Christmas time is finally here,  

And oh my goodness, what a year! 

With cones of uncertainty and COVID-19, 

2020 caused a big scene.

Find a gift, add some jolly to life, 

In a year full of naughty, we all need some nice.  

Spread joy and peace where ever you may go, 

6 feet apart ’cause Santa’s watching, HO HO HO! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

1 Webcams & Earbuds

In December 2019, there were 10 million Zoom daily meeting participants. At the start of the pandemic in March 2020, it increased to 200 million and 300 million in April 2020. A high-quality webcam and a pair of wireless earbuds are essentials of the next normal.  And they make a really useful Christmas gift. Bluetooth earbuds provide better sound quality and stability in connection. A HD webcam delivers a clearer image with smoother transitions in movement. We suggest two different types depending on your needs: the NexiGo and Logitch webcam. 

2 Jigsaw Puzzle

In 2020 many of us rediscovered the classic pastime of putting together a  jigsaw puzzle. The demand for puzzles spiked and lead to a global shortage according to National Public Radio.  In addition to purchasing a puzzle, you could save some money by participating in a jigsaw puzzle swap. We did that during the pandemic Shelter-at-Home order. Someone in the neighborhood created a puzzle swap with a single post on the Nextdoor App.  

3 Apple Watch

The watch we didn’t know we needed until 2020. The Apple Watch drives your world by encouraging fitness goals, playing music, staying connected, and providing direction (literally, it has a GPS). The activity ring is one of its best features encouraging us to “close the rings” with movement, exercise, and standing. The Apple Watch is customizable to your lifestyle with options to change the band and watch face. The Series 5 comes with more bells and whistles but many like the Series 3 as well. Oh yeah, I almost forgot! It also tells time like a normal watch during a very not-normal year.

4 Carolina Coops

Homesteading is a little more than a garden but less than a full-scale farm. It provides the comfort of self-sufficiency in a world of uncertainty. Many food shortages across the nation have put citizens in a peck-le. Hen-ceforth, backyard chickens have beak-ed their interest. Chickens egg-sentially need sturdy built coops to protect them from predators. If you’re looking for a coop that will go the egg-tra mile for your chicks, check out Carolina Coops.  Think of it as a forever home for fabulous fowl. At the time of this writing, Carolina Coops has a waitlist of about 6 months. The Harris family coop is scheduled to arrive in March 2021. For more information about chickens and coop construction, Carolina Coops can take you under their wing. Check out Carolina Coops’ YouTube Channeland their Radio Chicken Podcast on Tuesdays @ 10 am.  

5 Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm

Give the gift of worms, it will worm their heart. Uncle Jim’s worms are not only a good treat for your poultry, but a must for compost bins. Worm composting is the use of worms to recycle food scraps and other organic material. Fill up your bin with veggie and shredded paper waste to put your worms to work! A worm will eat half their body weight every day, so don’t worry about overstuffing them like a Thanksgiving turkey. In the spring, the worm compost can be used as a high nutrient fertilizer for gardening. 

6 Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo Dot (3rd generation) is made to help you! The Dot is a small compact smart speaker with many features. Ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, call friends, and tell jokes! Alexa can be your virtual friend to help you accomplish tasks hands-free. 

7 Water Jug

Stay hydrated and motivated with an inspirational 1 gallon water bottle. The water bottle is a good habit to offset the bad foods and drinks consumed during the pandemic. It is a must for any fitness goals set for 2021. Start your morning off right with a “7 am good morning “ and end with a “9 pm you did it!” 

8 Hello Fresh

COVID-19 has put a hold on traditional grocery shopping. Hello Fresh has thought inside the box by delivering food plans that suit your lifestyle. How does it work? Pick a plan, receive your delivery, cook, eat, and enjoy! It will save you money, time, and stress. 

9 Light Up Drumsticks

Have a little rockstar in your life? Turn up the beat with light up drumsticks. Light up drumsticks will make your little one feel like a true rockstar. Pick any color to light up their world. Don’t let COVID-19 stop the concert in your home!

10 Bundtinis

All you need is love during the holiday season (but a bundtini would also be nice). Bundtinis are the way to go for tasty gift giving! We have switched to bundtinis rather than a cake as a COVID safety precaution. Don’t blow spit on a cake, get a bundtini! 

11 Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra

How dreadful a year without in-person musical events! Thankfully, the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra has planned virtual and social distanced events. They offer @Home Concert series that will brighten your spirits for the holidays. Visit their website to purchase tickets for yourself or as a gift to someone who needs some rhythm in their life. 

12 The Forever Home by Kevin Harris

After the first Forever Home book was sold out in the summer of 2019, it was time for a second printing with 14 new inspiring photographs by Chipper Hatter. The Forever Home is a must-read if you are planning to build your forever home in 2020 or curious about the process of building a home. If you live in Baton Rouge, you can call Cottonwood Books or Barnes and Noble at Citiplace to get it now. It is also sold on Amazon! And if you want a copy signed, come by the office, Kevin would be happy to sign it for you or your special someone. And if you’re out of state, have no fear- we can mail anywhere! See for yourself why it topped the Amazon #1 chart!

From all of us here at Kevin Harris Architect, LLC, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Gifting! If you have any gift ideas for next year, comment below!

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© 2020 Kevin Harris, Architect, LLC

Kevin Harris, Architect, LLC designs custom homes to satisfy, support and sustain our client’s best life, to be an authentic expression of their site, lifestyle and culture, while remaining rooted in history and expressive of the times. For more information on Kevin or the firm go to www.kevinharrisarchitect.com.