This is one bug you want in your house. Created by Innovation First International, the HEXBUG Nano is a tiny, 1.75 inch energetic micro robotic bug that uses the physics of vibration and robotic intelligence to maneuver around obstacles on smooth surfaces (or not so smooth, because my kids have tried every surface in this house, and you’d be amazed what this thing worked on). It is powered by a tiny motor with 12 fixed, angular legs, the industrious insect switches direction upon coming into contact with an object in its path, and possesses an uncanny sense of balance, flipping to its feet when turned on its back. The Nano transfixes children and adults alike with its dynamic behavior while exposing them to concepts such as cause-and-effect, momentum and randomness.  I knew Bill (my electrical engineer husband) would love this.  However, my kids reaction surprised me.  They literally have been playing with this for over 2 hours, and that is just this morning!  They love how it reacts like a real bug yet isn’t icky like a real one.  They’ve been running up and down the hall with it and giggling.  There aren’t many toys out there that keep my kids attention span!  It is for kids 3 and up, so you do have to make sure your little ones don’t put it in their mouths.

If you are looking for a unique gift for Christmas, HexBugs are it!  Available at ToysRUs and Radio Shack, they are easy to find and will create hours of fun at your house!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2

I was lucky enough to be on a call with Peter Walsh and also be able to get my hands on his new In Place System. Basically, with his system, the mess you call your workspace gets organized — everything has it’s own place.  Now, for as much as I look like I have it together, I really don’t.  Bill’s biggest pet peeve is that I have loose paper everywhere.  I mean practically in every room.  Then I would always wonder why I couldn’t find anything. The worst thing is that I have folders set up to keep track of stuff.  However, they were in my bedroom, so I was lazy.  It was easier not to put them away.

However, I have been using the In Place System, and life is so much more organized now.  Bill is happier.  I am happier.  Here’s what my files look like:

I am organized.  I keep it on the end table next to me, so I have no excuse to not file anything.  It seriously has been working.  The file I have sticking up in the back — that is for all my miscellaneous things.  You know, things like coupons, paperwork, etc.  That is what was sitting all over the place.  I now still get to keep what I think is important, and I’m not driving my husband crazy anymore.

What I am showing you so far is only part of the Peter Walsh In Place System.  Every single person in this house gives it two thumbs up.  It was definitely needed in this house!

Want a crazy fun game for your house? Crazy Mixed Up Martians definitely fits that bill.  There are two boppers:  one green and one blue.  With one version of the game, you just bop your color martians when they pop up.  In another version you can play, you just try and hit as many as you can as they pop up.  Now, this game is just fun.  You’ll have a ton of giggles and screaming while playing.  It is for ages 4 and up, but again my eighteen month old has no problem playing it (Again, just need to be careful that he doesn’t put anything in his mouth).  We like this in our house, and you will too.

Build A Bear has outdone itself this year.  I though they had some of the cutest stuffed animals before this year.  However, with their introduction of Hal and Holly Moose, they have truly outdone themselves.  These have to be the cutest stuffed animals they have.  You can dress them in holiday gear or even street clothes.  You get the book about them for free if you buy both (otherwise, the book is $15.99).   The book lets us know that Hal is a dreamer who wants to fly with Santa’s reindeer.  Holly is a inventor who is always there to help her brother on all of his adventures.  Like all Build A Bears, these are a high quality stuffed animal that will stand the wear and tear of your children.

If you are looking for a great holiday gift for the kids who has everything, Hal and Holly Moose definitely fit the bill!

I personally believe books always make great gifts. We have installed into our children how important reading is, and you can tell. Both my one year old and my four year old can often be seen flipping through books without Bill or me even around.  This is why I l love companies like GiftLit who make it easier to give books as gifts to both children and adults alike.

GiftLit has an advisory board of librarians, educators, authors, and industry experts that select the books that are sent out, so you know these are great books. They have books for every age too!  They have books for toddlers on up.  They way this works is you pick with selection of books you want.  If you are looking at the kids books, you can choose which age group you want.  For adults, you can pick anything from fiction to mysteries to history.  You can also choose how long you want your gift subscription to last.  You can buy them in 3, 6, or 12 month increment.  The best part of this is that this is the gift that keeps on giving.  Instead of the one present you get Christmas morning, you can potentially have a gift every month of the year.

We have this come to our house, and we love it.  The books are great quality books that I would have never thought to check out.  Also, what kid doesn’t like to get mail for them?  Actually, what adult doesn’t like getting a present in the mail each month?  This is truly the gift that keeps on giving, and I am deciding which book lover in my family is getting this.  If you’d like to get this for yourself or as a present, just make sure you use the code LISA1130, so you can get 10% off your order!