Holiday Gift Guide

I received some products to add to this guide, free of charge, however, as always opinions are 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links. If these links are clicked, I may receive a small compensation. Regardless of these affiliations with these companies, my opinions are always 100% my own.

2024 Gift Ideas for Everyone

The holidays are quickly approaching and here at the Life with Heidi household is all but crazy. However, this year our holiday season will be a little different (I can’t spill all of those details just yet, but it’s a good one!) So the holiday preparation is going on earlier than ever this year. So, the Holiday Gift Guide is also being published a little earlier than normal to help me round out the 2024 year. So, without further adieu, I give you some great brands and some unique gift ideas, too! 

iMemories

My Nana always said, “Heidi, the days are long, but the years are short.” I didn’t really get it then, but the older I get, the more I hear myself saying it to others. One of the most significant changes we have made is downsizing and getting rid of clutter. We have come a really long way over the last few years, but we still live in a 4-bedroom home. One of our bigger goals is to get down to a two-bedroom home and live a more minimalist lifestyle. At the same time, that’s a pretty long explanation as to why I’m talking about iMemories.

iMemories allows you to relive your memories by digitizing your older home movies. photos and more with just a tap of a button. They can convert all formats including, but not limited to: 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm home movie films; VHS, Betamax, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi8, Digital 8, and MiniDV videotapes; DVDs and MiniDVDs.

How does iMemories work?

They ship you a handy box filled with packing supplies and everything you need to ship your photos, videos, and more to them. The box is only $14.95, which I feel is a very affordable investment. But be ready because gathering all of your momentos just might take longer than you think. You pack up your memories and ship them back to them, where iMemories digitizes older home movies, photos, negatives, and other types of older media.

I’ve gathered lots of memories and packed them into the box, and have to take it to my local FedEx store for shipping. But stay tuned because I will update you on the progress, but in the meantime, order your own iMemories box for you and your loved ones today. An added bonus is you will get rid of lots of clutter, and be able to actually see those old memories!

Mettalusso

As many of you know, I’m not the average lady in makeup, but the older I get, the more I appreciate quality over quantity. And if the products are easy to use, I use them a few times a week. Mettalusso offers great quality vegan products that are affordable as well, making them the perfect gift to give this holiday season.

Mettalusso Vegan Jumbo Pencil is the perfect shimmer highlighter for your entire face. You can use it on your eyelids, corners of your eyes, lower waterline, and, of course, your brow line.

Highlight your face and nose, and most importantly, highlight those beautiful cheeks. Metalusso’s Vegan Highlighter Pencil is easy to use and results in a creamy, shimmery glow. I love that it is easily blended and doesn’t tug on my eyes like other brands I’ve tried.

Aardvark Book Club

I love a good book especially in the winter when the outside temperature is below my current age. So I love to curl up with a good book and each and every year I give at least one book, book subscription, or something literacy themed to almost everyone on my list, because reading is a lifelong enjoyment for almost everyone. I’ve done “themes” like top bestsellers in the month of December, cookbooks, mysteries, self-care and so many more it’s hard to list them all. This year we are going a different route for several gifts, but one item that is on the list is a subscription to Aardvark Book Club to our daughter.

Aardvark Book Club is your go to place for DoorDash for books. They have five to six releases every month, and it literally is the gift that keeps on giving. Each Aardvark Book Club box includes 3 hardcover releases and other fun items. The book box I received had three aardvark bookmarks included and three romantic books.

With 4 different gifting options, there is an option for every budget, which I love.

• 1-month .
• 3 months
• 6 months
• 12-month subscriptions

Plus, they have some diverse genres which consists of a mix of contemporary fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, thriller, mystery, romance, historical fiction, sci-fi and more! There literally is something for everyone and they have an Aardvark app so you can join book club discussions as an added bonus. Give the gift of Aardvark Book Club this holiday season.

Carnivore in the Kitchen Cookbook

Keeping with the theme of books for a little bit longer, give the gift of a cookbook. My gift of choice this year is the Carnivore in the Kitchen Cookbook because I’ve been working on cutting out more sugar and carbs. It is still a work in progress, but Carnivore in the Kitchen is packed with secrets, strategies, and recipes to help you confidently start your carnivore journey.

An immediate bestseller, this cookbook goes beyond recipes to become an essential guide to healthy, sustainable carnivore cooking. It includes more than 75 recipes, but the shortest how-to Courtney Luna has is simply: eat lots of fatty meats, slat your food, drink water, repeat. 

Little did I know that there are five types of meat-based diets, and I’m still trying to decide which would be best for me. But I do know from previous attempts that dairy-free is something I need to embrace because milk has always been a no-go for me. My sister Heather has recently been told to cut out Gluten and that she is on the way to being pre-diabetic, so she’s getting her own copy of Carnivore in the Kitchen Cookbook for Christmas. 

Give the gift of Carnivore in the Kitchen Cookbook for the meat lover and yourself on your Christmas list. It might just improve your health and allow you to live longer while trying more delicious recipes that are perfect.

SealVax

If you have been around for a long time, you know I’m pretty frugal. From my beginning as a coupon blogger, I was thrifty and could rock a great deal. Then, I got to a point where I had “too much,” and coupons took a backseat. However, ebbs and flows happen like life, and I became a lifestyle blogger. The better word for what I do would probably be an influencer because I’ve used my influence for several years. 

