In case you’re looking for gift giving ideas for Christmas, my 2025 Holiday Gift Guide is here, and there's something for everyone on your list!
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I LOVE making these because I love to read them. I always hit up a few of my favorites bloggers’ gift guides because this mom always needs some more ideas on what to gift.
I did not make a curated list by topic this year, it's just a little of everything so scroll on through! These are all things that I have purchased on my own throughout the years and that we love and use.
They are all in this one blog post so just scroll through to see what I love this year.
And by all means, if you have favorites of your own to share, please do in the comments! I love a good recommendation as much as I like to give one.
Remember that none of the items on my gift guides are sponsored. Affiliate links are included for items; feel free to shop around for the best deal.
Paperwhite Bulbs - These bulbs are a common plant to "force" which mean you plant them in your house (normally around Thanksgiving or Christmas) and a few weeks later they'll bloom indoors. I have a pot going right now and it's so exciting to watch them grow each day. I can't wait for mine to bloom. This would be a fun gift for you gardener friend or the person that has everything.
Qwixx - A super fun, quick, and easy to learn game (just my style) that we get out very often and play over and over. Great for all kids and adults alike.
Sweatshirt - I have all kinds of cute sweatshirts in my Etsy shop including this one that comes in a lot of colors and sizes. Take a look! I have cute tote bags, notebooks, and more!
Scooter for bigger kids - This scooter is awesome and great for bigger kids, teens, and some adults (I'm a little too tall at 6ft), we've bought a few the last few years and all of my kids use them very often. We love them.
Soft Lipstick - This is like a glorified tinted chapstick that doesn't feel heavy or sticky but has some nice color to it and makes your lips feel soft. Buy a few if you have teen daughters because it will get stolen. Great stocking stuffer or friend gift!
Digital Pressure Canner - This is probably the most expensive thing on my gift guide at just under $300 but if you are interested, I LOVE IT! This allows me to can inside without worry, it's simple to follow, and I never have issues with gauges or seals. I use this to can broth, beans, and meat the most. I've had this for 3 or 4 years and it's been worth every penny. I brought it all the way from Utah to Vermont after majorly downsizing; it is worth the space allotment for me!
Monster Feet Slippers - One of my boys has had these for 2 years and still manages to squeeze into them and his brother love to steal them. Big hit and lots of fun, plus warm and cozy.
Cordless Rechargeable Lantern Lamp - I'm in LOVE with this! I bought this for our new house (that has no lights and no plugs) and it's been awesome. It charges with a USBC cord that it comes with it, and it lasts a long time between charges. The top is real glass and looks SO pretty, especially when it's turned on. I have mine sitting in my kitchen by the window in a dark corner and it's so pleasant. You tap the little knob to turn it on and it has three brightness settings.
Magnetic Chess Set - This also made the move with us and what's great about this is that because the pieces are magnetic, we haven't lost any! The pieces also stick in place on their square on the board which is nice playing on a busy table with a big family. If the board gets bumped, things don't shift. We use this set all of the time.
Mini Clip-On Speaker - My 16-year-old got this for his birthday and loves it. He can clip it to his backpack or take it skiing. It's small but has great sound and he even uses it to just listen to music on his phone in his room if he's drawing or cleaning and doesn't want to bother with headphones. This brand is popular and we've had good luck with it for a variety of things.
Pickle Ball Paddle Set - Pickle Ball! We got this inexpensive set last year for Christmas and it's perfect! We played a ton all spring and summer along with the whole family. Great starter set and we like the carrying bag that goes with it.
Mice Wool Felting Kit - I bought myself this little wool felting mouse set last year and it's so adorable. The kit even comes with the little table and chairs they are sitting on which I thought was fun. The felting was a bit harder to do than I thought it would be but it was a fun afternoon craft and had everything you needed. The instructions aren't great but there's a video to go with it that's a bit better.
Paint by Number Kit - I did this paint by number kit last winter and really loved it. I taped the canvas to a large board and would get it out and work on it. A kid would show up and pick a number and paint a few and it was actually really fun to work on with other people. It was very relaxing. It doesn't come with a frame so I had to thrift my own but now it's hanging in my dining room in Vermont. I plan to do another this winter.
Koi Paints - My grandpa (and my mom!) watercolor paint and this is a little more high end paint palette that is Koi brand. My grandpa told me about this palette this summer while I was visiting and I got one and really like it. I still really like the small travel-size palettes and bring one basically everywhere I go. I even water color on airplanes!
Sink Topper - I went from three large bathrooms to 1.5 this year and neither bathroom has a countertop, just the sink. My friend told me about these and I'm so glad she did. It's a sink topper so you can put your make-up or contacts out without them getting wet in the sink but you can still turn on the water to use it. I use this every day. It would be a great gift for anyone who wants to spread out in the bathroom a bit but it lacking in counterspace. It folds up nicely for storage too.
Gingerbread Socks - I'm the self-proclaimed "Queen of Gingerbread" and I got these for Thomas last year in his stocking. They are so cute and a little unexpected. Plus he felt like he could wear them past Christmas because they are fun without being Christmas specific.
