10TH ANNUAL
OREGON FAMILY
Holiday
GIFT GUIDE
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by Kelli Matthews
ittle did we know that the first holiday gift guide we did 10 years ago would turn into such a fun project with so many great ideas to share every year. I only have a few guidelines when choosing items: they can’t be “mainstream” toys but need to be a little off-the-beaten-path. I love things that get kids thinking, moving and active or engaging with their family. This year, the list is wide-ranging with ideas for ages newborn (new baby niece to celebrate!) to teenagers. I hope you find some great ideas that you may not have thought of before.
Soft & Sweet With a new baby in the family, I was excited to hear about the HOWDY BABY BOX subscription. The box features ethically made baby and kids products from women-owned businesses in the U.S. for ages newborn through 24 months. The box I got was beautifully curated and would make any new mama swoon with delight. Available at: https://www.howdybabybox.com Preschool farmers will love the KULLERBU FARMYARD PLAY TRACK. A fun twist on a train set, the track comes with two sneaky farm “animals” (Selma the sheep and Simon the pig) that your track builder has to try to catch. The farmyard sounds add to the fun! Perfect for ages 2 - 8. Available at: https://www.habausa.com/ There’s literally nothing softer (or sweeter) in the entire universe than a SLUMBERKIN. This year, a few new friends came to visit — Dragon and the Caring Crew. Each Slumberkin encourages emotional growth through a story. Dragon reminds us that creativity comes in many forms and is something we can all do. The Caring Crew’s How to Bee Helpful set includes five minis and promotes caring and kindness. Available at: https://slumberkins.com/
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Moving & Grooving The iconic original, ROLLERBLADE, will have your teen or tween rocking and rolling. The Advantage Pro X.T. from Bladerunner has both men’s & women’s styles and sizes available and is a perfect starter skate for inline skating. The skates have an easy closure system, extra foot support and a durable frame to help with balance. Plus: it comes in hot pink! Available at: rollerblade.com or via Amazon or Dick’s Sporting Goods.
There’s no mistaking a CHANCE BASKETBALL. The L.A.-based company has bold and vibrant patterns that inspire kids to get out and play. Chance Athletics believes in spreading the love through donating products and raising funds for communities that need them through organizations like Boys & Girls Club, Hoops for Haiti, and Project Backboard. Available at Target or https://wearechance.com/ The magic of bubbles really never gets old. When the American Bubble Company offered to send BUBBLE TREE BUBBLES to try, we couldn’t resist. The bubbles are the first-ever eco-friendly sustainable bubble system that uses a non-toxic bubble solution made in the USA. The bubbles come in aluminum bottles with poppy, vibrant designs. And the refillable bubble system saves money — there’s no need to purchase replacement bubble wands and containers. Available at: https://bubbletreeusa.com/, Amazon and Target.
We’re not a golfing bunch, but my teenager has been begging for a set of clubs. I don’t know much about what to get and don’t want either a discount set that won’t last or a crazy expensive set that may not be right for him in the long run. I was lucky to learn about STIX. The company fits our budget and his interest level — plus they look cool. Available at https://stix.golf/
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My baseball-obsessed sons are preparing for the next season, so I was thrilled to learn about the BACKYARD LEAGUE GAMING BASEBALL. It is regulation size and weight and connects via Bluetooth to the user’s smartphone. It tracks catches, drops, and other metrics and features up to 70 hours of battery life on a standard 2032 watch battery. With activities and global leaderboards, kids can keep the game going year-round. Available at: https://backyard-league.com/
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Outdoor play needs outdoor gear. Oregon Family favorites, LONE CONE MUD BOOTS come in tons of adorable and kid-approved prints and are made to keep toes warm and dry in any weather (rain, mud and snow!). Available at https://www.lonecone.com/
The ORIGINAL STOMP ROCKET® STUNT PLANES gets kids out and moving, but it also helps enrich those STEM skills. Dead simple, but endlessly entertaining! No batteries required, and the soft tips means fun that is safe. Plus, as a sneaky educational bonus, they have to think about gravity, motion and force (whether they realize it or not). Also available at Target, Target.com and Rite Aid.
