Design Your Own Holiday Elf Printable

 I have a free printable for you today! This FREE Design Your Own Holiday Elf is so fun for kids and adults! You can color and decorate it however you like, and don't forget to give your elf a face!

I made this for my kids to welcome our Elf on the Shelf, Johnny. It turned out so cute that I wanted to share it with you. Print as many as you like. Share them with a friend, or a teacher for a FREE holiday themed activity that kids of all ages, including my 45 year old husband, are sure to enjoy!

I am already planning ahead that next year, if the kids are back in school normally, we will print these and gift them to the class with a box of crayons.

Make sure you pin this for later, so you can pull it out again next year too!

          You can print this free printable Design Your Own Elf Printable Here.

You can find all of my Christmas Crafts here

You can check out all of my gift guides for to simplify your shopping.

From my family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Best Gifts for Boys

The holidays are near, and I have been looking for great gift ideas for boys. I have found some unique options that work for all budgets, and cover a variety of interests. I know you will find a gift or two on this list that would delight the boys on your shopping list.

Samples have been provided for inclusion.

Boys that like to build will be into this tool set from Stanley Jr. This set has safety glasses, a hammer, a functional tape measure and screwdrivers to get little ones started. Order from Amazon.

Laser Pegs are awesome for holiday gifting. They take a favorite activity for boys, like building and combine lights for a really fun experience. Laser Peg kits start at $8 so this is a gift that works for even the tightest budget. They offer a variety of kits so you are bound to find one that matches the boy on your lists interest.

The Mega Cyborg Hand from Thames & Kosmos is an awesome stem kit that kids will want to get a grip on! They can build this hydraulic hand and then wear it for a giant dose of fun. Order it online for about $40.

Clixo offers an open-ended play system that combines the magic of paper origami, the ease of classic building blocks, and the power of magnets. This unique toy brings building to a modern level. Order a pack or two for curious boys on your list starting at about $24.

Snap Ships are awesome gifts because it combines building and battling which are two things that most boys dig. Parents will love that this creative building toy  adds dramatic play to the table and that all parts are interchangeable, so that the building fun continues into new creations. Check out the line of options from Play Monster, or find some of the exclusive kits at Target. Kits start at $12,

Molotow Mini Subwayz are unique and fun. These little train cars fold and are ready to graffiti for a fun activity. Boys will love to collect these, and in some way fulfill a fantasy of what it would be like to be a graffiti artist, in a safe way. Order the cars starting at about $13.

K'nex is always a great gift idea. These kits are challenging to build and absolutely impressive to admire! The Eiffel Tower Kit stands over 29 inches high and is the perfect way to spend a snowy afternoon. Order this awesome option from the Basic Fun amazon store for about $50.

Boys will love this table tennis set from Pro Spin. It will give them a chance to get some active play in, anytime, anywhere. The set contains a retractable net, balls, 2 paddles and a carry case. Order for about $35.

Blinks by Move38 is a incredibly unique gift option for game loving boys. Each Blink is a game cartridge and a game tile. Blinks connect to other Blinks. Together they become an interactive board game. You can get the three pack which has 18 games for about $300.

Tifosi Optics makes stylish and useful sunglasses that will protect their eyes this winter. We usually equate sunglasses with summer, but make no mistake, kids need eye protection in the winter too, as it can be so bright when it snows.  Check out the assortment of swanky styles and find styles starting around $25.

Boys will love Flipover Frog the game. This strategy game is loads of fun for kids and only takes about 15 minutes to play, for a quick game anytime boys need a dose of fun! Order this option from Hub Games for about $13.

Boys who love trains will want to play with the Action Tunnel Circle Set by Brio all day long. This train set is perfect for the youngest conductors to explore. This set is comparable with all of the Brio train gear, so that the set can grow with your child. Order from amazon for about $100.

Smarty Pad is one of my favorite gifts for preschool and kindergarten aged boys because it combines play, education, technology and sensory all in one portable, engaging package. Order one for a boy who loves to learn from Amazon for about $35.

City Spies makes a great gift for boys who love to read. This book has excitement, suspense and a chance at redemption. It makes for an enjoyable read for elementary aged kids. Order from Amazon starting at $11.

Little Justice Leaders is a monthly subscription for kids that will inspire them to make changes to the social justice system while empowering! This subscription includes goodies like books and colored pencils, among other fun items that kids will get excited about receiving monthly. Prices start at $45 a month.

My kids love Little Learning Hands boxes, because they are fun! I love them because while we are not traveling this year, we can still explore the world while learning from home. These 3d Puzzles are awesome for a snow day activity, or a chance to make learning hands on. Check out the puzzles on amazon where they start at about $17. Check out the subscription boxes on the Little Learning Hands site.

