Gifts for People Who Love Coffee

 The holidays are near and that means it is time to start making a list and checking it twice to get a great gift for the coffee lovers in your life! I have been checking out some gift ideas and I found a few that I know you are going to want to check out.

Samples have been provided for inclusion. 

Tony's Coffee is an under the radar option in a world of chain coffee shops, so it feels like a delicious secret! You can get a variety of beans from the Roaster of the Year Award Winning Tony's Coffee for about $13 a bag.

There is something so special about Gaderian Coffee that you will want to share it with a coffee loving friend this holiday season. This Guatemalan blend is mouth watering! Get it in bags or pods, in a variety of roasts, for a great price of about $12 a bag. 

If you want to make a statement in terms of your gift to a a coffee lover, the EC100 Espresso Machine by Capresso speaks  volumes! This is one of the nicest espresso machines I have ever used. It is easy to operate, and no joke, it makes a better shot than my local Tim Horton's. Get this online or from fine retailers like Kohl's for under $130.

If your favorite coffee lover travels a lot, give them the gift of the best coffee possible no matter where they are, be it a desk, or hotel room, or even at home. The Pakt Coffee Kit is compact, easy to use and really makes a cup of coffee a treat. Get it for about $141 this holiday season.

Coffee always makes a nice gift, but with Rising Tides Coffee, the gift keeps on giving goodness. You can select one of three blends and your purchase will support your cause in a way that makes you feel good. Prices start at about $20 a bag.

Ciel makes a really lovely blend of coffee, that is a small batch with a wonderful aroma. Prices start at about $19 and is sure to delight your coffee loving friends and family this holiday season.

Give your favorite coffee drinker some specialty cold brew coffee and milk blended together to perfection. Cowffee is as convenient as it gets and really packs a lot of flavor! Order a 12 pack and share with some special friends and family this year!

La Promesa makes some wonderful coffee that is perfect for gifting this season. With a sweet, fruity flavor, this one one cup of coffee that will warm everyone up perfectly this winter. Order whole bean or fresh ground for about $21 a bag.

Any coffee drinker appreciates a good mug. To make an unforgettable impression why not gift a mug that is nothing short of art with the Alicia Boateng Collection Afro Glam Mug. This is seriously gorgeous! Order for $27. 

Gift the experience of a great cup of coffee from Nicaragua with the Santa Lucia Estate Coffee line. This coffee smells divine with a wonderful earthy finish that is made to savor. Order the sampler pictured above for about $30.

Explorer Cold Brew is perfect for gifting a coffee lover! These little bottles are perfect for an on the go pick me up. Simply add to water, add ice if desired and sip a really good cuppa cold brew. The bottles are adorable and can be used again if desired. Order a starter pack for about $20.

Maple Leaf Roasters offers an assortment of really good blends that make for a great gift this holiday season. We loved the Slapshot 2020 Holiday Blend with its sweet finish. Order online for about $14 a bag.

Bean and Bean Coffee Roasters have some really great beans that are roasted to perfection and ready to gift. They have a coffee and tumbler set that is perfect for any coffee lover to unwrap this holiday season. Order for $45.

I hope these suggestions help you to find a great gift for a coffee drinker on your shopping list.

Books to Gift This Holiday Season

 Books make the best gifts at the holidays! They are always the right size, and you never have to worry about a color preference or operating system. I have rounded up some of my favorite options for all ages to share with you. You will love these titles for holiday gifting! This list has something for everyone on it, and these titles are all budget friendly, which is as important as ever this year!

  

Samples were provided for photography and inclusion.

Inklings are bright, colorful and unique plush toys and books that spark a child's imagination. Gus, Ollie, Wobby are lovable creatures who come to life through the imagination of children.  The Inklings remind us that as long as you have your imagination, you’re never really alone. Find these cuties at Target this holiday season for $20 each set.

This hilarious new book from the out-of-this-world Sandra Boynton will have Earthlings big and small giggling with delight. Order this cute book  How Big is Zagnodd? for about $8. 

From beloved author-illustrator Eric Carle comes this brand-new interactive board book, You're My Little Baby features sweet text about baby love and touch-and-feel elements throughout! Order for about $8.

Ride shotgun on a trip to space with astronaut Terry Virts. A born storyteller with a gift for the surprising turn of phrase and eye for the perfect you-are-there details, he captures all the highs, lows, humor, and wonder of an experience few will ever know firsthand. Featuring stories covering survival training, space shuttle emergencies, bad bosses, the art of putting on a spacesuit, time travel, and much more! Order How to Astronaut for about $28.

Americans LOVE umami, even if they don’t realize it: From smoky bacon and ketchup-slathered cheeseburgers to anchovy-rich Caesar dressing and buttery garlic bread, umami flavor permeates many of the most beloved dishes. But most people associate the Japanese term for this fifth taste (along with salty, sweet, sour, and bitter) with meat. Now, award-winning cookbook author Raquel Pelzel explores how to bring the savory taste typically characteristic of cooked meats to vegetable-forward dishes in Umami Bomb. Get this book for about $20.

