The holiday season is more than just exchanging gifts; it's a time to celebrate the bonds with friends, family, and faith. While finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones may pose a challenge, the joy it brings is undoubtedly one of the greatest gifts in return.
Whether you're on the hunt for last-minute presents for the kids or seeking something special for the men and women in your life, I've compiled a list of must-haves for this festive season.
But before we delve into the details on how you can elevate your holiday gifting, don't forget to explore Vanessa’s Ultimate Gift Guide. She's put together an incredible selection of choices for stocking stuffers, kids, and ladies that you won't want to miss.
FOR THE KIDS | FOR THE FAMILY | KID'S STOCKING STUFFERS | FOR THE LADIES STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THE LADIES | GIFTS + STOCKING STUFFERS FOR MEN
GIFT IDEAS FOR THE KIDS
For the Builder in Your Family
This travel pack of LEGOS has been a lifesaver for long car rides and impromptu restaurant visits with my son. The suitcase can sit open in his lap while he sits in his car seat where the lid works as a building space and the unused LEGOS stay put in the divided sections on the other side. It’s a fun and inexpensive option that doesn’t involve a screen in front of his face!
K’nex are such a fun and versatile building activity! The set gives your kiddo a booklet of ideas to build, or they can come up with their own 2D and 3D creations. I love that these have endless possibilities, and they don’t take up a lot of space in my son’s playroom.
Bring some STEM learning into your child’s playtime! This set has all they need to build a real, movable robot. Kids can learn how to put the pieces together by using the provided activity guide and then graduate to creating their own robotic designs. If you have a little older child, this LEGO Gadgets kit would be a great STEM option for them to create various machines.
GIFT IDEAS FOR THE KIDS: For the Little Crafter In Your Family
We just gifted this to Vanessa’s daughter for her 5th birthday. She loves to create, and this kit has a wide variety of crafting essentials to help her creativity run wild. This Skillmatics Craft Kit is a larger option, too!
This gift would be an activity to enjoy throughout the year since it includes EVERYTHING your kiddo would need to paint and make up to 26 wooden magnets. I can never find enough magnets to display my son’s artwork on our refrigerator. With this I could display his art along with his own magnets.
Don’t want the mess of regular craft supplies? This craftivity uses stickers instead of paint or markers! Kids can layer various stickers to fill in themed pictures. This could be a great gift or stocking stuffer. We have a lot of this brands (Skillmatics) activities in our home, so check out the other items they have to offer too! For older kids, this Paint by Sticker book would be another great option, too!
GIFT IDEAS FOR THE KIDS: For the Imaginative Thinker in Your Family
Prep and cook with your kids using their own little cutting set. I can’t wait for my son to be more involved in helping cut and make his own snacks and parts of his meals! We already have some imaginative play cooking items, but if you are just starting your collection here is a larger set of kid cooking items!
For the little chefs in your life! This cookbook includes step-by-step photos so cooks of all levels can enjoy creating in the kitchen. There is also a baking edition for the aspiring baker in your family.
Our son’s class had multiple of these outfits in their imaginative play center last year. Every kid was obsessed with them, and that was one of the favorite centers to be at! So last year we purchased a few of these.
We personally have the police officer, fire fighter, and construction worker, but there are many other options out there! Some vendors even sell them in bundles with multiple outfits. If you are getting the cooking set mentioned before, this chef outfit would be a great addition!
GIFTS FOR FAMILY TIME
This is such a fun game that we enjoy playing at home! You take turns giving clues and asking questions to figure out what mystery card has been pulled. We will be adding the Animal and Marvel edition to our collection this year!
Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, I LOVED the I Spy books. My son and I love to play I Spy on our way to his soccer practice, so we will be adding this old schoolbook to his library this year. There are other I Spy book options with different themes for younger kids, as well. And the seek and find pages in the Highlights magazines are always a hit too (yes, they are still around)!
Again a classic from my childhood. As a teacher, my students loved playing Uno, and as a mom, so does my son. We have the basic card set, but a fun themed set would be great to add, too!
Puzzles are always a hit! However, storing puzzles can be a difficult task. The set comes with 4 themed puzzles in a divided box to keep all the pieces together. These were great for restaurants and on the go activities.
We have the junior version of this game, and it is always so fun (and so easy) for all ages. You simply try to “spot” the matching items on every 2 cards. The game also comes with other ways to play to keep it interesting!
