Thursday, November 25, 2021

2021 Christmas Gift Guide


Baby's First Christmas

Books

Weather: Pop-up Book Hardcover From raucous stormy seas to a welcomingly vivid rainbow, weather's most exciting moments come to brilliant life in this fantastic new pop-up book. See my review here you can get it on Amazon




The Hideaway combines gripping text and stunning illustration to tell the story of Billy McKenna, a boy who runs away from a difficult situation at home and takes refuge in an overgrown graveyard to deal with his mixed-up emotions. There, Billy meets an elderly man who tends the graves in preparation for All Souls' Eve, and ultimately witnesses the magical events that come to pass on that spooky night.

Interwoven in Billy's supernatural story is the all-too-realistic tale of his mother’s situation at home and the police search for Billy. With themes of family and childhood, separation and reunion, domestic violence and doing the right thing, this is an important and beautiful book for middle graders through adults.

Billy’s story is illustrated throughout with tonal and textured black and white drawings, until the event on All Souls’ Eve, when the text gives way to a series of double page images of the supernatural happening.

The Hideaway is a compelling, exciting and emotional story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Pam Smy studied Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, where she now lectures part-time. Pam has illustrated books by Conan Doyle, Julia Donaldson, and Kathy Henderson, among others. Her first novel, Thornhill, was a critical and commercial success, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the UKLA Book Awards, the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2018, and winning the 2018 British Book Design & Production Award for Graphic Novels. She lives in Cambridge, UK.


Crafty Family Ideas has so many easy, fun crafts. See my review and more photos.




Mrs. Claus Charts the Path for Santa in New Children's Book: Jammie Claus: The Christmas Tradition of Unconditional Giving



Ferryman

Claire McFall

In development to be a major motion picture!

Young Adult novel – Ages 12 and up


When Dylan wakes up after her train has crashed, she thinks she has survived unscathed. But she couldn’t be more mistaken: the bleak landscape around her isn't Scotland, it’s a wasteland— a border to whatever awaits her in the afterlife. And the stranger sitting by the train track isn't an ordinary teenage boy. Tristan is a Ferryman, tasked with guiding Dylan’s soul safely across the treacherous landscape, a journey he has made a thousand times before. Only this time, something's different. The crossing, as ever, is perilous, with ravenous wraiths hounding the two at each day’s end, hungry for Dylan’s soul. But as Dylan focuses her strength on survival, with Tristan as protector, challenger, and confidant, she begins to wonder where she is truly meant to be—and what she must risk to get there.



Electronics






Buddy Beat Lights/W Call Answering

Product Details: Buddy Beat Light is the best product to have around-around your neck that is! Wonderfully engineered this wearable lights-up the space around you while the magnet closure keeps it securely closed around your neck. Perfect for all sports, especially in the winter when the visibility can change in an instance outside. Whether it’s skiing, trekking in the snow, walking, any outdoor activity BBL will light the way with its powerful LED lights. BBL also has a built-in bluetooth speaker allowing you to listen to music or podcasts or even receive calls when paired with a smartphone. At only 7.2 ounces you won’t even know it’s there. Give the BBL to anyone on your list! Perfect for all ages on your list from students, athletes and outdoor enthusiasts!

AVAILABLE:https://spiceoflifeusa.com/collections/buddy-beat-light-with-call-answeringor on AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/SPICE-LIFE-Speaker-Answering-Built/dp/B08WZC55DS

High Performance. Fine-Tuned. Contemporary Lines. It’s not a car, it’s LumiCharge II LED desk lamp! If Ferrari made a lamp, it would be the LumiCharge II. This fine-tuned engineered multi-functional lamp is perfect for any office. The contemporary design of LumiCharge is sleek and smooth like the lines on a high-performance car! LumiCharge dimmable LED desk lamp features include: charging station, Qi 10W fast wireless charger, a universal phone dock, motion sensor, aesthetically pleasing for both home & office décor, full calendar display with date, time, temperature settings, dimmable display backlight, multiple brightness level (remembers last setting) and “new” UV and ANTI-MICROBIAL paint coating to reduce the growth of germs on the surface! LumiCharge also has a T2W model with a bluetooth speaker. SOCIAL MEDIA: @thelumicharge AVAILABLE: www.thelumicharge.com or Amazon 


