Thank you so much for watching! Find links in the description and everything from Amazon here: urlgeni.us/amazon/2024-Gift-Guide and find $10 & Under Gift List: urlgeni.us/amazon/10-gifts I hope you have a good day!! - Dawn
this is the best Christmas list I've seen yet! There are multiple items on the list that were already on my list and a few more that I didn't think of. Thanks for the great ideas!
I have 17 plants. It’s a lot to take care of. I recently was diagnosed with a very serious disease. So far I have given away several plants. I have 6 plants left. I don’t have the bandwidth for all of this stuff. I also got rid of three tall kitchen trash bags of stuff. What a relief. I am not done yet. Any prayers for me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
We are 70ish and decluttering is our fave hobby now. We'd rather not receive any gifts but do enjoy restaurant gift cards or homemade goodies from our kids.
@ yeah…. Nobody wants your crap…. Just your time and fellowship! It was true freedom to understand how commercial Christmas has become. The fact that we feel… FEEL…. We’re supposed to be buying anything is a true sign of propaganda.
I think the nicest gifts for adults come from local markets and individual businesses. More expensive so you get less for your budget, but I find that people really appreciate them.
My best tip for kids’ gifts is to take them out of the store packaging. Install batteries, wash anything that may end up in mouths, assemble anything needed and then put in a regular gift box. Toys are ready to go as soon as opened, you know everything works, and trash is minimized.
Yes, you can attach the batteries to the outside of the package, but it's not considerate to the parents of the child who may want the flexibility to return the gift to the store because of too much excess or regift in its original packaging.
Great idea, I wish I’d thought of it when our kids were young!! That is such a great thing to do for excited kiddos AND for you as parents too - minimize Christmas Day chaos!❤❤
This is a friendly reminder that when giving gifts, if possible include gift receipt! If the receiver has gotten doubles or simply doesn’t think they will use the product, I’m sure they would appreciate the option to return and get something useful. I do have say that as a teacher I wish people would stop giving me mugs and chocolate for Christmas gifts. I feel like that’s all I get every year and I just go and instantly donate everything. I’d much rather have the $5-10 dollars they spent on it or a meaningful written letter from my students than a pack of hot chocolate, junk food, etc. A cool gift my husband got me recently though that might make a nice gift idea was an herb growing starter kit.
When I was a kid, my grandma would sometimes give us an “office” file. It was an accordion style file box and she had different papers and stickers and pens in it. We loved getting those - your inventor’s box reminds me of that. Hours of fun!
I would be so disappointed if my Mum gave me that gift for Christmas lol. What I love about this channel though is it celebrates and encourages people’s individuality and doesn’t promote unwanted festive junk giving just because it’s expected at Christmas. 😊
To share another great gift idea for kids we started: Real tools (Not play tools. The idea is they will have a full toolbox/sets when they leave home as an adult ) Can start at age 4 or 5 years old with levels, a magnetic bowl (for holding loose pieces on a project), a real toolbag etc. Then keep adding a tool or two each birthday/Christmas. They love having REAL grown up tools and learning to use appropriately. There are lots of tool options that are appropriate for kids.
Our family plays a 'gift giving' game ~ we pick names. After that, going around the room you say who you picked & then 'charade' their gift...only the person 'receiving' the gift can guess! (But all join in anyway!) It is so fun to see the little ones receive 'imaginary' ponies, castles or friendly dragons! Equally fun to see the teenagers 'receive' a car, a boat, new ski equipment, etc. The adults... we 'receive' elaborate homes, furniture, pools & jewelry! In the end we realize the best gift is spending time together & donating any $ that would have been spent to a worthy cause! ♡
Firstly, I truly believe and feel that any gift is a gift from the heart and I appreciate the meaning behind it. That being said, I also do try to keep down the waste of money and how much is going into the landfill unnecessarily. As a teacher, I'd say my number one favorite gifts have always been gift cards to Target. My local Target is a Super Target and has a Starbucks inside. So I can use those Target gift cards for either a Starbucks treat (yes, they take the Target GC if the Starbucks is inside the Target), or for groceries, or for something totally for me.
One year I got a nice bowl, put a bottle of popcorn kernels in it, and then got several different popcorn flavorings to sprinkle on. My son loved it!! He would text me every time they tried a different flavoring 🙂
Thank you. Gift guide videos are soo helpful for busy moms like me. I recently started a new project at work and not only am I super duper busy, it is draining my energy and I am so tired at the end of the day. I can barely manage dinner and getting my kid ready for next day. And we have 2 birthdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas and it's all too much. Just saying - thank you. ❤
My SIL gets our boys (ages 5 and 2) a magazine subscription for Christmas. They love getting their special mail each month and it's something that can be passed along or recycled. I eventually put them in little free libraries.
Thank you Dawn for the gift ideas and reviews. You’ve helped this grandmother know where to start. What a beautiful thing you are doing by donating to Dorothy’s House.
One thing that I have given is a big sturdy circular swing that hangs from a tree. I bought it at Sam’s Club and my grandkids have enjoyed it for years. I paid $100 for it and they have 4 kids!! This year I bought a trampoline for their birthdays and Christmas gifts!! So worth it. They are jumping on it for hours every day. They are getting exercise and it will last for years!! It makes it easier for to and lasts a long time!!
YES! We have a swing like this for our 8 kids and it gets tons of use by everyone: adults, kids, visitors. The kids have built the best memories growing up playing together on that swing, setting up a reading fort on it, etc. It’s hands down our best outdoor toy investment!🎉
You can get, or sew up, fabric gift bags now. They're fantastic because you can reuse them again and again, just swapping them amongst you. And, no plastic waste 🎉
I recently learned to crochet: If you are giving a crochet kit to someone who doesn’t know how to crochet, and is starting at step 1, Woobles are worth the money. The instructions are broken down very clearly, the yarn is a special type that won’t unravel, and the projects are pre-started so you can jump right into learning how to hold the yarn and use the hook. If you already know how to crochet, even a little, then the $10 kits from Amazon are great. But I’d give an absolute beginner a Woobles kit, no question.
