Click the item in the image to go directly to the product page
Holiday Gift Guide for the Kids
Dinkum Doll: These dolls are super unique and cute for the kids to have as a keepsake. They are all organically made and are sustainable. I love the details they put on each doll and I can’t wait to get one for C. She has one baby doll now though and while she loves it, she also will toss it in the dirt. So maybe I’ll wait until she’s a little older before getting her one of these dolls!
Mum + Dad Mice in Cigar Box: This box is a super unique gift that your child will surely love. I am obsessed with all of Maileg’s products because they are all so authentic looking. Such sweet little keepsakes to play with!
Moonjar Money Bank: This three-part money box can teach your children how to start saving money! The three sections in this box include save, spend, and share. I think this would be a fun and practical gift for Augustine. He might not jump up and down about it, but I think he’ll enjoy it in the long run and look forward to using it!
Melissa & Doug Dust: Toddlers love to imitate parents. Even Augustine who is 4 loves to help clean up. He’s always asking to sweet and mop and I’m like, “yes please!!” He would have loved this playset when he was younger {now he uses the real deal} but I bet something like this would be the perfect size for C. And to be honest, Augustine would probably use it too!
Floor Puzzle: Augustine is a puzzler, just like me! It’s something that I find so relaxing and fun. Am I alone?? Anyway, I bet this would be a fun one for Augustine to play with, while also helping with his ABCs.
Lion Stacking Toy: This stuffed animal is so adorable and not like every other stuffed animal. This toy contains stackable rings that encourage cause and effect learning in your baby or kid. If you know a little one under 1 this would be a perfect little gift.
Toy Cars Set: Every young boy loves to play with toy cars, and this set is perfect for them. This set is safe for both indoor and outdoor use, plus it encourages motor skill development. Augustine has so many cars and he doesn’t get sick of them.
Classic Pedal Bike: How cute is this bike? This bike is geared towards children ages 4-7. Augustine has been mastering his balance bike so I think it might be time for an upgrade. The question is whether we get it for him now in the winter, or wait until his birthday. But his birthday is at the end of summer 🙁 Decisions!
Mini Sofia Bunny: This bunny has to be the cutest doll I have ever seen. Any little girl would love to have one of their own to snuggle with. To be honest, I want one for myself!
Strolley: I got this wheeled convertible basket for Corinna and I am SO excited to give it to her. I already know she is going to love it!
Victorian Dollhouse: This dollhouse is super rich in detail and I love the traditional style. I can’t wait to give one to Corinna one day. Or maybe I’ll see if Matthew can make one! He’s actually very handy when it comes to wood working.
Racing Car: If you’re looking for a unique gift to give to your child, this retro-inspired racing car is the perfect choice. It is also eco-friendly and made with high quality materials. This would also be a great gift for a baby because it could be used as room decor until they were ready to play with it.
Western Boots: Every year we get Augustine a new pair of cowboy boots and he LOVES them so much! They are such a great gift to give to your kid, especially if they love the western style.
Hand Held Drum: Your baby or child will have so much fun playing with this wooden tambourine. It comes with a drumstick which the baby can tap on the drum to make music. Both kiddos love making music so I feel like it would be a great gift for almost any age.
Make-A-Cake Mixer Set: This fun kitchen set will inspire so much creativity in your children and they will enjoy playing pretend. Hands-on play is so beneficial which makes this the perfect gift for the kids!
Christmas Book: This book is the perfect holiday read with your kids! It includes a mixture of classic Christmas stories along with some newer titles that your kids are sure to love.
Vintage Christmas Book: Another great collection of Christmas stories to tell to your kids! I always love getting a new Christmas book each year to add to our collection. This would also make a great gift!
I hope this post is helpful for any of you with littles in your life! If you do have kids, you’ll have to let me know what you’re getting them. I always love hearing other moms ideas!
Click the item in the image to go directly to the product page
Holiday Gift Guide for Him
Hello friends <of my wife>!! Matthew here.
