Top Picks for Baby Gifts

When my kids were babies, I never knew what to buy them for Christmas. I would stare at toys in stores, and groan over onesies. Babies can't do a lot, but they are always learning. Picking a great gift is a lot more complicated than picking up something colorful and calling it a day.

Now that my kids are officially not babies anymore, I have finally figured out what makes the perfect gift for a little one! It is something useful, stimulating, and or fun!

I have compiled a list of must have baby gift ideas to share with you. From fun to functional, this list contains something for all of the tiny ones on your shopping list! Samples were received to inspire this gift guide.

1) Meadow Days Dynamic Gymini  by Tiny Love
I love this activity center for babies 0-18 months in age. It is colorful, cute and has so many ways to engage your little one. It is perfect for a tummy time mat, and will adapt to meet the needs of a growing baby or toddler. With 7 developmental features from language to cognition, this fun way to play and learn will engage the senses and entice tiny ones to play. This is a great gift idea that can grow with a newborn!

2) Vida Snow Boots
Vida has so many great options in footwear for babies, toddlers and older kids. I love the snow boot collection which includes the stylish  Jamboo Nydia & Azami styles for girls and the  Baltoro & Venom styles for boys. These are stylish, durable and perfect for keeping tiny feet toasty even on the snowiest of days!

3) Maxi Cosi Pria Car Seat
A great car seat makes traveling safer and more comfortable for everyone. The Maxi Cosi line of car seats is one that I would highly recommend to other families as I use this brand for both of my growing children and have for years. I love that with the Pria seat this is the only car seat you will need for many years! The Pria 85 Max convertible car seat fits children rear-facing starting at 5 pounds with removable insert cushions to give smaller babies a snug fit. It then keeps them cozy up to 40 pounds. When they're ready to ride forward-facing, turn this car seat around to safely fit children up to 85 pounds; the highest weight range offered by a convertible car seat. Both stages benefit from the safer side impact protection provided by Air Protect® technology which protects your child where it’s needed most, around the head.

4)Malarkey Kids Munch Mitt 
This is a great stocking stuffer for a baby that is teething! It is undroppable and gives the tiny teether something awesome to chew on. It fits over the hand and gives little ones a chance to teeth and soothe without the fuss of a traditional teething toy.

5) Snack & Shop Cart Tray
This is a great tool for kids that are old enough to sit in the cart while parents shop. The tray attaches to the cart and offers an easy way to serve a snack on the go. This would have made a huge difference to me while my kids were small as snack time at the store can save your sanity and keep the kids happy!

If you have a great idea for gifts for babies, please leave me a comment to inspire other readers that are shopping!

Top Picks for Gifts for Guys

Shopping for the special men in your life can be a challenge! We are at less than 2 weeks until Christmas and I have been searching high and low for awesome gift ideas. I cannot bring myself to buy another pair of sleep pants or drug store shaving kit to wrap up and present to my husband or father.

This year I am sharing the most thoughtful, sophisticated, stylish and delicious gift options for the guys! Product samples were received to inspire this guide.

1) Silk Pocket Square; The City of New York

There is something really classy about a pocket square. This one is perfect for my history loving husband. The silk pocket square depicts the City of New York in the 1870's Retailing at under $60 this is a gift that adds so much flair to any outfit. The printing is eye catching and thought provoking, for a truly one of a kind gift.

2) Black Lapel Custom Velvet Dinner Jackets

This is a gift to splurge on, as it is truly a gorgeous dinner jacket. Perfect for a special event, or a unforgettable night on the town, any man with this ensemble in his closet is prepared for anything, no matter how swanky it may be. Retailing at $549 this jacket is a one of a kind. Conversation-starting, luxurious and reasonably priced, these custom-tailored velvet blazers are sure to make any man a standout for the holidays, whether he's just going out to a bar or dinner, or he's attending the most posh, highly celebratory events. These stunners come in navy blue, black and deep purple and are sure to make people ask the handsome man wearing them, "Where did you get that beautiful blazer?"

3)Eduplated.com

If your special guy wants to get in better shape or take steps to being healthier than ever, this app is perfect for gifting. Think match.com for dieters! It links him with a dietician to make healthy choices and start living his best life. There are 2 plans available starting at about $50 a month, or $100 a month. Since this is an app, you can truly shop at the last minute and still deliver a great gift!

