Gift Guides 2019 + Reader Submitted Charities

Since we are traveling for Thanksgiving and Christmas is just around the corner, I have started decking the halls pre-Turkey Day and am officially starting to think about gifts for my family.

While I try to make charitable giving a priority year round, there is something about the holidays that brings to light the importance of sharing our blessings with those who need it most. I love the big hearts in this online community. The other day I took to Instagram stories to crowd source some worthwhile charities that could use some love this holiday season and you all delivered BIG with the suggestions! Gifts are fun, and we’ll get to that in a minute, but truly, I encourage everyone to pick a charity they can support. GIFT a person with a donation made in their name. I have done this several times in 2019 and I promise you, the 1/4 zip sweater will be forgotten, or spilled on, or shrunk in the dryer. But the donation made in that person’s name to a meaningful organization? That is truly a priceless thing to receive. Case in point: for my mom’s birthday we made a donation to Food for the Hungry and I printed off a photo of one of their sponsor children to present to her. Well, my mom has been praying for that child by name since receiving her gift. And sure, we gave my mom a few token gifts as well (presents are fun, after all!) but the thing she appreciated the most was the donation. So before you leave this post, take a scroll all the way to the bottom and you can check out ALL of the reader submitted charities and maybe even choose one that you want to support this holiday season.

Now let’s get to the shiny stuff! I only created gift guides for the likes of my own family members. I even made one for myself in the hypothetical sense so that if I happened to strike a chord and there are some things you love, you can share the list with YOUR Santa-man (or Santa-Mom, Santa-Sister, you get what I’m saying). Another thing to note is that I tried to stay pretty gender neutral with the kids’ items. I hope you see some things that you weren’t expecting to find on here! Everything mentioned below is either something we already own and love or something my kids are receiving this year. No gimmicks or fake-outs here. Without further ado, let’s begin with the babies!

Kids Camp Set: This item says it’s for ages 3 and up (which is why you’ll also see it on the 3-5 year old list) but I think this will make the cutest gift for my <1 year old nephew and Merritt. If there are small pieces in the set, just yank ’em out and let them play with the safe objects.
Baby Toms: I include these because they’re truly so practical for babies. I love a pair of shearling baby booties, and these actually stay on. Warm and cozy, too!
Bubble Machine: I will be using this indoors (garage or play room depending on how wet it ends up being when those bubbles pop), and then we’ll continue using it outside once Spring is here. Babies love bubbles. It’s the most simple pleasure in all the world. Endless entertainment!
Rainbow wood blocks: My sister got these for Merritt for her birthday in October, so I can personally vouch for how fun this is and how many creative ways you can stack and build with this set. Truth be told, I think my 6 year old might play with this more than anyone else. Little architect in the making?
100 words book: Speaks for itself (HA! Puns!).
Squigz: Another birthday gift from October, I can highly recommend these. They build into endless possibilities and you can even use them in the bathtub. Fun for ALL ages, but especially for the littles.
Hanna Jams: Always Hanna Jams at Christmas time (look for these on the big kids list too, because matching Christmas jammies are life).
Big Lovey: Because we have given the girls JellyCat plush loveys, we have then gifted them with the bigger stuffed animal size version once they’re a little older. Brighton has “Stinky Dot” (her stuffed dog lovey that, yeah, stinks) and now “Big Dot” and similarly, Merritt will be receiving “Big Babs” to join her pink Babs lovey. Makes a good stocking stuffer too.

Shop all 1-2 year old gifts:

