2024 Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! This is where I share what’s on my mind and invite you to join in and share yours. Today, I’m kicking off my holiday gift idea series with a post dedicated to the book lovers in your life!

Novel Teas

This would be the perfect gift for someone who loves books and tea!  Each of the 25 English Breakfast teabags is individually tagged with literary quotes.  It's great as a stand-alone gift, paired with another book-themed item or as a stocking stuffer.

Available HERE

Personalized Hand Embroidered Corner Bookmark

You just can't have too many bookmarks and this personalized one is adorable!  I always love a personalized gift because it shows the giver actually thought ahead enough to pick out something just for you.  This beauty would be great in a basket with other things or if you need just a little something for a neighbor or friend.  

Available HERE

Bookshelf Christmas Tree Ornament

Does your book club do an ornament exchange?  How cute is this Christmas Tree Bookshelf Ornament?!?  This would be an adorable gift for the school librarian.

Available HERE

 

Jane Austen Books Coaster Set

All book lovers need a special set of coasters to keep by their favorite reading chair.  These are especially great for the Jane Austen book lovers!

Available HERE

Book Embosser

I have gotten this book embosser for so many people and they have all loved it!  This is my go-to gift for young adults.  They will be able to mark their books for a long, long time.  This one has a little bit longer delivery time so order it today!

Available HERE

Custom Library Neon Sign

Know someone who has a special reading nook?  Why not give them a light with their name on it!  If you don't want their name on it, go ahead and click through to see the other designs offered.  They are all adorable!  There are 5 sizes and 12 colors for you to choose from.

Available HERE

Book Journal

Keep track of all your reads in this handy book journal.  This would be especially good for people in book clubs because you could easily jot down your thoughts on the book selected and have your notes from previous books all in one spot.  

Available HERE

Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

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2022 Gift Guide for the Travel Lover

The holidays are here and it's not always easy coming up with gift ideas.  The world is traveling again and the traveler might need to refresh some of their travel items.  Here are a few ideas for you ~

Travel Checklist

It's always quicker to pack when you have a checklist.  Give the Travel Checklist Journal to make preparing for trips so much easier and quicker!  The journal also has lists for Don't Forget, Things I Still Need to Do, and Safety Tips.  All in one handy book!

Travel Journal

Give the travel lover a journal to record all their adventures.  This journal is even refillable if more pages need to be added.  The magnetic closure keeps all your pages safely inside.

Electronic Organizer

Keep all the electronic cables and cords neatly tucked away in this organizer.  It's much easier to make sure you have all the necessary cables and cords packed too when they have a certain spot to go in.

Travel Bottle Set

I personally own this set and love it.  These bottles are filled with my shampoo, lotion, face cream, etc. all the time and it saves so much time when I pack.  I grab the case, throw it in the suitcase and I'm ready to roll.

Packing Cubes

If you haven't used packing cubes, you have no idea what you're missing!  They magically condense your items and allow you to have so much more space in your suitcase.  I don't know what we would do without them!

Travel Steamer

We love our travel steamer and take it with us everywhere we go.  It makes touching up your clothes fast and easy.  

Luggage Straps

Let's face it, so many suitcases look the same as they move around the luggage carousel.  Give the gift of recognition with these luggage straps.  The receipt will thank you every time they see their bag moving around standing out from all the others!

Compression Socks

I know, you may be wondering why you would give someone compression socks.  They made your legs feel so much better on longer flights!  The traveler will appreciate your thoughtfulness in wanting them to feel better during their flight.

Silk Sleeping Sack

I've had one of these for years because I'm super sensitive to laundry detergent.  If the hotel uses something I'm allergic to, my whole trip to a mess because I'm itchy and irritable.  Solution:  sleep in a silk sleeping sack!  Also perfect for the germophobe that gets grossed out sleeping in hotel beds.