4) GourmetGiftBaskets.com

I love the offerings from gourmetgiftbaskets.com and how they take the stress out of shopping by delivering a great gift, right to the door of whoever you are gifting! This year, I love the Fresh Fruit Gift Basket option for a sweet yet healthy holiday offering. Featuring red and green apples and oranges, this is a super fresh and inviting gift option. Retailing at under $100 this is an excellent way to send holiday cheer with a fantastic assortment of fruits, popcorn, cookies, crackers and so much more!

Because life is short and you should totally eat the cookies and brownies that Christmas has to offer, I love the Baked Goods Sampler Gift Basket . This basket is packed full of irresistible options like Peanut Butter Brownies, Lemon Sugar Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies and Chocolate Chunk Brownies to name a few. Retailing at under $60 this is a sweet gift for a great guy!

5) Thirty One Moosin Around Large Utility Totes

Thirty One has so many fun options for the whole family, and the guys are not excluded! I love that this is a masculine print that he won't mind carrying to games, events and practices. It is spacious and comfortable to carry and can be used in so many ways! Thirty One can help him get organized and carry all of the essentials on any adventure he goes on. Retailing at $35 this is a great gift for any guy on your list. You can also find this print on Thermal Lunch Totes, mini bins and more to give him the gift of organization and function on a budget.

6) Ugly Christmas Sweaters

This is one of the most fun gift options of the season. I love love love that they have star wars options available for the guys on your list. My favorites include the At At Ugly Christmas Sweater which is so subtly wonderful that if you don't know Star Wars you might not get it. I am also crazy for the Boba Fett button up sweater which is colorful and super cozy! Priced at under $50 these are festive and fun options for the guys on your list. If they aren't into Star Wars, no sweat, you can find so many other awesome options onsite.

If you have ideas for thoughtful gifts for him this Christmas, please leave a comment to share the inspiration! From my family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Top Gifts for Girls

This year there are so many awesome gift options that the hardest part of making Christmas wishes come true is deciding on what to buy! I have been busy as one of Santa's elves testing out some of the hottest toys and I have found some super fun ones! I am so excited to present these fun toys to you in my top picks for girls gift guide!

This post contains partner and affiliate links. Products and or payment was received for promotional considerations.

1) LeapFrog Epic Academy Edition Kids Tablet
This was my top pick for Harper this year because she really wants to use my ipad all of the time, but I worry about some of the things she wants to watch and play. The ads that pop up on so many of the games. This tablet is completely perfect for her, right out of the box. It has 20 learning games installed for family friendly entertainment, it also has a free trial of Leapfrog academy included. This offers kids a great chance to learn a variety of subjects anywhere they may go. The search feature is super safe, which I love. I no longer have to worry about my 4 year old landing on inappropriate youtube videos!

Retailing for under $120, this is a tablet that will grow with Harper. Ideal for ages 3 to 9, this is a colorful and durable tablet for kids that helps them learn and play all in one. A great feature is that as your child is ready to explore new android apps, you can add them to this tablet. That was a deciding factor for me as it will allow her to use the tablet with some of the other toys she will receive on Christmas morning!

2) Dance Code Belle
This is such a fun way to introduce your daughters to coding! They can create dances for Belle, and she will show them her moves! Control her from the app, press her necklace, or hold her hand for different ways to play with Dance Code Belle.

Coding seems like it would be hard, but girls as young as 5 can get in on the action by drawing the steps out, or a simple dot to dot style of coding. This is a great way to introduce a concept that may play a big role in her later life through an irresistible option!

Retailing for under $100 you can find this gorgeous Belle doll exclusively on Amazon this holiday season.

3) Baby Alive Sweet Tears Baby Doll
If your little girl loves babies this is the ultimate doll for her! Not only is it really adorable, but it also gives kids hands on tasks to make baby happy and smiling again! Your little one can play caregiver to a very interactive doll that smiles, giggles and even cries real tears!

The Sweet Tears Baby Alive comes with so much more than just a doll! She comes with everything you need to nurse her back to health when she is ill, feed her a snack, or brush her hair. One of my favorite features is that this doll isn't just for little girls. With a simple flip of a switch you can take your interactive doll from mommy to daddy mode for fun for little boys. Sweet Tears Baby Alive can make 35 phrases and sounds as an added bonus!

Retailing for under $50 this is a super fun gift option for little ones that love dolls!

4)  Play Doh Letters and Language Set
This is such a fun way to combine play and learning! The set has 26 letter stamps, 6 cans of play doh, a stylus, a roller, a mat  and a guide book for a complete letter learning experience.

