gift ideas - Stuff Parents Need

Best Buy Gift Idea Lists and Wish List Maker!

August 10, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

I have got gifts on the brain BIG TIME right now. My husband’s birthday was 3 weeks ago (and he STILL doesn’t know what he wants for his present!), my oldest daughter had a birthday over the weekend, and my birthday is just a few weeks away.

Also, August is the month when I do a present inventory for Christmas. I have 28 people on my Christmas gift list, with the majority of those people being adorable nieces and nephews, so it takes some rather intense organization to get all of their gifts together and not be absolutely losing my mind in December. I’ve conducted my inventory now so I know exactly where my gift “holes” are and the price point I’m looking to spend in each case.

And by the way, the men have nothing. They always have nothing. Why are they so tough?!?!

One of my go-to spots for birthday or Christmas gifts for the men on my list is Best Buy. I’m never starting from scratch when I head to the Best Buy website because they have gift ideas based on the interests of the person you are buying for and your budget. LOVE that feature! I don’t know about the men in your life, but the men in my life, 9 times out of 10, say, “I don’t know” when I ask them what gift ideas they could give me. Best Buy NEVER has that answer, thankfully!

If you check out the gift ideas page, you can search for him, her, kids and teens, and then you can look for gifts under $25, gifts from $25-$49.99, gifts from $50-$99, gifts from $100-$249.00, and for the gift-giving ballers out there, gifts over $250.

Make a Wish List

One of my favorite discoveries is that now you can create your own wish list on the Best Buy site. I’m going to have my husband create one immeiately because he is notorious for randomly thinking of cool tech gifts that he wants, TELLING NOBODY, and then forgetting his idea. Now he can just add that cool item to his wish list and I can refer to it any time!

The wish list can also really help families and friends pool resources. If you notice that your teenage nephew, for example, wants an iPad REALLY bad for his birthday, instead of everyone buying him $30 presents, put it all together to get him the one thing he really wants! Want to see the first thing he added? Click here! Classic…

Fun fact: September is the most popular birthday month out of the year. So the odds are good that you’ve got some birthday presents to buy in the not-so-distant future. Encourage your loved ones to set up a Best Buy wish list, and definitely check out the gift ideas before doing your shopping. I hope this makes birthday AND holiday shopping a bit easier for you this year!

There’s Still Time for Great Mother’s Day Gifts at a Great Price (Groupon Goods to the Rescue)

April 30, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to my friends over at Groupon Goods for partnering with me today and putting together this great list of fabulous gift ideas that are also smokin’ hot deals. I’d love to hear what you are hoping for this Mother’s Day!

Mother’s day is just around the corner and we couldn’t think of a better gift than something that makes kid wrangling just a tad easier. Moms are super heroes, event planners, and need to have the agility of professional athletes. They also deserve a serious break. Give a gift of sanity this mother’s day and remember moms want to be cool too. These gifts are mom and kid proof- no returns necessary.

Carry All Tote

Diaper bags can be a drag to a mom’s shoulders and to their style but if they have to tote around the world, make it a cute tote. Reboot their style with a tote that can double as a carry all and a stylish accessory. They will have room for toys, snacks, and a little street style. The size will let them haul all of their non-negotiables- and of course everyone else’s too.

Reversible Vegan Leather Tote, $48.00 at Nordstrom

Sneakers

Running after little ones can seem like an 18-year free gym membership. Moms need the best support they can get without forgoing style. Sneakers are great but who has time to tie the laces or wants the bulkiness of a running shoe?

Try these Nylon slip-ons or no-tie Converses for a shoe that is worthy of a space in mom’s closet and also their daily half-marathon.

Avalon Nylon Slip-On and Shoreline Sneaker, $58.95 and $49.95 at Nordstrom

Watch

Keeping track of their schedule and their kids schedule can leave mom with a major headache. When iCal isn’t enough, try a time-piece that can keep a busy mom on track. It’s an easy basic they’ll always have with them that will keep mom feeling stylish and on time for the school carpool. This is the best way to work jewelry into a mom’s practical lifestyle and give her a gift that will be for both her and the kids.

