Holiday Gift Guide - Part 1

The first week of October is in the books and it's time to start thinking about holiday shopping. If you haven't already that is. I know I've already started! Get out the pen and paper and have those nearest and dearest to you starting making their lists so you can catch all of the awesome deals already sprouting up! And in the meantime check out some awesome gifting ideas while you're here.

Mother's Day Guide 2022

As I'm sure you've already been thinking about it Mother's Day will be here before we know it. So now's the perfect time to start thinking about how we can show mom (or that mom figure in your life) just how important she is to us. Why not do that with something that shows her just how special she truly is.

Make sure you bookmark this page because I'll be adding lots of great ideas!

Gifts for Mother's Day

With Mother's Day just two months away now is a great time to get those ideas churning in your head when it comes to picking the right gift. Below you'll find lots of great ideas from gifts for moms that like cook, work out, relax, and more!

Less than 3 Weeks Till Valentine's Day!

Your sweetheart deserves nothing less than a special delivery like “My Crumby Valentine” from Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake Company. This limited edition heart-shaped chocolate cake comes with marshmallow cream, cherry preserves and chocolate crumbs piled high!  It’s a classic treat with a modern twist---  delivered directly to your loved one’s door.

Gift Ideas For Valentine's Day

Girls Night? Couples Night In? FlowerFix DIY Flower Classes are a fun way to gather and design a fresh flower arrangement sure to brighten any space! Each kit is complete with all flowers and supplies needed to create your own flower masterpiece. Just pick your favorite DIY Flower Kit, place your order, and watch your email for the pre-recorded class link that will take you step by step through the design process with our in-house floral designer. With our DIY flowers, you can "whip up" a beautiful flower arrangement right from the comfort of your own home.

The Countdown to Christmas is ON!

Now that Thanksgiving is past and November is basically over Christmas will be here before we know it. And that means if you haven't gotten your Christmas shopping done now is the time to get it finished (or started for some).

Holiday Shopping for the Family

Looking for ideas that aren't your typical "big box store" ideas? Then you've come to the right place because I have lots of great ideas for the whole family. From mom and dad, to sister and brother, all the way to your furry best friend!

Great Holiday Gift Ideas for all!

One of the gifts topping the list this year of those who like to spend time outdoors is The Fishing Caddy. COVID closures may have put a damper on many forms of entertainment that people typically engage in, but it hasn’t kept people from going fishing. In fact, with it being an activity that people can do and easily socially distance, the number of people heading out to fish around the nation has increased during the pandemic. The Fishing Caddy, which ranges in price from $69.95 to $129, was expertly designed for all types of fishing, and can be used by anglers of all ages.

More great holiday gifts!

Puro Sound Labs takes great pride in their products, from their classic and original BT2200 Top Rated Volume Limited Headphones for kids to their newest model, PuroPro Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Volume Limited Headphones for Adults. Shown above is their PuroQuiets Active Noise Cancelling Headphones with Built-in Mic. Check them all out at Puro Sound Labs.

Holiday Gifts for one and ALL

 
Ready for another round of hot ideas for holiday gifting? Then you've come to the right place, because I have lots of great ideas for you to explore!

More great gift ideas for Mother's Day

Ready for another round of great ideas for mom this coming Mother's Day? Then you've come to the right place because I have some more great ideas in store for you!

Great Gifts for Moms & Dads

When it comes to gift giving for Mother's & Father's Day sometimes that perfect gift is hard to find. I mean lets be honest most moms and dads have all of the basic everyday necessities. And the older our parents are the more "extras" they've picked up through the years leaving us with the task of having to try even harder to find that special gift. So I've come to you today with some unique ideas that are perfect for moms and dads that are sure to please!

I know, I know. You're already thinking what's so unique about giving mom/dad a vacuum as a gift? Well give me a moment and I will tell you. This isn't just your ordinary cordless vacuum. It's the Dyson V7 Car+Boat vacuum and it's rated "The Best Cordless Hand Vacuum" from Hammacher Schlemmer.  As both a multi-car and boat owner I think it's pretty stinking awesome. This thing actually has really good suction power AND it comes with extra tools specifically crafted for those hard to reach places a standard vacuum doesn't have. I for one am in love with this thing and all of the various attachments that came with it. Now I can finally clean out my car without having to play acrobat trying to reach everywhere. Every mom's dream come true. ❤

Are you ready for spring? It's coming soon!

