The Ultimate List of Unique Holiday Gifts for Kids (with discount codes)!

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.

I can't be the only one scrambling to find Christmas gifts for those I love... I mean, I have the best of intentions and I always start out on the right path.

I firmly believe as Christmas season rolls around each year that I have plenty of time to get presents under the tree, but as Christmas Eve quickly approaches I inevitably realize I forgot someone super important or as it happened this year, I spent all month searching high and low for the perfect gifts.

If you're in the same boat as me and you just didn't know what to get the loved ones on your list, then I've got news for you. I have, right here, the ultimate list of Holiday Gifts for Kids. We all know Sally your sister's daughter is sweet as pie but she has everything - but does she have a Circuit Scribe Drone Builder Kit? I mean, seriously,  does it get any more epic than building your own drone?

With this STEM-based toy your little worker bee won't even notice that they are learning while creating! Plus, you both can have hours of fun flying the drone up and down with the CSDrone Network app on your phone. While D and I won't be participating in the building of this, I can't wait to share this one of my lovely nieces!

This all-inclusive kit teaches you how to draw the "wires" to the motors with conductive ink & then make cardboard from nothing into something truly extraordinary, a handmade drone! This truly is one of the coolest toys I've seen for bigger kids and well, I think D will be watching over her cousins shoulders as they play with this!

Something that NEVER gets overdone in our house is books - I mean, we had over 100 books in D's library before she was even born, so the fact that we are bookworms is likely not a surprise to most of you. What is a surprise is The Little Red Chicken is back in this sequel to The Interrupting Chicken!

We absolutely love this sweet little read aloud book, The Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise is easily a new favorite in our house. If you haven't read it, now is the time! From David Ezra Stein, this book is sure to make everyone in your house giggle as you read it. Want to snag this good read and others? Check out Candlewick.com & use code CANDLEWICK for 25% off (only valid in the US).

I think the gift D and I both loved the most were the sweet treats she now so sweetly cause "Grinch candies". PEZ candy dispensers were totally one of my favorite stocking stuffers as a child and now thanks to Babbleboxx, it may be a new favorite for D. I think adding PEZ Holiday gifts in her stocking will be a new tradition in our house, actually.

While D obviously loved the candy she's pretty keen on that green fella so she loved the fact the Grinch PEZ gift tin is shaped like the Grinch himself.

Then when she flipped it around and saw Cindy Lou Who I'm fairly certain her heart grew even more love for this fun little gift set. With Fred & Max in the box too, she was overjoyed and we both are so excited to see the new Grinch in theaters - I'm thinking maybe it'll be her first "real" movie in a theater!

Speaking of some firsts, these epic craft kits are just what mama was looking for while hunting for gifts for my crafty toddler. The Clothespin Zoo, in particular, is right up her alley!

Helping us create TEN different animals, learning about each one while playing with materials that are familiar and building fine motor skill, these preschool aged kits are a dream come true! I'm so excited for her to open this up on Christmas and really get crafty!

Speaking of excitement, D literally couldn't wait to get into the Klutz Sewing kit. Interestingly, I think she inherited that excitement for thread & needle, my grandmother actually used to sew and even wrote instructional books on needlepoint. Beyond being a crafty author, she also sent the COOLEST gifts every Christmas that were always educational and sometimes would include some of her work (now my Aunt has carried on this tradition).

Between her and my Aunt, I've been blessed with some of the most unique gifts and I must brag for a moment and say both are so gifted at sewing. While my Grandmother is no longer with us and I'm no expert at sewing, I'm so excited to encourage this hobby in my little sweetie. It's a family tradition to learn to sew, so this skill-building kit is just perfect for her. Helping her create while encouraging fine-motor skills is something my paternal grandmother would be so proud of and since it's a plastic needle and it comes with a little "training card" I'm certain D will get the hang of this quickly - imagine that, my two year old will be sewing soon!

