Stacey A. Shannon is a freelance journalist and blogger who has been published internationally. She's also a Christian, a wife and a mom of two school-aged children. She started Families with Grace in 2019 to encourage Christian moms as they create homes filled with grace, love and faith.
Be sure to get the FREE family devotion book, "Finding Grace at Home: 7 Days of 5 Minute Devotions for Families." It's a great way to help your family draw closer to each other and to God.
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These are the parting words the angel Gabriel said to Mary before he left her. He proclaimed God’s word and promise that both Mary and Elizabeth were going to have babies.
Mary’s situation was miraculous in having a baby who would be the son of God. Elizabeth’s pregnancy was also a miracle, because she was of advanced age.
Yet, the angel plainly reminded Mary that God’s Word won’t ever fail. We can still trust in it today. The Bible is full of promises and ways that God will be with us.
It tells us that God is always with us, and we don’t need to fear. It tells us that God loves us and calls us His own.
We can trust in the unchanging and infallible Word of God. If God has given you a promise to hang on to, and you just aren’t seeing anything happen, then just hold tight.
No word from God will ever fail. He’s working, even when you can’t see Him.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for your Word and the reminder that all your Words are true. Your promises are good, and I trust you with my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A simple way to celebrate the birth of Christ this season
The holiday season is filled with hustle and bustle that can leave even the most organized mom feeling overwhelmed. With buying gifts, attending events, keeping up with family traditions and managing our households, we can lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas—the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
This year, I invite you to pause and reflect with an Advent Bible reading plan designed specifically for moms. This Advent reading plan is a great way to stay grounded in God’s Word throughout the month of December, focusing on the story of Jesus and His miraculous arrival.
The plan includes daily Bible readings, reflective questions and a dedicated page for prayer requests and praises. Whether you’re doing this as part of your personal quiet time, with a small group or even as part of your family devotions, it’s a beautiful way to slow down and keep your eyes on Jesus.
What is an Advent Bible reading plan?
The season of Advent marks the weeks leading up to Christmas. It’s a time for Christians to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ.
An Advent Bible reading plan is a structured guide to help us get into God’s word every day and focus on the story of Christ from prophecy to fulfillment.
This Advent Scripture reading plan weaves together key Old Testament prophecies, the beautiful narrative from the Gospel of Luke and New Testament reflections on the significance of Christ’s birth.
For moms, it can be particularly meaningful. In the midst of the busyness of the Christmas season, these daily readings offer a chance to connect with the Holy Spirit, reflect on God’s promises and discover fresh ways to celebrate the true reason for this season.
How the Advent reading plan works
This Advent plan is designed to be simple and flexible. Starting on December 1st, you’ll read one or two verses each day, following themes that walk through the Christmas story:
Week 1: The Promise of a Savior Week 2: Mary’s Yes Week 3: The Gift of Good News Week 4: Worship and Giving Week 5: Living the Christmas Story
Each day’s reading is short enough to fit into your busy schedule while still providing time to meditate on its meaning. Plus, you’ll find reflective questions for each week’s reading, encouraging you to go deeper and apply these truths to your life.
Why use an Advent Bible reading plan?
For many moms, the busyness of the season can overshadow the joy of preparing for Christ’s birth. This Advent Scripture reading plan is a tool to help you reclaim the peace and wonder of the Advent season. Here’s how it can bless you:
Reconnect with God’s Word
In the flurry of holiday preparations, it’s easy to let time in Scripture slip. This plan helps you stay consistent with daily scripture readings, guiding you through the birth of Christ while highlighting the beauty of God’s faithfulness.
Reflect on the true meaning of Christmas
Through Advent reflections and days of readings, you’ll be reminded of the richness of the Christmas story and God’s great love for us. This isn’t just about knowing the story of Jesus—it’s about experiencing the wonder of His arrival anew.
Strengthen family traditions
This plan isn’t just for moms! It’s a wonderful resource for family devotions, allowing you to share the story of Christ with your kids.
Consider pairing the readings with a children’s Bible or using the Advent calendar as a visual aid for younger kids.
Create space for prayer and gratitude
Alongside the Advent readings, you’ll find a printable page for recording prayer requests and praises. This is an opportunity to reflect on how God has worked in your life and to bring your cares before Him in this special season.
Get the free Advent Bible reading plan
This Advent Bible reading plan is a simple yet powerful way to stay connected to God’s Word during the Advent season. Whether you’re a mom juggling schedules or looking for a way to introduce your kids to the story of Christ, this plan offers a thoughtful approach to the busyness of the Christmas season.