My Christmas gifts are very simple. I get my adult daughter 2 gifts she really wants. $50 each. The rest including stocking stuffers are all items she can use for the year. Deodorant, shampoo, hair elastics, toothbrushes, toothpaste, gas gift card ($50). She really appreciates all of it. Simple. Done.
Dawn, I thank our God for all you do!!! You are a gift to the Kingdom of God!!! Thank you for loving everyone so well.💜 Every week, I look forward to the God-given content you bring to lead us more deeply in the abundant life! Remain encouraged, my friend!
Those Klutz books were favourites in our home for years. Every year there’d be a new one for each kid. I also love the gourmet food and snacks at Winners/ HomeGoods. Everyone loves a fancy treat like even the nice pasta or fancy mustard.
Last year I got the lady who does my manicures and pedicures a pretty wall calendar. She has it up in her shop! I will be getting her one this year as well!
I get anxious having to give all the gifts. I hate spending money on something I’m not sure someone will want. We decided several years ago to no longer exchange with adults and the only kids were our two and one nephew. Now there are 4 nieces and nephews so these ideas are appreciated.
So anxious! I don't even enjoy the holiday anymore bc of the gift giving anxiety. And I have friends who want gifts vs gift cards which makes it even worse. I have a giving heart, but I hate trying to figure out what people want, esp when we all have more than enough. Give me a list at least. Why are people offended by that? 🙄
Gift cards are my go too. Always the right size and color. Try the game, throw throw burritto...oh my gosh, lil kids and adults alike had a blast with this game.
Owala bottle was the best gift ever!!! Thank you for the recommendation last year. My husband and I picked out one for each other. A year on, and they are as good as new! No leaks, keep the water cold, love the ease to sip the water up the straw. Thank you Dawn!
You are so awesome and i love following your channel. We have stopped buying christmas gifts. Only our 2 boys get gifts and it feels sooo good. not to spend money on crap people don´t need or want. I´m a minimalist and it´s the best decision i ever made
I bought two of the Klutz kits (the Lego one and the bakery one) after you recommended them in your video last year. They were definitely big hits with my kids!
You have so many good ideas here! I find it so, so hard to give gifts. Since I don't like receiving extra stuff, I'm usually overly practical and I talk myself out of every idea I have 🤦🏼♀️ I will definitely be using some of these ideas for my loved ones this year!
When you mentioned Cass from clutterbug and the collapsible bucket… I wonder if you have seen her video where the bucket collapses while full of water and spills everywhere during her recent deep cleaning video 😂😂😂the whole video is pure comedy gold lol
My son hosted his first Overnighter New Year's Eve Party at 16 with a Murder Mystery Dinner! You can actually download Murder Mysteries for free and then it is Role Play. Everybody is assigned a role and gets a sheet with Info on their character, motives, view on the case and their knowledge of it! You may go all in costumewise! They prepared their own pizza and had dinner at the festive living-room table. Older sister supervised and we were at the neighbours! Came back well after midnight to a tidied house and an animated game of Activity in the attic bedroom where we had organized all the matresses! So much fun! Very successful party at very low cost! 🎉🥳
@pnwflipper2089 Our kids got to know Murder Mysteries in school/excursions/Summer Camp. My son organized his own by letting a classmate write it, who couldn't attend as her family went skiing! It wasn't perfect, they broke off and discussed her mistakes very mature and positive over ice-cream! Then they played Activity and other Games🤷🏼🥳on the Couch! You might want to look at Ruth Ware for concise explanation and freeformgames for kid-friendly games for starters, the "Wild West free for 10 kids" sounds quite nice! If they go through it fast, Just have shorter Party games on hand! There is an App on the Phone my kids Like. You hold it to your forehead and everybody can read who you are on the screen like good old-time stickers. They played it at the kids end of the table at our last family reunion.
This was amazing and you covered every age group! I just ordered the Carhartt sweatshirt and Light Up Letter off your list. Your cheese cards also sparked the idea of a real charcuterie board which I'm also going to find for my son. Thank you, thank you.
My grandsons age 5&7 LOVE the cardboard building tools. It’s such a fun parent/child activity and they were so proud of the rocket ship they made together. I was instructed not to destroy it!! 😊
THANK YOU, Dawn! Gift giving at Christmas,… every year, I think, ‘There’s got to be a better (more meaningful) way to do this.’ I’ve been thinking about asking our family if they’d be interested in taking the money set aside for gifts for one-another & pooling it together to anonymously gift a person/family in need. After watching your very well done video, I’m also reminded of the joy in our gifting one-another. Still pondering! Loved this video! ✨🎁✨
We do this every few christmas'. We skip the gift exchange and we actually delivery the money/gifts to the person in need. We've been invited into their homes and they are so appreciative of the help. It is truly a blessing - and we don't need the 'stuff'.
My 3 year old LOVES crafts. She got a ceramic rainbow to paint for her birthday and it was so much fun to paint with her. Nothing beats quality time with your kids.
First cup of coffee this morning from the espresso maker recommended on minimal mom Amazon list! Totally trust you and bought the espresso machine and vacuum without any additional research! If you are recommending it I trust it!!! Thanks for recommending the gifts for me and for the gift of time so I did not have to research.
I appreciate this. This year my grandson will be almost 2 1/2 years. I purchased him a subscription for One year of highlights, high five magazine, and I am getting him some magna-tiles. You gave me good ideas for the others and for the stockings. Thank you for this.