It’s that time again…. the chestnuts are roasting and the marshmallows are toasting, and hopefully you’re not having to do too much ghosting! Yes, we are quickly approaching the holidays and lots of winter cheer is in order. 2020 has been quite the strange and confusing year and I for one am glad we are coming to the end of it. But I’m also looking forward to some much-needed celebration and relaxation, just to give 2020 a deserved kick in the ballz. But before I can fully relax, I feel like I need to offer a few tips for those looking to surprise and delight the man in their life. Ok, that’s not totally true. I was ready to relax fully, but my sweet wife got all up in my grill to help her out with this and because she is pretty awesome, I decided to help out (and our couch is not comfortable enough to get a good night’s sleep). God knows I need my sleep these days…
I’m starting off with an extremely controversial pick: the fish bottle opener. It caught my eye as a badass bottle opener and I love how it looks but according to amazon user “butterfly”, this bottle opener is “hard to use” and it “bends the caps”. LOLOL. Every single bottle opener I’ve ever used has bent bottle caps. That’s the point! Anyways, it’s a gift (and relatively cheap), and that’s what matters. haha But seriously, if it’s cast iron, it’s strong enough to open a bottle, I promise. A gritty fish bottle opener is just more street cred. Trust me.
On to much safer territory with the waterproof flashlight…. that doubles as a flask? Whaaaat you say? Yes!! Finally. When your guy is out in the elements in a rainstorm… in the dark…he’ll at least be able to take the edge off. Just kidding. Fill that thing with Gatorade.
It’s winter and you may encounter rain or snow. Good to have these Vans or maybe a rad pair of duck boots. Keep those dogs toasty. Or else they may crumble off like pieces of an old pretzel. Ditto for hands! There’s no hand jive for those who have frostbite. Gloves are the answer. Next up, I like this fleece shirt. Look how many reviews. It’s loved, to say the least. I’m in.
Mystery Ranch is a rad company that makes some of the most LEGIT gear. I own one of their large bags for backpacking and I’m really, really impressed. This one is great for day hikes and I’m sure it will be a big step up from whatever your guy currently owns.
How about a passport wallet. Not that anyone is traveling anywhere these days, but it’s definitely cool to have a leather home for your passport to snuggle up in.
Ok, I know, you’ve heard enough about multi-tools… but trust me, they come in handy and maybe this is for some of the greener ladies who haven’t yet given the gift of multiple tool capability to their fella. If said fella is squared away, he will appreciate the redundancy. If not, he will appreciate that you are solution-oriented. Same goes for this waterproof first aid kit. Throw a tourniquet in it and call it a day. It’s a must-have for the car, camping backpack, or go-bag.
Fox in socks, sir! That is a Seuss reference. That book takes FOREVER to read through for your lil kiddo if you’re tired, btw. But the point is that socks are important for the health of your feet and for morale. Get a good wool sock for the guy and he will be happy!
We are now getting into the last few items of this gift guide. It may seem like I’ve jumped the shark with this one, but trust me, I have not. For the jiu-jitsu practitioner, or just any guy that would enjoy feeling truly clean and smelling so good after a shower, get this soap! I love it. It’s next level. Tea tree oil is awesome. I discovered it when I first started grappling and it is so well worth the money. And I guarantee you will be happy too!!
Last up is a solid gift idea – a super lightweight rain jacket. I keep an extra in my car at all times, just in case. You can’t have enough of these. They break the wind, you don’t break the bank. Win – win.
Well, thanks so much for putting up with my annual antics. I’m tired and need to sleep. Godspeed ladies. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all.
Click the item in the image to go directly to the product page
Holiday Gift Guide for Her
Happy holidays! Is it too early to say that?? Considering that I’ve seen some people already put their Christmas trees out, I think it’s all good right? I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for the holidays. This year has been a doozy but I just can’t wait to step back and spend time with my family, reflecting and praising God for all the blessings we have. Even in a year like 2020, there are several things that I am so so thankful for. I miss so many of my friends dearly and when I was thinking about gift ideas I kept going back to items I own personally and love, things I’ve been wanting and think they’d like, and also items that I’ve given to people that they, in turn, have loved. I am so happy with how this gift guide came out and I hope it makes your shopping process a seamless and easy process. I can pretty much guarantee anything on here would be a hit!
