Holiday Gift Guide 2018 #MWCGiftGuide

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Welcome to the Mommies with Cents Holiday Gift Guide 2018!  Here you’ll find lots of gift suggestions, some of them based on my favorite products from past reviews, some of them new products to the market and everything in between!  I know a lot of people are hard to shop for so I want to make your shopping easy this year with lots of fun and unique gift ideas!  This post will be updated on an ongoing basis throughout the holiday season so be sure to check back!

Not Parent Approved —If you are familiar with the adult game Cards Against Humanity, this game is played the same way — it’s “an inappropriately appropriate game for mischief makers”.  My kids LOVE this game and it’s fun for parents too.  It would be a riot to play it with extended family during the holidays and is certain to be a hit!  You can read my full review here.

Box4Blox — This is a must-have for any Lego lover!  It not only holds a LOT of bricks but it works sort of like a coin sorter sorting pieces by size.  This makes it a lot easier for kids to find the parts they are looking for when constructing their masterpieces. A unique and useful gift that moms and kids will appreciate!  Read my full review here.

LED Colorful Flashing Finger Lighting Gloves —  These gloves are SO fun and make a great gift or stocking stuffer.  The feature 6 different modes with 7 colors of LED lighting.  Change between colors and modes like “flashing” by pressing the button on the wrist.  The gloves are powered by 4 CR2032 batteries which are included and also replaceable!

Walkie Talkies — these walkie talkies are small and lightweight.  They come with a lanyard so they can be worn around the neck like a necklace.  They come in a set of 2 but can be expanded with multiple sets making them really fun to play with a group of friends, especially on camping trips!  The walkie talkies work within a five mile range.  In fact, there are 22 channels so you can always find a good signal. Each walkie talkie has an LCD display that shows channels, volume and more.   There is even a flashlight built in!  They run on 3 AAA batteries and the display shows how much power is left so you aren’t left with a low battery at an inconvenient time. Available in several different colors, you can pick these up for about $26.

Play Impossible Game Ball — If I could name one toy as “Toy of the Year” this would be it.  I had the opportunity to try one out at a tech show and it went straight to the top of my list of gifts to get my kids.  Honestly, I wasn’t just thinking of others on this one — I can’t wait to play it WITH them!   The ball is available in green or purple and comes with seven free games that encourage physical play, hand-eye coordination, agility and creative thinking.  It connects to your device via bluetooth and can be recharged for an hour of play in just 20 seconds with the included battery operated  rapid charger.

Gramma in a Box — For a gift that keeps on giving, try a Gramma in a Box subscription!  My girls LOVE these!  Each month, “Grandma Terry” sends a kit complete will all the ingredients needed to make two candy crafts plus cooking decorating supplies.  Each month is a new and fun theme.  You can find out more about our experience and see the things my girls have made with each kit here.  A single box is normally just $20 and includes shipping — this is already a really great value but you can save even more purchasing multiple months at once. Watch for a special Black Friday deal from Gramma in a Box!  You won’t want to miss it if someone on your shopping list would dig this awesome gift!

Mystical Slyme — If you have girls you’ve probably noticed the popularity of the mythical creature, the unicorn.  And if you have kids of any gender, I am sure you’re aware of the slime craze.  Mythical Slime combines these two trends in their line of unique slime and putty.  Slime is stretchier than putty and can dry out.  Putty is firmer and will never dry out.  The slime comes in a small bucket while the putty comes in a tin with a tight cap.  Both are great for sensory play for people of all ages!  You can find my full review here.

SmartGames Cube Puzzler Go— My son is a strategic thinker and loves puzzles. I always make sure to get him a cool brain teaser game every year for Christmas.  This year I hot the Smartgames Cube Puzzler.  It’s a colorful 3D cube that comes with 80 different challenges from easy to expert. Playing with the puzzle will build on planning skills, problem solving and spatial insight while still being fun of course!  This one is designed for kids ages 8+ but once it’s mastered, try Cube Puzzler Pro for a challenge for kids 10+!

SmartGames Sleeping Beauty — Children ages 3+ will enjoy this brain game with 48 challenges from beginner to expert.  Help the Prince reach Sleeping Beauty’s Castle or help Sleeping Beauty escape on her own.  You can also put a dragon in the game to mix things up!  No matter which puzzle you choose, it’s your job to navigate the maze. This game also comes with a family-friendly picture book which puts a modern spin on the classic fairy tale.