Our family had got to the point that we were all doing gift cards...and it was starting to feel like going to the bank...we were all essentially exchanging money. So now I give so.wthing to unwrap and. Smaller $ gift card. It felt like a good compromise. In turn I send them all my amazon list that is full of consumables and am thrilled when that is what we get.
Kind of like the inventors box, you can also to a creativity box with more artsy supplies. I got a craft box from my godmother when I was a kid that had my name on it in puff paint (yes early 90s lol) And it was so awesome!!! I had the box for years and when I got something new it would go in that box. 👍🏻👍🏻
Erase your Face cloths - my husband grabbed my black one while showering and used it to scrub off all the grease from the machine shop. He came out and told me that he loved that new washcloth in the bathtub because it was great at getting the grease off. I had 2 black ones, so I told him that the black ones were for him and the other colours were mine and not to mess them up. When my adult son started at the machine shop, I gave him a few to use also. So, they aren't just for ladies!
Nice coffee really is such a nice gift. We’re frugal and I was raised frugal. My sister-in-law got me a nice flavored coffee, and it’s still one of the favorite things I’ve received. So, I got my dad a nice flavored coffee (he only buys Folgers and things like that), and I guess he really liked it because he rations it by mixing it with his basic stuff. 😄 So he needs more at Christmas and maybe he will allow himself some full flavored days.
Anyone serious about bringing in real money should find the ebook void of power no one’s gonna tell you this directly but once you read it you’ll understand
Thank you for the carhartt idea! My husband wants more zip hoodies! Thats perfect! I love that you consider the challenges people have for wrapping. ❤ YOU are such a gift, Dawn! ❤❤❤
For my 13 year old son I ordered a customized a yeti stainless steel cup with his Minecraft username and his character on it. It wasn’t cheap but through Nov 11 the customization is free. He is hard to pick for now that he is older, but I know he will love it since he loves Minecraft, both playing and watching it on UA-cam. He also wants to make a UA-cam channel so this will be like his own merch 😂
Some great ideas! Check out reusable cloth bags. They make wrapping SO easy but also clean up is also a snap and you don't have to buy new ones each year.
They're great. I got a bulk set on Amazon last year with different Christmas patterns. They fold into a little pouch when empty. They can be used as reusable shopping bags (especially with more neutral patterns) or reused to wrap gifts the next year. Some folks kept their bags as part of their gift (my intention). Some folks gave them back to me to reuse for the next Christmas. Either way, easier than actually wrapping, looks nice, and no waste.
We have the makedo set for our boys. Kids are 4 and 6. They like to play with it. Even the neighbours kid build a doll house once when she was over to play at our house. I think it's not for all kids but if they like to craft it's a nice gift.
Gift giving can feel so overwhelming, both mentally & financially. It helps that my kiddos are adults, but I still LOVE giving gifts, lol! We're in the process of decluttering but still have way too much stuff. This year, I'm doing a gift card to one of their favorite stores and a stocking/bag filled with their favorite treats. :)
I always love your practical and minimal gift giving ideas. A favorite of my grandmas is a custom calendar. She is a big book lover, so we are also getting a custom book embosser and bookmark.
I love consumable gifts. I am a soap maker so all of our family and friends get goatmilk soap for gifts. They pick the fragrances they want. It works great for me.
We are giving geometry dishtowels and papertowels this season. The dishtowels are by far the best we've ever used, dry dishes in one swipe and have lots of fun prints or basics. They last a long time, don't get stinky, wash up well, I'm seriously blown away and have pretty much tossed all my other dishtowels. The papertowels have a bit of a shelf life, although they still last quite awhile, the colors/prints are more limited. But I'm just really impressed with the quality, durability overall.
Last year I saw your gift video and bought the deck of cards for my hubby for Christmas. Those were a huge hit as we use them several times a day playing cribbage.
I love playing dutch blitz! So fun! Some more gift ideas could be memberships to local attractions like zoos or museums, and of course support local small businesses and ask if they have gift certificates, or see what they are selling that your friends and family may enjoy. I've gotten gifts at craft/vendor fairs too, handmade jewelry, hair bows, homemade candy and more. My uncle used to order a package from Omaha Steaks for our family at Christmas. Something like that (even from a local farmer) would be good for kids who are out of your home.
I love these ideas and I believe my boys will love for Christmas. I may even get the crochet kit for myself. I had ankle surgery and I’m suppose to lie low for a month and I’ve been wanting to learn as a new hobby. Thank you for all these ideas ❤
Some great ideas this year, thank you! I appreciate that you and your family go through the troubles of testing them before sharing with us. Thank you!! Kinetic sand and a creators box were hits last year & still being played with. An art easel by Melissa & Doug was a great gift 2 years ago that the kids still use.
I have a Kindle paperwhite, and the page turning function is a tap, not a swipe. Much prefer that! Thank you for sharing these ideas - I marked down quite a few with several people in mind. Very helpful!
I love your ideals, Dawn!! Nearly everyone on my list is getting a coffee mug with their favorite nfl team (our family is big into football - we have a family fantasy football league! 😂) and a box of mug cakes! 🎂 ☕️ Thanks for all your research! And I feel like this does go hand in hand with decluttering - both make our lives easier!! Thank you!!! ☺️
We give food gifts that friends and business associates have looked forward to for decades. The best is a sharp cheddar cheese spread from Vern’s Cheese in Chilton, Wisconsin. The best!
I despise Christmas. If there were no gifts or debt or expectations from those around us I would probably like it more. I’m a thanksgiving gal for that reason.
