Toy Reviews

TCG Toys Hot Wheels Jumbo Mega Playmat with Vehicle

TCG Toys Hot Wheels Jumbo Mega Playmat with Vehicle

Toys that bring imagination to life are my favorite. From dress up to play sets, using the imagination can keep a child at play for a long time (and we get things done around the house)! The Jumbo Mega Playmat is over 5 feet of padded play space you can roll out at home or in travels. I gifted my nephew the Hot Wheels playmat, but there are other mats to choose from in this mega size from TCG Toys.

Whether your child is into Hot Wheels, Barbie, Marvel, PJ Masks, Paw Patrol, Peppe Pig, Toy Story 4 or Wiggles, there is 5 feet of play with included toys. Our mat came with 2 hot wheel cars! Moms, the mat is very wipeable for easy cleaning and rolls up for easy storage. It seems very durable. This will bet played with a lot and seems to me it will stand the wear!

TCG Toys has these jumbo mats and their felt mats available on Amazon. They make great gifts and are also good for indoor play after summer.

Gift Guides

The Best Gifts to Buy for Every Occasion in Your Family

The Best Gifts to Buy for Every Occasion in Your Family
Photo by coco tafoya on Unsplash

Who doesn’t love a holiday or a birthday gift? There’s something about receiving a thoughtful token of affection that brings us immense joy. But coming up with ideas for those you care about can be challenging, especially if you don’t know them well or live far away from them. Fortunately, the retail sector recognizes this challenge and has come to our aid with various gift-giving occasions throughout the year. Some of these may not be as widely recognized as others, but they are all opportunities to get inspired by new ideas. Read on to discover useful tips when it comes to buying gifts for loved ones based on their age, gender, and other factors. This way, you will never be stuck again in finding the best present ever again!

Finding the Right Gift for Every Occasion

Before you go shopping for gifts, you first need to understand the person’s interests, likes, and dislikes. This way, you can avoid giving them a gift they’ll never use again. Some tips to keep in mind when finding the best gifts to buy are:

– Consider their personality. If the person you’re buying for is expressive, creative, or sentimental, gifts that reflect these characteristics will be fitting.

– Observe their lifestyle. If the person you’re buying for is sporty, health-conscious, or frequently travels, gifts that reflect their lifestyle will be fitting.

– Understand the occasion. You’ll want to buy something that reflects the significance of the occasion with a gift that will be appreciated and put to good use.

Birthdays

For birthdays, you can’t go wrong with gifting a personalized gift that reflects the person’s interests and passions. If you know their zodiac sign, you can find plenty of options to choose from. For people who are into fitness, yoga, or other sports, you can get them a special yoga mat, sports equipment, or other accessories that fit their interests. For people who are creative, you can give them art supplies, a pen and paper set, a personalized sketchpad, or a framed art print that features the recipient. For people who love to read, you can gift them a special reading pillow, a book-themed mug, or a personalized bookmark. For people who are sentimental, you can choose from a wide selection of personalized keepsake boxes, mugs, journals, and other keepsakes.

Holiday Gifts

Holiday gifts can be a bit of a challenge to buy because the occasion doesn’t revolve around a single recipient. You will want to find gifts that are appropriate not only for your loved ones, but for their family and friends as well. If you’re buying for a child, it’s best to go with toys and/or games that are age-appropriate. You can also consider gifts that revolve around their interests, like a photography kit, a model car kit, a craft kit, a science kit, etc. If you’re buying for a parent, grandparents, or an aunt or uncle, you can go with the tried and true gift of a coffee mug or personalized gifts that they can keep at their desks at work. If you’re buying for an adult, you should choose something more special. You can go with a travel gift card, a subscription box, a personalized item, or a gift that reflects their hobbies or interests.

Graduation Gifts

For graduations, you can give gifts that will help the graduate transition from school to the working world or to school itself. You can give them useful items, such as a nice piece of stationary, a laptop sleeve, or a stylish backpack. You can also give them gift cards to places they will frequently visit, like coffee shops and restaurants.

Mother’s Day

When it comes to Mother’s Day gifts, you want to find something special that shows your mom that you love her and appreciate all that she does for you and for the rest of the family. You can go with signature gifts, like a hand-made item or a sentimental item such a piece of jewelry. You can also go with gift cards to places that your mom would frequent, such as her salon or her favorite coffee shop.

