Father's Day Gift Ideas http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/05/20/pappa-dont-preach/ If you've been stuck in the grilling and tie rut for the past few Father's Day, here are some suggestions for this upcoming June 20th. For the man in your life who enjoys his spirits, try these Eisch Vino Nobile Breathable Multi-Purpose Red or White Wine Glasses. A wine poured into a breathable glass for just 2 to 4 minutes will show signs of aeration equivalent to the same wine that has been decanted and aerated for 1 to 2 hours. For hard liquor, specifically bourbon or whiskey, try these fantastic whiskey stones that keep your drink cold and neat without ever getting watery. "Have drinks with a cool story to tell" with these great recycled windshield beer or wine glasses. I'm also a huge fan of the book Barguments: a debate with no right or wrong answer that must be uncomplicated enough to discuss after three beers. Got a sport's enthusiast? Gift him 4 crazy golf balls from iwantoneofthose.com that each do something ludicrous when you hit them; one blows up into a spectacular cloud of billowing white dust, one basically vanishes on impact into a watery mist, one ejects 15 feet of spiralling streaming ribbon when thwacked, and the last one simply won't go in a straight line on the green. If he loves hoops then get him a picture frame, mirror or wall shelf all made from reclaimed gym floor decor all from uncommongoods.com. The cyclist? Check out this modern bike chain business card holder or if his sport is more mental, check out this LED light up chess set from amazon. Have a funny fella in your life? Read the rest of this article by clicking the link above.

For Dads, Grads & anyone else in your life ... http://www.storypeople.com/storypeople/WebStory.do?action=Show&storyID=1774&pageIndex=8&minRow=0&storyInSearch=200&productCategoryID=1000 Storypeople.com has amazing prints, cards, etc with truly inspiried and often humorous messages. Almost New Age Is willing to accept that she creates her own reality except for some of the parts where she can't help but wonder what the hell she was thinking Before Dawn I've always liked the time before dawn because there's no one around to remind me who I'm supposed to be, so it's easier to remember who I am Believing My Father I used to believe my father about everything but then I had children myself & now I see how much stuff you make up just to keep yourself from going crazy. Kindered Spirits You're the strangest person I ever met, she said & I said you too & we decided we'd know each other a long time. I’ve listed a few more of my favorites on my site... http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/03/19/story-people/

Great summer finds for you or perfect as hostess gifts! http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/06/18/my-summer-hot-list/ The Ravi Wine Chiller tops my list as it instantly chills your wine from room temperature to its ideal serving temperature. Wine is cooled within seconds, just as it’s being served. Perfect when those unexpected guests drop by to enjoy the evening. However, if the weather turns rainy, pop up this very cool Color Changing Umbrella. These umbrellas come printed with special ink that reacts when it rains, white when dry, then comes to life when in contact with water. For outdoor entertianing, serve snacks or fresh salads in these beautiful (unbreakable) Flowered Enamel Serving Bowls. For a perfect marinade or vinaigrette to top your salad, whip it up in this brilliant Shaker that has 5 easy pre printed recipes on the side. This odor resistant acrylic martini shaker was designed to do double duty. It can hold 16 ounces of your favorite drink after you mix up your favorite marinade. I also would love to showsae my fresh cut blooms in this stunning Magnetic Vase from Lichen Studio. Read about more great finds at the link above.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/03/10/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving/ A few years ago a friend of mine gifted me $25 on Kiva.org. If you've never heard of Kiva, I strongly encourage you to take a look when you have a chance. Their tag line is "loans that change lives" and that quite accurately is what they do. For as little as $25, you are able to loan someone in another country a portion of a loan they are requesting in order to start, expand or continue a business. You are able to sort through close to 1000 people and your search can be broken down into gender, sector (education, health, fool, etc.) and region. There is typically a photo and a paragraph outlining how much the person needs, what is will be used for, re-payment terms/schedule and any previous loans they have requested/repaid. Read more about Kiva at the link above.

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/07/22/all-she-does-is-wine-wine-wine/ Know someone who loves their wine? Great fun vino finds found on this site!

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/08/09/are-you-a-maghound/ Looking for a gift? Try this new way to buy magazines! Anyone can purchase a Maghound Gift Membership for their friends, family, coworkers, children’s school teachers, BFFs and frienemies. The Gift Buyer simply purchases a desired dollar amount which is then applied as a credit to the Recipient’s account when the gift is redeemed. The Recipient gets to choose the number of magazines desired and the specific titles. Monthly charges are automatically deducted... read the rest of the article at the link above.