Yes I would prefer to just have a nice lunch with family. Gifts are fun for kids but I think unecessary for adults. Like my parents have everything and buy everything, they have so much. But I have to wrack by brains thinking of something to buy them for Christmas. It just seems so pointless. So much of what people buy eachother is just junk.
@@krissyk9767 fellow holiday hater myself. Im autistic w adhd and its just too much to deal w. Adults dont need gifts. My kid is getting second hand toys from facebook market place and the grandparents are getting shutterfly photo ornaments that i will mail out asap or it will not happen at all. 😂
I always look forward to your holiday gift guide. Everything is so useful , well thought out and fun for the kiddos in my life! Thank you for taking the time and putting so much thought into each gift idea! I always love all your videos because you are so genuine and kind! Happy holidays!❤
Love this! Thank you for such great videos. My husband has become accustomed to hearing, “well, Dawn does this….” You are such a blessing in our home ❤
I love my Kindle page turner but it took me three purchases and two returns before I figured out I needed to narrow the margins or I ended up moving it to see the words but since I figured that out I absolutely love it. It is so nice keeping the remote in my hand under the covers and being able to turn the pages.
The best game ever for an afternoon is a saran wrap ball is a blast. It is fun to make and play. You can make age specific ones if there is a lot of different ages there. We never had so much fun last year
The adults on both sides of our family have been exchanging names for Christmas every year and I’m really considering not participating next year so I can focus on my nieces/nephews and buy consumable couples’ gifts. No matter how we make our “wish lists” it just feels like the joy of gift giving has been sucked out of it. Definitely looking at some of these for the kids!
Such a great list of interesting items! I needed some fresh ideas for my crafty 11 yr old niece. And the first thing her 13 yr old sister said she wanted is nail polish, lol, or any other beauty product.
That’s a lot of stuff! I agree that the kits to keep kids busy are better than most toys or collectibles! My kids loved the Thames and Kosmo’s water & air pressure kit. I don’t know if they make that one any more. I love the idea of the escape room boxes too! We will have to try those this year!
Such a nicely stocked HomeGoods!! Be thankful for that small shopping pleasure. Haha Ours has shelves with product spilling out and so messy! It's like they think that everything in the back room needs to be shelved until stuff is even on the floors. Its crazy!
Good stocking stuffer for my young adult girls this year is eyeshadow pallets. Elf has a really good basic one for $3(last year's price). This year, I'm thinking about the bigger Revolution eyeshadow pallets from Target. ($12). Maybe an ELF brush or two. And their lip liners are great and only $2! The hair curling set my girls LOVE and use all the time! I've even used it! Works great, but a small learning curve... Another great gift is the lamps that heat your candles so you don't have to burn them. It makes your candles last for months! Saves money in the long run and they're so beautiful!($20-30)
Thank you so much for watching! Find links in the description and everything from Amazon here: urlgeni.us/amazon/2024-Gift-Guide and find
$10 & Under Gift List: urlgeni.us/amazon/10-gifts I hope you have a good day!! - Dawn
Thank you Dawn.
this is the best Christmas list I've seen yet! There are multiple items on the list that were already on my list and a few more that I didn't think of. Thanks for the great ideas!
Oh, hey! That's the Lakeville Target!
Are your earrings from trade of hope Dawn?
Thank you thank you thank you for the gift idea help!!! It is so super helpful and appreciated!!! 👍🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️🎅🏼🎅🏼
I have 17 plants. It’s a lot to take care of. I recently was diagnosed with a very serious disease. So far I have given away several plants. I have 6 plants left. I don’t have the bandwidth for all of this stuff. I also got rid of three tall kitchen trash bags of stuff. What a relief. I am not done yet. Any prayers for me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
🙏🙏🙏
Prayers for you
PRAYS coming your way
Praying for you to heal and return to health 🙏
Prayers 🙏🏻
We are 70ish and decluttering is our fave hobby now. We'd rather not receive any gifts but do enjoy restaurant gift cards or homemade goodies from our kids.
We just give money so they can shop for bargains after Christmas.
Money or food, great gifts
My husband and I haven't done gifts for Christmas for 5 years now... no regrets! people do not want random things, and not the reason for the season!
Same! Been about 10 years!
@ yeah…. Nobody wants your crap…. Just your time and fellowship! It was true freedom to understand how commercial Christmas has become. The fact that we feel… FEEL…. We’re supposed to be buying anything is a true sign of propaganda.
I think the nicest gifts for adults come from local markets and individual businesses. More expensive so you get less for your budget, but I find that people really appreciate them.
Yes, because it’s something that people aren’t willing to get for themselves! Great suggestion!
My best tip for kids’ gifts is to take them out of the store packaging. Install batteries, wash anything that may end up in mouths, assemble anything needed and then put in a regular gift box. Toys are ready to go as soon as opened, you know everything works, and trash is minimized.
Yes, you can attach the batteries to the outside of the package, but it's not considerate to the parents of the child who may want the flexibility to return the gift to the store because of too much excess or regift in its original packaging.
@ I was really just talking about gifts I give my own kids. Or Santa/Easter Bunny/etc. gives. Not gifts for outside family.
Yes!!! This is so so nice!
Great idea, I wish I’d thought of it when our kids were young!! That is such a great thing to do for excited kiddos AND for you as parents too - minimize Christmas Day chaos!❤❤
Yes, I love doing this! Christmas morning is so much smoother & less trash day of
This is a friendly reminder that when giving gifts, if possible include gift receipt! If the receiver has gotten doubles or simply doesn’t think they will use the product, I’m sure they would appreciate the option to return and get something useful.
I do have say that as a teacher I wish people would stop giving me mugs and chocolate for Christmas gifts. I feel like that’s all I get every year and I just go and instantly donate everything. I’d much rather have the $5-10 dollars they spent on it or a meaningful written letter from my students than a pack of hot chocolate, junk food, etc.
