A Few of Our Favorite Things :: 2020

In the midst of my own Christmas shopping, I thought I'd pull together a few current "favorite things" from our house in case you're looking for gift ideas! (Warning: it's a random assortment! But all things we use and love or are gifting this year. :))

For Baby

These bibs are still used at every meal at our house and have held up wonderfully. (I first posted about them here. All the other "favorites" in that post are still in rotation here also, just FYI.) I love how big these are, how well they stay on, and how easy they are to clean -- just throw straight in the wash. They really are water/foodproof, and two years later, look as good as they did on the day we bought them.

I grabbed this teether for Emilia this year. It caught my eye because it has a "stopper" so she isn't so inclined to gag herself while she teethes -- which for some reason she really loves to do! LOL We will see if she likes it.

We have two sets of this set of sensory balls and my littles have loved them through the years.

Our leather-soled baby shoes finally need replacing this year at Kid #10. That's a lot of wear! I consider them an essential toddler item and am deciding between these and these for Emmy.

For Littles

I have mentioned Schleich animals before but I'll mention them again: big winner in our house, year in and out! These durable figurines are used for all kinds of things here -- from a geography tableau in the sand tray, to a "family" of kangeroos in the dollhouse.

I usually use Christmas or Easter to restock our sidewalk chalk. When you have a lot of children, consumable gifts are so welcome to keep a handle on the clutter!

Speaking of consumables, my littles have also been enjoying Wonder Stix and chalkboard placemats this year. They clean up easily with baby wipes or a wet paper towel, and the colors are so vivid. You can also use the stix to write on windows and regular chalkboards.

One last handicraft idea that has been a hit here: yarn! You can pair with plastic canvas and some dull needles (plastic or metal), or you can gift with a knitting tower or lucet. Littles can also braid bracelets with the help of a clipboard (get the kind with the straight metal clip) to hold the ends. (And if you are like I am and have old skeins of yarn lying around from long-forgotten projects, just give them the tools and then turn them loose with your stash! ;))

For Boys

My kids have all loved Nature Friend Magazine through the years, but particularly my boys. And who doesn't love getting mail?

A little unorthodox perhaps, but my sons eagerly anticipate our restocking their personal supply of tape at Christmas and Easter. We do regular scotch tape, duct tape, and washi tape for them to use for their building and crafting projects. (The girls like washi tape too! It makes a great stocking stuffer.)

This set of sports balls is one of our go-to gifts for little boy birthdays. They are great for outside and inside use (if you don't mind pictures getting hit down from walls now and then...or maybe that's just my house?) and are baby-friendly too.

I'm putting together a post on knot-tying featuring My First Book of Knots and this handy practice set -- two instructional resources we have used for many years.

(I am thinking about doing some Toobs army figures for my boys this year. Anyone love these? Are they as durable as the Schleich animals?)

For Girls

We have a tradition of getting a sports watch for each child for their 12th birthday. I got Gianna this watch and just bought one in a different color for Cate, whose birthday is coming in January. Not only has it been sturdy, but I like the feminine profile and my girls like the fit.

Each of my big girls has this recipe box and it is so pretty!

My oldest bought these scrunchie ribbons for the girls of the family to share last year and they get worn by one or another of the sisters daily. It's such a easy way for them to add a bit of style to their outfits. (This year I grabbed a pack of these for them to share.)

If you have a girl who has "graduated" from this great beginner book for friendship bracelets, we recommend this one. Gianna got this for her birthday a few months ago and has found it not only helpfully written but also full of unique and challenging designs.

For the Whole Family

I love the Cavallini aesthetic! In the past, I have purchased their mini-notebooks, puzzles, and posters as gifts and am doing the same this year. They have so many different vintage designs. The foreign language posters, nature displays, and maps would be especially charming additions to a schoolroom.

Whether you are looking for something to liven up Morning Time with your kids or an inspiring addition to your personal morning routine, we love The Cloud of Witness and its companion volume for children, The Golden Key. (We have begun a tradition of giving each child their own copy of the latter when they enter Form 3, alongside a copy of the first volume of Ourselves.)

My kids are crazy for lettering, and I enjoy using good markers to set up my logbook grids -- we all gravitate to the Staedtler Triplus Fineliners! They would make a good mom-friend gift or family gift. This year, a few of my kids are getting this set this Christmas because I am tired of sharing! :)

I mentioned handicrafts for littles and for boys above, but supplies make great gifts for older kids too or can give you a jump start on family art for the term ahead. The posts from my {Getting Started with Handicrafts} series offer lots of great options for putting together your own handicraft kits.

If you or your children send a lot of letters: my kids love using sealing wax for a fun finish. They got a set last year that included a botanical stamp, and this year, I have my eye on initial stamps.

If you're looking for games that don't take up too much room in the cabinet (my constant dilemma!), we recommend Iota , Qwixx, and Phase 10.

For Your Homeschool Mom Friends (or Yourself!)

I have the newly-released Scale How Meditations on my wishlist this year. I already have an old paperback copy, but who can pass up a Riverbend Press hardcover?

Have you seen the prints from Emilia's Post? Not only does she have beautifully lettered quotes from classic writers (including Charlotte Mason!) but I have one of these little madonnas and it is super sweet.

Over time, I have been building a collection of ceramic cookware -- easy to use, easy to clean, and looks nice for serving as well. I have another pie plate on my list this year. Granite Ware is my other go-to; I have a huge roasting pan that gets near-daily use for our family of 12.

Speaking of ceramic, I have had this mug for several years and it's durable and convenient. And I love how much it can hold! I use it as my go-to tea mug.

If you have a friend who would love some notebook-keeping supplies, I have all of our favorites on my Products We Love page!

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So -- it's a bit of a random assortment, but as I sat down at my computer, these are the items that came to mind. :)

Let me know: what are your best ideas for this year's gifts? I still need something small for a few of my kids and for my husband. But I'm always looking for suggestions to bookmark for the future too. Hit me up with your ideas!

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