Give Dad a Gift for Each Reason They Love Him! (An Easy #FathersDayCraft)

Thank you to Oriental Trading Company for providing the craft supplies and Father's Day gifts to facilitate our Father's Day craft tutorial.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Do you ever wish that you could do more to show Dad how much he is loved beyond just making that one day, be it Father's Day or his birthday, a special one?  How about making Dad feel special for 3 days, 7 days, or 10 days?  This is a super-easy craft that will let Dad know all the things his children love about him by presenting him with a small gift that represents each reason.  We narrowed our list down to 7 reasons and will be presenting my husband with one gift a day for the 7 days prior to Father's Day this year.  Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see our daily gift for Dad starting this coming Sunday!

Today's Craft:  A Gift for Each Reason They Love Dad

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Kraft Paper Gift Bags

Everyday Journal Cards

Cream Tags & Ties

thin permanent markers

glue stick

Foam Self-Adhesive Dad Shapes (optional)

fun gifts (scroll down for list of ideas)
tissue paper

Step 1.  Do some prior planning.  Make a list of reasons your children love their Dad and brainstorm some fun gifts that would go along with each reason.  Make your list manageable.  (You can find our list at the bottom of this post, along with some other ideas to help inspire you.)

Step 2.  If you use colored gift bags and journal cards, match one card up with each gift bag.  Then write one reason why your children love their Dad on each journal card.  I used the format:  " . . . (reason here)!"

Step 3.  Using your glue stick, apply glue to the corners, edges, and center on the backside of your journal card.  Then center the card, writing side up, on the front of the gift bag and press firmly.

Tip #1:  The gift bags we used were approximately 9" x 6-1/2".  If you use a smaller gift bag, be sure to leave enough room for the "Because . . . " tag to hang from the handle without covering the writing on the journal card.

Step 4.  Make sure you have one tag and one tie for each gift bag you plan to fill.  Write "Because . . . " on each tag with the tag positioned horizontally with the punched hole to the left (as pictured below).

Step 5.  Using the provided ties (or your own string, ribbon, or yarn), secure the tag onto the right side of the handle on the side of the bag on which you have glued the journal card.

Tip #2:  Although I we tied our string into little bows, you could opt to just make a loop with the string and hang the tag from the handle.  Just be sure not to let the tag hang down over the writing on the journal card.

Step 6.  This step is optional, but was a fun way for our children to get involved with the gift wrapping.  Use the Foam Self-Adhesive Dad Shapes (or other stickers and embellishments) to decorate the front of the gift bags.

Tip #3:  Because the words are an important part of the gift, be sure to tell your children not to cover the journal card.  Also, remind them that less is more.

Step 7.  Now you're ready to fill your bag with the gifts that represent each reason your children love their Dad.  Be sure to place the correct gift in the corresponding bag.  Add some tissue paper or gift bag filler to create a nice presentation.

Now all you need to do is find a good hiding spot to store your filled gift bags until they are ready to be presented to Dad.  You could give one gift to Dad per day to make the fun last longer or give them to him all at once!

Our list of reasons and gifts . . . 

• Because we love when you act silly! = Realistic Rubber Chicken
• Because you know everything! = Magic Fortune Teller Ball
• Because you can be really sweet sometimes! = Dubble Bubble American Flag Gum
• Because you tell the best stories! = My Dad:  His Stories, His Words Journal
• Because you are an awesome cook! = Humorous Rub Set
• Because you are a little nutty! = Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Brand Whiskey Praline Pecans
• Because you are our hero and protector! = A Daughter's First Love Tabletop Sign

Other reasons your children might love Dad . . . 

• Because you chase the monsters away!
• Because you're the king of the grill!
• Because you're so handsome!
• Because you always know just what to say!
• Because you can always make our ouchies better!
• Because you're a great listener!
• Because you always give great advice!
• Because you're so wise!
• Because you like to sing in the shower!
• Because you cheer the loudest during my games!
• Because you're the coolest Dad ever!
• Because you can fix anything!
• Because you smell good!
• Because you give the best piggyback rides!
• Because you teach us so much!

What other reasons would you add to this list?

Tech Tip: What to Pack in Your Mobile Tech Kit

Thank you to SOL Republic for providing sample Tracks Air Wireless Headphones for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our Father's Day giveaway.  All opinions expressed are our own.