Kids Scooter: Brighton has this exact model and I think for young riders, it’s very user friendly (she just turned 3 as a refresher). That third wheel provides good stability, and my 6 and 8 year olds still love it as well.
Hanna Jams. I told you these would be on all of the lists!
Microphone: God help us, but we are getting Brighton a microphone this year. With the amount of “Let it go”-ing that is happening in our house, she deserves some amplification. I liked this one because it’s not too fancy (I looked at tons, and bluetooth for a 3 year old was just a no from me, dawg), it has two microphones for when she needs to have a sing-off with someone else (now accepting challengers) and it was the right price point.
Tumbling mat: Brighton received this as a gift from her grandparents and it lives in our basement and it’s really a lot of fun (and gives me a little more peace of mind when she does her somersault routines). I loved the blue and aqua color scheme, personally, but it is also available in primary colors.
Kids camp set: as I said in the 1-2 year old post, this just seems like tons of fun. Kids love forts, stuff they can hideout in, and anything that is pretend. This is a fun, gender-neutral set that is all of those wonderful things.
Art table: we have this (actually, it was last year’s big gift for Brighton) and she uses it every.single.day. It is sturdy, basic, functional, the right size, and on and on. Worth it for the little artists in your family.
Backpack: I love the Skip Hop backpacks because they are so gosh darn cute. If you’re traveling for the holidays, I think it would be super fun to buy a new backpack for your preschooler and fill it with travel toys, doodle pads, snacks, suckers, etc. Load ’em up. And listen, you don’t need to be traveling or sending your kids to school for this to be a fun gift. Brighton LOVES to load up her backpack and just play make believe around the house. She puts all kinds of special stuff in her backpack and “goes to work” or “runs errands” and it is 1000% adorable.
Play kitchen: another gift that Brighton received for her birthday, this play kitchen is so cute, would look great in a common space in your home, and comes in pink or white. The gold fixtures? I died.

Shop all 3-5 year old gifts:

Pocket projector: I knew I wanted to get Navy a portable projector with the intention of using it for artwork, movies, etc. and this one seemed to fit the bill. The reviews match up with what I need in a projector and the only complaints I saw pertained to people trying to use it for very specific and unrelated uses (i.e. decorating sugar cookies). So if you want to decorate cookies with it, I guess it’s a no-go. But for all other purposes (and for an 8 year old) this seems like a totally fun gadget. Just don’t for get the HDMI cord!
Hanna Jams. Again. I’m not sorry.
Walkie Talkies: Let’s just kick it back old school here for a minute. Knox received these walkie talkies for his birthday and they were such a huge hit, I have already gifted them to almost every child I know since then. So. Much. Fun!
VivoFit Jr. Watch: We have a tradition of giving the kids a watch on their first day of Kindergarten, so both of our boys now own this watch. It has lots of cool functions (like timers that are helpful for things like teeth brushing, showering, reading, etc.) and you can also assign chores for your child to do from the parent app. Additionally, it tracks steps (which Navy and I have a lot of fun comparing and challenging one another with), and you can buy fun bands for it whenever you feel like a change. Highly recommend as far as kids watches go.
Bulldozer: Guys, I wish I could tell you why this is so cool, but all I really know is that Knox is going to lose his face when he opens this. It’s legitimately his number 1 wish. He can’t stop talking about it. This thing can tow and move impressively heavy loads, so who knows, maybe he wants to help clean up our back yard which is currently a construction site as we await a new patio in the Spring. I’m willing to put him up to the task with this toy in hand if it means looking at less dirt all winter.
Chronicles of Narnia book set: Or really any book set would be awesome. But this is the age where our kids are willing to actually read WITH us, and go on adventures of the mind together. So we bought the boys this gift set and intend to read it with them as a family. A keepsake set that we’ll have forever.
Nintendo Switch: This is the only gaming system we have, and it really is the modern day gameboy. There is the standard version or the new lite version. If you’ve got multiple players, definitely get the standard one. But if you’re just looking for something that fills the purpose of travel or solo play, I think the lite would be a good option for about a hundred bucks less.
Echo Dot for kids: Both of our boys will be receiving this Alexa clock on Christmas morning per my sister’s recommendation. It is the kids version which means you can set parental controls to what they can ask Alexa and what they can listen to (which makes momma happy). Additionally, you can download the parent app and “drop in” on their room which simply means you can say “Darling offspring, get your sweet hiney out of bed before I come up there and blind you with the light of 1,000 burning suns, it’s time for school” without screaming up stairs. A modern day household intercom.

Shop all 6-8 year old gifts:

Lululemon hoodie and joggers: Stockton dresses up all day everyday, so when evenings or weekends arrive, he’s ready for some chillaxing. That’s why I like to skip the fancy stuff and just get him stuff that screams “comfort” and this Lulu outfit is exactly that.
Whiskey glasses: I wrote about these in my last post about the Welcome Drink cocktail, but I swear every man deserves a fancy whiskey glass. You can go super fancy and just get him a single glass of the high end variety, or you can opt for this much more affordable set that he can use with others. Either way, this is a distinguished and manly gift for the whiskey drinker in your life.
Tumi Backpack: The good news is I found Stockton’s exact backpack on Nordstrom Rack for about 30% under retail! The less-good news is that it’s definitely still an investment piece. But Stockton travels about every 6 weeks for work, and he’s able to carry his iPad, laptop and all of his personal items in this backpack which he loves. It’s chic, high end, savvy and still functional and comfortable to carry.
Dad Tired: Stockton is a part of a men’s group and this book was one of their selections this year for reading and discussing. When I asked him for a book recommendation for the dad’s gift guide, this was immediately the one he recommended. Sounds equal parts entertaining and inspiring for the dad in your life.
AirPod case: Stockton loves a leather case. Whether for his phone or now his AirPods, this lends a more rugged and masculine look to the otherwise plain Apple AirPod case (and the price is great!).
Barbour Jacket: Another investment piece, but guys, I can’t tell you enough how obsessed Stockton is with this coat. He gives it his complete Stockton Schultz Seal of Approval (which could be a real thing because the dude is kind of a critic). Every time he wears it he makes sure to tell me how warm it is. To the point where whenever I see it, I now intercept the comment before he can even make it – “Hey, Stockton, is that coat… warm?” Warm your man up with this jacket and I promise he’ll be wearing it (and staying warm, did I mention that?) for years.
Yeti water jug: because without this, I don’t think Stockton would ever drink any water. He especially loves the handle on the top of the jug which feels masculine and very dude-like (I guess).

Shop all gifts for men:

Funny story. When I was younger, my dad discovered the Oprah’s Favorite Things list. It became his gift-giving gospel for my mom, and every year, he would just run down the list making selections, figuring “if it’s good enough for Oprah, it must be good enough for Jamie.” And so I have created a similar list of my favorite things for YOU. Not that I am shopping for any ladies, necessarily, but in the hypothetical instance that you want to share any of these items with the gift givers in your life, I’ve made it as simple as can be. These are all major faves of mine and I wouldn’t be one bit disappointed to receive any of these items.

Lululemon Align Leggings: This could be an annual gift in my opinion. They are basically a part of my uniform, so you can’t have too many. I recommend this length, but if you want a full length tight, move to the 28″.
Leather Mittens: Okay, okay, if you watched my Instagram story leading up to the writing of this post, you saw me dissing gift guides that showed boring things like gloves. I take it back. These gloves are gorgeous, practical and I swear I would do my best to not lose them if they were mine (but given my track record with gloves, I don’t make any promises).
Customizable Circle Necklace: I just love this circle necklace, and the best part is, you can customize it! Add an initial or my personal favorite, a heart. She has tons of options to personalize and you’re supporting one of my favorite makers. Win/win!
Book of the Month subscription: I have been a BOTM subscriber for almost a year now and I can 100% vouch for how fun this is. You get a new book every month (of your choosing from a selection of 5 or 6) at way under the list price. I have gotten so many books that are outside of my normal genre thanks to this membership, and I would highly recommend it for the gift that keeps on giving.
Another one of my favorite makers, these wooden signs are actually made right near my home in SW Michigan! The mother/daughter team is just incredible and they have done custom work for me at remarkably affordable prices. They just announced that they can do custom logos on signs, too, which makes a great gift for the entrepreneur in your life, or personalize your favorite verse, quote, family name, etc. I have this Fruits of the Spirit sign in my own home and I adore it. The sky is the limit, but get those custom orders in by the first week of December!
Hand painted Designer Bag: The handmade gifts keep on rolling with this up-cycled Louis Vuitton. I LOVE my painted LV and it is such a statement piece. Great for the fashionista or artist.
Le Creuset Dutch Oven: My mom has established quite the tradition of adding to my sisters’ and my Le Creuset collections over the years. I use this cookware more than anything else, and it is absolutely bulletproof (not to mention it looks pretty left on top of the stove as decoration when not in use). Worth the investment for the cook in your family.
Cozy robe: this is the exact robe I own, and like the Lululemon Aligns, I think robes could be an annual gift. They get some wear and tear if you wear them daily or stain them with makeup, so an annual upgrade is never a bad idea.

Shop all gifts for her:

Reader Submitted Charities

So there you have it! And now, since my readers are the most generous of all, some amazing charities that were submitted by YOU all! In addition to this list, if you want to make a more local donation, I encourage you to reach out to one of your local churches to see if they have a list of families they are accepting sponsors for this holiday season. You can provide specific gifts and needs that impact your neighbors in such a meaningful way.

Gift Guides 2019 + Reader Submitted Charities

Reader Submitted Charities

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