Favorite Things Archives - Gather Lemons

Ultimate Gift Guide for the Creative Child

Christy — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 18:00:50 +0000

When it comes to gift giving, my favorite type of gifts to give my children (and nieces and nephews) are ones that get them thinking or help them to be creative. I’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite items that we have gifted over the years. We personally owned every single one of these items and I can vouch for their awesomeness. You seriously can’t go wrong with anything on this list.

A received some ThinkFun Games, Magic Stix, and Disney coloring books in exchange for possible inclusion in my gift guide. These are items that we honestly and truly love. In fact, I was contacted by ThinkFun after they read my road trip post where I raved about our love for their games. I will always be honest and upfront with you when it comes to sharing my opinion. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

ThinkFun Games – We love the ThinkFun games. We started with Rush Hour and just kept adding to our collection. One of the things I love most about these games is that they are solo games, your kids don’t have to wait until a sibling or friend wants to play a game with them, they can play when ever they want. Many of these games are portable so they are great for traveling or even when you are at a restaurant and your kids are bored. I mentioned how much we love the ThinkFun games back in my road trip post and ThinkFun reached out to me and sent me few of their new games to try out. When I said we own a ton of these games, I wasn’t kidding! These are all of the ThinkFun games we own and I can personally recommend each and every one.

Perler Beads – My youngest son has so much fun with these. He will create with them for hours. He will create images on his own or print out an image from the internet and lay it underneath a big pegboard and fill it in with Perler Beads. It is so much fun to see him being creative. We are big fans of Perler Beads at our house.

Kwik Stix and Magic Stix – I was introduced to Kwik Stix last year and we fell in love with them. Kwik Stix Solid Tempera Paint sticks take the mess out of painting while keeping all the fun! They dry in 90 seconds and the colors are bright and vivid. You can paint on so many surfaces like pape, posterboard, cardboard, wood, and canvas. They recently came out with the new Magic Stix which are just as amazing as the Kwik Stix. These are Washable markers that won’t dry out even if the cap has been left off for 7 days (they even guarantee that)! This so handy! I can’t tell you how many pens I have had to throw out over the years for this very reason. I highly recommend these items for your kids that love to draw, color and create.

Snap Circuits – These sets are so much fun for kids. These help teach your kids about how electronics work and makes it so much fun by helping them to assemble things like a flying saucer, alarms, doorbells and much more. I don’t know a kid that hasn’t loved these fun sets. I recommend the Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Discovery Kit as a great place to start.

Klutz Books – The Klutz books have been a big hit at our house for years. They have so many different varieties of books you are sure to find one that speaks to your kids. They have craft kits, activity kits and just plain fun and silly books. Here are just a few of the Klutz books that my kids have enjoyed.

LEGO – LEGOs are probably most loved creative item at our house. I’m sure we are not alone. It is interesting to see how each of my kids have played with their LEGOs differently. My oldest would build a set like it was supposed to be, then almost immediately tear it apart to build something new with his own imagination. I had another child who would build a set and make sure it stayed complete…forever. My favorite LEGOS to give as gifts has always been the LEGO Creator sets. In addition to LEGO sets, there are some great books for LEGO fans that my kids have loved too.

Coloring Books and Colored Pencils – I always loved coloring as a kid. Coloring has gotten even cooler now with all the adult coloring books that are out now. Kids love these adult coloring books too. I love the fact that the pages are a little more sturdy and their is so much detail that older kids can really get into coloring again. We highly recommend the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils. Here are a few coloring book recommendations:

Here are a few more highly rated items that would be great to spark your kids creative imagination:

Ed Emberly Drawing Books

Magformers

K’nex

Tegu Wooden Blocks

Play-Doh

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My Favorite Things (June 2017)

Christy — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 02:22:16 +0000

Every few months I share 10 of my favorite things, and here are 10 things I am loving right now. I would love for you to leave a comment and tell me some things you are loving right now. It’s always fun to find new things to love! Here are my favorite things for the month of June:

Amazon Echo – Last year I bought the Amazon Echo during Amazon Prime Day and now that I have been using it for nearly a year I am so happy I made the purchase. My main reason for purchasing it was so I could have a wireless speaker in my kitchen. I use Amazon music so I love that I can just ask it to play the song I want. I can even ask it to play the new song by (insert artists name) and it will find their most recent song. This is helpful when you get old and can’t remember song titles. : ) I can also listen to my audio books while doing dishes. One of the features I find I am getting a lot of use out of is the shopping list feature. Anytime we run out of something, I just tell Alexa to add it to my grocery list. Then when I get to the grocery store I can access the list with my Alexa app. It’s pretty convenient! If you have been wanting an Amazon Echo and you can hold out another month I recommend waiting until Amazon Prime Day which should happen in July. There should be a nice discount!

Amazon Music Unlimited – I originally signed up for the Amazon Music Unlimited Echo plan for only $3.99 and I loved that I could play any song I wanted. The rest of my family wanted to have the service for themselves too, so I signed up for the Amazon Music Unlimited Family plan for $149 a year. It gives us the benefits for 6 family members. Four of us use it on a daily basis and the other two use it less frequently, but is is still cheaper than if 2 of us signed up for the individual plan. I have always loved Amazon Music (I am an Apple person, but I have never been a fan of iTunes). I love this service and I love that I can use it with my Amazon Echo. Try Amazon Music Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial. Here is a peek at some of the music I am loving right now too:

Soundtrack from Finding Neverland (If you get the chance to see this show, do it!)
Evermore from Beauty and the Beast (My favorite song from the movie)
What Ifs by Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina
Ring on Every Finger by LoCash
Better Man by Little Big Town

Haagen-Dazs Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Bar – I love fruit flavors and chocolate mixed together and Pomegranate and chocolate is one of my favorite combinations. These Haagen-Dazs Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Bars are divine! I found them at Fred Meyer (Kroger store).

Sisters Fruit Company Apple Chips – Oh my goodness! I am in LOVE with these yummy apple chips from the Sisters Fruit Company. They are thin, crispy and full of flavor. The Raspberry Apple Chips are my favorite so far, I’ve also tried the cranberry and blackberry too (I honestly love them all). I bought my first at Fred Meyer and I haven’t been able to find them again. I finally ordered directly from their website because they have come some what of an addiction for me. These apple chips are all natural, gluten free, fat free and contain no preservatives. They are a little on the pricey side because my family and I can easily go through a bag a day. I also love the fact that they are a NW company. Try these!! You can check out their store locator to see if you can find some locally or order from them directly.

StarPack Premium Silicone Spatula (Set of 4)– I needed to update my spatulas because mine were pretty old. I got these StarPack Premium Silicone Spatula (Set of 4) for Christmas and I love them. I love the fact that they are all one piece, my last set of spatulas the head kept sliding off the handle. I also really like the fact that they come in a set of 4, one spatula never seems to be enough at our house.

Hallmark Cards at Costco – Back in January I bought a 25 pack of Hallmark cards at Costco and I have been using them like crazy. It is so convenient to have cards on hand for every occasion. The best part is the 25-pack only cost me $15.99, so that makes the Hallmark cards only $.64 each. Wow! If they bring these back, I will totally buy them again.

Shopping Costco through Google Express – I have been getting lots of use out of Google Express, especially when it comes to Costco. I signed up for the free 3-month trial and I get free shipping when I spend $15. I love that I can have Costco items that I run out of delivered next-day without having to actually run to Costco. If you are new to Google Express, you can get a FREE $10 credit when you try it out for the first time.

Disney x Coach – I am in love with the new Coach Disney line available at Coach Outlet stores. I haven’t made a purchase yet, but I do like to window shop. This is a limited collection, so I’m fairly certain if I want to make a purchase I’m going to have to do it soon! Any other Disney fans find a few pieces they would love to own?

