Tag Archives: presents

Gift Guide: Holiday Party Hosts – Under $30

Posted on December 2 by Jillian416 • 4 Comments

It’s Holiday Gift Guide time!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again! A time when the halls are decked and everyone is celebrating. The warmth of spending time with family and friends is everywhere! Which can only mean one thing… Holiday Parties! Did you know that when you attend those parties, you should be bringing a Host or Hostess gift? It doesn’t need to be anything extravagant, but something to let them know you are thankful for the invite and for them hosting.

However shopping for or coming up with ideas for a host can be difficult. That’s why I am here! I have a list of 8 great gifts that will please just about any host.

Fred Cool Shooters – Shot Glass Mold – How awesome would it be to make your own shot glasses out of ice? This could be a lot of fun if you knew your host liked to try out different mixed shots, or even if they just enjoy doing shots. A totally unique gift, one that your host is unlikely to have.
Technicolor Salt and Pepper Shakers – Everywhere you go, people are likely to already have salt and pepper shakers, but most people ALSO typically just buy the basics, nothing fancy or fun. Enter these babies!! They’re cute, colorful and would look fantastic on just about any counter top.
2015 Paper Source Academic Paint Chip Calendar – Everyone needs a calendar in their home, and lots of people wait until after the holidays to go out and get one. Why not fill that gap? Get them this fun and funky calendar! Every month is a different color, so it’s sure to match any home.
Grow Your Own Bonsai Trees – Okay, this one may require your host to have a bit of a green thumb, but think about how much fun they would have growing and nurturing their own bonsai from scratch.
Betty Glass Teapot – This is a beautiful teapot! It would be lovely for someone to receive this and have it sit on top of their stove. Obviously, you’d want to get this for the host who enjoys tea, but it’s an affordable option that looks like it costs WAY more than it does.
Record Coasters – Yup! Record coasters, which are REALLY made out of vinyl. These would be perfect for the host that has an affinity for records or music, or even someone who just loves to have an eclectic collection of items in their home.
Blockprint Charcoal Napkins – Any kind of cloth napkin would be a great gift for any host, but if you go with this set you’re sure to match the color scheme in your hosts house. Black, white and charcoal, match EVERYTHING!
Bananagrams – If your host is a word lover, then this is THE perfect gift. It’s fun and easy to pull out whenever people are around. You’ll get the chance to see what funny words everyone comes up with.

Every single one of these gifts is under $30. I wanted to create a list that had beautiful, fun and unique gifts but DIDN’T break the bank. Check them all out!! I’m sure you’ll be quite pleased.

And don’t forget! It’s already December 2nd, don’t wait to start making your shopping list and buying your gifts. Do it now before it’s too late and you’re left scrambling to pull something together at the last minute. Shopping is so much MORE fun, when you take the time to savor and not rush!

If you’re looking for some ideas on how to fill your toddler’s stocking this year, check out my post with some great toddler stocking stuffer ideas.

Your turn!

What gifts have you given to hosts, or received as a host, in the past?

I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!

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Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, this does not change the cost for you, I simply receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for helping to support my family!

Filed Under: All About Me, Reviews

5 Awesome Gifts for the Tech Dad

Posted on June 9 by Jillian416 • 0 Comments

Gift Ideas for the Guys in your Life that Love Tech (technology)

My husband loves technology, anything he can get his hands on. He’s not obsessive, but if there is something new that comes out on the market that he wants to try out, he’s very persuasive and has reasons why we may need an item. With Father’s Day around the corner, what better day to spoil him (or your tech lovin’ guy), than Father’s Day?

Top Tech Gifts for Dad

1. A New Big TV

Most guys love TVs, whether they use it to watch their favorite sporting events, play their high action video game or watch the newest comic book remake. If you have the means, why not splurge and get your dedicated dad a brand new high tech TV. I’m sure he’ll be grateful, and then even you get to benefit from the new beautiful TV. 😉

2. A Micro 3D Printer

Okay, so it’s not quite ready for purchase yet, but how cool would it be to buy your husband/dad/brother/uncle this printer? I’m not as into technology as my husband is, but I think this would be so awesome to have in the house. “What’s that Emmett? You’d like a new ball to play with? Sure! Give me just a bit and I’ll MAKE one for you!” HAHA So awesome!

