6 Gift Ideas When Christmas Shopping for Nerds

There are so many types of suggestion lists for gift ideas. For Moms, Dads, Him, Her, Teachers - even for Pets! You know what I don't see enough of? Ideas for Nerds. And the best thing about us, is how easy we can be to gift. Check out some of the best things I have found recently. 

I start with two things we saw at Wal-Mart. Around this time of year is when they start putting out cool things that you have wished for, and you didn't even know it! 

Minecraft Throw 3-piece set: This is an awesome set for any age. Minecraft lovers can curl up on the couch with a small pillow and throw during those lazy winter days. The fold-able cube can be used to store them when not in use or used for something else entirely. Better yet, these are being sold for less than $20! 

Minecraft Builders & Biomes board game: This is awesome! As a family who loves both board games and Minecraft, this is the best of both worlds. I haven't tried it out (yet!), but hope to one day. According to their website it is $25. 

 

Fragrant Jewels bath bombs: I came across an Instagram ad for these and would really love to try them one day. These are more for the lady nerds out there. Maybe I'm alone in this category, but I LOVE surprises. Bath bombs, candles, mystery packs - just can't get enough. Probably the thrill that draws me in. The Dragon Egg bath bomb is what caught my eye. They even have the winter one that looks gorgeous and has white themed stones instead. But after looking a little deeper on their website, I saw several that were pretty cool - nerdy and otherwise! Plus, you can get 15% off with this code - MYGIFT15 at checkout. Or throw in your email address and try for free shipping! There is something fun about the element of surprise. You can get candles or bath bombs, each one comes with a hidden ring inside.

For the cool Moms - Jedi Mom shirts! Etsy is amazing. They have wonderful things you didn't know were possible. For the Star Wars fan moms out there, why not show them how the Force is with them or that they are the Jedi Mom.

Speaking of Etsy, I ordered my husbands amazing Christmas gift from there. I present to you the Portal Inspired bookends by DVAMakerStudios!

Now, let's talk about handmade gifts that are fairly simple. The first one just requires a laminator. Everything else is optional. 

I made each of my kiddos a bookmark a while back. They are super simple, super inexpensive, and bring a level of love that can only come from those who know others well. Stickers, printed designs, hand drawn art - your imagination is your only limit. Think of the bookworm you care about. Who are their heroes? Who do they love to read about? Start with that. Create the bookmark they won't ever want to part with. Then finish it by laminating it. My strongest suggestion would be to make it of cardstock, however. This way it will stay more rigid.

I really want to try this next one - A book clutch! Talk about the perfect night out accessory. I'm a huge fan of books. So having one as a purse, just seems natural.

Well, that is my list. What else can you think of? Any cool Star Trek ideas out there? Gamer themes that rock your nerdy world?

Play Time with Spin Master RC!

I have always loved playing with RC toys. Something about them spinning and rolling without having to move more than my fingers. And I know for a fact that I'm not alone in this. While working a few years back, I had a manager who set a goal. Once it was met, he allowed employees to race 2 RC vehicles through the store (after hours, of course). That was an exciting several hours, looking forward to playing with toy cars! As a Mom, I now have the pleasure of sharing that joy with my kiddos. These toys have evolved in some ways, but are basically the same that I had. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products to showcase in a Tryazon party. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

Spin Master has so much to offer. From board games to toys, we are in love with a lot of the things we have seen from them. Airhogs are just one brand they offer. Monster Jam was a favorite for my siblings and sons. But they have certainly branched out over the years to include some awesome things. 

Airhogs Super Soft Stunt Shot - This one is perfect for my toddler! She wants to play with the big kids, but man, is she rough! With this one, she can't hurt things. However, that being said, the whole family loves this one. It can flip itself back up if it happens to roll to its back. So no worries on getting it stuck. And the power? This little one can truly GO! It is like the new RC cars are on steroids. The stickers that come with it are for the kiddos to decorate it the way they want to.

My daughter lets the truck play with her unicorns.

NinjaBots - I wasn't sure how popular these guys would be. But I am happy to say that we were pleasantly surprised by their action. You program the language, pick their fighting style, and let them battle! They will imitate sounds of being worn out from a long fight and the 'winner' will do a victory song sequence that includes a light show in its eyes. We played them on the table to give them lots of room.