2020 Gift Guide for Tea Lovers

Over the last few years, I've come to love relaxing with a cup of hot tea.  If you have a tea lover in your life, here are a few items they might love getting as gifts ~

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1.  Sips by Subscription Box
Every month I get a Sips By box with four sample teas.  It seems every month I'm finding a new favorite!  This is my number one gift for a tea lover!  You can gift them any monthly increment that suits your budget, starting at just $15.  The recipient will fill out a survey identifying the types of teas they like and Sips by will create a box specifically for them.  I have mine delivered to work and it's such a fun surprise when it appears in the mail.  Then I have 15 cups of tea to enjoy before the next month's box arrives.  Check them out HERE.

2.  Tea Warmer

It's not always easy to finish your cup of tea (or coffee) before it goes cold.  This warmer will keep your beverage hot and just as delicious as the first sip.  The best part - it automatically shuts off after 4 continuous hours so you don't have to worry if you forget to turn it off!

3.  Ahmed Tea Sampler

A gift of Ahmed's tea sampler would give the recipient 60 samples of their popular flavors.  The sample pack contains 2 bags of 30 flavors.  Their packaging is so pretty!  The price point for this sampler is $11.99.  It would be perfect to gift to a neighbor or great aunt you just want to give a little something to.

4.  Tea Bag Rest and Spoon

What do you do with your tea bag after it has steeped in the hot water?  You rest it on this adorable tea bag rest!  This particular rest comes with a cute spoon too, making it twice as nice!

5.  Tea Steeper and Pot

Eric and I each have our own one of these and love them!  You put your leaves in, add hot water and let them steep. When your tea is ready, just push down over your cup and the tea is dispensed from the bottom of the steeper into your cup.  Many leaves allow for more than one steeping, so you can just leave them in the steeper and it's ready to go again.  

6.  InSinkErator Hot Water Dispenser

This is the Cadillac of gifts!  A few years ago we installed a hot water dispenser on our sink and it's been the best thing ever!  Your water is always hot and ready to make your perfect cup of tea.  Beyond tea making, we love it to start our water for boiling pasta and helping clean off that baked cheese in your dish.  You would love it!

7.  Honey Spoons

What a fun way to add honey to your hot tea!  Use these little honey spoons to stir the flavor right into your cup.  They also come in lavender and blueberry.  You could get all three and give as a set!

8.  The Art of Tea

This book is just lovely!  Any tea lover would enjoy perusing through the pages.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

Divided into four enticing sections, this exquisitely photographed volume offers page after page of ideas for making teatime an unforgettable experience. Begin by learning the essentials, from differentiating the various types of tea to learning the “tools of the tray” and how to brew the perfect pot. Recipes for classic scones and the traditional accompaniments, such as lemon curd and clotted cream, are also included. The Celebrations chapter is filled with inspiration, tips, and recipes for planning special occasions, whether it’s a summertime gathering with butterfly-adorned china and a menu that includes delicate lavender cream scones or an outdoor setting to celebrate Mother’s Day, where roses―both botanical and edible―are the order of the day.

Since presentation is such an important part of any event, readers will discover a treasure trove of brilliant ways for creating the perfect tea affair from start to finish. With a basic “tea primer” leading off this section, the visual journey continues with beautiful linens, china, silver, and floral arrangements before addressing the details―those grace notes that make all the difference in a tableau. And for journeys of a different kind, the spotlight shines on some of the editors’ favorite tea destinations, both stateside and abroad. Among the featured venues are the gilded grandeur of San Francisco’s Palace Hotel and the history-steeped environs of The Williamsburg Inn in Virginia and Washington, D.C.’s Willard Hotel. For those whose adventures go beyond America’s borders, they’ll add The Empress in Canada, Ashford Castle in Ireland, and Bettys Café Tea Rooms in England to their must-visit lists.

Beautifully bound and pure pleasure to peruse, Victoria The Art of Tea is the go-to guide for all facets of tea entertaining.

9.  Tea Time Magazine

This beautiful magazine is the sourcebook for all who love tea!  It six issues per year offers recipes, stories, and talk of tea.  I've been getting it for years and look forward to each issue.  Get information about giving a gift subscription HERE.

