Capper’s Farmer Holiday Gift Guide 2017: For the Family
By Capper’s Farmer Editors
Following are some great gifts for the whole family – men, women, and children.
All-Natural Soap
DeForest Soap Company is family owned and operated, founded on the idea that what you put on your body is as important as what you put in it. They strive to provide a natural cleansing bar with ingredients you can pronounce, oils that nourish the body, and essential extracts to delight the senses. Handcrafted in Kansas City, Missouri, the soaps are made with only the best natural ingredients.
WHERE TO BUY: DeForest Soap Company
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- These soaps leave you feeling clean and soft.
- They smell wonderful.
- They make bathing and showering relaxing.
- Nice variety of scented essential oils.
Armrest Remote Caddy
Keep all of your remotes easily accessible and organized in one place, instead of having them scattered around the room or falling between seat cushions. The 5-Pocket Sofa Armrest Organizer features four pockets to store remotes, with customized labels, and one large pocket for magazines, books, and more. It fits over the arm of the chair or sofa, with a long piece that slides under the seat cushion to keep it in place, and it’s made of durable fabric, with faux leather detailing around the labels for a great look.
WHERE TO BUY:Great Useful Stuff (G.U.S.)
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- Fits the sofa and/or chair arm nicely and stays in place.
- Looks nice.
- Pockets are plenty big for just about any size remote.
- Perfect gift for anyone who constantly misplaces the remotes.
Baby Stroller
The Cubby+Stroller gives you high-quality performance in a stylish package. Constructed out of aluminum, with polyester fabric, it features a one-handed, smooth opening and closing mechanism, a simple brake, a ventilated back panel that opens automatically when the seat is reclined, two easy-access pockets in the back, and an expandable basket underneath to hold diapers, wipes, toys, and more. There’s also a “secret” pocket up by the handle, where parents can store phones, keys, and wallets. In addition, it features a 5-point safety harness with a one-pull cinching feature, as well as an adjustable leg rest.
WHERE TO BUY:OXO
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- Everything about this stroller is simple, from assembling it out of the box, to folding and unfolding it between uses, to adjusting the harness.
- At around 20 pounds, it’s easy to load and unload from the car’s trunk.
- It rolls nice and smooth.
- It’s sleek and stylish.
- The basket underneath comes in very handy, as does the secret pocket near the handle.
Bathroom Scale
The EatSmart Precision Premium Bathroom Scale makes a great gift for anyone trying to get or stay in shape. It has a thin profile and sophisticated look with a large, non-slip platform that safely measures up to 400 pounds. The scale features step-on technology that allows you to simply step on and get an instant reading, a large backlit 3½-inch LCD display that’s easy to read, a large platform, and an auto power-off. The scale runs on four AAA batteries, which are included.
WHERE TO BUY:EatSmart
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- Simple to use.
- Easy to read, even in the dark.
- Lightweight, yet durable.
Children’s LEGO Sets
The youngsters will love building things like castles and garages using LEGOs. Not only will they have fun, but these LEGO sets will help kids build confidence and allow them to use their imaginations.
Cinderella’s Magical Castle includes Cinderella and Prince Charming figures, as well as a bird figure, features a dance floor with turning gear wheels, and is designed to be fun and easy for little hands. The castle set offers an age-appropriate build and play experience for ages 2 through 5.
For the youngsters ages 4 through 7, Smokey’s Garage includes Lightning McQueen, Junior Moon, and Smokey figures, and features an easy-to-build garage set, with a car ramp and yellow raised ramp, a movable crane, a wheeled tool kit cabinet, and Smokey’s Garage sign.
WHERE TO BUY:LEGO
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- These LEGO sets are really neat.
- The kids love them and play for hours.
- The sets keep the little ones entertained, while engaging their motor skills at the same time.
Children’s Personalized Bookcase
Perfect for a child’s bedroom or playroom, this Canvas Bookcase gives kids easy access to their favorite books. Made of sturdy wood composite, the bookcase measures 28 inches high, 25 inches long, and 12 inches wide, and features four deep, easy-to-clean lightweight canvas storage pockets. Personalize it with any name, up to 10 characters.
