Busy Bee Lifestyle » Father’s Day

Tip Tuesday – Gift Giving the Smartbox Way!

Host Bee — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:04:40 +0000

Gift Giving the Smartbox Way!

So often when trying to think of a gift for someone, buying more “stuff” just doesn’t fit the bill. If that’s the case for you, Smartbox has the perfect solution! Smartbox is all about giving the gift of an “experience” that is specially chosen to suit the recipient. The shopping process is so easy – just head to the website and fill in a few prompts such as state and price parameters (prices start at just $69) and then decide upon the perfect type of experience from three basic themes:

Health and Wellness - includes massage, yoga, and spa treatments
Sport Activity - such as horseback riding, plane flight, sailing, rafting, kayaking, parachuting
Escape Getaways – offers bed and breakfasts and gourmet retreats

The recipient will be able to schedule the experience of their choice from a wide variety of activities or destinations within the Smartbox category you’ve chosen. Other than any travel cost, there will be no additional expenses.

The next time that you just can’t think of a terrific gift, which may be as soon as this Father’s Day, give Smartbox a try!

And don’t forget to enter our contest for a Personalized Stationery Stamp from Invitation Jane! Contest ends on June 20, 2009.

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Homemade Father’s Day Gifts

Host Bee — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:01:30 +0000

Homemade Gifts for Father’s Day!

A recent post (Father’s Day Gift Guide 2008) offered many suggestions for Father’s Day gifts, but if your children would like to create something special for dad, here are a few easy ideas!

Custom Made Snack Mix

Mixing up a batch of snack mix will get kids thinking about dad’s personality and keep them busy in the kitchen! Here are some possible ingredients, but feel free to come up with your own combinations:

Gummy Bears – because dad’s a teddy bear at heart
Peanuts – because he’s a little nutty
Goldfish – for his love of fishing
Mini Marshmallows – since he’s a big softy
M & Ms – because he’s sweet
Popcorn – because he’s your favorite “pop!”

Have your kids use their imaginations and don’t forget to let dad know why you chose what you did! (adapted from Family Fun Magazine)

Bake a Shirt Cake

My favorite Father’s Day cake is one that is baked in a 13″ x 9″ rectangular cake pan, removed from the pan, flipped over and then frosted to look like a dress shirt and tie!

Use vanilla icing to create a white button down shirt, or tint the icing with food coloring for a light pink or blue shirt.
White paper cut into 2 triangles form the collar and additional icing tinted in a darker color with make a fun tie! (If your cake decorating skills are limited like mine, just cut a tie out of colorful gift wrap or have the kids make a construction paper version!)
To serve, line an actual shirt box with tissue paper, place wax paper in the bottom and set the cake inside! Dad might really appreciate this departure from the traditional gift of a necktie! ( Family Fun Magazine)

Handcrafted Cuff Links

This is another idea that will get your children thinking about dad’s favorite things!

At Jan’s Jewels, pick up cuff link bases in either gold or silver plated finish, selecting the style with the 15mm pad. This slightly larger base will allow you greater flexibility when gluing items onto the cuff link. (jansjewels.com, #0052-28 for silver; #0046-25 for gold, $1.89)
Next, start brainstorming about which fun things you’ll use to decorate the cuff links! How about coins minted in a meaningful year? Polished rocks? Dice? Subway tokens? Monopoly or Scrabble playing pieces? Sea shells? Put your imagination to work and you’ll have a truly special gift for the dad in your life! Jewelry glue is available from artbeads.com, #E6000, noting that parental supervision is essential with this part of the project!

Helping your children to make gifts for dad will provide fond memories of quality time spent with you and a proud sense of accomplishment when they bestow those gifts on Father’s Day!

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Tags: homemade father’s day gifts, father, gift, handmade, fun, cute, clever, unique, easy, special

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2009

Host Bee — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:43:49 +0000

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2008!

This year Father’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday, June 15th (which also happens to be my husband’s birthday!) Shopping for the men in our lives is always a challenge and so I’ve compiled a selection of gifts for men that are unique in different ways and will hopefully help with your Father’s Day shopping for the different men in your life!

For a Classic Father’s Day Gift - A Tie!

Ties have almost become a joke when it comes to Father’s Day, but here are a few standouts that will definitely not be a cliche!