Gramercy Grand Bracelet Watch, $168.75 at Nordstrom

Colors Straight Out of Eric Carle Books: Stocking Stuffer Idea

December 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Products provided for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

Like many children all over the world, my kids are fan of several Eric Carle books. The Very Hungry Catepillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear are both much-loved and regularly read in my home. Part of the beauty of these books lies in the color-rich images.

How fun it is, therefore, to see those exact colors being offered in chunky color pencil sets. These are a PERFECT stocking stuffer for the toddler on your shopping list, friends! The child will likely recognize the images on the packaging and really delight in getting to put those colors to paper.

You can find the Eric Carle Chunky Colored Pencils sets at retails such as Barnes & Noble, Walmart and Amazon. The online prices are always in flux, but at the moment, the best deal seems to be at Walmart.com (just trying to save you some $$$!).

Come Visit Me at Novica and See My Gift Suggestion for (Hard to Shop for) Men

October 4, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

I’ve got a post up over on the Novica blog all about shopping for the man who doesn’t give two flips about gifts (that would be my husband). Novica, a website overflowing with beautiful artisan treasures from all over the world offered at a win/win price for you and for the artist, has some excellent options for the man in your life who is SO hard to shop for. Come see what I picked out (spoiler alert: my husband loved it!).

http://blog.novica.com/handmade-leather-wallets/

Fun (And CHEAP!) Gift Idea for Teens and Young Adults

April 14, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Affiliate links included. I only promote what I love, as always!

Last week I was painting my toes and I realized that I had more nail polish than I could possibly use up before it was going to go bad. So this got me thinking about what I could do with some of my nail polish in addition to painting my nails. I realized that very small painting projects were a possibility, and that led me to dig some binder clips out of my office drawer. I thought they could use a little makeover for Spring!

I pulled 3 of my Julep colors because they are pretty and remind me of this time of year. Julep is a fun nail polish subscription service, and they are offering a FREE box to new subscribers, so if you want to take this project from cheap to totally free, you need to jump on this! 🙂

Anywho, back to my fun project! Here are the supplies I gathered: nail polishes that needed to be used, binder clips, and pencils to hold the binder clips in place while being painted and while drying.

All you need to do is paint the outsides of your binder clips (I recommend two coats) and leave them on the pencil to dry. I gave each coat 10 minutes to dry.

I think these would be adorable in a teenager’s Easter basket, or as part of a graduation gift for someone heading off to college this fall. I even like them for my office; gives my (boring) paperwork a bit of a pick-me-up!

More About The Free Nail Polish

Here’s a tip for you about the free nail polish offer from Julep: shipping at Julep is free with a $50 purchase. The free box has a value of $40, so if you add $10 in product to your free box order, you’ll get the 3 nail polishes and $10 worth of other great products for just $10 total! Basically it’s like getting that extra $10 of stuff at 50% off, because otherwise you’ll have to pay $5 in shipping. I’m looking out for you, ladies. 😉 Don’t forget to add code FREEBOX to take $40 off the bill, too!

Do you have any clever uses for nail polish besides making your nails lovely? I’d love to hear about it!

Baby Shower Hostess Gift Ideas I Love

January 17, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

If you are the lucky recipient of an upcoming baby shower, don’t forget to remember your hostess, and bring along a thoughtful baby shower hostess gift as a thank you for all the work your friend put into your celebration.

Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with ideas that don’t seem to expected or boring, though (especially during the third trimester of a pregnancy, when I found it to be challenging to have a coherent thought most of the time!). I’ve got some ideas for you today (some affiliate links included) that are outside-of-the-box, as well as some fun twists on more conventional ideas. I hope they help you quickly identify a baby shower hostess gift that will be just perfect for you (and for your friend!).

1. If you want to be a little tongue-in-cheek with your gift, consider getting a really cute umbrella, and attach a tag that says, “Thank you for showering us with love!” I found these beautiful umbrellas for just $10 each. Score!

2. Toast to your friend’s efforts by bringing a bottle of wine and a set of really cute wine glasses, like these with a chalkboard-dipped stem. Since you are expecting, you’ll have to wait to share a bottle of wine with her, but the day is coming, I promise!

3. I think one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give is a bit of help after the party. If you are able to help with the dishes and clean up, why not bring some fancy dish soap, an organic hand towel, and a bit of your time? Honest.com has really awesome cleaning products that feel like a treat to receive. Don’t forget to get all your Honest.com freebies if you’ve never ordered from them before!