Spring is so close I can almost taste it! Okay maybe not taste spring exactly, but things that go along with spring like grilling on the patio. The birds have already started to make their way back and are chirping and we are supposed to have temps hit the 60's this week here in Indiana. So this girl will be going into full spring mode in no time! And that means lots of cooking, cleaning, and getting outdoors for this family!

What Is This Month's Theme For Groovy Lab in a Box?

The March Groovy Lab in a Box is "For the Birds".....Literally!

For The Birds: Engineering Design Challenge - A Lesson in Habitats: You are a Bird Feeder Engineer and want to invent a groovy bird feeder design that’s never been seen before. Can you design and build a bird feeder that meets the survival needs of local birds using up-cycled materials?

Emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).

Extended learning through our exclusive online portal.

For children ages 8 and up.

As always, the "For The Birds" box will have a groovy Lab Notebook where your kids can read about the investigations and Engineering Design Challenge. Plus, all subscribers get access to the Beyond...in a Box web portal for additional groovy learning and STEM fun.

Be sure to start your subscription today so you can receive your "For The Birds" box before the end of March.

The links in this blog post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on these links, I will receive a small commission from Groovy Lab in a Box.

Fun and unique subscription boxes

Have you been looking for a subscription box to try out, but don't want to pick one of the standard food or pet subscription boxes that everyone else is already getting? Then let me tell you about two that I recently got that are both fun and unique. They are both the first of their kind that I've every seen!

The first one is called the OnTrend Box. The aim of the box is to solve a different problem every month for those working moms out there. I received the Correspondence Kit which was their November box and it was packed full of great stuff!  It included 2 birthday cards, 1 congratulations card, 1 sympathy card, 5 thank you notes, a trendy black ink pen, 4 forever stamps and a leatherette document folio to keep it all together. How many times have you thought about picking up a card while at the store, but didn't remember until you got back home? I know I've done it myself more than once. This handy kit now has me equipped with everything I need from the card all the way to the stamp to mail it! It may not seem like anything super fancy or complicated, but let's be honest when you're a busy mom every little bit of help counts. Plus with the handy document folio to store everything in I have it all together and ready for the next time I need it.

Each OnTrend Box includes 4- 6 relevant and unique products every month.....like a correspondence kit, monthly paper organizer, and check it off planner and password organizer. These products are all chosen for their ability to help resolve a problem, keep us busy moms organized and prepared and provide us with great ideas and tips to simplify our busy lives.

Take $5 off your first box with the code "ontrend5".

The other unique box I received is called TRANSFORMOTION™ in a Box. It contains several great products inside to help "transform" your way of thinking through motion. It even comes complete with a customized workbook to go along with the products included. The box I received was called the "Shake it up" edition. And it was filled with exercises designed to help get people out of their comfort zone and into something hot! I really enjoyed the exercise and they honestly got my brain churning. It was a nice break from the every day grind and even gave me things I can do over and over again.

TRANSFORMOTION™ in a Box focuses on helping entrepreneurs and C-suite execs better develop their creative problem solving and innovation skills through a specialized array of hand picked products. Each product helps train your brain to think differently and uses exercises to apply directly to business challenges such as: a need to pivot, product launch, employee engagement or other various other problems that need a new approach. Many of the exercises can even be related to every day life. This box isn't just for high level execs - it's for anyone with a brain!

What’s inside?
• Each box is multi-sensory and includes our specially-developed workbook
• A playlist
• Food or drink
• Tactile elements
• A book we recommend
• 5-8 specially curated items in each box

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Gifts from and for the Kitchen

When you come to our house you will immediately realize we love cats. Besides having five of them running around between the house and yard we also have many cat themed decor items too. And thanks to CatLadyBox we have some new fun things for the kitchen! The CatLadyBox is a box of..you guessed it…all things cat! Each month you get a box full of cat-themed surprises. Now that’s what I’m talking about! There are two different boxes to choose from; the CatLadyBox or the CRAZY CatLadyBox. What’s the difference you ask? They both come with fun cat-themed gifts for you – the cat lady. The difference is the CRAZY CatLadyBox also has stuff in it not just for you, but also for your cat. And honestly would a Crazy Cat Lady have it any other way?