Dollar Shave Club — If your hubby/son/nephew prefers razors, a subscription to Dollar Shave Club would be a fantastic gift!  Choose from three different razors shipping monthly or every other month for a great price!  A little secret — I use these razors and love them.  They’re great for women too!  Your first month is FREE!

Grandpa Magic: 116 Easy Tricks, Amazing Brainteasers, and Simple Stunts to Wow the Grandkids — Author Allan Zola Kronzek found that many of his peers have the same question: how can I entertain my grandchildren with magic? Grandpa Magic is Kronzek’s answer to this query and a love letter to the art of magic that has fascinated him his entire life. Tricks include:

• PERFECT FOR MEAL TIME: The Telekinetic Straw – A drinking straw is balanced across the top of a salt shaker and is rotated via mind control by Grandpa and grandkid.
• FUN FOR FAMILY GATHERINGS: The Man with the Magic Fingers – A bamboozling card trick that shows you have the power to see cards without looking at them.
• A RIOT ON ROAD TRIPS: how to Remove Your Thumb – A classic that never fails to catch the attention of onlookers.

Sodastream — Looking for something cool to gift your favorite guy?  The Sodastream is the perfect gift!  This small and sleek device doesn’t take up a lot of space but it offers a lot of value!  Turn plain tap water into sparkling soda or cola in seconds with the touch of a button!  Whether they need a late night pick-me-up or a refreshing sparkling water to start their day, the SodaStream can make that happen! The SodaStream One Touch Sparkling Water Maker comes with an easy to install carbonating cylinder, a 1 liter SodaStream bottle and the power cord to make everything work.  The SodaStream is super easy to use.  Just install the carbonating cylinder in the back by screwing it in.  Plug the unit into the wall, fill the bottle with tap water to the fill line.  Slide the bottle onto the carbonater stick  and push the bottle back into the unit until it is upright.  Choose your carbonation level (1, 2 or 3) and push the corresponding button twice.  There are lots of great options to flavor your freshly bubbled water.  You can read my full review here.

Dearfoams Slippers — A quality pair of slippers is always a great gift idea!  Dearfoams has a huge selection of different styles and colors to suit anyone on your list.  I love that many of them have rubber soles so that while they are super comfy and cozy for wearing around the house, you can also step out to grab the newspaper or take the trash can out to the curb on garbage day.  What I love even more is Dearfoams “you buy a pair, we give a pair” campaign. For every pair of slippers purchased on Dearfoams.com, Dearfoams will donate a pair of slippers to someone in need, up to 50,000 total pairs of slippers with a maximum retail value of $500,000.

The Comfy — Honestly, a gift for EVERYONE on your holiday list, sports moms will especially love this oversized, hooded and reversible blanket/sweatshirt hybrid.  She’ll be comfy watching her child’s sports games and practices and can even sport the team’s colors!  Available in black, grey, navy, red and pink for just $39.99, The Comfy makes a wonderful gift.  It’s one size fits all!

Digz Garden Gloves — A quality pair of gardening gloves makes a great gift for the gardeners on your holiday shopping list.  Digz gloves are well made and designed to last with reinforced fingertips for digging in the dirt. They come in different sizes and also have a Velcro closure at the wrist for a good fit that keeps the dirt out.  Bonus: these gloves are touch-screen compatible so you won’t have to remove them to use your phone!  See my full review here.

Weighting Comforts — Until recently I’d never heard of weighted blankets.  While they are most commonly used in the autism community and those with sensory needs, weighted blankets can benefit anyone!   How can anyone resist a blanket that reduces anxiety, helps you relax, improves your sleep and makes you feel like you are being hugged or held gently? See my full review here.