As I continue to ebb and flow as I get older, one of the most important things to me has been to remain frugal and live more sustainably. Not just sustainable, but reuse and recycle things, and probably most importantly, refuse things that don’t align with the right now, Heidi.  

While it is a work in progress, and living with less is more, I am still frugal to the core. That’s where the SealVax company comes into play because it has revolutionized food preservation and storage with innovative technology. SealVax also makes reusable and eco-friendly kitchen products that don’t add to the clutter mountain of the holidays. As a bonus, your recipient will save money all year, resulting in less waste and helping the environment. 

This compact kitchen product line-up is a must-have, but my first implementation would be the SealVax 15-Bag set, Vacuum Device, and liquid isolator. It comes with the following: 

• 3 Mini Reusable Vacuum Bags
• 6 Small Reusable Vacuum Bags
• 6 Large Reusable Vacuum Bags
• 2 Minimalist Vacuum Device
• 1 Liquid Isolator
• 1 Adapter Cable

It is powered by your phone or another external power source and comes with everything you need to seal your baggies easily. The directions are easy to follow, and you can use it within minutes of it arriving on your doorstep. I used my first one on a bag of radishes I had in the fridge and was impressed.

SealVax has an impressive lineup of products, and I hope to own them all soon! They have containers, canisters, mason seal jars, and the SealVax sets. The gift ideas are truly endless, and currently, they have a fantastic Black Friday Sale in Progress. So pick up a few SealVax gifts for yourself, or others on your Christmas shopping list and together we will save more money and help the environment as well. 

****SealVax Bags are only compatible with SealVax Minimalist Vacuum Device.

May Spray Vegan Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Skincare Toner

The older I get, the more important easy skin care is, but when a product has multiple uses, count me in 1000%. The Mettalusso May Spray Vegan Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Skincare Toner allows to do much more than I ever dreamed it could.

• Use May Spray as a make-up prep or makeup setting spray.
• Use May Spray to clean and condition pores with the rose water base.
• Use May Spray to calm and tone with aloe, cucumber, calendula, and chamomile.
• Use May Spray to moisturize your skin with the help of Hyaluronic Acid, which helps restore elasticity and dryness.
• Use May Spray to help fight environmental stressors with the Resveratrol anti-oxidant.
• Use May Spray to brighten dull-looking skin and alleviate spots and even some redness with the help of Vitamin C.

I do suggest you take it out of the package as soon as you get it, though, because it is warmer inside my house than in the mailbox. There was some condensation on the bottle as well as in the provided gold bag. But the product itself didn’t leak, so that’s a win!

Best of all, May Spray dries clear and has a weightless feel. I might have to start calling it a miracle in a bottle because it is really that great of a product.

Hugo Coffee

This holiday season give the gift of a cup of Joe, but don’t stop at just a cup, go for a bag of Hugo Coffee instead. Hugo Coffee is a female-founded business located in Park City, Utah that even has a great giveback program. They took their love for animals and coffee and married them together to help support small animal rescues and other types of organizations.

EVERY item sold on their website results in a $2.50 donation to animal rescues nationwide.

They sent me the Bonafido Dark Roast coffee that was already ground and it was an amazing roast. It has a rich flavor with notes of baker’s chocolate and dark fruit making it the perfect blend for every morning. If you don’t like dark coffee Hugo Coffee Roasters is sure to have a blend that is perfect for you. They have a light roast, espresso, and breakfast blends, to name a few. Don’t just take my word for it, hop over to Hugo’s Coffee Roasters today!

YOUZEY

I’m a bag lady through and through, but one thing I’ve learned is that most of my bags are to big for some activities we do. So I decided that I would try a Phone Crossbody Bag from YOUZEY and when it arrived I was surprised at the size of this bag. It wasn’t a bad surprise by any means, but what I intended to use this bag for originally probably won’t work as well as I thought.

However, the Phone Crossbody Bag in Saffiano Leather in black is the perfect crossbody bag for my more normal everyday activities.

• The YOUZEY Crossbody bag has two sets of three card slots, perfect for your ID and Credit/Debit cards, making them easy to pull out when needed.
• The YOUZEY Crossbody bag has a phone pocket in the front. My phone fits nicely in the front pocket, which is often not the case when I purchase a new bag.
• The YOUZEY Crossbody bag features two interior compartments perfect for your daily necessities, such as small cosmetics, hand sanitizer, lotions, and so forth.
• The YOUZEY Crossbody bag has a snap closure that ensures your belongings stay secure on the go. I can’t wait to try it out at Silver Dollar City when we go, and I’m hoping it will be the perfect solution for a bag while riding rides.

This chic accessory combines timeless style with practical features to keep your essentials organized and easily accessible. Try the soft leather phone crossbody if you want one that looks a little less bulky. I am strongly considering that as my next purchase.

Crafted from Saffiano vegan leather, known for its distinctive crosshatch texture, this bag is not only a fashion statement but also an eco-conscious choice.

UVI

Hot Lunch. Anywhere. Anytime! Brady and Austin both work out in the weather, and in the winter months, a hot meal is something they LOVE. But eating out isn’t always the best option for either of them, so this year, I’m giving them a Self-Heating Lunch Box from UVI.

The UVI Self Heating lunch box allows everyone to have a hot and healthy meal on the go all year long. The container can be refrigerated and the food in it, can instantly be warmed up, once it’s plugged in. It does take about 25 minutes, so there is a little pre-planning needed, but it is still quicker than a sit down restaurant.