If you receive something you're super in love with you can also shop their past boxes and purchase items individually while supplies last too! I love this section because I can shop for individual items to compliment my box or as individual gifts!

Of course another way you'll know you're in my house in the colder months is by the smell of a fresh pot of coffee. I brew at least a pot of coffee every day, sometimes more in my Capresso Coffee Pot. My husband takes a whole pot to work every day so there's one. And my son also takes coffee to work sometimes so that can be two. The thing I really like about this pot is the programming feature. I can set it to brew and be ready to go when he's up and ready for work. It gives him the nice aroma of coffee to wake up to and it's fresh! Plus with it's 12-cup capacity it fills his Thermos just right.

Of course if you're a coffee drinker you know a good Stainless Steel Tumbler like this one from Zoku is a must. With this tumbler cold beverages stay that way for up to 24 hours. And hot beverages do not lose steam, maintaining heat for up to 6 hours. It has both a drink-thru opening as well as one you can insert a straw in which I really love for my cold iced tea. Now if you ask me that's something to be excited about!

If you're not planning to drink your beverage right away you might prefer the 18oz Stainless Steel bottle from Zoku instead. With vacuum insulated construction, beverages stay cold for up to 40 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. Now that's an even longer time! This bottle would be great to use if you want to take a second drink with you and not worry about it spilling since it has a screw on lid. My son likes to use it to keep in his truck when he's working so it's there when he needs it. He's not as big a coffee drinker as my husband so he doesn't require an entire pot a day.

And just for a little added fun these Naughty Or Nice Ice Molds also from Zoku would be a great stocking stuffer for anyone on your list that likes to drink cold beverages. Each mold makes four naughty and four nice ice cubes.

Speaking of cold beverages and ice how about using that Naughty or Nice Ice in these super cool looking glasses from Coleman. New this year the Claret Insulated Stainless Steel Wine Glass and Sundowner Insulated Stainless Steel Rocks Glass with Slidable Lid from Coleman are sure to be a hit. Both feature padded bottoms for no clanking or slippage when sitting your glass down. The no sweat design keeps your hands dry and your beverages colder alot longer than traditional glasses. Available in the traditional Coleman green or other stunning colors these are sure to be a win with guys and gals alike!

If you've never cooked using a ceramic pan I would definitely recommend trying it. Ceramic pans like this Ceramic Earth Frying Pan from Ozeri utilize a 4-ply ceramic coating that is hardened to perfection for scratch resistance, long-lasting performance and non-stick perfection. Not to mention they are oven safe to 260 C / 500 F, with a comfortable heat-resistant under-coated handle. I've been using this one to cook our eggs in the morning for breakfast and I love that they just slide off onto the plate when finished every time. And I'm not left scraping food off the edges when I'm done either!

Still a hit for the holidays - the Instant Pot! The Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is available in three sizes making it the perfect gift for families of all sizes. If you've not gotten on the Instant Pot bandwagon I hereby invite you to join. It's a great way to quickly and efficiently cook an entire meal in no time at all. Hence the name Instant Pot. Once you've tried one you'll never go back to using your tired ole slow cooker. The Instant Pot really does spoil a person let me tell you. Being able to cook an entire meal in a matter of minutes instead of sometimes hours is a blessing on those busy days. And with Amazon's super fast shipping you still have plenty of time to shop, and send one to everyone on your holiday list!

If you're planning to host some guests this holiday season this Slate Serving Board from Frieling would be a great addition. At 11" in diameter it's the perfect size for serving up meat, cheese, and crackers - or other treats for your guests. It's made from slate so it's nice and heavy duty, plus it will look better on your counter than an old platter too!

The Coffee Cookie is a compact device that keeps to-go coffee hot. If you've ever had your Starbucks get cold before you got to the bottom of the cup than this gift is for you! Basically it's a rechargeable warmer for your to-go cups. You charge up Coffee Cookie at home, then drop it in your purse/pocket/ect. and take it on the go with you. Then when your beverage is at that perfect drinking temperature you attach Coffee Cookie to the bottom of the cup and keep it that temperature until you're all done. Now your last sip can be as refreshing as your first!