A cool gift my husband got me recently though that might make a nice gift idea was an herb growing starter kit.
When I was a kid, my grandma would sometimes give us an “office” file. It was an accordion style file box and she had different papers and stickers and pens in it. We loved getting those - your inventor’s box reminds me of that. Hours of fun!
I give my older kids paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent, steaks, chicken, and pork. They love it.
Can i interest you in adopting a middle aged woman (me!)?
Ooh I love this!
Good idea!!
I'm 28 and these are my favourite gifts to get now! And for baby showers.
I would be so disappointed if my Mum gave me that gift for Christmas lol.
What I love about this channel though is it celebrates and encourages people’s individuality and doesn’t promote unwanted festive junk giving just because it’s expected at Christmas. 😊
To share another great gift idea for kids we started:
Real tools (Not play tools. The idea is they will have a full toolbox/sets when they leave home as an adult )
Can start at age 4 or 5 years old with levels, a magnetic bowl (for holding loose pieces on a project), a real toolbag etc. Then keep adding a tool or two each birthday/Christmas. They love having REAL grown up tools and learning to use appropriately. There are lots of tool options that are appropriate for kids.
I started buying my teenage grandson fun real tools and he loves them.
Our family plays a 'gift giving' game ~ we pick names. After that, going around the room you say who you picked & then 'charade' their gift...only the person 'receiving' the gift can guess! (But all join in anyway!) It is so fun to see the little ones receive 'imaginary' ponies, castles or friendly dragons! Equally fun to see the teenagers 'receive' a car, a boat, new ski equipment, etc. The adults... we 'receive' elaborate homes, furniture, pools & jewelry! In the end we realize the best gift is spending time together & donating any $ that would have been spent to a worthy cause!
♡
Firstly, I truly believe and feel that any gift is a gift from the heart and I appreciate the meaning behind it. That being said, I also do try to keep down the waste of money and how much is going into the landfill unnecessarily. As a teacher, I'd say my number one favorite gifts have always been gift cards to Target. My local Target is a Super Target and has a Starbucks inside. So I can use those Target gift cards for either a Starbucks treat (yes, they take the Target GC if the Starbucks is inside the Target), or for groceries, or for something totally for me.
From a minimalist standpoint, I love the idea of consumable gifts. The holiday measuring cups/spoons though?? That one threw me.
One year I got a nice bowl, put a bottle of popcorn kernels in it, and then got several different popcorn flavorings to sprinkle on. My son loved it!! He would text me every time they tried a different flavoring 🙂
Thank you. Gift guide videos are soo helpful for busy moms like me. I recently started a new project at work and not only am I super duper busy, it is draining my energy and I am so tired at the end of the day. I can barely manage dinner and getting my kid ready for next day.
And we have 2 birthdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas and it's all too much.
Just saying - thank you. ❤
I’ve had the Turkish hand towels for years and they look the same today as they did on day 1 even with kids using them. They are great quality!
My SIL gets our boys (ages 5 and 2) a magazine subscription for Christmas. They love getting their special mail each month and it's something that can be passed along or recycled. I eventually put them in little free libraries.
My kids (also 5 and 2!) Love ranger rick jr. My mom got it for them last Christmas.
@@thefarmista My sister is getting my oldest that one this year. He gets Highlights and NatGeo also.
What is SIL? 😊
I also got a magazine subscription for my nieces and nephew. They loved it chirp, chickadee and owl
@@vnickcolvin4971sister in law
Thank you Dawn for the gift ideas and reviews. You’ve helped this grandmother know where to start. What a beautiful thing you are doing by donating to Dorothy’s House.
One thing that I have given is a big sturdy circular swing that hangs from a tree. I bought it at Sam’s Club and my grandkids have enjoyed it for years. I paid $100 for it and they have 4 kids!!
This year I bought a trampoline for their birthdays and Christmas gifts!! So worth it. They are jumping on it for hours every day. They are getting exercise and it will last for years!! It makes it easier for to and lasts a long time!!
YES! We have a swing like this for our 8 kids and it gets tons of use by everyone: adults, kids, visitors. The kids have built the best memories growing up playing together on that swing, setting up a reading fort on it, etc. It’s hands down our best outdoor toy investment!🎉
We have that swing. It's AMAZING
You can get, or sew up, fabric gift bags now. They're fantastic because you can reuse them again and again, just swapping them amongst you. And, no plastic waste 🎉
Mom makes these and she'll give a set of 3-4 to someone for a gift
That's a great idea!@@melanieshipley3133
I recently learned to crochet:
If you are giving a crochet kit to someone who doesn’t know how to crochet, and is starting at step 1, Woobles are worth the money. The instructions are broken down very clearly, the yarn is a special type that won’t unravel, and the projects are pre-started so you can jump right into learning how to hold the yarn and use the hook.
If you already know how to crochet, even a little, then the $10 kits from Amazon are great. But I’d give an absolute beginner a Woobles kit, no question.
My Christmas gifts are very simple. I get my adult daughter 2 gifts she really wants. $50 each.
The rest including stocking stuffers are all items she can use for the year.
Deodorant, shampoo, hair elastics, toothbrushes, toothpaste, gas gift card ($50).
She really appreciates all of it.
Simple.
Done.
Dawn, I thank our God for all you do!!! You are a gift to the Kingdom of God!!! Thank you for loving everyone so well.💜 Every week, I look forward to the God-given content you bring to lead us more deeply in the abundant life! Remain encouraged, my friend!
✨Amen, & well said! ✨
You gotta play the game Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza. It’s great for all ages
Those Klutz books were favourites in our home for years. Every year there’d be a new one for each kid. I also love the gourmet food and snacks at Winners/ HomeGoods. Everyone loves a fancy treat like even the nice pasta or fancy mustard.