Ideas for Using the Advent Reading Plan as a Family
Incorporate it into your nightly routine: Gather as a family each evening to read the day’s Scripture. Pair it with lighting a candle on your Advent wreath or sharing something you’re grateful for that day.
Use it with a children’s Bible: For younger kids, read the verses from a children’s Bible with illustrations. This helps bring the story of Christ to life in a way that’s easy for them to understand.
Tie it to your Advent calendar: If you use an Advent calendar, pair each day’s treat or activity with the corresponding daily scripture reading to reinforce the true meaning of Christmas.
Create a prayer chain: Write prayer requests or praises on paper strips each day after reading the Scripture. Link them together to form a chain that grows throughout the month. On Christmas morning, review your chain and thank God for His faithfulness.
Make it interactive: After each day’s reading, invite your kids to draw or color something inspired by the verse. For example, they could draw angels after reading about the shepherds or a star for the Wise Men.
Start a family journal: Use a notebook to jot down a quick reflection each day as a family. Answer questions like, “What did we learn about Jesus today?” or “How can we live out today’s verse?”
Tie it to family traditions: Incorporate the readings into established traditions. For instance, share the Scriptures while decorating the tree, setting up a nativity scene, or baking Christmas cookies.
Share the plan with others: Invite extended family or friends to join you in the Advent Bible readings. You could even set up a group chat to share reflections, prayer requests or praises throughout the month.
Bring it into Sunday dinner: If your family gathers weekly for dinner, take a few minutes to review the week’s verses and discuss what stood out to each person.
Celebrate milestones: As you move through the season of Advent, celebrate milestones like Mary’s “yes” or the shepherds hearing the good news. Use these moments to discuss how they connect to the way we live out our faith today.
A Great Way to Celebrate the Birth of Jesus
This Advent reading plan is more than just daily scripture readings; it’s an opportunity to slow down, connect with your family and focus on the true reason for the season.
Whether you’re reading on your own, leading your kids through the verses, or sharing them with friends, it’s a beautiful way to prepare your heart for Christmas.
Trusting in God’s unfailing presence through the ups and downs of motherhood
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
Knowing that God is there for us and will strengthen us whenever we face trouble is incredibly comforting and encouraging. Even better is that He is there to help us no matter the trouble from struggles with potty training to sending your kiddo off to college.
I love picturing an image of God holding me in his arms when I’m weary and overwhelmed. I imagine being surrounded by God’s love and filled with his strength.
This verse reminds me of that. Even when I am struggling and don’t feel like I’m doing a good job as a mama, God is right there with me.
In the busyness and overwhelm of life, I try to find ways to seek God as my refuge through things like devotional time, prayer time and listening to Christian music.
Today, we can let God hold us when we are too weary to keep going!
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for being our refuge and strength always. Lord, lift me up today and strengthen me. Help me through all of the troubles I face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God meets you in silence with His perfect understanding
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
Romans 8:26 (NIV)
Figuring out what and how to pray is sometimes challenging. Even as someone who has been in church her whole life and feels a close connection to God, I still struggle with having the right words.
Because the truth is, life is difficult. There are situations I face that I don’t even know what to ask God to do. I’m rendered basically speechless.
That’s where the Holy Spirit steps in. How perfect is God in knowing our needs and meeting them before we even realize the issue is there?!
For those times when you don’t even know what to pray, rest assured the Holy Spirit is bringing requests to God on your behalf. God doesn’t forget you when you are at a loss for words. In fact, I think that’s often when he steps in the best.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for taking care of my needs even before I know I have them. I ask for your guidance and wisdom in all I have going on in my life. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
55 Unique Christmas gift ideas for kids and adults that they’ll love — and your wallet will, too!
Coming up with fun Christmas gift ideas for everyone on your shopping list can be a challenge. And coming up with the perfect gift for people in your life who have everything is even more challenging.
But there are great gifts that are both fun and practical gifts for pretty much everyone on your list — and you don’t even have to break the bank.
And, even better, these are all on Amazon, so you can order them and have them show up at your house with the click of a button. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.
For almost anyone
The whole world is obsessed with insulated tumblers with straws and a handle. And I’d guess at least one person on your Christmas gift list falls into this category.
The perfect present for these folks that’s also a lot of fun is straw toppers! Even my teenage daughter is in love with them.
One of the most fun and surprisingly inexpensive options at less than $5 is a set of four personalized straw toppers. Use your own photos and text to make this gift super fun and unique.
No matter what you call it, they’re one of the best gifts for any age. They seriously work for your whole crew from the preschooler to the hard-to-shop-for old guy!