My favorite feature on the UVI Self Heating Lunch box is that it contains an integrated UV light that kills up to 99% of bacteria and the insulated liner keeps food hot for up to two hours without power. Plus the moveable divider allows you to have 2 items in your lunch easily. The durable, leakproof shell with odor-resistant liner makes UVI the smart and stunning on-the-go choice.

Colorado Aromatics

When our daughter lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming, we spent a lot of time in Colorado, and it has a very special spot in my heart. Colorado is an amazing state and they are a great example of natural living in their own ways. Every business has their own goals to achieve, but what I LOVE about Colorado Aromatics is that their products contain herbs that are grown on their certified naturally grown farm. How cool is that??

The Elder-B-Essence is a botanical blend of fennel, lavender, lemon balm, and elderberry, along with B vitamins and hyaluronic acid. The Elder-B-Essence leaves your skin feeling soft, supple skin on your face, or your entire body.

• Use Elder B Essence to moisturize and relieve dry, itchy skin.
• Use Elder B Essence to brighten your skin and make your tone more even.
• Use Elder B Essence to reduce pore size.
• Use Elder B Essence to leave your skin barrier stronger.
• Use Use Elder B Essence to decrease wrinkles. (This one might be my favorite one yet!)

Colorado Aromatics is a natural skin care line that uses the power of herbs and science for peak performance. All of their products contain herbs grown on their Certified Naturally Grown Farm. The city of Longmont, Colorado, has given them a sustainable business award, and they are members of 1% for the Planet, which means we give back 1% of sales to environmental causes. Fill your stockings with Elder B Essence from Colorado Aromatics today!

Fritaire

We’ve been working on eating healthier and producing less food waste, and the Fritaire makes a great addition to our kitchen. The Fritaire Air Fryer is the ultimate solution for smart, chic, healthy and more convenient cooking!

Its beautiful design, 1500W—400F Degrees Halogen Heater, and engineered vortex convection let everyone achieve crispy and even results every time.

The unique self-cleaning glass bowl makes for effortless post-cooking clean-up, which is helpful on busy days! And if you get some food stuck on the bowl, you can add water and soap directly to the bowl for even easier clean up.

The Fritaire Air Fryer comes with three cooking accessories: a rotisserie, a French tumbler, and an air fryer. It offers 6 one-touch cooking functions for ultimate versatility and convenience, including a dehydrating option, which is super handy for fruits and veggies!

It is also Teflon-free, plastic-free, phthalate-free, and BPA-free. Allowing every family to make healthy food and enjoy every meal a little more. This is the best air fryer I’ve ever owned and am going to give a couple for gifts this holiday season.

Matter Compostables

Waste not, want not, was a saying my Nana used to tell us day in and day out. While I never quite understood as much then as I do now, I am channeling my inner Nana and trying to live a more green lifestyle. Each month, I implement something new to help us on this journey. August’s products are from Matter and switched to Matter’s Compostable sandwich bags, quart bags, and compostable cups.

In September, the newest addition was Matter’s Compostable plates and bowls. While we do not use paper products every single day of the week, we love keeping them on hand for those busy Back-to-School nights. But because they are compostable, I feel a little less guilt when it comes to making a big difference in helping the environment.

Now we have made it to October and we are adding in a couple more fantastic products from Matter. We added assorted cutlery and their variety pack of compostable bags.

Matter Variety Packs are produced from plants through NatureStar® technology, Matter Food Storage Bags are comprised of natural, sustainable, renewable resins that compost in soil in months. The entire lifecycle of Matter products minimizes waste and adds valuable nutrients back into the earth.

• Total Bag Count: 1 @ 230-Count Box = 230 Total Bags
• Size of Variety Pack Box: 11.1” L x 10” W x 3.1” H
• Snack Bags: 80 Bags, Size of 3.25″ x 6.5″
• Sandwich Bags: 80 Bags, Size of 6.5″ x 5.88″
• Quart Bags: 50 Bags, Size of 7.69″ x 7.00″
• Gallon Bags: 20 Bags, Size of 10.56″ x 10.75″

Matter Compostable Cutlery

Matter Cutlery powered by revolutionary NatureStar technology, is compostable. Matter brand Cutlery is made using sustainable, natural, and renewable resins that will compost in soil in a matter of months versus plastics that can take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down. Matter brand Cutlery is toxin free, durable and strong, and able to handle a wide range of foods. Plus, they have a 12 pack that is dishwasher safe making them perfect for all of those to go meals you have all year long.

Switching to compostable single-use products is a great way to set and achieve our sustainable goals as a family. Some benefits include leaving our planet a little better for our grandkids and improving the environment overall. Matter’s single-use products are made from plants and natural fibers, so you’re using items made from nature that will return to nature.

Plus, we have a home compost bin, so my Matter products will be added to it and not thrown in the landfill. With all of Matter’s great products, you can take advantage of single-use products and take care of our planet at the same time.

Ambrosia

On my journey to live a little more planet friendly I’ve been adopting more and more items into our home. Produce and food waste is a HUGE problem here in our house because sometimes the grandkids love strawberries and the next week, they don’t touch them. Same with other vegetables like lettuce, you know the stuff you find that is past it’s prime use date.

