As a kid I was very lucky to be surrounded by Aunts and Cousins who really spoiled me both during the holiday season and throughout the rest of the year. Now that I have nieces and nephews of my own, holiday gift giving has become so much fun.
Kid’s gifts have changed so much and it can be overwhelming to stand in the children’s section of a store and narrow things down. Since most shopping this year is happening online even knowing where to start is challenging. I’ve picked out a few of my favorite gifts and am sharing so that you too can be the ‘cool’ Aunt in your family!
Cool Kids Gift 1: Pediped Sneakers
For toddlers and preschoolers just starting to become a stable walker Pediped’s Grip ‘n’ Go shoes are a fast favorite. There is nothing more adorable then a tiny pair of shoes [except maybe the tiny feet that go into the shoes]. I love seeing all the fun colors and styles Pediped designed specifically for little feet.
Velcro and elastic make putting shoes on easy, even with a wiggly toddler and Mom will love receiving a gift that growing kids really need. Designs are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting healthy foot development meaning your gift is not just a cute item under the tree, but also a thoughtful and useful item they can use for months to come.
Constructed with vegan materials and non-toxic materials care for these shoes is easy. Grip ‘n’ Go shoes are completely machine washable. Remove the insoles and place in the washing machine with cold water on gentle. Use regular detergent and leave shoes to airdry out of direct sunlight before reassembling.
Find Pediped
Cool Kids Gift 2: Nalgene Sippy Cups
This is a kids gift that both Mom and little ones will love. I’ve been a huge fan of Nalgene since receiving my first bottle upon dorm move in at Colorado State. Completely BPA / BPS free Nalgene bottles are built to last and can easily go in the dishwasher between use. I have Nalgene bottles that I’ve used for over a decade and they are still my favorite bottles.
For holiday gifts for kids the 12oz Grip-n-Gulp is the perfect introduction to water bottle use. Completely spill proof the rubberized lid and mouthpiece is an ideal transition for those leaving the bottle behind and won’t leave a mess in the backseat of mom’s car.
I love that this bottle doesn’t have a straw attachment that can be lost later. The valve is removable to allow for deep cleaning and can go in the washer with all the rest of the dishes.
Once ready to transition to a regular water bottle topper it’s easy to swap out the lid and keep using their favorite cup! This water bottle really grows with kids and can be used for many years.
Find Nalgene
Cool Kids Gift 3: ergoPouch
I know how much parents appreciate useful gifts so in addition to finding something fun for kids to play with, I like to seek out things that can make everyone’s life a little bit easier. One item I know my family loves is ergoPouch sleeping bags.
Parent’s know how valuable sleep can be, and anything that helps keep little ones out longer is a blessing. Designed as transition from swaddling sleeping bags help keep little ones comfortable and warm throughout the night, without restricting their movement.
While toddlers have long outgrown being swaddled, the comfort of being held while sleeping can help them sleep through the night more soundly. The Jersey Sleeping bag is perfect as your little one grows and provides a breathable organic cotton cover that can keep baby an appropriate temperature all night long.
Find ergoPouch
Cool Kids Gift 4: Shop your neighborhood toy store
It’s been a challenging year for small business owners and supporting local toy stores will help ensure that they are here next year when we can go back to shopping in person. In Colorado we have an amazing store called Beyond the Blackboard, run by a family of educators who are dedicated to knowing what toys will keep your crew entertained and educated [even during stay-at-home orders].
Beyond the Blackboard has an online store you can browse, but if you are an Aunt or Uncle buying gift’s I recommend giving the store a call and asking them to pick out the perfect gift instead. You can set a budget for your gift and they will even wrap it and send it along through the mail. It’s like having a team of holiday elves who really know what is going to make you the cool aunt this holiday season.
Find Beyond the Blackboard
Cool Kids Gift 5: Give hands on Gifts
Holiday gifts that allow kids to be creative are some of my favorite things. The team from GoldieBlox recently launched a whole new line of arts & crafts perfect for older girls.
Each kit has multiple ways of coming together encouraging creativity and invention at they play. The Rainbow paper craft kit has supplies for 3 different projects, giving hours of entertainment throughout the holiday season.
Find GoldieBlox
Rainbow Paper Craft Kit | Friendship Bracelets
Interested in other holiday shopping inspiration? Check out the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide.
Disclaimer: I received product samples to inspire the creation of this guide. No additional compensation was provided and all reviews and thoughts are my own. Affiliate links are used throughout this article. Purchasing through the use of an affiliate is of no cost to the end buyer and helps support the production of this blog.
I’m a big stickler for not decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving. After all, Thanksgiving deserves an entire month of attention where we can enjoy pumpkins and fall leaves! Since I try to decorate the entire house the weekend after Thanksgiving I need decorations that are easy to put up and store throughout the year.
When Nearly Natural invited me to try out their faux holiday décor I knew it would fit perfectly in my decorating plan! I love faux plants that are easy to store throughout the year and look good without paying attention to water and care.
Garland is a fun way to add holiday cheer to a small space and I am loving this Bow and Pinecone Garland. At 9 feet long I can either loop it around a larger space or double it up to provide extra depth and texture. It comes pre-lit with LED bulbs meaning I can easily add it to the top of my china cabinet without worrying about wires and cords.
The garland itself is very realistic looking and is full enough to disguise that it’s not ‘real’ greenery. Each pinecone is flocked with ‘snow’ and red bows adorn the entire swag.
Our front door doesn’t have a good way to attach a wreath so I love displaying one as part of the entrance to my home instead. Designed to look like olive greenery, the Olive with Berries Artificial Wreath adds the perfect touch of holiday cheer.