3. JLab Ear Buds (affliate link)

My husband loves listening to music or different talk radio shows, but the typical iPhone buds drive him crazy. They fall out and the sound quality is just alright, enter JLab. We came across these one time when they were on sale through Woot.com years ago, and we gave them a try. We’ve been in love ever since! Any time we lose or break a pair of head phones, we replace them with some version of the JLab buds.

4. Google Chromcast (affliate link)

Seamus ordered this for himself for Christmas, but I would highly recommend you buy this for the tech dad in YOUR life, if you don’t already have it. It is awesome! You blog it into the USB drive on your HDTV and connect through your home’s wifi and will allow you to stream online videos or music, through your phone to the TV. It works with iPhone, Android and Windows phones. This works especially well when Seamus wants to show me a YouTube video he came across and we don’t feel like staring at the small screen on his phone. Get this (plus it is super inexpensive)!

5. Philips Wireless BlueTooth Speaker (affliate link)

I’m a huge fan of the Philips company, whether it be their electronics or their Philips AVENT line, they never disappoint. Seamus has been wanting a wireless speaker for our house for a long time, there’s just no where to safely plug-in a strereo. This would be a great item to fill that void!

I’m really excited about Father’s Day being right around the corner. It’s always nice to be pampered on Mother’s Day, but I want to return that favor to the love of my life, the best husband and father around… Seamus!

Your turn!

What are some of your favorite tech gifts?

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Filed Under: Family, Reviews

Picture Posts

Posted on August 12 by Jillian416 • 0 Comments

We have been taking quite a few pictures of Emmett and I never seem to get to share them all, so in an effort to share his cuteness I’m going to randomly start doing picture posts. Enjoy!

The remnants of the cake Seamus made for Emmett.

Cousins!

New bath toy! Thanks Grandma!

Fun new book! Thanks Aunt Ginny!

Cards and Legos! What could be better?? Thank you Cousin Kevin, Becki and baby!

I love my new Fisher Price farm house! Thank you Aunt Katrina, Uncle Mike and baby!

Bubble blower from Grampa Mack. Yay!

Yummy!

I think I’ll do some finger painting with the peanut butter mousse.

OMG! This is so yummy momma!

Oooh! Something to climb on…

Here we go…

Almost…

There we go! Thanks for the foam flooring Grandma and Grandpa!

Emmett is a very lucky boy and was so happy that day. He loved spending time with everyone and loved each and every gift he received.

If you missed his first birthday posts, you can read them here.

Filed Under: Daily Updates, Emmett's Birthday, Family

Emmett’s Second Christmas

Posted on January 5 by Jillian416 • 0 Comments

Most children have to wait a whole year before they get to celebrate Christmas again but not Emmett. His paternal grandparents visited us today and brought along with them tons of fun new goodies.

We enjoyed a fun afternoon with them, spending time visiting and opening presents at our house and then heading to a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. It was a beautiful day and Emmett got to spend some quality time cuddling with his grandma and grandpa.

Emmett’s Grandma gave him this amazing new gift called, Tickle Monster Laughter Kit. It is a kit with a pair of gloves that look like monster hands, they’re furry and look like paws and your fingers stick out (so that you can tickle) and a book. You are supposed to read the book together and tickle your child when it says to. It is absolutely adorable!! Emmett and I were playing with the monster gloves tonight but I really can’t wait till he can understand the story and the tickling.

Tickle Monster Laughing Kit

Look at that smile!

“Haha Grandma! I snuck a piece of tissue paper when you weren’t looking!”

Reading a new book with Grandma

Emmett is a very lucky boy because he just has so many people that love him so dearly! This makes me endlessly happy!

Merry Christmas (again)!

Filed Under: Daily Updates, Family

Emmett’s First Christmas

Posted on January 2 by Jillian416 • 0 Comments

Emmett’s first Christmas was pretty exciting for all of us, probably more so for the adults than it was for him but he did seem to enjoy it.

Earlier in the December I had decided not to decorate. I went back and forth with this decision for quite awhile but I realized that if I decorated it would just add one more stressful thing to my life that already seems so jammed full and I didn’t need that. I also knew that we would be down at my parent’s house for both Christmas Eve and Day so there would be plenty of opportunities to get Christmas pics of Emmett.

I’ll admit that I definitely didn’t get into the Christmas spirit until I was wrapping people’s gifts the night before Christmas Eve and normally this would bother me and make me sad but since life HAS been so busy it really didn’t even phase me. I was excited to see my sister, her husband and my niece which was happening around Christmas, so I had family spirit. 🙂

Anyhow, back to Emmett, Christmas Eve morning we got all of our stuff together and headed down to my parent’s house. It’s only an hour ride from where we live so the trip isn’t bad. Our car was full to the brim with gifts for everyone and all of the things that a baby might require for an overnight stay (which tends to be a lot for such a little person).

