Great Christmas Gift Series: Let’s Talk Legos

 

Welcome to DealDash’s “Great Christmas Gifts.” series –  If you’re a person who struggles every year trying to think of gifts to get your family and friends, this series is for YOU!

 

Up until now we have mostly been talking about great Christmas gift ideas for older teens and adults. However, as everyone knows, the people who tend to get the most enjoyment out of Christmas is kids! Especially younger kids. In face, there are some grouchy people out there (Looking at you, Hubby!!) that think that Christmas gifts are JUST for kids!! Well, I don’t believe that, but I do think that shopping for kids can really be the most fun experience of the year, along with watching them open their presents on Christmas morning.

                                                                     1988

The first gift that I would like to highlight is really good for most ages of kids, as long as they are past the “putting things in their mouth” toddler stage – Legos! Every single kid that I have ever had the fun of interacting with loves Legos. When I was a kid back in the dark ages of the 1980s there really wasn’t a lot of Lego variety. They were mostly primary colors, and while they were unisex they were mostly marketed at little boys., though there were definitely some cool space sets that both genders could enjoy. Well, times have changed! Now there are Legos of every color, and so many different sets that encompass so many different interests of boys, girls, and both!

LEGO Disney Princess Cinderella's Dream Carriage Building Set

For example, above there is a picture of a great Lego set that was specifically targeted at girls that’s subject is Cinderella. It’s great for girls 6+, however my daughter has similar Lego sets that she absolutely loves and she’s only 4. Like I said, as long as kids are past the “chokables” stage of life, Lego is good for all ages. This Cinderella set is available for bidding at DealDash, check this link here.

There are also Lego sets for super hero fans, such as this Hulk or Spiderman set, both available on DealDash at this link here.

LEGO Super Heroes Hulk Lab Smash Play SetLEGO Super Heroes Spider-Helicopter Rescue Play Set

There are also many other Lego sets that come up on DealDash, just click this link here and you will be taken to all of the current and upcoming Lego products that DealDash offers, including video games as well as character sets.

I hope that you enjoyed reading about Lego sets, and if you’re interested in bidding on anything Lego, or if you have another type of toy in mind check out the Hobbies, Toys, Outdoors, and Games section on DealDash. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

 

 

 

Great Christmas Gift Series: Shopping for Crafters

 

Welcome to DealDash’s “Great Christmas Gifts.” series –  If you’re a person who struggles every year trying to think of gifts to get your family and friends, this series is for YOU!

Today we will be talking about crafters. For the uninformed, a crafter is someone who does any sort of craft, including sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, crochet, papercrafting, or even newer types of crafting such as using a 3-D printer. Think about the people in your life such as your wife, mother, daughter, Grandmother, or even your husband, brother, or friend. Do any of these people talk about the crafty side of life? If so, I have some great suggestions of what you might want to get them for Christmas.

Knitting Machine Set for Kids

If you’re trying to think about what to get a crafty child you might want to think about getting them a knitting machine. Knitting machines are very cool, you can produce a knit item very quickly without too much effort involved. Basically, you thread the yarn (which is included with the particular machine that is up for auction on DealDash) through a circle of hooks, turn the crank, and knit material is produced! It’s super easy to make a scarf, and when you get more comfortable with the machine you can even make hats and sweaters! If you’d like to check out the knitting machine for kids (age 6+) on DealDash check out this link.

Singer Electronic 100-Stitch Stylist Sewing MachineBrother SE400 Computerized Embroidery and Sewing Machine

If you’re looking for a present for an older crafter, say age 13+, you really can’t go wrong with a sewing machine! Even crafters who are more into knitting or scrapbooking could probably still use a sewing machine. For example, they might need to sew together pieces of knit fiber or even sew together paper for making scrapbook layouts. Sewing machines are awesome! Some non-crafters might say that I’m nuts, but I have no less than 3 sewing machines set up at one time, sometimes even more. If you are looking for something even more advanced than a regular sewing machine you might look into embroidery machine. An embroidery machine can be extremely useful if the person you are giving a gift to enjoys quilting or making personalized items. You can find both regular sewing machine and embroidery machines on DealDash at this link.

