Meemaw's 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

by Meemaw

Wow, it's that time of year again! This year has flown by again, and it's time to shop for that special gift for each friend or family member you are buying for, and not ruining your budget in the process. I have found a few gifts that might just be right or different enough for that one hard-to-buy-for friend or relative. All prices are in US dollars.

As you know, one of my favorite places for something different is Bits and Pieces. Since I have bought from them previously, I received a catalog in the mail this year. Let's see what they have that's new:

Harmony Bell Chimes   $14.99

I don't know about you, but I love wind chimes! Most of them have the tube-shaped chime pieces, and when I saw this one, I thought it looked really wonderful. Many others are also constructed with cord, but this one is all metal, which should make it more durable if hung outside. Instead of blowing back & forth, this one spins, which rings the bells. I'm thinking of asking for this for Christmas so I can listen to it. It measures 8.25" in diameter and 7.5" long with a 12" chain to hang it.

Puppy Mug & Spoon   $12.99

(Oh, no.... Another coffee mug!) Sometimes I think that too, because I have loads of coffee mugs. This one has an extra added attraction - a spoon right there with the mug, so you don't have to go looking for a spoon to add your sugar or cream. If you don't want puppies, they offer mugs with kittens or owls. The cups hold 10 oz., and needs to be hand-washed.

Mushroom Garden   $24.99

You can buy mushrooms in most any grocery store in the US, but if you could grow your own, they would be really fresh! This is a kit for growing mushrooms yourself. You should have your first crop in about two weeks, and can grow multiple crops.

Greenhouse Model Kit   $39.99

We all know that teenager who loves to build models, and while they are usually model cars, this kit will let him/her build something besides a vehicle. When finished, the incredibly detailed model is 7.75" x 7" x 7".

Another one of my favorite sites is L L Bean. They have loads of clothes and sports equipment, but they also have an assortment of gifts, pet supplies and outdoor games. Close to the holidays, many of their gifts are Christmas-themed. One of my brothers has sent me an outside Christmas wreath off & on for many years. You might think they are too expensive, but like I have said before, their flannel shirts have lasted my husband ten years or so, and in comparison, the less expensive shirts sometimes last only one or two years... so, five times as long for less than five times the price is a bargain to me.

Needlepoint Stocking   $29.95

When I was a child, my mother made stockings for everyone, and I still have mine. However, families increase in size, and some people aren't as creative. LLBean has these nifty needlepoint stockings in nine different designs so you can get a different one for everyone on your list. I'm sure they will last for years and years. The stockings are 18" long and can have a name embroidered on them for an extra charge.

3-In-One Portable Game Center   $49.95

Some people take yard games with them when they go camping. This portable set looks fun! LLBean says it's easy to set up, and includes ladder ball, bag toss and quad toss games.
Assembled size is 39" x 39" x 36".

Collapsible Mini Camp Light   $19.95

If you go camping, or even just out in the back yard, you might need some light. These look really handy. They are small when stored (1.6" tall and 2.5" wide) and 3.25" tall when expanded. They aren't huge, but good for a bit of light in a couple of places. They have 4 modes: High, Low, Multicolor and Glo. The outside of the globe is glow-in-the-dark silicone, which continues to glow after the light is turned off.

I have also been ordering from Amazon - you can get nearly anything there! Occasionally, I go and just look at some of the gifts they have. I've found several really different items.

Kabake Non Skid Ballet/Yoga Toe Socks   $5.99 or package of 3 for $9.99

Those of you who do pilates or Yoga might like these. Many times those types of workouts are done barefoot. These socks will let you work out at home or at a studio and keep your feet clean (and warm, if you're like me.)

Velee Reusable Smart Erasable Notebook   $15.99 or $22.99 with a leather cover.

This is one of several notebooks I have seen recently. Using the special pen to write on the pages, you can then erase the page with heat or a damp rag. Also, according to Amazon, This smart notebook is compatible with the CamScanner app. That means before your notes go off the page, you can put them to destinations like Dropbox, Evernote, OneNote, OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, iCloud or your email address, both PDF and JPG form are available." It has 20 pages of wide ruled paper, 20 pages of dot grid paper and 20 pages blank paper. You can do almost anything with that variety.

Boil-over Safeguard   $15.90

You're cooking spaghetti or potatoes, and you get called away from the stove for just a minute. When you come back, your pot has boiled over. Darn! (It's happened to me before.) This item is supposed to prevent that. You simply put it on top of the pan and let it boil normally. It is silicone and fits pans 6" to 10" in diameter.

Lavatools PT12 Javelin Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer   $24.99

Compliments of Rudge, this was suggested as a great present as well, because he has two of them. It has an ultra-fast response time, it's very accurate, has a magnet on it so it's never lost, and has a lifetime guarantee. Rudge says it is the best, and most affordable, instant-read thermometers he's ever had!

Oh, and as a finale, for your incurable Harry Potter fanatic, Lego has a whole series of Lego creations from the Harry Potter universe, including Hogwarts Castle for those ages 9 - 14. ($99.97 at Amazon)

This one has ten of the characters to go along with the buildable castle, and also includes a boat, Fawkes the phoenix, Hedwig the owl, Scabbers the rat and a buildable Basilisk.

I hope you can find something for that hard-to-buy-for person on your list, and most of all, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous holiday!