Since I'm not a big time coffee drinker like the boys I prefer to use my new BruHub from NuWave. Unlike your typical coffee pot this baby is a 3-in-1 machine. You can use it to brew a half or whole pot of coffee (8 cups), brew 8 or 12oz single cups of coffee (or other flavored beverage K-cups), or just provide you with the perfect temperature of hot water for things like hot tea or cocoa. The part I really like is that it has options for how strong you want your coffee (regular, bold or iced). This is great for me because I enjoy iced coffee and the BruHub knows just how to make it the right strength so it doesn't get watered down after your ice starts to melt. There's nothing worse than watered down iced coffee let me tell you. Another nice feature is that it's so simple to use even my daughter that's 12 can use it to make herself a flavored beverage or hot water for her cocoa without any help. I love it so much I make sure it's always filled with plenty of water so it's ready to use all the time.

DiamoTech has a line of pans anyone that loves to cook would appreciate. They believe in their product so much they call their pans "The Last Pan You Will Ever Need to Own!". With enforced aluminum for uniform heat distribution their pans can go from stove-top to oven (up to 500°) all while the handle stays cool to the touch. It's scratch and abrasive resistant and features a non-stick ceramic coating infused with Diamotech. The remarkable hardness of Diamonds infused in the ceramic layer forms virtually the strongest, most durable and longer lasting, ultra non-stick cookware surface.

And while we are talking about things for the kitchen a new anti-fatigue mat is something any cook will love. SmartCells Anti-fatigue SlimLine mats feature a low profile ⅜" height and a stylish basket weave surface. The optimized design of SmartCells SlimLine mats offer a stable surface over cylindrical cells which become softer under impact and resist bottoming out, this creates the perfect balance for maximum comfort while standing in a kitchen. The SmartCells are spring-like, in that they cushion as weight is applied, then rebound when the weight shifts, which returns energy and reduces fatigue. In addition to the unique cushioning technology, thanks to their rubber-based construction, SmartCells SlimLine mats will not absorb liquid and are easy to clean.

I received my mats just before Christmas and immediately switched them out with my old thicker mat (shown at the right corner of the photo). At first I had high doubts these thin mats would be better than my thick cushy mat. But boy was I wrong. They are honestly AMAZING. They don't squish down under your feet like the thicker ones, but you can feel it when you stand on them. I spent countless hours prepping food and doing dishes standing on them and my feet never ached. I am in love! They come in three different colors; gray, light brown, and black. I would personally recommended the gray over the black because even after much use it still looks nice. The black shows dirt very easily and would need to be cleaned often if you wanted it to stay dark black. Of course if you don't wear shoes in your kitchen any of the colors would be fine. At my house the guys wear their boots where ever they go so keeping up with their dirt tracking is near impossible unless I mop daily. No matter which you choose you will definitely be happy with this investment!

And for those holiday leftovers reach into the cabinet and grab your SmellyProof Storage bags. Smelly Proof Storage Bags are designed to create an “ecosystem” that blocks vapors & oxygen from entering or exiting the nylon reinforced FDA Approved Poly. Smelly Proof bags, whether the smallest to largest come with a double-track zipper ensuring the tightest seal possible. Smelly Proof bags also have “tear notches” to be used with most all heat and vacuum sealers for freezing foods safely up to 6 months without freezer burn. Perfect for saving those last slices of holiday ham for enjoying at a later time!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Snacks & Food Gifts Galore!

One of my favorite things to give, and receive when it comes to food is a basket full of goodies. Take for instance this Deluxe Gourmet Meat & Cheese Sampler from GourmetGiftBaskets.com. It's jam packed full of cheese, meats and crackers that are perfect for holiday snacking. I for one love gifts like this because it's something the whole family can enjoy. I mean let's be honest what gift is better than one you can indulge in for the holidays?

This deluxe gourmet meat and cheese sampler features a carefully selected assortment of artisan meats, cheeses and crackers. From all beef summer sausage, to slow smoked pepperoni, to four types of gourmet cheese, this is the perfect gift to send for any occasion. Your recipients will have fun pairing the different meats and cheeses with the hearty wheat crackers and sun dried tomatoes!

If I were to receive this awesome assortment of products from People's Choice Beef Jerky under my tree this year I would be over the moon with excitement. If you ask me there's nothing better than a box of beef jerky. It's actually been one of my favorite snacks since going low carb. Beef jerky comes in so many different flavor varieties it's a snack I never get tired of enjoying. And the people over at People's Choice Beef Jerky know exactly what they are doing with their awesome line of flavor combinations. From original to sweet to spicy they have something every jerky lover will enjoy. Not to mention the quality of their meat cuts is one of the best I've ever tried. The jerky isn't all dried out and tough to chew, it's like enjoying your favorite cut of meat jerky style! You can purchase their beef jerky and beef sticks individually by flavor or you can get one of their beef jerky assortment boxes and try several different ones.