Kellogg’s Special K Nourish Apple Raspberry Almond cereal – I seem to have an apple and raspberry theme going right now, don’t I? First Raspberry Apple chips and now Kellogg’s Special K Nourish Apple Raspberry Almond cereal. I actually tried this cereal for the first time with a sponsored post I did over at All Things Target and I fell in love with it. It has now become a staple at our house. So good!

Home Goods – We recently had a Home Goods open up near us and I am loving all the great deals they have on cool stuff for your home. I am finding though that if I love something I need to buy it right away because it probably won’t be there next week. It’s like a treasure hunt every time I stop by.

These are things that I am honestly loving right now. In some cases affiliate links have been used, so I may make a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links.

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My Favorite Things (October 2016)

Christy — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 21:29:34 +0000

Dear Lillie When I Saw You Handmade Oversized Wood Sign – I have been wanting this Dear Lillie oversized handmade wood sign since I saw it for the first time. The sign is usually only available once every couple of months or so and they sell out quickly. Each month I would hover over the “buy now” button, because the cost was holding me back. Until one day I finally told myself “do it” and I am so glad I did. I adore it! It makes me smile every time I walk past it in our bedroom. It’s gorgeous! I am 100% pleased with my purchase and I even plan on buying more items in the future. I really like the idea of the monthly clubs.

One True Loves Audiobook – I have been listening to audiobooks a little more frequently and I really enjoyed listening to One True Loves. I actually started out reading the book and would switch t0 the audiobook while driving in the car. It turns out with this particular book I much enjoyed the audio version rather than reading the book myself. I actually looked forward to folding laundry so I could listen some more.

Star Wars Cookie Cutters – When fall finally rolls around the first thing I feel like doing is baking. Once my son finds out I am baking cookies he always asks if we can make sugar cookies with our Star Wars cookie cutters. These cookie cutters work really well and I love how easy it is the press the Star Wars image into each cookie. If you have a Star Wars fan in your home, I highly recommend these. We have owned these for years. We love them so much we have bought every set they’ve released.

Costco Travel for Rental Cars – I pretty much exclusively use Costco Travel for booking my rental cars. It is so easy to use and their prices are excellent. You can check the prices of all the competitors and the types of cars at one time. Once you book your car, you can check back and see if the rates go lower (they often do!). If you see a cheaper rate, book the new car and cancel your old reservation online. It is super easy! I love the ease of it and I love the savings! I recently got the base rate of an Intermediate SUV in Florida for only $15.86 per day (for 4 days). This price is before taxes, but it is an AMAZING deal! My best deal ever was the base rate of only $4 a day for an Intermediate Car in San Diego, my total with tax was only $37.26 for 3 days. The prices will always vary by location and availability, but keep checking often because the prices always fluctuate.

Hyatt Visa – Can you tell I’m ready to go on a vacation? First rental cars, now Hyatt Visa. Both my husband and I signed up for this card because of the incredible bonus they were offering. If you spend $1000 in the first 3 months you will get 2 FREE nights at a Hyatt hotel ANYWHERE in ANY category. We use our cards for our everyday expenses and pay them off each month so we never incur interest (I need to get that important part in there). We plan to go to Paris next year, so we both will be using our credits to stay at the PARK HYATT PARIS-VENDÔME, which starts around $639 a night. Crazy, right? Between the 2 of us we’ll get 4 FREE nights with the value of $2500. There are other great perks, like a free hotel stay on your card anniversary.

Cricut – I have been crafting like crazy with my Cricut Explore Air and I just love how easy this machine is to use. I have had different craft cutting machine for over 10 years and I love how far they have come. The Cricut I have is so easy to use and I know I keep saying this but I adore the fact it’s wireless. My new favorite thing to work with is the Gold Adhesive Foil.

Private Selections Ice Cream (Kroger) – If you have a Kroger family store, you need to try their Private Selections brand of ice cream. It is the best! My personal favorite is the Sea Salt Caramel Truffle. Yum!

