What A Mom Of Two Preschoolers Is Wishlisting On Black Friday

My spouse cooks a lot, and our kitchen utensils have taken a beating over the years. If you’re in a similar boat and looking to overhaul someone’s collection, I love the brand GIR for its colorful, sturdy utensils. (I get them locally at the restaurant-supply shop JB Prince, which is known for having best-in-class everything when it comes to outfitting your kitchen.)

This 10-piece set of every utensil you could possible need will make an impressive gift for someone on your list or just breath new life in your own mealtime routines.

I dare you to find a more foolproof in-law gift than a digital photo frame. As a demographic that’s prone to claiming they don’t need or want anything for Christmas, your spouse’s parents (or your own) can feel pretty impossible to shop for. However, a picture frame pre-loaded with a carousel of digital grandkid snaps is like kryponite for their insistence that they already have too much stuff. This Wirecutter-endorsed 10-inch frame from Aura features a 1280 by 800 HD screen that can easily customize photo display and is compatible with both iOs (14 and up) and Android (5 and up).

If you’re looking to spend significantly less, we found a Frameo-powered option on Amazon that reviewers seem to like. “Absolutely beautiful digital pictures display. It’s exactly what I wanted,” wrote reviewer VL.

Copy and paste pictures into a SD card, plug it in the slot and voila, the picture slideshow is automatically playing. No app, no Wi-Fi needed. Simple. Hope it lasts long because I really love it.” The frame measures a little over 10 inches in length.

Getting my kids to brush their teeth even just once a day is… a lot. One thing that really helps to motivate them is some kind of gimmick, for lack of a better word (like unicorn-flavored toothpaste) — but I think this glow-in-the-dark toothbrush will be a serious step up.

Quip’s electric toothbrushes are designed to remove up to 11 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush, according to the brand, and feature soft-bristled brush heads and timers to ensure you don’t over-brush in certain areas. Each toothbrush comes with a stand that’s easy to mount on a bathroom mirror and ingeniously doubles as a travel cover.

You can get 20% off sitewide right now with code BF20.

Invest in a lineup of 24 Disney princess builds for any kid (or adult) that’s a fan of movie like “Encanto” and “Frozen.” The whole set includes 253 pieces and the box turns into a game board for staging dramatic play. I have been waiting all month to find the perfect Advent calendar for my kids — I almost pulled the trigger on the reader-favorite National Geographic one! — but this feels like the right option for my princess-obsessed kids this year.

Promising review: “I feel like advent calendars in general help the kids manage excitement and anxiety for the holidays. I’ve bought a few of the Lego calendars over the years, and I love them as much as the kids do!!” — Natalie S.

I just cannot quit these comfortable and stylish sneakers — there’s something about New Balance’s 574 shoes that just feels so classic, and they are so easy to wear on long days out with the kids. The suede-and-mesh construction is designed to feel supportive, and a polyurethane rim that offers additional cushioning. Size and color availability is a little inconsistent on this popular style, but for the most part you can get them in women’s sizes 5.5–14.5 and men’s sizes 4–13.

My kids are so particular about their clothes, and I cannot blame them one bit because it’s something they definitely inherited from me. Socks have been a particular point of contention recently. Right now, the options we have are either too tight or the wrong color. (That is, according to my kids.)

This gorgeous 4-pack from Bombas comes with stickers, which basically makes this the best present ever. Each of the four socks has different color accents paired with a marled knit that’s meant to resemble confetti cake. The cushioned footbeds are equipped with grippy pads for added safety and comfort for little feet.

I know my kids will lose their minds over this actually functional building blocks mug. Available in nine base colors, the piece comes with toy bricks that you can build onto the sides and handle. (You can also utilize whatever Legos you already own.) Getting the little ones to sit at the table for meals can be a struggle, and I bet this will entice them to stay in their seats and eat their freaking eggs in the morning.

