The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!

The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!

Welcome to The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!

How is it the 2021 Holiday Gift Guide season already? No really, how? I work on my Holiday Gift Guide all year and somehow this one just snuck up at lightning speed! Maybe it’s because I wore a t-shirt today?

ross wallenstein making the mint chip mama a lemon drop martini

If we learned nothing else this year – it is that we can make something out of nothing. We can do great things, like go on a local hike with friends or sit at the beach and listen to live music – and it costs nothing. This is something I want to carry through my holiday season. For instance, my favorite gift last year was a “free experience”. My husband surprised me and learned how to make my favorite drink – a lemon drop martini – because we no longer went out. I thought this was the most thoughtful thing and have enjoyed his new skill many times this year.

kids in elf pajamas

We are trying to stop bringing things we don’t find useful and valuable into our home. In addition, we are actively passing along items we no longer want so others can enjoy them. This is a great lesson to teach this time of year. Spread the good. Help others. A good experience doesn’t have to cost anything – it is about the quality, not the quantity. Unless you’re talking about taco toppings (try mango – life changer).

3 kids in chanukah pajamas

OK, Now Let’s Rock & Roll

Presenting The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide. All year I search for the best gifts and toys – also the weird and quirky – and bring them to you. I love finding things off the beaten path that will make you laugh. I aim to find the gem that will make your (enter gift receiver here) crack up. As usual, there are some repeats (indicated with an “*”) – these items are still getting much love in our home a year later.

a boy sitting by a fireplace drinking hot chocolate during the holidays

P.S. Thinking about what to get your favorite blogger? I have just the thing (assuming it’s me). Please share this post if you find it helpful and follow me on my Blog, Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest pages (pretty please with guac on top).  

blue poinsettia

I will be updating my 2021 Holiday Gift Guide all season long, so please save and visit regularly!

ticket to ride game

Family Games

Countaloupe

Beat That!

Ticket to Ride Board Game

JABUKA Best Word Puzzle Game

Exploding Minions Game

Chicken War*

Mancala*

Sequence*

a little boy with Masters of the Universe Toys

Elementary School Aged Kids & Their Nostalgic Parents

Carrom Nok Hockey

Rubik’s Race Game

Scrunchie Maker

Special edition Fisher Price Little People Collector sets: The Golden Girls, Run DMC, The Office, LOTR

Masters of the Universe Castle Grayskull, Battle Cat & Action Figures

Saved By The Bell Uno

Pokémon Battle Deck

Vintage Casio Calculator Watch*

pixicade plus set - The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!

For the Child Who Likes to Draw & Build

Pixicade Video Game Builder

LEGO DOTS Creative Designer Box

LEGO DOTS Bracelet Mega Pack

Snap Ships

Anti Smudge Artist Gloves

Active Stylus Pen for Android & iOS

Portable LED Light Box

Keva Wooden Plank Set

Brick Innovations Brick Knobs & Minifigure Shelf / Wall Hook

Tubelox Lifesize Building Set*

Avengers Hero Inventor Kit*

Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pen Set*

Grateful Dead Magnan Tilles

Unisex Gifts for Kids

CreateOn Grateful Dead Magna-Tiles

A beautifully illustrated book from Clever Publishing

Tiny Values Subscription box – a monthly box filled with kindness, courage, & gratitude. (save 10% with code “TVLaunchGift10”)

Alltruist Good Deed Subscription Box

The Young Scientists Club Space Adventures Pack

Sprout & Grow Window Plant Growing Kit

Bucket Stilts

Color America’s National Parks Coloring Book

TruKid Bubble Bath Pods

GUJO Adventure Build-Your-Own Mars Space Station

Syma Drone

Cats vs Pickles Plush Toy

Glow in the Dark Tape & Multicolor Duct Tape

Day-Glow Two-Rider Sled

Adjustable Inline Skates with Light up Wheels

Binoculars for Kids

Thames & Kosmos My Discovery Telescope*

LED Headlamp Flashlight*

Learn to Read with Bob Books and VersaTiles*

VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch DX2*

Ring-A-Ding-Ding Game*

JOOLA Midsize Compact Table Tennis Table

Mabels Labels* (save 10% with code “MINTCHIP” (excluding masks, stamps and sale items))

