2020 Holiday Gift Guide!
Christmas is fast approaching...only 30 days!! AND this Friday, November 27th is the much-anticipated, or much-dreaded, Black Friday. However, in tru 2020 fashion, Black Friday sales look super different this year. Some sales have already started, and stores are preparing for a limited in-store sales experience. It’s gonna be weird, y’all...but then again, when is Black Friday not always a little weird.
To help alleviate all that holiday shopping stress, my sis, Brooke, and I did a BONUS 2020 Gift Guide Podcast episode to share with you some of our favorite gifts that we’ve either received, given, or hope to receive in the near future. 😉
While I love a good experiential gift (take me away, anywhere, any time!), Brooke loves all things mom or organization related. We all have our favorites, but Brooke and I both can agree that the gift ideas below are awesome and fun for all...from the homeschool mom needing inspiration, the beer and coffee-loving dad who loves to learn, and the travel-loving aunt craving her next adventure.
You can listen to the podcast episode to hear all our colorful commentary on each gift right here:
Without further adu, here are ALL the amazing gift ideas items we discussed in the podcast with handy dandy links to help make your gift giving treasure hunts a little bit easier:
ADVENT RESOURCES
Kids Read Truth - Brooke has used Kids Read Truth, a subgroup under She Reads Truth, for years as an Advent resource. The kids love it! I did the She Reads Truth Advent Study last year, and it was so good. I thoroughly recommend them.
Risen Motherhood Advent Resources - Risen Motherhood (another trusted, Brooke-approved website) provides tons of free Advent ideas and resources.
Well-Watered Women - I’m actually doing their Advent study this year! It’s called “Savior the Savior,” it’s gorgeous and looks like a fun, unique perspective. They also a bundle option where the study comes with a mug, advent cards, and sweatshirt! I can’t wait to dive into it!
The Daily Grace Co - First of all, I want to buy all their studies! The Daily Grace Co not only offers beautiful, deep Bible studies but also super cute mugs, apparel, and tons of other merchandise. They also break several studies into a Men and Women’s versions. Their Advent study this year is titled “Hymns for Advent.” I love this. Their goal of this study is to cultivate a longing for Jesus through Christmas hymns written over thousands of years, all pointing to the hope of Jesus Christ.
SUBSCRIPTION BOXES
Snack Crate - If you’ve watched any of our fun Instagram Snack Crate videos, you know how much we love this subscription box filled with snacks from around the world. Each month you receive snacks from a different country. There are three different sizes to choose from. I received this gift from Brooke and Garrett last Christmas, and we kept it going because it was just so much fun! So much so that we started filming our unboxing and inviting guests to join us. It’s one of the more popular things we do over here at Trust Falls and High Kicks!
Beer of the Month Club - I got this subscription box for Garrett a few years ago, and it was very fun. There are a few different options of boxes that you can send, and they’re not all just beer. I actually did a four-month subscription: one month was craft beers, one month was rare beers, one month was wine, and one month was cheese. He loved it!!
Craft Beer Club - All I can say is great minds think alike! The same year I got Garrett the Beer of the Month Club (above), he gifted me this craft beer subscription. It was only craft beer, but it was very fun for this open-to-try-new-things gal to receive beer from all over the US.
Try The World - I gifted this fun subscription box to myself one year. It is a brilliant way to “discover the world through food” (their tagline). I got the “Countries” box, which was filled with recipes, ingredients, snacks, drinks, etc. Now, though, they have added a “Snacks” box, which is a fun alternative if you’re just wanting all the pre-made, ready to eat goodies that a country offers.
Little Passports - I think this is just the coolest gift for the kiddos in your family! It’s such a fun way to open your kids up to the world around us, expand their horizons and learn about new and different countries. Each month a box, in the form of a cute little suitcase, comes to your door with a “passport,” world map, an exclusive country coin and coin board, activity sheets, fun toys, and more. The boxes are even customizable based on the ages of your children! This travel-loving aunt is SUPER excited because I’m actually giving this to Ben and Olivia this Christmas, who also love learning about different countries and can’t wait to start traveling abroad themselves.
Airship Coffee - You may recognize them as one of our TFHK “Cool Kids.” Airship Coffee not only sells amazing, freshly-roasted, and ethically-sourced coffee, they’re also just cool people. I know the owner and his family personally, and trust me when I say coffee is their passion. You can buy Airship Coffee in individual bags or sign up to receive the bags as a subscription. They also have some super cool coffee merch to go along with those tasty beans!
Leapknot Coffee Roasters - “Dream big. Inspire others. Why Not?” is the slogan / anthem for Leapknot. Based up in Idaho, Leapknot is another one of the TFHK Cook Kids! They also offer quality, freshly roasted, coffee by the bag or in a subscription. I love their Days of the Week sampler! Give it a try!
Flaviar - Flaviar is a club for spirits enthusiasts. I have honestly always wanted to get a subscription box from them because I think Garrett and my dad would LOVE it! However, Arkansas is a tricky state that will not allow alcohol to be delivered via the mail, so I haven’t been able to partake. But you can! It’s more of a membership situation than a subscription. A Flaviar membership “lets you claim a premium bottle and a themed Tasting Box of your choice each quarter, plus access to rare, exclusive and private bottlings, a guided journey through the world of Spirits with tailored recommendations, a bustling community that rates and reviews, and unique members-only events.” Pretty cool right?!