Target Dollar Spot (Bullseye’s Playground) – Years a go I used to just walk right by the Target Dollar Spot, but I can’t do that anymore. I love the changes they have made in the last year and I always find something fun. I love that I can find inexpensive items to decorate for holidays or to put gifts together. Their buyers are GOOD! I love it all!

Chip & Joanna Gaines – I adore these two! It seems like everything they touch turns to gold and I love that they seem so down to earth and worthy of all the good that comes their way. I’d love to visit Magnolia Market someday (my husband has a business trip to Texas next year, maybe I can tag along). I pre-ordered their audiobook The Magnolia Story and I can’t wait to listen to it.

Panera Ancient Grain & Arugula Salad with Chicken – I usually find something I like at Panera and stick with it until I get tired of it. My new fave is the Ancient Grain & Arugula Salad with Chicken. This salad with a baguette is yummy!

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My Favorite Things (July 2016)

Christy — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 17:31:49 +0000

Every few months I share 10 of my favorite things. Here are 10 things I am loving right now. I would love for you to leave a comment and tell me some things you are loving now too. It’s always fun to find new things to love! Here are my favorite things for the month of July:

Trader Joe’s Toffee Chips – The Trader Joe’s Toffee Chips are heavenly! The box comes with both milk chocolate and dark chocolate. I have to make sure I only pick them up once in awhile, because they are addictive.

MalloMe Marshmallow Roasting Sticks – My daughter was having a S’mores party for her 16th birthday and we were in need of some new marshmallow roasting sticks. I ordered these MalloMe Marshmallow Roasting Sticks from Amazon and we love them! They are telescoping and they come with a storage bag. I highly recommend these! Check them at Amazon they get great reviews.

H.O.L.Y. by Florida Georgia Line – H.O.L.Y by Florida Georgia Line is my current favorite song, followed closely by 80s Mercedes by Maren Morris. I was able to download the whole Maren Morris album for FREE because it is part of Prime Music. I am still loving Amazon Prime Music and use the service nearly every single day. I am an Apple user, but I prefer Amazon Music over iTunes!

Overdrive Media Console – You know I love to read and I love that I can download ebooks instantly from our library with the Overdrive App. I love how easy it is to use and the huge selection of books there are to choose from! I finally bought both my youngest Kindle readers so they too have have the ease of downloading books for free. Since most of the books we get from the library are now ebooks there are no more late fees! (Yes, I was one of those people who would often accrue late fees).

Underwater by Marisa Reichardt – Both my daughter and I read Underwater by Marisa Reichardt and we loved it! The writing is beautiful. I usually prefer my books without foul language and this had some, but I still highly recommend it. It takes a tough topic and addresses it with such hope. It’s a great one for teens! (P.S. This is one of the books I checked out with the Overdrive Media Console)

Corner Bakery Cafe – We got our very first Corner Bakery Cafe here in Washington and I am loving it! There are so many different items on the menu that I want to try. It’s right next to Target so that’s a plus too!

The Haunted Mansion Crossbody Pouchette by Dooney & Bourke – I splurged! I was in need a small purse that I could take with me on day trips that had enough room for my phone and a few other items. I saw this The Haunted Mansion Crossbody Pouchette by Dooney & Bourke and I knew it would be perfect. I love how it is Disney, but it is very subtle.

Disneyland 60th Anniversary iPhone 6 Case – Looking at my phone case makes me smile! I picked this up on our most recent trip to Disneyland and I adore it.

Old Flowers – I love old flowers! That sounds weird, huh? My daughter works at a flower shop and each week she gets to bring home the flower that are too old to sell. They still have 3-4 days left of beauty and I love having them around the house.

Pineapple Easy Slicer and De-Corer – I have been finding pineapples on sale for $1.99 lately so I have been picking some up every week. I love how easy it is the cut, peel and core the pineapple with this handy Pineapple Slicer and De-corer. I highly recommend this one! If you love pineapple as much as I do you may want to try some of our favorite pineapple recipes:

What are you loving right now?

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