The complete set of linen bags from Ambrosia has made our fridge a little more manageable and I am in hopes of less produce and food waste.

How do you know which bag has what?

Well. At first I was like ok, color coding. However, once I opened the package I discovered they bags have tags telling you what goes into each bag.

Orange Zipper- Used for vegetables that are “colored” beets, carrots, broccoli, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, celery, asparagus, and Brussel sprouts.

Yellow- Any type of mushroom you can think of. We don’t typically have to many mushrooms but “button mushrooms” are almost weekly.

Green- GREEN vegetables and lettuce.

Purple- Berries, if you have a berry this is it’s new home.

Simply rinse your fruits or veggies and place them inside the bag while wet. Store it inside the fridge crisper drawer and use as needed.

Ambrosia takes the guesswork out of produce waste, which will result in more time and money in your pocket. Don’t forget you are supposed to wash your Ambrosia Bags every two weeks or between uses. No fabric softener or dryer sheets, and for best results, they need to air dry.

Born out of necessity and old-world family tradition. Ambrosia Produce Bags raw linen refrigerator bags are proudly handcrafted in the USA, simple to use, machine washable, and built to last.

Keeki

I’ve dabbled in sourdough before, but didn’t have much success, however, on my quest to save even more money, I’m back on the sourdough wagon and am patiently waiting for my starter to get old enough to use. But in the meantime I’ve enjoyed pulling out my old sourdough supplies and of course getting new ones. I’m most excited about the Keeki Bag.

What’s a Keeki Bag?

A Keeki Bag is a plastic-free, beeswax-lined linen solution for effortlessly preserving your bread’s freshness. With a wide opening and drawstring closure, it’s more convenient than a traditional wrap. It allows your bread to breathe while preventing moisture build-up. No more soggy sourdough or mold growing on it because it was stored in plastic the first time around. OY!

The Keeki Bag comes in two sizes, one of which will fit a large sourdough loaf measuring 11 inches x 14 inches. That bag comes in four different colors, so you can easily match any kitchen color.

My favorite Keeki Bag is the longer of the two, at 15 inches x 11 inches, making it good for Sandwich breads. But remember, air around homemade bread is the enemy, so make sure you purchase the right bag for your products.

However, the Keeki Bag isn’t just for bread, you can keep fruits and vegetables in them as well, making them the ultimate solution for plastic bag use. Plus, a portion of each sale goes to the Ontario Nature Protect Pollinators charity, supporting the environment and ensuring your choice is not just about freshness but also a commitment to sustainability.

Kamsah

Kamsah is a brand I’ve worked with before, and I’ve had my eye on several of their products. This time, I picked the Olive Wood Serving and Cutting Board. I received the board 16 inches long, 7 1/2 inches wide, and about an inch thick. It is a simply gorgeous board, and I only wish it had a hole in the handle so I could hang it up with my other charcuterie board collection.

The Olive Wood Serving and Cutting Board is easy to clean and maintain. Plus, its self-healing surface makes it a gorgeous addition to any kitchen. Each board is 100% unique, which means it has its own wood grain pattern, size, and texture.

It protects your counters and surfaces, helps you prepare foods more efficiently. Now I just need to come up with a reason to make a charcuterie board to use this gorgeous addition. This high-quality wood boards is durable and versatile enough for use with cutting up fruits and vegetables, slicing poultry and steak, or even serving up cheese with your favorite wine.

No Scrap Left Behind

When I was a child we were poverty level, and I don’t mean barely into the poverty level. I mean we were on the low end of the poverty level and let me tell you our mom had to get creative. We received government commodities, food from local food banks, dumpster dove for our food, and let’s not forget out the Missouri Department of Conservations RoadKill List. (While the latter is an entire story in and of itself, you get the picture. So being frugal has always been in my nature, but food waste still happens for our family.

However, I do freeze lots of things, can with a pressure canner as well as dehydrate a lot of food that would ultimately be tossed. But it’s not tossed here, once it’s past it’s prime, it is fed to our chickens, which is then eventually composted. Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement. The author Teralyn Pilgrim came up with the Hungry Kid Test and let me tell you, by the end of page 5 I couldn’t stop reading.

What’s the Hungry Kid Test?

One side is the trash can and the other is a hungry kid, if you wouldn’t feed it to the kid, it goes into the trash can! GENIUS!! Example, that banana peel, toss it, or add it to a mason jar, cover with water and water your plants with it, then add it to the compost.

The average American family wastes $1,300 a year throwing out food. HOLY COW!! So now, I’m on the Zero-Food-Waste train like never before. Teralyn has 6 rules of food waste and each one can be implemented the second you read them.

1. Food can be tossed if it passes The Hungry Kid Test
2. Composting edible food counts as waste. (We’ve thrown out a lot less since reading the book.)
3. Animals can eat leftovers. (See my chickens know that they get good stuff, which results in more eggs, that most importantly DO NOT go to waste. For everyone one dozen we keep, we donate another dozen to our local food pantry, win, win.
4. Almost always taste before tossing (unless the food is obviously unsafe.) I recently found some hard boiled eggs that had been placed into a reused cottage cheese container, and those went straight to the compost, it was that bad. I still have lots of room for improvement.
5. No self-righteousness and no guilt. (Those are harder than you think.)
6. Guests can throw away their own food. (My guests all know we have a scrap bucket for our chickens, so I win at this one!