The mug is BPA-free and can hold both cold and hot beverages, though it should not be put into the dishwasher!

Promising review: “I bought this from my husband and he loved it for his birthday. The sizes grade. The quality of it looks amazing. It’s worth the money and it’s super fun for anybody who loves to build.” — Jasmine Sada

My wardrobe is quite… sad right now, and I am on the hunt for some more intentional garments so that I can feel a little more put together on casual days. I feel like any time I see good jeans out in the wild and I ask the person where they’re from, the answer is Everlane — so I have my eye on these “way-high” jeans with a 12-inch rise and polished straight leg. They have close to 1,700 reviews from people who use words like “perfect” and “a winner” to describe them. They’re made from 98% cotton and have the tiniest bit of stretch, and are available in sizes 23-35 and in three inseams. Everlane also offers these jeans in a curvy fit for more hourglass-shaped bodies.

According to reviewers, the hype surrounding this viral mop-and-vacuum combo is so very worth the hype. “I had it for almost a year at this point. I absolutely love it! I have about a 1,000 [square] feet to clean on the first floor, wood and tile,” wrote reviewer Liliya Sabaleuskaya. “Tineco does it in 30 [minutes]. Sometimes less, depending on how messy things are. I love that I don’t have to wash rags, mops etc. and change dirty water.”

You see this card game in gift guides every year for a good reason — it’s a lot of fun and easy for younger kids to play, and I think my kids are close to being old enough to enjoy it.

“Kids love this game! I feel like I need protective hand wear to play because my kids take it so seriously,” wrote LaurenSeattle. “It’s fun and very engaging.” This is one of over 50,000 (!) reviews for the game on Amazon. At $8, this is a no-brainer stocking stuffer for fun-loving folks at any age.

I keep seeing this unique Stasher bag in our gift guides and am slowly becoming more and more obsessed with it. It’s called the Go Bag, and it comes with a carabiner to attach to a belt loop or backpack for easy storage and access. (It’s eight inches high and five inches wide, about the size of a pack of baby wipes.) It has the same pinch-lock seal you know and love Stasher for, and it’s dishwasher-, microwave- and oven-safe up to 425 degrees. I feel like this is what we need to store the girls’ crayons and markers when we’re on the go.

Promising review: “I use these to keep my phone dry when I’m around water. They are not meant for submersion, but will easily protect my phone from splashes. I love the attached carabiner for anchoring this to a kayak webbing or to attach my keys when I’m out at the pool. At the beach, these also keep sand away from the phone. I’ve given several as gifts and everyone loves them.” — Kathryn

Play this handheld synthesizer by touching its stem or squeezing its cheeks. The intuitive instrument is the perfect toy for both budding and experienced musicians. It’s powered by three AA batteries, which are sold separately.

This minuscule alphabet charm is crafted from 14K gold and set with recycled diamonds. I have a small pendant collection with my kids’ initials, and this would be nice and sparkly addition to my assortment. Catbird — a mainstay of the indie jewelry scene — had been making these delicate pieces since 2004, and they very rarely go on sale.

Note the bracelet chain pictured here is not included.

My spouse makes homemade popcorn that we all love to snack on during movie nights — kids included — but cleanup can be a little bit of a pain. This ingenious silicone popper can go right in the microwave, filled with kernels, and emerge a few minutes later with evenly popped corn, according to many reviewers. It also folds nearly flat, so you can stash it almost anywhere.

I am basically an empty vessel without a good planner and I’m still experimenting with different ones, in search of the holy grail that will perfectly streamline my life (although something tells me that might not actually exist).

This incredibly colorful one from Ban.do looks like it will help me kick off 2025 right. It’s eight inches tall and has an intuitive interior layout, and it comes with a bunch of stickers I can give to my kids.

Get the discount using the code “THEBEST” at checkout.