Pin art boards are great for a desk, bookshelf or wherever you want to have something to do with your hands while you’re thinking. (Or wherever you want to occasionally gently smush your face and look at your profile!)
Unless your friends and family live somewhere magical that it never rains, they could use an umbrella. These reverse inverted inside-out umbrellas are awesome!
I’ve been using one for a few years and love how easy it is to put up and down as I’m getting in and out of my car. It’s one of the best products I’ve found for keeping dry.
These come in two sizes 31 different colors and patterns.
Everybody has a slew of pencils and pens that need organized whether it’s at home or at work or both! You might as well organize them in something fun and clever.
Even better, this top pick is an adorable elephant pen and pencil holder that can hold writing utensils and a phone! It’s a small gift with a sense of humor that’s also practical.
If you think just a device holder would be a better fun Christmas gift idea for your friend, I’ve got you covered for that. I use mine all the time.
In fact, I use it so much that it resides on my kitchen table. It is ideal for a Kindle. I love being able to prop up my Kindle Paperwhite and read during my lunch breaks. There are all sorts of great options!
Comes in four different dog breeds
Comes in a two-pack with multiple color options.
Available in four different poses
While you’re at it, you might as well add a fun charging cable to go with the phone stand. This 46-inch USB charging cable that lights up like Christmas lights is one of the best Christmas gifts this holiday season.
And then there is this 14-in-1 hammer tool. It looks cute because it looks like a little hammer, but it’s also incredibly functional and would be something pretty much any gift recipient could use in one of their kitchen drawers.
Fun gift ideas for the person who loves retro
It pains me a bit to say that cassette tapes are retro, because they were such a big part of my childhood, but the truth is, they are. My kids were recently confounded by cassette tapes, in fact.
This fun gift is available in gray, blue and pink.
To go even more retro, check out these cute vinyl record drink coasters. I won’t even pretend that I also didn’t have a few records as a kid, because I certainly did.
I’m a fan of fun coasters. If you’re going to use a coaster to be a responsible adult, you might as well have fun with it! The low price on this ideal gift also make it a great stocking stuffer!
This Hemingway typewriter pencil holder just makes my heart happy. I’m not really sure why because I was only on the very tail end of using typewriters way back in the day, and then they were electric.
But something about this just makes my old soul happy, and I’d bet you know someone who would agree!
If you’re Christmas shopping for a bookworm this year, one of these old-school library check-out card themed items may be just the right gift.
Next is a zipper pouch with the same theme. It could certainly be a fun conversation starter for your entire family at your holiday gathering since younger generations have probably never seen these cards!
This TV speaker phone holder is a great throwback option for your secret Santa or a gag gift for those who like old school things!
Fun Christmas gift ideas for home cooks
I love having fun stuff in my kitchen, and I assume everyone else does, too! I found some unique and fun Christmas gift ideas that would be great Christmas presents for any home cook.
Fun in the kitchen kicks off with making food. If you’ve got to measure out ingredients, you might as well have some fun measuring cups.
Whether you’re buying a gift for a novice cook or someone who seldom cooks, everyone can use cooking utensils. They just seem to make any kitchen work a bit more fun and days brighter.
This colorful set of human shaped kitchen gadgets is a great way to bring a smile to someone on your Christmas list who has kitchen duty. I have a soup ladle made like this, and my whole family gets a kick out of it every time I use it!
And if that doesn’t get you smiling while you cook, add on this smiley face turner, which is perfect for making pancakes on a weekend morning.
The best option for home cooks who also love cats is this cat turner spatula. It’s cute enough to function as home decor and practical enough to flip pancakes!
When it comes to unique and fun Christmas gift ideas, this clever Nessie Ladle that looks like the Lock Ness monster would bring some fun to soup night!
Staying with the theme of fun utensils, this dinosaur pasta server makes me smile. Anyone with kids would enjoy having this in their kitchen. Kids love pasta and dinos, so it’s a great combo.
My son would think this was fabulous if I used it to serve him dinner! As a bonus, it’s dishwasher, top-rack safe.
To keep the kitchen dino fun going, you have to know someone who would love this TriceraTaco Taco Holder. While it is adorable and cracks me up, it’s also helpful and useful. Hard taco eaters would love it.
This funny kitchen towel is a great option to go with the dino taco or nacho holders! It’s available in white or gray.
An incredibly clever Christmas gift idea for any Star Wars fans on your list (and I’m sure there’s at least one if not more!) are these light saber chopsticks that actually light up.
With all that fun going on in the kitchen, it’s going to have to be cleaned. While cleaning a kitchen isn’t the most fun job in the world, this adorable sponge holder makes me smile every time I see it.