I am a gadget and tech nerd. I love all things mobile, connected, and electronic. In this day and age it is so easy to stay connected, and as a result be productive and entertained just about anywhere. I’ve carried a laptop with me for years, but recently I swapped that out for a tablet and reduced the size of my bag. After going this route, I started to become addicted to seeing how much tech and capability I could pack into my small tablet bag. So I started my “Mobile Tech Kit” challenge.

The goal was simple: Create a kit that could fit in the smallest bag possible and could replace every function (and more) that a full featured desktop and workbench could, both in entertainment and productivity. Recently I was sent the very last component to complete my Mobile Tech Kit challenge and I can't wait to tell you about it.


To satisfy my need to cover all the functionality possible, I decided my kit needed to contain everything necessary to work, entertain (video and audio), stay connected, and keep everything powered up . . .

1.  Tablet - At the heart of my kit is the Microsoft Surface Windows 8.1 Tablet. The Surface is capable of offering me a full Windows desktop environment, unlike many other tablets. The value to this feature is that I can work as if I am sitting at any other Windows based PC. The Surface has the ability to interact with all of my other devices and keep me connected. The Surface pretty much provides all of the functionality I need for work related computing.

2.  Tech Tools - To round off the kits ability to support work related tasks, I carry various screwdrivers, hex wrenches, and a carbon fiber Leatherman Skeletool CX Multitool.

3.  Portable Hard Drive and Thumb Drive - To make sure I can get at any information that I may need to on the go, I carry various ways to hold, gather, and transport data. At the heart of my data storage is a Samsung 1 Terabyte hard drive with USB 3.0. In addition to the hard drive, I carry a 16 gigabyte thumb drive and a SATA adapter to access any loose hard drives that may need data recovery. I can pretty much access and store anything I need to with this arrangement.

But all that stuff is about work, what about play? . . . 

4.  Wireless Speaker and Headphones - The Microsoft Surface is capable of playing any audio or video you have available, both from a file or via streaming. The screen is bright and sharp and video looks fantastic. But in the end, a tablets speakers are only so good, if I want to rock out the room I needed more. The SOL Republic Deck wireless speaker was the perfect solution. The Deck is loud, tough, has amazing sound, and the battery lasts for hours (see full review here). For those times when I need to keep the noise to myself, I use my new SOL Republic Tracks Air. The Tracks Air are sleek and sound great (see a full review at the end of this article).

5.  Credit Card Reader - Another function I have, which was not an original requirement, is the ability to take credit card or Visa gift card payments from my phone via a PayPal card swiper and app called PayPal Here. If I am ever in a situation where I need to collect payment or an owed debt, I can take a payment on the spot and send an email receipt!

6.  Portable Battery Pack and Adapters/Cables - With all of this technology, power is a major concern, if not the number one concern. In my bag I need a number of adaptors to make sure I can charge up all of my devices whenever I can. But sometimes a wall outlet just isn't available, at those times I use a NewTrent PowerPak+ high capacity charger. This beast can charge my phone more than 4 times between charges or a tablet 2 times. Honestly? I haven't ran out of juice yet and I only charge it once per week. A portable battery pack is a must have for any tech kit.

I really had a lot of fun jamming as much capability in my Mobile Tech Kit as I could. In addition to all the cool tech gadgets in there, I keep some comfort items such as tissues, hand sanitizer, pain reliever, first aid, etc. After all of that I still have some room to grow my kit as more needs arise. I can literally say that I am prepared for just about any "geek emergency" that may come up in my travels!

More about the SOL Republic Tracks Air headphones . . . 

I have been using, loving, and very much enjoying my SOL Republic headphones for some time now. I have used and reviewed a few sets right here on this site and loved every single pair. It is no secret that I am a very big fan of SOL republic products.

SOL Republic sent me a pair of Tracks Air wireless headphones in black to try out. Like all of my SOL Republic headsets, the Tracks Air are very good looking and come with SOL Republic's signature indestructible headband.

The Tracks Air look just like a pair of Tracks at first glance. The sleek style and lines are identical.  But at closer inspection, you can see that there are buttons added as well as a charging port and some additional elements on the headband. The Tracks Air are a little bit heavier (not much) than their Tracks cousins due to the battery, but much lighter than the larger Master Tracks. I did not have any problems with discomfort after long sessions with the Tracks Air.

