Every year, I’m constantly going through my list, trying to find gifts that are the right amount of practical and unique and looks like I really spent time figuring it out and isn’t the same thing I get them every year. Like you’re trying to one-up yourself each holiday.
For 2027, Troy and I are taking the girls to Disney World over their late winter break. It is understood that this trip is multiple present occasions rolled into one. But obviously, they aren’t going present-less on Christmas morning. Thus begins what I want to call “The holidays are still fun without a million gifts.”
Practical
Safe to say there will be no “toys”. Once I said my piece on why I don’t like buying my kids things from the Target catalog, they started rethinking what they had on their lists. Both girls are getting more and more into their teams, so we’re gifting them new field hockey backpacks for the winter/spring season. There are also the cleats they’ve outgrown/worn out, the new balls to replace the ones they’ve lost over the season, and a deep clean for my car.
To match, Troy and I wave worn out our folding-chairs going to all the soccer and hockey games. We’ve discreetly requested some high-tech, classy chairs.
I also signed the girls up for their first sleepaway camp this summer, so camp trunks and LL Bean Duffles are in my recent search history. Who would’ve thought that luggage was going to be such an expense this young?
I may be a socks-for-Christmas hater, but I do like pajamas. I had the Y2K Nick and Nora cloud sheets growing up (my kids still use them). I love that they made cloud-print cotton pajamas. I might like the flannel pancake pjs more though.
Not-So-Practical
A Place for All My Books, a cozy board game that you can play solo or up to 4 people.
Any paint-by-number kit by DIY Art Club.
The LL Bean Mini Boat and Tote. The girls were hyped to find out they could get their own mini tote bag and personalize it. We’re traveling this month and stopping at a big LL Bean store to do this little bag experience. So while the bag itself might be practical, the mini-ness of it makes it extra. I might gift these to a few people as well.
A trifold leather journal folio from Paper Republic. Paper Republic is my preference. They are also super sold out. Louise Carmen is the classy French one. Japanese journals are the masters. Now, there are so many companies making journal “ecosystems” in really pretty colored leather with charms, inserts, and engraving. I’d personally go for the pocket-size folio since my planner is already huge.
I might also add that December is when we need to book all of our extra Disney reservations. I think the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, character meet-and-greets, and whatever special excursions count in this gift category.
The Growing TBR
The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth – Hoping this doesn’t turn into a hate-read
The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman
Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason – Reese’s Book Club pick from October
Capsized by Charlotte Lillie Balogh – please be better than Crew Girl
The Invisible Hand of Maria Edgeworth: How a Nineteenth Century Novelist Taught the World Economics by Jeanna Smialek – my next book club rec
For the girls, they’ve been into The Kicks, a middle-grade soccer series by Alex Morgan and The Grimlore Game by Kaylen Josephson. They are getting much better about finding middle-grade titles for Book It and are starting to find their niche tropes.
Stocking Stuffers to round it out
All the candy and gift cards. All the new toothbrushes and travel toiletries. All the new annual ornaments for the tree. Other things if they fit in the socks:
- Stickers or patches from Etsy. Bonus if they are personalized.
- These new Pilot V-Sign pens if you like them extra inky
- A small plant. For real…
Next week is our last week of content before a two-week Thanksgiving blog break. Hopefully it’ll get you in just the right mood before the holiday season ramps up.
Most of the linked items can also be found on our Child(ish) Advice Holiday Amazon Storefront.
Also check out our past gift guides (2025, 2024, 2023) for more giving ideas.
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