6 Candles that Make Perfect Gifts

Candles can transform a room into a peaceful oasis for relaxation, rejuvenate you after a long day, or remind you of travels.  They are the perfect gift for anyone…your spouse, teachers, coaches, relatives, and who are we kidding…yourself! These 6 candle companies have quickly become my favorites and I’d love to share them with you.  Enjoy!

228 Grant Street Candle Co.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

I absolutely love these candles! Their fragrance profiles are inspired by nature and travel. The company’s mission is to create amazing and affordable candles featuring uniquely curated fragrance blends.  They are made with all-natural soy wax, braided cotton wicks, and scented oils, and are hand-poured.  I love that their name pays homage to the home of his late maternal grandparents in Danville, VA; a home characterized by simple acts of hospitality and the sharing of things made and grown by his grandparents.

WHAT DID WE GET?

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Ultimate 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.  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! Here are some Ultimate Gifts for Teen Boys.

Enjoy and happy shopping!

Gamer Chair

GTPLAYER Gaming Chair with Footrest:  This chair has it all!  It’s an ergonomic game chair design with free massager lumbar support, headrest pillow, wider and thicker adjustable armrests, an ergonomic shape, larger-size seat cushion, and a sturdy retractable footrest. It can be reclined from 90° to 155°, and the seat-height is adjustable.

LED Lights

65.6ft Led Strip Lights: These LED lights are colorful and durable.  The brightness of the lights strip can be adjusted and offer lots of different colors.  There are 8 lighting modes (jump, fade, flash, etc.) The kit Includes 4 rolls of 16.4 ft LED light strips, power adapter, 44-key remote control, instruction manual, and installation accessories.

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Perfect Gifts for Teenage Girls

I feel really bad for teenagers this year because social isolation has turned their world upside down.  I can’t imagine what I would have been like when I was there age.  However, I’ve also noticed a change in my girls that I’ve liked seeing.  They don’t mind spending time at home with us or finding creative ways to entertain themselves.  So, this year’s Gift Guide for Teen Girls will be all about stuff they can use while they are home.  Enjoy!

Learn to Code

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25 Ultimate Gifts for Kids

As winter approaches, many schools are reverting back to remote learning.  In fact, many schools around us are going remote right after Thanksgiving.  This year, my guide for kids is made up of gifts they can use in the home.  This is a perfect time to create family memories, build their creativity, or learn a new skill. Here are…

25 Ultimate Gifts for Kids

DIY BATH BOMBS

Essential Oil Bath Bomb DIY Kit:  This kit includes everything they need to make 15 luxurious, all-natural bath bombs. The pre-measured ingredients, and a no mess clean-up make this the perfect gift for everyone.  By following their step-by-step instructions, they can make their own bath bombs from scratch in the comfort of their own home.

GRAVITY MAZE

ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game:  This kit contains 60 challenges from beginner to expert, a game grid, 9 towers, 1 target piece, and 3 marbles.  They can play their way through the challenges, build spatial reasoning, and planning skills. It is partly an engineering and building toy that provides a great stealth learning experience for young players

BUG CATCHING KIT

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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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25 Outdoor Toys for Teens

As important as it is for kids to get outside, it’s also important to get your teens out there! I’ve had so many friends complaining that their teens are constantly on their phone…especially since we are stranded at home during this pandemic. I know that YouTube and Tic Tok can take over  my house if we’re not careful.  I swear…it can be an obsession. However, if my girls get outside and have some fun, they don’t feel the need to jump on their phones.  The key is to help them find things to do outside that they love.

Here are 25 Outdoor Toys for Teens:

GlowCity Light Up Basketball

Kan Jam Portable Disc Slam 

Spikeball Standard 3 Ball Kit

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Outdoor Toys for Kids

It is so important for kids to get outside…especially when we are stranded at home during this pandemic.  It’s so easy to let kids play on electronics, but it is so bad for them and it sucks up all their time if you let it.  I spent my childhood making memories outside and I want my kids to experience the same.  The key is to help them find things to do outside that they love.

Here are 25 ideas of outdoor toys for kids:

Little Tikes Sandy Lagoon Sand & Water Table

Intex Unicorn Inflatable Ride-On Pool Float

Golf Girl Junior Golf Club Set with Stand Bag

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Bullymake Dog Subscription Box

One of the things I’ve enjoyed about being in social isolation is that my two golden retrievers are always at my feet.  They follow me around everywhere like two shadows.  They are 2 and 3 years old so they play hard and are extremely rough on their toys.  I often have trouble finding toys for them because they ruin them so quickly.  Bullymake may be my solution since they are a dog subscription box that specifically caters to extreme chewers, tuggers, fetchers, or players.

What do I love about this box?

We’ve tested dog boxes before and their toys could never hold up to my rough dogs.  When you subscribe to Bullymake, they ask for information about your dog’s  weight, breed, and allergies, so they can customize the toys and treats for your dog.  I love that they have a 14-day satisfaction and chew-proof guarantee.

What comes in each box?

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