Just like their Tracks cousins, the wireless Tracks Air can be used to make and answer phone calls if paired with a mobile phone. In fact, the Tracks Air will make the change seamlessly with a press of a button to answer a call, and transition back to music after the call ends!

SOL Republic states the range of the Tracks Air is as far as 150 feet. I was able to go about 20 meters in a steel and concrete office. I have not tested them out in an open space but it hardly matters:. All I want to do is walk about my office or home without having them yank off my head because I leaned too far from my PC! A 20 meter range inside is more than enough.

In addition to the buttons for answering and controlling a phone call, there is an easy to find and user-friendly volume button. I found it easy to change without any thought at all, your fingers just find it.

One of the most amazing things I have discovered about my Tracks Air is the battery life. The headset has an incredible 13 hour battery (product description says 15 hours)! And mind you, that is 13 hours of listening time, not standby. I can listen all day long at work and barely use more than half of the battery. Simply incredible.

So, the big question: How do they sound? Amazing to put it simply.

My Tracks Air sound every bit as good as my corded SOL Republic Anthems, which have the the V10 HD Sound Engines on them. Do they sound as good as my higher end Master Tracks? No. But they sound very very good and the difference is very slight. Just like my other sets, the Tracks Air have a nice bass and a full range. SOL republic does an amazing job of providing that bass without sacrificing the rest of the range and the Tracks Air are no exception.

I can honestly say I have no negative issues with the Tracks Air and as a result, SOL Republic has won me over…. again. At this stage I find it hard to believe they can produce a bad product. The Tracks Air look great, sound great, and have a superb battery life.  I just can't think of a more perfect set of headphones for somebody who likes to rock out without any restrictions. At $199.99, the Tracks Air are priced in line with premium corded headsets, so in my opinion an exceptional value. I easily and wholeheartedly recommend the SOL Republic Tracks Air.

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This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

The Edible Arrangements® 4th Annual MS Awareness Campaign Features the Orange Citrus Blossom Arrangement

Thank you to Edible Arrangements for providing the Orange Citrus Blossom prize for our reader giveaway and for sending an additional arrangement to me as a thank you for participating in this campaign.  All opinions expressed are my own.

For its fourth annual MS awareness campaign, Edible Arrangements is featuring their Orange Citrus Blossom arrangements for the month of March, which happens to be National MS Society’s MS Awareness Month.  For every one ordered, participating Edible Arrangements locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island will donate $5 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for MS research and awareness!

Here's how you can get involved . . . 

• There are 8 different types of Orange Citrus Blossom arrangements and each come in 3 different sizes.  Each one prompts a $5 donation when ordered from a participating store.
• If you prefer to order online, the Support MS Orange Citrus Blossom Arrangement (available in 3 sizes) will prompt a $5 donation.
• To prompt a donation, you need to place your order in March, but you can have the arrangement delivered anytime during the 2014 calendar year.
• Edible Arrangements delivers via UPS all across the country, so you don't need to have a store location nearby.

As a result of the past three MS awareness campaigns, Edible Arrangements raised almost $33,000 for this worthy cause.  Help keep the momentum going, by retweeting the message below . . . 

#DoFruit for a good cause. Learn how you can help in the fight against multiple sclerosis. http://t.co/VV49Ek5yLG
— Edible Arrangements (@edible) March 5, 2014

Now enter to win an Orange Citrus Blossom of your own . . .

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This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Treat Someone You Love to Something Sweet from Harvard Sweet Boutique

Thank you to Harvard Sweet Boutique for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

For Father's Day this year, my husband received an especially sweet treat from Harvard Sweet Boutique, a specialty gourmet bakery located right here in Massachusetts that ships freshly baked goodies to anywhere in the U.S.  Their selection consists of a wide variety of gourmet cookies, toffees, truffles, and brownies, including some that are gluten-free and low-carb.  In our small sampler box, we received two Vanilla Sea Salt Caramel Brownie, a piece of Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee, and a few White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies.