Entertainment


Superman & Lois: The Complete First Season On Blu-ray and DVD







THE HONEYMOONERS SPECIALS: 
A CHRISTMAS CAROL

In 1977, Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney and Jane Kean reunited for the second of four hour-long specials representing the final performances of their classic Honeymooners characters. ​

Ralph enlists Alice, Ed and Trixie to perform with him on stage after he agrees to supervise and star in the annual office holiday fund-raiser for a charity chosen by his boss’ wife. Ralph ends up rewriting and reimagining Charles Dickens’ dramatic classic A Christmas Carol with comedic results when Ed serves as the inexperienced director.




Dolly Parton the 6 DVD Ultimate Collection Set - See my review here. Purchase on Amazon



Eye Without A Face Is A Must See! See my review here.  




“Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection” – Available on Blu-ray™ Nov. 2

Hold on to your Manolos and Cosmos! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release all six seasons of the groundbreaking HBO comedy series Sex and the City plus both Sex and the Cityfeature films on Blu-ray for the first time on November 2, 2021. Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection will feature 96 unforgettable episodes of the iconic series plus Sex and the City: The Movie and Sex and the City 2 in one, elegant must-own box set. It’s the ultimate collection for any Sex and the City fan and includes over 3 hours of previously released special features! Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection is priced to own at $179.99 SRP ($194.99 Canada).



 “Superman: The Complete Animated Series” - Now available on Blu-ray™

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Superman: The Animated Series, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC have released a fully remastered Blu-rayTM box set. Superman: The Complete Animated Series, which includes nearly 21 hours of entertainment spread over six Blu-ray™ discs, including all 54 exciting episodes, an all-new series-defining featurette entitled Superman: Timeless Icon, a special video commentary episode and three specially selected episodes with audio commentaries by the showrunners. All 54 episodes have been remastered from the original 35mm Interpositive sources, giving special attention to extensive color correction, dirt and scratch clean up, and adding a grain reduction pass to create a pristine picture, all while making sure not to affect the original lines in the artwork of the animation. The audio was retransferred from the original audio masters, and the series is presented in its original aspect ratio (4x3). Superman: The Complete Animated Series is priced to own at $69.99 SRP ($79.99 Canada).




“Supernatural: The Complete Series” - Now Available on DVD & Blu-ray™

After fifteen incredible seasons, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment marks the end of an era with the release of Supernatural: The Complete Series. The set contains all 327 thrilling episodes from the phenomenal series, as well as countless hours of bonus features from all 15 epic, not-to-be-missed seasons. Fans who purchase the Complete Series will also receive a 68-page Collectible Book filled with new images from the beloved series, set designs and letters to the Supernatural Family from both Eric Kripke and Robert Singer. The Complete Series is priced to own on DVD for $329.99 SRP ($369.99 in Canada), and on Blu-ray for $359.99 SRP ($399.98 in Canada).




“The Waltons’ Homecoming” – Available on Digital Dec. 6 & DVD Dec 14  

This holiday season, celebrate one of television’s most beloved family dramas with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s release of The Waltons’ Homecoming, available on Digital December 6and DVD December 14, 2021. The feature-length film commemorating the original holiday film that launched the long-running series The Waltons stars Logan Shroyer (This Is Us) as John Boy Walton, Bellamy Young (ScandalProdigal Son) as Olivia Walton, Ben Lawson (Firefly Lane) as John Walton Sr., and Richard Thomas (The AmericansThe Waltons) reprises his role as the adult John Boy and narrator. The Waltons’ Homecoming is set in the 1933 Depression Era and is told through the eyes of John Boy, the 17-year-old eldest child of John and Olivia Walton. His mother expects John Boy to help her raise his sisters and brothers, and his father expects him to follow in his footsteps to help support the family but secretly, John Boy wants to be a writer. Fans can own the film on Digital and DVD following its broadcast premiere on The CW November 28. The Waltons’ Homecoming retails for $9.99 SRP on Digital and $19.98 SRP ($24.98 SRP Canada) for the DVD.


