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Big Weekend Gift Guide for Kids!
(and a few for grown ups 😉)
🎅✨Santa! I know him!
I’m a Pisces, and gifting is absolutely my love language. I keep a running list on my phone all year of things I come across that I think people in my life would love, and I take gift-giving very seriously.
Every year, I still find the department-store decorations—while Bing Crosby croons for six weeks straight—completely magical. I ooh and ahh over the overpriced “special edition beauty gift bundles,” and I’m a sucker for equally overpriced wrapping paper.
I also spent my formative years as a full-on mall rat and worked every holiday retail job imaginable (Gap, Macy’s beauty counter, Express). I’ve worked the 6 a.m. and midnight shifts, gift-wrapping and packing FREE gifts-with-purchase until my fingers practically bled. Fun fact: my parents STILL have an Express Christmas tree from 2004 that was headed to the Springfield Mall dumpster—and it now proudly sits on their front porch.
All that’s to say: I’ve spent years immersed in the world of holiday gifting, and I hope you find this simple little guide inspiring—and maybe discover a few new brands along the way.
🛍️ Shop By Categories
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🎱 90’s Christmas
 Build your own working Game Boy with Legos and comes with games |  Getting this for my daughter to listen to music without screens |  NGL I’m probably more excited about this gift than my kids will be! |
 Give the gift of 90’s tech with this OG Tamagotchi keychain |  A portable and digital version of the classic toy, perfect for travel |  This is a fun, mess-free craft I used to spend hours playing as a kid |
 Browsing through these pages is like catnip for ’90s nostalgia |  Settle sibling drama, bonus that they glow in the dark. |  Just like the ones we had as kids - perfect for holiday travel |
 A digital point-and-snap that gives that filtered Kodak look |  The original sensory toy! Perfect stocking stuffer for all ages |  Introduce your kids to a fixture of ’90s childhood with this bundle |
📱 Best of the Group Chat
 A portable and fun to use music and story player - for ages 3-12 |  A kid-friendly mahjong set to help young players learn |  I can always count on Boden coats for quality and cool designs |
 A new game voted best game of 2025 by Parent magazine |  An award-winning toy - a kid-friendly “makeup” kit that looks like moms |  Perfect for the kiddo who loves AG and stickers - under $15 |
 The viral web shooter featured on Shark Tank that glows in the dark! |  Great price for a classic dollhouse - ours is for Calico Critters! |  A fun line of inflatable sleds in several different designs |
 Made in France, this polish is kid-safe and water-based |  The perfect practical and fun gift for the ultimate Frozen fan |  What can I say? What kids don’t love giggling about 💩 and bingo? |
⭐️ Support Local: Chicago Business
 The M+A Let’s Dance dress is a wardrobe staple in our house! |  Play! has 5 locations, or you can shop online + free gift wrap! |  This mom-owned local biz has tons of fun gifts for Swifties |
 This Lincoln Square gem has tons of unique and educational gifts |  My go-to boutique for the cutest apparel for Chicago kids |  One of my go-to gifting shops has a chic little kids’ section |
 This Bucktown toy store (since 1998!) has great STEM toys |  Little Charm has the cutest apparel line with a Chicago teddy |  We love this upscale consignment store that also carries retail gifts |
 Our favorite playplace in LaGrange has the coolest labubu gifts! |  Give the gift of a super fun kids’ pottery workshop at MADE |  Mish Market makes the sweetest gifts, like these kid duffels |
🧷 Gifts for Baby
 If you aren’t ready for the subscription model, this is a great option |  This is a super fun gift that’s both educational and interactive |  Babies love this tree, mom’s love this tree, |
 This is the perfect Trike for 3 and under with a sweet little basket |  My little one was obsessed with this sensory game |  This is a great price for an aesthetic activity baby table |
 Perfect for babies until they graduate to stealing your real keys |  The softest socks that my sock-hating kids actually love |  Create a board book with pics of all your baby’s favorite people |
