Send That Kid Outside

I like gifts to be creative and non-violent. You know: I'd prefer NOT to buy a video game where zombies are gooified loudly and give it to someone else's child. I admit it, we have those games in our house. They get played to the tune of Reel Big Fish no less. But I don't like to subject other people to them. I happen to prefer themed gift baskets.

When Savannah and I went shopping for her friend Ana's birthday, I let her wander through Target on her own. She wanted to find something much cooler than my lame gift basket idea. I got a text from her a few minutes later that admitted defeat. We met at The Dollar Spot.

 

The Dollar Spot is a section of Target with seasonal and holiday related offerings all priced at $1.00 or $2.50. So let's start this 15 year old off right with a great lined straw beach bag with pockets for $2.50, shall we? And let's add these $1 patriotic sunglasses to it. There's a nice inner pocket just for them.

And this straw beach mat with fabric pockets, ties, and handles? $2.50.

There's a little kid in every teenager. $1!

l 

A little SPF lip balm for another buck.

And we couldn't resist the bling-y 4th of July hat for a dollar. Savannah snagged one too.

$1 flip flops to match the hat? Absolutely. They'll look good with the sunglasses too.

And an insulated cooler for $2.50!

A bubble wand? For one dollar, why not?

At this point, my daughter was all in!

It's squishy, it was a dollar, and we loved it.

And this jumbo flying disk? $2.50!

I'm being a dork, aren't I?

Add a bandana for a bow, and we have a cool gift to get Ana to the beach all summer!

And at $18 including the bandana, I'd say we just bought her a lot of fun at a bargain price.

So what's your go-to gifting strategy?