The 2024 Wishmas Guide... Hub!

Yo Yo Yo! Don't look now, but it's that time of the year again. Grab the hot chocolate and your favorite holiday snack as we jump into the Wishmas Guide for 2024! This year we're serving things up a little different folks (just a teensy weensy bit). So... this is what we'll call the Wishmas Guide... Hub! A portion of individuals we've met around Orlando this year, actually contributed to these guides in a round about way... just based on their collective needs + wants + frustrations.

This hub post will represent items good for any member of the family regardless of age or gender for the most part. For the other guide's related to Younglings, the Ladies, Gents, and the... Office will be in separate posts (as usual) that are accessible through this... hub! Stay tuned!

 Elevate Your Family TV Time with Surround Sound 

This year, in the name of family time, whether you're playing games or watching a movie together, consider upgrading from your TV's built-in speakers. A true 5.1 channel surround sound system with Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X is the perfect addition to your living room. Audio is one of those features that's always appreciated, especially when it comes to headphones, but I've noticed that many living room setups are missing that extra oomph. It's a personal choice, but investing in a quality sound system can take your entertainment to the next level. It's not about having a louder entertainment experience... it's all about the depth of the experience, and if you find yourself watching the latest movies at home don't leave an ounce of enjoyment on the table. 

By the way, before I go into this... (maybe it's just me but) I've always felt weird about placing a subwoofer off to the side rather than front and center. If you have the ability to place it under your livingroom table or under a high enough entertainment center... I think the placement works better. If you have space behind the couch in the center, that works as well and... some newer options can be controlled by your phone if you.

Two options under the $200 mark are the 2024 models of the Vizio & Ultimea model seen below:

Vizio 5.1 Soundbar SE

Soundbar

Right & Left Surround Speakers

Compact Wireless Subwoofer

Dolby Atmos + DTS:X

Bluetooth

HDMI eARC

Optical Output

Ultimea True 5.1 Soundbar Poseidon D60

Soundbar

Right & Left Surround Speakers

Wireless Subwoofer

Dolby Atmos + DTS:X

Bluetooth

HDMI eARC

Auxiliary

Optical

The placement of a subwoofer can significantly impact the quality of sound in your home theater or living room setup. While it doesn't necessarily have to be placed in the center of the viewing area, there are some guidelines to follow for optimal sound:

1. Corner Placement: Placing the subwoofer in a corner can enhance the bass response by utilizing the walls to amplify the sound.

2. Front of the Room: Positioning the subwoofer at the front of the room, near the main speakers, can create a more cohesive soundstage.

3. Experimentation: The best placement can vary depending on the room's acoustics. It's often recommended to experiment with different locations to find the spot that provides the best bass response.

Ultimately, the goal is to achieve a balanced and immersive sound experience, so feel free to move the subwoofer around and test different positions to see what works best for your space.

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 Family Fun with Nintendo Switch Games 

While it might be tempting to say wait for the new Nintendo Switch 2, expected to announced during the first half of... 2025, not everyone wants to put family game time on pause. Many parents I've spoken to in Orlando would love to see cellphones set aside for more family fun. Luckily, there are plenty of options to make that happen with multiplayer action. Here are multiple Nintendo Switch games with 4-player fun:

1. 
   Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury: This game offers a fun and chaotic multiplayer experience as players work together to complete levels and collect power-ups.
   
   
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: A classic racing game that never gets old. Compete against each other in exciting races and battle modes.
   
   
3. Overcooked! All You Can Eat: A hilarious and frantic cooking game where teamwork is key to serving up dishes in crazy kitchens.
   
   
4. Minecraft: Explore, build, and survive together in this sandbox game that offers endless possibilities for creativity and adventure.
   
   
5. Nintendo Switch Sports: Engage in friendly competition with sports like bowling, tennis, and volleyball (the other sports in this game lack a local 4 player option).
   
   
6. Super Mario Party Jamboree: The biggest Mario Party yet, with over 110 minigames, new online and offline modes, and plenty of customization choices.
   
   
7. 
   Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Classic Mario gameplay turned on its head with Wonder Flowers, offering game-changing items and a new adventure in the Flower Kingdom.
   
   
8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge - Anniversary Edition: Enjoy stunning full-color pixel art graphics and a vintage TMNT vibe, with new characters and modes.
   
