From Wall Charmers
Sometimes it feels like the kids have too many toys! Adding a fun touch to a bedroom is a great idea this holiday season. We love the T Rex Faux Taxidermy from Wall Charmers. This is simply a fun addition to any bedroom of a dino loving little boy! Well, to be fair, my husband was amazed by this too! It is realistic looking and is bound to inspire any boys imagination while adding an uber unique touch to his decor. Retailing at under $70 this works for tween boys as well.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figure Assortment
When I was a kid, TMNT was super popular. My brother and I loved it and had all of the action figures! I was so excited to see a new line coming out for the new generation, and knew this was something I had to share with my son. The Action Figure Assortment includes:  Raphael "The Leader," Leonardo "The Trickster," Donatello "The Tech Wiz," Michelangelo "The Wild Card," Splinter "The Chill Master," April "Street Smart Best Friend," Origami Ninja "Confetti Commandos," Meat Sweats “The Tenderizer,” Baron Draxum "The Maker of Mutants". The figures retail for about $9 and can be found at most major retailers.

Ben 10 Alien Creation Chamber
My son loves Ben 10, so this was a natural choice. I know he is going to love making his own mini fig with the interchangeable parts and launching it into the air. This set comes with 4 figures to mix and match, including Heatblast, Four Arms, Wildvine and Grey Matter. It retails for under $30 and promises to be loads of fun for any Ben 10 Fan! Find it at mass retailers like Target or Walmart.

Discovery Plasma Globe
Experience a fun light display with the touch of your fingers or sound! The Discovery Plasma Globe responds to touch, music and sound, providing hours of excitement. Perfect for any young scientist! My son has always been intrigued by these globes and adding one to his room would be so much fun for my science kid! Find it at Walmart for under $25.

20+ Christmas Books for Preschoolers

Christmas is near, so why not check out some fun holiday themed books with your preschooler? My kids helped me pick these titles from our collection to inspire your bedtime stories. I am sure you will find a bunch of titles you want to check out.

This list includes affiliate links. If you buy a book from the list, I will earn a small advertising fee at no cost to you.

My kids have a collection of favorite books for every season. It is one of the perks of having a librarian for a father. We love to rotate our titles to keep the experience of reading exciting. These are some of our favorite titles from over the years. I know your kids will love them all. Find them on amazon, or stop by your local library and borrow a few.

Elmo's 12 Days of Christmas
It's Christmas, David!
That's Not My Snowman
Dream Snow
Llama Llama Jingle Bells

Related: Magical Reindeer Food

Who Is Coming To Our House?
Thomas Counts on Christmas
Construction Site on Christmas
The Christmas Elf Countdown
Paw Patrol Holiday Helpers

Related: Mickey Mouse Jingle Bell Ornaments 

Bear Stays Up For Christmas
Biscuit Gives a Gift
The Not Very Merry Pout Pout Fish
Pinkalicious Merry Pinkmas
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas

Related: Green Button Tree Ornaments

Christmas Cookie Day
Mickey's Clubhouse Christmas
Berenstain Bears' Night Before Christmas
Santa's Toy Shop
The Grinch's Great Big Flap Book

If you have a favorite Christmas book for preschoolers I would love to hear about it.

You can find all of my Christmas posts here.

Christmas in July Gift Ideas

Last week, when I made a rare visit to the retail world, I found myself buying school supplies, Halloween decorations, and a few Christmas gifts, along with our groceries and supplies. My family thought that was a little crazy, but what hasn't been just a little crazy this year? With that in mind, I have latched onto Christmas in July. It is my newest obsession!I can't wait to share a few of these fun gift ideas that I think you might want to buy now, to take the stress out of the winter holidays. 

Affiliate links and samples were provided for consideration.

If you want to give a good clean gift for the holidays, check out these super effective cleaning products from Good Green Cleaner. These are so good! You fill with water, attach the cleaner pod, give it a shake, and add a nozzle. Adding the water at home, makes these easy to store, helps reduce plastic usage with the refill pods and they really smell good. Order online for about $13 a package.

Pink MahogHany Fragrances makes a really fantastic hand sanitizer for the males in your life who don't want to smell like a flower or fruit.  This hand sanitizer is called The Wood, and it has hints of vanilla, cedar and more for a fragrant way to keep clean  on the go.