Last but certainly not least in our Babbleboxx was this fun little Dumbledore Pop Figurine from Funko's 5 star line and The Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and The prisoner of Azkaban! D has recently started watching Harry Potter flicks at nap time and she's pretty much obsessed. We both loved that the little figurine brought one of her favorites to life, putting the "magic" in her hands. She can create her own moments  in the Harry Potter universe now and she was delighted that Fawkes the Phoenix was included in the box too, she even called him her friend!

This little figurine was the perfect compliment to the Harry Potter illustrated book! The book is by far one of the coolest things we'll be putting under the tree for D this year, with vibrant illustrations and a cool ribbon bookmark - she's going to love it that one of her movies is actually available to her in book form now too! Want to snag some Funko Collectibles? Check out these deals and use the code "Babbleboxx" to save!

I'm not going to lie, this Babbleboxx was AMAZING! I'm not a kid anymore, but I'm totally excited about everything in this box - so I know the lucky kiddos that receive these gifts under the tree will be delighted as well! So tell me, what is your #1 pick for your kids this year? I can't wait to hear!

Show Mom Your Appreciation: 4 Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Kay Jewelers That Show You Care

Thanks to Kay Jewelers for sponsoring today's post, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

Believe it or not, Mother's Day is just around the corner...

The day when we celebrate all the wonderful things our mamas do for us. From holding us on their hips, to cleaning faces with their freshly licked thumbs, to creating an epic last minute diorama for a school project the night before it's due, mamas are the perfect mixture of nurturing and helpful. Basically, we are all super heroes - but we run on little-to-no sleep, just try to do our best, and love our kids fiercely. That's why all mamas deserve to be celebrated... Can I get an amen?!

I'm pretty excited to be celebrating my first Mother's Day with Delainey... and I'm ecstatic because I get to spend the day with my mother as well! While I'm still learning the ropes and adjusting to my new "super hero" life as a mother, I'm lucky enough to have my best friend to coach me through it all.

It's funny, our relationship has gone through so much - from her being my entertainment committee when I was a kiddo, to my favorite person to share clothing with during my teen years, and now, well now, she's a friend - my best friend. The bond a mother and daughter share is unlike any other and  I feel that way with Delainey and I'm certain my mama feels that way about me (and my sister).

While I plan on spoiling my mama, I was still on the fence about what to get her. Are you in the same boat? If so, here are 4 different items from Kay Jewelers that I bet your mama has on her wish list:

1. From accessories to outfits, we all know your mama always has the most beautiful items, but one thing she needs (and every other mama in the world needs) is Diamond Solitaire Earrings from Kay Jewelers. These timeless beauties are the perfect addition for every mama's accessories collection and every mama I know would go absolutely gaga if she was given a pair of these earrings on Mother's Day.

2. If anyone loves rings, it's my mama... but I know she's not the only one! Is your mama a ring lover as well? Then I'm certain she would love to have this Open Hearts Ring. It's not only beautiful, the design represents giving and receiving love and having an open heart, the perfect representation of motherhood.

3. When you see a piece of jewelry and it takes your breath away, I think it's meant to be your Mother's Day present... right? This Diamonds in Rhythm bracelet is gorgeous and so perfect for any mama, but this is what I have on the top of my Mother's Day wish list. The whole Diamond in Rhythm collection is really on my list--actually, the diamonds are made to be captivating from any angle... which means myself and other new mamas can be chasing after our toddlers and catch a glimpse of these as we are grabbing their precious little hands and be reminded that we are loved and appreciated.

4. Last but not least, we all know the way to a mama's heart is her kids - that's why this key necklace is the perfect gift for your mom on Mother's Day. If you're a dad or son trying to find the perfect present, you've unlocked the answer with this Diamonds in Rhythm Heart Key Pendant Necklace.


Showing appreciation on Mother's Day is what the day really is all about and these are just a few beautiful options offered at Kay Jewelers that will make your mama smile. Do you want to get your mom something beautiful and meaningful for Mother's Day? Check out the Kay Jewelers and find the perfect present for your mom.