   
9. Just Dance 2025: Get your friends and family together to dance and enjoy 40 hot new songs, whether you want to take the party to a whole new level or create special family moments.
   
   
10. The Karate Kid: Street Rumble: Step into the streets of West Valley and Okinawa, battling waves of enemies as Daniel LaRusso, Mr. Miyagi, Ali Mills, or Kumiko in this pixel art, side-scrolling, beat 'em up adventure. Intense martial arts combat and dynamic boss battles await!
    
    
11. Jitsu Squad: Fast-paced 2D brawler with intense, action-packed battles. Play as unique characters with special abilities, fighting through waves of enemies in vibrant, hand-drawn environments. Perfect for fans of classic beat 'em ups!

These games are perfect for bringing the family together for some fun and interactive entertainment.

By the way, don't forget to grab more Joy-Con controllers for 4-player fun! If you take the more affordable route, go with the officially licensed options for half the price of the first party ones or go first party that's bundled with a free game! Either way... you save! By the way, we have no idea what the next Nintendo console would be called... but that sounded like a fun name to call it!

Get Moving with Bikes

While home entertainment is great, don't forget the fun and exercise that bikes can provide. Health care professionals recommend physical exercise for its numerous benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, stronger muscles, and better mental well-being. Being active with your children also sets a positive example and strengthens family bonds.

Consider investing in bikes for the whole family. There are even electric mountain bikes for those who want to give their legs a break after a nice ride, ranging from $200 to $300. With options for both kids and adults, you can enjoy quality time together while staying active and healthy.

If you grab bikes, wouldn't hurt to grab a bike rack.

Active Fun for the Whole Family

Sticking to the realm of physical fun, consider gifting a tennis set, basketball goal or a volleyball net. These can provide hours of entertainment and exercise, especially if the lucky recipient actually uses them. For more affordable options, a football, baseball or soccer set is a great choice. These activities offer family fun while also improving your children's skills. It's a win-win for everyone!

Unforgettable Experiences as Gifts

When it comes to taking trips, going on cruises, enjoying spa days, savoring delicious food, or just having fun locally, these experiences are even better when received as gifts.

Whether it's a weekend getaway, a relaxing spa day, or a fun-filled local adventure, these experiences create lasting memories and strengthen family bonds (especially with good vibes on deck). Just remember, while browsing, don't get distracted by deals you'd love to get your hands on... unless it includes your family. Enjoy!

Great Family Stocking Stuffer: Dr. Plotkas Toothbrush

The family stocking stuffer is... a Dr. Plotkas Toothbrushes, because they're just that good. This has been my toothbrush of choice for years now. The family pack would allow for you to easily hook everyone up, and save their grill at the same time. We may like pirate themed entertainment, but I don't know many people who want to look like one... in the mouth.

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Happy Holidays to All + Sound Station Vibrant Loops Vol. 1 + Free Games!

Whether your Country topped the list or not... we want to wish you a peaceful & joyous holiday that spills over into 2024 and floods the entire year in awesomeness worldwide. There are enough amazing people in the world to make it even better, some of whom we game with on a daily basis. So press play, raise your glass, rep with other viewers... and grab a free game (just don't attempt to fist pump with your drink in hand)!

Cheers to all!

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Australia

Taiwan

France

Netherlands

Switzerland

Indonesia

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China

Argentina

Hong Kong

India

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Holiday Break Activity Suggestions!

 

If you like the tees... here's the shirt on the left + right!

During this Holiday break, kids rejoice, while parents are sitting back wondering... how's this going to work out? If they're a certain age I know a Babysitter is usually on speed dial, but that doesn't mean that activities are automatically a thing.

At times, school is the only access to other kids your child may have... so don't ignore that. Give them access to family and friends with tech like the Echo Show 5 2nd Gen, especially if they aren't old enough to have a phone. Of course, they get the other extras like shows to stream, and even audible for books, but you also get a free year of Amazon Kids+ for games. It's not just that though, they get the ability to socialize with friends and family.

There are plenty of teens and adults able to talk for hours, so just imagine your younglings doing activities while chatting with family and friends. It makes the activity even better, and if you want to keep it in a neutral area where it's facing a wall due to privacy concerns... you can set up a little communication station. Once the call is done, they can turn off the mic + camera and use the camera privacy shutter... and you can even have them unplug it if you just want it off-off.

