15 Advent Calendars for Kids

When I was a kid, one of my favorite parts of the holidays was the little advent calendar my grandma always had for me. I only got to see her on weekends, so when I would get to her house, I would get to open several windows at once, for a few little treats!

Looking back on it, the calendar was as basic as it could get. The squares of chocolate were small. But, it was the fact that someone thought of me and picked up an advent that had a picture she knew I would love on it, and she kept it for me, on the odd days I came over.

Now I am a mom and I always have an advent for my kids. They love the little ceremony and surprise that awaits them. If you are like me, and maybe don't have the time to create an elaborate advent, check out these ideas from Amazon. This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase, I will earn a small advertising fee.

Paw Patrol Advent
Hatchimals Holiday Advent
Barbie Careers Advent Calendar
Mega Bloks TMNT Advent
Playmobil Advent
Play Doh Christmas Advent
Grinch Advent Calendar
Hot Wheels Advent
Crayola Christmas Countdown
Disney Tsum Tsum Advent
Lego City Advent
VTech Smart Animals Advent
Thomas and Friends Advent Calendar 
Funko Harry Potter Advent
Olaf's Adventure Christmas Countdown Calendar 

If you find a great advent calendar on Amazon, I hope you will leave me a comment so I can add it to my list!

Best Board Games to Gift

Board games make awesome gifts! They encourage family time, and any gift that pull kids away from a screen is going to be welcome by parents! I have rounded up some excellent options for gifting board games this year to help you find some new and exciting options for family game time.

Samples were provided for inclusion and photography.

Exit the Game Theft on the Mississippi is a really fun option for older kids. It involves solving riddles to discover who done it. Families will love this engaging game that is challenging and fun. Exit the Game is available in several themes, for about $15 a game.

Jabber Jaw is perfect for snow days, or anytime you need a good laugh with game play. This descriptive game is challenging and fun for kids of all ages. Order it for about $25.

Trailz is a really fun strategy game from Play Monster. This game is perfect for kids 7 and older. The players will out manuever one another to safely move their shrooms to the other side of the board with the help of some slugs. The game is unique and fun. Order it for $15.

Chicken War is a strategic guessing game that will have players 8 and older clucking for more. This fun game is engaging and entertaining. It guarantees one thing, if chickens went to war, hilarity would ensue. Order it for about $20 for a fun family game night!

Any fan of the classic film Back to the Future needs this Dice Through Time game! This is a great gift for tweens and teens. Chances are their parents are going to want to play too for  the nostalgia factor alone. In this game you will help Doc and Marty while time traveling. Order this game for about $40 for a fun winter gaming session.

PENSILLY is the super, silly drawing and guessing game! It takes creativity, teamwork and imagination to play! Grab your friends, select your cards and sketch out the clues.

Kids will find the What's Wrong With Grown Ups Game to be hilarious because, well, it is a hilarious game for the family! This game encourages creativity and curiosity in kids for a fun way to play together with cards. Order for about $25.

 

This is a really fun game for families because it is a race to make sense of nonsense. Laughter is sure to ensue. This would be a good game to have ready for New Years Eve! Order Incoherent Family Edition for about $25.

Grounded for Life is such a fun game! But, be warned, the answers you give just might get you grounded for life! This is great for kids of a variety of ages and is perfect for family game night! Order it for about $20.

I hope these board game ideas help you find one that you don't have already and will definitely bring a ton of fun to family game night!

While you are here, why not check out some of my favorite Christmas Crafts?

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