Summertime Starbucks: DIY Thank You Card Upcycled K Cup Project + Coffee, Chai Tea, or Iced Tea?

Thanks to Starbucks for sending over these awesome K-cups and other beautiful items to include in my post today and a big thanks for offering a great affiliate program that I've linked below, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Summer & Starbucks go together hand-in-hand, in my mind... Well Starbucks goes with every season and that's why I'm such a big fan. With so many amazing flavors and such a versatile line up of coffees and teas, I'm a bit of a Starbucks junkie... so I'm having to limit my intake while carrying Delainey and I can't wait to get back into my multi-cup routine soon.

While I'm not drinking more than a cup a day currently, I was more than overjoyed to dish out some coffee, chai tea, and iced tea goodness at my latest little get-together with our buddies so we could sample all of the delicious flavors Starbucks sent me to try out this summer.

I sipped on a glass of the Tazo Chai Vanilla Caramel Latte while I made a cup of Creme Brulee flavored coffee for my hubs, my friends each wanted to try something new so I served up a glass of the Tazo Iced Peachy Black tea and another Tazo Chai Vanilla Caramel Latte for each of them... paired with some delicious vegan, oatmeal cookies! We were all so impressed with the "homemade" beverages, I think I've officially earned the title of "Barista" at this point... Lucky for me, making delicious Starbucks coffee and tea at home is as easy as pressing a button.

While making the coffee is super easy and enjoyable, the same could be said about having great friends. Our buddies blessed us with so much adorable stuff for Delainey recently, I had to make something for them in return. I couldn't think of a thing they needed so I decided making them a little thank you card with a personal touch was the best way to thank them, with a little gift card attached to the back - I'm sure they will be more than happy with their little surprise.

Do you want to tell some one "Thanks a latte" for something amazing they've done for you recently? It's as easy as making a k-cup to make this adorable little card!

For this project you'll need:

a Starbucks Keurig Coffee or Tea box
a used K-cup (rinsed and cleaned)
a hot glue gun with glue
3-4 cotton balls

scissors
a black marker or pen

First things first, to get this project started go ahead and plug in your glue gun and warm it up.

Now go ahead and cut out the Starbucks logo from the Keurig box, being sure to leave the outer side without perforation untouched.

Your next step is to hot glue the Starbucks logo to the side of the K-cup.

Following that, quickly use the top of the K-cup to measure and cut out a circle piece of cardboard from one of the side pieces of "scrap" of the Keurig box, be sure to cut it large enough to cover the entire top of the K-cup. Glue this piece to the top once it's trimmed to fit.

Next you'll want to let the glue on these pieces dry and write a cute thank you message on the untouched, un-perforated side of the box. I wrote "Thanks a latte" but you could go with something like "Words cannot espresso my thanks" or whatever punny coffee line you want!

Once your message is written, go ahead and unravel the cotton balls. The brand I bought comes apart fairly easily so they became long strands within seconds. You'll want to have enough to "swirl" on the top of your cup to mimic whipped cream. My suggestion is to start forming it before gluing to insure you get the look you want with minimal effort. Now use your glue gun and glue the cotton balls/whipped cream to the top of the cardboard covered K-cup opening.

Take a quick second and add a few dots of glue to the back of the K-cup/Starbucks mini-cup, pressing it onto the piece of cardboard that has the thank you message written.

Now hand one of these bad boys out to every Starbucks loving friend you need to thank and they may just be thanking you for the adorable card showing your gratitude!

Plus, don't miss your chance to save some money... Click here & save Up to 30% on New Summer Markdowns at Starbucks.com! 

20 Must-Read Children's Books: You'll Want to Add All of These to Your Baby's Bookshelf!

As I mentioned recently, I'm super excited to share my love of books with our little miss. I'm sure I'm not the only parent that's eager to read to their child and watch their wonder of books blossom, so today I want to share a great little list of books for any baby to enjoy with their parents!

