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The clock is ticking and if you’re like me and you don’t like to wait until the last minute, your making your shopping list and checking it twice. I like to be organized during the holiday season and make the month of December as stress free as possible. I’ll never forget the Christmas Eve my sister called me frantic because she needed more gifts for her daughter and didn’t know if any stores were open. She also needed tape and was lived about 30 minutes from a store. It was stressful alright! Let’s just say, nobody needs to be running around on Christmas Eve panicked.
To help you prepare I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite gifts, that I’ll personally be giving this year, and a list of some great eco-gift guides from some of my favorite bloggers. Hopefully these links, tips and suggestions will make 2014 a less stressful holiday.
Happy gifting!
Unique and Fun Gifts for Kids
National Geographic Laser Pegs® Building Kit – This is a kit for boys and girl ages 5 and up with 125 construction parts, 36 Laser Pegs, and a triangle base. It will require 3 AA batteries. Your child can build over 24 models with an instruction booklet and downloadable instructions. If your child likes to build and create this is the gift for them. The National Geographic Laser Pegs® Building kit is only $59.95 from the National Geographic Online Catalog and use the discount code MR21092 to save 15% site wide through January 2015. Terms of the discount: This offer expires 1/31/15 at 11:59 p.m. PT and can be modified or canceled at any time. Offer excludes donations, digital products, magazines, Genographic kits, Cafe Press merchandise, 10th Edition of the National Geographic Atlas of the World, Around the World in 125 Years 3-volume Collector’s Edition book from TASCHEN, and Weekend Photo Workshops. Discount will be applied at checkout. Cannot be combined with other offers; not valid on previous orders. Applicable for online orders only. Prices not valid in the National Geographic UK Online Store or Road Less Traveled Store.
My Quotable Kid – This is a unique gift for that kid that says the funniest things. Maybe they have one liner quotes that you wish you could come up with! I have a nephew like this and if I could put all of the funny things he says into a book, he’d show all of his friends and think he was famous! Perfect for older kids that will get the humor of having their own words in a published book. This is custom made and available from Uncommon Goods for $40.00.
Minecraft Series of Books – Oh this is a huge yes, yes, yes, in my house! If my children can learn the secrets of how to build and conquer their Minecraft game and friends they connect to…they’ll spend all of Christmas day reading and playing! There are five books in the series and the most expensive book is less than $14.00. If your child plays Minecraft these books are a must buy this holiday season! You can find them all at Barnes and Noble Online.
Flip2BFit Board Game – helping kids have fun and learn the basics of yoga, cardio and cross fit. Your kids 
will get up, get moving and best of all have fun. No equipment or experience needed so even mom and dad can play. For ages 6 and up and is available on Amazon.com for under $32.00.
Kanoodle – Two brain teasing games in one pocket-sized case, which is perfect for storing and travel. This game is great to take anywhere and if your son or daughter loves to solve puzzles then this is the game for them. Rated for ages 7 and up and is challenging and fun at the same time. Kanoodle is less than $12.00 (which makes a great stocking stuffer too) and available online from Amazon.com.
Metamorphic Toys 100% Recyclable and made in the USA Cardboard Mailbox – A toy that your child can build, decorate and then play with, over-and-over. It will foster their imagination and help them learn about different careers, practice their letter writing skills and in the end be recyclable. My children played with their cardboard mailbox for years, until it was to beat up to save! Less than $30.00 on Amazon.com.
Green Toys ® Pizza Parlor – A colorful 27-piece set that is made in the USA from food-safe 100% recycled plastic milk containers. No BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings. It is dishwasher safe too! Your kids can pretend to run a pizza shop, make pizza, take orders and serve guests. This will provide hours of fun and realistic pretend play. Great for ages 2 and up and it is under $30! Available from Green Toys ® online and they offer a money back guarantee.
Gifts for Those Who Have Everything and Teachers Too
Terrapass – For those that have everything, give them something that helps the environment. They don’t need another “thing” and this gift will let them offset their carbon footprint…which I think is pretty cool. Give the gift of carbon offsets and be eco-cool this holiday season!
