Fifty Custom Christmas Gift Ideas UNDER 50 Dollars

There's nothing that spreads Christmas cheer quite like a mob of sweaty people in tryptophan comas pressing you against the cold glass doors of Target at 3 am in search of the coveted last Hatchimal... Or the rush of adrenaline that courses through your body on the night of Christmas Eve as you scour the empty shelves of your neighborhood CVS in search of anything that can remotely be wrapped or bagged...

Aside from death, childbirth or starting a new job, Christmas shopping tops the list as one of the most painstakingly agonizing life-events in this girl's book. There's something about large crowds throwing elbows at each other to save $20 on a pair of sneakers that really gets me in the giving mood. While many of you will be waiting 30 minutes for a parking spot at the malls this holiday season, I will be calmly sipping festive craft beers on my cozy sheepskin rug, dreaming of the perfect holly spring to tuck into the ribbon on the brown paper packages that I wrapped months ago--(How hipster did I just sound right there?!) 

What if I told you that you could do all your Christmas shopping in one day, on ONE website and everything would be either handmade, personalized or one of a kind? Etsy.com is a charming portal for makers and crafters to display their handcrafted products. It's like an eBay for artisans, but you are buying goods directly from the dealer and cutting out the upcharge that stores tack on. I know for many, it is incredibly daunting to navigate because there are just so many goshdarn adorable options. Lucky for you, since I have zero personal life outside of instagramming my lunches and hot gluing felt, I am something of an Etsy aficionado. Behold, a carefully compiled list of the top 50 gifts under 50 dollhairs. And don't worry--these pieces are all timeless, so they aren't going to go out of style like those little furbies that hatch out of eggs. PLUS, you are supporting small business owners all over the world. Most of these gifts have a quick turn around--you will receive them within a week or two of ordering, even the personalized ones! Be sure to read all ordering and shipping information to ensure that your gifts arrive before the holidays. 

Long forgotten are the days of snowmen neckties and Bill Cosby sweaters for dad. Give the man in your life something he can actually use!

For Men

Engraved pocket knife or multi-tool ($20-$40)
Flannel Pajamas ($45, without monogram)
Monogrammed shaving kit or leather toiletry bag ($20-$40)
Leather Wallet ($40)
Vintage Ammo Can toolbox/storage can ($35-$45)
Rustic iPhone docking station ($35)Engraved flask ($20)
Monogrammed, etched cigar humidor or watch box (starts at $50)
Custom pocket watch ($45)
Game of Thrones whiskey decanter set ($25-$35)

Copper engraved & personalized "Love Reminder" card ($20)
Engraved hammer ($30)
Wooden engraved watch ($45)
Red Clay beer mug ($25)
Dapper Fox print necktie ($30)
Case of craft beer ($30-$40)
Outdoorsy Fleece/Shirt ($20-$45)

I think every woman in the world has at some point owned the same gold heart necklace or Elizabeth Taylor perfume given to her on Christmas morning. While those are tried and true classics, this could be the year to really WOW her!
For Women

Olive green jersey infinity scarf ($45)
Bohemian jewelry ($20-$40)
Fingerless felted gloves ($35)
Chunky nautical knot bracelet ($25)
Rustic handmade soap set ($20-$30)
Celtic knot hair barrette ($20)
Wooden iPad stand ($45)
108 Mala bead necklace, Buddhist jewelry ($20)
Dark wood watch ($50)
Burgundy cotton handbag tote ($40)
Contemporary silver etched business card holder ($20)
Designer patterned leggings ($30-$50)
Dainty pinecone earrings ($6)
Wooden owl hair pin ($25)
China leaf trinket bowl ($45)
Rustic wooden beer or wine tote ($25)
Brown leather driving gloves ($40)

While kids sized Jeeps and American Girl Dolls are every child's dream, budgets don't always agree. Skimp on price, not quality with these one-of-a-kind gifts for kids of all ages.

For Kids

Superhero Cape ($50)
EcoFriendly Dinosaur shaped crayons ($10
Personalized wooden baking utensil set ($20)
Peppa Pig nesting dolls ($20)
DIY Catapult kit ($10)
Personalized wooden Lego tray ($40)
Woodland Animal DIY papercraft kit ($10)
Engraved guitar ($45)
Personalized treasure chest ($45)
Organic handmade construction vehicle play mat ($25)
Zombie brains soap ($5)
Mermaid tail blanket ($30)
Handmade Batman shelf ($45)
Kids' teepee playhouse ($50)
Personalized children's book ($25)
Personalized leather tool belt with kids' tools ($45)
6 pcs crochet vegetables set ($30)
Fairy Garden kit ($30)
Friendly Sloth peekaboo stamp ($10)
Knit stuffed unicorn doll ($45)

Another successful Christmas shopping for the books! And the most important thing to consider is that it's not the gift, but the thought that counts. The true spirit of Christmas is found in the faces of those you love and the bottom of the huge bowl of rum egg nog. Happy holidays to all and much love to you and your family! 