Whether you want to read a book about little creatures who love cookies or a book about how much you love your little one, there's a little bit of everything included in this list! With beautiful illustrations and creative tales, you and your little one are going to love this collection of good, clean books and since most of them can be bought as "board books", they are tough enough that your little one can handle them without a worry!

Go ahead and buy one, two, or maybe even a few of these awesome books... I've linked all of them below so you can easily find them and stock up your babe's library!

1. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff

2. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

3. How Do I love you? by Marion Dane Bauer

4. A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

5. The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson

6. I'll See you in the Morning by Mike Jolley

7. Numbers by Orla Kiley

8. A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

9. Gaston (and Friends) by Kelly DiPucchio

10. The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

11. Ten Tiny Tickles by Karen Katz

12. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

13. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

14. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr

15. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

16. I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa Mccourt

17. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

18. The Hiccupotamus by Aaron Zenz

19. Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton

 20. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

That's TWENTY different books you can add to your kiddo's library and I guarantee you'll love each book every time you read it. If you are already a parent, I'd love to hear what your favorite children's book is and why it's your favorite in the comments below!

Interested in finding more awesome items for babies and new mamas?
Click here to check out my Baby Shower Gift Guide!

Score an Epic Deal on The BEST Gift for Dads: The Samsung Gear VR!

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Looking for the perfect gift for the father figure in your life for Father's Day? Look no further, Best Buy has you covered with the latest and greatest technology! You can gift the man in your life the ultimate experience with the Samsung Gear VR, bringing you 360 degree virtual adventures that are out of this world!

From getting lost in Yosemite to diving with the sharks, Discovery VR content brings the entire world to your eyes - literally! Escaping to another place and time is as easy as snapping your Galaxy smartphone into your Samsung Gear VR! I'm super excited about this fact because I already own the S6 Edge+ but if you aren't a Galaxy user yet, I've got awesome news for you...

You can score a FREE Samsung Gear VR (including $50 worth of virtual reality content) when you buy or lease & activate any of the awesome new Samsung Galaxy phones! If you want the new, waterproof S7 or S7 edge that you've seen champagne being poured all over then it's time to upgrade! If you're into my style of phone, the S6 edge or edge+ are just as amazing as the 7, they just can't be submerged in your aquarium on purpose!

It doesn't matter which phone you decide to get for you or the deserving dude in your life, but now is the time to upgrade with a deal like this offered at Best Buy! Act quickly though, the offer is only good through June 18th, online or in stores!

Don't miss your chance to explore the world with your favorite father figure; get excited because mobile virtual reality has arrived and it's affordable!

Take the chance to be at the center of your favorite game, stargaze and wonder around while looking up at the Northern Lights, spend time inside of a Hollywood movie, socialize with your best friends, and so much more! It's time for you to let your new Samsung Gear VR drop you both right into the action! Click here to learn more about the deal on the VR before it's too late.

So tell me, where will you go first with your new gadget? I'm so excited to hear all about what you would love to experience first in the comments below!

Baby Showers Aren't Just for Babies: Spoil Mama with A Thousand Wishes from Bath & Body Works

Thanks to Bath & Body Works for sending over this fantastic smelling set to include in my Baby Shower Gift Guide, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

I've always been a huge fan of Bath & Body Works, as most women are! I can remember misting myself whenever I was a teenager about to go out with my boyfriend, who eventually became my hubby. It's one of those brands that has lasted for years and years and their signature line never disappoints!

Whether I'm stocking up on scents for myself or trying to find a special gift for a friend, I know I can count on Bath & Body to have the best of the best! From their new scents to the scents I grew up spritzing myself with, I know I can find something every one loves! Plus, my Grandma Joy has always spoiled us girls with a little package full of Bath & Body Works goodies for Christmas, every single year. I guess you could say I've grown up a "Bath & Body Works" girl.

So you know I had to include my favorite scent from one of my favorite brands in my Baby Shower Gift Guide for mamas. Especially because all new moms want to smell pretty, even if it means spraying on a little Fine Fragrance Mist as they head out the door, with a little baby in their arms and a tiny bit of spit up on their t-shirt.

