Kids usually fall under two categories when it comes to buying gifts: insanely easy or completely impossible. The easy ones love everything and will be thrilled just to open something (that would be Ellie). The impossible ones have everything and are usually at in-between ages that make it difficult for even them to know what they like (that would be Samantha).

Since I have a wee bit of experience in these things, I thought I’d put together a list of fun and different gift ideas for kids that will be sure to excite all of the little boogers.

So everyone knows about Cyber Monday, but did you know that today is known as Giving Tuesday? It’s basically a day to give back and donate to charity (cough cough, my upcoming fundraiser would be an awesome one to contribute to. cough).

Since a lot of us are still taking advantage of the fabulous cyber deals going on this week and since I’ve decided to make this week a Gift Guide-filled bonanza, I thought it would only make sense to put together a list of holiday gift ideas that give back in some way.

I’m kicking off this Gift Guide-filled week with what I know best: the things I’d like to see wrapped up all nice and pretty under the tree.

It got cold this week and most of me is really upset about it. I can already feel my hands starting to crack and I’m pretty sure I can hear the trickling of my bank account as the oil kicks our heating system into gear.

But there is a part of me that’s kind of OK with this cold business. That’s the part of me who likes the idea of smelling fall spices baking in the oven while padding around in thick socks and huddling under a fat down blanket. The part that wants to drink hot cocoa while wearing fingerless gloves and a chunky scarf. The part of me that likes cozy.

I hate the cold but absolutely love a lot of the things that go right along with it. What the cuss? Does anyone else suffer from this major contradiction?

I’ve decided the only thing I can really do is embrace the change. So I decided to dive headfirst into a pile of cozy handmade knits and take you along for the ride.

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So, I may have mentioned it once or twice or maybe a lot, but gluten and I aren’t friends. Some people roll their eyes at this (whether I can actually watch them roll or I can tell it’s happening internally behind their eyes depends on the person). These people seem to think it’s a silly affliction created by a hypochondriac (this study is no doubt in their minds while they smile and nod politely and their internal monologue is riffing on the fact that I’m batshit crazy).

To the naysayers I can only respond with two things: after testing negative for celiac, my doctor recommended I remove gluten from my diet as a trial to see if it had any impact on my stomach issues. Since removing it I feel a billion times better. Unless that changes, I’m gonna keep on keeping on.

For the most part, I’m fine with missing out on gluten-filled deliciousness. I’ve found replacements that I deem satisfactory for most things and try to steer myself towards whole foods instead of processed junk anyway (except for chocolate. There is always chocolate). My latest obsession is an insanely delicious take on pasta: zucchini noodles!