Life’s too short for boring questions and games, so we have just what you need! Look no further than The Try Not to Laugh Challenge’s Would Your Rather? - EWW Edition for one of the best additions to a family game night, long road trips, parties, and MORE!  Order this book for about $7.

Give kids the gift of school readiness with the Brain Quest line from Workman. These chunky workbooks have loads of activities for kids to give their brains a workout! Get an assortment of Brain Quest books for kids of a variety of ages for about $13.

Give tweens and teens a crash course in a variety of subjects with the Big Fat Notebook series. These are packed with so much info that is useful. Order one, or two for some smart kids on your shopping list to help them learn to study smarter for about $17.

Origami City is a recent release where kids can fold paper creations of skyscrapers, cars; everything that makes a city a city! And for those out-of-this-world space kids, we also have Star Wars Origami 2! In addition to the first book, this one has thirty-four new characters and beloved moments from the Star Wars universe to bring to life. Get these titles for under $25 each.

Give little learners a big advantage with their education with these Big Learning Tablets from School Zone. These books are packed with activities and lessons that are fun and beneficial to kids.

You can get singles, multipacks and learning kits starting at about $3 and up.

In today’s hectic, stress-filled world, taking stock of one’s blessings and truly experiencing gratefulness isn’t always easy, but this coloring book from the creators of the bestselling Whatever Is Lovely offers a beautiful and unique way to find moments of peace and quiet to meditate on gratitude. Each of the 45 single-sided coloring pages features an original design from one of seven talented artists that illustrates a corresponding inspirational quote from renowned authors such as Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King, Jr., Bob Goff, Mr. Rogers, and more. Order Choose Joy for about $15. 

The new Shore Buddies plush collection is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles! It takes six plastic bottles to make one 12" stuffed animal.  They even make authentic animal sounds when pressed too! The company is also dedicated to giving back, and $1 from each purchase is given to charities that support Marine life.  Get a few friends and the book this holiday season for a young reader on your list. Get the book for $12. The stuffed animals are $20.

This book, The Don't Laugh Challenge Joke Book,  gives kids a chance to learn some new jokes with a friend. Kids won't want to put this stocking stuffer edition down as it is a holly jolly good time!  Order it for about $8.

 Songs for Little Love Bugs is a collection of original songs for babies and young children you won’t hear anywhere else and a companion book full of watercolor paintings. Order for $15.

He's Not Just Teasing recently won a gold status Mom's Choice Award.  He’s Not Just Teasing is a quick-read chapter book focused on teaching children ages 9 through 12 the differences between teasing and bullying, and how to deal with both.  Parents can read this book with their children (or children could read on their own) to promote meaningful conversations about bullying and how to deal with it.  When parents are busy, it's hard to have the energy to tackle a subject like this. Order for about $13.

Amazon best-seller Welcome to Superhero School is the debut novel by Gracie Dix, a 17-year-old high school senior. The book is the first in a series called The Vork Chronicles which follows a group of teenage friends learning to control their unique superhero-like abilities. Siblings Oliver and Jess set off with their friends on a mission to destroy the power-hungry, evil villains of Vork, sending them from subterranean sewers to lush jungles as they encounter everything from dinosaurs to dragons. Order from amazon for under $13.

This is a great, unique gift for dads, uncles, grandpas, or anyone who loves not only food, but also gangster movies! Frank Cullotta was best known for his exploits as an associate of the Chicago Outfit and his role as Tony Spilotro’s enforcer and street lieutenant in Las Vegas. The character "Frankie" in Casino is based on Frank, who was a consultant for the movie. However, he had another interest besides crime. He loved to cook. In this book, he shares some of his favorite recipes for your eating pleasure. Although Frank died on August 20, 2020, his memory will live on every time you prepare one of these lip-smacking dishes. Order for about $23.

Check out some of my Christmas Crafts while you are here.

Dragonfly Charm Bookmark

Ribbon Charm Bookmarks are an easy DIY that makes for a great gift for any book lover in your life!

We are a family of readers. Adam, Rolf and I all like to end our day with a little reading in bed time. Harper has been learning her sight words and enjoys a bedtime story from Rolf most nights. When Rolf started taking a book to bed at the beginning of summer, I wanted to make book markers for him, so he wouldn't lose his place.

These are so easy and require no sewing! Which is awesome because I don't sew. 

This post contains affiliate links.

Supplies:

Wide Ribbon

Hot Glue Gun

Jump ring and clasp

Charms; I used dragonflies

Directions:

Cut a section of ribbon that is twice as long as the average book.

Fold the ribbon in half and liberally add hot glue.

Fold the ribbon over on to the hot glue and press.
At the end of the ribbon, insert a necklace clasp so that it just  barely hangs out of the ribbon.

Attach the charm to the jump ring.
Secure with hot glue.

