Potty Training Starter Kit

- - Kids

Toys are great, but sometimes a child doesn’t need another toy. Right, Mom and Dad?

potty-training-starter-kid-birthday-giftWhen my best friend’s daughter turned a year old, I came up with a gift EVERY one-year old and two-year old NEEDS.

I came up with this gift idea after I finished potty training my two-year old son only 3 months after his 2nd birthday.

Good-bye dirty, stinky diapers and annoying diaper bag I’ve been lugging around for two years.

I’d like to take this moment to do a *happy dance*. For a parent, the excitement of fully potty training your child is right up there with watching them take their first steps.

This was my best friend’s first child so she has never gone through the process of potty training before. I’m a big believer in starting the conversation early so I gave her daughter the birthday gift of a Potty Training Starter Kit. Continue Reading

Professional Family Photo of Three Generations

I’m on summer vacation and reposting a favorite by our readers. Speaking of summer, it’s a great time for family photos!

It’s not an easy task to get three generations of one family scheduled on the same date and time for professional photos. Life just seems to get in the way.

That’s even more reason to pause and take the time to pose for those precious photos.professional-family-photo-three-generations-thoughtful-gift-idea

Professional Family Photos

Most people have nice cameras and even smartphones take excellent pictures, but professional photos should not be overlooked.

For my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday gift, the family decided we would have a professional photo of three generations of our family made.

A photo of three or even two generations of family is a keepsake many family members will cherish.

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Affirmators! | Funny, Uplifting Affirmation Cards

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

I call BS! That sentence is one of the biggest lies told to children.

Negative words can tear someone apart, especially if they’re in the form of negative self-talk. We’ve all been guilty of that.

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Affirmations Boost Self-Esteem & Well-Being

On the flip side, positive words and uplifting messages can boost a person’s self-esteem and and well-being.

Positive affirmations are powerful statements that are spoken aloud in order to encourage and uplift the person speaking them.

They can inspire people to overcome the negative thoughts holding them back so they feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives.

Affirmation cards are a deck of cards containing positive affirmations. They’re small but powerful, and they make for a thoughtful gift.

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Unique Knitted Metal Jewelry

My grandmother knitted throughout her lifetime. She tried to teach me, but I never really showed much interest.

Oh, how I wished I had learned because you never know when old skills can turn into new talent.

unqiue-knitted-metal-necklace-jewelry-thoughtful-gift-ideaThis past Mother’s Day weekend, my husband, Randy, and I attended an arts festival in our community. Over the years, we have purchased art, prints, pottery, jewelry and leather goods at this event.

Since we no longer need stuff to hang on the walls or decorate shelves, I’ve become interested in jewelry made by artists. Randy likes to look for unusual artistic designs on leather belts.

Arts festivals are wonderful places to have the opportunity to speak with artists face-to-face. To me, this makes the art more personal.

I’m always on the lookout for jewelry that is different when I spotted a booth by artist Susan Baile of Spiritus Designs.

I ooohed and awed over her necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. I asked her, “What are these made of?” Susan replied, “Metals and I knit them.”

Well… that really piqued my interest!

She went on to say she started knitting at the age of 11.  When Susan retired, she wanted to do something to keep her busy. Since she loved to knit, she found a way to knit metals into jewelry.

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Best Pop Ever | Father’s Day Popcorn Gift

Have you ever faced this dilemma? Father’s Day is coming up but you can’t think of a single “thing” Dad needs or wants?

In this scenario, the solution is giving the gift of food, drink, or experience.

I’m here to talk about a delicious and popular snack food–popcorn! It’s the perfect gift!

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Who doesn’t love popcorn that’s salty or sweet or both?

Gourmet popcorn is sold in many different flavors these days so you can really wow his taste buds! Continue Reading

Daddy’s First Milestones | Beer Bottle Sticker Labels

Simple. Funny. Tasty. This Father’s Day gift or baby shower gift has it all.

This gift celebrates Daddy’s First Milestones when it comes to his new baby by giving him a personalized six-pack of his favorite beer.