Give the gift of smooth, beautiful skin with minimal additives this year. I love Stone & Tumble Smoothing Serum. This is packed with ingredients that promote healing of the skin, like sweet almond and sunflower seed oil. Order it online for all skin types at $42 a bottle.

Girls with long hair will love showering like a girl with short hair thanks to Pony Dry. This little wrap keeps the ponytail dry for an easy shower but lets you wash your roots for cleaner hair with less dry time. Order online for about $30.

If you are expecting a new addition to your family or circle this year around the holidays, get these Sleep sacks now. Swaddle Sack and Zip Me Sack by Swaddle Designs make wonderful ways to keep baby comfy and safe when it is time to sleep. Order these online, where prices start around $22.

Give the gift of great dental hygiene with Burst oral care. This electric tooth brush has been proven to remove ten times more plaque than manual brushing. Order for under $70, and take advantage of the brush replacement subscription while you are there.

If you need a gift for an athlete, someone who loves the beach, or anyone who might need a hiding spot that they can take with them, the Bindle Bottle makes a great and super useful gift. You can unscrew the bottom of the bottle to reveal a hiding place for cash, debit cards, or even your keys. Order online for about $39 for a 20 ounce slim bottle.

While most of our lives have gone digital, there is something classy about a manual watch. This year, polish a special ladies look with a understated watch from Eila Cherie. These are fantastic because they are great quality at a modest price. For about $48 you can get the Melinda in several colors to match her style. Order online.

Anyone who has a tablet or smartphone wants to keep it safe from the unexpected, but that doesn't always happen. With the temps getting higher, more people seek out the water, and that leads to the risk of getting a pricey phone wet. Absorb-Its are these handy little pouches that can dry out your phone or tablet should the worst happen. Get these starting at about $13 online to rescue your valuables if they ever get soaked.

If you need to find a useful gift for an active person, let me recommend the Nomader bottle. I dig these because you fill it with water, then you can collapse the bottle for easy carrying when empty.  They are leak-proof and stylish. Order them online for about $25.

Give the gift of a well protected and clean cell phone with Gadget Guard. The Black Ice Screen Protectors are incredibly durable and keep your phone scratch free. The Techtonic Cleaner they offer is a must have in this climate of cleanliness. Order screen protectors, cases and cleaners online. Prices start at about $25.

Give the gift of good dental health with some vitamin enriched toothpaste. Vitamin Paste has a formula for both kids and adults and makes a great addition to your daily routine. Order online for about $5 a tube and add up to 50% more vitamins to your day.

Which of these items do you feel like would make a great gift for someone in your life?

Gifts for Foodies

Foodies can be so much fun to shop for! They usually love to try new things and are adventurous in the kitchen, so going off the beaten path of gift giving can result in a whole lot of delicious fun!

If you are looking for a tasty gift idea for a food lover in your life, check out some of these ideas. I found gift ideas for every budget and every taste bud. From crickets, which are a yummy and sustainable protein source, to imported olives, this list has something for everyone on it! 

Click thru the links of my partners, who were kind enough to send samples for inclusion, and order these foodie favorites!

Roasted Crickets are awesome in a gift basket, or just make an unforgettable holiday goodie to share with an adventurous eater in your life. Gym N Eat Crickets has so many flavors to choose from, and these really are good. I tossed my kids a bag and they ATE THEM ALL, and asked for more!  Get a 12 pack of assorted flavors for $36.

Give the gift of the juiciest poultry ever with the Topsy Turkey. This is a must have kitchen gadget for anyone who likes turkey and chicken at home because it allows for the perfect bird every time with internal basting! Get this for under $22.

Give the gift of the best snack assortment with this 24 pack retro tin from Herr's. It has a great assortment of chips in a collection of favorite flavors that will satisfy the snacker in your life. Order online for $24 this holiday season.  

What could be better than a bunch of little bags of chips for a foodie? Maybe only one thing; if they came in an adorable and awesome little chip delivery truck! This 42 count variety pack truck is perfect for gifting, and you can pick the chip mix too! Get this from Herr's online for $26. It will definitely deliver smiles this holiday season.

Give a foodie a portable snack that packs a protein filled punch with People's Choice Beef Jerky. This is a really great brand of jerky that has a lot of flavor and has a long history of making jerky that people crave! Order a mild jerky box for a meat lover in your life for $24.