If your kids love Ryan on Youtube, then run to Walmart to get this epic Vending Surprise! This has 16 surprises inside and makes such fun sounds! You even get to build your own Ryan from this vending surprise machine, which is bound to be a lot of fun for kids. Get this offering from Just Play Toys at Walmart for about $40.

Relay makes for a great gift for kids who want a little independence, and parents who want a little peace of mind. This device keeps tabs on where the kids are, and gives them a way to call for help if needed. Order a Relay device for a boy on your shopping list for about $35. 

Upbrainery Technologies offers kids a hands on chance to learn! These kits include everything kids need to build something epic, like a digital photo frame, or a bluetooth speaker to name a few. Check out the site to find something epic for your kids to create.

Brushing teeth doesn't have to be a bore. This year gift an awesome boy a way to turn brushing his teeth into a fun game with Brite Brush. Find this interactive toothbrush at Walmart or Amazon for about $20. Chances are you won't need to argue about brushing anymore!

Learn together how to solve the Rubik’s in a fun and interactive way, play games and battle online with other cubers around the world. This is the perfect STEM toy, it is educating and fun and adds tons of value to screen time. Order Go Cube Edge for about $80.

A great sports watch never goes out of style, and this Fila watch is handsome and durable making it a perfect watch for a school aged boy. They have a ton of options so finding the perfect watch is fuss free. Plus you can find some awesome options for about $30.

Give boys ages 3 to 9 a hands on lesson in coding with Osmo. The starter pack breaks down coding into a fun play session so that kids can start learning something super useful in a very kid friendly way. Order the Osmo Coding Starter Kit for about $80.

The Powerup Paper Airplane Kit is awesome for boys this holiday season! This unique idea takes the art of folding paper planes to a whole new level, powered up, of course! Build 10 awesome planes and give them a boost of flying power thanks to technology! This kit costs about $115.

Boys who love space will love building the Mars Space Base from Goju Adventures Toys. This kit has everything needed to build a space station, including some astronauts! This creative building set costs about $45 and can be found on Amazon.

If you are shopping for a dinosaur loving boy this year, look no further than the Egg Mazing Dinomazing Egg Decorator. Find this really fun art kit on Amazon for about $28 for a roaring good time!

Pizza Party Throwdown is an awesome game for boys who like pizza and fun! This game has you tossing and hopefully landing toppings to create pizzas! Order it for about $20 from Amazon or find it at Target.

 Go Noodle offers mindful videos for kids and they have a shop filled with fun! I love the Cookie Decorating Class which includes cookie cutters, an apron and the online lesson on how to make the cookies! Order for about $75 or check out the other goodies in their shop.

I hope these gift ideas help you find some epic gifts for the boys in your life.

While you are here why not check out all of my gift guides?

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Everyone

Stockings are such a fun part of the holidays! They are perfect for getting the gift giving started, and there are so many things you can include in them for a fun gifting experience. I rounded up a few ideas to share with you to help you add a little variety to your stocking stuffing.

Samples were provided.

Ivy & Ash Nail Wraps make for a great stocking stuffer for teenage girls. These stylish wraps take the mess out of nail painting and are super affordable! Order a variety of awesome colors and prints starting at $6.

Since wearing masks is the new normal, why not add a new dimension with Maskroma sprays. All ages can appreciate this thoughtful, useful and pleasant gift. Order for about $10 and keep funky breath smells at bay.

Lip balms are the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone on your list. The holiday themed varieties from Eco Lips are about $2 a tube and will keep lips soft and smooth all winter long. 

1 Tree Mission bracelets make for a great stocking stuffer because they are stylish, can work for all ages and  for each bracelet sold, they plant a tree. They have several styles available for about $20. Order online for the perfect stocking stuffer.

Peet Bros Olive Oil Soap makes for a nice stocking stuffer that is gentle on skin and effective.Order a 3 pack for $14 and stuff a few stockings with it. Keep a bar for yourself, you will love it!

Clean Age Deodorant is a great stocking stuffer for teens. This is an effective product and helps develop healthy habits for life. Order an assortment of scents online for about $12.

Welch's Fruit Snacks are awesome for stuffing into a stocking. Made with real fruit and in adorable holiday shapes, kids of all ages will like this addition to the stocking!  Get a 5 pack for about $1 at nationwide retailers like Target.

 These holiday poppers from Hog Wild are so much fun! Kids will love popping the balls all over! Get these for the stockings for about $10 from Amazon.

Block Island Organics night cream is great for stuffing stockings! The revitalizing night cream is awesome for keeping skin healthy this winter, and all year long. Order this awesome, organic cream for about $30. 

Cuteitos have been on my must gift list for the last few years, for good reason! They are so adorable! This year, Basic Fun is rolling up a good time with Pizzaitos, these little friends are rolled up in a pizza wrapper for a deliciously fun surprise! Find at Target, Walmart or Amazon for about $10. Collect all 12 if you can!