Last year I got the lady who does my manicures and pedicures a pretty wall calendar. She has it up in her shop! I will be getting her one this year as well!
I get anxious having to give all the gifts. I hate spending money on something I’m not sure someone will want. We decided several years ago to no longer exchange with adults and the only kids were our two and one nephew. Now there are 4 nieces and nephews so these ideas are appreciated.
So anxious! I don't even enjoy the holiday anymore bc of the gift giving anxiety.
And I have friends who want gifts vs gift cards which makes it even worse. I have a giving heart, but I hate trying to figure out what people want, esp when we all have more than enough.
Give me a list at least. Why are people offended by that? 🙄
Gift cards are my go too. Always the right size and color. Try the game, throw throw burritto...oh my gosh, lil kids and adults alike had a blast with this game.
Owala bottle was the best gift ever!!! Thank you for the recommendation last year. My husband and I picked out one for each other. A year on, and they are as good as new! No leaks, keep the water cold, love the ease to sip the water up the straw. Thank you Dawn!
Thanks for sharing, Dawn! Yes, consumables are the best...for me at least. Then I don't have things sitting around. My list is short again this year.
This is one of the best gift guids I've seen. Great suggestions. Thank you Don. You're always spot on.
You are so awesome and i love following your channel. We have stopped buying christmas gifts. Only our 2 boys get gifts and it feels sooo good. not to spend money on crap people don´t need or want. I´m a minimalist and it´s the best decision i ever made
I love that carhart half zip! I have been trying to think of things to give the men in my life and I really like that!
I bought two of the Klutz kits (the Lego one and the bakery one) after you recommended them in your video last year. They were definitely big hits with my kids!
You have so many good ideas here! I find it so, so hard to give gifts. Since I don't like receiving extra stuff, I'm usually overly practical and I talk myself out of every idea I have 🤦🏼♀️ I will definitely be using some of these ideas for my loved ones this year!
Hi Micaela, how's your day going with you?
I have gone to three gifts. Large, small and a stocking. If three gifts were good for Jesus then three gifts each are good enough for my family.
The inventors box is on our list again this year! It was a huge hit for my kids and niece and nephews!
When you mentioned Cass from clutterbug and the collapsible bucket… I wonder if you have seen her video where the bucket collapses while full of water and spills everywhere during her recent deep cleaning video 😂😂😂the whole video is pure comedy gold lol
😂😂😂😂I have to look for that 😂
Yes I saw it! Hilarious! I had the same thought. 🤣
Same!
😃
I got a two pack of buckets on Amazon after watching Cass. I LOVE them!😍 😂
Oh good! Adeline is still crocheting! And doing a great job!
My son hosted his first Overnighter New Year's Eve Party at 16 with a Murder Mystery Dinner! You can actually download Murder Mysteries for free and then it is Role Play. Everybody is assigned a role and gets a sheet with Info on their character, motives, view on the case and their knowledge of it!
You may go all in costumewise!
They prepared their own pizza and had dinner at the festive living-room table. Older sister supervised and we were at the neighbours! Came back well after midnight to a tidied house and an animated game of Activity in the attic bedroom where we had organized all the matresses!
So much fun! Very successful party at very low cost!
🎉🥳
I think my son and his friends would love a murder mystery dinner!!! What website do go to to download? Are they appropriate for middle schoolers?
@pnwflipper2089 Our kids got to know Murder Mysteries in school/excursions/Summer Camp.
My son organized his own by letting a classmate write it, who couldn't attend as her family went skiing! It wasn't perfect, they broke off and discussed her mistakes very mature and positive over ice-cream! Then they played Activity and other Games🤷🏼🥳on the Couch!
You might want to look at Ruth Ware for concise explanation and freeformgames for kid-friendly games for starters, the "Wild West free for 10 kids" sounds quite nice!
If they go through it fast, Just have shorter Party games on hand! There is an App on the Phone my kids Like. You hold it to your forehead and everybody can read who you are on the screen like good old-time stickers. They played it at the kids end of the table at our last family reunion.
This was amazing and you covered every age group! I just ordered the Carhartt sweatshirt and Light Up Letter off your list. Your cheese cards also sparked the idea of a real charcuterie board which I'm also going to find for my son. Thank you, thank you.
I think this is your best list yet!
My grandsons age 5&7 LOVE the cardboard building tools. It’s such a fun parent/child activity and they were so proud of the rocket ship they made together. I was instructed not to destroy it!! 😊
THANK YOU, Dawn! Gift giving at Christmas,… every year, I think, ‘There’s got to be a better (more meaningful) way to do this.’ I’ve been thinking about asking our family if they’d be interested in taking the money set aside for gifts for one-another & pooling it together to anonymously gift a person/family in need. After watching your very well done video, I’m also reminded of the joy in our gifting one-another. Still pondering! Loved this video! ✨🎁✨
We do this every few christmas'. We skip the gift exchange and we actually delivery the money/gifts to the person in need. We've been invited into their homes and they are so appreciative of the help. It is truly a blessing - and we don't need the 'stuff'.
Thank you, Suzannem! Your encouragement is deeply appreciated.
~Grateful~ ❤️🙏🏽
My 3 year old LOVES crafts. She got a ceramic rainbow to paint for her birthday and it was so much fun to paint with her. Nothing beats quality time with your kids.
First cup of coffee this morning from the espresso maker recommended on minimal mom Amazon list! Totally trust you and bought the espresso machine and vacuum without any additional research! If you are recommending it I trust it!!!
Thanks for recommending the gifts for me and for the gift of time so I did not have to research.
