Fathers Day Gifts Ideas

This year, avoid giving the “default man gift” for Father’s Day — the gift card to his local home and building supply store, unless that’s what he really wants. As it implies to many men: “Happy Father’s Day, now get to work on your home honey-do list.” Instead, here are some great tips from local dads, plus some suggestions from local retailers, for some great Father’s Day gifts.

Bellevue’s Paul Schmid is a husband, father of three girls, avid kayaker and marketing consultant. He said a great Father’s Day gift (or any gift for your partner for that matter) “should start with trying to figure out what your man really wants. A wily woman can use both indirect and direct means.”

If you prefer the indirect approach, Schmid advised, “Ask yourself, ‘What are his hobbies? Does he golf, bike, fish, build model airplanes or really enjoy doing something else?’ You can never go wrong with something for his pastime. Or think about what kind of events he likes to attend including baseball, theater, the opera, skiing or something else. Think about getting tickets for him and his best buds or the two of you to a future event he would really enjoy. Or ask one of his friends, ‘What do you think my husband would enjoy receiving as a gift?’”

For a more direct approach Schmid urged, “Ask him! Nothing wrong with asking your spouse what they want for Father’s Day, a birthday or Christmas. More economic value is destroyed every year in this country on unwanted and unappreciated gifts.”

Schmid added: “I love to bike so a new commuter bike or bike clothing or accessories are always welcome. Or, for free, what about a well-planned picnic at Luther Burbank Park to watch Shakespeare in the park. I enjoy building boat models. Two of my favorite companies are–for someone just starting out–Midwest Products, or for a more expensive sophisticated model kit, try Dumas Models. If the sky’s the limit and your hubby has skill or expressed an interest in woodworking, you can buy him a kayak kit from companies like Pygmy Kayaks, Redfish Kayaks or Chesapeake Light Craft.”

Getting a gift certificate to take a class is another great gift idea for a dad, Schmid said. “Consider signing him up for any class that he has a latent interest in, like photography or painting. Whatever it is that he has always wanted to do, but couldn’t find the time to do.” There are classes for every interest, Schmid pointed out. “You can send him to the Center for Wooden Boats for a nine-day class to learn to build a Baidarka: A seal skin on wood frame boat built by the Aletians to hunt for otter. Most men have a primal interest in woodworking. If he’s got tools and skill, you can never go wrong in buying him more tools or signing him up for an advanced woodworking class. If he’s a novice, register him for a basic woodworking class.”

Schmid said if you just can’t figure out a good gift, “iTunes or iBooks gift certificates are a sure fire win – he can get exactly what he wants and enjoy it over and over again.”

And most dads would love a gift of your time and personal attention, without your beloved children in tow. So a great gift can be to arrange for a babysitter or overnight stay for the kids at the grandparents and plan a special dinner date or an overnight stay for just the two of you. Schmid said to remember that dads still like to be “dated.” “I think most men still want to be seduced, like when you first dated. So put on (a) favorite dress with some heels and take him for a candlelight dinner and cash in some Marriott miles. This is a win-win,” he said.

David Volk is a local dad and author of The Cheap Bastards Guide to Seattle: Secrets of Living the Good Life – For Less! He said: “Great Father’s Day presents could be a GPS that’s good for geo-caching (not all are). Anything electronic, the iGrill, a gadget and iPhone app that allow you to monitor the temperature of the meat you’re grilling without actually having to stand in front of the grill the entire cookout. Or tickets to the Seattle Mist Lingerie Football League games down in Kent.”

For Eastside moms and daughters hunting for exceptional Father’s Day gifts, there are some great choices locally. Redmond’s Bill the Butcher offers meat-loving dads a bounty of tasty treats including the Rufus Teague line of BBQ sauces and mouth-watering, carved to order steaks and ribeye. Scott Molyneaux is the butcher for the Redmond store. He said if you would like to make a great Father’s Day meal for a dad but usually leave the grilling up to him, “our Chef-Butchers can coach a wife, mother or child on how to prepare the most delicious steak for dad.”

Got a husband that constantly talks about the great tree house he had as a kid? Help him build a new one for your kids with a gift certificate to the Tree House Workshop. The Workshop is held several times a year in Fall City, including this fall, with nationally recognized tree house designer Pete Nelson and his team of expert builders. More information is available online.

A family portrait session is a great Father’s Day gift. Eastside photographer Misty Kuo is offering a special Father’s Day package. For $75, you’ll receive 45-minute session either outdoors at your favorite park or at your Eastside home, and you get a disk and a link with all the edited images (maximum of 20 images). View Kuo’s acclaimed work online and contact her at 206-601-8680 to book your appointment. Or purchase a gift certificate that can be used for a portrait of the whole family.