Brother ScanNCut Home and Hobby Cutting Machine

The last item that I am going to suggest for the crafty person in your life is a cutting machine. There are a few different brands of this type of machine, but they all do very similar things. These cutting machines can do a lot of different things, they of course can cut paper to make scrapbooking layouts, but they can do so much more! They can cut out stencils, vinyl stickers, t-shirt transfers, and even fabric. It’s very easy to design a project and cut it out in one sitting, it’s great for people who like instant gratification. These machines tend to be rather expensive, so my advice would be to check them out on DealDash. You can find one at this link here.

 

Thanks for reading, and I hope that I gave you some good ideas that you can put into practice for your holiday shopping. As a crafter myself, I would be overjoyed to receive any of these gifts for Christmas this year. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

 

 

Great Christmas Gift Series: Sports Equipment

 

Welcome to DealDash’s “Great Christmas Gifts.” series –  If you’re a person who struggles every year trying to think of gifts to get your family and friends, this series is for YOU!

If you’re wondering what to get your kids, husband, sibling, or other active person in your life this year for Christmas I would recommend sports equipment. There are so many sports and activities out there that there is something to please just about anyone, except perhaps hardcore couch potatoes like myself. Even though I am not a sports nut myself my kids and fiance certainly are. Which brings me to another great point – when you get someone in your family sports equipment for a Christmas gift it’s like getting the whole family a gift.

What’s better than getting your kids new bikes for Christmas and making them smile? Bike rides together with the whole family. What’s better than making your husband happy with a new basketball goal for the driveway? A family game of basketball after dinner. So you see, getting someone sports equipment is not only fun for them, it almost like an invitation to spend more time together. And really, what’s better than that?

If you’re wondering what sort of sports equipment they have available on DealDash I’ll give you a brief overview, all of the underlined equipment are clickable links to check out the item on DealDash.

  • Indoor basketball hoop – This is a great item for the family to use during the winter time when it’s too cold outside but you feel the need for a little exercise.

Medal Sports 2-Player Basketball Game with 8-in-1 Game

 

 

  • Outdoor basketball hoop – Perfect for older kids and adults in the nice weather. Provides a great workout and is really fun, too.

 

Lifetime 44-Inch Court Height-Adjustable Basketball Hoop

Bikes for the whole family – Bike riding is great exercise, good for saving gas if there’s anywhere close you can ride to instead of drive, and also a lot of fun.

 

29-Inch Huffy Bantam Men's Mountain Bike

Table Tennis/Ping Pong – Even though I’m not very athletic myself, I love ping pong! It’s good for kids and adults, even senior citizens can get in on the fun as long as they are able to stand for short time periods.

Sportspower Conversion Top Table Tennis

 

If you’re interested in indoor or outdoor basketball hoops, bikes for the family, or table tennis be sure to visit their links above. DealDash also carries many other types of sports equipment such as basketballs, baseball mitts, outdoor tennis nets, tennis balls, and even sporting goods store gift cards. If you’re interested in bidding on anything sporty, check out the Hobbies, Toys, Outdoors, and Games section on DealDash. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

 

 

Great Christmas Gift Series: Dyson Vacuum Cleaner

Welcome to DealDash’s “Great Christmas Gifts.” series –  If you’re a person who struggles every year trying to think of gifts to get your family and friends, this series is for YOU!

 

If you’re wondering what to get your wife, mother, or even grandmother this year for Christmas I would recommend a Dyson vacuum, from personal experience. Dyson vacuums are some of the most awesomely powerful vacuums out there, and they can cut your housework time in half!

You might be thinking “My wife would kill me if I gave her a vacuum for a Christmas present!” I wholeheartedly disagree, as the recipient of a Dyson Vacuum for my Christmas gift last year, it made me extremely happy. Not only is the Dyson vacuum a great workhorse that sames me time it’s also a beautiful purple and silver color. You might not think that the color of a household chore machine might matter, but I know that I am just a little bit happier when I use my purple Dyson than any other boring black vacuum that I have owned before.