Foodies




Ethel's Dessert Bars are gluten free and my favorite dessert of the the year.  To Order visit Ethel's

LivBar is delicious and the perfect snack or quick meal replacement. My review is here




Hostess


Friends Central Perk Mug - Share the fun with your friends by gifting this oversized ceramic ode to the show that never fails to make you laugh.



 
Michael Grace Gifts 
 
Send a tea gift set to convey your warmest wishes with this perfectly presented Tea Lovers Gift Box. The unique tea gift set includes a vacuum insulated stainless steel teacup with a lid and a tea sampler of 12 different teas (black, green, white, organic, decaf and herbal) with all-natural honey straws. Every item is of the highest quality making this gift basket one of the best tea gifts for a woman or man VACUUM INSULATED STAINLESS STEEL TEACUP - This tea mug is a must-have for both men and women who like tea. It will keep tea hot up to 3 hours. 

Star Wars The Mandalorian Mug - Who can resist the adorable eyes of Baby Yoda? No one. Period.

For Her


Pillow Talk Mobile Pillow

Product Details: Say Goodbye to Sore Neck and Upper Back Muscles! The average American spends 5.4 hours on their mobile devices-that’s a lot! More people both young and old are suffering from neck and back problems due to poor posture on devices. The designers at Spice of Life came up with the perfect solution-Pillow Talk Mobile Pillow!!! This product provides comfortable custom support, so the user can be hands-free while using their mobile device to stream, FaceTime/Zoom, text, email, read, listen to music! It’s also great for kids studying and gaming! The 56” long pillow design is filled with micro-beads and can twist and bend into a customized form for neck, shoulders and head support. Secure the pillow around the waist for lumbar support. Popular with young children, teens, college students and adults. Buy it in RED to be holiday festive!AVAILABLE: https://spiceoflifeusa.com/collections/mobile-accessories/products/yblz20105 

Harry Potter House Crest Mug - Be wise like a Ravenclaw and indulge your friends’ fantasies of belonging to their favorite house.



Buddha Board - Create and let go! Stress relieving art that you don't have to hold onto. Comes in 3 sizes. See my review here


‘Tis the Season for Giving and Gifting Natural Healing with New ANSHI® Holiday Sets

For Him





 
Power Practical Sparkr Wick 
 
Extend your reach with the rechargeable Wick! The long neck and angled lighter head help you comfortably and accurately light up the hardest to reach candles, stoves, barbecues, and more. The Wick is equipped with the latest electric plasma arc technology that is flameless, windproof, and butane-free. A quick 60 minute charge will keep the Wick running for days while the built-in three press safety ensures that no unwanted misfires happen.



First time fathers will be thrilled with DadWare, a t-shirt with a smart design that’s perfect for dads who want extra special bonding time with their newborn.  The Original DadWare Bondaroo features a flap that opens, allowing the user to easily and conveniently engage in Kangaroo Care (skin to skin bonding with their newborn or infant).  NOTE: This is not a baby carrier! 


Available on AMAZON.

 
Jounjip Trailer Alignment Kit
 
A quick and easy way to align any ball hitch to any trailer, RV, boats, or campers! With our new and improved telescoping rod, the compact tool can extend to up to 52”. And with the bright neon balls, it allows aligning your hitch with an easy one-person job. It works even if your truck bed is oversized. This alignment tool helps you attach your trailer in 3 simple steps! First, adjust the balls to your desired height. Next, stick one magnetic mount to your hitch and one to your trailer ball mount. Finally, reverse your truck, and when the balls touch, you’re ready to go!
 
Blazin' Safety LED Dog Collar
 
Competition crushing visibility of 350 yards. Be seen by traffic and save your pet's life. Top Technology! Slimmest individual bulb strip and on/off box. Lithium ion battery saves money and offers extended use without the hassle of buying strange batteries. Charge From Any Device! Runs over 8 hours. Track your glowing pet when camping, in the backyard, on evening hikes or when lost at night. 3 modes (on, strobe, blink). 1" wide high tensile nylon. Any time, any weather, illuminate and protect your canine. Available in assorted colors.