I must say that the presentation of this gift was most impressive.  My poor husband had to wait to open the beautifully embellished box until I was satisfied that I took enough photos of it.  The striped necktie was just adorable.  (I kept it aside and am waiting for the perfect opportunity to try it on our cat.  If I manage to snap a photo before he escapes, I'll certainly share it with you.)

Inside the box, we found the individually wrapped treats to be tucked inside another bag for added freshness.  Because the weather was warm and humid when our order was shipped, although the treats were intact, the brownies and the toffee were slightly melted.

The Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee was for me!  I am a huge fan of toffee and found this concoction to be delicious.  It did have quite a lot of almond pieces in it, so I would only recommend this toffee for nut-lovers.

Although my husband was not disappointed by the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, he found them to be average compared to the Vanilla Sea Salt Caramel Brownies.  He found the brownies to be utterly delicious . . . enough so that he might think it would be worth the drive to the bakery located in Hudson, MA.  He could not help but wonder, if the brownie tasted this good shipped to his door, it must taste that much better fresh from the bakery.

Visit HarvardSweetBoutique.com to see their full line of gourmet treats.  You're sure to find something perfect for almost any occasion, including graduations, get well gifts, birthdays, thank you gifts, housewarming gifts, or even party favors.  Be sure to checkout their mouthwatering photos on Facebook.  Also ground shipping at Harvard Sweet Boutique is a flat rate fee of just $5.

Silly Monkey Stories: Where Is Your Off Button?

You parents will know that kids can often be....rambunctious (to say the very least!) and this Father's Day was no exception.

In the morning we went out for breakfast and as always when we prepare to leave the house mayhem ensues. As I am herding the children into the proper seats my oldest Jake says:

“Don’t you wish we had an off button like the t-shirt you have says?” 

This in itself wasn't so odd, but the fact that I did not own such a shirt was.

My youngest son Luke was first to yell at Jake for outing one of my Fathers Day gifts, which turned out to be this Where is Your Off Button? t-shirt.

What the kids do not know is this:  I was thinking the exact same thing about power buttons on children the very moments before all this transpired . . .

Click here to read all our Silly Monkey Stories!

Customize a Visa Gift Card with a Photo plus a Personalized Message on GiftCard.com

Thank you to GiftCard.com for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I make no secret of it that I am just a fool for personalized gifts.  It used to be that personalized gifts cost quite a bit more due to extra fees, but thanks to technology, that is no longer the case.  These days you can add a personal message or a photo to almost anything for just a few dollars extra.

On GiftCard.com you can add your own image to a Visa gift card for just $5.95 (plus the denomination of the gift card) with Free Standard Shipping!  My husband received this unique little photo gift for Father's Day a week early.  I chose to put his new favorite photo of our children on the gift card.  If you do not have a personal photo you would like to upload, you can always choose from thousands of pre-made designs from the Visa gift card gallery, which cover almost every occasion, including but not limited to Father's Day, graduations, weddings, teacher's gifts, housewarming, and much more.  There is also the option to print a personalized message on the gift card at no additional charge.  You can choose any denomination for your special gift card between $10 and $250.  As an added bonus, your gift card is mailed to you or the recipient in a personalized greeting card of your choosing.

These Visa gift cards are currently not reloadable, meaning you cannot add additional funds to it after the gift card has been created.  Despite this,  I know my husband will still be keeping this card after the balance has reached zero.  It does make a very unique keepsake and is an easy way to carrying around a photo of our children in his wallet without the worry of bending a fragile photograph.

To learn more about these custom Visa gift cards, visit GiftCard.com's faq page.  In addition to Visa gift cards, you can also find retail store gift cards and e-gift cards on this site.

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"Ricky's Dream Trip" . . . the Perfect Book Series for a Grandfather and a Grandchild to Share on Father's Day

The following is a compensated post for The Motherhood. All opinions expressed are my own.

I spent a great deal of time with my grandfather growing up. I think for many years, I probably spent more time with him than my father. Some (most?) of my fondest memories are of times spent with my grandfather or of stories he used to tell me of his days growing up.

I remember the day he gave me his pocketknife like it was yesterday. It was every bit of a Norman Rockwell moment as any I've ever heard or read about. The hour or so he spent retelling the stories and events of his life that included that beloved pocketknife was one of the most special moments of my life. I’m pretty sure he had it for 70 years before bestowing it to me. The fact that he didn't give it to one of his sons was not lost on me either.  I never had the heart to tell him it ended up at the bottom of Cape Cod Bay just a few days later during some rough seas.

