Disclaimer – Items on this Gift Guide have been given to us so we could give our honest thoughts and opinions on the products.
Every year, with the best of intentions, I tell myself I will start my gift buying early and when I see great sales and deals. Sometimes I totally forget about the gifts that I had purchased earlier on in the year and other times, for some reason I end up getting everything done just under the wire.
This year, I enlisted the help of my mini assistant, Little One. She knows what her cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles like and want, so she is a good resource to have.
Gifts for Grandparents
My parents always tell us they don’t want more “stuff” and that they have everything that they need. Gifts that have meaning and that are personal are what my parents enjoy.
Collage.com is perfect for gifts that are personalized. For example, their photo blanket can showcase grandparents’ favourite photos of their grandchildren. What a special gift that is!
They also have other photo gifts like photo puzzles, pillows, and more!
Peace of Mind with a Smart Home – Sometimes we worry about our parents and anything that can give us a little peace of mind is a good thing. If it helps make their lives easier, even better! 
With all the holiday parties and visiting loved ones this season, make sure to not let grandma and grandpa’s home look as though they’re not at home! Lighting schedules are a great way to make it look like they’re home. They can even set vacation or evening schedules to match their lifestyle. Have peace of mind with a motion detector timer. With the Sengled Element Classic A19 Kit, you can set the length of time light remains on after motion is detected.
Gifts for Kids
If you’ve got kids who love to create, LEGO is always a winner. I encourage creativity and using imagination. I think you’re never too old for LEGO! Little One is a fan of the LEGO Friends collection. She enjoys building and playing with the different sets.
Emma’s Art Stand is a great one for kids. The set includes Emma and her cat, Chico. Emma’s art stand trailer and accessories allow for hours of fun!
Another great gift for kids is Boredom Busters by Caroline Fernandez. This book has (and continues to) provide Little One and her friends with hours of fun on rainy weekends, PD Days, snow days, etc. I love that there are so many activities to pique her curiosity and cultivate creativity. We highly recommend Boredom Busters!
Sean Awesome: A Mission at Night is a great book for kids because the theme is something they can relate to — the idea of sleeping solo. Our own daughter used to crawl into our bed in the middle of the night when she was little.
Sean Awesome is an imaginative boy who is scared to sleep in his own room all by himself, even though his Mommy tells him he should try. One night, Sean comes up with a plan to sleep in mommy’s room instead of his own—and his mission at night begins! With a tablecloth for an invisibility cloak, sunglasses and a mustache as a secret agent disguise, Sean embarks on a courageous adventure to overcome his (probably exhausted) mother’s wishes and sleep in her room. His mission is ultimately accomplished, when he finds the courage to sleep in his own room through his mission.
Gifts for Parents
Quite a few of our friends and family members had babies this year. One gift I like to give new moms is Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Kit for the First Year by Maria Lianos-Carbone.
Tech gifts are a great gift for parents. We really like Google Home Assistant. In our house, we use it for playing music, asking questions like asking what the temperature is outside or finding recipes. Little One sometimes asks Google questions for her homework or whatever inquiries she may have. She also uses it to set timers in the morning so she isn’t late getting ready and out of the house in time for her school bus.
There are some really great tech gifts this season. Moms and dads will also enjoy having a Fitbit Versa. Track your steps and activity, heart rate, etc. A few features that I love:
- Multi-day battery life! Track your days with 4+ days of battery!
- Customizable clock faces
- Lightweight design
- On-screen workouts! Personalized workouts that play on your wrist!
There you have it! Little One rounded up her favourite items of the year for this 2018 Gift Guide! We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas or whatever holiday you are celebrating! All the best for a happy and healthy new year!
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