 A sweet little under-the-sea toy that they can fill up with tiny treasures |  These are the cutest heirloom stuffies that also give back |  A plushy version of the OG girlies, now with a board book for baby! |
🎁 Gifts for Older Kids
 A fancier and elevated personalized friendship bracelet with stones. |  The Polo Bear is the hottest commodity thanks to TikTok |  Your kid will either love and treasure it or die of embarrassment |
 The viral hand sanitizer that’s on the wishlist of all my nieces |  For the baseball lover, a fun way to show off all your ballpark visits |  Even if they have smartphones, it’s still fun having a Polaroid |
 A clean skincare and beauty line for tweens/teens |  For the kid who’s both a sneakerhead and still loves Legos. |  A fun and affordable gift for the gal who’s Polo Bear obsessed |
 A digital handheld camera that looks like Super 8 film footage |  For the kid who wants to turn their bead hobby into a small biz |  Trust me when I say you can’t go wrong with a new Jellycat |
📖 Holiday Books
 The chicest mouse in Paris has a fabulous Christmas book |  The perfect gift for your budding baker with kid-friendly recipes |  A sweet illustrated holiday book from one of our favorite authors |
 A collection of holiday short stories with beautiful illustrations |  This book comes with envelopes full of letters from Santa himself! |  A sweet story from beloved children’s author Oliver Jeffers |
 A sweet story about a family of llamas celebrating Hanukkah |  A fun story about a dog who ventures to the North Pole |  A fun book for ages 3-5 that has an activity on each page |
 My 3-year-old is obsessed with trouble-making David! |  A holiday companion to the beloved Chicka Chicka boom boom. |  A YA holiday romance told in an advent calendar format |
❣️ Gifts for Mom
 I have a vice of buying boogie candles, and this is by far my favorite |  I swear by packing cubes, and I can’t resist a monogram |  Another local business - they have the coolest mahjong mats |
 Treat yourself to a new cozy pair of sherling UGGS - love the bow |  The perfect weekend loungewear that still looks chic |  Everyone in my house fights over who gets this amazing blanket |
 Be the envy of all the Gen Z girlies with this coveted classic |  Bobbi Brown’s clean makeup line is one of my new favorites |  My favorite sunglasses brand has the coolest rainbow tortoise pair |
 The festive gift for cool moms who also love needlepoint |  These petite plume wide-leg jammies are cozy and comfy |  Alice and Wonder is my go-to shop for Chicago gear like cute hats |
🎄 Gifts for Dad
 Probably something he won’t buy himself, and great quality |  This is a hybrid garment bag and duffel, perfect for travel |  A great set to get the guy in your life to up his skincare game |
 Abercrombie’s NFL collection is for all ages, and Gen Z approved |  Even if you have a Yeti, the cooler is super useful on the go |  A great stocking stuffer that can also be monogrammed |
 The viral smart projector that can stream apps and project on anything |  A book of movie night ideas for when dad’s in charge of the remote |  Stylish and made for wearing while being active for $25 |
 Perfect for the gamer dad who wants to game on the go |  Clips right on your golf cart. This was a hit with my dad |  A mini photo album that fits 100 pages and easy to customize |
🫶 Gifts for Care Givers
 The easiest gift - just upload a pic to create a custom photo ornament |  A fun gift for under $25 and a screen-free way to unwind |  The trend of 2025 - a gorgeous set of tiles makes a great gift |
 Upgrade Grandma’s pickleball game with a cute bag |  A gorgeous floral ceramic frame - just add a cherished photo |  The gift I give to everyone- in a range of sizes and prices |
 The viral glasses sell out every year - a great gift under $20 |  A great gift for grandparents to show off grandkids |  The perfect gift for the person who loves to |
 Pair with a bag of loose-leaf tea for a cozy winter gift |  I gifted this to my grandparents with a painting of their home |  Pair with a bag of loose-leaf tea for a cozy winter gift |
I hope this guide brings a little magic to your holiday shopping and helps you discover something new.
If you haven’t yet, subscribe to Big Weekend Funletter so you never miss a gift guide or Chicago family find. 💌✨