Monster Jam Megalodon Storm - I think this one is a favorite. All terrain wheels, that can go through water, and it has some serious power in its motor. My husband was very impressed by this one. One of the first times we played with it, it actually rolled right over the Airhogs one and kept going as though it was no big thing! 

Extra Info

First off, the trucks themselves charge by USB. We tried plugging them into the computers overnight so that they were ready to roll the next day. But we noticed that this way made for less battery time. So we used our phone wall charger adapter to charge them instead and the battery lasted way longer! (Engineer husband to the rescue!)

We have already seen them on Walmart shelves! So if you are looking for cool toys for Christmas gifts, consider these. You only have about 2 months left to get ready Christmas... 

Remotes for the trucks and the bots themselves take AAA batteries. So far, we haven't had to change them, which means they last long. Great for families! 

Leave me a comment about what you liked most! Did you play with RC cars while growing up?

Bucket List - Dreaming Time Away

During the quarantine around the world, I have had so many moments of saying "One day" and "Eventually" that I feel I could fill an entire book. Sometimes I feel as though I'm unlikely to ever accomplish even a fraction of them. However, the dreamer in me has started my own version of an Adventure Book.I have made a list of all the places I want to go and see, things I want to do! For now, they are just dreams. And there are days when I think to myself, Just like many dreams before - these will go nowhere. But like Ellie, I have also started adding the things we DO accomplish. They aren't daring adventures. They aren't exotic vacations, but these little moments that are so amazing, or just plain funny - I capture them. I'll keep adding. I'll keep dreaming. I won't hold my breath - but hey, who knows, right?? So below, is my Bucket List. Leave me a comment about what you would add or something in common! 

Memorize 5 Bible verses a month

Trip to Japan: Stay in a traditional hotel, buy a traditional kimono,
Universal Studios Super Nintendo World theme park

Trip to Ireland: See a castle and a real pub

Scuba diving

Trip to Italy - Venice!

Ride in a helicopter 

Have at least one wall-to-wall bookshelf filled with books

Take a cruise (Disney Wish)

See the Great Wall in China

Visit Israel (walk where Jesus walked) - Went in March 2022

Stay in the undersea Poseidon Resort

Complete my ASL Interpreter degree

Own a home - Bought in July 2022

Create The Zombie Experience or The Ultimate Nerf Experience

Visit the Grand Canyon

Visit Las Vegas: Cirque Du Soleil, Blue Man Group, Jabbawokeez

Visit Colorado: Cliff Dwellings, Garden of the Gods, Casa Bonita 

Go Indoor Skydiving

Trip to Hawaii

Visit the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Disney Florida and make a lightsaber

Build a snowman and have a snowball fight - January 2021 Snow in Waco!

Visit New York (just the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero and maybe Times Square)

Meet Sir Patrick Stewart

Get a mani/pedi - or just have a spa day...

Pay for a meal entirely with coins (wouldn't they love that with the coin shortage!)

Get a couples massage with my husband

Go to dinner at Medieval Times

Go to another comic con (went to some in San Antonio) 

My cosplay as Sweet Pea from Suckerpunch

Take a trip around Europe to see WW2 sites

Finish creating my dream Steampunk cosplay

My 2 cuff bracelets

Have date night once a month to reconnect with my husband

Watch a sunset over the mountains with my love

Visit Unclaimed Baggage in Alabama

Publish at least one book

Sell at least 10 copies of any book I've published

Lose weight and maintain a 145 lb average

With the FITBar, I Will...

This has a been a crazy year. I don't know about you, but I haven't been as driven to keep up with my personal health goals. Let's face it. I don't have to leave the house often enough. But then... I don't want to just snack on junk food. My health has been declining again. So I need to reapply myself. Get serious. The past couple months, I have been trying to do just that. Which is why I was so excited to try the following product! 

