Category Archives: 2013 Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide: 5 Gifts For The Work From Home Parent

It takes a special kind of person to be a work from home parent. You’re stuck in an office in your home where you’d probably rather be catching up on your favorite tv show, making sure the kids are doing their homework, ‘helping’ your spouse cook dinner, or smelling the roses in the garden. No.. you’re stuck in your home office which hopefully has a door and is an area that the kids are not allowed to enter. If I’ve learned one thing in the 13 years I’ve been working from home it is to set boundaries for who and when someone is allowed to step into my office. If you’re not here to help me sort through paperwork, write a story, or call clients, do not spend more than 30 seconds in my office. Or you will get sucked in! 😉

The items featured in my ‘Work from home parent gift guide’ are things that I being a work from home parent, find useful and fun!  I especially love the cork planters (#5).  One cork planter can add a touch of green to your office while the other holds pens.  My second favorite thing on this list is the rolling foot massager.   I just love this because my feet get tingly when I’ve been sitting for a long time.  The rolling massage plus heat makes for a relaxing, spa experience right from your home office!

Work from home office gift guide

1 – iTunes Gift Card
Every work from home parent needs a plethora of music choices at their disposal.  Sometimes we need music that gives us energy and sometimes we need music that calms us down.
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2 – Rolling Foot Massager with Infrared Heat – $139
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3 – HP Smartphone and Tablet Wireless Inkjet Printer w/ Your Choice of Tablet + Bonus 8GB USB Flash Drive Value Bundleicon – $122

4 – Big Head Memo Pad icon – $25

5 – Cork Plantersicon – $50

Gift Guide: 5 Unique and Useful Gifts For Teen Girls

My daughter is not a teenager but from what I remember, teen girls, want fun and unique gifts for  Christmas and other holidays for that matter.  A subscription to Highlights magazine and new clothes for her favorite doll (from when she was 7) aren’t going to cut it now that she’s 13 or older, right?

Considering what I was into when I was a teenager, I sought out 5 fun and unique gifts that I think your teenage daughter might enjoy getting for Christmas!  I wish I thought of keeping the ticket stubs from the concerts I went to as a teenager.  Four concerts I went to when I was a teenager were Sinead O’Connor, Cocteau Twins, Sarah McLachlan, and The Prodigy.  How I wish I had those stubs and photos from the concerts.  Or not.. actually.   What concerts did you go to as a teen?

Moving on.. teenage girls spend a lot of time on their iPhones listening to music, texting, and playing games (all at the same time). What cooler way to listen to music than through crocheted headphones?  How cute are these (#2)?  I could have used a white board magnet board like #4 below, but in all reality, I probably wouldn’t have used it because I was under the impression that I could remember things.  Right.

Here is a list of 5 gifts that I think would be a lot of fun and useful for a teenage girl.

5 unique gifts for teen girls

1 – Animal Socks icon– $27
Take a walk on the wild side with graphic sets of colorful socks nipping at your ankles to keep you warm.  Sold in a set of three.

2 – Crocheted Headphones – $38
Warm up to new music with these charming, nubby headphones. Handmade by artist Traci Medeiros-Bagan, its sweet design recalls vintage crochet with a modern twist: beneath its yarn are high-tech headphones ready to plug into your on-the-go playlist.

3 – Ticket Stub Diary – $12
Your daughter will never forget those front row seats at her first concert or her first movie with her friends. With this Ticket Stub Diary your daughter can preserve your precious memories from concerts, museums, movies, and more. This book comes with clear sleeves that fit a variety of ticket sizes, plus space in the margin to write down your memories from the event.

4 – Cloud Magnet Board –  $25
Bid farewell to scattered post-it notes and forgotten trains of thought. Daily to-do lists, invitations, and treasured photos will be front-and-center on this magnetic message board, fashioned from cold rolled steel and cut in the shape of a whimsical cloud. Write your last-minute ideas right on the board (marker rubs right away so you can start fresh when you please) and watch your genius takes shape. All it took was a little organization! Made in China.

5 – Blue Bird Clutch – $32
This light-hearted clutch will bring a fresh flight of fancy to your look. Handcrafted by artisans in Nepal, it’s felted from 100% natural sheep’s wool. The zippered closure and handy strap make this bag a perfect little nest for your necessities when you’re on the wing.
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Gift Guide: 4 Wireless Speakers Great For Families

Chances are, there are at least 4 devices in your home that are used to play music.   My son walks around with earphones in his pocket 24/7.  I guess he doesn’t walk in his sleep, that I know of at least, but he sleeps with his earphones too.  I’m not a big fan of sleeping with earphones or having earphones in ears hour after hour.  That’s where wireless speakers come in handy.

Wireless (aka Bluetooth speakers) speakers are great for households in which there are iOS and Android devices.

Wireless speakers work with nearly all smartphones and tablets.  In my opinion, it would be idea to get the kids a wireless speaker as well as one for yourself.  You never know where the kid’s speaker is going to end up, right?

Most Bluetooth speakers are designed with rechargeable batteries, so they can be moved from room to room with ease.  When the battery charge is low, simply connect it to your computer or other charger.

Some wireless speakers such as the DECK speaker (#1 in the photo below), allow multiple devices to connect giving everyone in your home or at a party, the chance to play DJ for a while.

If you ask me, it’s time to go wireless.

Here are 4 wireless (bluetooth) speakers that will make a great gift this holiday season!

Gift Guide: Wireless Speakers

 

1 – DECK Wireless Speaker  – $199

2 – Sound Spot Compact Speaker – $69

3 – BeatBlock- Premium Bluetooth Wireless Speaker – On sale for $89 from $149 now at Amazon.com

4 – Bose® SoundLink® Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II – $299

 

Is there something that you’d like me to help you find for your holiday wish list?  Let me know in the comments below or email me at alicia @ themommyinsider.com and I’ll do my best to find whatever it is that your child (or you) are asking for holiday season.