It’s a great gift for pretty much anyone on your list who has a kitchen — and that’s everyone!
Everyone can use a cutting board, and this pirate cutting board comes with a knife that looks like the pirate’s peg leg. If that’s not the best way to store a knife for this cutting board, then I don’t know what is!
Finally in kitchen, check out this Gracula garlic crusher. It’s functional in that it crushes garlic, but it’s funny and quirky in that it looks like a vampire.
Fun Christmas gifts for a family
Coming up with a gift to give to a family can be a challenge sometimes, so I’ve got some great ideas for family gifts all family members would love!
This indoor electric smores maker is one of my favorite things we have! I can make smores year-round. I don’t have to worry about an open flame.
And it really does toast the marshmallows just like I want them. My kids get a kick out of it, too. It’s a great family gift!
This smores maker is a fun Christmas gift idea that works well for families with small children, older children or no children. Who doesn’t love a smore?!
Another great option is family conversation starter cards. They’re perfect for chats at dinnertime or even long rides in the car.
I don’t drink coffee or tea, but I love a fun mug nonetheless. I mean, I do drink hot chocolate. And it tastes better when it’s something fun to drink it out of!
Mugs make a great gift for nearly any adult — coffee lovers or not!. They even make good pencil holders!
You can give mugs solo or pair them with a coffee shop gift card or fill them with candy. There are lots of good options. And there are even more fun options when it comes to finding the right mug.
(If you go with the fishing mug for the angler in your life, consider pairing it with this fishing memory picture frame for a fun — and meaningful — gift!)
For the kiddos
And, of course, we can’t forget fun Christmas gift ideas for kiddos. I purposefully trying to add small gifts for my kids they will actually play with or use versus just buying a bunch of cheap stuff that breaks quickly or is tossed aside.
It was with that in mind that I looked for some interesting gifts kids would actually like.
The first one has to be this Little Live Pets Wraptile. I got this for my son for Christmas a couple of years ago. He absolutely loved it!
One of his favorite features was he could talk into a microphone on it and it would repeat what he said (in its voice). He also liked that the eyes change color based on what mood the creature is in, which is pretty neat.
For crafty children, a glow-in-the-dark rock painting set is a fun gift to add to your holiday shopping list. It takes crafts up a notch!
Another fun option for craft-loving children is the set of liquid pens. They’re part toy, part pen and all fun!
For kiddos as young as 24 months, this dog grooming and doctor kit actually straps on like a backpack. It comes with an adorable white plush dog and a variety of accessories that any kiddo would enjoy playing with.
When I was a kid, I had something very similar to this rainbow silk streamer and loved it! I made up so many routines and dances and flung that thing all over the place. It would be a hit with kids a wide array of ages.
Continuing the stroll down memory lane leads us to a Lite Brite. Remember those? It’s a great holiday gift idea for any kiddo.
And I’d be remiss to have a gift guide of fun Christmas gift ideas without including some potty humor for children. First up is the bag of reindeer farts.
Kiddos will get a kick out of eating reindeer farts, which is actually just yummy cotton candy!
For even more fart fun, this farting ink pen is another fun gift idea for children.
Beyond those games, though, there are some other fun game options families with love, including some updated classics.
First up is the classic hot potato game. Instead of someone having to play music and hit stop at random, the potato now plays music and stops on its own. How nice is that?!
Another update on a classic game is this Connect 4 Shots game. I got it for one of my nephews one year and my own kids the next. We have had fun with it.
It has the same basic rules as the classic Connect 4 but with the twist of having to bounce balls into the holder instead of dropping in pieces. Our whole family enjoys it!
To get in the Christmas spirit, this set of 12 Games of Christmas is a perfect gift for game-loving families. It has 12 simple and easy-to-learn games the entire family will have fun playing.
Finally, Kids Versus Parents is a fun family game that will help families get to know one another even better and share laugh along the way.
Looking for more Christmas ideas? Check out these posts!
Why God’s friendship means everything in the loneliness of motherhood
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
Something that surprised me about motherhood was how lonely it can be. I’m a natural introvert who thrives on alone time. As a mom, getting alone time in the early years can be downright difficult or even impossible.
Yet, it can also be so lonely and draining. We spend every moment of the day giving ourselves away. Finding the time or energy to talk with someone else about how we’re doing can be a challenge. And that’s assuming we have someone with whom we can talk who understands us.
I have learned time and again – especially during a season of one loss after another – that God is dependable. He doesn’t leave me and is right there to listen to me.
Since becoming a mom, I appreciate the friendship of God more than ever. I am thankful He is there when I’m up with a sick child in the middle of the night or fretting about a challenge one of my kids is facing while I’m washing my hair.