Spices are always a good idea for foodies and this collection from The Spice Lab is perfect for gifting! It has 4 blends that complement so many dishes! For an added bonus add a bottle of  Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning to your online cart because you deserve a treat too! They also have drink mixers, sugars and more for all of your foodie gifting needs.

If your favorite foodie also likes wine, then they need a pair of these sassy socks from Lavley. They have a bunch of cute phrases printed on the socks for a gift that is useful and fun! Order online for about $10 a pair.

Give the gift of poetry, art and food references with these brilliant poems for the kitchen from  Good Grub Love. The Avocado Amor Poem is one of my favorite foodie gifts for 2020. Retailing at about $33 it is quirky and will be a classic in the kitchen, to never go out of style. 

Nunbelievable makes some of the most unbelievably good cookies. These are bif, fat, decadent cookies, that you can feel good about eating because when you buy one, you are sharing a cookie with someone in need. So cross off a gift on your list, and gift a foodie a feel good, saving the world one cookie at a time, cookie. Prices start around $18.

Foodies love pork rinds because they are low carb, which is essentially guilt free snacking! Southern Recipe Small Batch Pork Rinds are awesome and have so much flavor. From chili cheese, to classic salt, and hold your hats, apple cinnamon! Order a few a bags for a one of a kind low carb snack to share. 

McCrea's Caramels make for a sweet gift idea for any foodie! They have flavors like single malt scotch, which will be a hit with the guys on your list, and a nothing short of dreamy vanilla caramel too! Prices start at about $5 for pillow packs of gourmet caramels.

If you want to send something healthier, and elegant, the choice is clearly Laumiere gourmet fruits. With fine fruits like dates, apricots and figs, the super fruit collection will wow the foodie in your life with natural goodness. Order online starting at about $35 a square box.

Every foodie needs a great chefs knife. The Kuma Knife provides a perfect cut right out of the box. This knife retails at about $100 and will be a  gift that foodies use and love for years to come. It is a must have for the kitchen.

Steeped Coffee Bags make for an awesome gift idea. These handy bags are like a tea bag, but they make one impressive cup of coffee. Foodies will love to have these in the office, or in the pantry for a cup of coffee whenever they need one. Order specialty coffee in a single use bag for about $15.

If you are looking for a cracker that isn't just a cracker; grab an assortment of Brewer's Crackers. Made with upcycled spent grains, these are a delicious and unique cracker that will be a welcome addition to gift baskets and cheese platters alike. Order online for about $5 a bag.

Gift wellness with a great cup of tea this year. Tea can be enjoyed long after the holiday has passed and Steep & Sip has a great assortment that is sure to please. With such an assortment to browse, I know you will find a great tea for everyone on your list. Prices start at about $3.

Stuff a foodies stocking with healthy, all natural fruit snacks. Chum fruit bites are good and super healthy for on the go, guilt free snacking. They have several fruity flavors like Mango,Strawberry and Peach Bites. Get a 12 pack for about $10.

Give a favorite foodie a cookbook and you will be feeding their kitchen skills for life. This one, Wine Country Table is a great gift because it also explores all of the flavors of California wine country. Order this cookbook that celebrates sustainable harvest food for about $45.

Christmas and Cookies go together like any classic combination. Lucky for any foodie, cookies are as close as the nearest bag of Thinsters, and you won't need to bake them every time you have a craving for a holiday treat. Check out the seasonal flavors and get an extra bag to keep Santa happy this year.

On the go foodies will appreciate a practical gift like Bamboo flatware by Emerging Green. This is a long lasting, eco friendly way to eat on the go without adding plastic to a landfill.  Get a 12 pack for about $18. 

Simple Goodness Sisters Syrups are an awesome gift idea because these are perfect for cocktails or homemade sodas. Made with fresh from the garden ingredients, this is something any foodie will appreciate having in the kitchen. Order a few bottles for about $20 a bottle.

Maya's Cookies are the perfect gift for anyone! They are vegan, and totally gourmet. You will love the texture and the taste, even if you aren't vegan! Order these online for someone sweet, but get yourself a few too. You will thank me later! Prices start at about $24 and they have a lot of wonderful flavors!

This year, if you can't share your own home baked goodies with your loved ones, why not send them a coffee cake sampler from Dorothy Lane Market?  Made with local, fresh ingredients, these are simply the best in coffee cakes. They make for a great gift idea! Order 3 cakes for $57 online.

