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Archive for the ‘Father's Day’ Category

There’s till time to make dad a special gift for Father’s Day!

One of my favorites is a homemade card made to look like a shirt and tie.

Materials Needed:

• Decorative Scrapbook Paper
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions:

1. First cut a 4 x 12 inch rectangle from a piece of decorative scrapbook paper and fold it in half to create a double-layer 4 x 6 inch rectangle.
2. Form the collar by cutting 2 matching 1 inch long horizontal slits about 1 inch below the fold.
3. Fold over the 2 flaps as shown, then glue them down with a 5-inch-long tie shape cut from another piece of decorative paper glued between them. Glue a pair of small buttons to the collar.
4. Once the glue has dried, lift the bottom front of the card and write a Father’s Day greeting inside.

A fun idea for the younger group is to make a card on computer, then inside print questions about dad and ask your little one to answer the questions, then fill in their answers.  Questions could be: “How old is Daddy?”, “What does Daddy like to do on the weekends?”, “How tall is Daddy?”, “I know Daddy loves me because . . .”.  The answers are sure to bring a smile and can be tucked away to look back on years from now.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

Shirt and Tie Card Credit: Family Fun

This Father’s Day, combine 2 things that Dad loves – golf and food!

At Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets we have a great assortment of Golf Theme Snack Gifts.

We have delicious snack baskets that include items like cheese, salami, crackers, cookies, and candy along with golf related items like Golf Balls, Golf Book of Wisdom, Greens Keeper Turf Kit and more!

If your dad is known for his sweet tooth, then one of our Cookie Bouquets is right up his alley!  We take deliciously iced cookies in the shape of golf balls, golf bags, flags and greens then arrange them so they almost look too goo to eat – but we’re sure that won’t stop him!

Whether your dad lives near or far, these gifts will surely be up to par this Father’s Day!

Father’s Day is coming soon, and dads love gadgets!  Some are helpful and some are just plain fun.  Below are 5 great gadgets no dad should be without!

Kindle Wireless Reading Device:  If your dad loves to bury his nose in a good book, then the Kindle is for him!  Weighing just over 10 ounces, the Kindle can download and store over 1,500 books.  It reads like real paper – there is no glare!  Not only can he read books, but he can also download Newspapers instantly via a 3G wireless connection.  The Kindle is available from Amazon for around $259.00

Portable GPS System: You know Dad doesn’t like to stop and ask for directions, but now he doesn’t have to!  Perfect for navigation on the go, he can take this handy device with him in the car, on the bike or on foot!  Many new systems include trail maps for when dad seeks a little adventure.

All-in-One Remote: Does trying to do something simple like watch a movie involve a ton of remotes, and one always seems to be missing? If you’d like to simplify dad’s life, get one of the new programmable remotes. These aren’t just a single remote that can control all the electronics in your family room; they can execute multiple steps with the single push of a button. Most are actually programmed by connecting them to your computer, where you follow a set-up wizard one time. What makes them so great is the buttons are set-up around the actual task you want to perform. For example, let’s say you wanted to watch that movie you just put in the DVD player. You simply click “Watch DVD” on the remote, and it will turn on the TV, change it to the right input, turn on the stereo and set that to the DVD setting, turn on your DVD player, and turn off anything that was on previously. It does all of that with a single press of a button! Dad will surely feel powerful!

Wireless Grill Meat Thermometer: Is your dad King of the Grill? Help simplify the task with a meat thermometer that takes the guess work out of grilling! Dad can insert the thermometer into whatever he is cooking, then go back to watching the big game on the TV inside, and still keep an eye on his grilling duties by watching the temperature! Some models even have an alarm to let him know it’s time to take the meat off the grill.

Swiss Army Golf Tool: Here’s a sports twist to the all-time best selling Swiss Army Knife. If your dad can be found going 18 rounds during the summer, then this is the perfect gift for him. The beauty of this little golf gift is it has all the things a golfer should have handy, and they come in one tool. There’s a divot repair tool for the times he’s lucky enough to land on the green, and a ball marker in case his putt is out of tap-in range, plus many more useful tools that he never knew he needed, but will surely find a use for!

It takes two people to bring a child into the world – a Mother and a Father.  Just as important and rewarding is the role of a Mother, the role of the Father is equally important and rewarding.