We are able to find contentment, joy, peace and friendship with our Heavenly Father at all times.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for always being with me. I appreciate having you as a friend who is constant, dependable and true. When I’m feeling lonely and out of sorts, remind me of your goodness and presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Why you can trust God’s promises, even when life shifts
“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”
Joshua 21:45
Have you ever made a promise you couldn’t keep? I have. It’s not that we’re lying or trying to be mean. Instead, life sometimes happens, and plans have to change. We can end up disappointing the people who love the most – our families.
However, I am thankful that God’s promises never fail. This verse talks about His promises never failing to Israel, but it is true for us as well. And, let’s just think about the Israelites for a moment.
They were God’s chosen people. They followed Him closely, except when they didn’t. They got distracted and sidetracked so many times. They doubted God. They made idols to worship. They let other people influence them.
In short, they were just like us. Yet, God remained faithful and true to the promises He made them just as He will for us. That’s the God we serve!
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for your faithfulness and the promises you make in my life. When I start to have doubts and get distracted, bring me back to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Finding the perfect gift ideas for everyone on your list from family members to friends to teachers doesn’t have to break the bank. And when the holiday season hits, budgets are often stretched even thinner. So I’ve got the best Christmas gift ideas under $20 for nearly everyone on your list!
For me, the best gifts are ones that can be bought online (because the bustle of holiday shopping stresses me out!). And they’re affordable gifts that don’t seem like cheap gifts.
Coming up with Christmas gift ideas can be difficult. Finding the perfect present in a good price range can be even more difficult.
I decided of all the gift guides I could do, this one is important! I’m highlighting some of my favorite finds that make great gift ideas or stocking stuffers for less than $20 each (most are well under $20).
You’ll find an ideal gift for pretty much everyone on your Christmas gift list from your mom to your kids’ teachers to your husband to your best friend. These are also great gifts for secret Santa gift exchanges!
And if you want to snag a couple of these items for yourself, go for it! They are all priced well to be easy on the budget.
Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.
For your best friend or mom (or yourself!)
One of my favorite gifts for moms is a wallet purse. It’s a perfect addition to any woman’s bag collection.
Often we just need something to hold our phone, debit card and keys. And it’s a thoughtful present because every mama needs something easy to grab and carry that won’t weigh down her shoulders or back.
The nice thing about a wallet purse is that it’s the perfect size to fit down inside a larger purse or bag as well. So if you need something bigger, then you don’t have to go through the hassle of switching your cards and everything else from one bag to another.
I really love these purses for taking along on field trips with my children or longer walks. It’s one of the easiest ways to carry my phone a lot of times since most of my pants don’t have pockets.
For your kids’ teachers (or pretty much anyone!)
I love stainless steel tumblers. I’m not sure love is a strong enough word, actually. I use one every single day.
I love it for ice cold water, because that’s what I drink most, but these cups work well for anything hot or cold. And they’re a great idea for a Christmas gift idea for pretty much anyone, including your kiddos’ teachers, babysitter, postal carrier, hairdresser, best friend, mom and on and on the list goes.
Really, who couldn’t use a cup that keeps their beverage hot or cold all day long?! When these cups first came out, they were mostly plain stainless steel and few had handles, but now there are all sorts of fabulous options.
The good news is we all have to stay hydrated, so this is a thoughtful gift that’s also practical and can be fun. Yes, there are name brand versions that are pricey, but you can find great tumbles at lower price points as well!
This 40-ounce tumbler comes with a handle and straw in a wide variety of colors. But, the very best part? It’s dishwasher safe!
For a slightly smaller option, this 30-ounce tumbler has a flip straw and handle for easy carrying. My daughter has a tumbler with this design that she loves for when she’s carrying lots of things with her.
Having a handle on top is a good idea to make the tumbler easier to carry, and the flip straw makes it less likely to spill.
For your baking friend
Honestly, I don’t buy many cookbooks any more because of the plethora of recipes online. I love Pinterest for organizing them!
However, after reading so many of the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery books by Joanne Fluke (which I recommend if you are looking for easy, fun books with intrigue), I kept wanting to try the recipes included.
The main character in the series owns a cookie shop and there are all sorts of yummy recipes as a result. As the series progresses, the recipes go beyond cookies to breads, cakes, pies and savory dishes as well.
I’ve used multiple recipes from it and even found my favorite ever chocolate cake recipe in its pages. It is one cake I gladly make from scratch because it’s easy and so scrumptious. You don’t have to be a reader of the book series to appreciate the recipes.