America's favorite Bath & Body store is determined to make every woman feel pretty... that's why they offer so many amazing product! So whenever they found out I was expecting they sent over well wishes and a little gift of A Thousand Wishes, a "celebration in a bottle" and the perfect way to make any mama to be feel like a million bucks! This scent is the best way to feel oh-so-pretty without overdoing it... and if you've ever smelled it before, I think you'll agree!

Do you want to spoil yourself with A Thousand Wishes set? You're in luck... I've teamed up with Bath & Body to make sure you look & smell your best, no matter what stage of parenthood your currently dealing with! Enter to win this awesome little prize pack with the giveaway tools form below:

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Now that I've shared one of my favorite ways to spoil myself and other new mamas, I'd love to hear what your favorite Bath & Body Works scent is...? Also, if you have any other great gift ideas for mamas, I'd love to hear all about them in the comments below!

Officially Announcing Baby Harmon's Name & Sharing Our Love for The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe! { + a Giveaway}

Thanks to The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe for sending over the cutest personalized items for our little gal to wear, she's going to be so adorable in these and we're super happy to have been able to share our big news with the world with your help and expertise in embroidery!

I'm going to put this out there for anyone planning on having a child or even contemplating the idea, naming a child has proven to be a super difficult task... I'm not sure how people can just know. Maybe my hubby and I are just super indecisive, maybe I'm just picky or he's too traditional but we've had quite the adventure trying to figure out what our daughter's name will be.

Although, nicknaming her came easily and from the time we found out we were expecting we started calling her our little pineapple. She's been known as the pineapple or our pineapple for about 20 weeks now and while the nickname is super cute and may even be one of her nicknames for life, she may not appreciate being named after a fruit that wears a crown when she's an adult so we had to settle on a real name.

We went through list after list, had narrowed it down to handful of names, finally decided on a first name a few weeks ago, then had the hardest time choosing a middle name. But we finally figured it out, I think the name we've chosen is perfect for this little miracle we've been blessed with and I'm so excited to say she's officially named!

I was thinking we might wait until she was born to announce it on the blog, but it's too much fun to finally know her name and not call her by it. Plus, I love personalizing items and I can't imagine hiding some upcoming projects from you, so without further ado, Baby Harmon is officially going to be named Delainey Kate Harmon.

We decided on Delainey weeks ago, it's the perfect mixture of sweet and classic, but choosing a middle name was shockingly more difficult for us. Kate is our final choice because my middle name is Katherine and my mother and sister share the middle name Kaye, so it's kind of like we are continuing a family tradition with a K middle name but adding our own little twist for her.

Not only have we decided on a name for our babe, we've started personalizing items for her... Click here to learn more about the Cotton Cupcake Shoppe and check out all of the adorable items she carries, including the beauties I shared up above.

From the perfect little pineapple onesies, to burlap art stitched with a sweet quote to hang on baby's walls, to adorable customized hats perfect for showing off your little one's name, this little shop makes the prettiest items and I knew I had to share her work with the big news of announcing Delainey's name...

The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe all started whenever Amber, the owner's, third daughter was 4 months old. She had her in an adorable onesie but noticed it was missing something, she embroidered on her nickname and it's all history... Her little one time addition to her baby girl's clothing turned into a gorgeous shop full of the perfect personalized creations for all babies!

The thing I love most about her shop is that she has a true passion for everything she creates and it really shows. The items she makes are truly unique and one of a kind and I'm so honored we were able to share our daughter's name with you showing off her detailed work.

Interested in finding out more about the Cotton Cupcake Shoppe and possibly ordering a few personalized pieces for you littles? You can find her shop here and don't forget to follow her instagram so you can stay up to date on her latest creations!

Plus, you have the opportunity to WIN an adorable creation from her shop! Use the giveaway tools form below to enter to win an ADORABLE arrow hat from The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe!

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Interested in finding more awesome items for babies and new mamas?
Click here to check out my Baby Shower Gift Guide!