Hope these ideas help you with the tea lovers in your life.  If you're looking for book lover ideas, check out my ideas HERE.  

Book Lover Gift Ideas

Happy Thursday!  Glad you popped in for Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I share something I'm thinking about and you can link up and share what's on your mind.

We are back from our little getaway and I've got Christmas gift-giving on my mind.  One of my favorite things to give family and friends is books.  Sometimes it's fun to add something to your book selection or put an entire basket together with fun book-related items.  Here are a few of my favorites ~

1.  Book Coasters

The Jane Austin fans in your life will love these coasters.  The set of 6 has a permanent matte finish and can be spot cleaned with mild detergent.

2.  The Library Candle

You know that special blend of teak-wood, cedar, and sandalwood that makes you think you're standing in the middle of a library?  Get it with this candle!  The burn time is approximately 45 hours, is hand-poured in the USA, and is made with natural American soy wax.

3.  Bookshelf Puzzle

Remember last winter when puzzles were the thing?  Well, winter is returning and the book lover in your life might love this bookshelf puzzle.  The 1000 pieces will keep both adults and kids entertained for hours.

4.  T-shirt

Nothing screams book lover than having it on a t-shirt.  This one is adorable!

5. Magnetic Bookmarks

Magnetic bookmarks are my favorite!  I have several sets and always find ways to use them.  Fun to give as a set or break up for many smaller gifts.  

6.  Library Book Embosser

You'll always know which book is yours when you use this embosser to label your books.  I've gifted this personalized embosser to several people and it's always a big hit!

7.  Book Journal

Keep track of all the books you read in this handy journal.  The notebook is complete with prompted pages that will guide you to capture the things that really matter.  

8.  Blue Light Blocking Reading Light

This sleep-friendly light to perfect for using before bedtime by encouraging the production of melatonin and reducing eye strain.  It's also lightweight, portable, and travel friendly.  

Hope these help with your gift-giving to the book lovers in your life.  I know I would love any one of these things!

Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

National Coffee Day

Happy Saturday!  It's so rare for me to post on a Saturday, but I saw that it was National Coffee Day today and there's something I just had to share with you!



Now full disclosure - I do not drink coffee.  I know.  I love the smell of coffee, but the taste just never has made me excited.  Over time, I do have a complicated-to-say drink I can order from Starbuck's and I even tell them to only put in half the normal amount of coffee.  Yes, the barista usually asks me to repeat that because who goes to Starbuck's and says they only want half the coffee!  Me, I do.  I don't like coffee.

But because most of my friends and family love it, I've learned a thing or two over the years about the muddy stuff and there's one gadget I want to share with you today - an electric frother.

My friend, Linda, was using her frother one weekend when we were visiting and my daughter-in-law fell in love with it.  I made a mental note and gifted her one the following Christmas.  That was a couple years ago and just recently she told me how much she still loves it and uses it often.  That's a sign of a good gift!

The specs on the above frother are ~

PERFECT MILK FROTH: Whisks milk into thick hot or cold foam with consistently small froth bubbles within 2 minutes to perfect your coffee or milk drink; also ideal for simply heating up milk without burning it

SIMPLE ONE-BUTTON CONTROL: Simply press the On/Off button for heated frothing or heating and hold for cold frothing; takes around 110 seconds to produce heated milk froth at 65 °C (149 °F); about 120 seconds for cold frothing

SILENT & CONVENIENT OPERATION: Uses magnetic stirring technology to operate silently without vibrations; no dangerous steam or annoying battery replacement issues common with other milk frothers

SEE-THROUGH AND SPLASH-PROOF LID: The fully transparent lid allows you to monitor the frothing process; the removable silicone sealing ring reliably prevents leaks
SAFE & EASY TO CLEAN: The inside of the jug is made of food-grade stainless steel and ILAG non-stick coating, ensuring high build quality; the easily removable parts make cleaning a breeze; 90 days return and 24 months warranty from the date of purchase

If you would like one of these for yourself or know someone who would love to get one as a gift (Christmas is only 86 days away!), click HERE to check it out.