One of the reasons we love play doh is it is such a wonderful tool for fine motor skill development. Harp has been playing with the classic dough since she was about a year old, and has developed so many crucial skills for life with the squishy dough in her hands, including using scissors. As we are learning all about the alphabet and making a lot effort on letter recognition in her preschool years this is a set that will bring her so much more than fun on Christmas day. It will help her build on a solid foundation of early learning with a favorite play time staple.

Retailing for under $20 this is a gift I recommend to anyone shopping for an early learner!

5) Go Go Smart Friends Shimmering Seashell Castle
This fun playset is perfect for little ones that like mermaids! The sandcastle features 3 points that when Pearl the mermaid is placed will produce fun sounds and phrases. The set includes friends for Pearl the mermaid to make playtime an epic underwater adventure.

Retailing at under $40 this is a great V tech toy for dramatic play and discovery. I love dramatic play tools for Harp so this was a natural choice. She will play with this in so many ways and I know she will introduce Pearl and the underwater friends to a lot of other toys.

This set features so much more than just a cute house. There is a vanity, a slide, a carrousel and so many more fun features to make this an exciting choice for little ones!

6) Hape Toys City Cafe Play Kitchen
This is a seriously adorable little kitchen. I love that it is wooden, because it looks so much more realistic than the heavy plastic varieties. It is compact enough for small space play, but in that tiny space it packs a lot of fun!

Featuring everything your little one needs to cook up a great time, the City Cafe Play Kitchen is one of my favorite gift ideas this year. As I mentioned above, I love to encourage dramatic play in my preschooler. With something as simple as a cute little kitchen, she can learn in so many ways!

This was a great option to pair with our Hape toys play food that we have been collecting over the years. Retailing for under $100, this is a gift that will bring years of learning through play.

7) Hape Toys Mighty Echo Microphone
This was another great choice for dramatic play. My kids have always wanted to get their hands on a microphone and with this choice it is possible without damaging eardrums or sanity levels.

This microphone has amazingly good sound quality for a battery free toy! I think it is a fun way to encourage kids to sing and again, engage in dramatic play. This makes a great gift for kids 12 months and up.

This would make a great stocking stuffer or gift exchange option as well.

8) Voice Activated BB8 
If your little girl looks up to Rey, then the natural choice is the Voice Activated BB8 from Hammacher Schlemmer. This is such a fun toy! Standing at about 19" tall this cute little robot is ready for adventure! The Star Wars character can be controlled using an included 40' range remote or set to an interactive mode that responds to voice commands such as “Come here”, “Where’s Rey?”, and “Stand guard!” Complete with lights and sounds from the BB8 we all know and love, this is a one of a kind toy that will make Christmas dreams come true as she sets out on an adventure with her new interactive friend. Retailing at under $230 this is the perfect gift for Star Wars fan girls of all ages. Not only is the BB8 droid adorable but he is so interactive! his moods are funtastic and the sounds are completely realistic. Also, check out kids advent calendars on Kidsco for more inspiration for various toys.

I would love to hear what your favorite gift options for girls are this year!

Top Picks for Gifts for Boys

It is time to start checking your list and shopping for the special boys in your life! I have gathered some of my favorite picks for this year and I can't wait to share them with you! These are some of the hottest toys of the season with educational benefits, that are perfect for boys!

This guide contains both affiliate links and partner links in exchange for inclusion in my gift guide.

1) Hoverfly Hoverboard by Go Trax

An adventurous boy is going to love opening this action packed gift option.There are so many things I love about this particular model. The color choices are fantastic. We loved the purple, which is super stylish and works well for boys and girls. With speeds up to 7.4 miles per hour, the Hoverfly Plus glides smoothly for up to 12 miles on a single charge. Complete with all of the bells and whistles you could want, including a built in bluetooth speaker and  zero radius turning capabilities, the Hoverfly will send your boys into orbit for under $200. 

This is a great model for a beginner, it makes learning to operate a hoverboard a breeze, which was perfect for my beginner. I loved that this model from Go Trax can support up to 220 pounds so that the fun loving adults in the family can take their turn on the Hoverfly too. 

Asides from being safety tested, this model is equipped with cosmic led lights to make sure everyone notices you on the path with your Go Trax Hoverfly Plus! This is a great hoverboard at a great price that is sure to make you a holiday hero with any adventurous boy!