Send your love and a little sass to your favorite foodie with a 12" cookie cake from Eat Me Cookie Cakes. You give them the message and they will write it on a tasty cookie cake and ship it your foodies door. Prices start at about $30.

Foodies like to have a little fun too,and the Original Taco Cat will bring so much fun to the table! Get this cute taco holding cat for about $15 and make keep the mess at bay on Taco Tuesday!

Coca Cola lovers will delight in this one of a kind jelly, made with peppers and real Coca Cola syrup. Foodies will have fun trying Cola Pepper Jelly on a variety of foods. Order online starting at $20.

With the current state of the world, there will be less mingling, and more mailing of gifts than ever before.  If the pandemic is keeping you from your loved ones, send them a smile and an unforgettable cookie from Contessa the Bakery. It is hard to woo me with a cookie; my mom is a long time baker, and I have tried them all. But, these holiday cookies were something special. They are gorgeous for one, and they were really delicious and *almost* too pretty to eat! Order starting at $79 this holiday season.

Give a steak loving foodie some quality steak knives and forks with the Porterhouse Steak Set from Tramontina. This heavy duty set is made to last, is dish washer safe, and best of all costs under $30. Find it on Amazon, and at a variety of retailers like Walmart, Kohls and more.

Bring the flavor of Sicily to your favorite foodie with the Bono line of olive oil, marmalade, olives and more. This is a perfect gift for someone who would love to explore the flavors of Sicily, but is stuck at home this year. Order from Amazon or Vitacost.

Give a gift that is tasty and unique with Vegky Shiitake Mushroom Jerky. Available in several delectable flavors, this is a delightfully chewy way to get your protein at snack time. Get a 3 pack for about $20.

If you are shopping for a chocolate lover, these Lekkco chocolate spreads are the bomb. They are available in 4 flavors that are so good, and are for more than spreading on bread. Make hot cocoa with them, or make no bakes pop. Order online where a 4 pack of this Belgian goodness will cost $32.

Table Mountain Farm makes an incredible line of Goat Milk Caramels that will tickle the taste buds of any foodie. This caramel is made with simple ingredients to create a luscious, buttery caramel that is perfect for dipping or topping! Order online for $10 a delicious jar.

If your favorite foodie likes pretzels, then send them Eastern Standard Provisions Pretzels for a happy holiday! These are soft and wonderful bites of pretzel heaven that anyone will love to get, especially if you can't be together in person this year.  They have a good assortment of styles and prices start at about $13.

If you want to add a good gluten free goodie to a gift basket or holiday spread, all foodies are sure to dig these Fit Joy Pretzels. They have a lot of flavor without the gluten. Prices start at $4 a bag.

Tea is the ultimate winter beverage so why not gift a favorite foodie an assortment of tea from Rare Brew? They make some damn fine teas that will hit the spot all winter long. Find the perfect blend online.

Bring the bakery goodies home with this selection of bake at home goodies from Porto's Bakery. From sweet cheese rolls to chocolate chip cookies, there are so many tasty choices to order and bake at home for your holiday festivities!

This trio of seasonings from Heifer International makes a great gift for foodies because it will spice things up in the kitchen long after the holiday has ended. Featuring Parisian Pastry seasoning Garam Marsala and a delightful espresso seasoning, this has such an assortment of flavors that anyone will love. Order for about $22.

For a true foodie, there is no substitute for fine chocolates. Mariebelle of New York makes not only some of the most beautiful candies ever, but they are also quite scrumptious too, if you can bring yourself to snack on these little works of art. Check out the variety of sweets offered in the online shop.

Foodies are going to flip for this taste of decadence delivered to your door. San Diablo Take and Bake Churro Kits bring a goodie to the table that no one will forget! Featuring an assortment of fillings, this is one really fun kit for foodies this holiday season. Order online for about $32.

If you need a gift for someone who seriously loves cookies, then order them a 12 pack of Chip City Cookies. These are big, beautiful and perfect for snacking on. Pop one out of the box and slide it into the oven for a total treat. These are some of the biggest cookies to ever come out of an oven! A 12 pack will cost about $75 and is so worth it!

I hope these suggestions help you find some wonderful gifts for your foodie friends and family!