My kids’ besties have this fort-building kit at their house, and when someone broke it out during a “Gabby’s Dollhouse” marathon, they actually started ignoring the TV to play with it. This says a lot. It comes with 30 connector balls, 64 long rods and 46 extending pieces, and the design possibilities are pretty endless.

There’s really nothing like Super Smalls, a children’s jewelry and accessories brand that was started by a former fashion editor and specializes in whimsical, age-appropriate gems with a slightly elevated twist. The brand is offering at least 20% off all orders with code SUPERSALE24, and it’s nearly impossible to pick just one thing, especially when there are non-junky bead kits and unpigmented play makeup sets to choose from. I

do recommend checking on of their starter necklace packs or this set of five rings. My kids have the latter and they are beyond obsessed.

Speaking of movie night: I found another Black Friday sale that will definitely complement our Friday-night “Nightmare Before Christmas” screenings. This beloved and highly-rated blanket is designed to be just as lightweight, snuggly and attractive as its pricier cotton gauze counterparts from the likes of Parachute and Quince, but won’t break the bank. You can get it in various colors, sizes and styles.

Tonies are reliably on sale only a few times a year, and Black Friday is one of those times. This starter set comes with one figurine that plays 52 minutes worth of popular kids’ songs. Other figurines are sold separately.

I’ve had my eye on this unnecessarily good-looking blender for a few years now, and the Black Friday price is pretty tempting. I know my family would reap the health benefits of homemade smoothies and juices and the girls would get a kick out of using it. This bundle — called the “Plus” consists of the Beast blender itself paired with a drinking tumbler and smaller storage cup for keeping your concoctions in the fridge.

Recently, I needed a pair of stockings, and realized that my entire hosiery collection dated to the pre-pandemic era and consisted of tights in various stages of disintegration. My colleague Lourdes Avila Uribe claims that these Sheertex tight really are indestructible, and they come in so many sizes and fun colors that are currently on sale for Black Friday. The brand’s classic sheer tights come with a 4-inch waistband and in sizes XXS-4XL.

I have yet to introduce my kids to the nostalgic treat that is a pack of scented Mr. Sketch markers, and I think this will be the perfect stocking stuffer. The set comes with 12 markers, each with its own unique, childhood-tinged smell.

Everyone keeps telling me that this brand makes the best lip balm, so I’m curious about getting this expansive gift set for my spouse (or any who appreciates great skin care, really).

Thirteen of Jack Black’s best-selling men’s skin care products are packed inside this gift set, which is on sale exclusively for Black Friday. Notable essentials include the brand’s all-in-one emollient SPF-infused moisturizer, a conditioning shave oil and beard conditioner and a peptide-rich serum, just to name a few.

For myself, I’m eyeing the much more manageable 3-piece lip balm set with shea butter and SPF.

I’ve long wondered if I could successfully get the rest of my family on the bidet bandwagon, and there’s no time like Black Friday to test-drive one of these handy appliances. Luxe Bidet is offering 20% off at Amazon on products like their Neo 320 Plus that emits warm or cold water and has a cool self-cleaning feature.

People in our office are obsessed with this French nail care brand, and I think I (and my neglected, constantly chipped nails) need to get on the bandwagon. “The intention of the polishes is to create a subtle and muss-free nail look that will actually improve nail health over time, while also helping to conceal any ridges or marks on the nails,” wrote shopping writer Tessa Flores in a recent roundup of editor-recommend gifts under $50. “You can also mix and match the application of the polishes to create a really customized look and I love how fast-drying each one is.”

Promising review: “My nails are actually growing and strong for the first time in my life.” — Zoe

This fully stocked bread-making kit has nearly everything required to make a crusty loaf of chewy and tangy sourdough bread, completely from scratch. Perfect for both the seasoned and the aspiring baker, this set includes a variety of dough and bench scrapers, a moisture-preserving rising cover and a round natural fiber banneton for creating foolproof loaves again and again.

My spouse wants to explore bread-making, as our kids naturally eat a ton of it, and this seems like something our whole family could get into.

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