Our Christmas Eve typically consists of a meatless meal (fish is allowed) followed by lots of loud chatter and a gift game, similar to the white elephant game. Emmett was such a great little boy! Since there were going to be two babies there my dad insisted on getting two high chairs for their house and I’m glad they did, my niece used one and Emmett used the other. Emmett’s not eating solids yet but it made it easier for Seamus and I to eat while he sat in the high chair and played with his toys.

He also did very well with all the people there. My aunt and cousin each held him for a bit but for the most part he stuck around myself, Seamus or my mom and he was happy or at least content. Once bedtime came around it was pretty difficult to get him to sleep because the house was quite loud but he eventually crashed. He woke up once when we came to bed (we were all sharing a room) but then stayed asleep until almost 6 am, Christmas day.

Emmett and I were the first ones up Christmas and we had some quality time together. He was in a fantastic mood so we cuddled and played and sang to each other, it was just perfect. I did get a few pictures of him in front of the tree with all of the gifts, I believe I posted those in this past week’s “The Week in Pictures.” Eventually it got to be nap time, just as everyone else was starting to wake up but I know how Emmett is if he doesn’t go down when he’s tired, so up he went to bed. He slept for a good 2 hours and came downstairs in a great mood.

My dad was also finally awake so the gift opening began! My parents are always so extremely generous and both babies ended up with so many new toys, clothes and special mementos. We haven’t even opened all the toys to play with yet and we’re a week out from Christmas.

Seamus had to work the next day, I did to but I was working from home, so we ate dinner with my family and then headed back home. We wanted to get home early enough to keep Emmett to his routine and so that Seamus had time to relax before bed. We gave E his bath, read him his story and off to dreamland he went. I imagine that he dreamt of wrapping paper and shiny bows. While I’m sure the toys will be a big hit once they’re opened and he’s playing with them, he obviously doesn’t quite get the concept of what presents are yet.

Oh and I forgot to mention that Emmett is so special that he got to hang out with Santa for a second time, so did my niece!! What lucky little babies!

Filed Under: Daily Updates, Family

A Visit With Santa

Posted on December 14 by Jillian416 • 0 Comments

This past weekend Emmett and I went down to visit my parents and go to a local club’s children’s Christmas party. I remember going to these parties as a child and always getting really awesome toys so I was excited to take Emmett and see what sort of surprises he’d get. Plus I wanted the opportunity to take some adorable pics of him and Santa and not have to go to a mall to do it.

Emmett was in a fantastic mood which was quite a relief because with the trouble sleeping he’d been having I was concerned that he’d have a meltdown but he was an absolutely perfect little boy! I think he knew that Santa was there and was checking his list. 😉

This photo makes me giggle. I love my mom’s eyes above Emmett’s head.

When I have the camera, I get kind of carried away and take all sorts of pictures. I never want to miss anything so I get a lot of goofy faces but as you can see, in the end, I get some great shots too and I also end up deleting a bunch too. Ah, the beauty of a digital camera!

How the luncheon works is you go in find a seat and help yourself to some “orange drink” (that’s what it’s called) which is just some super sugary drink colored orange, that I suppose has a taste that resembles oranges, either way, I avoided the orange drink and just had water, then you’re served lunch which was chicken fingers and french fries. Then FINALLY it’s time for Santa!!!!

They call each child from a family all at the same time so that all of the siblings get their gifts together and so that the parents can have their photo op. There weren’t a ton of kids there but enough where some had to wait for awhile, thankfully we didn’t have to worry about that this year, Emmett was content to just sit and play, or have a blow out, as the case may be.

While Emmett waited for his turn, he fell asleep on my shoulder. I love when that little guys falls asleep on me because his teeny tiny baby snores are just the perfect sound ever. Once he woke up he went back to my mom and sat on her lap, that’s when he decided that it was a good time to poop and blow out his adorable (new) outfit. What a kid! Ha! So off to the bathroom we went to change it quickly because his name hadn’t yet been called for his gift and we weren’t sure when it would be, though we did have his Aunt Bridget out there to let Santa know what happened and that we’d be back. I’m glad we did because we weren’t finished cleaning Baby Doodah up, when they called his name. Once he was all set, we took him on out to meet Santa for the first time and get his very first wrapped present.