Christmas Gift Ideas 2014

Someone asked if I had any good Christmas gift ideas.  I don't know why they asked me, but here's what's going down the chimney in these parts.

Books (Plus a Tie-In Item)

I've given this Little Red Riding Hood storybook with an Etsy made red velvet riding hood.  I've been told they make a nice Ranger cloak too.

This ballerina jewelry box goes perfectly with these Ella Bella Ballerina books.

I talked Grandma Santa into an Etsy made replica Little House on the Prairie outfit (made-to-order! custom fit!).  It will look darling on my little Laura while we read Christmas in the Big Woods .

My teens are getting books too.

Peter is getting The Princess Bride: An Illustrated Edition of S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman.

Susan is getting The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by the real Maria von Trapp.

Lucy is getting A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich.

Other Kid Ideas

This is not my photo, it belongs to CupcakeCutieKids.

I love these Personalized Superhero capes from Etsy.

Photo from AlmondRod Toys.

This Nativity Set,

Photo from AlmondRod Toys.

or these Saint blocks.

This Kathe Kruse® 14-Piece Nativity Set is gorgeous, but pricey.

My nearly 12 year old is all about card tricks and magic sets. The Melissa and Doug set is nice but we got Jim Stott's Deluxe Magic Kit for our future Gob.  The reviews are very good and it's a little more ma-tour.

Don't know who Gob is?  Watch this 13 second video.  C'mon.  It's only 13 seconds and no ad time.

Stocking Stuffers

Fun Band-aids and toothbrushes.

Paper Dolls.  Temporary Tattoos.  Dover can meet all of your needs in this area.

Real Metal Cap Guns.

Edmund has several different makes and models of these on his wishlist. He circled them all in the JM Cremp's Boys Adventure catalog. Soon he'll be too grown-up for cap guns, so I'm on a mission to make sure he gets every one now.

Plus, I love the smell of caps.

That is not weird.

This magic wand for the future Gob in your home.

Less Stuff  is More Stuff

Magazine Subscriptions

Namely, Ranger Rick and High Five and Calliope.  Calliope is a world history magazine recommended to me by a librarian friend who reads it herself.  I brought home an issue for Patrick to review for bias and he found none.

Frugal Scrooge I am, I went to the library and took coupons from their magazines to use while ordering some gifts.  It totally saved me money.  That or using Subscription Addiction.  It depends  on the magazine.

iTunes music. Email entire playlists or albums.  No wrapping, no post office. All goodness.

Experiences

Disney on Ice, Medieval Times, Theater or Concert Tickets.  Mani/Pedis. Someone around here is going to the Premium Theater that has reclining seats and serves food on his birthday.

Photo Albums.

Print the pictures.  Or order a book.  I so badly want to do the Order a Book thing, but so many pictures to upload!  How big are these books?  What's the easiest program to use?

Gifts for Grown Ups or  The Nearly Growned Up

These scarves from Accessory Concierge. Plaid is back, baby.

This Horn of Ale that Jen and Hallie linked to.

My college boy is getting a poker set.  This could be a great idea, or a really bad idea.  It's a better idea than the Horn of Ale, of that I am certain.

This year I'm giving lots of this handmade soap from RobinsOwn on Etsy.  Robin is blogger Simcha Fischer's friend and she makes a damn fine soap from goat's milk.  This soap is so good that I want to eat it. Well, I want to eat the Pumpkin Bier kind that I've got going right now.  Smells like cinnamon and love.

Personalized stuff is big again.  I remember my monogrammed crewneck circa 1982. It was probably from Lands' End. Lands' End can monogram just about anything.  These patterned gloves might be coming to some teenage god-daughters near me.

My teen girls and I stumbled upon the newly opened Altar'd State store in a Missouri mall over Thanksgiving.  They adored all the clothing and accessory items.  I was moved by the Christian music, and Bible verse home decor.  I wish they would open one by me, but until then, they have a webstore.

This photo belongs to Victory Day & Co,

As I shared on the Housewifespice Facebook page, I bought this watercolor Bible verse print for myself from an Etsy handmade shop.

It says, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 
2 Corinthians 12:9

Jesus keeps whispering this to me on my longer, harder days.  It's right up there with Phillipians 4:13 for my-top-best-speaks-to-me-Scripture-passages.

Lots of these links are Amazon Affiliate links which pad my purse if you click through, but lots of these links aren't.  I actually try to shop Etsy as often as possible.  I follow lots of Etsy artists on Instagram and you should too.

If I'm not shopping Etsy, I'm shopping through eBates.  I've gotten several checks in the mail from them this year.  Make your 2015 a little greener by using eBates.  Also an affiliate link.

I'm asking for a peace-filled Advent for all of my readers this year.