2) FurReal Makers Prototype Max 

Your young programmer is going to LOVE building his own interactive and adorable pet! This is an easy to assemble dog that will satisfy several desires; the wish for a dog of his own and his very own robot as the toy is basically an ultra cute robot dog.

I love that this is a great introduction to coding for kids ages 6 and up, there are so many ways to make this FurReal Makers Prototype your own that it is kind addictive. Retailing for about $120, you can find this one of a kind puppy your own exclusively through Amazon this holiday season.

I know that this is going to be one of the hottest gifts of the season, packed with tail wagging fun for kids. My son has been itching for his very own dog, and this is the perfect way to introduce him to the concept of responsibility, while giving him the fun of his own puppy.

3) Little Bits Droid Inventor Kit
If you have a Star Wars fan boy in the house, this is the ultimate gift for the holiday season. It combines all of the fun of Star Wars with STEM for a one of a kind building and learning experience. This kit contains everything you need to build a functioning droid including the battery. This is a fully customizable experience that is going to appeal to boys 8 and up. I can personally attest to the fact that boys at heart will want to get their hands on this kit! I don't know who is more excited, my husband or my son, to start building and sending their very own R2D2 droid on missions!

One of my favorite things about this kit is that after you have built your droid you can rearrange it to create a new and exciting droid! No matter what droid you create, you can count on it having 20 sounds right from the Star Wars movies included!

Retailing at under $100 this is a great kit to gift for the holidays because it has so many missions and ways to play with your completed droid that kids are definitely going to play with this gift long after the tree comes down.

4) Thomas the Train Stop and Go RC
My son has been a big Thomas fan for years. He can't resist that friendly train face! Toy State offers a fun RC train that will take your boy to the tracks in search of fun! This is a wired remote, which encourages active play.

Retailing for about $30 you can find this fun train remote control toy at major retailers and online. Boys 3 and older are going to love the Thomas vocals and sounds, as well as the fun to use remote control.

5) 3D Pens
If you are shopping for an aspiring young artist, 3D Simo offers some of the best 3 D pens. I love that they offer a basic pen which is super safe and ideal for ages as young as 8. This is an easy to create with pen that kids and adults are going to have a ton of fun creating with. Retailing for about $100 this is an awesome gift that will inspire creativity while giving kids a new way to draw.

They also offer a mini pen option which can do so much more than just draw! It can solder, burn, cut foam and more and has the amazing benefit of adapting to any filament.

6) Thin Stix
I love gifts that encourage creativity in kids. Painting is something that my son can't resist, and now that we have been using Thin Stix tempera paint sticks, I love to see him painting! These are the best way to paint with kids. They dry super fast, are easy to use and can work on so many surfaces!

These make an awesome stocking stuffer, or paired with a pad of paper or some wooden cut outs, Thin Stix make for a great gift that will keep giving long after the holiday has passed. A 12 pack retails for about $12.

7) Nintendo Switch 
If your boy loves to game, the Nintendo Switch is the system to get. We are loving this new addition to the Nintendo family and all of the fun games offered. This holiday season my son is crazy about the Gear Club Unlimited Game. Available at about $50 this is a game that is sure to send your boy speeding off towards fun this Christmas.

8) Educational Insights GeoSafari Constellation and Solar System Explorer
This was a must have item for my shopping this year. My son is a budding astronomer and loves to attend viewing the night sky and belongs to a star gazing club. This is such a fun and educational option for kids. From your house, you can check out the 12 zodiac constellations, the sun, moon, 8 planets, and the big and little dipper. These are viewable in 3 ways; celestial, connected, and illustrated mode. There is an included guide which is packed with information to combine play and learning!

Retailing at under $25 this is an awesome option for kids. It is STEM supportive and a great way to learn something new that may not be taught in school. I love to give gifts that spark the imagination and this one absolutely does that!

9) Y Glider XL Deluxe 
If you have an active boy on your shopping list, this is a great gift option that will provide years of fun without breaking the bank. There are adjustable levels for varying skill levels. I love this feature because as my son learns to maneuver the scooter and grows, he can still get a lot of use of this active toy.  The extra wide rear wheel provides control and stability for added safety. The Y Glider XL Deluxe also features an adjustable steering and arc-folding handlebars make this a scooter you can take with you anytime, anywhere.

Retailing for under $90 this is an awesome gift to encourage active outdoor play. It is portable, too fun to ride and is sure to bring countless hours of entertainment to a special boy on your Christmas list this year!

