Perfect Gift Guide for Men

Our lives have changed in 2020, and my gift guide for men has adapted to it.  This year, it will not be about gifts they can use while traveling, but rather gifts they can use while they are home.  I’m so excited about this! Here is my Perfect Gift Guide for Men. Enjoy!

 

Yeti Cooler

YETI Roadie 24 Cooler:  We love our big Yeti cooler, but sometimes we need something smaller to take out on a short ride on the boat or to ice fish.  This Yeti can hold 24 cans, and is even tall enough to hold a standard wine bottle upright.  You will be amazed at how long it keeps things cold. I love all of the fun colors you can choose from.

Light For Runners

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Ultimate Gift Guide for Women 2020

Christmas is the time for giving, so let me help you cross some items off your list!  The holiday season can be hectic, so I’ve come to love the ease of online shopping!  Now, more than ever before, you won’t catch me browsing in any stores. From home, I can put on my favorite PJ’s, pour a glass of wine, sit by the fire, and avoid the mobs of people at the mall. This year is a very different year, so the list will feature gifts travelers can use at home.  So, what do you get for that woman on your list that loves travel? Enjoy this Ultimate Gift Guide for Women:

Vintage Camera Bag

Vintage Camera Bag: When traveling, my camera case often takes the pace of my purse, so I like it to be roomy and stylish.  I love the vintage look of this bag and the strap looks so comfortable.  It has deep compartments for your camera and lens. The bag can be used as a crossbody, which is the safest way to wear your purse when traveling.  I chose this bag because you can also use it as a purse when you’re not traveling.

World Map

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20 Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift

Christmas is the perfect time to share your favorite stories with friends and family.  Maybe it’s the former language arts teacher in me talking, but I think there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book.   Looking for a good book for someone this Christmas?  These books are full of characters you wish you could meet, lives you’re thankful you didn’t live, and endings that you wish would never come.  Pick some up as gifts or as a treat for yourself that you can enjoy after the craziness of this holiday season.

Enjoy!  Happy shopping!!

20 Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift

The Silent Patient

By: Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient: Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations―a search for the truth that threatens to consume him….

The Henna Artist

By: Alka Joshi

The Henna Artist:  Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…

Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

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20 Ultimate Gifts for Men that Love Travel

Time to start shopping for those sweet men in your life that love to travel.  Guys can be hard to buy for because the gift needs to be fun, yet still practical.  Here are some Ultimate Gifts for Men that Love Travel.

Happy shopping!

DUFFEL BAG:

This beautiful leather duffel bag is perfect for packing for a weekend away.  It is well-made and sturdy, with a reinforced zipper and a thick cloth lining.  It looks like a vintage leather bag and has lots of room.  It can be used with or without the shoulder strap and can be used as a carry-on.

YETI COLSTER:

Take their koozie up a notch with this double-wall vacuum insulated holder.  It will keep their beverage cold for longer and can be used with cans and bottles. It comes in over a dozen colors.  It’s great for a BBQ, the beach, or a day out on the boat.

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Ultimate Gifts for Women that Love Travel

Christmas is the time for giving, so let me help you cross some items off your list!  The holiday season can be hectic, so I’ve come to love the ease of online shopping! I can put on my favorite PJ’s, pour a glass of wine, sit by the fire, and avoid the mobs of people at the mall. So, what do you get for that woman on your list that loves travel? Here are Ultimate Gifts for Women that Love Travel:

Jewelry Organizer

JEWELRY ORGANIZER: There’s nothing more aggravating than getting to your destination and having your jewelry all tangled up.  This case is a stylish way to organize your jewelry.  It has 7 ring rolls, 4 compartments, and 3 necklace hooks with pockets.  I love the classic combination of cream and tan, but they also have it in black.

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Ultimate Gifts for Teen Boys

One of the best things about travel is it gives you a chance to try new adventures and step away from your everyday life.  Help your teenage boy foster a love for travel with some gifts he’ll be sure to love.  As a mom of two girls, I’ve got to thank all my boy-mom friends for these Ultimate Gifts for Teen Boys.  Click links to purchase.

OVERNIGHT BAG:

This Under Armor duffel bag can be used as a weekend bag, to store sports equipment, or as a gym bag.  It is made of a sturdy material and has a padded shoulder strap. The large vented pocket are good for laundry or shoes, and it would make for a great carry-on bag on a plane.

WATERPROOF SPEAKER:

Bose makes it easy to bring your music wherever you go! The crisp, clear sound Bose is known for now comes in a waterproof portable speaker.  Play up to 6 hours of music without having to charge it.  It has a built-in speakerphone that works great.  The strap lets you hang it wherever you want.