In her new book, No Scrap Left Behind: My Life Without Food Waste, Author Teralyn Pilgrim shares her 9-step program to help readers avoid overbuying, trim their grocery bills, and upcycle leftovers in clever ways — all while tackling the global impact of our massive food waste problem. Get your copy of No Scrap Left Behind: My Life Without Food Waste today and remember it makes the perfect gift!

Guru Nanda

We are embracing the more natural living here at our house and one of the ways that is happening is we are using more essential oils. We are building up our collection with the help of GuruNanda’s Halo XL is a 2-in-1 Ultrasonic essential oil diffuser and humidifier. Perfect for any room in the house because it emits a powerful, room filling fragrance while humidifying simultaneously! 

Ours we put in the master bedroom and it looks perfect! It has an unmatched run-time of up to 22 hours per fill and has a convenient top-fill design makes it a breeze to use and clean. I love that it features shut off mist timers, optional light modes, sleep mode, and an automatic safety shut-off. Available at GuruNanda and Amazon! 

As much as I love the new diffuser, I’m equally in love with GuruNanda’s 6 Essential Oil Set comes with six of their tried and true, direct farm to bottle essential oils. These blends are the perfect gift to pair with the Halo XL! Despite their accessible price point, GuruNanda’s essential oils are always 100% pure, natural, and sustainably harvested from the best farms the world over. 

Included in the set is

• Tranquility -Calms Mind and Body
• Breathe Easy- Clears Congestion
• Immunity-Purify and Energize
• Relaxation-Calms and Soothes
• Harmony- Uplifts Mood
• Calming Sleep-Relaxes and Comforts

I think Santa needs to deliver all of their Essential Oils to each and every one of us! Perfect for gift giving and of course stocking stuffers.

Bootleg Bath

In living more green we’ve also been looking at brands like Bootleg Bath! We love that they create all-natural, handcrafted soap bars, all made in the USA to seamlessly blend luxury with environmental responsibility. Bootleg Bath, a women-owned clean beauty brand based in the heart of San Francisco, California has redefined the world of bath and hair products; combining quality, luxury, diversity, sustainability, and affordability.

Give the Gift of Glam: Bootleg Bath Offers Clean Beauty Bliss for Under $10

Bootleg Bath has exceptional quality and is a luxury clean beauty brand that is literally affordable to ALL.

All products and ingredients are organic, all-natural, and free from harmful chemicals, and shipped with eco-conscious packaging for a better bath time and cleaner planet. I received the Salted Margarita Lime and Hint of Ginger Sea Salt, and it is simply amazing in one word.

The Highball Soap is Menthol and Peppermint with a maximum exfoliant making it perfect for when you have a cold coming on or even getting rid of your old dead skin. Let’s face it, in the winter months, that’s a battle especially here in Missouri!

But I believe my current favorite is the Smapoo and Conditioner bars which are biotin and rosemary oil. Or the “Growth Formula” from Bootleg Bath’s hair care line. Your hair not only feels clean but looks great and smells even better. You can afford self-care with these meticulously handcrafted, high-quality, organic, vegan, and all-natural products. Perfect for gift-giving, self-care, stocking stuffers, and so much more!

Baseball BBQ

Give the men in your life a personalized gift from Baseball BBQ! Brady is always barbecuing or smoking something so when I saw the Home Plate and the Saint Louis Cardinals logo I knew it was meant to be. I loved that there was a “trough” of sorts around the board so it looked more like a home plate but also works as a way to catch the juices from meat.

Baseball BBQ’s products combine two of America’s favorite pastimes—created on a summer day when our founders brought together a broken grill fork and a cracked baseball bat to create something unique and amazing.

Baseball BBQ offers:

• Cutting boards 
• Grill utensils
• Fully Customizable products
• Having your Barbeque will be the talk of the town
• Represent your favorite MLB team on a bottle opener or get a whole Baseball BBQ grill set with your name on it.

Shipping was relatively quick, especially for a personalized product, but since we are heading into the holidays, I suggest you order now instead of later. I’m placing another order for a few more BBQ accessories for stocking stuffers.

Free Fly

Spending time with loved ones is always a blessing, but when it comes to the holidays, I always try to wear my stretchy pants. You know the ones that feel good even after you ate too much, but my friends at Free Fly took comfort to a whole new level. I’ve never found the perfect leggings until now and I’m ordering myself several pairs because YES they really are that comfortable.

Women’s All Day Legging – NEW Fall ’24 – a SUPER soft legging designed to move throughout the day with you, from dropping the kids at school, to an afternoon yoga class, or nights cuddled up by the fire. The high-waisted fit and form-hugging legging are great for moderate-impact activities, and the soft, breathable, and highly stretchy material makes these leggings barely noticeable when worn for long periods of time. They are literally the PERFECT leggings for everyone on your gift-giving list.

Women’s Bamboo Lightweight Fleece Joggers

The Women’s Bamboo Lightweight Fleece Joggers are also a MUST-have this holiday season. They are equally soft, but yet remind me of a pile of clouds. They are so lightweight that you forget you have them on but yet heavy enough that they keep you warm when you step outside on a cold winter day. The jogger silhouette gives them a polished but sporty look for casual weekend vibes.

Hot Iron Pantry

My brother-in-law Greg says he can’t get his food hot enough, so this year, give spice lovers this spicy gift box.