Bueno Minis - The hot treat this year (along with Nerd Gummy Clusters) and my kids always ask for. I'm planning on these for stocking stuffers this year and I'll grab a few extras too.
Mom Dragon - We've had this mom dragon and babies for years and they made the move with us. The baby zip into eggs and the eggs can zip into the mom's tummy. They are way cuter than that sounds and they get played with a ton still. The little babies in the eggs are just too fun.
Star Wars Lego Set - My kids love all things Star Wars and Legos and we have way too many of the set. This was one that they liked last year because it had good minifigs and they already have most of the ships. Plus the pieces have transitioned well to other Lego creations.
Simon - I'm not normally a battery and noise toy person, but this classic Simon Says that lights up and you try to repeat has been a lot of fun. And it's been good for mental processing and processing speed practice for my kids. It is a fun game but there's also some brain training skills there too.
Electric Blanket - I just bought my 4th of these to give another kid for Christmas; three already have them. It's perfect for our chilly drafty upstairs and they'll often bring their blankets down to watch a movie. Their favorite little thing is when I turn on their blankets for them before bedtime so that they are warm and ready for them; it's the little things.
Car Karaoke Set - The screen will just be your phone but the mics and little speakers are in the set and it's for car karaoke! My kids bicker an obnoxious amount in the car and if I can distract them with something like this, long rides go much better. It's been so fun with Christmas tunes in effect!
300 Piece Puzzles - I'm here to convert you to the 300 piece puzzle, specifically if you AREN'T a puzzle person! I thought I didn't like puzzles but I actually just didn't want to do them forever (said the mom of 5, I just didn't have the space or time). I put together a 300 piece puzzle like you would a board game. I dump it out, multiple people work on it, we all work together and in about an hour we are done. We enjoy it for 10 minutes and put it away. It's quick, it's rewarding, we worked together, and then it goes away. If you aren't a puzzler but like the idea of of it, I'd try a pretty and simple 300 piece puzzle. I really like the brand Its and Bits too.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses - These are so inexpensive and so cute. They look great on everyone and my teen even wears them to school as part of an outfit occasionally. I've been encouraging my kids to wear these more and especially now that it gets dark so quickly. They help me so much too especially since eye inflammation is a chronic thing for me and can be really painful.
Basic Slow Cooker - I have been through THREE slow cookers in the last 2 years. I kept buying the Crock Pot brand at Target and it kept wigging out and not working and it always seemed to be the electronics that failed. So I bought this really basic slow cooker and used it a ton while developing recipes for Crocktober and really like it.
My Etsy Shop Treasures - More fun goodies like sweatshirts, T-shirts, and bags in my Etsy shop. Take a look!
Blow Up Paddle Board - This was Macey's big gift last year and it's been so much fun! It fits in the trunk of your car and can go about anywhere. She's paddled and swam all over Vermont in it this summer and we've all had a great time with it. Highly recommend.
Head Lamp Hats - We've had these a few years. The first time we got them was to go night sledding and they worked great. I recently got a new batch (we've slowly lost them or the lights over the years). The light is USB rechargeable and now I use mine almost every day to walk the dogs at 5pm when it is pitch black outside. They are warm and helpful.
Anything Playmobil - We are in love with Playmobil and have tons of the Knights sets though they have all kinds of things like Pirate, Horse/Farm, and more. These are high quality toys that my kids have played with for years and we were so glad when a friend introduced them to us.
Blank Notebooks - These are half-size brown paper notebooks and I've bought them a bunch of times now. You can get them blank, lined, and with grid paper! I love to have these out for craft nights and parties with massive amounts of stickers to go through and decorate the outside with. Super fun for kids and adults alike and I always like a new notebook.
Giant Sticker Lots - You can buy massive amounts of stickers online in any genre that you like. These were so fun but you can look for animals, seasons, and everything in between. Great for sticking in the mail as a little extra in your card, fun to add to the outside of boxes and letters, and just fun to have around and use.
Prismacolor Markers - These are the "it" markers for the artist in your life and my teen now has a big collection. If you have an artsy person on your list, these are the always well received.
Watermelon Ball - These balls come flat and you fill them up with water which makes them really heavy, almost like a medicine ball. My kids LOVE them! They mostly play with them on the trampoline but I know lots of kids in town had them and like them too.
Harry Potter Legos - Legos are always on our gifting list! This herbology class set from Harry Potter was SO cute and my kids liked all the little extras like the plant pieces and pots and such.
Sequence - Forever one of our favorite games that is quick and easy to learn. This is a little bit of luck, a little bit of strategy, and you are trying to be the first person or team to get 5 tokens on the board in a row while blocking other people. It is nice too because you can play with 2-12 players so that's a huge variety!
Swimming Turtles - My kids aren't even little anymore and we still have these turtles we got years ago and they'll get them out and play with them in the tub. It's adorable and they have stood the test of time. They like to take them to the swimming pool too. There's just something fun about little things swimming.
Spirograph - We got this classic set last Christmas and every so often I get it out (much like a puzzle) and just kind of get it going at the table and before you know it, all of the people have gathered around and we're doing it together. Fun and simple!