WHERE TO BUY:Personal Creations
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- The bookcase is well-constructed and easy to assemble.
- The canvas colors are bold, and the bookcase brightens the room.
- Books fit nicely and are easy to see.
- It looks great in the playroom and keeps favorite books handy, neat and tidy.
Cool Clothes
Our picks from Carhartt include five great products perfect for holiday giving.
The Quilted Flannel-Lined Duck Active Jac is water-repellent and wind-resistant, with a quilted flannel lining in the body and quilted nylon lining in the sleeves. The attached quilted flannel-lined hood has a drawcord closure, and it features two inside pockets, and rib-knit cuffs and waist to keep out the cold.
The men’s Fleece-Lined Berwick Jacket is water-repellent and wind-resistant, made of 100 percent cotton sandstone duck, and features fleece lining, two inside pockets, snap-adjustable cuffs, and a self-collar with under-collar snaps for optional hood.
The Force Extremes Mock Neck Half-Zip Sweatshirt for men is climate controlled to evaporate sweat when it’s hot and return energy to the body to keep you warm when it’s cold. It has a relaxed-fit design, a left-chest map pocket with zip closure, a front handwarmer pocket, and stretchable knit cuffs and waistband.
The Force Extremes Zip-Front Sweatshirt for women is made with midweight material, features a slightly fitted design, has a full-zip mock neck, front handwarmer pockets, and stretchable knit cuffs and waistband.
The women’s Slim-Fit Layton Skinny Jeans are stylish and durable, featuring a slim fit through the hip and thigh, a midfront rise with a higher back rise to help prevent gapping, and all-over stretch.
WHERE TO BUY:Carhartt
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- The Duck Active Jac and the Berwick Jacket are both lightweight, yet nice and warm. They look great, fit great, are well-made, and make great coats for work or play.
- The men’s Mock Neck Sweatshirt is comfortable, with a relaxed style that fits close to the body, yet allows plenty of room to move. It’s lightweight, keeps the body temperature regulated, and the colors are crisp and vibrant.
- The women’s Zip-Front Sweatshirt is perfect for cool days. It’s cozy and comfortable, and it looks and feels nice.
- The Layton Skinny Jeans have just enough stretch to make them comfortable, without them stretching and sagging. They’re very trendy.
Farm-Themed Children’s Storybook
“Busy on the Farm,” part of the Casey & Friends book collection, introduces kids to the demanding world of modern farming. Narrated by Casey the farmer and Tillus the worm, this book teaches children how Frankie and Fern, Casey’s hardworking Farmall tractors, feed, clean, and take care of animals, in addition to maintaining Happy Skies Farm. The youngsters will also learn the science and art of haymaking with Bailey Baler. Filled with colorful action photographs, fun illustrations, and a cast of cartoon equipment characters, “Busy on the Farm” will entertain young readers as they follow Casey and the team through a busy day of chores.
WHERE TO BUY:Octane Press
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- All the books in the Casey & Friends collection make learning about farming fun.
- The photographs and illustrations are beautiful.
- The story is fun, interesting, educational, and entertaining.
- The kids love these books.
Learning Toys
PBS Kids offers two great new learning tools for young children this year. Both engage children in playing, while at the same time teaching a variety of skills.
The Plug & Play is a TV streaming stick for kids ages 3 and up that features more than 100 hours of preloaded PBS Kids videos, sing-alongs, and games, with even more content available when connected to Wi-Fi, with no subscription required. The device is designed in the shape of a race car, and comes with a kid-friendly remote.
The Playtime Pad is a 7-inch tablet for youngsters 2 and up. It features 120 video clips, songs and music videos featuring PBS Kids characters, and more than 25 educational games and free apps. It also allows access to apps and games, movies, books, and songs when connected to the internet.