The Scoville Gift Box has 3 great flavors in it. Or buy the box and split it for those who love a little spice, love some spice, or those extra spice lovers give them Scorching!

ScovilleHotPepper Salt – Warm– Coarse salt blended with classic jalapeno, ancho, and after-glow space chili (like cayenne but sweeter).

ScovilleHotPepper Salt – Hot– Coarse salt blended with thai, habanero, and pequin peppers; the “original Scoville Salt” that adds a nice kick of heat and flavor!

ScovilleHotPepper Salt – Scorching– Coarse salt blended with Carolina reaper, scorpion, and bhut jolokia chocolate ghost flakes; this is serious heat for the true heat lover who wants to sweat with every bite. I’m betting this one will do the trick for Greg.

Don’t like it spicy? Me either! Go with the Blasts Gift Box.

Ultimate Blast – It is the ultimate! This stuff goes great on just about anything for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Spud Blast – Pick a potato (baked, skillet, fried, frozen, fresh, whatever) and you will never eat a potato the same way again!

Steak Blast – The backyard griller’s dream come true, make any meat the envy of a top-shelf restaurant, apply before, during, or after cooking, and watch the flavor just melt into the meat!

The Spud Blast is my favorite and the best thing is that the spices don’t even have to go on just “spuds”. Use it on your eggs for an out-of-this-world breakfast.

Give the gift of spice this holiday season with a Spice Box from Hot Iron Pantry.

City Bonfires

Giving gifts is hard for someone on your list, so for that hard-to-buy-for-person pick up some Citybonfres S’mores Night pack! But don’t settle for just the hard to buy for, buy one for everyone on your gift-giving list, and everyone will love knowing that you are supporting a small American-made business!

We are giving The Mini S’mores Kit to our daughter as a stocking stuffer because this year more than ever we are doing more memories, not things.

This delightful kit allows you to create up to 10 mini s’mores sandwiches, and have s’mores over the open flames, but made for indoor use. Use the mini bonfire to roast marshmallows to perfection while you gather with family and friends. You are sure to build mini s’mores sandwiches, smiles, laughter, and lots of memories with this fun gift.

Or go outside with the Citybonfres S’mores Night Pack! The bonfires are reusable so you get many happy moments from a single can. And the kit makes 4 full-sized s’mores, so it will be perfect for our next date night at home, perfect for Empty Nesters like us!

The perfect, adorable stocking stuffer that everyone will love! Ignite the love of s’mores this holiday season!

Dead Sea Soak from Yareli

I’ve been on a more green approach and a healthier me as we finish 2023 and head into 2024. I’ve embraced many changes over the last year but still have room for improvement. However, one change at a time, I’m making progress, and that is the most important part. Give the gift of Yareli this holiday season and help everyone in your life.

The Yareli Dead Sea Magnesium Bath Flakes are 100% unscented magnesium chloride flakes harvested from the Dead Sea. But my favorite part is that they are free from additives or artificial fragrances. Turn your bathroom into a spa because these flakes facilitate a relaxing soak ideal for the bathtub and foot soakers.

How Magnesium Works

Magnesium is a mineral that plays a crucial role in maintaining our body’s overall health and well-being. It is an essential nutrient that our body requires for proper functioning. Magnesium helps regulate the nervous system, muscle and heart function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure, among other functions.

Magnesium, a mineral crucial to the body’s functioning, provides a range of benefits for the entire body. Use as a foot soak, sitz bath, or traditional bath soak.

Eucalyptus Dead Sea Soak

The Eucalyptus Dead Sea Soak smells amazing and my office smelled heavenly the first time I opened the bag. But the sinus-clearing was beyond fantastic and a much-added benefit that I wasn’t expecting. Because your skin is your biggest organ, soaking in magnesium has LOTS of benefits. You will hydrate your skin, reduce inflammation, improve your skin, and feel even better. Use it in the shower to exfoliate your skin, or relax in a warm running bath. The perfect gift for everyone on your list.

Rosemary Mint Dead Sea Soak

The Rosemary Mint Dead Sea Soak helps aid in relaxing muscles, soothing tension, and promoting overall skin and body well-being. Paired with rosemary oil, it helps revitalize and clarify the skin, reducing oiliness and promoting a healthier complexion. The peppermint oil refreshes and invigorates the skin, providing a cooling sensation and helping to alleviate skin irritations. Making the Rosemary Mint Dead Sea Soak the perfect trifecta for everyone to help look and feel your best.

The V-Shape Neck & Décolleté Cream helps remove the “turtle” neck look that graces us as we age. This cream is the perfect treatment to help slim and tone the turtle neck look and lift and shape the neck and jawline. This moisturizing cream has two brightening agents to help minimize discolorations on the neck and chest area due to sun exposure. The formula includes lots of proteins, peptides, and other extracts to help reduce fat deposits to minimize jowls and double chin to improve facial contours stopping aging in it’s tracks.

Pick up your Mini Trio Set from KeraCell today, I promise your skin will thank you for it!

Smoke N Sanity

Brady loves to BBQ, Smoke, and Grill literally everything, so this year, I’m giving him the gift of seasonings. The Smoke N Sanity BBQ Bundle has 4 stellar seasonings that are low FODMAP approved. But don’t let that fool you. The seasonings are full of robust flavor without the additives that oftentimes have an adverse reaction on our stomachs.

