Perfection Pending

By Meredith Ethington

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Christmas kid ideas Product Review

My Holiday Gift Guide: Super Unique Gifts for the Kids on Your List

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Some products were received in exchange for this post and this post does contain Amazon affiliate links.  If you click on a link, I may receive a commission. See my full privacy and disclosure policy here.

Holiday shopping is admittedly not my favorite, but I’m always on the hunt for unique gift ideas that my kids will love. So, this year, I decided to round up some of my favorite products that you can buy with just a click, and I’m sure your kids will love any of these items on my list!

 

This holiday gift guide is perfect for finding super unique gifts for the KIDS on your list.

I hope you find something your kids will love. These are all items we own, want to own, or will own soon.

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I got one of these darling twirl dresses for my niece from Princess Awesome. They are comfy, practical, and have designs that your little girl will love. From dinosaurs, to robots, and everything in between, these are dresses that you won’t see every day.

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These Kidz Bop CDs make the perfect stocking stuffer for your tweens. My kids LOVE them, and I actually found myself listening to one on a long road trip when I had no radio to listen to. It’s kid music that won’t drive you crazy.

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The Coloring Table’s reusable, washable table cloths has to be one of my favorite finds of 2016. I own one, I am giving two more as gifts, and they really are fabulous to use over and over again. Throw them in the wash, and they come out clean and ready to color all over again. You can buy them here.

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For your favorite teen (or for yourself), think about these Jeweled Lip Glosses by LimeLight. They make the perfect stocking stuffer, and they look gorgeous as gifts, and have a mirror right on the side so you an apply it easily!

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I’m super excited to play some new games with my kids. These Grandpa Beck’s games sound so fun! Nuts about Mutts is going to be my stocking stuffer for my five year old and I know he’s going to love it. It even won best children’s game of 2015. But, don’t worry, they have games for all ages that the whole family can play.

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I’m not going to lie, I’m JUST as excited about giving my boys this gift as they will be opening them. We’ve always struggled while traveling with headphones. They just don’t make good ones for kids that fit in their ears. So, CozyPhones is the solution. Fits like a headband with the headphones built right in. And, since we’ve got a big trip coming up in January, I know these will be perfect for traveling and for just getting some peace and quiet at home, too.

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This is the perfect gift for someone (like me) that always has a hair tie on their wrist. I’m seriously so excited about this. With Bela Bracelets, your hair tie fits right into the groove of these cute and stylish bangle bracelets and then you’ve always got a hair tie with you. When it comes out, it’s still an adorable bracelet to wear. Perfect for teens (and let’s face it, moms) that are always on the go.

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This Teddy Bear allows you to record your own voice for up to a minute of a personalized message. How great is that? It would make a fun gift from Grandparents, or for a family member that travels a lot. I also think it’s just a great idea for the kid that needs to self soothe during the night when they are scared.

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We borrowed this Darth Vader Mask from a friend for Halloween, and it entertained my kids a TON. It sounds a lot like Darth Vader, has preset darth vader sayings, but also changes your own voice, too. This is now on my son’s wishlist. Best part is that it has an adjustable strap so it fit my 4 year old and my 7 year old.

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My son got this VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch last year for Christmas, and it has surprised me as a gift that not only has lasted, but my kids all fight over it. It’s super easy to use, and has capability to record video, take pictures, etc. It’s not high quality in its camera ability, but it has lots of fun games and features that keep my kids entertained. I’m considering buying 2 more for my other kids.


2 Comments

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Comments

  1. Marielle says

    November 7, 2016 at 10:59 am

    Fun ideas! I love the table cloth and headphones. Thanks!

    Reply

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  1. 15 Toy Gift Ideas That Kids Will Actually Play With - Perfection Pending says:
    December 5, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    […] seen my own kids actually play with, or things that I THINK they would love to play with. I have another list here if you still don’t find something that makes you get […]

    Reply

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Welcome! I’m Meredith.

Mom. Writer. Diet Coke connoisseur. Born and raised Texan. Lover of real talk and laughter with a hint of sarcasm mixed in.

The Mother Load

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Meredith Ethington

perfectpending

Mom • Author • Mental Health Therapist In Training
Grab my new book, The Mother Load, available now. 👇👇

Night night! 😤 Night night! 😤
If you missed my last post about how raising teens If you missed my last post about how raising teens can wreck you mentally….wellll this is part of the reason why. So lonely! But we are in this together somehow. 😂 Make sure to check out my latest substack and grab a copy of my book —- The Mother Load!
NEW ---> "When there are problems in these big kid NEW ---> "When there are problems in these big kid years, it’s no longer really acceptable to call a friend and air the annoyances of the situation. At least not the specifics.

Sure, you can commiserate with a fellow parent about teenagers being the worst.

But, to be honest - they’re not the worst. They’re kind of amazing. But their problems make me tired to my core." 

Read the latest on my substack. I promise you'll relate. ❤️
So sweet. ❤️ Follow me @perfectpending and bet So sweet. ❤️
Follow me @perfectpending and better yet buy my book or subscribe to my substack to support me.
"I don’t know about you, but I don’t really wa "I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want same-ness anymore. I want messy. I want admissions that shit is hard and we don’t have it all together. I want to have a makeup free, messy bun in my sweats run in with a mom friend and not feel worried she’s checking out my un-groomed eyebrows.

I don’t want to try to give off this illusion that I’m control of my life any better than the next person. It’s a shitshow for all of us, and we continue to hide it for fear of what? Being human?"