WHERE TO BUY:PBS Kids or Walmart
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- These learning tools keep the kids entertained, while at the same time being educational.
- Even without connecting to the internet, there are tons of fun things to do on both the Plug & Play and the Playtime Pad.
- The kids love having their own remotes and tablets, just like the big kids and adults.
Multipurpose Water Bottle
Meet the safe and reusable water bottle, the Bübi Bottle. Made from silicone, the bottles are BPA-free and microbial-free, making them safe for babies, children, and adults alike. The bottles are microwavable, dishwasher-safe, puncture-resistant, and easily portable. They can be heated or frozen to use as a compress, used for cold or hot drinks, used to store dry foods like cereal for kids, as an ice pack in a small cooler, and can even be used for safe and dry storage of cell phones, watches, cash, and more at the beach or pool. They’re available in a variety of colors, and come in four sizes: 9 ounces, 14 ounces, 22 ounces, and 35 ounces.
WHERE TO BUY:Bübi
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- Nice variety of sizes.
- Convenient for taking on the go, especially since they roll up for compact storage.
- They work great as a hot or cold compress for sprains and headaches.
- They’re fantastic for camping and boating.
- The bottles are ideal for kids, since they’re not breakable.
Stylish Sneakers
Podiatrist-designed Vionic sneakers are available in styles for both men and women, and feature concealed podiatrist biomechanic performance technology. They support feet for proper alignment, and help prevent and reduce pain in feet, ankles, knees, and backs.
The women’s Elation Active Sneaker is built with a single-unit midsole that cradles the foot and responds to every step. The contoured arch increases underfoot contact, and a deep heel cup supports the foot’s natural contour. Air-infused memory foam adds instant comfort, and 1st Ray technology facilitates flexibility and motion of the big-toe joint. The outsole features flex grooves to improve flexibility, while inset panels absorb shock. These shoes run a bit short in length, so the Vionic website recommends sizing up by a half size.
Featuring a fully integrated, synergistic base unit, the men’s Tucker Casual Sneaker offers lightweight flexibility and a deconstructed feel. Minimum seams and laser details give this comfortable casual a hint of cool, and they feature a rubber outsole and a protective coating to help against inclement weather.
In addition to these shoes, Vionic offers other sneakers, as well as sandals, boots, slippers, and more.
WHERE TO BUY:Vionic
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- Comfortable and lightweight.
- Have excellent arch support.
- Fun, fashionable colors and styles.
- Great walking shoes.
- No more achy feet at the end of the day.
“The Bible Story of Christmas”
Some 60 years ago, Bing Crosby, in his famous baritone voice, recorded the reading of Luke 2:4-20. In December 1957, 1,000 copies of “The Bible Story of Christmas” were released, with distribution limited to Cincinnati, Ohio. Now the story is available on both CD and vinyl.
WHERE TO BUY:World Library Publications or Amazon
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- A beautiful rendition of Luke 2:4-20 recorded by a beautiful voice.
- A great gift for the whole family to enjoy.
- This audio recording puts perspective on the true meaning of Christmas.
- Listening to this keepsake recording could easily become a new family tradition.
Toy Storage Organizers
Keep the kids’ toys organized with a couple new products from Great Useful Stuff.
The Animal-Shaped Toy Storage Box is available in an elephant, a rhinoceros, and a hippopotamus, each crafted from durable felt polyester with faux leather detailing and a double-zipper closure. They’re lightweight and portable, yet large enough to hold a variety of toys.
The Bath Toys Mesh Organizer Bag makes it easy to store bath toys in the bathtub, neatly and conveniently. The durable mesh fabric allows water to drain from the bag into the tub while the toys air-dry. The bags measure approximately 15 inches wide by 28 inches long, with a 1-inch-diameter metal hook for hanging, and are available in four styles – pink/white pig, light blue/gray bear, navy blue/white dog, yellow/navy blue rocket.
WHERE TO BUY: Great Useful Stuff (G.U.S.)