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Fishing and living in Oregon go hand in hand, but finding a good rod and reel for young kids is challenging. If you’ve got an angler-to-be that’s ready to be on the water with mom and dad, the SHAKESPEARE EZ-GROW fishing kit is a great gift. For kids as young as four, the rod starts at 2’10” rod with an oversized handle knob and extended length push button and extends to 4’5” for kids up to eight. The large handle knob and push-button extender can easily be removed as little hands grow for comfort during use. Available at: https://www.purefishing.com/
It’s winter in Oregon so getting outside isn’t always an option. The GYM1 DELUXE INDOOR PLAYGROUND might be the perfect way to get your kids moving. It converts from a pull-up bar to a kids’ jungle gym, providing various lively indoor activities for the whole family. The pull-up bar has six different attachments: indoor swing, rings, trapeze bar, wood-and-rope ladder, and a knotted rope for swinging or climbing. Holds up to 300 pounds. Available on Amazon.
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Thinking & Doing We’ve featured dozens of OSMO products and extensions in our gift guide and they never disappoint. The latest, OSMO DETECTIVE, is a globe-trotting adventure that takes kids to the world’s most famous cities, searching for clues to help solve mysteries, using a real magnifying glass and physical maps. Available for iPad or Fire. Available at https://www.playosmo.com/, Wal-Mart or Target.
When you’re young, there’s still a lot of excitement about getting something in the mail just for you — you can be pretty sure it’s not a bill. MAILPOP meets this excitement with a weekly mailed envelope with a newsletter, activities and a papercraft. Sign up at https://www.mailpopkids.com/
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If you’ve got a young engineer in the making, the TENI AND TAYO SOLAR POWERED CAR KIT gives kids the material to build and paint their own solar powered car from scratch. The kit works like a puzzle, which my kiddo found frustrating at first (where’s the directions?!), but he quickly got the hang of it and was proud of his finished car. We also love that Teni and Tayo is a woman-owned business and celebrates diversity in all its products with just a “pinch of Africa.” Available at https://www.teniandtayo.com/
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Sometimes our gift guide recommendations are hard to explain but stay with me. BLINKS tabletop game is a tabletop game powered by artificial intelligence. Each game piece is responsive to your touch, works with the other pieces, and thinks for itself. Every piece knows its own game and can also learn new games. In short — it’s amazing (wow! Did you see that?!) and a ton of fun. Available at https://move38.com/ or Amazon.
Whether your kid is a bookworm or you struggle to get them to sit still and read for 20 minutes a day, OWLCRATE, JR. for ages 8 - 12, can help. The box comes with a brand new hardcover book, activities, stickers and other goodies. It’s beautifully presented and my reluctant reader loved exploring everything inside. And we’ve been reading the book together, which has been a delightful pre-bedtime routine. There’s also an OwlCrate for older kids (ages 14+). Available at: https://www.owlcrate.com/
A portable Bluetooth speaker is becoming a “must-have” for kids on the go. The SPEAQUA bluetooth speakers are designed to bring your tunes wherever you go. The Barnacle speakers are waterproof and have a suction cup to stick anywhere. The major bonus is that the Barnacles can store up to 2,000 songs directly on the speaker, so you don’t need wifi or a phone to enjoy music. It’s shockproof, dust/sand proof with a 5-8 hour battery life and it even floats. Available at: https://speaqua.com/
Imaginary play is everything. The HESS CARGO PLANE AND JET is a brand new option from this award-winning company. A high-flying adventure awaits with six button and motionactivated flying sounds and lights. There’s a lot to discover with retractable folding jet wings, push-button cargo bay doors and a hidden slide-out ramp to maneuver. The jet is 14 inches long and has a wingspan of 15 inches. It’s hours of fun! Available only at https://hesstoytruck.com/
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Around the Table Who said politics can’t be fun? ELECTION NIGHT is fun and educational. Winning the electoral college includes a lot of math! Two players or teams battle for critical electoral votes in the race to win the presidency. To get there, you have to sharpen your U.S. geography and political system knowledge and stay on your toes. Good for ages 8 and up. Available at https://sempersmartgames.com/ and Amazon.
The original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie was released 50 years ago! Still a classic, you can celebrate with a rewatch and the new GOLDEN TICKET family board game. Use strategy on every move and play your Wonka Candy cards to collect as many Wonka Bars as you can. When the last Wonka Bar is picked up, everyone opens up their collection to see who’s got a Golden Ticket! Play as one of the movie’s original characters, including Charlie, Veruca, Violet, Mike and Augustus. Start with the beginner side of the board and move to advanced mode when you’re ready. Available at Target. GHOSTED is a fun twist on the traditional game of Clue. It’s “whodunnit” murder mystery game where you’re the ghost trying to solve your own murder — which character had it in for you, what wacky weapon did they use and why did they want you of the picture? This game is a new family favorite with quick play, easy directions and lots of laughs and silliness. Available at Target.