DIY Teacher Gift Ideas – Teachers have lots and lots of stuff but they love handmade gifts and gifts from the heart. At least I’ve always loved this as a teacher. If you’re not into making your own gifts consider asking the teacher if you could donate a book to the classroom or supplies. Help the teacher offset the cost of what they spend out of their own pocket by giving back to the classroom. That is a real gift any teacher will greatly appreciate!
Personalized Hometown Puzzle – This is a favorite gift of mine for that family member that has left their hometown. It will make them feel at home again and it’s sure to bring back lots of great memories!
Give Organic – If you have someone who has just about everything, give the gift of meat…organic meat! Give an organic ham or turkey to share with their family this holiday season! They’ll be grateful and you might get invited to dinner! Perfect for the out of town family member you won’t see this holiday season, they’ll eat, be merry and think of you!
Eco Gift Guide and Holiday Inspiration Roundup
Alright, I’ve given you my list of awesome gifts, I plan on giving this year but now you HAVE to check out 
these ideas because they will inspire you to be a little bit greenER and give a little more, from the heart.
The Eco-Survivalist Christmas Guide – Alicia has hooked you up with everything you might need to survive a disaster and well, you just never know. I’m all about being prepared and my son is working hard as a cub scout this year to cross over to a boy scout and I found some great gifts on this gift guide that he could use. For example, I love the emergency tent shelter and LifeStraw Personal Water Filter.
Eco-Friendly Gifts for Kids – This is a great collection of links and ideas for the little ones in your life. If you’re looking for eco-friendly gift inspiration, check out these ideas. Best of all, they’re broken down by age so you can find something for all the cuties in your life.
Eco-Gift Guide for Adults – If you have someone who is a greenie in the family, they’ll appreciate any of these great suggestions. Great tips and ideas if you’re still searching or someone has stumped you this year and you’re not sure what to get them.
American Made Gift Guide – Hats off to this collection of awesome gifts! It’s so important to support made in the USA products and I love that there are suggestions for all age groups. No digging to see where a product is made, shop this guide and you’ll be buying American Made!
Ely Organics Darling Salt Glow – Yes, yes and yes. A gift that any teacher, mom, grandmother or smart woman would love to have…myself included! Check out this certified organic product and be sure to add it to your cart and hit buy…quick! This is one gift you won’t regret.
Think OUTSIDE the Box Gift Guide – A gift is from the heart and it doesn’t have to be store bought or traditional. This gift guide provides unique ideas that show you care about a person and didn’t just run to the store at the last minute. Like giving the cook in your family a cooking class or the fitness guru a gym pass. Love, love, love, these ideas!
Eco-Friendly Stocki
ng Stuffers – Who doesn’t need ideas that are eco-friendly and fit into a stocking? These are also perfect for teacher gifts, neighbor gifts or just because gifts. I’m personally eyeing the LooHoo wool dryer balls and Juice Beauty lip gloss. What a great roundup of green stocking stuffers from Mindful Momma!
Non-Tech Gifts for Teen Boys – I don’t have a teen but I have a pre-teen and it is a challenge to get him something that will engage him that is non-techy. Kids nowadays are just techy (mom included) so I get it. But Lori from Groovy Green Livin’ came up with a GREAT list that will have something for any teen or pre-teen boy on your list. I think the folding game of Mancala and Buddha board will be added to my list! Thanks Lori!
A “Healthified” Christmas Guide – This is a guide meant for us busy mamma’s that probably leave ourselves for last. I know I do. Alicia and her sister’s from The Soft Landing knock it out of the ball park (again) and share with us a list of items that any mom could appreciate and should probably buy for themselves. I think the Scotch Naturals Nail Polish and the Earth Mama Organic Body Butter sounds like a manicure in the making! Go treat yourself!
Five social impact holiday gift ideas – Lindsay Dahl nails it with these gift suggestions and I’m thinking I will
have to buy the animal hoodies for my daughter. I’m just in love with them and thinking maybe I need one. Great suggestions for buying a gift having it make a difference!
Have a gift guide or eco-friendly product? Leave a link below and share it with us! The more the merrier!