Managers of Half Price Books recommend these dad-pleasing titles, many of which can be found – for half price – at the Bellevue and Redmond Half Price Books stores. The children’s classics My Father’s Dragonby Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett and At The Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald. For boat fans, The Marlinspike Sailor by Hervey Garrett Smith. Timeless humor abounds in My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber. Engineers and would-be inventors will appreciate The New Way Things Workby David Macaulay and Neil Ardley. Tales of adventures in the Old West are featured in the Frontier Anthology by Zane Grey, which includes the books, Betty Zane, The Spirit of the Border and The Last Trail. And if your dad loves to cook outdoors, he might enjoy Cooking the Cowboy Way, Recipes Inspired by Campfires, Chuck Wagons, and Ranch Kitchens by Grady Spears and June Taylor.

Is dad a music or movie lover? Silver Platters new store location in Bellevue at Crossroads offers gift certificates. The new location has a huge array of the latest music and movie offerings and a smart staff who are happy to help you find a great gift based on what he already listens to or loves to watch.

Gregg’s Cycle in Bellevue is a great resource for gifts for avid cyclist dads. You can bring his bike in for a basic tune up for $75 which includes checks that will help keep him safe including adjusting the brakes. To schedule, call the Bellevue store at 425-462-1900. He might like the Innovation Deluxe Tire Repair Kit for $20 or a gift card, which can be used at any of the three Gregg’s store locations or online.

Other great sources on the Eastside for dad-pleasing gifts include the Mac store at Redmond Town Center and the Apple Retail Store in Bellevue Square. REI in Redmond and Issaquah has a great selection of gifts for dads who like to camp, hike, bike or fish. Big Five Sporting Goods stores in Issaquah and the Sports Authority in Bellevue and Issaquah also offer a wide array of gear for any sport a dad loves to play.

Article source: http://sammamish.patch.com/articles/sammamish-families-looking-for-great-fathers-day-gifts-click-here

By J.M. Hirsch, The Associated Press
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2 hours ago

Could there be a more perfect Father’s Day meal than a sloppy Joe sandwich?

I mean, even the name is manly. And messy. And there’s an added benefit. Sloppy Joes are likely to be enjoyed by everyone in the family, especially the kids. Because Father’s Day isn’t about being a guy; it’s about being a dad.

I started with an intensely flavoured sloppy Joe base rich in tomatoes, beef and pig products. I like prosciutto because it has all the deep, savoury flavours of bacon, but with less fat. If you’d rather use bacon, go for it. But I suggest cooking it separately and pouring off the excess fat before adding it to this recipe.

The Joes then get spooned onto toasted bulkie (deli) rolls, then topped with provolone cheese and tossed under the broiler for a minute or so. The result is a beefy sandwich that will leave Dad satisfied.

If you’re wondering about the sodium, it’s from the prosciutto, ketchup and Parmesan. Reduce those to cut the sodium.

Sloppy Joe Sandwiches

Start to finish: 30 minutes

30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 ml (1/2 tsp) smoked paprika

5 ml (1 tsp) dried basil

5 ml (1 tsp) dried oregano

625 g (1 1/4 lb) lean ground beef

250 g (1/2 lb) prosciutto, finely chopped

1 can (398 ml/14 oz) tomato sauce

125 ml (1/2 cup) ketchup

30 ml (2 tbsp) balsamic vinegar

125 ml (1/2 cup) grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

6 bulkie or kaiser rolls, toasted

6 slices provolone cheese

In a large saucepan over medium-high, combine olive oil, garlic, onion, paprika, basil and oregano. Saute until onion is tender and seasonings are fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Add ground beef and prosciutto. Saute until beef is cooked through and prosciutto begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Add tomato sauce, ketchup and vinegar and bring to a simmer. Stir in Parmesan, then season with salt and pepper.

Set oven to broil.

Arrange bottom halves of rolls on a baking sheet, then spoon some of the sloppy Joe mixture onto each. Top each with a slice of provolone, then broil just until cheese starts to melt. Top with the other halves of the rolls.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 571 calories; 215 calories from fat (37 per cent of total calories); 24 g fat (10 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 106 mg cholesterol; 45 g carbohydrate; 48 g protein; 2 g fibre; 2,312 mg sodium.

Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Article source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5heILFKoGs3F9ENd1re--WY0Oc-Mg?docId=7112881

9 Father’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Dad

Got your Father’s Day gift all picked out and wrapped up for Daddio? Yeah, me neither … not even close … Why are Dads so hard to buy for? Well, we’ve headed out to some of our favorite online shops to try to make the hunt a little easier by finding nine unique Father’s Day gifts for every kind of Dad. And no, none of them are gift certificates … or neckties … or cowboy movies … or oversized beer steins …

Whether your Dad (or your kids’ Dad) is Sporty, Handy, Geeky, Culinary, Outdoorsy, or another kind of cool modern Dad, we have a gift we think Pops will like on his special day this year. Check out our nine choice Father’s Day picks that will couple nicely with a homemade card from the kids or grandkids. Happy shopping!

For the Wine-Loving Guy: Your favorite Dad will love busting out his beautiful Carved Wooden Corkscrew ($15) from Seltzer Studios at the next wine tasting party.

For the Grill Master Dad: This Wireless Remote Grilling Thermometer ($59.95) from Williams-Sonoma lets Dad monitor his barbecue from up to 150 feet away.