Traveling with a Toddler: Tips for Keeping Calm and Enjoying the Ride

Close your eyes and imagine you are on a scenic, winding road; surrounded by canopies of trees and foliage, the blue mountains lining your vision through the windshield, your favorite music in the background setting a perfect scene for a roadtrip. Your serenity is suddenly shattered by the wails of a restless toddler in the backset, shrieking because they dropped their favorite plastic train as they kick the back of your seat. The crisp mountain air is clouded by a mystery odor (was that a dead animal or a dirty diaper? Or even worse...vomit...) and as you frantically pour through your disheveled diaper bag, you realize you have only a small baggie of crushed Goldfish crumbs to offer your frustrated little one. You fumble with the radio dial in desperate hopes of finding an uplifting tune, only to be rebuffed by the lack of signal deep in the mountains. You, my friend, are trapped in the Murphy's Law tornado where everything that can go wrong, will.
So as parents, helpless to the onset of Murphy's Law halfway through our roadtrip, what do we do to prevent this downward spiral? This weekend, I did the unthinkable--I braved a 7.5 hour roadtrip to Connecticut on a Friday afternoon after work, during summer rush hour traffic, through the mountains with only myself and a 2.5 year old who detests long car rides.
From the get-go, it seemed that things were just not going to go my way. Despite purchasing a head-rest DVD player, countless activity books and a plethora of convenient snacks far in advance, discouraging obstacles started rearing their ugly heads the week before our voyage. For starters, my trusty Prius failed its' inspection and needed 4 new tires and some cap thing-a-majiggy to pass. They had to order the part so the inspection and release of my vehicle occured the night before the trip. As I scrambled to pack my car in the dark, I felt relieved that I had so carefully and obsessively planned out every other detail of the trip, thinking it would fall into place. The next morning, after an exhausting work mission that entailed 4+ hours of driving, I set up the DVD player, activity box, and snack tray for Rylan. When I went to turn on the DVD player, I was dismayed to realize that it only worked while plugged into a charging port. I pulled out the car charger that it came with and saw that the plug was severed and frayed (worst business ever!)...thus commencing the 1.5 hour scavenger hunt to find a store that carried an inverter to go into the car lighter. The day was saved by my saint of a mother who managed to find one at AutoZone.

We started our voyage and the views were absolutely breathtaking through the mountains. My son slept through the first portion, then we played a game of "I spy the biggest mountain." Everything was smooth sailing and I thought to myself, "hey, this isn't so bad!" We stopped for penny candy at a general store near Port Jervis, munched on sub sandwiches in Poughkeepsie, and the high-pitched voice of Caillou playing on a loop in the backseat kept him content for the most part. That's when the rush hour traffic hit. Every few miles, the GPS would say to me "13 minute slow-down,"..."24 minute slow-down,"..."Your travel has been delayed by 1 hour 32 minutes." I played my own game in my head titled "How many strings of exploitives can I think up?" It was so discouraging and I felt myself starting to get frustrated and antsy, thinking that my toddler was going to start losing it. Praise the heavens because he never whined once, and was appreciative of the steady stream of toys that I handed him while we sat at a standstill.


So, here's what I learned:

1. PLAN PLAN PLAN. Shell out the $60 for the headrest DVD player. Collect every kids' movie you've ever owned in your life and have it within arms reach. Stock up on an assortment of snacks that can be easily accessed and opened that won't end up smeared all over the back of the passenger seat. Strategically place diapers and wipes throughout the car so you can change a diaper anywhere when you stop for a break or wipe sticky fingers. Don't forget about the value of having stickers and activity books on hand. And magnadoodles.
2. Don't get discouraged when everything that you so carefully constructed starts slipping through your fingers. Things will go haywire and you WILL inevitably get stuck in traffic. You are in control and you will make it to your destination. Keep an open mind and learn to laugh it off (instead of being a frazzled curmudgeon like I was at the beginning and end of the car ride).
3. Entertain your kids to the best of your ability. Play "I Spy","Count the Cows" or "21 Questions." Put on energetic music that you can all sing along to. Tell stories together and let them get creative with their imagination. A DVD will only entertain them for so long--this is your opportunity to make memories. I didn't think Rylan would be responsive yet to road trip games, but he had the time of his life!
4. Pit-Stops can be the coolest part of your journey! Research popular places to chart along the way and give yourself ample time to enjoy them. On the way back from Connecticut, we stopped in the charming town of Milford, PA and ate a leisurely lunch at a downtown deli, followed by a short jaunt through town to browse a whirligig shoppe. It helped to break up the monotony of a long drive and re-energized both of us. If you are too tired to finish the journey that day, be the hero by getting a hotel or campsite to sleep in.
5. You are Super Parent. You are an absolute Rock Star for doing the unthinkable and taking your little one on a memorable vacation. Will everything go according to plan? Probably not. But despite the sticky fingers, the poopy carseats, the restless passengers, these are the best moments of your life to share with your family. And keep telling yourself that EVERY parent in EVERY corner of this country has dealt with the same scenario--there is no flawless roadtrip ever reported in history.