Speaking of snack lovers. If you have one (or are one) then you'll love the offerings over at Mrs. Renfro's. They have a vast assortment to choose from of salsa, relish, peppers, cheese and barbecue sauces that will fit everyone's taste buds. From the meek and mild (like myself) to the burn your tongue off crazies (like my husband) they have it all. I've been a fan of their products since I tried them about a year ago and so has my husband. He's addicted to their ghost pepper products. And now that they carry a salsa made with Carolina Reapers he's even more in love. His motto is "the hotter the better" when it comes to condiments. And Mrs. Renfro's products with hot peppers doesn't disappoint. But don't worry they do have a large selection for the rest of us out there that can't handle the heat!

A good cup of coffee is another must have in our house. I know my day doesn't start off right if I don't have my morning cup-o-joe. And now my mornings are even better since I'm enjoying a cup of Wakey Wakey coffee from Perky Perky in my new "A Little Coffee and Whole Lot of Jesus" mug.  Available in light, medium, and dark roasts in your choice of ground or whole bean varieties. Perky Perky aims to please everyone and let me tell you I was sure pleased from my first cup. If you have a coffee lover on your list you can send them a bag or two or coffee and a mug to go along with it for the perfect gift!

Speaking of things we love...BACON! If you don't love bacon then honestly I think there may be something wrong with you. I'm just kidding, but honestly I don't see how anyone can not enjoy the taste of fresh cooked bacon. Over at Bacon Freak they know there are people like us all over the world and are ready to fulfill our needs for all things bacon, and bacon flavored. The box they sent me was filled with both of those things I have to say we were in bacon heaven. Not only did we have fresh cooked bacon for breakfast we also had bacon flavored coffee and pancakes to go with it! Be sure to check out the Bacon Freak website to see all of their tasty offerings and packages.

If bacon isn't your thing than maybe chocolate is. And if that's the case the Chocolate Pizza Company has you covered! From their signature Chocolate Pizzas to their super tasty Peanut Butter Wings you'll find everything your chocolate loving heart desires. Their Chocolate Pizzas are just like the real thing (except in chocolate and candy form). You can get them plain, or have them topped with lots of extra goodies. The best part (if you ask me) is the "crust" that's made from chocolate blended with homemade English toffee. Oh man is it scrumptious. Their Peanut Butter wings (rippled potato chips covered in creamy peanut butter and drenched in rich chocolate) on the side finish it off just perfectly. This is a combination any chocolate loving recipient will LOVE finding under their tree this year!

One of my all time favorite snacks is cheese. It's one of those foods I can eat in something, on something, or just plain by itself and be happy. Cheese can make a great snack for those evenings you have family and friends over, or it can make a really nice gift when packaged up in a gift box like this one. This gift box features four outstanding Crave Brothers Cheeses: two Farmer’s Rope String Cheese (1.5 pounds), 2 containers of Mascarpone (1 pound), Marinated Fresh Mozzarella (.5 pound) and Cheddar Cheese Curds (.75 pound) all for under $25. Now that's a gift to get excited about!

Speaking of cheese have you heard of Whisps? I hadn't either until a couple months ago when I started eating a low carb diet. Whisps are an airy, crispy, crunchy, and tasty snack made solely from one ingredient: 100% true cheese! It's like a chip/cracker for those of us that no longer choose to eat chips and crackers. And let me tell you they are pretty darn amazing. Pair them up with some low carb dip and honestly they are even better than crackers or chips. Of course you don't even need anything to dip them in because they come in a nice assortment of flavor combinations that make them great right out of the bag. I'm really digging the Bacon BBQ ones myself, they are pretty tasty alone. You can even use them in recipes in place of breading or croutons on a salad. Great for those low carb house guests like myself. :-)

Speaking of low carb friendly snacks these Big John's Snack Sticks from Circle Branch are amazing Not only are they made with 100% pasture raised pork they contain no high fructose corn syrup, sodium Eerythorbate or nitrites. Plus the contain five grams of protein. Simple ingredients that deliver a great tasted in every bite. They are available in three flavors: Big John’s Nitrite Free Bacon Snack Stick, Big John’s Nitrite Free Bacon Jalapeno Snack Stick, and Big John’s Nitrite Free Hawaiian Style Snack Stick.