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Ultimate Gifts for Teenage Girls

Christmas is the time for giving, so let me help you cross some items off your list!  The holiday season can be hectic, so I’ve come to love the ease of online shopping! I can put on my favorite PJ’s, pour a glass of wine, sit by the fire, and avoid the mobs of people at the mall. Here are Ultimate Gifts for Teenage Girls.

First up are the teen girls in your life.

Are you wondering what is popular with teenage girls for Christmas gifts this year?  They can be tough to shop for, but these items may be the perfect presents to put under your tree.  Here are 15 ultimate gifts for your tween/teenage girl.  Each one was approved by my girls!

Happy Shopping!

15 Perfect Gifts for the Teen Girl that Loves Travel:

PORTABLE SPEAKER:

Teens love their music and now they can bring it anywhere with this portable speaker.  It  uses a wireless, easy-to-connect Bluetooth.  It has crisp, clear sound and the mic can be used with several devices.  Girls will go nuts over the rose-gold color.

 SMARTPHONE LENS by MACTREM:

Most teens take pictures using their phone, and these lenses will let them capture their memories even better.  They connect easily and are perfect for landscapes, detailed close-ups, or unique selfies.  It’s a great value! I want them for myself!!

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15 Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift

Christmas is the perfect time to share your favorite stories with friends and family.  Maybe it’s the former language arts teacher in me talking, but I think there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book.   My favorite moments during summer are afternoons spent with the girls on the hammock as we each get lost in our own chapters. Looking for a good book for someone this Christmas?  Look no farther than this list of 15 books that make the ultimate Christmas gift. These books are full of characters you wish you could meet, lives you’re thankful you didn’t live, and endings that wish would never come.  Pick some up as gifts or as a gift for yourself that you can enjoy after the craziness of this holiday season.

Enjoy!  Happy shopping!!

Where the Crawdads Sing

By: Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing: For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So, in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life – until the unthinkable happens. Click link to purchase.

That Night

By: Chevy Stevens

That Night: Toni Murphy was eighteen when she and her boyfriend, Ryan, were wrongly convicted of the murder of her younger sister. Now she is thirty-four and back in her hometown, working every day to forge and adjust to a new life on the outside. She’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back to prison. But nothing is making that easy – not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who clearly doubts Toni’s innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni’s life miserable in high school and who may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out the truth and clear her name. Click link to purchase.

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Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift


Christmas is the perfect time to share your favorite stories with friends and family.  I’m always looking for good recommendations and I love to tell people about my favorites.  Maybe it’s the former language arts teacher in me talking, but I think there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book.   My favorite moments during summer are afternoons spent with the girls on the hammock as we each get lost in our own chapters. Looking for a good book for someone this Christmas?  Look no farther.  These books are full of characters you wish you could meet, lives you wish you could live, and endings that wish would never come.  Enjoy these Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift!  Happy shopping!!

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

By: Jan-Philipp Sendker 

In The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be…until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father’s past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will reaffirm the reader’s belief in the power of love to move mountains. Click link to purchase. 

The Mermaid’s Chair

By: Sue Monk Kidd

In The Mermaid Chair, Jessie Sullivan is summoned home to Egret Island to cope with her eccentric mother’s seemingly inexplicable behavior, she is living a conventional life with her husband, Hugh, a life “molded to the smallest space possible.” Jessie loves Hugh, but once on the island, she finds herself drawn to Brother Thomas, a monk about to take his final vows. Amid a rich community of unforgettable island women and the exotic beauty of marshlands, tidal creeks, and majestic egrets, Jessie grapples with the tension of desire and the struggle to deny it, with a freedom that feels overwhelmingly right and the immutable force of home and marriage. Click link to purchase

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Amazing Gifts for Teen Boys


As a mom of two girls, I’ve got to thank all my boy-mom friends for these great suggestions of what to buy teen boys that like to travel.  I’m pretty sure my husband would also love these gifts…and I would like a few too! So, sit back, do some shopping, and let all your gifts come right to your door.  No fighting crowds today!

Enjoy and happy shopping!

15 Amazing Gifts for Teen Boys that Travel

ANKER POWERCORE 20100 EXTERNAL BATTERY CHARGER:

Your teen will no longer have to worry about their phone dying while out exploring.  This high-speed charger will save the day.  You can charge two devices at a time and it is lightweight. The company offers great customer service if there is ever a problem. 

SONY NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES: 

These headphones are great for a mid-range pair of headphones, which is a great option for teens that are not quite ready for an expensive pair.  It does a great job canceling out noise and it has fabulous sound…especially the base! They are also very comfortable to wear.

KATTEE LEATHER CANVAS CAMERA BAG: 

I would love this bag myself, even though it’s masculine with canvas and leather.  I like that the camera liner can be removed so you can use it as a messenger bag.  It has lots of compartments and an adjustable strap.

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