These are so easy to make and they are pretty too.

Use a variety of charms and patterns of ribbon to make a variety.

This makes a fun DIY gift idea for tweens and teens who have a limited budget, but a little time and creativity.  These DIY dragonfly charm bookmarks would also make a great classroom gift idea to encourage reading over the winter holidays.

The addition of a simple charm to the ribbon makes these bookmarks feel really elegant and they look pretty too!

 

If you are looking for more diy gift and craft ideas check these posts out.

Queen of Heart Bookmarks

Rainbow Coasters

iPad Stands

Large Mickey Mouse Bell Ornaments

Grab a few bells and a ribbon to put together these cute and easy DIY Mickey Mouse Ornaments!

I love Christmas. I start getting excited about it as the kids return to school, plotting, planning, creating and shopping. I love to share gifts and treats with friends, family, teachers and neighbors, so getting an early start is crucial with so many cute things to make.

This is such an easy and affordable craft to share. Make a few to decorate your tree with, or to dress up wrapped gifts. You can make dozens of these for $5 or less if you shop at Dollar Tree for your supplies.

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I earn a small ad fee

Supplies:

Ribbon

Hot Glue Gun

Large Jingle Bells

Small Jingle Bells

Begin by threading a 5" section of thin ribbon thru the loop on the larger of your bells.
Tie a double knot in the end to keep it secure.

Next, glue one of the smaller jingle bells onto the side of the larger bell.

Now glue the other bell onto the other side.
Allow to dry.

Hang on the tree, or adorn a wrapped gift with a Mickey Mouse Ornament.

These are awesome to make and share with friends, classmates, or anyone that needs a little extra holiday cheer.

Are you looking for more awesome DIY Disney holiday ideas?

Check out these Play Doh Mickey Mouse Ornaments

Mini Mickey Mouse Jingle Bell Ornaments

5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

 Drains clog pretty easily and it’s always a hassle to clean them. Drain cleaners come in handy when you have to remove dirt, mud or dust that collects in the drains. These are readily available in the market and cost rather less.

In spite of all the positives, there are some cons in using drain cleaners. Drain cleaners are harmful if used excessively. Why? There are a lot of reasons but we have listed the 5 main reasons why you might need to look out in case you are looking to use them.

1. Toxic Drain Cleaners

Drain cleaners contain strong toxic chemicals. These chemicals provide the cleaning property to them. It contains alkali chemicals like sodium hydroxide and acidic chemicals such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. These chemicals are very strong and can cause burns or rashes if they fall on your skin. Also, if one swallows these chemicals, it can lead to blindness or other serious problems.

Another drawback is the chemical fumes from these cleaners. If one inhales it for too long, it can prove to be hazardous for his health. It can also cause irritation in the eye or swelling. So, it’s wise to read the labels on the bottles before using them in huge amounts.

2. Environmentally Hazardous

Now all of us know the chemicals in drain cleaners and it’s obvious that they can harm humans as well as other animals and nature. It’s toxic and poisonous for everything and everybody.

These chemicals can move and mix with lakes, rivers or even groundwater. It contaminates the water with dangerous chemicals. It has a lot of negative environmental impacts. If it ends up in a river then, small insects, birds or animals that consume the river water can get harmed. It can kill the small plants and trees near the lakes and rivers. All in all, it is really bad for the environment.

3. Corrosive to Pipes

Pipes and drains are channels to send water away. Cleaning drains is essential but every single time we use a drain cleaner, we expose the pipe to harmful toxins.

Given the strong nature of acids and alkalis; these can weaken the pipe and regular use of drain cleaners can corrode pipes over time. It can give rise to cracks and damage fixtures.

Dealing with a broken pipe can be a big problem and can lead to a lot of plumbing emergencies. You don't want that to happen.

4. Not a Permanent Solution

Drain cleaners are quite effective for small amounts of dirt, hair, grease or oil wastes but they can’t do it all. Sure, it is a quick fix but not for long.

If we use it continuously for a longtime, then it becomes less effective. Why? It’s because it doesn’t work on large amounts of food wastes.

Your drain fills up continuously with new wastes, but your drain cleaner can only clean off mild waste. The rest remains clogged in the drains and pipes. Ultimately, you will need to call for professional help.

So, it's better to let a professional check the drains once in a while than jamming tons of drain cleaner in.

5. It Smells Real Bad

Yes, it smells bad. When you work in your kitchen, you wouldn’t want that pungent, metallic smell of the drain cleaner.

No one wants the smell of delicious roast chicken to mix with the gut-wrenching smell of drain cleaners. Also, the fumes are dangerous for your health.

Drain cleaners are a necessity. We can replace the chemical drain cleaners with less toxic and environment friendly substances such as hot water, soap, baking soda etc.

If not, keep drain cleaners away from your children and pets and call for professional help at times to reduce overuse of drain cleaners.

Lastly, use drain cleaners judiciously.