The Echo Show 5 Kids... comes with a 2-year worry-free guarantee, and it ships in one day (for $39.99).

What types of activities can they get into during this holiday break? Well, before Christmas, maybe they can work on some arts and crafts based on tutorials they see on the echo show. Not calling it a Babysitter, but they can make some pretty cool arts & crafts with tech as their step-by-step guide.

Speaking of step-by-step activities, here are some pretty cool arts & crafts activities they can do with the needed supplies on deck (powered by... Nintendo). What you see below are a few examples, but there are plenty of other activities... here.

If it's cold outside, and they can't get out and enjoy activities because they don't have supervision or permission... physical activities in the house should certainly be considered so they can burn off some energy. 

Kids who like yoga... might like the Cosmic Kids Yoga app, which has tons of yoga videos that get them up and active. The various episodes have different themes, including video game themes. In addition to the yoga, there are also dance-related videos + these super yoga videos give a video game-like theme that challenges kids to... keep up.

The plus about incorporating physical activities is that it helps them into the habit of doing physical activities. When it's fun, it's hard to even consider it exercise... and it's proof that you can take an alternate route versus going to the gym. I can hear the gym rats gasping, but... relax, to each their own.

If you go this route, don't forget the yoga mat. The Kidnasium yoga mat gives them a mat, but also a separate standalone yoga-related activity game complete with a... spinner.

If you want to take another route and you have a Nintendo Switch at home... don't forget about Nintendo Switch Sports, which gives them the ability to do various activities. Think about this for a second, imagine having them playing with their family or friends online while on echo show with them. I would've loved that as a kid and it would be one heck of a way to immerse themselves while being active and social. 

If they need to get online via the switch to play with others (including 2 local vs 2 in another home), it's fairly inexpensive... and if there are multiple siblings (and if the sitter wants to get in on the action) 4 people can play locally. There are so many things that can be done to fun their break.

If you have multiple family members using the Switch, get the 12-month online plan. If only one person is gaming online, get the 12-month individual plan.

Speaking of Nintendo Switch games... Eastward is an awesome single-player action

RPG for the kids who enjoy games that allow them to embark on an adventure. Here's

the first 30 of Eastward if you'd like to make sure it's something you approve of.

 

This game is rated T for Teen. More on game ratings... here.

If the kids are able to get outside... consider some outdoor activities that can dial up the fun among them and their friends in the neighborhood. There are some options out there for soccer combos at affordable prices, basketball goals for less than $75 (for now), and some super affordable basketballs.

The activities don't stop here, but these are... suggestions to get those creative juices flowing. If any more come up, including chores, there are things like the Echo Show 15 that work well for a common area that has this very clean picture frame-like design that caught my eye. Its function can keep the kids or the Babysitter on task. Shows can be seen, calls can be made, step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a meal, and all that good stuff. This device also features privacy features.

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2022 Wishmas Guide... for the Office Space!

 

Seasons Greetings Office Workers! While we could simply make a list of items for you to consider for yourself... you gotta show the ole office space some love (we'll get back to you later)! At times our office spaces can be as bland as some meals (I'm not pointing fingers), but... that doesn't have to be the case. Consider items that dial up the coolness + functionality of your office space as seen below.

I'd probably have to give coolness + functionality to the 3-in-1 chargers. Certainly, some are better than others, but consider which is better for you and is actually compatible with your device. If you prefer a charger that can charge Apple & Android, you don't have to swap it out when you change phones. The 3-in-1 chargers like this one... allow you to charge your phone, smartwatch, and wireless earbuds without having cords running to 3 different charging stations. Not only does it give functionality it's sure to put a smile on the faces of minimalists.

This isn't exactly an eye-catching addition to the office, but... this particular product focuses on those days when you're just that jacked up or you need a little nap. This is a deluxe memory foam travel nap/sleeping pillow for your desktop. You put your face in the hole as seen here... and run your arm through the cove below. You can store this in a bag so that the dust doesn't set up residence, and when you're in need of some Z's, just whip this out.

