2022 Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas gifts

2022 Christmas Gift Guide

Looking for a unique gift for everyone on your list? Here are some amazing companies that offer great products! Show them you truly know them by giving them a gift that compliments their personality. Check out our 2022 Christmas Gift Guide:

Clever Fox

Clever Fox journals

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

I don’t know about you, but I can’t get through my day without my planner.  I use it to make lists, plan projects, and strategize everything I need to get done. Organization is my way to prevent stress and make plans for my future. It is a wonderful way to track your goals and help you increase your performance.

I love the high quality of all their products.  There is so much thought that went into all the details of the books. The covers are beautiful and look wonderful on my desk.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

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May 2022 Product Roundup

field of red tilips

Hello May!  I’ve been anxiously waiting for you and have been enjoying being out in nice warm weather! This month we’re thinking ahead to all those amazing men in our lives and celebrating Father’s Day.  Here are some amazing products that would be perfect gifts. Enjoy our May 2022 Product Roundup.

Sock Box

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

Who doesn’t love a fabulous pair of socks? Sock Box allows you to have 1-2 awesome pairs of socks delivered right to your door.  I love the element of surprise that comes with this subscription.  Sock Box believes in giving their customers the best. All the manufacturers and brands they work with have high quality products that they stand behind.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

We were thrilled to be given a 3-month subscription. Our April box included:

East of Liberty

Richer Poorer

fun socks

Our May box had:

Brooklyn Strong

Hitsu Socks

fun socks

WHAT DOES IT COST?

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Great Subscription Boxes of 2021

I have always been drawn to subscription boxes because they are a surprise in your mailbox every month.  I do a little happy dance when I see a package in the mail and can’t wait to rip it open to see all the goodies inside.  They make wonderful Christmas gifts because they often contain things people love but wouldn’t buy for themselves. They will think of you every time the package arrives and there’s a box for everyone…including yourself! Here are some great subscription boxes of 2021.

Celebrate States

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS COMPANY

mustard, soup mix, pretzels, cutting board, tea towel

One of the best things about travel is getting to know your destination.  You can learn a lot about the place by eating their food and using products made by local artists.  Celebrate States lets you “travel” around the US and explore each state.  Each box is packed full of items that will make you feel like you’ve packed up your suitcase and are traveling across the country. This box is also a great motivator of places to add to your Travel Bucket List.  It is a wonderful introduction to the state and will make you want to see what else the state has to offer.

WHAT’S IN EACH BOX?

Celebrate States boxes are packed full of fun items from small businesses.  You will receive 6-7 full sized items that include food, beauty, and home goods. The wide variety of products gives you a good feel of the state. The boxes also contain interactive material and travel material about the state. I love when kids have fun while learning.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

Pennsylvania Dutch box

Cutting board with Pennsylvania stamp (From Totally Bamboo)

bamboo cutting board

We love this bamboo cutting board and have been using it to cut lemon and limes when we are making cocktails with friends.  The stamp makes it so unique.

Pennsylvania Dutch tea towel (From Crafted Southern)

tea towel with birds on it

This tea towel looks adorable draped near my oven.  The bright colors on the birds add a nice touch of color to any kitchen.

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Culture Cake Kit

One of the things we most loved doing this past year was being together in the kitchen to try new recipes.  Honestly…anything to get kids off their phones these days is a plus.  Not only is it a great life skill, but we have so much fun laughing together.  Culture Cake Kit is a wonderful company that lets you experience a different culture, discover news flavors and snacks, and recreate traditional flavors in a modern cupcake.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

As a former teacher, you know I love to sneak in education whenever I get a chance. Each kit comes with a pamphlet that tells about the country of the month.  We learned all about Bulgaria…the terrain, the cuisine, the day of Baba Marta, and martenits, red and white colored bands that symbolize health and happiness. We even learned a few phrases: ”Hello!” is “Dobar den!”

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The Deadbolt Mystery Society

You know I love a good mystery…Criminal Minds, 48-hour Mysteries, and books so creepy I can’t read them before bed.  The Deadbolt Mystery Society are mystery boxes that let you solve crimes.  They are the perfect way to spend a night with your family.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THE DEADBOLT MYSTERY SOCIETY

I love that these boxes have something for everyone…clues hidden in letters or notes, puzzles, and internet activities. They even give you the difficulty level (example: 7/10) so you know ahead of time how hard it is. They are hard enough that you may even have to use some hints.

I also appreciate that you can purchase a one-time box.  These could be perfect for birthday parties, sleepovers, date night, girls’ night, or something to do on your own.  This would make a wonderful gift!