I’ve got a Revolutionary War-era fanatic in my house (Thanks to Hamilton the Musical), so we were excited to try the SPIES OF LIBERTY escape room style game from Escape Notice Games. Players are all members of the Culper Spy Ring where they help George Washington outwit the British forces and turn the tide of war in favor of the patriots. Historic spycraft tools help players solve puzzles, read ciphers, navigate vintage maps, and uncover hidden codes - it’s beautifully and thoughtfully done and we had a lot of fun. No internet required! The game works best for 2 - 6 players, ages 14 and up (but my 9-year-old could join in). Available online at EscapeNoticeGames.com and Etsy.
Who Runs the World? Girls!
A glitter-filled inflatable chair? Yes, please! AIRCANDY has fashionable, affordable and easy-to-use inflatable chairs. The chairs are jumbo and comfortable like a bean bag, yet strong enough to hold up to 250 pounds. AirCandy is made with heavy-duty PVC material and is 100% waterproof. Available at https://www.poolcandy.net/ and on Amazon.
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Oregon-based LOVE AND XO JULIA is a curated collection of clean skincare and beauty products and accessories for tweens and young teens just beginning their self-care journey. We love that the ingredients are all sourced to be good for young skin and the products help young adults kickstart their experience with selfcare and confidence. The products make them feel good and support wellness. Available at: https://loveandxojulia.com/
names, short sayings or cute messages, and you can also add a colorful heart bead. The chain is sterling silver or 14kt gold fill. https://www.isabellegracejewelry.com
Your favorite fashionista will love the fun new ALPHABET BEAD NECKLACE from Oregon Family-favorite, Isabelle Grace Jewelry. Personalize with her name, her favorite people’s
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Mom’s Gift Guide M
oms - and mom-types - deserve distinctive gift ideas for the holidays. We found some amazing ideas for our 5th annual holiday gift guide for moms. Take a look!
Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice Brooklyn-style crumb cake is something special and CLARKSON AVENUE CRUMB CAKE CO. knows what it takes. The company has regular and seasonal flavors, but also a build-your-own option to get just the perfect creation. Clarkson Avenue ships their freshly made cakes nationwide so you can give the cake as a gift in person or have it shipped to Mom’s door. https://clarksonavecrumb.com/
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xotic sauces can make boring dinners, well, less boring. AFRICAN DREAM FOODS has a set of sauces that include things like Southern Braal (a BBQ sauce with an African Twist) or Jalanasco Fermented Jalapeño (tangy and mild and great for eggs). If Mom prefers hot, African Dream can deliver with African Ghost Pepper, the hottest of the hot sauces. Available on Amazon. Our world food travels to find great gifts take us to BAZODEE FOODS, a Caribbean, Venezuelan and Trinidadian inspired brand that infuses great flavors as a marinade and also celebrates the foods that create family bonds. What’s better for a foodie Mom? All Bazodee sauces are all natural, vegetarian, gluten and preservative free.https://bazodee.com/
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Chocolate and wine make for a very safe gift idea for most moms. SUGAR PLUM’S Wine Box Truffle Assortment features a 12-piece assortment of handcrafted chocolate truffles all beautifully laid out in a wine bottle-shaped box. The coffee caramel flavor was my favorite. Yum! https://www.sugar-plum.com/
With beautiful packaging, easy step-by-step instructions, the MULLED WINE GIFT SET has recipes and spices for 4 recipes. The idea of heating wine and infusing it with spices may seem odd, but this beverage is one of the most iconic winter cocktails all over Europe. Known as gluhwein in Germany, glögg in Sweden, and vin chaud in France, this mulled wine cocktail set makes a great gift. https://www.cookinggiftset.com/
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Self-Care Comes in All Shapes & Sizes I’m on a boycott of “regular” pants. I mean, really, joggers should be much more acceptable in more contexts. Here’s TASC PERFORMANCE to the rescue! The clothes are insanely soft and comfortable and the company is sustainably-driven. The fabric is an innovative bamboo and organic cotton that performs like activewear (or lounge on the couch wear) but without chemical enhancement for wicking, sun protection, breathability or odor control. Joggers, leggings, sweatshirts and more available at: https://www.tascperformance.com/
Made right here in Eugene, Oregon, MOOD NORTHWEST CANDLES immediately set the tone in the house to “calm.” We are a sister founded, woman-owned company that pour candles with sophisticated and multidimensional fragrances. The added touch of an intention stone on top of each candle is a reminder to stop and breathe it all in. Everything about these candles is thoughtful and intentional. Available at https://www.moodnorthwest.com