I will always miss my time with my grandfather, the older I get the more I realize how special it was. And this is why I am so excited about the Ricky’s Dream Trip book series by William Stevenson. It's a series of books for kids about Pop Pop and Ricky, a grandfather and his grandson.

The books are very stylized and uniquely drawn. The stories are the dreams of Ricky and his “Pop Pop” traveling through history and other fascinating adventures to places like Ancient Egypt, Colonial America, and even outer space.  What a fun way to celebrate the special relationship kids have with their grandfathers while also teaching them a bit or two about the world around them.

I hope I turn out to be as fun and exciting as Pop Pop or my grandfather Duke was when I become a grandparent!

To learn more about this book series, visit www.rickysdreamtrip.com or Ricky's Dream Trip on YouTube.  Use the Ricky's Dream Trip Facebook app to help you decide which of the 5 books currently available would make the perfect gift for that special grandpa in your life.  You can purchase any of the books in this series in paperback or for the Kindle on Amazon.com.

Block Out the World with the SOL Republic Master Tracks Over-Ear Headphones

Thank you to SOL Republic for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Warning: This article contains blatant gushing and adoration for my new headphones. You have been warned. I do promise however, to disclose a few imperfections to help this review be as objective as possible!

I was recently sent a pair of SOL Republic Master Tracks over-ear headphones. I already own a pair of SOL Republic Tracks HD Anthem on-ear headphones (which I love) and was very excited to try the Master Tracks. Because I love my old pair so much, my expectations were very high . . . the Master Tracks had better be good. I will cut to the chase and say that the Master Tracks not only met my expectations, they exceeded them.

I will start by saying my new Master Tracks are stunning in appearance. I chose the Electro Blue color with black and dark metal trim. They are fantastic looking. I really can't stand so many of the larger over-ear headphones on the market. It is as if they are trying to be as big and gaudy as possible. SOL Republic went the other way. The Master Tracks are sleek, yet small for over-ear headphones, and somewhat conservative. They suit my tastes perfectly.

The first thing you will notice about your Master Track headphones is that they are modular. They break up into components for easier carrying when not in use (in an included nylon case). You can also mix and match parts (available to be purchased separately) to create a truly custom set of headphones.

The second thing you will note about your Master Tracks (or any SOL Republic headphones) is that the cable is thick and rubbery. At first it feels a little odd, but you quickly realize why they do it: They simply do not tangle. By adding the thick rubber coating, the cables are springy and repel being bent together. Such a simple and effective way to solve a problem everybody has with earbuds and headphones. Amazing! The cable also has a mic and controls for use with your phone.

The Master Tracks are mostly plastic with a metal cap over each ear. The headband is wonderfully springy and keeps just the right amount of tension on your noggin. I found my Master Tracks to be comfortable even after long sessions. One of the reasons why I wanted to try an over-ear headphone was for this very reason. Using headphones while wearing glasses sometimes is uncomfortable for on-ear models. The Master Tracks spread the pressure out nicely and provide a much more comfortable experience.

But how do the Master Tracks sound? Well, I loved my Anthems as they sounded great, but the Master Tracks sounded even better. The larger earcup and extra cushion did an excellent job of covering external noise (a little too well if you ask my wife). You should be warned that SOL Republic likes a deeper bass sound in their headphones and the Master Tracks were no exception. This is not to say the audio range is limited, because it isn’t. SOL Republic wants you to feel the music through the bass. They manage to do this well without sacrificing the quality of the rest of the range.

So what didn't I like about my Master Tracks? The list of cons is very small, just two things and one of them may even end up being a benefit in disguise. Although the Master Tracks are technically over-ear headphones, they really do not go over your ear, or around your ear rather, like you would expect. My set still rests on my ears. If you are looking for true around the ear headphones, these won't fit your needs. BUT, they are large enough and have enough cushion to block out everything and are quite comfortable. They are a great deal smaller than their peers, which may be a benefit to you (it is for me). They would not be out of place at all on a walk or at the gym.

The second issue I have is that the cord is not overly long. I don’t think it’s too short at all, and is perfect for use with mobile devices. But when plugged into your PC or stereo, you will wish they were a bit longer. I need room to bust a move after all!