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- The storage animals are made with high-quality materials and hold a good amount of toys, and the animal shapes are enticing to the kids, so they actually “like” to pick up their toys.
- The bath toys bag helps keep the bathtub clean. The hook on the bag allows you to conveniently hang the bag on the shower head, faucet, or towel rack, where all the watery mess drips into the tub or shower, not on the floor, and the toys dry pretty quickly.
Travel Bags & Totes
RuMe has some great gift ideas for anyone who travels, does the grocery shopping, goes camping, and more.
The Garment Travel Organizer is a two-sided travel bag that lets you pack suits and dresses lengthwise on hangers, then flip the bag over and pack other essentials in the attached, see-through packing cubes. Two buckles secure the bag when folded, or enable you to hang it from a closet rod.
The Frequent Flyer Bundle is perfect for avid travelers. It includes a Sat Pack, cFold, and Baggie All. The Sat Pack is designed to reduce clothing to half its expanded size, letting you pack a checked bag’s worth of essentials into a carry-on bag. The cFold is a bag that features an outer sleeve that slips easily over luggage handles and is roomy, yet zips down to one-tenth its expanded size. The Baggie All is a handy bag for organizing small essentials like headphones, makeup, toiletries, etc.
The Phone Clutch features a neoprene inner pouch to keep your phone safe and protected, as well as pockets for receipts, credit cards, ID and driver’s license, and cash.
The Large Tote is water-resistant, has 12-inch-long handles, is fun and fashionable, and is machine washable, making it the perfect grocery bag, gym bag, camping bag, or beach bag. When not in use, the Large Tote folds up into a small, lightweight roll that fits easily in the car, or a backpack or purse.
The Large 2Cool Tote Insulator fits inside the Large Tote to keep snacks and drinks cold for up to three hours.
The Pop-Top Tote features a wide opening and mesh closure, keeping items easily accessible yet secure. The cinch-tie mesh top ensures none of your items will fall out on the ride home. The Pop-Top is machine washable, and it has two handles for carrying it over your shoulder.
WHERE TO BUY:RuMe
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- The Garment Travel Organizer is perfect for road trips, business trips, and vacations, because almost everything fits nice and neatly in this one bag.
- The Frequent Flyer Bundle takes the hassle out of traveling. These three pieces are all you need for air travel. All of the items are well-made and durable, and the items store easily when not in use.
- The Phone Clutch makes a handy wallet. It holds a phone (even a large smartphone), cash, debit and credit cards, and keys easily. It’s nice that it can be carried alone, or inside a purse.
- The Large Tote is extremely sturdy, and very roomy. It holds much more than it looks like it will hold. The handles are very strong, and it washes up nicely in the washing machine.
- The Large 2Cool Tote Insulator fits perfectly in the Large Tote, and makes grabbing a few groceries easy. It’s also great for taking snacks and drinks on day trips. It keeps things cold with just ice packs, without the need for ice.
- The Pop-Top Tote is very spacious, holds a lot of stuff, and the cinch keeps everything inside. Makes a great bag for taking to the pool, kids’ ballgames, the grocery store, and more.
Walkie-Talkies
The Motorola Talkabout T100 Series two-way radios are compact and easy to use. The small size is ideal for elementary age kids who aren’t ready for a cell phone, yet need to check in with mom and dad. They’re also perfect for playtime outdoors, and they provide affordable and reliable communication for families with a passion for active lifestyles and weekend adventures. They feature 22 channels and up to a 16-mile range, depending on weather conditions, obstructions like trees, and other interferences. They’re sold as a set, and come in either pink or blue.
WHERE TO BUY:Amazon, Walmart, Bass Pro Shops, Best Buy, Cabela’s, The Home Depot or Sears
COMMENTS FROM THE CAPPER’S FARMER EDITORS:
- These radios are very stylish.
- The colors are bold, and the radios are small enough to fit into a pocket.
- The radios work well, even when cell phones have no signal.
- These things come in handy while doing yard work and chores, and the kids love playing with them.