It's really no secret how much I love Christmas, it's my favorite holiday and while summer is my favorite season and I'm really not a fan of the cold, you have to admit, there is just something about the holiday season. It's filled with twinkling lights, tinsel, candy canes, Christmas trees, fresh baked cookies, gifts, and of course, best of all... happy children! I still remember how excited I would get for Christmas morning growing up, it was one of the best days of the year, and being able to bring the joy of Christmas and the holiday season to our home for my own kids, is truly a special thing and makes my heart so happy. I love seeing their eyes light up, not even over the gifts, but just for everything during the holidays, the lights, the tree, reading a Christmas book together, watching The Grinch for the hundredth time, baking sugar cookies, making salt dough ornaments... and about a million other little things. I think as a mom, Christmas is just that much more fun, I mean yes, it gets stressful, but it's so much fun shopping for their gifts, finding that perfect thing that you know they'll love, or maybe it's something they've been asking for for ages, there's nothing like their joy when they find it under the tree. To make it easier for everyone shopping for kiddos this year, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite items for kids/groms/little ones/children in my 2022 Holiday Gift Guide! Find them all below!
I love shoes that my kids can wear both wet or dry, it makes cleanup easy when they want to jump in puddles, or dance in the rain, or when they venture too close to the ocean when I've asked them to stay dry. Lets face it, staying dry is something that literally never, ever never happens during a beach walk, so it only makes sense to plan ahead for these instances, so these Jefferson Bloom shoes from Native Shoes are perfect for Bella and Bodhi! Not only are they super cute, but they are created from environmentally friendly materials which I love! They are made with repurposed algae, using Rise by Bloom technology, and the process to create each pair helps restore clean air and water on our earth (how cool is that? You can read more about the Native "Rise by Bloom" technology and process HERE. They feature a perforated upper, shock absorbent bottom sole and a rubber toe cap made with recycled materials. These slip on shoes are easy for kids to put on and take off all on their own, and even easier to clean. Just wash them off (hand washable) and you're ready to go again! They're lightweight so kids don't get tired as easily while walking and they're odor resistant as well (because let's face it, stinky kids shoes are not a fun thing to smell haha). Native really thought of everything with these shoes. They come in 8 beautiful colors, I of course chose the "Bone White" because I wanted them to match with all of their clothing, and well, I do love a good neutral, but I also really love the "Ivy Green" color (it's pretty much the perfect shade of green. If that wasn't already great enough, they also sell them in adult sizes! I don't know about you, but these are definitely on my wish-list! You can find all of Native Shoes styles HERE!
I've been a customer of Briar Baby for YEARS, I'm talking all the way back when Bella was a toddler years ago (yep, that long, and I can't believe she's getting ready to turn 9). They've consistently been one of my favorite brands for so long, but last autumn, Bodhi finally outgrew his last bonnet and decided he wasn't really into bonnets anymore. I was a pretty sad mom to say the least (I love bonnets haha), but I was pretty stoked to recently discover that they have bucket hats now, something I know Bodhi will definitely wear, and Bella is already obsessed with bucket hats. We are in the sun a lot throughout the year here in coastal South Carolina, so these make so much sense for our lifestyle. Not only because they protect their little faces so well on beach days, but because they're also so ridiculously adorable! I chose this Buttercup Bucket Hat (made with Liberty fabric) for Bella because it was my favorite print bonnet of hers when she was little, and went with this Rust Linen Bucket Hat for Bodhi (I'm such a sucker for a good linen fabric). They also have adult sizes (which of course made me happy, especially since I'd already been looking for a nice bucket hat for myself), so you can go for the "mama and me" look, or get matching hats for all your kiddos of all ages! I love that all of their hats are proudly made right here in the USA, that their hats are easy to wash and wear and especially that all of their products are created using the highest quality natural fabrics to ensure breathability (that are also water friendly). Their hats are inclusive and made for ALL hair types, and they are ethically hand crafted in their studio in Vancouver, Washington! Check out all of Briar Baby's adorable hats HERE!