Lush Lash — Have you always dreamed of having long, luscious eyelashes? People are paying a pretty penny for them these days.  Eyelash extensions are all the rage. Personally, I find them way too expensive and too much upkeep.  I’d prefer to use a product that can help give my own natural lashes a boost.  LushLash Growth Serum does just that.  In as little as ten days of daily use you can have more voluminous lashes without a doctor’s prescription. LushLash is a physician-strength blend of 542 proteins, peptides and stem cell-derived growth factors clinically proven to nourish and restore follicles for longer, thicker, and fuller lashes.  It can also be used to rejuvenate and darken brows. The formula features breakthrough hair loss compounds Redensyl®, Capixyl® and SymPeptide® , and a special group of amino acids, vitamins and botanicals clinically proven to stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis. LushLash delivers growth building blocks to follicles, with ingredients such as biotin and red clover extract to nourish and restore radiance, resilience and shine to the eyelashes. It is ophthalmologist-tested, dermatologist-approved and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. The non-irritating formula is paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, fragrance-free and prostaglandin-free.

PicturesOnGold.com Photo Bracelet — Personalized gifts are usually my go-to for moms and grandmas because they really seem to enjoy them the most. The picturesongold.com website is incredibly easy to use.  It takes just minutes to order a completely customized gift and since they ship same or next day, you’ll have the gift in hand very quickly!  It comes in a beautiful box, ready for gift giving. This bracelet is adjustable from 6″ to 9″ inches making it one size fits all.  You can upload your own photo for the charm and have a personal message engraved onto the backside. This simple yet stylish bracelet makes a wonderful gift.  You can used code HOLIDAY10 to save 10%!

You can read my full review and enter to win a bracelet here.  The giveaway is open through Christmas day!

Slumber Sheet Set — What better gift can you give a mom than the gift of sleep?  Slumber Sheet Sets are made of 100% pure, certified, extra-long staple Egyptian cotton weaved into the softest percale weave.  They’re lightweight and breathable for a good night’s rest.  They come in a reusable drawstring bag with a complimentary Slumber Sleep Mist that smells absolutely heavenly.  The sleep mist is made with all natural ingredients including lavender, a natural destresser and relaxant that helps you fall asleep and H2O2 which disinfects  and kills bacteria that can be on your pillowcases and sheets.  Choose from several different colors for under $100 per set!

Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy — the record-breaking series remaster series featuring the super popular 90’s character — is now available for the first time ever on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC!  Fans will enjoy the remaster of the first three titles — Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped — as the play as Crash or sister Coco in their fight against Doctor Neo Cortex.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy (available Nov. 13th) — This game brings the nostalgia to new levels through the return of the iconic purple dragon Spyro!  As a full remastered version of the first three titles — Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon — both new and original fans will have the opportunity to Spyro, now ready to fly high and burn baddies in scaled up HD visual fun!

Pod Pocket — This sleeve designed to fit over the Apple AirPod charging case is made of high grade silicone for a secure fit and comes with a premium key ring and clasp so it can be attached to a bag or keychain, keeping it handy at all times! The sleeve is open at the bottom for access to the charging port without having to remove it.  PodPockets come in a variety of colors and makes a wonderful gift for those who already own a pair of Air Pods or a great accompanying gift for those that will be receiving a pair of Air Pods this Christmas!  See my full review here.

MyCharge— Anyone that uses electronic devices could use a MyCharge product!  These portable power banks come in several designs.  My personal favorites are the AdventureMax which can charge 2 devices simultaneously and provide a full charge up to 6 times and the MyCharge HubXtra which has charging cables built right in and can be recharged by plugging it directly into a wall outlet!  You can see all of my MyCharge reviews here.

Ultimate Ears Speakers —  A cool gift for almost anyone on your list that enjoys music but especially great for a teen in my opinion!  These rugged speakers are totally waterproof and portable!  They offer bold 360 degree sound on-the-go — choose from the Wonderboom, small enough to hang from your hip, something a little larger like the Boom 3 or Megaboom 3, or go big with a Blast or Megablast with voice controlled speakers.  Long lasting rechargeable batteries are just one of the many great features of these awesome speakers.  Personally, I love that they are waterproof and float!  You can really take them ANYWHERE!

Jaybird Run Wireless Headphones — Jaybird offers a variety of wireless headphones but I was particularly drawn to Jaybird Run, designed with runners in mind, these high-performance, truly wireless earbuds that combine a streamlined, ultra-comfortable fit with premium sound.Run headphones also feature a lightweight, water-resistant design so a little rain won’t keep you from your workout. Rechargeable battery offers 4 hours playtime with 8 hours of recharging in the case. The included interchangeable fins and tips allow a customized fit for ultimate comfort.