I appreciate this. This year my grandson will be almost 2 1/2 years. I purchased him a subscription for One year of highlights, high five magazine, and I am getting him some magna-tiles. You gave me good ideas for the others and for the stockings. Thank you for this.
Magna tiles are the best! My 11 and 13 year olds still play with them.
“If my mom will let us.” I don’t know why that statement made me laugh. Even when you’re a grown adult gotta listen to your mom!!! 😂
I assume it's mom's table that they will use.
Our family had got to the point that we were all doing gift cards...and it was starting to feel like going to the bank...we were all essentially exchanging money. So now I give so.wthing to unwrap and. Smaller $ gift card. It felt like a good compromise. In turn I send them all my amazon list that is full of consumables and am thrilled when that is what we get.
Kind of like the inventors box, you can also to a creativity box with more artsy supplies. I got a craft box from my godmother when I was a kid that had my name on it in puff paint (yes early 90s lol)
And it was so awesome!!!
I had the box for years and when I got something new it would go in that box. 👍🏻👍🏻
literally done with 50% of my family now. Thank you!
Erase your Face cloths - my husband grabbed my black one while showering and used it to scrub off all the grease from the machine shop. He came out and told me that he loved that new washcloth in the bathtub because it was great at getting the grease off. I had 2 black ones, so I told him that the black ones were for him and the other colours were mine and not to mess them up. When my adult son started at the machine shop, I gave him a few to use also. So, they aren't just for ladies!
I actually LOL when you mentioned the cake stand. Of COURSE that's on your list! 🤩
Those drawstring bags were a game changer fir me last year! Highly recommend!!! ❤
Nice coffee really is such a nice gift. We’re frugal and I was raised frugal. My sister-in-law got me a nice flavored coffee, and it’s still one of the favorite things I’ve received. So, I got my dad a nice flavored coffee (he only buys Folgers and things like that), and I guess he really liked it because he rations it by mixing it with his basic stuff. 😄 So he needs more at Christmas and maybe he will allow himself some full flavored days.
My dad passed 3.5 years ago and you just brought tears to my eyes reading this. It's totally something he would do.
I always love Tuesdays. Love and blessings from East Texas.
Anyone serious about bringing in real money should find the ebook void of power no one’s gonna tell you this directly but once you read it you’ll understand
Is that by Andrew Raiford? If not, who's the author? 📚🤓 TY
I always look forward for your gift suggestions, especially for the family games. They never dissapoint. Greets from Slovakia (Europe).
Great gift idea. Love the red shirt today. So festive and in the spirit:)
Thank you for the carhartt idea! My husband wants more zip hoodies! Thats perfect!
I love that you consider the challenges people have for wrapping. ❤
YOU are such a gift, Dawn! ❤❤❤
For my 13 year old son I ordered a customized a yeti stainless steel cup with his Minecraft username and his character on it. It wasn’t cheap but through Nov 11 the customization is free. He is hard to pick for now that he is older, but I know he will love it since he loves Minecraft, both playing and watching it on UA-cam. He also wants to make a UA-cam channel so this will be like his own merch 😂
Thank you for the great ideas. Shopping randomly is my least favorite part of Christmas. This truly helps. 🎄
I’m usually not a fan of gift guides but really really enjoyed this gift guide and added so many items to my Christmas shopping Wishlist.
Some great ideas! Check out reusable cloth bags. They make wrapping SO easy but also clean up is also a snap and you don't have to buy new ones each year.
They're great. I got a bulk set on Amazon last year with different Christmas patterns. They fold into a little pouch when empty. They can be used as reusable shopping bags (especially with more neutral patterns) or reused to wrap gifts the next year. Some folks kept their bags as part of their gift (my intention). Some folks gave them back to me to reuse for the next Christmas. Either way, easier than actually wrapping, looks nice, and no waste.
We have the makedo set for our boys. Kids are 4 and 6. They like to play with it. Even the neighbours kid build a doll house once when she was over to play at our house. I think it's not for all kids but if they like to craft it's a nice gift.
Gift giving can feel so overwhelming, both mentally & financially. It helps that my kiddos are adults, but I still LOVE giving gifts, lol! We're in the process of decluttering but still have way too much stuff. This year, I'm doing a gift card to one of their favorite stores and a stocking/bag filled with their favorite treats. :)
I always love your practical and minimal gift giving ideas. A favorite of my grandmas is a custom calendar. She is a big book lover, so we are also getting a custom book embosser and bookmark.
I love consumable gifts. I am a soap maker so all of our family and friends get goatmilk soap for gifts. They pick the fragrances they want. It works great for me.
Thank you!! Thank you!! These helped me with my bigger girls. And a great game my kids like right now is - splendor.
We are giving geometry dishtowels and papertowels this season. The dishtowels are by far the best we've ever used, dry dishes in one swipe and have lots of fun prints or basics. They last a long time, don't get stinky, wash up well, I'm seriously blown away and have pretty much tossed all my other dishtowels. The papertowels have a bit of a shelf life, although they still last quite awhile, the colors/prints are more limited. But I'm just really impressed with the quality, durability overall.
Last year I saw your gift video and bought the deck of cards for my hubby for Christmas. Those were a huge hit as we use them several times a day playing cribbage.
I love playing dutch blitz! So fun! Some more gift ideas could be memberships to local attractions like zoos or museums, and of course support local small businesses and ask if they have gift certificates, or see what they are selling that your friends and family may enjoy. I've gotten gifts at craft/vendor fairs too, handmade jewelry, hair bows, homemade candy and more. My uncle used to order a package from Omaha Steaks for our family at Christmas. Something like that (even from a local farmer) would be good for kids who are out of your home.
