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.

See More Options

 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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2023 Wishmas Guide... for the Guys!

This year's list was a challenge, but... we were able to narrow it down to items that will get a thumbs up from the guys in your life this holiday season. We still don't have a solution to keep his mustache out of his eggnog when drinking directly from the mug, but... biodegradable jumbo straws will work for now:

Portable Tea Pot w/ Temp Control - These portable options remove the need for a coffee maker, stove, or microwave. The product you see here is... Jettle, which boils water for things such as coffee, tea, and even ramen noodles.

PC RAM - If the guys in your life are constantly in front of the PC, this is the type of gift that keeps on giving. They may want to select the type of RAM themselves, so a gift card to invest in more RAM may be the best route. To determine the maximum RAM the gift recipient's computer can take, follow these steps:

• In the search bar on the lower left hand of the screen, type "RUN" and select Command Prompt.
• Type this command: wmic memphysical get MaxCapacity, MemoryDevices
• Press 'Enter'
• MaxCapacity is the 8 to 9 digits seen below "MaxCapacity", and "MemoryDevices" will represent the number of RAM sticks you can use, this is generally 2 to 4 slots.
• Let's do a little math: Max Capacity (i.e. 134217728) divided by 1048576 = ___GB Max RAM

Now divide the max RAM by the number of slots the PC has (i.e. 2 or 4). Mine is 128GB, and if I had 4 slots that would = 32GB per RAM stick. In reality, I have 2 slots so that's 64GB per RAM. You don't have to max it out, but an upgrade doesn't hurt... especially if they utilize their PC daily for gaming and other demanding software.

To check the current amount of RAM, click in the lower left-hand search box and type "about" and select "About your PC". Here you will see the installed RAM. You can also go to Task Manager by right-clicking within the taskbar on your PC, selecting that option when the pop-up appears. From there click on 'Performance' and go down to 'Memory'. In the upper right corner, it will show you the current RAM installed as well (and it shows the number of slots used + the Form factor). The stats you see below are pitiful but useful... so an upgrade will take this system to a whole notha level! Yes... I said notha. (Queue the fireworks... bam... Boom... BLAM!)

I say allllll this to say, if he doesn't know, share this article with him and have him figure it out. That way he can use the gift card to buy it himself or present options for you to buy. It may not seem as creative, but he will appreciate the fact that you didn't just grab some RAM that he has to return... unless you're able to get the info needed. If he's maxed out on RAM, he scored a gift card. WIN!

Before I move on, do not, do not, do not... buy the Tech Unlimited plan for RAM. Sure it covers it for longer than 3 to 4 years, but it's $16.99/month... which is throwing money in the trash in my opinion, and setting it on fire after covering it with compost. $16.99/month is over $200+ for a year. You can simply buy more RAM on that note. The 4-year plan for a 1-time payment of $17.99 makes much more sense if you choose to get protection (it's through Asurion). If they can't repair it, the replace it or you're made whole with another Amazon gift card. So win without breaking the bank!

Smartwatch - This is on the list, because... it never hurts to take your health seriously, and a number of men aren't as active in terms of this because the focus is usually on getting something else done. I'm one of these guys in part. I'd recommend either the Fitbit Sense 2 or the Charge 6 (the Charge 6 gives all features minus Alexa and Bluetooth + LTE for calls). The Sense 2 has the more traditional watch shape, so keep that in mind regarding which he'd prefer to wear more often.

Both options have: 

Solid battery life | Built-in GPS | ECG app for AFib assessment | Blood oxygen + skin temp + heart rate variability (Charge 6 features heart rate on equipment) | Sleep tracking | Sensor for stress management

If you get a FitBit... throw in the Smart Scale based on the needs of that special someone you're shopping for. It syncs the stats to the Fitbit dashboard and can be used by multiple users to track stats.

Multi-tool or pocket knife - This is a cheesy stocking stuffer to some, but some men love a good pocket knife... and they truly come in handy. I'll you a perfect example. This Toldadi Pocket Knife may not look like much by the image you see below, but outside of being sharp and being able to cut things (duh of the day)... it is also a bottle opener + a freaking fire starter + screwdriver + whistle + window breaker + that part you see near the backside of the handle can seatbelts. Not sure why it's not advertised, but you get the idea. This comes in hand in more ways than one... making it a solid gift. Save 20% on this particular knife... for now.

Grooming kit or beard care set - Just because a guy doesn't express the need for a grooming kit, doesn't mean he'd turn one away.

Drone or remote-control car - This is for the guys who love drones or RCs. There are guys who play around with drones and even race them, while on the flipside there are guys who use camera drones for film projects and things of that nature. If that the type of guy you're shopping for, and you have the coin for it... make him cry with an option like the... DJI FPV Explorer Combo.

Records 4K/60fps video at up to 120 Mbps.

Remote-controlled cars, on the other hand, are great for the hobbyists out there who like to tinker and race. This is a great gift that also creates a new pastime if they're purchased for various guys in your life. It would sound funny at first to hear that the guys are outside playing until friends witness the fun, and then they'd magically pop up with an RC. Again, another gift that keeps on giving.

Video Games - This wouldn't be a Wishmas guide without video games! What?! If the games they want aren't exactly out yet, get them a gift card or pre-order it for console or PC! We aren't sending you in any direction, because preferences vary... but you can gather intel by talking games!

If his TV game is weak... you already know what to consider this time around. Options vary, and a smart tv gives the most options so that there's no need to buy an additional streaming device. Fire TV delivers nearly all streaming apps + the Luna gaming app that gives him the ability to stream games free with an Amazon Prime membership. More games are playable with an upgraded plan, no downloading needed, just make sure your internet is strong. I've been able to play comfortably without a hardwired connection. If you can only afford a TV in the $200 range, don't trip. The option you see below is a 55" TV for $269 with Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos, Alexa, Apple Airplay compatible! This TV normally goes for $347.76, so bust a move if it's an ideal gift for the guy in your life!

George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill - If he loves to grill, he will love this, and you might catch him looking at you during gatherings like Shawn's doing below. This grill doesn't require a tabletop or a countertop, it has its own stand making it perfect to plug in and toss some deliciousness on! I can taste the marinated steak and grilled veggies now. I had some grilled chicken at a party recently... OMG... let's just say I'm ready for some more right now.

Outside of a good pair of headphones (if they don't have some already), I think this Wishmas list has more than a few things to deliver some excitement this holiday season... for the Guys!

Sophima | Guest Contributor

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