Doodle Books from Race Point Publishing — The Art of Doodle Words: Turn Your Everyday Doodles into Cute Hand Lettering takes a fun and easy approach to lettering by combining it with doodling. The result? Adorable word-art that only requires a pen, paper, some basic techniques, and your imagination. Kawaii Doodle Cuties: Sketching Super-Cute Stuff from around the World takes you on a journey across the globe. Step-by-step instructions help you to turn sketches of the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and more into sweet and friendly characters in the kawaii style.

Mighty Magnet — Mighty Magnets is a fun and easy way to show off your favorite photos and mementos.  This versatile and unique system can be hung just about anywhere to display photos and artwork.  It’s perfect for home, office and classroom use and adds a nice flair to the decor. There are over 60 unique Mighty Magnet designs to choose from which include a strong 5 foot cable and 9 super strong Mighty Magnets which can hold up to 8 pieces of paper with a single magnet!  With designs including sports themes, basic designs and many hobbies, this gift could suit many recipients on your gift list and the price is right at just  $15 per set! You can see my full review here.

Moosh-Moosh — These adorable plush toys and squishy, loveable and huggable!  They come in three sizes from clip-on minis perfect for stocking stuffers to large pillow pals perfect for bedtime snuggling.  Choose from 72 different styles including Sparkle the Unicorn, Freckles the Cat and Doe the Deer to name a few.  You can see my full review here and enter to win one until 11/18!

UPDATE (12/13) Moosh-Moosh fans!  You can now get Moosh-Moosh Slipperz or your favorite characters in a Sequins version. Also be sure to check out some brand new Moosh-Moosh characters including Itsy the Elephant, Blossom the Caticorn, Nibbler (a pink version of Crush the Shark) and so many more!

Adagio Tea — If you have a tea lover on your shopping list, you MUST introduce them to Adagio Tea!  They have a very wide range of loose teas as well as gift sets and more.  I personally adore the Rooibos Vanilla Chai tea and the ToasTea travel mug/brewer.  They also have a super cute holiday tea gift set that can be given as-is or split up for teacher gifts and more.  It includes flavors like Candy Apple, Candy Cane, Gingerbread  and Pumpkin Spice in the cutest little tins!  For stocking stuffers, don’t miss the generously sized samples you can order! You can see my full review here.

Lumps, The Elf Coal Dice Game($7.99, Ages 8+) from Continuum Games —Our family’s elves often bring small gifts over the days leading up to Christmas.  As a mom, I appreciate gifts that provide an activity to keep the kids busy.  Bonus points if it’s educational.  This little game fits the bill and also makes a great stocking stuffer.The goal is to score the most points in three rolls by rolling pairs of the same number. Roll a pair of 3s, score 3 points… a pair of 10s scores 10 points. What makes the game unique is that it has four different types of dice. Only some have high numbers. On each turn the player must decide which dice to keep and re-roll. Does one play it safe and hold a pair of 4s, or chance it and try for a high pair? The endless possibilities make Lumps fun, intriguing and family friendly.

Slammers Snacks —  Another holiday tradition in our family is that Santa always thoughtfully includes snacks in the stockings.  Our kids are up at an unthinkable hour, long before breakfast on Christmas morning so it’s always nice for them to have a healthy pre-breakfast snack until our coffee kicks in.  Slammers Snacks are the perfect stocking stuffer! These  tasty, superfood snacks are designed to fuel kids with organic fruits and vegetables such as mangos, acai, sweet potato, and yumberries.  Not only are they a healthy alternative to sugar-laden candies and convenience store snacks, Slammers are, crumb-free, easily digestible, and serve as a great source of essential vitamins.

B-Air Fido Max 1 Dog Dryer – Cesar Millan Premier Grooming Collection — If you have a dog, you/they need this product!  Save time and money washing and drying your dogs at home for happier and stress-free pets.  You can use the Fido Max 1 to de-shed your dog’s coat and give your pet a light massage they’re sure to love!  Since dogs have a naturally higher body temperature, this product does not include heat to keep your pet comfortable.  The Fido Max 1 can also be used to blow dirt from your dogs coat without bathing.  Now rainy weather, dips in the pool and dirty walks are no big deal — nothing the Fido Max 1 can’t handle!  Choose from a variety of colors — each comes with several attachments to keep your dog looking good at any time without the high cost of a groomer!

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