If your kids love blind bag surprises, then get a  few Ravel Tales toys for the stockings! These are so fun, unravel the yarn to reveal not one, or two surprises, but 12! Talk about a gift that keeps on giving! Get them for about $12 from Amazon, Kohl's and other nationwide retailers.

Sign Me Up makes some really fun and funky necklaces that were practically made for stuffing into a holiday stocking! Get an assortment of options for about $25 each. You will find a few that are perfect for whomever you are gifting!

Spokester makes for a fun addition to a stocking! Clip them onto a bicycle and make the bike sound like a motorcycle! These are really fun for kids and are affordable at under $10!

A pair of specially designed socks is perfect for the holidays! Custom sock club makes getting the most one of a kind socks ever possible starting at $13 a pair. 

I hope these ideas help you stuff all of the stockings with a great assortment of goodies!

While you are here, why not check out my other holiday gift guides?

Cool Gifts for College Students

2020 has been such a random year; there have been disappointments from the way classes are set up, to the way we have to stay apart from our friends and family. Plus, making friends during a pandemic? Forget about it. This holiday season, we need to really make an effort to spread cheer! Especially for the college students in our lives who are adapting to new normals and making the best of so many situations. I have gathered up some of my favorite options for gifting to meet every budget. From cool craft kits, to luxury towel racks here are some of my favorite cool gifts for college students.

Samples have been provided for promotional considerations.

Themed Subscription Boxes from Bespoke Post are a perfect gift idea for college students. They have boxes for coffee lovers, whiskey enthusiasts, foodies and more. You will love how easy this gift is to give, and the recipient will love the variety. Join the club online for $55 a month, and find the perfect themed box for your college student 

Gift confidence and fuller hair for young ladies this year with a great thickening conditioner and treatment shampoo that is formulated for women with Zenagen. This is a high quality hair treatment for women. Prices start at about $30. Order online from Zenagen.

 

College students want to have the best hair care, but chances are, they can't afford too many salon days. Why not gift excellent hair care options with the Weightless Precious Oil collection from Roux. This line is only sold at Sally, and has a great shampoo, conditioner and hair masque in the collection. Get them all to gift great hair!

Keep the college coed in your life with silky locks without breaking the bank. Radha Beauty makes some of the best Argon Oil Shampoo and Condition to be found online, and best of all you can get both for under $24. The bottles are generously sized and totally budget friendly.

Shampoo and conditioner bars are my latest obsession and I think college students will love this luxury hair care option that reduces their plastic use. Hibar makes a great line of plastic free shampoo and conditioner bars that are long lasting, effective and they smell good too! Order for about $14 a bar.

College students love a good snack as much as anyone else. Send a popular subscription box for chocolate lovers to a special student to help them cope with study time. Charles Chocolates are delicious and just fancy enough to cure any indulgent cravings that may arise. Order online or find at retailers like Macy's.

Dorm rooms and shared living spaces are common for students, but as we all know those areas can get stinky in a jiffy. A few candles from Chandler Candle Company will help keep things smelling pleasant! These candles have a nice glass holder and retail for about $20 each. They offer a variety of fragrances so there is something for every nose.

Give the gift of a functional and stylish hat with Twenty 5 Degrees hats. Each purchase helps to clean up the oceans, which is a gift you can feel good about giving! Also, while visiting the site to purchase, sign up for the newsletter; they will plant a mangrove tree in your name. Get the trucker hats for $25.

Magic Mind and Body Energy Shake makes for a gift any student can appreciate. Give their mind and body and a boost to get thru the long hours of studying and early morning classes. Order it online where you get a months supply of energy shakes for $35.

A shared living space is something almost every student will experience. This freedom cabinet from Metal Art of Wisconsin is perfect for adding art and private storage space to their living space. These are gorgeous cabinets that are available in different sizes, styles and with personalization, locks and gas shocks. The photos don't do justice to the craftsmanship of these gorgeous cabinets. Order online starting around $205.

Living in a shared house doesn't mean your student should give up on luxury. A warm towel after a shower feels like a toasty hug and it feels super luxe! Add a heated towel rack to the bathroom for an instant mood boost and a touch of home, where ever your student is! These options from Amba are great and useful gifts for the holidays. Prices start at around $200 and can be ordered online or found at retailers like Lowe's or Bed Bath and Beyond.

Students will appreciate this super useful gift from OWC Digital. This handy device has five essential ports, up to 100W pass-through power, and just one cable, so students are ready to display, charge, connect, and import while on the move. Order it online for about $55.

If you have a gift idea for college students, I would love to hear about it!

You can find all of my holiday gift guides here.