Waterproof Boots - We have bought a few different kids and sizes of boots trying to get something for our new wetter climate and these have been a favorite. They are comfy, grippy, and the price is great. These are more of a rainboot and won't work for deep snow but we've been wearing them for a few months and really like them. Great pull on shoe for doing little outsides things too.
Gymboree Sweater - I bought some of these in different sizes a few years ago and they are still being worn by smaller brothers. They are a great quality, cute, great price point boys sweater. Great for church, family photos, Thanksgiving dinner, and for whenever you want a sweater!
Audible Subscription - Audible has a crazy deal going on right now that you can get 3 months (so 3 credits/3 books) for $.99 which is unheard of (it's normally around $15 a month which is 1 credit/1 book). It's something we have been subscribing to for years and we have a great audible library. And as a mom of dyslexic kids, audiobooks have opened up a world that was closed to them. If you sign up with my link I get a $20 commission! Also unheard of (normally I make 3 cents on the dollar for affiliate sales).
The Wingfeather Saga - I'd recommend the Wingfeather Saga as a family listen (it's SO good and better that reading it yourself because the narrator is great and some of the verbiage is something you would miss just reading it if that makes sense). We also adore all things Harry Potter read by Jim Dale BUT there's a new reading of Harry Potter in which the movie cast is reading it! I've heard it's amazing and it's the #1 selling books right now which is huge.
Books I Loved This Year
Raising Good Humans - It sounds as good as it is. And I've been using the phrase "good humans" for years so it really stuck out to me. A solid parenting book that more about you the parent than your kids which I love. Who doesn't want to do better and raise kind, confident kids?! Highly recommend.
Wildflower Watercolor - This was in my gift guide last year and I just like it so much and used it so much this year. A simple book/guide on painting wild flowers. I really like online tutorials but I find myself distracted with my phone so in an effort to be more analog, I'll often choose to get out this book and put my phone away.
Raising Securely Attached Kids - No joke, I bought 20 copies of this book for Christmas last year and gave it to everyone. I love it so much. I got the audiobook this year too and listened to it on my drive out to Vermont (it's read by the author and was a great listen). It's good for all ages of parents and kids including parents whose kids have left the house. Please read it.
Good Inside - Once again, a book that's as much about you the parent as it is the kids you are trying to raise. That's been a big theme for me the past few years. As much as I can learn and heal will be reflected in my parenting and parent/child relationships. I'm selfish, I want to have a good relationship with my kids always and I'm going to do as much work as I can now to help that happen.
Where's Waldo Box Set - This is a paperback book set and has a handful of the Where's Waldo books. These have been so fun for my struggling reader because he can still sit in bed at night when it's bedtime and "read" or have a book he enjoys. They've been good throw in your bag for the doctor's office and car ride books too.
Braiding Sweetgrass - One of those books that I just think about so often and enjoyed reading so much. It was a delight that I laughed and cried through. It's science, biology, and a memoir all mixed together and I loved it so much. Gathering Moss is a second book by Robin Wall Kimmerer that I haven't read but I'm going to this winter.
Unstoppable Us - This is a kids chapter book about the evolution of Homo sapiens and it was SO interesting. I read it aloud to my kids last year for school (and there's a volume 2 that we read too!). It was just so informative and interesting and a way of looking at evolution that I had never been taught. I'd read it as an adult just to know what I now know!
Glucose Revolution - I read this over a year ago and still reference it often. If you are someone who is wondering if you have insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, or similar metabolic conditions you might love this. It changed how I look at food, eating, food pairing, and "dieting". Very helpful in my personal reversing insulin resistance and pre-diabetic experience.
Charley Mouse Cleans House - I picked this one up at the used book store I volunteer at recently and it became a fast favorite. It has the cutest pictures but also has a look and find element. Super cute, boys and girls alike will love it!
James Herriot's Treasury for Children - This the a nice big illustrated collection book of stories from James Herriot who was a vet in England. There's a book and a TV series about his adventures called All Creatures Great and Small; this is the kids illustrated version and it's just a really nice book.
Brambly Hedge - This is all 4 books of the series in the same book. These are SUCH cute stories and the illustrations are some of my all-time favorites. Again, one of those books you'll just read over and over again and love for a lifetime.
Blank Comic Book - I just got one of my kids this for his birthday (it was at out local art supply store) and it's SO fun; he's loving it! It's high quality paper with comic book sized boxes and it comes with a stencil to make different speech bubbles. He's having a blast with it.
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch - This is a bit of a Valentine's story (there's a box of chocolates involved) but it doesn't have to be. You can get it for the holidays or save it for Valentine's. This is one of our favorite books, it's just sweet and kind and shows what can happen when we show up in our community and help a friend.
How to Be and Adult in Relationships - Therapist recommended and I liked it. Tried and true solid relationship advice that I think just about anyone can learn something from.
And there you have it! The 2025 gift guide which was me just recommending things I've bought in the last few years that we have really like, used, or found helpful.
Happy Shopping Friends!
And as always, please look for these things at second hand store and such as well. They're floating around and now you'll know what to look for.
Thank you for being here and have a wonderful Holiday Season.
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