tween gift sets

For Your Tween

Signature Scent Art & Craft Kit

Wooden Charm & Tassel Jewelry Art & Craft Kit

Purpose Pendant Jewelry Kit

DIY Candle Kit

Cat Patrick’s Books: Tornado Brain & Paper Heart

LED Strip Lights

Lanyard Pack & Hooks

Zippered Accordion Folder

Tie-Dye Design Studio

A classic DVD like Mean Girls or Clueless or this set because clearly Amazon agrees with me.

Cami Training Bra

Body Positive: A Guide to Loving Your Body

Chalkola Chalk Markers

Nair Hair Remover & Beauty Treatment Seaweed Leg Mask

Big Joe Fuf*

Kore Wobble Stools*

Aerial Yoga Flying Yoga Swing*

Velvet Hair Scrunchies*

The unofficial Hogwarts cookbook for kids

For the Harry Potter Obsessed Fan

The Unofficial Hogwarts Cookbook for Kids

Domez Harry Potter Series 1 Collector’s Box Set

Invisibility Cloak*

Harry Potter Uno*

Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set*

brooklyn unplugged tour and graffiti workshop - The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!

Experiential Gifts

Tickets to a New York Riptide Lacrosse Game

A customized video game with your child’s face!

Tickets to Old Westbury Garden’s Shimmering Solstice Light Show

Tickets to the Nationwide Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit

WildPlay Jones Beach

Private or Family Yoga Session with Yogi Beans

Graffiti Workshop & Street Art Walking Tour in Brooklyn

Help your favorite musician get a record deal with Indiebible

The Adventure Park of Long Island*

holiday lights around a house

I Don’t Want More Clutter IN My House

A backyard trampoline from Wood Kingdom West, mention TMCM for a free hoop!

A fun lawn sign from Brenner’s Birthday Signs

Sonic Fin Aerodynamic High Performance Outdoor Football

Billy Buckskin Fatwood Fire Starter Sticks

Camo Bike Cup Holder

Wind Spinner

PRO Swingball – All Surface Portable Tether Tennis Set

Mystical Fire Flame Color Changer*

Solar String Lights*

Collapsible/Foldable Folding Hammock*

EzyRoller New Pro-X*

Stomp Rocket Dueling Rockets*

PlayMonster Super Duper Spinner*

woman holding a water bottle with crystals in it. Crystal la vida

Fill Your Belly, Open Your Mind

Popilicious Gourmet Popcorn Cake

Goli Gummies: Apple Cider Vinegar, Superfruits, Supergreens, Ashwagandha & Bites: Calm, Multi (save 15% with these links!)

Beyond insane, delicious, stuffed cookies from Chonky Cookies

LocaLI Bred Subscription Box – Locally sourced Long Island gift box

CBD Products from Medterra

Spicely Organics Unique Spices

Quick defrosting tray

BeMe Immunity Booster & Energy Boost Liquid Supplement

A box of delicious cream puffs from Plainview Puffs

Kibo Chickpea Chips

Letter/Number Candy Dish from Sweese or Coffeezone

Virginia Gold Peanut Coffee

Weber BBQ Smoker Box & Smoking Chips

Crystal La Vida Crystal Infused Water Bottle

Cooking On The Run

I Love Tacos! Taco Holders*

Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Maker*

Stainless Steel Drinking Straws*

A woman holding Scrubz body products

For Your Friend Who Loves Beauty & Skincare

Scrubz Cubez Sugar Scrub Cubes with Shea Butter and Alegna Soap

Aloisia Beauty Essential Daily Masks

Naturala Hair Growth Shampoo and Conditioner Set

DERMAPORE Pore Extractor and Serum Infuser Tool

Nature’s Beauty Body Care Collection

bareMinerals Poreless Clay Cleanser

Original Blends Pump Styling Gel

Scrubz Body Oilz+ Shea Butter & Botanical Oil Lotion*

Kitsch Derma Roller (save 15% with this link)*

The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide! Woman with ryka hiking boots