Looking for a quick snack to have on hand? Or maybe something you can drop in the kiddos stockings to make them smile? Loacker Minis are perfect for both. They will win you over with their three delicious layers of tenderly melting cream filling and four light, crispy wafers! Whether you choose hazelnut, cocoa and chocolate or vanilla cream filling - these small delicacies are always at hand when you feel like a snack. Loacker Minis are the bite-sized version of Italy’s #1 wafer. All ingredients are 100% natural and sustainably sourced directly from the Italian Alps.

For the person on your list that's always saying "the hotter the better" boy do I have the perfect gift for them. Stamped with the Mad Dog 357 logo, attached to a key chain, and sold with twenty refills, Mad Dog 357 Pain on a Chain is a convenient, discreet alternative to bulky bottles of sauce. Mad Dog 357 Pain on a Chain is available in three varieties, Reaper Edition, made from the world's hottest Carolina Reapers, Ghost Edition - a close second, and No Escape - a mix of super-hot peppers and proprietary encapsulated capsicum powder, is the world's hottest pepper blend. My husband is one of those that says "the hotter the better" and let me tell you he was super excited when I presented him with this set of spices. He couldn't get them open fast enough to fill up the keychain vials and test them all out. Had I given them to him for Christmas they probably would have been his favorite gift he liked them so much!

For holiday snacking or gifting to all those nut lovers out there WataNUT has you covered! Their gourmet nut mixes and shortbread cookies are created from scratch from the finest ingredients, baked fresh daily, and packed by hand. At Watanut, they believe that gift giving should come from the heart. Each customizable order is elegantly wrapped in gift boxes, baskets or tins. Ranging from $15.95 to $149.95, these gift-ready holiday treats are perfect for friends, coworkers, party hostesses and the hard to buy for on your holiday shopping list.

With Somers Family MustKetch you don’t have to choose between mustard and ketchup – you can have both! But MustKetch is more than just mustard and ketchup - it's a whole new kind of condiment. Using a unique blend of natural ingredients in each flavor, MustKetch is extra cravable. You can enjoy all of the yummy goodness without any of the artificial ingredients. And even as someone that's definitely NOT a fan of mustard these are actually pretty good!

Available in three flavors: Original (mustard, ketchup and a little something extra), Zesty (like Original but with a little extra zip), and Smoke (Smoky with spicy, peppery undertones).

These delightfully tasty treats are all from Indie Goodz. Indie Goodz is an online marketplace where consumers can easily shop independent, local products from anywhere in the United States in one convenient location. I've always been a fan of supporting small businesses so it's really nice to find a place I can do that all on one website. They have lots of great gifts to choose from too. At Indie Goodz you can find everything from personal care and jewelry items to food, drink, clothing, hobbies, pets and more. And you can add it all to the same shopping cart so you don't have to check out once! And after you're done shopping not only are you getting some pretty awesome products you're also helping out small business owners at the same time! To me that's what holiday shopping is all about, giving and helping others. Of course the consuming of the the yummy treats is pretty darn good too!

It's time to get creative with Smart Art Box #SmartArtBox

Did you ever think you could make a beautiful work of art in six simple steps? Well with a Smart Art subscription box you can! I've never been one to claim I'm any kind of Picasso. Heck I won't even go as far as to say I'm really artistic. But I do like to have fun and I'm always up for trying something new. And that's exactly what Smart Art has to offer. Each month they put together a box of high quality art materials along with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the project of the month. Then from there it's all up to you to see what you are capable of. And the best part is it's all from the comfort of your own home. No worrying about being in a classroom with other people that might be 100 times better than you. Just you and the four walls that surround you. Now that's my kind of classroom!

Boxes ship the first of the month and include everything you need to complete the art project for the month. Just by simply following the included step-by-step instructions. You can subscribe for one month at a time or a longer term to save some moolah. They even have some previous subscription boxes available for individual sale. But I wouldn't recommend waiting to see what the box is for the month because there's no guarantee there will be extra boxes after the initial shipment goes out on the first. As long as you subscribe before the first day of each month you will receive the subscription box for the upcoming month. But if you just so happen to subscribe on the first (or after) you'll have to wait a whole month for your first box to arrive. And trust me you don't want to wait that long. The boxes are jam packed with awesome art supplies that you don't want to miss out on. Many times you'll even have leftover supplies after you're finished with the main project for the month as an added bonus.