10) Discovery Lunar Crystal Terrarium
I love gifts that encourage a love of learning so this Discovery kit was a natural fit for my top picks for boys. This is a fun way to create a three dimensional moonscape terrarium! Explore simple chemical reactions and the science behind crystal growing, while honing in on observation skills. This is a gift that will be admired long after the experimentation has been completed! Retailing at under $20 this makes a perfect gift idea for kids older than 12. You can find the kit at Michaels.

11) Discovery 3D Motion Sandscape
This is another fun and educational gift option for kids. You add sand and water to create a visually stunning display. This is a great gift that will be enjoyed long after the season has passed because it looks so cool you will want to turn the structure time and time again to get the soothing motion of the sand! This is available at Michaels and retails for under $20. It is a great gift idea for a teen or tween, or maybe a child that needs a way to center themselves.

12) Kidizoom® Action Cam 180
My son is an aspiring youtuber and a regular on facebook live, so when I heard about the Kidizoom Action Cam 180 I knew this was the perfect gift for him. Retailing for under $50 this is a great first camera for kids. They can take selfies, photos and record video to capture all of their adventures!

I love that this action cam is simple to operate and features 3 included games. The waterproof case helps parents to know that whatever their kids may be capturing on camera, the camera is safe! This is really durable option for young videographers. The included usb cable allows you to transfer your footage and recharge the camera.

13) BB8 Smartwatch
This smartwatch is so much fun! It gives kids a chance to express their creativity! Made by Vtech, this durable smartwatch can capture both photo and video with Star Wars themed effects. Kids can choose the watch face they like best from 30 options and it has mini activities to keep kids entertained on the go. I love that it helps to teach time in such a fun way! Packed with so many fun features this watch is a perfect way to introduce kids to wearing a smart watch. The BB8 Smartwatch by Vtech includes an alarm, timer and stopwatch, a calendar feature and a calculator so your young Jedi can work out simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems. On top of all of that, it has a really fun voice changing feature so that your special little guy can sounds like a robot among other things. Retailing for under $70 this is a great gift idea for a special young droid on your shopping list.

A Day at Malabar Farm with the Kids

A few Sundays ago we decided to re-visit Malabar Farms in Richland County, Ohio. We have been numerous times in the past, but it seems that since the kids were born our visits have grown fewer and further between.

As a Louis Bromfield fan, I love to not only check out the house but also to stroll the scenic, Pleasant Valley farm.  The property has a lot to offer, making it a destination that can appeal to everyone.

When we arrived, we had to visit the playground area. The kids were entertained by the large tractor, slide, and swings. After a few moments of leg stretching and playing, we took a walk to the barn, where we petted cats, cooed over baby goats and checked out some lazy cows.

From there we admired the house, from outside.

We strolled to the Pugh Cabin and continued back to the cave formation.  The walk was ideal on a late Sunday afternoon as traffic was minimal. As a parent, I truly appreciate a walk in the woods, so this was one of my favorite parts of the adventure.



The kids were tired upon arrival of the gift shop. We chatted up the lobby bird, strolled the shop and picked up a snack of fudge.

Snack excluded, this was a completely free adventure. They do not charge admission to visit the grounds of Malabar farm, but the house tour does hold a fee.

If you go, plan to drive to the top of nearby Mount Geez for a breathtaking view of Plesant Valley. Stop by the cemetery on the farm to pay your respects to Bromfield, and don't forget to check out famed Pugh cabin from the film, the Shawshank Redemption. You might also want to peek at the infamous Ceely Rose house.



You might also enjoy this guide on activities in the Richland County area for kids.

Oh Baby!

 I have been plagued with exhaustion. I wake up in the morning, only to need a little nap before my husband leaves for work. The reality of the busy day ahead of me has been forcing me to go back to sleep for as long as possible. I fantasize about napping. What in the world is going on with me?

For a few weeks I wondered... am I getting old? Do I have mono? Is there something wrong with me? Am I overdoing it?

Then the news came. No I don't have mono. I am not sick. I am pregnant!  The Sweet Silly Sara family is growing!

                                   I love this pic of my Roo-Boo. His little face looks so plump!

In the coming weeks you will have a chance to learn about the coolest products for Mom's to be and babies in the Sweet Silly Sara Ultimate Baby Shower Gift Guide. You will have plenty of chances to win these products for yourself, or to give as a gift to someone you care for that is expecting or has a new bundle of joy.