The cookbook has some text written about the characters, but I’ve never read it! (And I enjoy the series.) I just really like the recipes most.
The cookbook is basically compiled like it’s from a variety of small-town folks who appreciate good, filling dishes that don’t use a huge amount of ingredients or things that are hard to find. It’s practical and also has very detailed directions for each recipe.
The Lake Eden Cookbook is one of the more unique gifts on the list that most bakers would enjoy more than receiving kitchen gadgets that clutter their drawers!
And if you feel like going further with this Christmas gift idea, add some nonstick Rachael Ray bakeware like I told you about in the pumpkin bread recipe would go well with the cookbook. While an entire set of the bakeware is pricier, you can get a 9×13 rectangle pan or a cookie sheet for less. I love the Rachael Way cookware so much!
For your fellow mom (or dad!) friend
Can we all just agree that kids are messy eaters? We are constantly battling crumbs at our house.
Once my kids were old enough to get in on the action with sweeping the floor and wiping down the table as part of their chores, I realized they weren’t necessarily so great at managing crumbs.
My husband ordered up a mini vacuum that made crumb clean-up easier. It sweeps up crumbs from the table and is perfect for little hands to use!
It eliminates the struggle of trying to wipe crumbs from the table into your hands to carry to the trashcan. I have trouble with that myself sometimes; my kids struggle even more.
This little vacuum, however, works well. We use it on our kitchen table and chairs. We got a new table and chairs recently, but the bristles are soft enough that it doesn’t leave any scratches or marks on my table, which was important to me, too.
Any parent with kids would love this! And being able to use a gadget helps the kids get more excited about helping with clean-up.
For your geek or gamer friend (or husband)
As I shared in my list of gift nerdy gift ideas for him, my husband is a bona fide geek — in a cool way! So, I have to include a fun gift idea or two for others like him.
First up is this set of Paladone Nintendo NEW Cartridge Coasters. How cute are these?! They look like old school Nintendo cartridges that any kid from the 1980s would love.
I just wonder if you have to blow into them sometimes to get them to work! (And if you understand why I’m saying that, this is totally something you should order!)
Another set of cool throwback coasters I found look like floppy disks. They are so cute!
There are a few different option of these available, but I like this six pack of floppy disk coasters the most because they don’t have anything written on the label.
You could totally use a Sharpie and customize the labels for yourself or just leave them blank. They come in more fun colors than I remember any of my floppy disks ever being!
For your husband, dad or brother
For a few years now, my husband has been carrying a multi-tool in his pocket. It comes in handy so much for things like opening packaging, cutting straws for our kids at restaurants and all sorts of other random tasks.
Right now, in fact, he has two because he misplaced one for so long that he ended up ordering another one. We’ve also gotten this pocket tool as a gift for my father-in-law who enjoys it just as much.
Men tend to like tools that have so many components and options and this one certainly does that. It’s a great Christmas gift idea for pretty much any guy on your list.
For your daughter or niece
When my daughter was almost 6, we got her ears pierced. Once she was able to start changing her earrings, we learned pretty quickly that anything not gold-plated made her ears break out in a rash.
Both my mother-in-law and one of her sisters are the same way. They basically have an allergy to metals. We even tried the hypo-allergenic metals and silver-plated. All of them hurt her ears.
However, buying gold-plated jewelry for my then kindergarten-aged daughter to wear to school wasn’t something I had expected. I went in search of earrings she would like but also I wouldn’t have to stress about getting lost.
Looking locally, I didn’t find a pair of gold-plated, girls’ earrings under $50, which seemed steep to me. I decided to check out Amazon and was so pleased to find a variety of gold-plated girls’ earrings for under $20. They make a nice gift for any age.
These dangly, multi-colored flower earrings are one of my daughter’s favorite pairs that work well with different outfits. They are priced well for a stocking stuffer!
Small, colorful hoop earrings are also a special gift for the little (or not so little!) lady in your life. Available in single sets or three-packs, these hoops come in a variety of colors and are perfectly sized.
If you’re looking for slightly larger hoops, these pearl twist hoop earrings are a great choice. I gave them to my daughter for her 15th birthday, and she loves them!
And for those who don’t have pierced ears, go for a nice bracelet. This simple cross bracelet was also a gift to my daughter for her birthday, and she wears it daily.
For your son or nephew
I’m not sure boys ever stop loving dinosaurs and fierce animals. I mean, they really are cool.
Combine dinos with Legos, and it’s a match made in heaven! This Lego Creator dinosaur set is perfect because it builds three different dinosaurs in one set.