One of my favorite things to give to our kiddos every year is a cozy new blanket. There's nothing better than a nice soft blanket to snuggle up in during winter, and since winter doesn't really start until around January here, these blankets couldn't come at a better time for my babies (who aren't quite so little anymore). Coco Moon Hawaii has some of the softest blankets around and they're without a doubt one of our most favorite brands. They're made of 100% rayon (made from bamboo and cotton), super snuggly (so snuggly I find myself sleeping with them quite often as well haha), and of course come in the cutest ocean and surf inspired prints ever! The Surf Report Quilt and Plumeria Quilt have been favorites in our home for the past several years, and I'm stoked to give Bella the Sea Flower Throw Blanket (which is sadly sold out and will not restock, but they have so many beautiful new prints) this Christmas, and Bodhi the Nalu Throw Blanket. I'm sure I'll swipe them on occasion because they're just THAT GOOD, but thankfully the groms are pretty good about sharing with mama. A few things I love about Coco Moon Hawaii is that they've worked with small artists to create the designs and prints on their products, their packaging is eco friendly and biodegradable (shipping bags made from cassava starch), and that 1% of all sales are donated to Hawaiian non-profits! You can check out all of their beautiful designs HERE, they even sell baby clothing, swaddles, crib sheets, hooded towels, security blankets, baby quilts, changing pad covers, mama robes and so much more! Use JOYFULTRIBE10 for 10% off!
We first discovered Love Lotte beach toys a few years ago when I was on the hunt for some eco friendly beach toys. Every time we vacationed at the beach I noticed how many cheap plastic beach toys we saw on the beach. Lost, forgotten, broken, discarded, or just left because people were going back home after vacation and didn't need those cheap toys anymore because they didn't live near water, so out of plain carelessness they just left them. They had no use for them, so they just left them scattered along the beach, not caring whether they ended up in the ocean, floating and polluting our seas, broken on the beach, etc.. Since moving to the beach living here, I've seen it even more than before, it's constant. It's been very eye opening, how much plastic waste ends up in our seas so carelessly, so we try to be even more mindful of what we bring to the ocean now. While my kiddos do still have some plastic toys they bring to the beach sometimes (most of it found abandoned on the beach), we try to make sure we pack out what we pack in. We try to keep our toys away from the water while we're not actively plating with them so they're not accidently swept away by a wave, and we also try to use a lot of beach toys that are more naturally made. We love that Love Lotte beach toys are fun, but we especially love that they are created with bamboo, so they are more environmentally friendly. Another thing we love is that these beach toys are extremely sturdy and last for years! We actually have another set of these beach toys that we've loved for several years now and I'm stoked that Bella and Bodhi will have another couple sets now (so they won't have to argue about who gets to play with them now haha). They'll be able to make even bigger sand castles now, while also having enough sand toys that friends can play with them as well! Their Eco Beach Toy Set is constructed from bamboo fiber, ensuring that it will last for years to come. However, if they do ever happen to accidently end up lost in the ocean (or buried in sand or dirt), it makes me feel better knowing that they will break down into harmless organic matter in about 12 months! How cool is that? Shop Love Lotte toys HERE on their website or find them HERE on amazon! Use 10YBCH9P for 10% off when ordering through amazon!
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Like most kids, Bella and Bodhi both adore plating with play dough, whether that be store bought or homemade, they really don't care as long as it's squishy and pliable and can be crafted into cool things and you know, mixed all together to create a huge (fun) mess! While I love making them dough to play with, I don't always have the extra time (or more honesty, the extra energy) so I was really excited when Land of Dough offered to send over a few cups of dough for the kids this year! They've been one of our favorite brands of play dough for the past couple of years and I love that they create their products with the environment in mind! Land of Dough uses all natural colors, compostable glitters and even paper packaging for their dough! Land of Dough products are made here in the USA and their manufacturing process is also designed to leave a small carbon footprint. They use a wind powered facility and use reclaimed landfill gas as a heat source. Their dough is crafted with all natural ingredients, including coconut oil, compostable glitter, natural colors and essential oils, like chamomile, lemongrass and lavender. Why essential oils? To create a calming, sensory, play experience for your child while they use their imagination and create whatever their amazing little minds can come up with! Each cup of dough is hand made and their designs are the coolest! They sent over their "Under the Sea" and "Mermaid Lagoon" dough cups that I know Bella is going to love, and I plan on giving Bodhi their "My Treasure Island" dough cup (he loves pirates) as well as the "Seascape" dough cup. Their dough not only smells good, but is fun to play with, and lasts so well (it can be rehydrated to make it last even longer), and it makes the most perfect stocking stuffer! Find all their dough HERE! Use JOYFULTRIBE10 for 10% off from now until December 31.