EXPERIENTIAL GIFTS
Airbnb - As an enneagram 7, one of the best gifts you could give me would be to wisk me away on a surprise road trip or to a fun new place where we stay in a cabin in the montains, a funky downtown apartment in the city, or a cozy cottage in a small town. You can find places to stay in any of these locales through Airbnb. I have used Airbnb several times both in the US and abroad. Haven’t had any problems yet! My recommendation is to find those Superhosts. They know what they are doing.
Crystal Bridges / North Forest Lights Exhibit - Crystal Bridges in a famous art museum here in Northwest Arkansas, founded by Alice Walton. It houses one of the largest personal art collections in the world. The North Forest Lights is one of the current outside art exhibits; it features not only nature-inspired light installations but also sound. It’s fun for the whole family! The exhibit runs through April 2021.
Tinggly - Tinggly’s tagline is “Give Stories, Not Stuff.” I. Love. That! Some of us could use some stuff, sure; but sometimes we need stories, we need to create memories, rather than accumulate things. I personally have not given or received anything from Tinggly, so I cannot speak from experience here (no pun intended). But, after my research, it seems like something I would love and know so many family and friends who would love it as well. How it works is you purchase one of their gifts by country (over 100 countries available!); this one gift buys you an entire collection of amazing experiences for the recipient to choose from. The recipient can then choose the ONE experience they want, and book it with just a couple of clicks. And there is no expiration date!
FOR THE MAMAS (with love from Brooke)
Risen Motherhood - Risen Motherhood is not just a great resource for Advent activities with the whole family, they’re also a valuable resource for all things motherhood. I mean, it’s even in the name. 😉
The Homemaking Momma - The Homemaking Momma is a simple, yet valuable, blog filled with all things homeschooling, parenting, meal-planning, and faith spurring (yes, I may have made up that phrase, but let’s just go with it). She also has a new Advent study!
September & Co / September McCarthy - September McCarthy is the owner, wife, and mom behind September & Co. She is also the author of Why Motherhood Matters. Brooke LOVES her some September McCarthy, and now I do too! I had the privilege of meeting her at a conference I attended last month, and, y’all, she is just as kind, peaceful, and wise as she seems on Instagram and her blog. September and Co. offers a TON of homeschool resources as well as super cute t-shirts. She is definitely someone you will want to follow on Instagram; she’s just so encouraging!
COOL GIFTS, PEOPLE, AND COMPANIES
Euna Mae’s / Amy Hannon - Amy Hannon is the owner and CEO of Euna Mae’s kitchen shop in Springdale, Arkansas. BUT it’s more than just a shop filled with adorable items for your home; Amy’s mission and heart is to extend, and teach others about, Biblical hospitality. How can we serve other’s well; how can we love them through the gift of hospitality? Amy Hannon has this gift, and she shares it with as many people as she can. Not only can you shop at the store, but you can also shop online. Amy has also written a cookbook called Love, Welcome, Serve, which is her mission statement. During non-covid times, she even holds “Cook the Book” events in her shop, where you learn to cook, and sample, a few of the recipes in her cookbook while enjoying an evening of chatting it up with all who have come. Brooke and I were able to attend a “Cook the Book” even last year, and it was a blast! Once they’re back on the docket, we strongly recommend attending. Brooke also wanted me to make sure and tell you that she has made several recipes out of Amy’s cookbook, and we have all yet to be disappointed. I recommend the shrimp and grits and the double chocolate blondies….tasty treats!!
Little Things Studio - A long time TFHK “Cool Kid,” Little Things Studio is a love of mine as is it’s owner and CEO, Kate Whitley. I had the privilege of having Kate on the podcast to tell her just that, how inspiring she has been for me and how much I love her art. If you haven’t listened yet, you can check out Ep. 22 “It’s the Little Things” with Kate Whitley here. My favorites of LTS have to be the tea towels and the NEW hymn magnets. However, it has been a yearly tradition, since they first cam out, to buy the Hymn Calendars and give them out as gifts. I also have several of her prints, cards, and enamel pins! Seriously, y’all, she does so much, and it’s all drawn by her! Every letter, every flower, every stroke is unique, just like Kate.
Life and Laundry Apparel - One of my new favorite t-shirts is from Life and Laundry: God is Good, All the Time. It is a small business owned by two mom’s, who live in Texas and Arkansas. Brooke has bought a few other shirts from them, and they are super soft and high quality. Plus isn’t is fun to support a small business!
Shutterfly - One of my favorite gifts of all time was a photo book that Brooke and Garrett made for me called “The Evolution of Dee.” It is the story of how I became the aunt to my Mr. Cheekyboes (Ben) and my Ladybug Princess (Olivia). It is our love story. Every year we get our mom a photo calendar. She loves it and expects it! She doesn’t need the surprise, as it brings her so much joy. We’ve also done their photo blankets. You really can’t go wrong with a photo gift.
There you have it folks! It’s a long list, but it’s a good one. I hope you were inspired and maybe even a little encouraged by some new gift ideas for that lady or lad in your life, the mom or the dad, the son or daughter, the sister or brother-in-law. At the end of the day, the reason for the season is Jesus. So give out of kindness and love, and then it will not matter what it is!
Let me know if you purchase/order any of the gifts Brooke and I suggested above. I’d love to hear (and see! take pictures!) about your experience.