2019 Holiday Shopping: Gift Ideas for Adults

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2019 Gift Ideas for Adults

Remember that one time we shared our thoughts on gift ideas for kids? Okay, it was only a couple of days ago. Well, it turns out that adults actually like gifts too. So, we put on our thinking caps and Meghan and I have thought about various (and sometimes random) options that your family and friends will be sure to enjoy.

With the utmost confidence, we know you’ll love these gifts. That was believable, right? Well, enough with the sarcastic shenanigans. It’s time to highlight some awesome gift ideas for adults.

Game Night Central

I thoroughly enjoy playing board games with Meghan. So, when I spy a game for two or more players, I take notice. Now, when that game also includes taking control of large monsters – I’m ready for it. King of Tokyo lets players control “mutant monsters, rampaging robots, or even abominable aliens.” The main goal is to be the last monster standing. I can already hear Meghan saying, “I will crush you.”

If you’re looking for a colorful board and cute miniatures, then take a look at Takenoko. This game plays in under an hour and decisions are made based off the weather. Then, “get a new plot of land or irrigation channel, grow bamboo, feed the panda or draw an objective card.” In the end, the best score wins.

Much like the Takenoko, I’ve seen Tokaido played and instantly wanted to own it without ever playing it myself. This game has multiple layers, including a “point to point movement, set collection mechanic. Easy to learn, but full of strategic choices.” This looks like fantastic fun and it’s definitely on my wish list.

I’ve played Pandemic a handful of times and it gets pretty intense. By the way, this is a cooperative game. So, if you like a challenge and you don’t mind losing, then you’ll dig it. Each player picks a character and then team up to destroy world-ending diseases. Each decision is critical, and sometimes, your best efforts do not matter. Also, for fun, you’ll probably list one of the epidemics as a zombie virus, because it’s only natural.

I will always recommend Carcassonne. Always. This game has such amazing replay value, because every single game is different. You will take turns placing tiles, building the board and then gathering points along the way. Plus, there are many different expansions to play with the original game. We use Inns & Cathedrals with each game. We also have the Abbey & Mayor and The Princess & the Dragon expansions as well. Carcassonne is a win, because the strategies are constantly changing and the chance to “accidentally” ruin another player’s game is “fantastic.” Thanks, Meghan.

Tech the Halls

If anyone needs hand warmers, it’s this guy. So, Meghan noticed Rechargeable Hand Warmers and I want them oh so much. They also serve as a power bank, so you can charge your phone (or whatever) whenever you want. How cool is that?

One of the most useful items I’ve seen recently is the Ring Video Doorbell. It lets you see who is at your door, even if they don’t press the doorbell. As far as safety goes, particularly during the holiday season when packages are stolen off of doorsteps, this seems like an amazing option to hopefully deter that type of awful activity. Also, if a package is delivered and you’re not home right away, you can ask a neighbor to pick it up – problem solved!

Now, I admit I’d love to get our daughter a super cool night light, but this 5-in-1 Bedside Lamp might end up in our bedroom. It has a touch-controlled night light that’s dimmable and has multiple colors. Plus, it has a blue tooth speaker, MP3 player, micro SD card, and a digital alarm clock. Honestly, the multi-colorful night light makes it a perfect option for our kids.

If you have many devices, then you’ll want to order a 6 USB Charging Station. Like most families, you have multiple cell phones, some form of tablet, and an extra reading device. This lets you stack all of those items, if they happen to run low at the exact same time. It also comes with a “Night Light OFF Function” and doesn’t buzz during charging. We sometimes charge our phones by our bed, so this is a nice feature.

One of our friends has an Echo Dot and it was really cool to watch it in action. She asked it to play songs, set a timer for our kids’ playtime, and even asked it random questions. It also lets you “Voice control your smart home – Turn on lights, adjust thermostats, lock doors, and more with compatible connected devices.”

Food and Drink Prep

Meghan and I have used our air fryer more than anything else, since we purchased it this past summer. The 6.3 Quart Digital Air Fryer also serves as a rotisserie, oven, and even has a dehydrator. It’s fairly painless to clean, especially with a drip tray, but we’d recommend spraying the trays before using. It helps prevent food from sticking, which makes cleanup much easier. There’s also a rotating basket for finger foods like French fries.

If your family loves to use straws, then you’ll want to snag these Reusable Silicone + Metal Straws. This does come with brushes to help clean, so you’ll worry less about them getting clean after each use. Plus, it comes with a storage pouch, so you can take them on trips and save from using or buying plastic straws.

Food storage isn’t always one of the easiest things. If you lose lids easily or just want to cover bowls or other dishes, then these Silicon Stretch Food Cover Lids look great. “It doesn’t matter if they are round, square, oblong or rectangle. These lids stretch to any shape and still provide an airtight seal.”

We own an Oster Cordless Electric Wine Opener (and foil cutter) and it’s great. So, why not get one that includes a wine chiller? We would’ve purchased this option if we’d seen it initially. Plus, we’ve never had one issue with this wine opener. Seriously, why struggle with opening that wine bottle?

There are many uses for wine tumblers and there are so many options! Some are stainless steel that come in a variety of colors and you can pick a 1 or 2-pack. There are also options like a 10-pack of Double Wall Acrylic Wine Glasses, which come with lids, or course. What’s great about any of these tumblers is that you can use them for anything. Meghan and I will often pour flavored seltzer into them, so they’ll stay cold longer.

The Gift of Streaming

Today’s world comes with instant viewing of an infinite number of shows and movies. So, buying a friend one of the many options is a perfect way to say, “I get you.” We own Prime Video and we’ve been entertained by several series, including Homecoming and The ABC Murders. So, buy Prime for your friend, and give them the extra joy of free shipping.

Netflix. It seems like everyone probably has it already, but this is still a solid option. Netflix has a plethora of films and TV shows, ranging from popular sitcoms, murder mysteries, or a neverending supply of documentaries. Their own original content seems to be growing by the day too!

If your friends are any type of Star Trek fans, then they will need CBS All Access in their lives. Not only will they be able to watch all of the previous franchises, which is also on Netflix, they’ll get new additions like Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard. Sci-fi fans will also be able to enjoy the original and most recent adaptation of The Twilight Zone. Plus, you’ll be able to stay up-to-date on current shows, while diving into classics like Cheers, Frasier, or Perry Mason.

Is Game of Thrones reason enough to get the HBO channel? Well, if you’re not convinced, there are several other original series that might attract your attention. They are home to Westworld, Ballers (featuring Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock), and the recently released Watchmen. HBO has also adapted Philip Pullman’s trilogy, His Dark Materials. If you’re more into movies, they currently have Aquaman and A Star is Born available for viewing.

For CBS All Access and HBO, you can take advantage of a 7-day free trial, which gives you a chance to see if it’s worth a longer-term investment.

Other Gift Ideas for Adults

Make sure to keep tabs on our Facebook page for any and all deals we might find. As the holidays near, more deals are likely to come, so stay tuned!