Vera Bradley – Vera’s classic, preppy style works as well with ties as it does with tote bags! At verabradley.com, you’ll find a terrific assortment of brightly colored silk ties, including paisley and leopard patterns, and the price is great too! verabradley.com, $38)

Fashion Forward – the ties created by Gytha Mander are perfect for the dad that needs to wear a tie every day and is looking for a little bit of individuality! These ties have dual prints that when knotted feature one pattern at the knot and one on the front! Creative, but still conservative enough for the business world! (gythamander.com, $90)

Angela Moore – these ties sport a fabulous Palm Beach feeling no matter where you live! With palm trees, lighthouses, sailboats and flip flops, this is the perfect tie for a casual Friday or summer cocktail party! (angelamoore.com, $55)

For A Baseball Fan – Cuff Links!

Ballpark Cuff Links – this is a truly special gift for the baseball loving dad! Created from salvaged, wooden seats from America’s most famous and beloved stadiums, these sterling silver cuff links are coated with the original paint of the home team’s colors and hallmarked with the stadium’s name! This year, give your dad a piece of baseball history! Available parks include: Fenway, Yankee, Busch, Tiger, Comisky, Shea, Dodger, Wrigley or RFK. (redenvelope.com, $150 for all except Fenway, which is $230)

For A Nature Lover – Log Bowls!Handmade Log Bowls -

I just love these hand crafted log bowls that will be the perfect spot to stow dad’s change, watch, cuff links and other pocket items! The bowls are created from actual logs, each with its own unique, organic shape with an interior that is glazed with colorful acrylic paint. (Log Bowls, $50, red or yellow)

For the Retired Dad or Grandfather – A Hometown Puzzle!

Personalized Hometown Jigsaw Puzzle – “imagine piecing together an aerial view” of your own hometown! This great puzzle is a 400 piece depiction of your dad’s home base, replicated from a U.S. Geological Survey Map, including roads, waterways, and significant sites or buidings. Finished size is 18 1/4″ x 12 1/4″. When ordering, you’ll need to provide the specific street address, city, state and zip code and allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery! (thewirelesscatalog.com, $39.95)

For Any Dad – A Ticket Stub Diary

The Ticket Stub Diary – this gift is perfect for any guy of any age! This small keepsake diary is made especially for concert goers, sports fans, theatre lovers, and more! The diary gives dad a place to preserve up to 118 special ticket stubs, along with a spot to record memories of each event! To make this gift even more special, consider putting real tickets into the diary! Baseball? Movies? A Concert? Choose whatever your dad likes best! (Ticket Stub Diary at Amazon.com)

Good luck honoring all of the father figures in your life this Father’s Day!

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Tags: father’s day gifts, fathers, gift, unique, clever, best, top, fun, unusual, upscale, shopping, ideas, guide, 2008

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Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts, Gift Ideas!

Host Bee — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:01:05 +0000

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas!

We know that you love the fathers in your life, but if you’ve left Father’s Day shopping go to the last minute – don’t worry! Here are a few fun and easy ideas that will suit almost any dad!

Pajama Gram Gift Card

At Pajama Gram, you’ll find lots of fun pj choices for dad! Every guy’s gift from Pajama Gram arrives packaged with an attractive toiletry kit and personalized card. Take a look at the Recliner Pajamas, which include a solid red t-shirt top and pants that are covered with a too funny assortment of TV’s, recliners, remote controls and bags of chips!

Get Dad A “Tie!”

But not the usual variety! You can send your dad a “virtual” Father’s Day tie from billybear4kids.com. website allows you to create a colorful and crazy tie, along with a message to email to your dad! I’m guessing that this “tie” might be more appreciated than the real thing!

Cabela Gift Card

If your dad loves any aspect of the outdoors, a gift card from cabelas.com is sure to be a hit! Consider this for the fisherman, camper, hiker, skier, or hunter in your life.

Good luck with the manly shopping that awaits you! The best part about dads is that anything you do for them will be truly appreciated!

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Tags: fathers day gift ideas, gifts, last minute gifts, fabulous, fun, best, top, terrific, unique, father’s, guide

Fabulous Father’s Day Gifts

Host Bee — Thu, 31 May 2007 21:41:45 +0000

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2008 II!

The tough task of choosing a gift for the fathers in your life can be a bit easier if you identify their interests and use those as a starting point! Checking out a few of the most popular male hobbies, here are some ideas:

For the Backyard Dad

No hammocks here – let’s keep dad busy!

