8 Christmas Gifts For The Boring Ass Adult In Your Life

This post contains affiliate links BUT per usual, I only link items that I love and have bought myself or genuinely think are awesome!.

My mom always said that you knew you were getting old when your gifts had to be plugged in.  Now, while I do think that logic mostly worked in the era of my childhood before technology really took off (and the only things that really plugged in for kids was the occasional gaming system) it kinda sorta never really applied to me.  I'm just an oddball that has had old lady tendencies since the womb.

Like I was the kid that as I ripped the wrapping paper off one of my gifts to reveal a heater box I yelled "Oh wow!! A heater!!"  And my mom was all...."Um,that's just the box, it's not a heater."

My excitement in that moment should explain it all.  Kids these days are pissed about getting a joke tortilla as a gift and there I was alllllllll kinds of PUMPED UP over the idea of having my very own SPACE HEATER!!! Woooo!

So if this list excites you it's either a sign that you are indeed a boring adult.....or you're my soul sister (or brother)

Let's get started....

I may be an old lady at heart, but I still have something in common with Slash.  We can both SHRED like nobody’s business!!

Paper Shredder

Santa brought it last year and it’s been magical!  I’ve sorted through years and years of old paperwork and there’s a certain satisfaction you get with sending those old documents and junk mail through! Puts a smile on my face every time.

Our old townhouse had tile in every square inch of the house, even the bedrooms upstairs.  I had dreamed of having a steam mop for years when my mom came through and got me this Shark model.  GAME CHANGER!!  It’s amazing for spot/quick mops between your big scrub down. 

Steam Mop 

I figured if I was already on the subject of Shark products I might as well tell you about my vacuum.  I’ve had it for a few years but still love it nonetheless.  The magic is still fully alive in this relationship!  I never knew I could have such deep feelings for a vacuum cleaner.  Between this and the mop I think I might brand loyal to Shark now.  I love that it’s easy to maneuver, gets under furniture like a champ, and sucks in the good way! Any vacuum that can handle the fur of both me and Mildred is a winner fo sho!

Shark Vacuum

Most coffee lovers have already made the switch, but if the coffee lover in your life hasn’t yet, it makes a great gift!  My sister got me one 2 Christmases ago because she knew how disgusted The Boy was with my coffee habits at the time.  I found brewing every morning to be a pain in the ass (first world lazy people problems) so I would brew a giant pot and leave it out and drink off it for days just by pouring a cup and microwaving it.  Basically, The Boy thought I was a disgusting animal and my sister saw this as a good solution to this problem….and I LOVE it!!  I kept our old coffee maker in the garage in case we ever host a crowd and need a lot, but one cup at a time is super convenient for you daily cups of jo.

Keurig 

Here’s one I don’t actually have yet, but REALLY want! (but forgot to put on my list this year….dang!)  If you’re like me and your daily outfit pick is usually solely based on what doesn’t need to be ironed, this is the gift for you! My mom always got mad at us growing up and I can still hear her yelling “The dryer IS NOT an ironing board!”  Well…..in my house it kinda is lol  A steamer would totally save electricity by skipping the dryer and is a hell of a lot easier than breaking out the ironing board.  This one is a great price and has a ton of high rater reviews.

Garment Steamer 

Now we make the transition into cordless items........

I got this spin mop and bucket last year too.  I really cleaned up in the mopping supplies! (see what I did there? Merp!)  You might be thinking that it sounds like overkill to get both a steam mop and a regular mop in the same Christmas…..but it’s not!  They are both good for different reasons.  I like the steam mop for the quick in between spot cleaning and the spin mop for my deep clean.  The two together make my life a lot easier!

Spin Mop 

I had been wanting a water pick for years, but our townhouse only had pedestal sinks, even in the master bathroom (dumb, just DUMB!) so we had no counter space to put one on.  Now that we bought our house and do have counter space, I still wouldn’t always want to have a water pick with a tank sitting on my counter anyway, so I’m glad I went with this model.  The water reservoir is attached, and the entire thing is handheld.  It’s designed to be able to be taken in the shower if you need to.  It takes some getting used to to not spray water all over your mirror and bathroom (or maybe that’s just me?) but OMG it’s a change yo life product!!  Your teeth feel so damn clean afterwards.  It’s the BEST!!

Portable Water Flosser 

Want to make yard work hella fun?  Then you need to get this last item! It’s a torch designed for burning weeds. After a long annoying day, there is some serious satisfaction that comes with burning those bitches! Just hook it up to a mini propane tank and you're set to destroy.

Weed Torch 

I hope you enjoyed this round up of my favorite gifts for the boring ass adult in your life!  What are some of your favorite boring gifts to give and/or receive?

My Thoughts on Black Friday Shopping

I’m going to try and keep this blog post short and to the point as much as possible.  I never realized how passionately I felt about the subject until a few years ago, so let’s back it up…..

Personally, I have never gone Black Friday shopping.  I love a deal as much as the next person, don’t get me wrong. I love the thrill of a good thrift, I research, and price compare almost any purchase over $20 (for real lol), and I take pride in stretching my budget (a nice way of calling myself cheap).  

 With that said you would think BF would be right up my alley, but I know I would not be able to handle the chaos and crowds and it just wouldn’t be worth all the anxiety. I don’t have any huge issues with the concept, as long as it keeps to Black FRIDAY.

My problem started when it gradually (or not so) creeped its way into Thanksgiving.  Growing up and even into high school it was always kept to Friday.  Most places opened at 5am, then it became, 3am, midnight, then before you knew it stores were opening at 5pm Thanksgiving Day.  