For the Tool-Toting Dad: This Large Reclaimed Wood Desk Caddy ($70) from Peg Awl makes great-looking storage for Handy Dads or Chef Dads.

For the Sporty Dad: The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera ($179.95) is shockproof, dustproof, and waterproof to a depth of 10 feet. Perfect for extreme dads.

For the Coffee-Loving Dad: True coffee connoisseurs can put the slow, artfulness back into making a delicious cup of coffee with this Hario Coffee Dripper Server Set ($28.95) from Amazon. This contraption makes an amazing cup.

For Dads Who Love to Stay Home: If your Dad is a total homebody, let him shuffle around the house in style with these Felted Wool Slippers ($65) from Grazim.

For the Gadget Dad: The iPad with Wi-Fi ($499) from Apple is one on those perfect gifts that has Dad’s name on it, but is really for the whole family. Shhh, we’ll never tell.

For Fathers Who Like to Hunt (and/or wear jewelry): This Vintage Bullet Necklace ($22) from Black Star is made for an extra special Papa who’s manly but not so manly he can’t wear his manly on an industrial necklace.

For the Man Who Has Everything: Make Dad’s shave time extra nice by setting him up with this Manly Shaving Mug in Turquoise Lagoon ($26) from Ollie Pots. Isn’t it pretty, er, I mean very masculine and cool?

What are you getting your favorites Dads this Father’s Day?

Article source: http://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/120535/9_fathers_day_gifts_for

Have your kids make a home-made gift this Father’s Day – and deliver it wrapped in something they made, too.

Decorated Dad-Clips

Binder clips are indispensable tools for the modern dad. Beyond fastening papers together, they hold chip bags closed, keep computer cords organized, and can even be used as a money clip. Kids can help decorate a set of clips to give Dad on Father’s Day. For large binder clips, cut a child’s drawing into 2- by 3 1/8-inch pieces. Coat the back of each piece with a thin layer of glue, then wrap it around the outside of one of the clips.

Kids’ extra artwork can be used for one-of-a-kind wrapping paper, bookmarks, or even (when run through a paper shredder) colorful packing material and confetti.

Camera Card

This photogenic Father’s Day card takes aim at the hearts of shutterbug fathers everywhere.

First, paint the inside and sides of a clean, wide jar lid (such as the lid from a peanut butter jar) with black acrylic paint and let it dry. Cut a photo to fit the inside of the lid, and attach it with glue dots or double-sided tape. Fold a half-sheet of black card stock in half, and cut two sections from the folded edge, as shown. Add simple camera details with silver paint marker, then adhere the jar lid to the front of the card. Inside, write a camera-related message: “You’re a pictureperfect dad!” or “Dad, you always make us smile.”

Article source: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/06/2929596/help-your-kids-make-a-personalized.html

(CBS News)

Just two weeks until Father’s Day – the perfect time for Steve Hartman’s story on “required reading” … starring a very dedicated dad:

Thanks to a retired librarian in Millville, New Jersey, I may have found the secret to successful parenting – not in any one, single book, but in this one, single dad, whose wife left him when his daughter was 10.

“It was just she and I,” said Jim Brozina. He says he and his daughter Alice were always close – but around 4th grade, he started worrying they’d soon drift apart.

“After 4th grade, they start looking for their friends,” he said. “Could be that we just didn’t see each other during the day or talk to one another – it could have been.”

Could have been – he says – if not for “The Streak.”

“The Streak” was a challenge Jim issued to his daughter that 4th grade year – to see how many nights in a row they could read together.

He even made rules – that they had to read at least one chapter, and had to finish before midnight.

“It was our way of being connected,” Brozina said. “If I got that done, and nothing else, that was the important thing of the day had gotten done.”

“It was like my life,” said Alice – now 23 – who took it just as seriously.

“You would think 15 minutes a day wouldn’t be that fundamental,” she said, “but it turned out it was what everything came back to.”

Starting with chapter books and building to Shakespeare, Jim continued reading to Alice well after most parents give up on story time … well into high school.

That’s right: While the other kids were leaving parties to get beer (“I don’t know if I was particular popular,” Alice mused), Alice was leaving for “King Lear.”

“And I didn’t even drive, either, so I would have to burden someone at a party to take me home to get read to, and then drive me back.

And yet, she and her dad kept it up every night ’till the first day of college.

After unpacking her things at Rutgers, Jim and Alice sat in the stairwell of her dorm and shared one last read.

“It was a hard thing to bear – to know that after almost nine years that we were now doing the last time,” said Jim.

“He put in every night for years; he didn’t have to do that,” said Alice. “He’s selfless.”

Alice ended up graduating top of her class, with a degree in – you guessed it – English Literature.

And thanks to all that reading her dad did, Alice is now able to read to him – from her own book. It’s called “The Reading Promise.”

As for Jim – although he rarely reads to Alice anymore, he still finds a regular audience, by traveling around to local senior centers.

Apparently you’re never too old to be read to.

For more info:

• “The Reading Promise: My Father, and the Books We Shared” by Alice Ozma

Article source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/05/sunday/main20069081.shtml