I love these ideas and I believe my boys will love for Christmas. I may even get the crochet kit for myself. I had ankle surgery and I’m suppose to lie low for a month and I’ve been wanting to learn as a new hobby. Thank you for all these ideas ❤
Some great ideas this year, thank you! I appreciate that you and your family go through the troubles of testing them before sharing with us. Thank you!!
Kinetic sand and a creators box were hits last year & still being played with. An art easel by Melissa & Doug was a great gift 2 years ago that the kids still use.
I enjoy your ideas for gift-giving! We are trying to clean our house of “stuff” so this year we plan to be much more thoughtful on gifts.
Those klutz books/kits are amazing! I learned how to juggle using one of those kits as a kid and it kept me busy for an entire week learning.
Thank you!!! I think this will take care of most of my gift-giving! Click, click... good for Dorothy's House!!!!
Hi Suzi, how's your day going with you?
Your gift guide is the only one I watch.
I have a Kindle paperwhite, and the page turning function is a tap, not a swipe. Much prefer that! Thank you for sharing these ideas - I marked down quite a few with several people in mind. Very helpful!
I love your ideals, Dawn!! Nearly everyone on my list is getting a coffee mug with their favorite nfl team (our family is big into football - we have a family fantasy football league! 😂) and a box of mug cakes! 🎂 ☕️ Thanks for all your research! And I feel like this does go hand in hand with decluttering - both make our lives easier!! Thank you!!! ☺️
We give food gifts that friends and business associates have looked forward to for decades. The best is a sharp cheddar cheese spread from Vern’s Cheese in Chilton, Wisconsin. The best!
I love that you do these every year! So helpful! I have to watch them multiple times though because there’s so so much great information!
I despise Christmas. If there were no gifts or debt or expectations from those around us I would probably like it more. I’m a thanksgiving gal for that reason.
Yes I would prefer to just have a nice lunch with family. Gifts are fun for kids but I think unecessary for adults. Like my parents have everything and buy everything, they have so much. But I have to wrack by brains thinking of something to buy them for Christmas. It just seems so pointless. So much of what people buy eachother is just junk.
I love Thanksgiving too!
@@FreedomWriter-r1o Thanksgiving is not something celebrated in my country. What do u do at Thanksgiving?
@@krissyk9767 fellow holiday hater myself. Im autistic w adhd and its just too much to deal w. Adults dont need gifts. My kid is getting second hand toys from facebook market place and the grandparents are getting shutterfly photo ornaments that i will mail out asap or it will not happen at all. 😂
I really don't prefer it either. Would prefer to just visit with family and celebrate Jesus birth.
Play 9 has been a family favorite since my kids were little (4 or 5) and they still love to play it today, almost 10 years later.
Hi Katie, how's your day going with you?
Dawn, I look forward to your gift guide every year. Thank goodness for your suggestions. You are such a lifesaver💕
I always look forward to your holiday gift guide. Everything is so useful , well thought out and fun for the kiddos in my life! Thank you for taking the time and putting so much thought into each gift idea! I always love all your videos because you are so genuine and kind! Happy holidays!❤
Love this! Thank you for such great videos. My husband has become accustomed to hearing, “well, Dawn does this….”
You are such a blessing in our home ❤
❤
I love my Kindle page turner but it took me three purchases and two returns before I figured out I needed to narrow the margins or I ended up moving it to see the words but since I figured that out I absolutely love it. It is so nice keeping the remote in my hand under the covers and being able to turn the pages.
Hi Charla, how's your day going with you?
Hi Dawn. This was very helpful, especially the "what to get children. " Thank you for all you share.
I have given my kids a bag of frozen shrimp or a tub of fresh crab meat. Something special, they can use but wouldn't otherwise buy.
The best game ever for an afternoon is a saran wrap ball is a blast. It is fun to make and play. You can make age specific ones if there is a lot of different ages there. We never had so much fun last year
Great ideas Dawn! I like gifts that are useful or are creative too. Your guide helped me to check a couple people off my list. ty ty!
Love this gift guide! Thanks for taking the time to pull it together! ❤❤❤
I got the EXIT games last year, So fun! My kids and I loved them! Going to have to get more. Love your gift ideas
The adults on both sides of our family have been exchanging names for Christmas every year and I’m really considering not participating next year so I can focus on my nieces/nephews and buy consumable couples’ gifts. No matter how we make our “wish lists” it just feels like the joy of gift giving has been sucked out of it. Definitely looking at some of these for the kids!
Such a great list of interesting items! I needed some fresh ideas for my crafty 11 yr old niece. And the first thing her 13 yr old sister said she wanted is nail polish, lol, or any other beauty product.
That’s a lot of stuff! I agree that the kits to keep kids busy are better than most toys or collectibles! My kids loved the Thames and Kosmo’s water & air pressure kit. I don’t know if they make that one any more. I love the idea of the escape room boxes too! We will have to try those this year!
So many great ideas! Thank you!! I struggle with gift giving, finding things that I think people would really like. This was a big help.
Such a nicely stocked HomeGoods!! Be thankful for that small shopping pleasure. Haha Ours has shelves with product spilling out and so messy! It's like they think that everything in the back room needs to be shelved until stuff is even on the floors. Its crazy!
Dawn, the water bottle holder bag is brilliant!! Thanks!!
Good stocking stuffer for my young adult girls this year is eyeshadow pallets. Elf has a really good basic one for $3(last year's price). This year, I'm thinking about the bigger Revolution eyeshadow pallets from Target. ($12). Maybe an ELF brush or two. And their lip liners are great and only $2! The hair curling set my girls LOVE and use all the time! I've even used it! Works great, but a small learning curve... Another great gift is the lamps that heat your candles so you don't have to burn them. It makes your candles last for months! Saves money in the long run and they're so beautiful!($20-30)