In this day and age, more and more children are growing up with one parent.  The divorce rate is steadily increasing, and, unfortunately, many children do not have the support of two parents in one home on a day-to-day basis. 

I was one of these individuals who grew up without my Father in my daily life since the time I was 2 years old.  In addition, we were also separated by long distance and I was unable to get to know my Father completely and emotionally. 

My Mother, the pillar of love and strength raised me to the best of her ability and did a fantastic job.  I turned out to be a good person, and I am so thankful for her and her sacrifices.  I love her to pieces! Truly, it must have been difficult to raise a child on her own.  She had the role of both Mother and Father and it wasn’t an easy road at times.

But I wonder?  What would it have been like to be raised with two parents in the home?  Would I be the same person as I am today or would I have been different?  Perhaps more secure in my thoughts, opinions and self-esteem?  I cannot say and will never know.

However, as a Mother of two young children, both blessed with having their Father around on a daily basis, I do see how important the Father’s role is to the children.  They need the love and support of both parents, there is no doubt.  My children have double the love, support and attention and they are very well-rounded and happy toddlers.  As time passes and the road of life continues on, I will enjoy seeing the difference in my children and the positiveness they will derive by having two parents in their lives.

One should not underestimate the role of a Father.  It is unfortunate that divorce and other life-altering events and circumstances separate children from the two most important people in their lives who brought them into this wonderful world.  Sometimes these situations and events cannot be undone or rectified.  However, sometimes they can and if at all possible, think of your children first and foremost! 

Often the Father is in the children’s life but their role is downplayed and is not treated as equally as the role of a Mother.  It is unfair to the children and to the Father.  No matter the situation, allow your children to get to know their Father and spend time with him.  Don’t let personal feelings get in the way as it is not your feelings that are being torn apart, but your children’s feelings and thoughts.

For those that were blessed with having a Father in your life, celebrate your Dad, the wonderful man in your life on Father’s Day!  Near or far, Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets has a diverse selection of gift baskets perfect for him!

Each year on the third Sunday of June, families and individuals in the United States and Canada celebrate the special man in their lives – their fathers!  These strong, masculine, hard-working individuals who have had a big part of our upbringing need a special day too. The question is, “When did this wonderful holiday begin?”The strongest promoter of the holiday was Mrs. Bruce John Dodd of Spokane, Washington.  Mrs. Dodd had a very high opinion and respect for her father.  Her father, William Smart, a veteran of the Civil War, raised six children without their mother after his wife died young while giving birth to their sixth child.  His selflessness and devotion to her and her siblings was unwavering.

With appreciation and high regard for her father and after listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day, in 1909 Mrs. Dodd approached her minister and others in Spokane to request a church service dedicated to fathers on June 5.  This date was her father’s birthday and Sonora wanted a special day to remember her father. June 5th was too soon for the minister to prepare the service so he spoke a few weeks later on June 19th.

Spokane first celebrated its first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910.  From that time on, the state of Washington celebrated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.

In early celebrations, people wore flowers as a traditional way of celebrating Father’s Day.  Mrs. Dodd chose the red rose to honor a father still living, while a white flower honored a deceased dad.

Soon, states and organizations began lobbying Congress to declare the special day an annual Father’s Day.  President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea in 1916, but it was not until 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event.  Quoting President Coolidge, the event was to “establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measures of their obligations.”

Since then, Father’s Day is held on the third Sunday in June throughout the USA and Canada, and fathers are recognized and honored by their families on this special day.  President Lyndon Johnson, in 1966, put the official stamp on a celebration that had already been going on for almost half a century and signed a proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.

Everyone has a father and some of you may be fathers.  In other situations, some are single moms who are both “mother and father” to a child. In any case, fathers impact children’s lives in more ways than we will ever know.

Little boys like to imitate their fathers or, as they say, “walk with Daddy’s big shoes on.”  Little girls look up to their fathers for approval and it is said that the love the love a father shows his daughter reflects the type of man she will marry.

June 19th, 2005 is Father’s Day and a special day to celebrate your special Dad.  How will you show your appreciation and love to the wonderful man in your life?  Cook a special dinner for him with all of his favorite dishes, bring him to his favorite restaurant, or be creative and make him a special gift.