Daddy’s First Milestones Gift

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The Daddy’s First Milestones beer bottle sticker label kit celebrates six milestones which are:

  1. Time He Gets Peed On
  2. Time Alone With the Baby
  3. Diaper Explosion
  4. Baby On the Move
  5. Date Night
  6. Guys Night Out

Every time he achieves one of the milestones, he gets to crack open one of his favorite beers!

The stickers are hilarious. For example, the sticker for Time He Gets Peed On reads:

Some things are just out of your control–like the weather, your favorite team’s winning record, and most importantly, your child’s bladder. Congratulations, you got peed on and are now officially a dad!

Go Ahead… Crack Open a Beer.

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Bombas Socks | 1 Purchased = 1 Donated

For Christmas, my grandparents would give my brothers and me socks. They lived through the Great Depression and their gifts were very practical.

My friend, Linda, introduced me to her favorite socks–Bombas! 

bombas-socks-one-purchased-one-donated-thoughtful-gift-ideaThese aren’t your grandparents’ socks!

Ever heard of socks that support the midfoot? Me neither until now. Now my whole family wears it!

They feel wonderful on my flat feet because of their comfort, support, and softness.

My son loves Bombas because he always turned his socks inside out so he wouldn’t feel that annoying seam across his toes. Bombas found a way to get rid of it!

They also have anti-microbial and moisture-wicking properties to keep feet dry all day which makes them perfect for my husband’s feet.

The name Bombas is derived from the Latin word for bumblebee. Bees live in a hive and work together to make their world a better place. They’re small but their combined actions have a big impact on the world.

Socks are the #1 most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. This fact is the driving force behind Bombas–to support the homeless community and to bring awareness to this problem in the United States.

I work for an organization that provides housing to the homeless and every Christmas we collect socks for homeless shelters. So you can see why I would be intrigued not only in the comfort of the socks but also in a charitable company like Bombas with a mission of giving back to communities.

8,641,077 Pairs of Socks Donated

One pair purchased = One pair donated.

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Wooden Beer & Soda Caddy

If you know someone who likes to drink bottled beer, craft beers, root beers, or sodas, then this gift is for them!

wooden-beer-soda-caddy-groomsmen-giftGive someone six 12-ounce bottles of their favorite beverage in a Wooden Beer & Soda Caddy.

The wood has a rustic, handcrafted look, and it’s the perfect accessory for transporting drinks to picnics, BBQs and parties.

It also comes with a handy bottle opener attached to the side!

It’s so cute you won’t even need to wrap the gift. Simply attach a bow on top and you have a thoughtful gift ready to go. Easy peasy!

Personalized Wooden Caddy

For a thoughtful twist, give a personalized or monogrammed Wooden Beer & Soda Caddy with someone’s name or initials.You could also add a date, a custom logo, or a custom message.

They make really cool groomsmen gifts, but they can also be given as presents for Father’s Day, birthdays, graduations, housewarmings, and other occasions.

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Foreign Currency for Travel Gifts

My friend, Linda, loves to travel. Her goal is to travel to all seven continents before she retires.

travel-gift-foreign-exchange-currency-thoughtful-gift-ideaLinda was leaving on her birthday this year to Australia. I was racking my brain on what special gift I could give when it hit me–Australian money!

I contacted our close girlfriends, who are more like sisters, and they wanted to participate in this gift giving idea too.

Foreign Currency for International Travel

Foreign money for a person’s vacation is the ideal gift for someone leaving on an international trip.

A person can never have too much money for vacation!

 

 

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Giant Greeting Cards

When you want someone to get your message loud and clear, bigger is better.

jumbo-giant-greeting-cards-giftGiant Greeting Cards supersize any celebration!

Pick from big birthday cards, huge holiday cards, giant graduation cards, monstrous Mother’s Day cards, and more!

Make a Memorable Statement

Giant Greeting Cards are often 2 feet by 3 feet in size, although they do come in other sizes such as 8.5 inches by 11 inches.

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