BBQ Bundle Package contains their 4 Low FODMAP BBQ seasonings:

• SteakHouse – The perfect steak blend without additives and flavorsome.
• SNS Triple S All Purpose Seasoning – Like Lawry’s Seasoning Salt but better, very enjoyable on everything.
• SPG (Salt, Pepper, Essence of Garlic Salt) – Simple, robust and delicious.
• Sweet Maple Dust – Savory, sweet blend of spices and flavors that make it perfect on almost anything!

Have a World Traveler?

Their World Traveler collection is the perfect pairing for those foodies!

• SnS Jerk – Brings the flavor of the Caribbean to your table and makes everything served at home more enjoyable.
• Tikka Masala Seasoning – Curry seasonings that are perfect enough for even vegetables.
• Cajun Creole – Bring Mardi Gras to you and allow you to have New Orleans flavor in your own home. I do have to admit it made me want to take another trip just to be sure!
• Pho Seasoning – I’m not sure I’ve ever had Pho, but I’m sure I will whip up something delicious with this one.
• Teriyaki  Seasoning– Perfect on chicken, just don’t add more salt, it’s just perfect to shake and serve. But you might want to cook it!

Teach My

My number one gift giving item for kids is always Teach My! I’ve worked with them for years and every kid always loves the activities. Our grandson had the Teach My Baby kit and just went for his two year old check up. According to his Dr. he is ahead of schedule because he can count to 3 and talks in some sentences. I attribute great parents and Teach My for helping him build his educational base. Teach My is a Women Owned company all about helping parents spend quality time with their children through educational play. Started by Christy Cook when her son was a toddler, she realized the need for an all-inclusive educational kit that parents could work on with their children.

Zevo’s Flying Insect Trap

Living in the country, we have our fair share of flying insects all year long, but in the summer, they make me cranky. I’ve tried everything from apple cider vinegar, candles that repel them, and those super gross hanging fly traps. We even keep fly sprays handy because sometimes they just seem to be pesky critters. But in the wintertime, we seem to get gnats, especially around our fruit in the kitchen. But I’m happy to report that Zevo’s Flying Insect trap is a MUST-have for everyone this holiday season.

Pick #PeopleFriendlyBugDeadly Zevo

Zevo’s Flying Insect Trap uses innovative UV and blue light technology to attract and capture gnats, fruit flies, and all sorts of other pesky flying insects. (Goodbye, Japanese Bettles that seem to live forever!) Zevo was the top-selling insect control product at Target and other major retailers this summer! But I’m here to tell you we NEED to make it the top-selling item for the holidays because it literally is life-changing!

Zevo’s discreet design makes it the perfect stocking stuffer, and it can fit seamlessly into a home’s aesthetic, while the sprays are made with no harsh chemicals, so it’s worry-free for families with little children or pets! Gift useful gifts that friends and families will love this holiday season! 

Cozy Earth

What do Oprah and I have in common?

Our love of great products, of course!! The Waffle Bath Bundle from Cozy Earth is a must-have for all families this holiday season. The Waffle Bath towels turn your bathroom into a modern sanctuary, and they are luxurious. These ultra-absorbant towels are perfect for after the shower or bath time for the entire family. But all moms deserve these amazing towels.

Each Waffle Bath Bundle comes with the following:

2 Waffle Bath Towels, 2 Waffle Hand Towels, and 4 Waffle Wash Cloths

The fantastic towels are made from 40% Premium Viscose from Bamboo fabric and 60% Cotton, resulting in an extremely soft towel for spa-like comfort available for you daily in your own home. Available in white, light gray, and charcoal, there is the perfect set to match your bathroom decor this holiday season.

The Original Christmas Specials Collection

Give the perfect gift this holiday season with the limited edition, collectible steelbook featuring five Christmas Classics and bonus content exploring their iconic animation.

Available for a limited time on Blu-Ray on November 2, 2021 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

‘Tis the season to enjoy the timeless holiday classics in The Original Christmas Specials Collection featuring five unforgettable stories. Produced by Rankin/Bass:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town 

The Little Drummer Boy feature iconic “Animagic” stop-motion animation

Frosty the Snowman and Cricket on the Hearth are beautifully animated.

Starring the iconic voice talents of Fred Astaire, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, Danny Thomas, Burl Ives and many more, these favorites also feature some of the most beloved songs of the holiday season and are sure to entertain audiences of all ages for generations to come!

Cutluxe

Our Kitchen is a hodgepodge of brands that we have fallen in love with over the years. But the latest addition is going to be a brand new knife set. The Cutluxe Artisan Series knives are The CutLuxe 8-Piece Knife Block Set. I received a 3.5” Paring Knife and a 5.5” Utility Knife and Brady was in love the second he held them.

I love that they have a lifetime warranty! The Cutluxe knives come with lifetime warranty against material or workmanship defects, purchase without risk. The blades are sharpened edge at 14-16 degrees per side for maximum sharpness & edge retention ensuring precision slicing every time. Luxury pakkawood handle that is triple-riveted for sure grip and absolute stability that ensures comfort and maneuverability. Laminated and polished for a sanitary build, perfect for busy kitchens.

They are made with premium German Steel PREMIUM GERMAN STEEL – Precisely forged of high-carbon German steel engineered to perfection at 56+ Rockwell hardness for long lasting performance, rust and stain resistant.