Games Galore

Back Yard Fire Pit

These patio enhancements are a great gift!

Smith and Hawkin Firepit and Screen – Firepit ($199) and Spark Screen ($69) made of copper and wrought iron. (Smith and Hawken)
Target 34′ Square Firepit – surrounded by granite creating a great tabletop for drinks and snacks. (Square Firepit, $149)

Ice Chest

Wooden Ice Chest – this was a past Father’s Day gift in my family! That year, I was particularly lucky to find a teak ice chest at Sam’s club for a terrific price. The chest has been a great addition to our patio and is as attractive as it is useful.

Look for a similar version at Improvements. This handsome cooler box features a plastic insulated lining and gas cylinder hinge. (Wooden Ice Chest, $159.99)

For the Grilling Dad

Barbeque Sauces – Stonewall Kitchen has assembled two delicious sets of distinctive grilling sauces to spice up any barbeque.

Jim’s Favorite Grill Sauce Collection - Includes: Sesame Ginger Teriyaki, Citrus Teriyaki, Garlic Teriyaki, and Roadhouse Steak Sauce. (Jim’s Favorite Grill Sauce, $21.99)
Jon’s Favorite Grill Sauce Collection – Includes: Honey Barbeque, Maple Chipotle, Vidalia Onion Fig, and Wasabi Ginger. (Jim’s Favorite Grill Sauce, $21.99)

Barbeque Accessories - fun grilling accessories!

Cordless Clip-On BBQ Light – this clever idea allows for accurate nighttime grilling! (Cordless Clip On Led Light, $18.92)
Personalized Branding Iron – allows a chef to put his personal stamp on steaks! Triple initials of your choice are available! (Personalized Barbeque Branding Iron, $26.99)

For the Wine Aficionado

Handsome Serving Tray – Vintage wine barrels are crafted into handsome 25” serving trays with stainless steel handles and offered in a natural or stained finish. A careful look at this unique gift shows the type of wine once housed in that barrel! (Wine Barrel Serving Tray – Stained, $110)

For the Sports Fan

Sporting Event Tickets – Go for the real thing! Procure tickets to his favorite sporting event! Wrap up the tickets with a team jersey or baseball cap! (Try Tickets Now)
Sports Viewing Party – Set up a viewing party for his favorite game! Invite dad’s best buddies, cook up his favorite foods, grab the kids and get out of the house! Create a coupon to let him know about the fun night ahead!

For the Romantic Dad

Family Picnic – Plan a family picnic with all of dad’s favorite foods! Pack wine, cheese and crackers, fried chicken, and potato salad.
Enhanced Picnic – Take your picnic up a notch with linen napkins, tablecloth and quiet music on a CD player.
Picnic Ware – Consider purchasing new picnic equipment as part of this gift! (Major retailers like Target have tons of choices or shop on-line at Shop.com for the gingham lined basket pictured or several others choices.)
Unique Picnic Ware – Another Beautiful Wicker Picnic Basket is available from Uncommon Goods (pictured)! This basket is not only attractive, but eco-friendly, crafted from 100% natural and renewable resources. The set includes bamboo plates, cutting board and utensils; wine glasses made from recycled glass; and embroidered natural cotton napkins! A picnic kit that serves two retails for $125 and a set to serve four is $150.
Include a Gift Certificate! – After enjoying some quality time with the children while picnicking, have your husband take a look into the bottom of the picnic basket! Being the thoughtful wife that you are, you’ve purchased a gift certificate for a weekend get away for the two of you! Easy resources for bed and breakfast or inn vacations include bedandbreakfast.com or iloveinns.com. Both sites feature thousands of locations across the country!

For the Golfer, Tech Guy and More

Try Brookstone.com for gadgets and gizmos of all kinds!

For the Dad Who Has It All!

Planet Earth DVD Series – Over five years in the making, this series of DVDs offers many and varied breathtaking views of our planet. Eleven episodes include themes such as “Deep Ocean,” “Pole to Pole,” “Ice Worlds,” and “Great Plains.” The camera work, unique facts and many not seen before locations make this a fantastic gift for any dad, and the whole family will also enjoy! (Planet Earth – The Complete BBC Series, $59.99)

Whatever you choose to do to celebrate the dads in your life, we all know that any gift from the heart will be the most appreciated! Cheers to a Happy Father’s Day everywhere!

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