 

Now back to my normal Saturday activities!  Enjoy your weekend and happy National Coffee Day!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - Father's Day Gift Ideas

Hello there!  Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!   So glad you popped in to visit me and Vanessa from X-tremely V!  Hope you link up below and tell all your blogger friends to link up too!

Crazy how Thursday rolled around so fast this week.  Makes me realize that Father's Day (June 19) is going to be here before we know it and I don't want to be caught searching out gifts for the guys in my life at the last minutes.  Today I'm thinking out loud about a couple gift ideas for the guys just in case you are on the hunt for some.

Do you have a fisherman guy you're getting a Father's Day present for?  Well, check out this fish finder.  The Deeper Smart Portable Fish Finder (Depth Finder) is a must have for ice fishing, kayak, boat and shore fishing.  It is compatible with iOS and Android devices.  See all the details HERE.  With Amazon Prime, it can be in your hands in two days.  



How about a yard game the whole family can enjoy?  Jenga Giant is a gift that will keep on giving for years.  This is a fun game for the family and also fun for when the kids are tucked in bed and the adults are hanging out around the fire pit.  Get yours by clicking HERE.

Looking for a gift that will last for a whole year?  Think of getting your guy a magazine subscription.  Something like ESPN Magazine, Sports Illustrated, or National Geographic.  There are TONS of magazines out there -- just pick the one that you think is something your guy would love reading.

Any Dad would love this Father's Day Coupon Book found over at Easy Green Mom.  This adorable printable is completely free!  Just download, print and bind together.  What a great thing kids to share with their dad.



Do you have a gift idea you'd like to share?  Let us know what you're thinking out loud about and link up your favorite post.  We love hearing from you!  And don't forget to stop by tomorrow for my Five on Friday!

Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Hodges Podges

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

100 Happy Days

The Deliberate Mom

This is How We Roll

Embark on the Journey

Party at My Place
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Thinking Out Loud Thursday - Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  So glad you popped in to visit me and Vanessa from X-tremely V!

So today I'm thinking out loud about Mother's Day.  It's coming guys -- at freight train speed.  We're looking at it being 10 days away.  Have you picked out your Mother's Day gift yet?  Well, today I have some ideas for you.

Check out these shoes from Row One.  If your mom is a sports fan, these would make a great addition to her shoe rack.  They come in oodles of teams, both collegiate and MLB.  (They would also be adorable for your graduate too if you're looking for a graduation gift.)  I just added a Cardinal pair to my closet and can't wait to bust them out for the next game I go to.  Love them!


I love giving (and getting) gift cards, but I like to have a little something to go with them.  Here's a few ideas you could put together.

Every mom I know loves massages.  If you're giving a spa gift card, you might want to pair it with one of these amazing lavender eye pillows.  I had one of these in each of the goody bags for my friends weekend and everyone LOVED them!  You can get a set of four for a magnificent price.  Then you could have one for you and three other people on your gift-giving list.

Is your mom a movie fan?  Gift cards to your local theater are wonderful -- especially if you plan an outing with the recipient.  Movie gift cards could be paired with a book for a movie that is coming out soon.  Here are a few books that the movie will be hitting the screen in 2016. (If you want to purchase the book, just click on the title below the book.)

Me Before You

Movie coming out June 3

The Girl on the Train

Movie coming out October 7

Inferno

Movie coming out October 14

Looking for a nice subscription to give?  I would highly recommend Birchbox.  Depending on the subscription length you select, this gift just keeps on giving.  It's like getting a gift once a month for however long you pick.  I know I look forward to getting mine each month and can't wait to try the goodies inside.

  

Are you all set for Mother's Day?  Do you have a gift you love to give?  

Now it's your turn - join me and Vanessa at X-tremely V by linking up your favorite post(s) from the week.  We love hearing from you!

Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Hodges Podges

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

While I'm Waiting

The Deliberate Mom

This is How We Roll

Love the Everyday
Party at My Place