My favorite has quickly become the 3.5” paring knife because it seems to be absolutely perfect for everything I need to do. Unleash your inner chef with the professional knives in these premium knives from Cutluxe.

Christkindl Market

Christkindl Market is located in London, England and they sent me a wonderful box of holiday goodies. I’ve always had a love for a nutcracker, and I’m not sure why, but when I opened the box from Christkindl Market, I was in awe of the goodies I found. The first one was perfect because it was a mug which is a Limited Edition German Glühwein Mug Set. If you have seen my coffee mug collection, you understand the excitement, but they even replace yours if you break it. 

But I was a little more excited when I opened a bag of amazing smelling spices and went to their website to figure it out. It is a Glühwein spice mix (I’m not up on the German language), but their website says you can make your own authentic mulled wine. Mulling is an old practice that involves infusing warmed juices, ciders, or wines with a collection of luscious ingredients, and results in a smooth and soothing evening beverage.

Their Mulling Spices follow the traditional ingredients of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and dried orange peels, which create a well-rounded brew that is sweet, light, and addicting! I’d only had Aspen Mulling Spices (which is wonderful, but oh my goodness, their brand is so much better! I might have to order an additional spice set. 

German Made Nutcracker

Did I mention that I received a gorgeous Nutcracker!? This red King is dressed in his traditional regal uniform. He’s wearing a crown – scepter in hand – and looking very stately in red and gold. 

He is hand-made from wood and hand-painted in Germany by Ulbricht/Seiffener artisans. 

10.5″H x 4″W x 3But I think the coolest part of the “Nutcracker” is that it actually can “crack” nuts. They have 234 different Nutcrackers on their website, and I could see myself collecting Nutcrackers for years to come. But I don’t want any old Nutcracker, I want the handmade German ones! The real nutcrackers are produced in Germany and most of them still have the nut cracking feature, even though everybody is buying them for their beautiful design, flawless finish, and stylish outfit. The one produced in the original 17th century shops include up to 130 pieces, each of them shaped and painted by hand. Talk about a unique gift that everyone needs. Plus you can brush up on your history of the Nutcracker and learn something new.

The Nutcracker also came with a friend that was a green gnome. They come in red and green in a set, and are very reasonably priced. I think the Gnome is going to go live with my mom or sister, or maybe I should just order them each a set for Christmas! But they have several different gnomes that I know they would both love, so I will have to make a decision eventually. Stay tuned to see what the result was, I can’t spoil their presents just yet. 

Also in the box was a fun “sweatshirt/jumper” that I thought would be PERFECT for the holidays. 

This fabulous shirt from Cuckoo Forest is the perfect addition to every family. There are 117 colorful nutcracker toys featured on it that tells the perfect story. It’s sure to become the center of conversation wherever you go because nutcrackers strike a note of nostalgia with all ages, especially during Christmas time.

A cheerful Christmas greeting runs across its top front flanked by sprigs of mistletoe and a string of multicolored Xmas lights, while colorful nutcracker figurines and evergreen designs blend beautifully into its soft beige and cream background that has snowflakes running right through it. The back of the shirt features the signature phrase of the Cuckoo Forest Company “German Nutcrackers that Crack Nuts.” It has become synonymous with genuine and exclusive German nutcrackers and all of the gifts would be PERFECT for everyone on your holiday list, I promise. 

SWAGTRON®

One of the things that I loved as a kid was riding bikes and we spent hours on them every single day. While those days are long gone for me, our grandson is just getting started. Meet the Swagtron K7 3-in-1 Balance Bike, that is a Trike, Bicycle and a Balance bike that helps kids learn to ride a bike without training wheels. This product is perfect for kids between 10 months and 5 years old so he will be able to use it for about 3 more years, which is the perfect addition to his toy collection.

The simple, convertible design allows kids a more natural way to learn to balance. The convertible design grows with kids as they develop and improve their balance, coordination, and strength. Switch between three riding modes: a no-pedal balance trike, a pedaled tricycle, and a two-wheel balance bike easily without a bunch of tools.

Because every rider is different, the K7’s seat adjusts between 11 and 13 inches. The unified front handle system has five adjustment angles, ensuring a truly comfortable experience for a variety of children’s heights and arm lengths.

The K7 comes with solid wheel hubs with no pass-through, which prevents tiny toes and laces from passing through and getting caught in the wheel while pedaling. The indoor-safe and puncture-proof wheels are made from EVA material that won’t damage or scuff floors. The K7’s durable iron frame is fully splash-, rust- and spill-resistant and is fully ASTM F963 certified. So this is the perfect bike for under the tree for all kids this year, because it’s safe, well made and something that will grow with your child for years to come.

Gifts to Impress Avid Cooks

The Holidays are quickly approaching and we have some great gift ideas for you. Start shopping online today and beat the holiday rush, and never have to step foot into the store, this holiday season. I’ve become a 85% online shopper, and the holidays I avoid the stores as much as possible. Here are some great gift ideas to make shopping this holiday season as easy as 1-2-3!

Have a foodie on your list?? Then check out the foodie Gift Guide!

Need toy ideas? Check out the Toy Gift Guide!

Have a technology lover?? Check out all of the Technology Gift ideas in the Technology Gift Guide.

Looking for educational gifts? Then check out the Educational Gift Guide, where there are lots of great brands to help you educate your children in a fun way.

BBQ Lovers Gift Guide