Do your kids love accessories as much as mine do? Bella is at that age where she loves all things accessories, bracelets, scrunchies, necklaces, hair clips, rings, you name it, if it's an accessory, she probably loves it. Her absolute favorite of all though, are bracelets. She has a whole collection that she loves wearing (and adding to), and she of course loves choosing which bracelet she's going to wear with her outfit every day. Poppy Lane and Co. is a super cute shop that sells beautiful bracelets, we actually had some of their bracelets for Bella when she was little (but unfortunately she outgrew them) and I am so excited to give Bella another one this Christmas. She is going to be so stoked to find this Pastel Letters on White Beads (Without Metallics Between) Bracelet under the tree (or more likely in her stocking) this Christmas morning. I love that the Pastel Letters Bracelet bracelet is customizable, you can choose which size works best for your little one (or you) and you can also choose which letters you want to make whatever word you'd like! Poppy Land & Co. has so many bracelet options, different bead styles and colors to choose from, it's so much fun creating bracelets on their website. I also grabbed this Baltic Amber (Polished Multicolor) Baby Necklace and Baltic Amber (Polished Rainbow) Adult Bracelet for Bodhi that I'm excited to give him. We've been huge fans of Baltic amber jewelry for years (since Bella was an infant) and since Bodhi has been wearing an old one of Bella's for quite some time, I thought it was time for him to get a new one entirely of his own! I love the colors in this necklace and bracelet combo and I know they're going to look darling on him. Head HERE to check out all of the jewelry (and other amazing products) that Poppy Lane and Co. has to offer! Use JOYFULTRIBE15 for 15% off during checkout!
My kiddos love skateboarding, usually during the summer you'll find us in the water, but when the weather is cooler, you'll find us at the local skatepark a whole lot. My kids are board riders of all kinds and I know they're going to be completely stoked to find these rad new items from iWipeout under the tree this year! iWipeout is a skateboard brand made by Triple Eight Distribution (such a great brand in the skateboard industry) for kids ages 3 to 11 and aimed at letting their creativity run wild! I feel like surfing, skateboarding and art all cruise along hand in hand, there are so many talented artists in the surf and skate community and iWipeout is the perfect way to usher in a whole new generation of little board rising artist groms! iWipeout boards and gear are dry erase and even come with their own non-toxic dry erase markers so your groms can get them customized to their own likes, interests and personalities as soon as they arrive! Their helmets, protective gear (wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads), and even cruiser skateboards are durable and fun, because who says you can't look super sick while also staying safe? iWipeout has lots of colors and styles to choose from as well as two different size groups for groms of multiple ages! I'm pretty stoked to give the kids their own Wipeout Dry Erase Helmets (I chose Bella's in Teal Blue and Bodhi's in Black), Wipeout Dry Erase Pads (went with the "Groovy" colorway for Bella, with the black for Bodhi), as well as their own Wipeout Dry Erase Cruiser Skateboards this Christmas (how adorable are these skateboards?)! Check out all of their products HERE!
We've used Storm Blade surfboards lots of times this past year, during surf lessons but also at our local Take A Kid Surfing Days by the Surf Dreams Foundation (super fun days where the Surf Dreams Foundation comes together with volunteers to give free surf lessons to kids who might not normally be able to afford surf lessons in our community throughout the summer) and we've loved them. Storm Blade surfboards are so easy to pop up and catch waves on, and they make the experience of learning to surf so easy! Bella and Bodhi both rode their first waves on a Storm Blade and even I caught my first waves on a Storm Blade this past summer! I'm pretty stoked that they were kind enough to send their 8' SSR Soft Top Surfboard (in Azure Blue), as well as their 8' Double Swivel Surf Leash (in black) our way to share about and I can't wait for the kids to find this under... well, probably more like beside the tree on Christmas morning. They are going to lose their minds (in the best way possible), and I really can't wait to see them shredding and catching waves with it! If you (or your groms, aka kids) have been wanting to get started in surfing, I highly recommend starting with one of these Storm Blade boards. They have more volume than typical boards so they're perfect for beginners, and because this is the surf school model, they're also a little bit wider than your average surfboard, which is one reason they are so easy to learn with and stand up on! If you're local here in the Grand Strand area, you can find their boards here in Surfside Beach, SC at Good Vibes Surf Shop (a super cool shop with an awesome selection, and even more awesome people), or if you're based anywhere else in the US, you can check out all their boards HERE or ask your local surf shop if they stock them!