Read the rest on my Substack. Link in profile.
WHAT IF THIS IS THE HAPPIEST I’LL EVER BE AND I WHAT IF THIS IS THE HAPPIEST I’LL EVER BE AND I MISS IT? What if I miss the best time of my life. What if it’s right this second?
What if it’s right now while I’m in finals week of grad school, and have a kid that’s sick? 
I already miss so much. The gummy smiles of babes without any teeth. The squeaky voices of 2 year olds. The babbling of a baby that’s just trying so hard to say mama. The grammar mistakes my kids make when they’re talking that I don’t have the heart to correct because I love it too much. 

I miss a lot about those younger years that have already slipped away. My youngest is sick, much like in this picture, but he is too big to snuggle in my arms now when he’s running a fever. 

Today I had the thought, what if this is it? What if this IS the happiest I’ll ever be?
For a moment, I lingered in that thought as I stood over my sink and did the dishes. I started to cry.
Am I missing it? AM I? I felt a tug that maybe I was. Maybe I wasn’t relishing enough, and enjoying enough, and being present enough.
But, then I realized, it will never be ENOUGH. 

Read the rest in my substack ❤️
New year, same me. 😂 #mentalhealth #anxiety #de New year, same me. 😂
#mentalhealth #anxiety #depression
"I don't care" as I literally care about every sin "I don't care" as I literally care about every single thing.
I’ve got to admit - I’m kind of over all of th I’ve got to admit - I’m kind of over all of this. *sweeps arm generally at planet earth*

Look, I’ve never been a half glass full kind of gal. I can ALWAYS find the negative in every situation. 

But, right now it’s easy to say that I’m over it. It being.....

The state of our economy. Social media. People being unemployed. People being racist and homophobic. The debate over politics. People judging people. ALLLLLL of it. 

Everything is crap right now. We joke about it a lot. We have to in order to survive. 

It’s the one millionth day of January but Spring feels so far away. 

I’m over these four damn walls that we call home. 

Yeah, I know. Even as I’m typing this it all sounds like a bunch of ungrateful whiney BS. I hear it. I don’t need you to point it out, Karen. 

But, my guess is you’re reading this right now and realizing you’re over it too. Whatever “it” is in your life.

Some days the world feels like total crap. Everything is a mess. Everything costs too much. For E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y. 

Yes, even for you Karen. ➡️➡️ to keep reading.
Yes. Boundaries are healthy and good. And they mea Yes. Boundaries are healthy and good. And they mean someone loves you that much to communicate them! Love this wisdom from @wittyidiot
NEW POST ----> "This is not a post about loss of a NEW POST ----> "This is not a post about loss of a loved one. Or loss of a child. Those things are real, and they’re heart wrenching. And, this post is certainly not to compare that loss with the one I’m going to talk about.

But, the loss of yourself in motherhood is real. And It’s not talked about enough." 

Do you feel like you lost yourself in motherhood? How? I really want to know. 

Psss - I am in grad school to become a therapist, and am not ashamed to ask that you subscribe to my paid substack. I just lowered the cost to $36/year! That's like $4/month and you'll have access to all my previous posts, and some new weekly short posts to give you ideas to help with balancing motherhood and your own mental health. I'm learning a lot in school, and will only continue to do so, so subscribe and we'll support each other. ❤️
This memory made me laugh this morning. 🤣 This memory made me laugh this morning. 🤣
Saaaame. @womenwhorunwiththemoon Saaaame. @womenwhorunwiththemoon
I’m sorry are you really wearing doc martens and I’m sorry are you really wearing doc martens and a dress with spaghetti straps and a Tshirt under it while you’re telling me I’m doing it wrong? 🤣 Life is wild. Teenagers are fun.
Found in my pediatricians office. 🤣 What’s th Found in my pediatricians office. 🤣 What’s the moral of the story friends? If you think your household is always sick - it’s because they probably are. Kids make everything more germ-y
Here’s what I do know 👇 No one knows what th Here’s what I do know 👇

No one knows what they’re doing. 
We all feel like imposters. 
Our kids love us anyway. 
We’re all going to be OK. 
You’ve got this (as much as any of us do) 😘

#momspiration #momlife #funnymoms #memtalhealth #parentinglife #parentingquotes
"By trying to be perfect, we're actually trying to "By trying to be perfect, we're actually trying to avoid being human." 

Do you struggle with perfectionism? Parenthood has helped me quite a bit, but It's something I've battled my whole life. I still struggle occasionally, although it's gotten better. But, let's stop trying to avoid being human and instead embrace ourselves an in turn embrace the entire human race. ❤️ I'd love to hear how you embrace being imperfect. 

#perfecționism #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #imperfect #perfectpending #themotherload #thementalload
Mood. Mood.
Some of you wanted sources on my last reel where I Some of you wanted sources on my last reel where I said we only need to be getting it right 30% of the time for our kids to have secure attachments. Well I wrote a bit more about the concept of being the “good enough mother” a term coined in the 50’s by a researcher and pediatrician. Check it all out in my newest post. Link in profile.
It’s true! Researchers have found that as long a It’s true! Researchers have found that as long as you’re doing the repair after mistakes the other times - then 30% is enough! Sometimes I worry I’m not doing it right but I definitely know I’m doing it right 30% of the time! 
Probably a whole lot more to be honest. I bet you are too. #momlife #encouragement #momspiration
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