I drank my SOL Republic kool-aid when I fell in love with my Anthems, but now the Master Tracks have earned my soul. I would HIGHLY recommend them to anybody considering a competitor's set. At the very least, give them a try before making your purchase. I promise you will not be disappointed. I know this coming Father's Day I will be rocking out enjoying some quiet time with my Master Tracks!

The SOL Republic Master Tracks retail for $199.99 and can be purchased in White, Gunmetal, or Electro Blue on solrepublic.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy, and other major electronics retailers.

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Shop 'n' Share: Replenishing My Husband's Geek T-Shirt Collection

This product was purchased with our own funds.  No compensation was received for sharing this shopping experience with our readers, however, this post may contain affiliate links.

My husband's favorite item of clothing to wear is a comfortable t-shirt.  In fact, I think he would be wear a t-shirt every waking minute if his office did not require him to wear a shirt and tie.  A printed t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts is his uniform 3 months out of the year after work and on the weekends.  Somewhere during our 13 years of marriage, I decided "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."  I always have my eyes open for t-shirts my husband might like.  My only rule is that I will not buy him white t-shirts anymore because he manages to stain them the very first time he wears them 95% of the time.

A few months ago, my husband discovered LOL Shirts.  He works in IT and is a geek at heart, and he has found tons of geek t-shirts he likes on this site.  This text-based Relax. I can fix it. t-shirt and one that says I'm here because you broke something. are his favorites to wear to work on casual Fridays.  There is always some kind of promotion going on at LOL Shirts and shipping is just $2 per shirt, so I don't mind helping my husband to replace some of his t-shirts that have become stained or worn.

Some of the shirts on this site are available in up to a size 5X.  My husband likes his shirts loose, so I usually buy a 3X for him.  There is an additional cost of just $.99 for size XXL and XXXL shirts.  On average, one shirt would cost me roughly $10, give or take one or two dollars based on the current promotion.  If you're looking for an affordable Father's Day gift this year, whether it be from you or your children, a shirt from LOL Shirts would be a great way to go.

By the way, each of my children's teachers will be receiving a teaching-themed t-shirt for their end of the year teacher's gift that they can wear all summer long.  Be sure to check those out if you are still in need of a gift for your child's teacher.  For a limited time, you can receive $5 off each shirt plus free shipping when you checkout using Promo Code: 5OFFEVERYTHING!

As always, if you shop, be sure to come back and tell me what you purchased!

Find Minecraft and Other Cool Kids T-Shirts at T-Shirts.com!

Thank you to T-Shirts.com for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

Of the 200+ kids' t-shirts available on T-Shirts.com, our 6 year old son chose the Kids Minecraft Creeper Inside T-Shirt as his favorite . . . eventually.  For the 20 minutes prior, he pointed to every Iron Man t-shirt, every Spider-Man t-shirt, every Avengers t-shirt, every Star Wars t-shirt, and every Ninjago t-shirt and said, "That one!  I want that one!!"  Eventually, he settled on this Minecraft t-shirt.  I think he chose it more to impress his big brother than for himself.  Well, it worked . . .

When this t-shirt arrived, Luke's big brother automatically asked if the shirt was for him.  He was so jealous when he found out that the shirt was actually for Luke.  I had never seen Luke look so happy as he did during that moment.  Being the little brother and the recipient of one hand-me-down after another, it is rare that he has something that fills his big brother with envy.  Needless to say, this shirt was a huge hit with Luke's friends at school too.

Our son usually wears a size 6 on top, so we ordered the smallest size available, which was a S(6-8).  I was worried that he would be swimming in the shirt because he is somewhat of a peanut, but it fits him well with room to grow.  Since heathered grey t-shirts are usually a cotton blend, this t-shirt did not shrink at all.  We've washed it several times already and the graphic has held up nicely.

Be sure to checkout T-Shirts.com for lots of Father's Day gift ideas too.  There are over 1400 men's t-shirts available (and just under 700 for women . . . what's up with that?).  T-shirts are the go-to present for my husband.  He can never have enough because he stains them almost as quickly as I buy them.  Whatever your favorite Dad is into, there is probably a t-shirt for it on T-Shirts.com.  For a limited time, you can receive $5 off your order of $25 or more!  As always, if you shop, come back and tell me all about what you bought.