Like any girl, Bella LOVES nail polish! She'd probably paint them a new color every day if I let her, and half the fun is picking the nail polish off just so she can repaint them haha. One of our most favorite brands of nail polish is Piggy Paint, she loves them because they have so many pretty colors to choose from, and I love them because they are natural and non-toxic! We've been using their nail polishes for about 3 years now and at this point, Bella has quite the collection haha. She's going to be so stoked to add some new ones to the nail polish rotation (and honestly, I'm probably just as stoked to see her little face light up when she finds these under the tree). I love that Piggy Paint has an ethical and eco-minded mission, and that with their nail polish, children can experience the joy of painting their nails, but without all of the awful chemicals that's in your average nail polish. Piggy Paint is water based, almost completely odorless, dries hard (and doesn't just wash off), contains no parabens or alcohol, and is free of ALL harsh chemicals! Piggy Paint comes in so many colors (like so many) and each one is not only free of toxins, but also cruelty free and vegan! This year, she'll be getting "Sea Ya Later" (a super pretty matte seafoam green), "Neon Lights" (she's been asking for a "Barbie" pink to this one should be perfect), "Mermaid In The Shade" (even the name of this one is cute), and the one I'm especially excited about, because she's been asking for glow in the dark nails for months, "Radioactive" (clear glow in the dark nail polish). They also sent over their adorable "Oh Holly Jolly" and "Santa's Sweetie" nail polish gift sets (that both include some super cute 3D nail art). Head HERE to check out all their colors and grab some nail polish for your favorite little girl! Use JOYFULTRIBE15 for 15% off from now through 12/10/2022 (cannot be combined with any other offers or codes).
We're at that age with Bodhi that (nearly) everything ends in a meltdown, he's extremely strong willed, which I know will be a good thing later in life, but for now, as a 3 year old who likes getting his way with every single thing and isn't such a happy camper when things don't go as planned, it's a little challenging some days. As a mama, I want him to learn new techniques to deal with emotions and frustration in a healthy way, so these Mop Rides books came at exactly the perfect time for us. I love that these books teach mindfulness, breathing exercises as well as emotional regulation for kids, all in a fun and surf-inspired way! Bella and Bodhi both learned how to surf this past summer and love all things surf and ocean related, so I know these books are going to be a huge hit with them. Little surfer boy, Mop, studies the lessons of the sea, learning the ways of the waves, breathing, letting bad waves go by, and riding the good ones. Mop shows readers of all ages how to bring mindfulness (and the joy of surfing) into their lives in a cute, fun to read way, as well as bringing awareness to the issue of pollution in our oceans and on our planet. Mop Rides the Waves of Life is the first book in the series, where Mop's Mom first introduces Mop (and all of us) to breathwork and mindfulness, becoming aware of what we are feeling, as well as our surroundings. In the second book, Mop Rides the Waves of Change, we are introduced to Mop's Uncle, Kimo, who also teaches us some new mindfulness tips! I can't wait to sit down and read these books so Bella and Bodhi and I especially can't wait for the newest book in the series, Mop Rides the Waves of Courage, to be released (coming April 4th, 2023, you can actually pre-order it now). You can find the Mop Rides books on Amazon, Target (online only), as well as at most online book retailers, you can give them a follow on Instagram HERE to keep up with future book releases!
We've been using Tubby Todd products for years, I'm gonna say probably since Bella was around a year old? So since she's turning 9 this next week, we've obviously been using (and loving) their products for awhile and are huge fans. I love that their products are created from easy to read ingredients and I don't have to worry that I'm bathing my kids in toxins when they have a bath. Both the kids love bubble baths, but Bodhi is at that age where he is especially into them right now, he could spend hours upon hours in water, he loves it, so the Sweet Jasmine Clove Bubble Bath from the Tubby Todd Winter Collection is going to be a perfect gift. It smells so festive (perfect for the holiday season) and the designs on this limited edition bubble bath are perfect for the holiday season! We love how well their bubble bath suds up, but we especially love how perfect their products are for gifting to our family and friends who also have little ones! But what makes Tubby Todd stand out from all the other brands lining the shelves out there? Aside from the great (and cleanly sourced) ingredient list, their products are formulated using only natural ingredients, are gluten free, dairy free, certified animal cruelty free and made right here in the USA! So much to love about Tubby Todd! You can find all of their products HERE!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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