For kiddos a bit older (4th grade and up), this magnetic pen makes an excellent gift. Last Christmas, in fact, I bought it for my three nephews and then ended up getting one for my son as well. You can make all sorts of creations with it!
Finally, if you’re buying for a child who has a good imagination or like fidgeting, then these transformable fidget spinners are perfect. This was a gift for my son last year as well.
He’s transformed them into a variety of different things with his imagination and really enjoyed them.
Looking for more Christmas ideas? Check out these posts!
Rest in God’s presence and feel His love when you need it most
“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”
Exodus 33:14
When my son was 4, we moved from the house he’d always lived in up until that point. Recently, he was sharing with us that he has only a few memories from living there.
One of those memories is a time he was upset and lying on his bedroom floor. He might have been crying. What he remembers most, though, is how I responded.
Instead of lecturing him or getting upset with him, I just laid down beside him in his preschool misery. Honestly, I don’t remember this specific moment, but I know I’ve had quite a few like it in motherhood.
Because, sometimes our children need most for us to just be with them in their misery so they know they aren’t alone. They can rest in our presence and know they are loved.
This is exactly what I picture with God. Sometimes I’m so beside myself that I fret and wail and flail. I want to lie on the floor and throw a fit.
And you know what He does? He lays there with me and puts His arms around me – even when I’m upset because of something I messed up on my own. He lets me just feel His love and support so I can rest and then get up and keep going.
Enjoy God’s rest today in whatever you’re facing. He will be there to hold you close and give rest to your weary heart.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for always being with me. Help me to feel your presence today and be able to truly rest in you. I get so weary and need your strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
40+ Christmas gift ideas under $30 for those on your list who have everything
The most challenging part of Christmas shopping can be coming up with good inexpensive gifts for someone who has everything. Figuring out the best gifts for someone you don’t know so well is also challenging.
While I can usually come up with ideas for kiddos I don’t know as well, I often struggle to come up with ideas for adults. After talking with a few friends, I quickly realized I am not the only one!
So I scoured the Internet for some ideas and spent time on Amazon tracking down 40 awesome Christmas gift ideas for the hard to shop for folks on your list.
And I kept it budget-friendly at $30 or less to keep your bank account happy as well! The perfect gift doesn’t have to be pricey.
You’ll find a variety of categories to help you find just the right gift and save you shopping time with your busy schedule as a mom!
Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.
Savory food Christmas gift ideas
Even the people on your list who have everything still need to eat. Food gifts are great options for a Christmas gift idea if you aren’t sure what to get for someone. While you can put together your own basket of items for someone, I am a big fan of gifts I can just order and they’ll take care of themselves.
I’ve also found it’s usually cheaper to find a pre-made basket than to try and make one myself. Not only is that great for a tight budget, but the best part is it’s also easier!
Popcorn is one of my favorite things and really the perfect snack food in my opinion. I love this popcorn set from Urban Accents that includes three different kinds of popcorn and five premium seasonings. This Christmas gift idea would come in handy for movie night at home for the entire family. And, even better, it encourages family quality time, which is a win-win!
Another popcorn option is this Popcornopolis 12 Cone Snack Pack. It includes zebra, cheddar cheese, caramel and kettle corn in adorable Christmas themed cones. You can get a 12 Cone Snack Pack that isn’t Christmas themed as well.
Because I’m a fan of puns, I can come up with some groan-worthy puns to go along with this gourmet holiday nut gift basket. Your friends and family will go nutty for this tray of delicious Kabukim, honey roasted peanuts, American peanuts, honey glazed peanuts, salted roasted peanut, toffee coated peanuts and chocolate coated peanuts.
If you’d rather go for a mix with more than just nuts, this nut and dried fruit gift basket from Oh Nuts! might be the perfect Christmas gift idea. The vegan treat includes kiwi tidbits, papaya bites, royal dates, dried pears, raisins, plump apricots, dried summer plums and peaches, exotic pineapple, apple rings, heart-healthy pistachios and premium roasted almonds.
This set of organic infused and smoked maple syrup from Runamok Maple Sugermaker’s in Vermont comes in an assortment of flavors. Who wouldn’t want to cover their pancakes in vanilla cinnamon real maple syrup?! Christmas is the perfect time of year for this unique gift idea since families often have more cooked breakfasts at home.
This 5-pack of gourmet organic spices from FreshJax is a great gift for anyone, especially someone who loves to grill or is an avid home cook. There are a few different variety packs available. Each seasoning lists what food items it would be good for. For example, Grill Master works well for burgers, veggies and kabobs. Cheeks is tasty on ribs, pork, chicken and even popcorn.