Father’s Day

For Father’s Day gifts, you want to find something that shows your dad how much you appreciate him and how much you love him. You can go with a sentimental gift or a gift that has a special meaning like a quality watch, you have to search for an authorized watch dealer such as My Gift Stop. You can also go with gift cards to places he would frequently visit, such as his favorite restaurant or his place of work.

Anniversary Gifts

For anniversary gifts, you want to find a gift that both of you would enjoy using. You can go with a special piece of jewelry, a romantic getaway, or a gift that you know they would like. You can also go with gift cards to places they would frequent, like their favorite restaurant or their favorite store.

Choosing the right gift for someone can be quite tricky. However, by following this guide, you should be able to find the perfect gift for anyone in your family. So, go ahead and surprise someone today with a thoughtful gift that they’ll love and appreciate. For your convenience, we have provided a summary of useful tips when it comes to buying gifts for loved ones based on their age, gender, and other factors. This way, you will never be stuck again in finding the best present ever again!

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Cocktail glasses by AlanaKayART inspired by original AlanaKay resin paintings

Cocktail glasses by AlanaKayART inspired by original AlanaKay resin paintings

These beautiful cocktail glasses by AlanaKayART are inspired by original AlanaKay resin paintings. They instantly become a conversation piece when using it for drinks. I aim to collect more and allow guests to choose a glass that matches their mood. I have the Carnival design and love holding this glass with my drink. It is of good weight and well designed.

art cocktail glass

AlanaKayART brings vibrant colors to art that can change a mood and spark some joy. When I entertain, I love for my guests to have everything they need and to look like I have put care into their stay. By having stylish glassware, it makes the gathering more fun and engaging. At only $32 a glass, they make great gifts and pieces to collect.

You can choose from 6 designs in several color palates. AlanaKayART has these same designs in art pieces, candles and more. It is easy to set a mood in your home with her art. Shop AlanaKayART today!

Father's Day, Home

A Southern French Martini Recipe with my Well Told Yellowstone Rocks Glass

Southern French Martini

OK, so a martini should be served in a martini glass but when you have a Yellowstone Rocks Glass available and you just want to drink from it, it is perfectly acceptable to make a martini in one. As I feature one of the National Parks Rocks Glasses that Well Told offers, I thought I’d share how I recently learned how to make a Southern French Martini. A southern french martini has a simple syrup in the recipe. To not use a simple syrup would make it a french martini (without the southern title). I use stevia or monkfruit rather than standard sugar for a sugar free simple syrup and I infuse my syrup with pineapple so there is an element of ‘natural sugars’.

Southern French Martini

I got this recipe from a family member. I used a monkfruit sweetner for my infused simple syrup, however this does contain natural sugars within the fruit I use.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Course: Drinks

Ingredients
  

  • 1 oz Vodka
  • 1 oz Raspberry Liqueur I used Chombord
  • 1 oz Fresh Pineapple Juice I used Dole 100% Fresh juice
  • .5 oz Simple Syrup I used pineapple infused
  • Ice to shake and chill

Equipment

  • 1 Shot Glass
  • 1 Cocktail Shaker

Method
 

Pineapple Infused Simple Syrup
  1. In a small saucepan ass 1:1 ratio of sugar (I used monkfruit sweetener) and water. I cup each will make several drinks. Add fresh cut pineapple. I buy precut pineapple from my grocers fruit bowl section. Bring to a boil as you stir occasionally. Let simmer for 20 minutes. Cool and transfer to a glass container. It will keep for a week in the fridge.
The Cocktail
  1. Add ice to your shaker
  2. Add the vodka, liqueur, simple syrup and pineapple juice and shake until blended and chilled. Drain into a glass and enjoy!

Notes

You can omit the simple syrup and use the other ingredients. In this case you have a French Martini rather than a Southern French Martini (Southern=Sugar)

Well Told has the best barware and drinkware. I have many Well Told items in my bar and they always bring compliments. Not only am I a Yellowstone (TV series) fan, but we visiting Yellowstone last summer in an RV road trip. I was so excited to find this rocks glass. You can also choose city maps, colleges, literature and more that are etched with the best quality. Shop Well Told for gifts and glasses for you home bar!