My mom has had to work a second part time job at Kohl’s for the past 11 years or so.  Over the course of those years the shift from Black Friday into “Gray Thursday” became blatantly apparent. We started eating earlier in the day, so she would be able to make the meal, but was always left either packing her dessert to go or she was scarfing it quickly before the rest of us were ready just to be able to have some before heading off for her shift.  It always made me sad.

One year, when one of my nieces was quite little (I want to say second grade?) she even wrote a paper in school about how she wished her Nana didn’t have to leave Thanksgiving to go to work at the store.  If that isn’t telling, I don’t know what is.  Kids notice these things.

So, while this has always been something that bothered me, there was one thing that REALLY set me off one year.  A fellow blogger that I followed for years was proudly posting all over social media about the all the great deals she just scored, and it was only 5 o’clock on Thanksgiving Day!!  I was completely triggered.  I’m going to be completely honest here, I replied to her post and I was not the nicest about it.  I should have either said nothing at all (which is usually the best route to take) or I could have approached it differently.  I did however feel the need to shine some light on it though.  I truly think she was blissfully unaware of how it effects other people.  This particular woman had mentioned before that she went straight from her parent’s house to a stay at home wife/mom.  She does run a small sales business and her blog from home, so I’m not claiming she doesn’t work, but there is no way you can compare that to an outside job that could potentially REQUIRE you to work on a holiday.  It just isn’t the same.

I’m not knocking her situation, good for her that she doesn’t have to work outside the home and can make her own hours, but that in turn had made her unaware of how others may not have that luxury. 

Every time you shop on Thanksgiving you are keeping those workers from their homes and families.  And for what?  So you can score that deal 6 hours earlier?  Can your big TV, gaming console, and toys not wait just a few more hours so that those people can be with their families? Is it really THAT important that it can’t wait? 

There are so many people that we need to work everyday of the year regardless of what day it is. Doctors, nurses, firemen, various staff in hospitals and other care settings, 911 operators, police….we NEED them.  But do we really need that cashier at Kohls?

I think it got me so riled up because every year that I am with my family for the holidays I am so grateful.  I spent years clamoring to get the day off, eating and running to my shift, and stressing over the schedule coming out for a month.  Of the 8 Thanksgivings that The Boy and I have been together I think he has been able to attend 3 (maybe 4?) times due to his job as well.  Missing out on these times make you eternally grateful for when you can be there.  Some people have a job or lifestyle where they have NEVER had to miss out, so they simply don’t understand it.  That’s why felt compelled to write this.  Maybe someone who has never thought about it before might give it a second thought.

I also wanted to add that my current job guarantees me all the major holidays off and I could not be more grateful.  It’s a relief to not have to worry about it every year and that I get this precious time with my family.

In closing, can we all just agree to keep Black Friday to Friday?  K thanks!

I hope you all have a safe (and tasty!) Thanksgiving

Applesauce Custard Pie

This recipe was just created by myself 6 days ago.  I made it as part of our celebration of my Uncle Gary who just recently passed away.  Let me tell you the backstory.....

Ever since I was little I remember my mom saying my Uncle Gary loved applesauce pie.  I even remember her making it for him a couple of times as he stopped through town.  The things is though....I never really understood the appeal. It's apple sauce in a graham cracker crust and frozen.  That's it.

Recently, he and I had become rather close and in one of our hours long conversations I ended up throwing shade at this beloved dessert of his.

 I said " I don't get it.....it's just frozen apple sauce...in a crust??"

His reply was looking at me and basically saying " Yea,and what's your point??"

I went on and on telling him that I thought I could improve upon it and make him a baked version.  He made a face of disgust and waved it off (he had a certain way of waving things off that makes me laugh every time I think about it)  I was trying soooo hard to convince it would be good.  

"No really, it would be almost like a custard.  I would base it off my pumpkin pie recipe but use applesauce instead"

At this point I'm pretty sure he was convinced that there was a possibility it could be good, but of course he was not about tell me that.😜  I asked him if he would try if if I made it this year for Thanksgiving.

I got another wave of the hand and a "Fine, I'll try it"   

VICTORY!!!

It may not have been a resounding yes but it was as much as I was going to get out of his stubborn smart ass self!

Unfortunately, a cancer diagnosis came quickly at the end of October and within 15 days he passed away.  It made me so sad that he never got to try the pie, but I wanted to still create it and serve it in his honor.....along with some of the other weird desserts he loves ( like spice cake with peanut butter frosting, not gross, but not something that immediately comes to mind as a delicious combination lol)

Luckily it seemed to come together well in my first attempt and the family that tried it at the gathering seemed to like it.  I did have to laugh though because as the night was winding down, I noticed not one single person had taken a slice of his original version of the pie. 

I said "Poor Uncle Gary, nobody ate his weird pie!"

Then a bunch of us ate some small slivers of his applesauce popsicle of a pie just for him!  It's not bad....it's just a funny idea for a dessert.

The original version

So this pie is for you Uncle Gary!  Mom says you wouldn't have liked it...I think you would have.  (Even if you wouldn't ever have admitted it 😜)

The funny thing is I actually HATE apple pie.  (I know, I know....how unamerican of me)  But I really just loathe the texture of cooked apples.  I have always said I like the flavor, but can't do the texture.  If I touch a piece of apple pie at all it's just to eat some of the surrounding goop on the crust.  Pieces of apple are avoided at all costs!! So I actually really like this recipe because it has all the yummy flavor of apple pie but is smooth and creamy. 

Apple Sauce Custard Pie

1  9" unbaked pie crust
2 cups cinnamon applesauce
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs, beaten
Cinnamon for sprinkling


Mix together the applesauce, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and eggs.  Pour into a 9" pie crust.  Sprinkle the top with cinnamon.  Bake in a 350 oven until the center of the pie is set.  It took 40 mins in my oven but could vary. 






Love you Uncle Gary 💓