We brought this tub of “floof” with us when we visited family last Christmas. We don’t usually get a lot of snow here in Texas, so the kids had a blast making their faux snowmen. The floof is soft and comes with molds to create every spherical layer along with all the accessories to build a perfect snowman.
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR KIDS
My son is absolutely obsessed with LEGOS. We plan on getting him the 3 in 1 dinosaur set this Christmas, but there are multiple types of themed sets to fit whatever your child is “in to”.
What I love about this product is that you can build 3 different LEGO action figures with only 1 box and for less than $10!
Compact and perfect for little hands. Even better, they are less messy than getting out the paint brushes and rinsing water! Kids simply use these like they would crayons or markers, but the colors are much more vibrant.
These fun and interactive cards are great for a rainy or cold day when you need your child to be entertained inside! Each card has a statement and picture of an item to find and an action to do with that item once it’s found.
This particular set is geared more toward 2-3 year old’s, but this other scavenger hunt from Skillmatics is meant for kids 4-7 and has varying versions.
Fun and mesmerizing for all ages! The moving colors are very reminiscent of a lava lamp, and just as satisfying to watch.
Crayons never tasted so good! Kids will love putting the colors they are so used to putting on paper onto their lips! This brand has many different themes and characters to choose from based on your child’s interests.
Growing up, I loved to do string activities and make shapes. This kit includes a tie-dyed string and book of instructions with pictures to take the guesswork out of making these classic string shapes.
Who doesn’t enjoy a new coloring book? Well, this one also includes an I Spy element to go along with the pages as kids color.
The package says, “fun for ages 7 to 97”, but our 4 year old can play the basic version of this game. It’s portable with its own dice holder, and this version comes with 77 other ways to play the game for all age ranges!
If you can’t tell, we love to play games in our house. This particular Bingo game is holiday themed but this company makes family Bingo games that can be played year round too. Check out their other card games and activities that are the perfect size for stocking stuffers!
Simple and delicious. Every little egg holds a delicious, sweet treat and a little prize.
Puzzles are fun for all ages and a great activity to do together during the holidays. This set comes with 2 puzzles for only $5!
GIFTS FOR THE LADIES
Whether it is their own initial, the initial of their child, pet, or whole family, many women love this type of personalized gift.
Many companies make variations of personalized necklaces and bracelets; however, I like this one because it is simple enough to be worn every day, but also a nice piece that will last for years.
If you buy something like this for a lady in your life, make sure it fits her personality and style. If you are looking for any personalized jewelry, BaubleBar is another great place to search!
Slippers can be functional and stylish! This particular UGG pair comes in multiple colors and would go nicely with holiday pajamas and beyond. For anyone who loves pink (like me), this other pair might be the perfect pick!
Sleep is precious, but sometimes it is so difficult to shut off our brains. This weighted sleep mask could be just the trick for getting to sleep quickly and easily!
It comes in many different colors to match the personality of the person you are purchasing for. This brand has a weighted body version, too!
Platform sneakers are back! Women are enjoying a comfortable but stylish look with sneakers just like these. They are so versatile; you can pair them with a comfy jogger look or even with a dress.
They can erase their daily makeup using JUST water. One side of the water activated eraser takes off makeup, while the other side can be used to exfoliate. The reusable cloth pads are machine washable and come with their own tiny laundry bag, so they don’t get lost in the wash. I want these! Wink, wink hubby, if you’re reading.
Want to give a fragrance, but don’t know where to start? This perfume discovery set from Le Labo includes their top fragrances, so she can test and try multiple scents to find the perfect match. You can even personalize the box they come in for that extra special touch.
If you are ahead of the curve and purchasing early, you can start the gift giving a little early for the tea lover in your life!
This tea advent calendar is perfect for that special someone to enjoy a different cup of tea each day leading into the holiday season.
You can find an advent calendar for just about anything, so even if your special someone doesn’t like tea, you can find a countdown calendar to fit their personality and make them feel extra special.
Looking for earrings that are perfect for everyday AND that special night out? These are a great option, and they come in different metals. Of course, being that I love pink, I prefer the rose patina or pink stone finish.
I don’t know about you, but I carry most of my stress in my neck and shoulders. This product sounds like just the thing I want to put on after a long day of staging or organizing with a nice glass of wine!
