Summer Fun!

When is the last time you had a picnic?

If you can't remember, perhaps it is time to revisit the concept for a wholesome outing of memory making! Whether you pack up some sandwiches and head to the park with friends or take it to gift giving level by providing a basket of gourmet goodies to a friend, this delightful passtime is simultaneously simple and thoughtful.

Don't let the lack of a formal picnic basket keep you from this summer fun! There are loads of options ranging from the classic wicker to more modern packing options. Check out some of these sites for some great ideas:

Picnic Fun

Eco Friendly Picnic Basket

Modern Picnic Basket

If you are considering this concept as a gift, you might also check your local activity calendar to see if there are any outdoor theater/musical performances or arboretum. Tickets for two along with a nicely packed basket of goodies can be a thoughful and very customized gift option. Check out what Deer Valley Resort offers their performance visitors - Gourmet Picnic Baskets - and then see if any of your local resorts or performance locations offer something similar.

If you have skills in the kitchen and are able to whip up a few things on your own, it could also be a budget friendly gift! Not so skilled in the kitchen? Not to worry! There are plenty of sites ready and willing to take the culinary tasks off your hands!

The Perfect Picnic Basket

Ready To Go Picnic Baskets and Supplies

Modern Picnic

Truly Unique!

During my recent window shopping excursion I stumbled across a few things that made me giggle. Today I would like to share these happy shopping thoughts with you. Whether you check them out for an afternoon smile fix or they turn out to be a great gift option for one of your truly unique friends, I bid you a giggle worthy shopping search!

Breakfast beware!

A lover of pancakes, this item caught my eye for several reasons. One - they assist in the pancake making process. Two - they make breakfast fun. Three - I actually know some Star Wars fanatics who would probably LOVE to have this in their kitchen tool kit!

Star Wars Pancake Molds

Wag your tail for cocktail hour!

Combining a love of dogs and drinks, these silly cocktail napkins offer a great combination of practical and silly.

Just Your Dog Napkins

Pack your lunch!

An option for kids and kids at heart alike, this bento box replaces the standard lunch box with a stylish alternative. 

Bento Boxes

How to catch a pen theif!

Suffering from disappearing pens in the office? This sassy set may put an end to the theivery in your office! Each pen hosts a mock company imprint that is sure to get the attention of the user and cause them to think twice about adding it to their desk set. (Examples: "Howie's House of Hair" and "Stuffed with Love Taxidermy".) If they do disappear, just hunt the office as they are easy to spot and then you have caught the pen theif ink handed!

Borrow My Pen?

Play with your food!

Whether you by these for your kids of as a family entertainment option, they are sure to provide some dinner entertainment. Using your dinner items (peas are always good) diners create accessories to complete the face imprinted on the plate. 

Food Face Plate

Welcome, yo!

Greet your house guests with a little urban styling. Imprinted with playful urban slang this door mat welcomes your guests with a message certain to give them a laugh!

Fo' Shizzle Doormat

The ultimate multi-tasker!

This unique piece of furniture combines style, storage and seating in one handy unit. Playful and useful this is a great option for small spaces.

Modern Sole Bookshelves

Dear Old Dad

With Father's Day right around the corner, I have started my attempts at getting Dear Old Dad to give me some hints on things he might want or even need. Unfortunately, like most men I know he has not been very receptive to these fishing expeditions. So, I have gone back to the proverbial drawing board to see what I can come up.

With the weather changing lately, I have noticed the men in my life frequently migrating to their trusty grill around dinner time. This got me thinking that perhaps some unique fire friendly items may be a good option for Father's Day this year. After a little investigation, here are a few fun things that I found.

Option 1: The Beer Can Chicken Holder

I must confess that this is not something I have ever tried or experienced myself. However, I have heard A LOT of people talking about it recently which made me think this could be a fun option. A bit more professional (and likely safer) than the original version of just plunking the chicken on an open can of beer, this device offers the safety women need and the grilling fun men crave!

Bayou Classic 0880-PDQ Stainless-Steel Beercan ChickCAN Rack

Option 2: Nonstick Slider Grill Basket

I am sure by now that everyone is familiar with the slider - the miniature favorite of the classic hamburger. With this handy little device, you can enjoy them at home while your Mr. Mister has fun playing with his grill - everyone dines happy!

Outset Nonstick Slider Basket

Option 3: Custom Miniature Branding Iron

A truly frivolous toy for your favorite carnivor, this miniature branding iron can be customized with the recipient's initials allowing them to "mark" their meat during the grilling process. A variety of options and styles are available for purchase, but this option will get you started down the selection path.

Personalized Branding Iron with Box

Option 4: Wallet Size Bottle Opener

Although most bottles these days are the twist tab variety, every once in a while you encounter one that requires the old-fashioned style of opener. For the man on the go, this handy little opener could make him the hero of any bottle opening emergency!

Bottle Mate: Credit Card Size Beer Bottle Opener That Fits In Your Wallet

Option 5: Grandpa's Fire Fork
Ok - here is my "honesty in advertising" admission for the day.... I am not 100% sure that I understand how these little gadgets work. However, they are compact and compatible with fire which makes them a worthy gift option for the men in my life! What I have been able to determine is that these are a safe and hygenic option to pointed sticks when grilling over the campfire. The colorful plastic pieces are safety caps making transportation of the device a non-poke experience. On one end are the prongs needed for securing hot dogs or marshmallows. The other end features two round loops through which you can insert your extension device (aka: stick).
Light My Fire Grandpa's FireFork 4-pack

Hope these get your gift giving fire started! Please share if you have additional ideas!

Greetings!

Most everyone that I know has a few months out of every year laden with birthday celebrations. Whether you need a card to accompany a gift or a special token to share out of town well wishes, finding the perfect card can be a challenge. As I took stock of my upcoming list of birthdays it occurred to me that perhaps instead of investing in Hallmark, I should dive into that scrapbooking supply stash in my craft closet and release my inner crafter.

It has been a while since I last attempted to create a personalized greeting card, so I had to really overcome my internal list of reasons why I should just go to the store instead. After a successful debate with my inner dialogue I decided that a little inspiration might be in order. So, I started digging around on the internet and found some great resources for card making - both technical information and inspirational items.

Below is a short list of my favorites in case you find yourself in the same situation!

Card Making Ideas

Inspiration

Birthday Cards

More Inspiration

Idea Cottage

I will be sure to post samples of my finished products - please share yours, too!