Cookbook: I have and love Angela’s other cookbooks, so I couldn’t resist adding her latest release. Angela’s recipes make vegan cooking super easy, fun, and of course healthy. I’ve featured several of her recipes on InstaStories, along with a few in my Favorite Recipes from 2019 blog post.
Beanie: This cashmere beanie is so pretty in a neutral oatmeal shade, but there are a few other colors you could choose from too. I especially love that there aren’t any logos or insignias on the beanie which keeps it looking more classic.
Pajamas: Eberjey makes my go-to pajamas because they are just so soft and comfortable. I have several pairs {and one of their robes} and I’m always so excited to put one of them on at the end of a long day. It’s the little things ya know? I’ve given these pajamas to my pregnant friends in the past too and they’ve loved them for all the loungey time with baby!
Cashmere Scarf: Good sale alert on a cashmere scarf! I love Everlane so much because they do such a great job maintaining quality while using ethical factories and business practices. I have a wishlist that’s practically a mile long on their site, and I couldn’t resist adding this scarf to my cart for one of my friends. The shade would be perfect to wear year-round!
Tea Kettle: If you have any friends who love all things home, I think this copper tea kettle would be such a unique and special gift to give. You could even include one of your favorite teas {I can’t get enough of Harney and Sons Paris which would also make a great stocking stuffer or easy gift idea for your hairstylist or neighbor. The tin is the cutest!}
Mini Pouch: No woman can ever have too many pouches, they become essential especially when traveling or just keeping your tote bags more organized. I’ve gifted pouches like this before filled with some of my favorite makeup products and it’s been such a hit.
Lotion: This almond milk scented lotion smells heavenly and it is such a treat! I would give this to one of our moms and grandmas bc I just know they would find it beyond luxurious too! I’ve been using this weekly after bath nights {usually Friday nights} and it’s become something I really look forward to.
Cozy Slippers: Slippers are the best! I say that as I’m currently barefoot with ice cube toes. We’re in an airbnb and I’m wishing I had slippers like these to slip on. Or my favorite Ugg slippers that are sitting in a box somewhere. Last year I got my best friends slippers and they each told me how much they loved wearing them during the colder winter months. I feel like a pair of cute slippers goes a long way, especially if it’s a long winter.
Straw Bag: I was so excited to give this to my mom and mother in law for Mother’s Day. I thought it would be the perfect summer bag or farmers market tote. Yes, it’s fall/winter but even decoratively displayed on a dresser this tote would be pretty. Plus it would be something to help you look forward to warmer days! I love the idea of gifting it filled with Christmas cookies, a bottle of wine, or a poinsettia!
Rings: I have this set of rings and love them so much. They are so pretty and look way more expensive than they are. I think this is a gift that could be perfect for your girlfriends or even any teenage girls on your list!
Candle: I have a weakness for Diptyque candles and while Noisitier has been my fall go-to, I’ve recently become enamored with this new-to-be scent. It has major autumnal vibes with notes of honey, tobacco, and spices. If you’re looking for a new candle to burn all month long, or want to give this to someone special, I’m sure it would be very much appreciated! Also, this is a gift that could keep lasting because the glass jars can be repurposed in so many cute ways!
Necklace: Pendant necklaces have been a thing for a while now, but I’m especially loving this unique style. It has a very romantic and historical feel to it, don’t you think? Gorjana makes some of my favorite jewelry {as you can tell by the rings above} and I’m always so happy to support her growing small business!
Lipstick: I always get compliments on this lipstick. Not only is the shade the perfect pink neutral, but the packaging is just beyond. This lipstick feels like such a treasure when you pull it out of your bag.
Welcome to M Loves M! My name is Mara and I created this lifestyle site in 2009 as a place to share my love of fashion, beauty, food and entertaining. I moved from Southern California to Idaho and love adventuring with my husband Matthew, our two children, and our dog Ginger. We're also pregnant with baby #3, due this autumn! I strive to create a site that’s relatable to women, while also being inspirational. I’m so glad you stopped by!