4. Flowers are a nice sentiment, but what about something that will last longer, like a beautiful potted plant? Bonus points if it also offers a few blooms, like this Serene Peace Plant !

5. Unoriginal, I know, but in this case, if the gift ain’t broke, don’t fix it! A Starbucks gift card is a welcome sight for any coffee enthusiast. StarbucksStore.com has some really cute design options that you can get shipped to your home. Easy peasy!

6. How about a break for those tired feet? Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Foot Soak in Cooling Peppermint is one of my favorite indulgences. Buy two, because you should have a bag, too! Just trust me!

7. I know what you are thinking: a scented candle? SO boring! But not this one from Diamond Candles. This one has a pretty ring inside, and that ring could be worth up to $5,000. Totally makes burning it and enjoying the delicious scent that much more fun.

8. Finally, if your friend isn’t so much into coffee (which means I totally can’t relate to her), perhaps she would like a fancy iced tea gift set? I thought this one was too cute, and the price point is nice, too!

Do you have any other ideas for thoughtful and fun baby shower hostess gifts? I’d love to hear them in the comments, and I’m sure others would, too!

Gift Ideas for Those Working on Their Fitness!

December 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Truthfully, there aren’t very many things that I miss about Memphis, which was my home city off and on for 10 years. But one thing I do miss VERY much, is their awesome water. Memphis sits atop a fantastic aquifer, and as a result, has some of the best tap water in the entire country. It tastes awesome! I never understood how bottled water makers ever sold anything in that city.

Chattanooga’s water, in comparison, tastes a little gross. Maybe not to everyone, but I was so spoiled by the water in Memphis that I feel like I’m taking a big swig of chemicals whenever I drink water from the tap here. Yuck.

That’s why I’m loving the Fit Top bottle. It is a water bottle that comes with its own filtration system. Not only that, but it also has a separate hole in the top, totally separate from the filter, where you can add anything you might like to add to the water (Crystal Light, energy shots, lemon, whatever).

My tap water tastes infinitely better after I run it through the Fit Top filter. But I still like to add a little lemon to my water to give it some zing. It’s a great product, and it is getting me to start drinking water again. Yay!

If you’ve got a health nut, a gym rat, or someone looking to make 2014 their year to get more serious about their health, then the Fit Top bottle is a great choice. No matter where you go, you’ve always got a way to have fresh, clean, delicious water! The 14 ounce bottles are $19.99 and the 24 ounce bottles are $24.99. They come in 3 different colors (red, blue and green).

How’s the water taste in your town? I’m curious to hear!

Fabulous Last-Minute Christmas Gift for Her (Under $10!)

December 13, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

My Cents of Style has got a great offer today for Fashion Friday! Use code CHEVRON8 to get these infinity scarves for $7.95. Shipping is FREE!!!! Scarves will be mailed out this weekend and early next week to ensure that they arrive in plenty of time to get wrapped. Get on it, shoppers! 17 colors available!

Fashion Friday- 12/13/13- Chevron Infinity Scarf- $7.95 & FREE SHIPPING with Code CHEVRON8

Best Tech Gifts for the “Hard to Shop For” People On Your List! #OneBuyForAll

December 11, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 6 Comments

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop for cool gifts at Best Buy has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

A few days ago I headed over to Best Buy on a very specific mission: I wanted to find the hottest tech gifts for people on my list who are really hard to shop for (that would be my husband, Tim). Best Buy was my tech gift center choice because I really like how their stores are organized, which makes it easy for folks like me who aren’t super tech-savvy to navigate the floor and find what they need. Additionally, there are employees in every section who have specialized knowledge of the products in those sections, and they do a great job of answering questions and showing you what you think you might be looking for, as well as a few alternatives that might also fit the bill.

Before I headed to the store, I checked out what cool gifts are currently trending as the most popular. While the top 10 list did have some fluctuation depending on when I checked it, I definitely noticed that a few different things stood out from the crowd. Let me show you the highlights!