Clothes That Will Make You Smile

Victorian Nightgown

Windproof Cycling Bike Jacket & Gloves

Fun mental health motto apparel from FerrisBuilt

Ryka Summit hiking boots

Sweatpants with Zippered Pockets

Heated Socks

A fun 80s/90s mask lanyard/chain from RSDUbs Ribbons*

Tie Dye Hoodie Sweatshirt Dress with Pockets*

Just Love Spaghetti Strap Nightgown & Tie Dye Thermal Pajama Set*

Shinesty‘s absolutely amazing Chanukah & Christmas outfits*

hand warmer at softball - The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!

For the Adult Who Has It All

Life Changing, Ultrathin Microfiber Beach Towels

A trendy handbag from Popular by J & M, including my favorite “The Mint Chip Mama” Neoprene Tote

Rechargeable Hand Warmer

Toilet Bombs by Mama Suds

Weighted Blanket

Jackbox Games

Lighted Birch Tree 

Beautiful printed event & guest napkins from Hudsonest

Flexible Tripod*

Mini Movie Projector*

Umbra Mask Hanger with Flip-Down Hooks in Sticks or Skyline*

Light Up Electronic Word Clock*

happy new year - The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!

Still need more ideas? Check out Amazon’s Gift Hub, Small Business Gift Guide, & Handmade Holiday Guide with even more categories. Or my Holiday Gift Guides from 2020, 2019, 2018, & 2017.

2 kids dressed for the holidays

Happy shopping and as always – let me know what you think!

family in front of a christmas tree

Most items above contain affiliate links. In addition, some items were received in exchange for an honest review. All items listed above on The Mint Chip Mama’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide are items I genuinely think are cool and are things that I think you will like too. Happy holidays!

mom and daughter in front of chanukah decorations

Happy Holidays!

The Mint Chip Mama - 2021 Holiday Lights Show on Long Island
Photo Credit: Rick Rosa Photography for Redmax Events at Bright Lights LI

Published by Stacey Wallenstein

Stacey Gish Wallenstein created The Mint Chip Mama blog in 2013 to share her love and passion for giving children meaningful life experiences and helping moms like her navigate the challenges and benefits of raising children in the New York metropolitan area. Before becoming a full-time mom in 2010, Stacey spent the better part of the preceding decade as a high-end customer relationship management (CRM) professional for some of the most well-known brands in the hotel, luxury, fashion, and beauty industries, such as Harrah’s Entertainment, Chanel and Christian Dior, Inc. She managed customer loyalty programs for thousands of clients around the country and created social media strategies for a span of industries including healthcare services, restaurants, consumer packaged goods, specialty foods, local attractions and retail locations. After 13 wonderful years in Manhattan (the last three of which spent as a city mom), Stacey and her husband moved to Long Island in 2014, where they now reside with their three children (13, 9, and 6). There, she is a founding member of her local Parenting Center, which provides classes and coordinates events designed to educate and inform parents while fostering an environment of support and friendship within the community. Stacey is also an active PTA member ((including a former & current PTA president) as well as a Girl Scout troop leader. Her musings on motherhood, Manhattan, the suburbs, and more can be found here and on Facebook at The Mint Chip Mama. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Stacey has been active in the New York area alumni organization for nearly twenty years, serving as a board member on the school’s University of Michigan Alumni Club of New York City. She also holds a Masters in Psychology from The New School in New York City. Please check out The Mint Chip Mama in the Press: The New York Post, Psychology Today, NY Metro Parents, New York Family, Parents Magazine, Newsday, News 12, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kids, NerdWallet, Big Apple Kids Guide, and more! The Mint Chip Mama was also nominated as "The Best Blog On Long Island" for 2022 & 2023, one of the Top 20 New York Mom Blogs & Websites, and one of the Top 100 Mom Lifestyle Blogs on the web! For more updates, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest.

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