If the miles separate you from your father this special day, send a greeting card, flowers, or a gift basket that is perfectly suited to him!

Give your dad a hug and show him your love this Father’s Day!

Having a difficult time thinking of the perfect Father’s Day Gift? We all know that Dads and men in general, for that matter, are infamously difficult to buy gifts for. So this year, stop the neck tie trend and give Dad a gift he can really use and enjoy – electronics, power tools or a hobby related item.

What man doesn’t love electronics? Considering the rate at which technology evolves these days, it is likely that Dad doesn’t have the latest and greatest techno gadget. Visit your local Best Buy, go online to Amazon.com or buy Consumer Reports magazine to get a good overview of the most popular electronic items that are on the market today.  One idea to consider is a digital camera. Prices on cameras have decreased significantly in the last few years. You can now get a 7 pixel camera for under $200 with all the gee-wiz gadgets you can imagine including movement auto-face focus, zero time delay,  and red-eye edit capabilities right on the camera. Dad will love capturing family moments, taking pictures of the kids or photographing his latest carpentry creation. One of the most popular electronic picks is a Universal Remote. Logitech has a computer programmable remote that can control all those electronic gadgets in the cabinet such as the DVR, DVD player, CD player, HD television, stereo receiver and more. You can get a great version of the Universal Logitech remote control at Wal-mart for around $100. More expensive options are also available at places like Best Buy. It is easy to program using downloadable data via a computer, and can perform multiple functions with the push of one button. If your coffee table is covered with five remotes, it may turn out that you’ll love this gift for Dad as much as he will. Finally, for an inexpensive gadget option, consider a computer flash drive. These portable data devices are about the size of a small lighter and hold ridiculous amounts of data. When Dad wants to take data from his computer to the office or to another computer in the house, this small device will make the job infinitely easier.

Do you have one of those Dads that spend more time in the garage tinkering than in the house? Well wander out to his garage or tool shed and take a look around. Even if Dad has tons of tools, he probably doesn’t have the latest gadget or maybe he needs one of his old tools replaced. Some newer items to consider are laser levels or specialty pliers. If you simply don’t know what Dad needs or if you are running short on time, just get him a gift card to his favorite home improvement store like Menards or Home Depot. When he gets to pick out his gift, you can be 100% sure that he’ll like it!

Lastly, consider Dad’s hobbies for gift inspiration. Does he like golfing, drinking beer, watching NASCAR or something else? Giving a gift that is in line with one of his hobbies will likely be a hit. If Dad is a big sports fanatic, consider giving him tickets to a local basketball, football or baseball game. Make this gift even better by offering to take him to the game yourself so that you can spend some quality time together. If Dad is a golfer, you could take him golfing, give him a golf improvement book or a new golf club. Fishermen are easy to buy for because new lures and gadgets are coming out every year. Finally if Dad mostly likes to sit around watching TV and drinking beer, give him a food or beverage gift. Many online gift basket companies such as Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets sell gourmet food baskets, cookie bouquets, beer gift baskets, grilling gifts and other gifts themed for Father’s Day. Just do a quick search on the web to find a suitable gourmet gift.

No matter what you end up buying Dad this year, he’ll love that you took the time to pick out something tailored to his needs. Now get up and get shopping!

According to the US Census Bureau, there are just over 66 million Fathers in the United States.  Of these, 26.4 million are raising their children with their spouse and 2.3 million are single Fathers raising their children on their own.

Today nearly 100,000 men are stay at home Dads.

According to Hallmark Research, Father’s Day is the 4th largest holiday for the sale of greeting cards.  Nearly 95 million Father’s Day cards will be purchased this year. Children (sons and daughters) purchase 50% of greeting cards sold during Fathers Day while 20% are purchased by wives for their husbands who are Dads.  The other 30% of Father’s Day greeting cards are purchased for other men such as Grandfathers, Uncles, Brothers, Sons or other significant male others.

According to the US Census Bureau, just 73% of Americans will celebrate Father’s Day in some way.  Of course, neckties are the most popular Father’s Day gift.  But more and more people are buying items based on Dad’s interests such as power tools, sporting goods and electronics.