Want to give it a try? Check them out today here https://smartartbox.com/products/get-on-board. And make sure you sign up for their newsletter at the bottom of the page to save $5!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation and/or product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

The Perfect Gift for Dads who LOVE to fish

If you really want to surprise that special dad (husband, grandpa, etc) in your life this year, give him the gift of fishing all year with the #1 fishing subscription box in America - Lucky Tackle Box!

I received the Multi-Species XL Box and just like the box I got last time it was packed with some awesome fishing gear. I'm not as big into fishing as my husband so I can't tell you near as much about fishing gear, but what I can tell you about is the look on his face when he opened this box. One piece at a time he pulled out each thing and told me all about it. I'm not quite sure I remember all the details, but there sure were alot! He just kept getting more and more excited as he pulled out different lures and baits and talked about what types of fish he could catch with them this summer when he goes fishing with our son. I guess that means he liked the box!

Multi-Species XL Box:
You're the angler that just loves fishing no matter the species. You don't care if you're catching bass, bluegills, crappies, panfish, trout or whatever for that matter. This box gives you a little of everything. We remove all of the marketing material that we normally put in our other boxes, so that we can pack this box with just 1 thing... as many baits as possible.

Here’s a little bit about Lucky Tackle Box and why it's a PERFECT GIFT for dad:

• Lucky Tackle Box ships once a month, with each box packed full of some of the top fishing lures, tackle and accessories in the industry.
• LTB is all about education, so we create multiple, unique YouTube instructional videos and “how-to” articles each month to help subscribers learn about our products and become better fisherman.
• LTB has 10 different boxes for species ranging from Bass to Walleye, Trout to Fly Fishing.
Fantastic gift for dad’s to take the family out into nature together or the dad who just loves to fish, wants to improve his skills and try new products.
• Subscription plans are set up for 1-month, 3-month, 6-month or 12-month durations.
• Many top brands in the fishing industry launch their newest products in the LTB boxes each month and the retail value of the products ALWAYS exceed the cost of the subscription.

Save $5 now on your very own Lucky Tackle box by following this special link today!

Connect with Lucky Tackle Box: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation and/or product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Finders Seekers

Do you like search and find games? How about mystery and challenge? And what about subscription boxes? If you said yes to any (or all) of these questions then you'll definitely want to check out Finders Seekers. It's a combination of all of the above and more. A few months ago we actually went to one of the Escape Room places and really enjoyed it. Of course going isn't cheap for a family of four. And if you don't have enough people in your party they pair you with other people that can end up making your adventure not as fun. I'm sure that's not always the case, but for us the other family we partnered with was experienced at Escape Rooms so they wanted to take over everything leaving us standing off to the side alot. Thankfully we were introduced to the Finders Seekers subscription box. It's like having your own Escape Room right at home.

Inside your monthly box you'll find everything you need to make your way through the clues to solve the mission. Content varies, but each month there are abundant cryptic clues and puzzles to get your heart racing and brain ticking. You'll transport to a unique locale for each 'Find' where you'll uncover underground cultures and explore local traditions. You'll need to rely on good 'ole fashioned research and online tools to make your way to the 'Find.' At the conclusion of each 'Find' you'll be asked for your contact information so you can be entered to win a prize. But don't worry, there's even a way to enter the sweepstakes for those who don't have what it takes to complete a 'Find.' So no matter what everyone has an equal opportunity to win.

The part I really like is that you can use the box over and over, and you don't have to do it all at once. So if you only have an hour or two it's okay to start the mission. We are still working on ours because we agreed to only get it out when all four of us are home. Which with my husbands work schedule is only on the weekends. I guess it works out though because it gives us something to look forward to each weekend.

About:
Finders Seekers delivers a thrilling chase to subscribers each month, filled with puzzles and mysteries. Think: 'escape room' meets National Treasure. Each month, the ‘Find’ visits a new city where you must make your way through a series of clues, solving codes and exploring local history and attractions.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation and/or product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.