The actual Dyson company was started in 1993, but you might be surprised to know that James Dyson has been working on his vacuum designs since 1979! James Dyson’s vacuums were so well received that by 2009, Dyson began creating other air-powered technologies, such as the AirBlade hand drier (my favorite hand dryer, the only one that ever actually DRIES my hands), the Air Multiplier bladeless fan and Dyson Hot, the bladeless fan heater.

Since I think that a Dyson vacuum would be a great gift for just about anyone who cleans their house on a regular basis, you might be interested to know that there are a few different kinds of Dyson vacuums, and luckily for you they available pretty frequently on DealDash.

Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Upright Vacuum

The Dyson vacuum that I am most familiar with is the Dyson DC41 Animal. The DC41 Animal is a Dyson Ball upright vacuum cleaner for all-around dirt and pet hair removal. The machine’s cleaner head has an active base plate, which self-adjusts automatically for optimal contact with all floor types. Which means that I can vacuum my hardwood floor kitchen and then transition to the family room which has a huge rug covering almost all of the floor without stopping to adjust the pile setting like on a regular vacuum since the cleaner head adjusts automatically.

Dyson V6 Slim Cordless Vacuum

The other popular Dyson model that I have some experience with is the Dyson V6 Cordless vacuum. The Dyson V6 cordless vacuum gives you Dyson suction power without the hassle of a cord. Its motorized cleaner head cleans all floor types. My friend received this vacuum for her birthday and she loves it! It’s a great cleaner like a regular Dyson but you can easily carry it up and down the stairs to clean everywhere without lugging a vacuum.

If you’re interested in either of the vacuums or any other Dysons or Dyson accessories check out this link here. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

 

 

 

Baby Talk: How to Encourage a Reluctant Older Sibling

 

Having a new baby is always so exciting, especially for the parents and grandparents. However, some kids are not quite as eager to meet their new tiny sibling.

I am currently pregnant with baby number 3, and I certainly remember how my oldest first reacted to the fact that we were going to have a new baby in the house – Let’s just say it didn’t go well. Since I have already lived through that experience, I am hoping that this one will be more smooth. Some new baby anger is inevitable, though the degree depends on the ages of the two (or three!) children, whether or not their personalities are similar, and quite a few other factors that may or may not apply in your own personal case.

Children over age three or four usually welcome a new baby into the home, and sometimes these children, at least on the surface, don’t seem to be jealous. For instance, my daughter just turned four, and she is very excited to meet the new baby, and she even said that she would change diapers! Being verbal helps them deal with the changes. However, it’s not unusual for kids younger than three to be upset for a while.

One of the best ways that I have found to “soften” the blow of having a new baby intruding into the household is to give both of my older kids more responsibilities and freedom. One of my daughter’s favorite things is jewelry, and I decided that it was about time she had a grown-up jewelry box. I was actually lucky enough to win a beautiful jewelry armoire  on DealDash. They have them up for auction every so often, and I was very happy to win the one in the white finish to match her bedroom furniture. If you’re interested in furniture of any type check out the Home, Garden, & Tools section on DealDash.

Acme Didi Jewelry Armoire, White FinishLinon Grace 4-Drawer Jewelry Armoire

 

My son will be 8 when my new baby is born, and I have already started giving him extra chores as an opportunity to prove how “grown up” he is, and he loves being able to earn extra ipad time in exchange for loading laundry or bringing in the garbage bins for me. If you’re looking for an ipad, try DealDash. They seem to have them up for auction almost daily.

Apple iPad mini 4 64GB Wi-Fi, Space Gray

Besides these small suggestions, the biggest one that I have is to try and spend the most time with your older kids as possible, before and after the baby arrives. Before the newbie is born tell your kids about when they were a baby. Even if they have heard the stories a million times before they still enjoy them. Look through old baby pictures, and if you have any of their old favorite outfits or toys bring them out and exclaim about how tiny and cute they were when they were babies…And how they are still cute, but so grown up now! When the baby is napping or with another family member try and take that time to spend some 1-on-1 time with your other children. Kids thrive on attention, so try to give them as much positive attention as you can on your limited time schedule.

 

After reading this article I hope that you have a better idea of how to deal with sibling rivalry with a new baby. If you’re looking for any baby or kid supplies check out the Toys, Kids, & Baby section to find some awesome products. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!

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