The wreath is very sturdy and has is not likely to lose berries or leaves when moved and put into storage after the holiday. I love that this fun colorful piece will last and be able to add a pop of color to our home year after year.
We are going to finish decorating the rest of the house this weekend! What are your holiday decorating traditions?
Disclaimer: I receive a product sample to facilitate the creation of this article. All photos, thoughts and opinions are my own.
I can’t believe it’s already the holiday season but here we are! Since wandering the mall aimlessly is out I am relying on my fellow blogger friends more than ever to help me find new and fun holiday gifts for my loved ones.
I love getting to collaborate with other content creators and this years 2020 Mega Holiday Gift Guide was a fun project with over 30 bloggers and instagrammers showcasing our favorite gift ideas!
Remember when you used to get big thick catalogues in the mail were you could circle all your favorite items and leave for Santa to find? That’s exactly what the mega holiday guide is, the perfect catalogue for ‘leaving’ in plain sight with your holiday wish list stacked on top.
The full guide is below with links to a few of my favorite things and I’ll be sharing more Rocky Mountain Bliss Guide picks in depth over the next couple weeks! For now, check out the Mega Holiday Guide and let me know what is on your holiday wish list this year in the comments!
[3d-flip-book mode=”fullscreen” id=”4165″][/3d-flip-book]Looking for add a bit more Christmas Joy to your life? Enter the 2020 Holiday Guide Giveaway for your chance to win a $100 visa gift card to make shopping for gifts that much easier.
Disclaimer: I received product samples to facilitate my contributions to the 2020 Mega Holiday Guide. Some links are affiliate meaning the host writer will receive a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. Affiliate links are no cost to you the buyer and help support blogs like this one!
With COVID on the rise again throughout the United States the CDC is recommending avoiding large family gatherings. Being apart doesn’t have to mean not celebrating the holiday together. Now that we are six months into Zoom meetings and video calls most folks are officially getting the hang of how to communicate electronically and a Thanksgiving celebration over video chat opens up a new realm of possibilities.
One of the unforeseen benefits of a virtual Thanksgiving celebration is being able to enjoy the holiday without the hectic experience of traveling on a holiday weekend. No matter where you family is, Zoom meetings and video chat allows you to celebrate together, both in small groups or as a large party.
Socially Distant Thanksgiving Tip 1: Make a family cookbook
Thanksgiving is all about the food. Even if you can’t eat together as a group it’s still possible to enjoy Grandma’s stuffing recipe, an Aunt’s Famous Apple Pie – and let’s be real Costco’s Pumpkin Pie.
Ask each family member to share their favorite recipe a few days before the holiday. You can use a Shared Google Doc to allow everyone to type and collaborate together or designate a single family member to recipe photographs of everyone’s handwritten recipes. Consolidate the recipes into a single document or folder and distribute to the entire family.
Socially Distant Thanksgiving Tip 2: Create a music playlist
Listening to everyone’s favorite music is almost as fun as listening to everyone try to avoid politics over the dinner table. Ask the entire family for a couple of their favorite holiday or cooking songs and consolidate them into a Spotify playlist. Once you have the entire list, share the playlist with the family. Even if you don’t pay for a Spotify subscription it’s possible to listen to a shared playlist!
Socially Distant Thanksgiving Tip 3: Set a time for a Zoom Call
Without everyone in the same room it may be hard to really get that Thanksgiving experience of togetherness but Zoom has enabled families around the world to communicate safely and face-to-face.
Replicate the dinner experience by setting a time to ‘eat’ dinner together. During the call talk about your experience cooking (or ordering takeout). This is a great time to share what everyone learned from the family cookbook!
A family zoom call doesn’t have to be hours long but you may be surprised how much people want to chat. Zoom allows you to host up to 40 minutes with 100 people using their free account but it’s likely SOMEONE in the family has access to a premium account by now. If Google is your preference Google Hangouts is now available to everyone for free.
Socially Distant Thanksgiving Tip 4: Hook up the big screen
Did you know most laptops can be connected to your regular family TV? This provides more visibility to see everyone in the Brady Bunch view and also offers the opportunity to eat Thanksgiving dinner in front of the tv for the first time ever!
Depending on your laptop you may need a converter or a direct HDMI cable to connect your system. An extra long HDMI cable is good for ensuring that even if you are watching the big screen you can bring your laptop close to your family for the web camera on your end.
Socially Distant Thanksgiving Tip 5: Plan a Virtual Game
Zoom calls without structure can be feel a bit uncomfortable. Playing a game is a great way to get everyone engaged. Imagine you were sitting at a dining room table and take whatever family tradition you are used to, and convert it to an activity you might do over a zoom call!
Virtual Thanksgiving Ideas
- Share a favorite bible verse
- Ask a family member to say Grace before the meal
- Provide time for everyone to share what they are thankful for this year
- Play 3 truths and a Lie. See who is the best liar in the family!
- Read a favorite Christmas story as a group.
Interested in other virtual party games?
Socially Distant Thanksgiving Tip 6: Create a family video
Zoom fatigue is REAL and if you don’t feel up for yet another video meeting, that’s ok. It’s still possible to create a face-to-face holiday without another virtual meeting.
One fun tool for creating a family video is Tribute! Designed as an easy way to collect videos from groups, set a prompt for everyone to talk about [I like the theme of thankfulness] and send out the video link so everyone can record and upload their unique video. Once the full video is compiled you can distribute the finished video as a fun keepsake of an unusual year.
Tribute isn’t free, but starting at $25 it’s a great way to create a new family tradition.
It’s been said enough that 2020 is an unprecedented year. No matter how you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving, do so safely. We are all in this pandemic together and being conscious and aware of our health is more important then ever.
Welcome to My Bliss