Pets

Blazin' Safety LED Dog Collar
 
Competition crushing visibility of 350 yards. Be seen by traffic and save your pet's life. Top Technology! Slimmest individual bulb strip and on/off box. Lithium ion battery saves money and offers extended use without the hassle of buying strange batteries. Charge From Any Device! Runs over 8 hours. Track your glowing pet when camping, in the backyard, on evening hikes or when lost at night. 3 modes (on, strobe, blink). 1" wide high tensile nylon. Any time, any weather, illuminate and protect your canine. Available in assorted colors.

Stocking Stuffers

Mongo Kiss Organic Lip Moisturizer See my review here. Purchase at Amazon

Lamy Fountain Pen Box Set. I love this pen and use it in my journal all the time. It just feels special when I write with it. See my review and order from Amazon or Lamy.




Old Trapper Beef and Cheese is perfect for me! Thank you! My review


Teens

Toys


What's In Ned's Head was probably my favorite game this year. I loved playing it with my own kids as much as my toddler classroom. See my review


Be very quiet...Papa Bear is sleeping, but his mischievous cubs want his basket of goodies! Carefully open the door, and poke his belly to make sure he's asleep. Did Papa stay snoozing? Whew - that was a close one! You can now take one of his goodies. But if you press your luck...Papa is going to wake up and jump out of the cave, and you'll have to give away your goodies! If you can catch him with your 'bear' hands, your goodies are safe. The player with the most goodies wins the game! Do you dare poke the bear? Includes a fun, colorful 24-piece puzzle. 

  • While Papa Bear is snoozing, these tricky cubs are trying to sneak a goodie from his basket...but will he wake up?

  • Roll the die to see how many times you will have to poke his belly to make sure he's asleep, and sneak one of his goodies.

  • Watch out - you never know when Papa Bear will wake up and jump out of the cave, adding suspense and excitement to the game!

  • No batteries required - this is kid-powered fun!

  • Includes a fun, colorful 24-piece puzzle

  • For 2-4 players, ages 4 and


Johnny The Skull Pirate Cove Game was fun! See my review




We Craft Box Subscription is the perfect gift for kids ages 3-9 who need to keep their hands busy, love crafts or need to get off the tablet. 

Little Global Citizens- Teach children about countries from around the world, their cultures and the importance of diversity and tolerance with Little Global Citizens. This subscription service (send one time, every two months or every other month for a year) sends an expertly designed box to kids (aged 4 to 10) to bring a new country and its culture to life. Each box is filled with items from that country including authentic guides, crafts, screen-free activities (games and puzzles), language skills, recipes, a story book and more! The new Jamaica box was developed in conjunction with the Jamaican Tourism Board and features a partnership with Devon Harris, the Olympian of the first Jamaican Bobsled Team. His new children’s book will also be included in the box. Each box helps children feel connected with others around the world at this isolating time, as well as teaching them about diversity at an early age. Past boxes included China, India, Kenya, Egypt and Thailand.www.little-global-citizens.com.

OwlCrate Jr.- Encourage your child to be a lifelong reader with OwlCrate Jr.’s monthly subscription box for kids ages 8-12. What’s really cool about OwlCrate is that subscribers get more than just a book—they get a whole themed experience including 4-6 goodies, a hardcover book, at least one usable item or activity to encourage creativity, imagination and exploration, plus an exclusive letter from the author and a collectible monthly sticker. Each monthly box is curated for kids of all genders and the books are published within 45 days of ship date. The books are either standalone stories or the first in a new series. Past themes included Code Breakers, Bump in the Night, Rebels & Rulebreakers and more! Available for one time box, three or six month subscriptions. More information:www.owlcratejr.com.

GIRLS CAN! CRATE- Inspire young girls with award-winning GIRLS CAN! CRATE, a monthly subscription box created to empower girls--and boys (ages 5-10) to Do and BE anything by introducing them to fearless women of history who made the world better. Each month, a new kit celebrates the life of a strong, diverse female role model such as Ella Fitzgerald, Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, Malala Yousafzai, Sally Ride and more. Crates include the GIRLS CAN! a 28-page activity book with an original story celebrating a featured woman and other fun activities, 2-3 hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) challenges with necessary supplies, a collectible button and much more. Available atwww.girlscancrate.com.  







1 comment:

  1. I need to go hunt down "Crafty Family Ideas". I spent part of this afternoon teaching my 10 year old grandson the basics of sewing, including threading the machine.

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