Samsung Galaxy

So this seems to be a VERY hot ticket product line this holiday season! My Best Buy was offering a KILLER deal on a Samsung Galaxy S4 plus a Samsung Galaxy Tab plus your choice of another accessory. Just $309.98!!! I mean, seriously. I stood there for several minutes trying to figure out if I should go drop my iPhone in the toilet “accidentally.” I didn’t do it, but I’ve never considered it more seriously than I did in that moment, people! The Samsung Galaxy seems to be the smartest of the smartphones, and one that everyone is loving. So if you’ve got a little more to spend on your “hard to shop for” person and they are due for a phone upgrade, it doesn’t get any sweeter than this. And for the James Bond types out there, definitely check out that sweet Samsung Galaxy Tab watch. It is nuts!

Apple Products

Even though I debated ending the life of my iPhone, I can’t really hate on Apple, because their products are just so unbelievably amazing. For example, I have the first generation of the iPad, and I think it is fabulous (except for its inability to take photos). One of the helpful Best Buy employees snapped a shot of my shock as I picked up the newest iPad. It is so light! Priced at $499, it would make one showstopper of a Christmas gift under anyone’s tree! I know I’m supposed to be shopping for Tim here, but I can’t help but feel as though I need to start singing, “Santa baby, just slip an iPad Air under the tree, for me!”

Getting back on track and thinking about what my husband would like, I spotted (heck, how could I miss it?) the largest monitor in the store. Tim is a planner by profession, and he is often looking at and making maps. He needs a big screen to get his work done. This would be an absolutely mind-blowing gift for him, and if money were no object, it would have gone home with me on the spot. At $1,799, I had to take a pass on it, so if that’s within your budget, well then, there’s one available at the Best Buy in Chattanooga! Ha!

Ok, so for those of us with more “modest” budgets, you simply can’t go wrong with an iTunes gift card. They fit any budget and allow the recipient to have a HUGE range of options to use it on, from apps to movies and music, or if you are like me, moving up to the next level in Candy Crush. I’m so embarrassed that I just admitted that, so let’s move on!

Best “Bang for your Buck”

Y’all, forgive the crazy faces I make. What can I say? I get overly excited when I see a great deal! I was super impressed with the Windows Tablet that Best Buy currently has for $299. It detaches from the keyboard, so you can use it like a traditional laptop or like a tablet, and it comes with Windows Office. Let me tell you, this is not something I need, but it is most definitely something I want! And if we didn’t already have a Chromebook (purchased earlier this year at…wait for it…Best Buy!) I would have come home with this and put it under the tree for ~~myself~~ Tim.

Small Appliances

If your loved one likes coffee, even just a little, then you can’t go wrong with a Keurig! My machine is one of my BFFs throughout the day, as it makes me cup after cup of perfectly perfect coffee. Best Buy even has a holiday K-cup package you can purchase to go along with it. I’ve already got the coffee maker, but I don’t have all those yummy holiday flavors! Jeez…I CAN’T stop shopping for myself!!!!

Stocking Stuffers

I thought these gloves were the perfect thing to go in Tim’s stocking this year. They’re actually perfect for anyone who has to live through a few cold months each year, and who is glued to their smartphone, as you can operate your devices without taking these gloves off!

I also picked up a pair of ear buds for Tim. He seems to lose track of his from time to time, and Best Buy had a fantastic selection at a variety of price points. These were under $15!

And you can never go wrong with a Best Buy gift card! I found a really nice selection right by the front register. In fact, there’s never been a better time to purchase one, thanks to the Give It To Win It gift card promotion. Best Buy is rewarding the gift-giver every day starting today through December 24th. If you purchase a $25 or higher gift card, in-store or online, you can scan/enter your gift card number through the Best Buy app or by going to www.bestbuy.com/givetowin /ref=70&loc=12. Entering your number gets you a chance to win a sweet daily prize! They are giving away (5) $500 Best Buy gift cards, (10) $100 Best Buy gift cards, (40) $50 Best Buy gift cards, and best of all, (1) $10,000 Best Buy gift card (!!!!!!!).

Best Buy is my go-to gift center because has so many great ways to help you shop for something awesome this holiday season. From the trending products site to the great in-store customer service, you are sure to find something that will fit the bill for the person who is so hard to buy for. Best Buy is even partnering with Google on December 17th for a Google+ “shoppable hangout” that you can view through YouTube or Google+. It’s going to be all about last minute shopping, and is sure to be helpful!