This last gift idea is one that is on my own Christmas list. As a service-based business owner, we meet with a lot of potential clients and view a lot of properties. We also take continuing education courses and are a part of a mastermind/online networking group.
My current notebook is full of great notes, but I can’t always find what I’m looking for. This notebook has moveable pages where notes can be rearranged after they have been taken. I would never spend more than $20 for a notebook for myself which is why it’s on my Christmas list. However, the company, Levenger, is having quite a sale if you want to jump on it.
The notebooks are very customizable with available add-ons and accessories based on your needs. Currently, the discount WONDER will get you 30% off. I’m crossing my fingers that this makes it under the tree for me this year!
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THE LADIES
Personally, I love fluffy socks. But not every lady in your life does. So here are some ideas that she will appreciate finding Christmas morning.
This variety pack of hot chocolate bombs look adorable and sound delicious. This would be a fun stocking stuffer that I would love to share with the family on Christmas morning.
Great for multiple complexions and for trying a new eye shadow shade! The shadow stick makes getting glammed up simple and quick!
Give this seasonal pack of festive silk scrunchies in an ornament case! They are made of silk to keep from pulling hair and causing creases.
Help make packing jewelry for a trip a sinch! This travel case from Target is super functional and affordable. If you are looking for a personalized option, the company Mark & Graham have some fabulous products!
Like I said, I love getting certain socks, so I would jump for joy to receive these. They are so comfortable and come in a lot of fun colors and patterns.
Bombas also has some no-show version I love to wear with low sneakers that are thick and keep the backs of my heels from rubbing. Beware though; people seem to either love or hate getting socks as gifts, so know your audience!
This band has so many color and pattern options, and the knit material is perfect for the fall and winter!
Help that special someone enjoy some self-care with these shower steamers!
Sometimes it’s hard to commit to the time of taking a bath to relax, so these steamers are a quick and effective alternative. The tube they are packaged in is the perfect size to tuck into a stocking!
These are a great sample pack for someone to try for all of their under-eye needs. Simply put a pair on in the morning or before bed for a dose of self-care.
This is the perfect accessory for when our family walks our dogs to a coffee shop/dog park down the street from our house.
Bringing an entire wallet is too bulky to fit in a pocket and holding a wallet in my hand while walking with 2 huskies and a 4-year-old is not realistic.
Get this for the active person in your life!
GIFT AND STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THE GUYS
The best gifts are the ones you can enjoy with others!
Create future memories at your next game night with this compact and interactive dice game.
Perfect for laptops or even quick travel trips. This backpack is great for day-to-day work use and will last for years to come.
Customize 3 belt straps and buckles with a gift box!
There are so many options to choose from to match the personality of the recipient.
This brand even has belt gift boxes for women!
My husband is notorious for losing his sunglasses. He has been given nice pairs and unfortunately misplaced them.
These glasses look just like some of the nicer brands but are a fraction of the cost. If he were to lose these, it wouldn’t sting so bad. Since they are such a great deal, he could have a pair in each of our vehicles and at home!
Pen meets puzzle. This pen is made up of small moveable steel tubes that can be maneuvered into various shapes.
This is a great gift for the person that needs a brain break from time to time while working.
It doesn’t get too terribly cold in the DFW area of Texas compared to other parts of the country, but with traveling or with outdoor activities with our son, this scarf could be very helpful!
It has a built-in battery that lasts 3-7 hours which could get you through an outdoor sporting event or trip to Holiday in the Park at Six Flags. There is also a neck warmer option if you would prefer that to a scarf.
If you have an avid griller in your life, this might be the gift for them!
They can keep track of what temperature of their grill at the tips of their fingertips using an app on their phone.
To be honest, this would be a gift I give to my husband that I would be excited to enjoy as well.
It can dispense wine, sake, whiskey, and other spirits at various amounts and with precision.
My husband and a lot of his friends and family members love this brand.
It has great quality tops, pants, hats, outerwear, and shoes. It is more on the pricey side, but the pieces he has have lasted for years thus far.
This quarter zip may be the newest edition to his closet this year.
I gifted one of these to my husband last year, and it was a hit! He loves that it doesn’t add bulk to his pocket and that he can still fit quite a few cards and essentials in it.
And there you have it! My ultimate gift guide selection to take your holiday gift giving to the very next level.
Happy shopping!
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