WHAT COMES IN EACH BOX?

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Touch of New England

There is nowhere I’d rather live than New England! Fall foliage bursting with color, majestic mountains, rugged coastlines, and quaint family farms are just a few snapshots of our region.  However, it is more than that…it’s a feeling of old world charm. It’s sorta like living in a Hallmark Christmas movie…lol.  New England is a magical place filled with local small businesses that create premium, unique products. Touch of New England is a subscription box that will make you feel like you’re traveling here without leaving your home.

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

They say it best: “When you can’t go there yourself, let us send you a touch of the New England culture, delivered right to your door.” Since many people are not able to travel right now, it’s a wonderful way to “explore” the area without leaving your home. You’ll enjoy quality products from the region, while supporting the artisans and businesses who make New England unique.  I love that their standards are high. If they don’t love a product, they won’t include it in their box.

WHAT COMES IN EACH BOX?

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Spice Madam

When you have teenagers, it gets harder and harder to find things you can do together.  One of the things I most love to do is get the girls in the kitchen with me.  We love trying new dishes while we’re traveling and we’ve had fun experimenting with cooking new ones this last year.  I love trying exotic meals but some ingredients can be both hard to find and intimidating. Spice Madam gives you the spices you’ll need to make a meal from a specific country around the world. It is the perfect way to spend a night at home!

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE SPICE MADAM

One of my favorite things about this box is it gives you a link to music from the country.  Throw it on as you’re cooking or eating to set the mood.

I also like that they tell you how difficult each recipe is.  The chef hats in the upper right corner of the recipe card indicate a skill level from 1 chef hat (easy) 2 chef hats (medium) to 3 chef hats (harder). They encourage you to challenge yourself.

Finally, you know I love a company that gives back.  Every box of Spice Madame sold supports a non-profit that impacts youth education.

WHAT COMES IN EACH BOX?

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Zenspiration Review

There has never been a time when I’ve needed peace, relaxation, and a sense of calm more than I do now.  I feel like we often put others first and don’t take the time for self-care.  That is where a box like Zenspiration comes to the rescue.

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

I love that their company believes in community, kindness and empowerment of others through self-awareness. Those are wonderful qualities to have, especially in today’s world.

I love that the owner says, “Each Zenspiration Box is a piece of my heart, that is meant to fill your heart with what you need to awaken, evolve and align with your soul’s purpose.”

Look how beautiful this box it!

WHAT COMES IN EACH BOX?

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Eattiamo Review

One of the best ways to experience a country is through their food.  We basically ate our way through Italy because everything we ordered ended up being delicious.  Every time I see Bolognese sauce on a menu, I think back to that small restaurant in Sienna we went to after attending the horse race of Palio.  Eattiamo, an Italian food subscription box, is the perfect way to bring Italy right to your kitchen.  Take a peek at this amazing box and see how we “traveled” to Italy without leaving our home.

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

I loved getting the whole family in the kitchen together to make a meal.  We opened a bottle of chianti, put on some Italian music, and gave everyone a task of chopping, stirring, measuring, and tasting.  I love that it brought up many memories of Italy for my husband and I and it made Italy number one on my girls’ Travel Bucket List.

Although the box gives you ingredients to make an entire meal (including an appetizer and something sweet for the end) it also gives you the leeway to show your creativity.  We added some things to the menu and removed some to make it a better fit for our family. It was the perfect way to spend a Friday night together.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

ITALIAN DETOX FOOD BASKET ($79)

This box was perfect because I was just finishing a 10-day health shred, which focused on the importance of eating well. We loved preparing this Italian feast when we got to the lake. It was the perfect way to spend the night in the kitchen together. Fireplace was lit and a bottle of chianti was opened. What else could we need?

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Puzzle Culture Review

My family has never been into puzzles until the pandemic hit.  All of the sudden our friends started posting completed puzzles on Facebook and raving about how fun they are.  We had to see what all the fuss was about and I’m glad we did because it really is a fun way to pass the time together.  It’s neat to see we all have different methods of completing our sections.  I love finding things that both adults and teenagers can get excited about.   We were thrilled when the subscription box, Puzzle Culture, sent us one of their amazing boxes.  It is such a unique box that helps families slow down and create memories together.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

Puzzle Culture is such a great concept because the box revolves around a specific artist each month.  Everything in that box connects to the theme in the painting.  It makes you feel like you’ve walked into a museum. (Boy, I can’t wait to do that again!) I also love that the box is gender-neutral, so my husband doesn’t feel left out. (Which can happen in a house with 3 females!)

WHAT COMES IN EVERY BOX?

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