It’s December 1st and I can officially write about holiday shopping and Christmas trees without feeling like it’s treading on my turkey. Call me old fashioned, but I like my holidays one at a time.
If you’ve known me for a long time, you know that I actually never liked to celebrate holidays. As an only child who isn’t close to her family I just had to need to. In fact, laying on the couch all day long on Thanksgiving by myself has come to be something I really cherish. While everyone else is off rushing around, I actually get to stop.
Now that I am a mom, and Max is old enough to appreciate and recognize Santa, it’s a mom’s duty to give children the magic of the holidays, and so, alas also comes the best gifts. Since so many of you consider me an “expert” in the parenting industry, here are my favorite picks for the season. I may not be Oprah, but I still have some pretty good picks 🙂 (I write this as I am watching ABC Family sappy Christmas movies) and
For Me
Ninja Coffee Bar $250
Honestly, I haven’t had a coffee maker in about a year. No, seriously. I just didn’t like how it was taking up space, and I could just boil my own water and place in a travel coffee brewer on top of my cup. But then Ninja asked me to try this coffee maker, and I fell in love so much I let it take up the space on counter. Why? Because it can be set to brew by the cup, travel size or larger in a glass pot. It stays warm for a long time AND – you can stop the drip long enough to pour a cup when you just can’t wait for the entire pot to brew. Even better? It comes with a recipe book on how to make fancy coffee – like frappes and lattes AND a milk frother. You heard that correctly. A milk frother. Ah yes, when you want to have a since frothy cappuccino, you can. And ANYONE can do it. Bonus?! You can brew your own. Sorry, but I’m just not a fan of the k-cup only brewers. I like to grab different coffees when I travel and ground fresh beans. I like to support small business and try different flavors that aren’t full of artificial flavors. (Organic from Cape Cod – my #1 right now and you can order here). And the Ninja doesn’t limit you to your options – that’s worth every dime!
Ugg Dakota Slippers $99
Every mom needs something luxurious. And you may laugh, but nothing is more relaxing and comfortable than to slip your feet into something so warm and cushy than plush slippers. Those dark, cold mornings you have to get up and make school lunches? You’ll thank me. Obviously no one does plush and warm better than Uggs, and these Dakota slippers are not only super plush, they actually pretty hip looking. So even if you don’t have time to change out of your pajamas for school drop off, you can still look slightly pulled together and trendy (and at least warm!).
For Kids
Gizmo Pal 2 $80
Okay this might be more for me, but my son loves it too. Verizon updated their latest “wearable device” for kids. Why do I love it? Because in a city where I am always scared that Max could accidentally get lost forever in a crowd, I now have peace of mind. The device operates with an app on your phone (that works with any cell provider) so you can see where they are on a map. You can set it to beep if they go outside a specific area (say, they accidentally run off from school), AND you can also set it to have a phone number. They can call you by pushing a button, and you can call them – AND AND AND you can set it to automatically pick up. That way if they are missing, they can hear your voice if they are too scared to know to answer. Brilliant. Bonus? Only phone numbers you register with the app can call it. So no worries of weirdos or SPAM getting through to your kids.
Your Slyce $16.99
Ok, again this could be good for anyone who is a picky eater, but right now that’s my toddler. He won’t eat anything on his pizza, but I unfortunately love everything under the sun on mine. So how do we solve that? This brilliant contraption that lets everyone make their OWN slice with whatever toppings they want. Plus, doesn’t that just sound like a super fun party idea? For only $17!
I See Me! – $35
We all love to feel special. And nothing is seriously cuter than having a book personalized to yourself. The I See Me! collection is such a unique gift where you can pick a favorite theme (hellos, trains and trucks for Max!) and they will take his name and add it each letter page by page. I’m talking their entire names too – first, middle and last! It’s just such a fun way to learn letters – by spelling your own name! It’s a great gift to personalize for cousins, friends and easy to ship to family members who don’t live close (like Pittsburgh!). Note: If you order by Dec 16, they will arrive by Christmas! AND use coupon code “special” at checkout to get 20% off your order AND get free shipping when you spend $50 or more!
For the outdoor winter walker
ThermaCELL Rechargeable Heated Insoles $134
Whether it’s the mile trek to school and back, or the Steelers home game in December, you need a better way to keep your toes and hands warm. It’s amazing how much longer you can stand to be outdoors when your feet and/or hands are toasty. Since we walk everywhere in NYC (even in the winter in negative degrees), these rechargeable warmers are perfect for holiday window shopping and browsing the outdoor holiday markets. These make being outdoors way more bearable and you won’t know how you lived without them once you use them. Did I mention it’ll keep you outdoors training for upcoming marathons longer? 🙂
For the old-fashioned
Epson PictureMate PM 400 $149
I love technology, but sometimes I want to take a step back and remember the good old days. Recently I came across a bunch of my old baby and childhood photos. This was a huge deal because everything I had as a child was lost in a tornado (you can read more about that here), except for photographs that my grandmother had at her house, and some my dad managed to salvage that were tossed among the trees. I loved how old and beat up they are, it’s a sort of art and it made me realize we don’t print photos anymore. I love that I have a million saved digitally, but this PictureMate lets me print out photos to have around the house of my son, that is just a sweet reminder of how much I love him when I look up from my computer. Plus, it also never fails to put smiles on people’s faces when they receive a nice unexpected printed photo in the mail. Bonus – it’s so tiny it doesn’t take up space like an old-fashioned clunky printer!
For the swimmer
Swimoutlet.com – prices vary
Thanks to swimming classes at Asphalt Green this summer, Maximo’s new favorite sport is swimming and I couldn’t be happier. To stay prepped (and in budget, swimming can get pricey!), we’ve been using swimoutlet.com. They have all the necessities, including sport and fashionable suits for both Max and myself plus things like goggles, caps and more. Since we New Yorkers only shop online, this keeps it all in one place. Plus shopping for warmer days always is a great way to pass the snowy days. AND it’s a great reminder to NOT over carb load on snow days to fit in that bikini come spring. 🙂
For the book lover
They Serve Bagels In Heaven $12
I may work with Irene, but she’s become more than a client and more a mother figure in my life. I just love how she has changed my outlook on life, and it all started by reading her book, They Serve Bagels In Heaven. It’s an enlightening read that brings comfort, with a twist of humor and love. If you’re newly into spirituality, or just curious like myself, this is a must-add to your holiday list this year. Plus, it’s a great conversational starter as a coffee table book!