Mrs. Fields Gift Baskets for Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Anyday

Last Friday afternoon, my husband officially started his week off from work.  He was looking forward to a week of quiet and rest during the days while the children are in school.  I wanted to give him a "happy week off" gift, so I ordered a basket of treats from Berries.com for him to enjoy during his time off.  (I also wanted to soften the blow for when I revealed his honey-do list for the week.)

I had no idea that Shari's Berries offered other goodies besides gourmet dipped strawberries and other dipped treats.  There were tons of great gift ideas for Mother's Day and Father's Day.  What caught my eye were the gift baskets in the Mrs. Fields Shop.  How can you go wrong with cookies and mini muffins, whether you are giving a gift, trying to cheer someone up, or sending a heartfelt thank you?

I ended up choosing the Mrs. Fields Bites Basket, which contained assorted bite size cookies, cookie bars, and mini muffins.  For freshness, all the baked goods came in sealed packages in addition to the shrink wrap around the basket itself.  Although the description listed brownie bites to be included in this basket, we did not receive any, which I found to be odd.  We ended up receiving bar cookies, which was not listed in the description.  I suppose the contents must vary based on what is on-hand when the baskets are packed.

I knew that my husband would be looking forward to trying the mini muffins first.  I was quite surprised when he told me that the cookies were exceptional and completely blew away the muffins.  I suppose that's why Mrs. Fields is so famous for her cookies.

If you are thinking about sending a gourmet gift to someone in the near future, be sure to check for Shari's Berries coupon codes and special offers before you shop.  There are currently discounts for orders as little as $29.  Also be sure to plan ahead so you can avoid paying extra for expedited delivery.  Shari's Berries delivers Monday through Saturday.

Also checkout our gourmet dipped strawberries and cake pops review.


Thank you to Shari's Berries for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

A Stunning Photo Canvas Portrait of Our Children by Canvas Memoirs

Last year, we had a really difficult time photographing our children for our Holiday cards.  After much frustration all around and about 70 clicks of the camera, we ended up with 2 usable group photos.  One of them turned out to be one of the best photos I have ever seen of our children together.  It was taken by my husband who must have worked his magic on them somehow.  I think only he can make them smile like that in unison.  So, when Canvas Memoirs invited us to try out their services, I knew right away that I wanted to have this group portrait transformed into a photo canvas.

I have to say that, when I unboxed the 20x30" gallery wrapped photo canvas, it took my breath away.  I think if someone had presented this to me as a birthday or Mother's Day gift, I would have been in tears because it was such a stunning representation of our children.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

If you take a look at the photo above, the printing is such high quality that it captured even the smallest freckle on our son's face.

What I was most impressed about with Canvas Memoirs, aside from the print quality, is that an actual person checks your order.  This is something that I have found not to be the case with many photo gift services.  Canvas Memoirs will make recommendations based on your particular photo and product ordered.  For example, since my photo did not have much room around the edges, they recommended that I use a mirror or blurred mirror edge instead of trying to have my photo continue around the sides.  I opted for the blurred mirror edge and am extremely happy with how naturally it blends in on the canvas.  Canvas Memoirs also offers free touch ups and other photo enhancements.

There are currently 27 different size and shape options available on Canvas Memoirs.  Each of those are available as a rolled canvas, a .75" gallery wrapped canvas, or a 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas, which was what I had opted for.

I love this photo canvas so much and can be confident that it will not deteriorate anytime soon because it has been coated to make it waterproof, scratch-resistant, and UV-resistant.  I hope to have this canvas hanging in our home even after our children have grown up and have started families of their own.  I will always cherish it.

To learn more about Canvas Memoirs, visit www.CanvasMemoirs.com.  Currently, you can take advantage of their 50% off promotion and their $14.95 flat rate shipping or free shipping on orders over $150!  The 20"x30" gallery wrapped canvas I received would cost just $58 (not including shipping) with this promotion.  Mother's Day is coming up in just 2 months and then Father's Day right after that.  Personally, I would love a few smaller gallery wrapped canvases that could sit on the shelves currently hanging on my living room wall mixed in with a few of my other favorite things.


Thank you to Canvas Memoirs for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a gift certificate for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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