*Disclaimer: I was sent a party pack for the following products in exchange for hosting a party and sharing the samples with my guests as well as submitting reviews. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are mine and my guests.*

Eating Healthy

There are times when I'm snackish, but not really hungry. What to munch down on? Chips aren't usually healthy for you. I avoid anything with artificial colors added. As well as MSG and GMO's.... That narrows down my list pretty tightly as it is. But I also have to have good flavor. Fruits, nuts and vegetables are great - so long as I don't have to put in too much work when I'm busy. Sometimes, however, you just want something a little more. That is where the FITBar comes in! It was created by a chef with a penchant for physical fitness. He wanted to have something that was everything you need in your diet, while tasting good as well. He started quite the product line called FITCrunch. But there were requests coming in that showed other needs. Vegan, dairy free, soy free - dietary restrictions are plentiful these days. I blame a lot of the junk in pre-packaged foods. There are more food allergies now than ever before. Chef Robert Irvine decided it was time to do something about that. To create a culinary masterpiece that was safe for all dietary needs. Okay, maybe I should say 'most' dietary needs. So he came up with the FITBar.

Great beginnings start off small!

There are currently only two flavors available, but hopefully with more to follow! For now, you can choose from Cranberry Vanilla Almond or Peanut Butter Chocolate. They are both made from rolled oats. Plant-based, non GMO, vegan, dairy free, soy free, gluten free, and kosher! He really did his homework on this one. 

Where can I find these products?

So glad you asked! You can find them on Amazon. However, he has other products as well from his previous line. You can get them all HERE on Amazon. His FITCRUNCH protein bars come in flavors I'm dying to try. Like Lemon Pie and Mint Chocolate Chip = MMMMMMM. 

Our opinions

I always face trying protein bars with a sense of trepidation. It can be wonderful! Or it can be terrible. Out of these two flavors, my husband and I (and the toddler) definitely preferred the Peanut Butter Chocolate. We had a taste testing that the toddler wanted to participate in. Her reaction to the Cranberry Vanilla Almond was pretty comical. We both agreed there was a slight aftertaste on that one. Possibly the hemp? I didn't notice it on the Peanut Butter Chocolate ones though. 

At the party I hosted, my guests loved them. The Cranberry Vanilla Almond one was the preferred choice. 

Two of my guests couldn't be at the face-to-face event, so I got their opinions after delivery of the samples.

Matt: I ate two of them in a row. I preferred the cranberry one. Felt they bordered on dry. Could have used some more cranberry in my opinion, and a bit more sweetness, but maybe that's just my sweet tooth talking. Considering the nutritional statistics, the bars were a bit high in fat. I'd like to see less fat than protein for something called a fit bar. This also adds to my perspective of the bars needing to be a bit sweeter - if I'm going to eat something with 12-15 grams of fat, I'd like to thoroughly enjoy it. I agree though, the bars did not taste like a protein supplement - fake sweeteners masking an undesirable protein flavor. For that reason I suppose they gain some favor in my eyes. Good over all. I feel like it really would be a great option for those with restrictions. It makes a lot of sense for that category.

Mel: Luckily I was able to taste the cranberry one before Matt scarfed them down . We liked the ingredients and packaging on both. I really liked the flavor of the Peanut Butter Chocolate one best, even though it had sugar, it wasn't overly sweet. And it didn't have the strange taste that protein bars normally have, that weird sweet flavor. The texture of the cranberry one was better - it was softer where the peanut butter one was a little tough, but overall I liked the PB bar! Also, I REALLY liked that it was a pretty good tasting vegan protein bar that was non GMO. It's normally so difficult to find that combination! I'm on the fence if I would purchase. If I was trying to get fit then this had too much carbs and sugar and I probably would not buy it; if I remember correctly, sugar was the first ingredient. On the other hand, if I wasn't on a fitness plan and was just wanting a convenient snack that I didn't feel too guilty about - I might buy this. It's the same mentality of those "protein cookies" that make you feel ok about eating a cookie because it is filling and has protein. I think ultimately I would buy this. I actually really like Robert Irv and used  to watch his show all the time. I know he has high standards, so his name being on the front kinda sold me as well.

Curious to try your own?

I can offer you a great discount! Get 10% off your first order! Just use the promo code: FITBAR10 at checkout. While writing this, I also noticed on Amazon that they have a $5 off coupon! A case pack of 12 bars is $32.99 with free shipping on there. That is about $2.75 a bar. Not bad if you have ever gone shopping in the grocery store for protein bars. 

Let me know what you think about this in the comments below!