FreshJax is a small, family-run company who donates a portion of their profits to feed children in need. So that makes buying from them feel even better!
My maternal grandpa loved good summer sausage. I remember snacking on it with him sometimes as a kid. It’s still a meaningful gift for me, so I always think of Hickory Farms gift boxes as a great Christmas gift idea. This set includes two summer sausages, 4 ounces of sharp cheddar, sweet hot mustard, crackers and 8 strawberry candies.
Food gifts don’t have to be gourmet or fancy. Especially as families are home more throughout the holiday season, snacks are always appreciated. Pretty much anyone would like this snack box variety pack. It’s a practical gift that’s perfect for families with children.
Sweet food Christmas gift ideas
Treats are a great option for anyone who has a sweet tooth. And these affordable picks include gourmet chocolate for at a great price.
Christmas gift ideas that include chocolate get me excited! And Godiva chocolate is some of the best there is. It’s so creamy and delicious. I love this great deal on a whole box of chocolates.
Hazel and Creme also has this gift box of chocolate covered cookies that looks absolutely divine. The lucky recipient of this gift may not want to share!
Around the home or office Christmas gift ideas
Decorative items for the home or office are good ideas of inexpensive gifts for someone who has everything. These budget-friendly gifts are perfect for throughout the home from the coffee table to the kitchen counter to the living room.
I love the versatility of bowls. They can be used for their named purpose (like holding fruit) or for decoration or really whatever your gift recipient has in mind.
Turn the bowls into thoughtful presents by adding in homemade treats or other small gifts.
And if you think the bowl may need a filler, consider including some decorative rattan balls with it as well. These 2-inch balls are available in a wide variety of colors as a pack of 24.
Sometimes the person who has everything doesn’t have some unique kitchen gadgets. Some small appliances are an amazing gift idea for the person who has everything or is otherwise hard to buy for.
My family got this Nostalgia electric indoor s’mores maker a few years ago and we absolutely love it. It’s so much fun and a delicious way to feel like you’re in the great outdoors during colder months.
An easy way to take this gift up a notch is by pairing it with s’mores ingredients.
I keep coming across this hot dog toaster and hearing incredibly good reviews of it from people I trust. It’s a bit quirky, but it would also make an excellent Christmas gift. (There is also a 4-slot hot dog toaster, but it costs $40.)
Another helpful kitchen item that just about anybody would like is a pizza cutter. My husband prefers the rocker pizza cutters. This one from Checkered Chef is stainless steel, dishwasher safe and comes in 14-inches or 16-inches.
And then I have to throw in this pizza wheel from Fred and Friends that looks like a saw. It’s certainly one of the more unique gifts on this list and would make an ideal gift for those who use saws regularly!
Candles are also a great gift idea for those who are challenging to buy for. You can go for a scented candle gift set like this aromatherapy one with four different scents that burn for 120 hours.
Or you can go for a battery-powered, flameless candle like this set of three. With flickering LED lights, they look like burning candles without the risk of the flame. There are four vibrant colors and styles to pick from.
Along with decorative items, everyone can always use tools around home. A couple of multi-tools are ideal for a kitchen drawer for anyone.
While I’m an avid reader, I know that not everyone is. However, there are still books that work for just about anyone, even those who aren’t book lovers. Check out these books that just about anyone would like.
Who couldn’t use some pampering once the holidays are over? I love pampering products as a thoughtful gift for anyone.
Lotions and bath gels are almost always a hit with women, especially. Light, clean scents instead of stronger scents are the best option for a perfect present if you aren’t sure what she’ll like.
If you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas for someone who has everything, consider this gift that they surely don’t have: a star. You can order this kit and complete paperwork to name a star after someone. You can do it for them or let them do it themselves. How fun is that!
While we are celestial, check out this really cool moon nightlight. It comes in three sizes and is USB chargeable. The light works by touch to adjust its brightness.
Another space-related gift idea is this 3-inch plasma ball. It’s sensitive to touch and sound as it safely conducts colorful electricity.
Another fun option is this set of 100 Scrabble magnets. You could practically write your grocery list in magnets on your fridge!
I’m not sure it gets much more quirky or fun than this tortilla blanket from mermaker. The double-sided blanket is 71 inches and comes in three different colors as well as in pizza or waffle.
And because it’s 2020, I just had to add in this final quirky gift for your friend who has everything, including a sense of humor! This 1,000-piece puzzle is covered in toilet paper rolls and should certainly keep your friend or family member busy putting it together during times of quarantine and self-isolation. (Funwares also makes a 1,000-piece puzzle covered with face masks!)
Looking for more ideas? Don’t miss these lists full of gift ideas!