Cold floors in the morning be gone! NAOT SLIPPERS take self-care up a notch with mattress foam padding insoles and a soft fleece lining keeps your feet warm. The Recline, Unwind and Quietude styles are all perfect for Mom gifts this holiday. Seriously. Your mom wants these slippers. Available at: https://naot.com/
For something entirely different, the WICKED SKATEWEAR Impala Skates are less about lounging and more about Mom finding her inner skate goddess. I’d bet that version of Mom isn’t too far under the surface. The Impala Skates are the classic 4-wheel style with an undeniable 80s vibe and so fun! If your Mom is like me, though, pick up a pad pack while you’re there — that inner skate goddess isn’t as graceful as she used to be. Available at: https://wickedskatewear.com/
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Say what you will about giving socks, nothing beats a great pair and a great pair with a great cause is even better. HIPPY FEET is sock company on a mission to help homeless youth. Hippy Feet focuses on providing transitional employment opportunity to young people (ages 16-24) who are experiencing homelessness — helping them get back on their feet. And these are great socks. https://hippyfeet.com/
Sloppy sweats and your partner’s old t-shirt to sleep in is fine, but if you want to get something a little more special for mom, The SLEEP SHIRT will be a hit. The brand is female founded, sustainable and size inclusive. The classic, charming style is comfortable and cozy — no more sloppy sweats! Available at: https://www.thesleepshirt.com/
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Beauty is More than Skin Deep
Time sneaks up on all of us and mom may be fighting the effects of age on her skin. Do not tell her that! But rather, give her skincare that heals skin. FACTORFIVE SERUM combines human stem cell derived growth factors with copper peptides. Made in America, the serum is hydrating without being heavy and even with a short amount of use, I could see and feel the difference in my skin. https://factorfiveskin.com/
Mom skin is often dry skin. GRAYDON’S MOON BOOST SERUM is richly hydrating, velvety smooth and smells like sunshine. It is a great antidote to the inevitable winter skin blahs. Pair with a skin care set like Clean Beauty Starter Kit and mom skin will be happy skin. https://graydonskincare.com/
Portland native Raina Rose founded FOLK POTIONS, a line of herbal infused slow skincare. Calendula Oil makes my skin exceedingly happy and the body oil is made from Calendula blossoms grown and dried by Vibrant Valley Farm on Sauvie Island. The Magic Face Oil and Magic Face Balm smell and feel amazing. https://folkpotions.com/ La Jolie means beautiful in French and the collection from GITANNE SKINCARE lives up to it’s name. If mom hasn’t added face oil to your skin care routine, she should. This set is a great introduction and an easy, everyday routine with Aurore Resurfacing Mask, Rosé Serum and Unscented Belle de Jour Day Cream. Products are made in small batches in Sonoma, CA. https://gitanneskincare.com/
If mom could use relief from the “week from hell” (who are we kidding… the year from hell?), WALTON WOOD FARM has you covered. This tongue in cheek gift set has a phenomenal sugar scrub, whipped body cream and lip balm, all with a yummy grapefruit and brown sugar fragrance. https://waltonwoodfarm.com/
A Little Bling is the Thing
We love gift ideas that have a great story. AZURA JEWELRY is woman-owned and founded because of the power a simple piece of jewelry can have on your state of mind, confidence and well-being. The Crescent Moon Necklace is a perfect choice for Mom. The base metal is 925 Sterling Silver and goldplated with a thick 14k yellow gold coating. Available at: https://azurajewelry.com/ Mom, mommy, mama … whatever name you have for your mom, SINCERELY SILVER “MAMA” NECKLACE can be personalized with any endearing word for her. Three styles and metals to choose from mean you can
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find exactly the right style. Each has a simple, minimal design that complements any style. Available at: https://www.sincerelysilver.co/
My favorite products from this year’s guide come from WORLD FINDS jewelry. World Finds accessories are designed in Chicago and hand made in India through a long-term partnership with artisans that creates dignified work and meaningful opportunities. There are so many styles to choose from - with prices that will fit any budget - but the Kantha items are my favorite. The repurposed fabric beads feel handmade with warmth and texture unique to these designs. Don’t miss the Cause Collection and Kantha Collection bracelets - they make perfect gifts for teachers, coworkers and friends. Available at: https://www.worldfinds.com/
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