Keep your alarm clock at the ready so that you don't oversleep with this, but... for those of you with the time to nap, it's worth it. This comes to mind even more so for game developers and other software developers who have to work through crunch times when they don't have a choice but to sleep in the office if they're going to get any sleep. Remember, some devs even sleep under their desks during this time. This doesn't just work on the desk, you can position yourself on the floor the same way or lean it on a chair and lay your head back in the opening. I may have one of these

I have to include earbuds on this list for a few reasons, active noise cancellation for those times you need to cut out the background noise, the ability to take phone calls while jotting down info, and for some options even have the ability to connect devices simultaneously like the 1More Evo. This comes in handy when you want to connect your earbuds to your phone and PC without the need to swap.

Speaking of the 1More Evo, what I've mentioned above... doesn't even cover the hi-res audio, but... you can check out the full review, here.

This next item is cool + functional, and no... you don't necessarily need something so ridiculously interesting sitting on your desk, but... deep down in your heart is a little kid that's like "Oh but yes I do, and a big bowl of cereal!". 

This is the Divoom Ditoo, and as far as function goes... it's a 10W DSP speaker with a screen that displays the reactive pixel art equalizer. The fun and function don't stop there, the mechanical keys work, along with the little joystick + you can use it as a clock, a white noise machine, an alarm clock, gives social media notifications, provides weather conditions, etc. This thing is kickass, and you might have visitors to your office space just to check it out.

The fun doesn't stop there, no no no! The duh of the day is... you can play games, but... you can also make beats, and... there's a full community of artists and creators that use this thing who create pixel art and so forth. This is one of those devices that keeps on giving, and who wouldn't want to take the edge off from a stressful call or enjoy a small break creating pixel art or something?

I still don't know a lot of people who have mug warmers in their offices, but... I know quite a few people who love to drink coffee and find themselves microwaving tall cups of joe. Why not just get a mug warmer and call it a day? You keep the coffee warm, make tea, hot chocolate... and (wait for it...) keep ramen noodles or something warm. 

This isn't as cool, but this set isn't bad looking and it's functional, especially for those of you who like to work past lunch. This Sweet Life set comes with the warmer, the cup, the cup lid, and the spoon in a nice gift set. If you gift one of these out, consider adding the person's favorite coffee, cocoa, or tea as a secondary gift.

This also works wonders for those of you who work under the weather and need warm Theraflu.

I have to put this on here... because of the cool + functional design. This is the PowerPort Cube, and as you see, it has a mounting tray that allows for it to be attached and detached as needed... just in case you need to put it to use elsewhere. The mount allows for it to be placed in a number of areas... whether it be standing on your desktop (which I'd probably have some sort of 3M strips or something for that), mounted on the wall, or mounted under your desk... which would work great in the area you need it most for quick hookups. The 3M pads would also work for those of you with a glass desk.

Nothing like having a convenient place to hook up, and outside of your desk, having these in various places around your office, office building, or home... is a win. Think about having one of these mounted underneath a coffee table top near the edge, no one has to reach around going that awkward search for an outlet.

There are different models, and the one I like the most is actually the cheapest. I wish it had a USB-C port like the one you see in black here, but I like the position of the USB ports on the side. The placement of the others isn't horrible, but if you attach them beneath a desk like this one, they wouldn't be as easy in terms of connecting the USB cables (outside of the USB-C). Maybe that's why they have one.

I'd recommend a desk that works well as a work table. I love desks like these because I love big commercial work tables but I also appreciate a good desk. This particular desk is not just a desk that comes in 3 different sizes with the 63" max coming in less than $170, but... you also get the cable management equipped + a headphone holder + a large mousepad + a cup holder + a game & USB controller rack. 

I recommend this desk for those who don't plan to lay the weight on it because this desk can only handle a max capacity of 260 lbs. It's not exactly commercial strength, but at the same time... the average person isn't going to overload their desk with items. So if you like what you see, the sizes range from 63" to 55" at $129.99 to the smallest  44" desk at $94.99.

I was going to wrap this up with the desk, but I completely forget about this adjustable LED double headlight. It has a level of cool based on the look, but it's super functional... delivering 3 color temp options + 10 brightness settings and you can shift it. One of the reasons this is included is because at times you don't want the light in your face and would prefer to focus it on a book or your art, etc.

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