My dear friend, Jodi Kahn, just released her new book TODAY and I'm so excited for her!!!! It's called Simply Sublime Gifts and projects in it are wonderful - and she says totally easy-peasy to make. Here are the instructions for making a "Wonder Wallet" (see picture below): http://www.readymade.com/projects/fold_a_wonder_wallet So great, right?!? Here's the link to her book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Sublime-Gifts-High-Style-Projects/dp/0307464466 And the link to her fabulous new blog: http://www.simplysublime.typepad.com/ Congratulations, Jodi!!! I'm SO happy for you and am heading over to buy a bunch of copies to give my crafting friends (and one for me, natch!).

Grandparent's Day is September 12th - Gift ideas! http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/08/30/whos-grandmas-favorite-now/ In the technology category, I've got the following suggestions ... TV Ears - I've gifted these twice and I've been told that they can save a marriage. If one person has a hard time hearing, they can use the TV ears at a louder volume so that the rest of the room can listen at a normal, even muted range. If your grandparent has a computer, download skype for them and show them how easy it is to virtually visit. Even 5 minutes/week can mean so much! If they are wary of computers, check out Celery. Not a great name but a good computerless email system that anyone can use. More suggestions found at the link above!

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/09/08/the-last-straw/ DIY straws, glass straws, ice straws, bamboo ... what will they think of next?

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/11/19/green-friday/ GREAT gift ideas for the holidays- all which "give back" multiple ways!

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2010/12/10/new-york-state-of-mind/ State inspired gift ideas! If you have someone on your holiday list that LOVES their home-state, here are a few items that I’ve seen this year that I love. Personally, I’ve already gifted myself this state necklace where you can personalize and pinpoint your hometown with a star. For you Kentucky fans, notice that I wear it with the appropriate shade of blue. Found at signals and currently on sale. For those of you that like a little more bling (and have a bigger budget) check out State of Mine. What I’m hoping to see under my tree this year is this fun and functional state-shaped cutting board...read the rest at the link above.

I love this, Holland. I recently made bath salts (rose and citrus) for three great girlfriends - as birthday gifts. Then I found some other DIY facial and bath recipes...I put them on recipe cards for the "self-care" kits. FUN! Here's the "how to" for the bath salts - easy. http://www.itsafullnest.com/2010/12/18/bath-salts-and-snow-globes-and-soap-oh-my/

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2011/02/05/happy-heart-day/ Valentine's Day Gift Ideas - don't wait till it's too late! No matter to who or how you plan to say I Love You this Valentine’s, I’ve got some suggestions to hopefully make it your best yet. For the tea/tea party lover, pick up a set of these beautiful ‘inside out heart’ cups from nordstrom.com. For a dapper fella who’s always in a suit, gift these ‘suggestive’ collar stays... *Check out the rest of the list at the link above.

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2011/03/08/6-shopping-sites-not-to-miss/ Fabulous sites to find unusual, practical, original, one-of-a-kind, never knew you needed it kind of gifts. Umbra – “decorate the way you want” black + blum – creates products for the home and office, combining ruthless practicality with a mischievous and intellectually-satisfying design aesthetic AREAWARE – If appreciation for beauty is central to what it means to be alive, then we want to embody this principle in even the simplest of thing. Read the article in its entirety at the link above.

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2011/05/01/mad-about-mom/ Mother's Day is May 8th - check out these great gift suggestions! Below are some great finds that would make any Mother's, Grandmother's or Godmother's Day more special - even mine. (Hint! Hint!) Does your mom fancy flowers? Surprise her with a pastel tin bouquet that will last a lifetime from uncommongoods. Does your mom fancy sweets? Dive into these hand-made delicious pie pops from Cakewalk Desserts. Does your mom fancy health & wellness? Apply any of these therapeutic grade essential oils, exotic in origin, ancient in derivation, and proven in application from Unica Home. Does your mom fancy her footwear? Slip into these original hand-painted clogs from The Swanx. Does your mom fancy gardening? Gift her with this great collection of plantable cards that are printed in full color directly on seeded paper from Bloomin. Finally, for the gift that keeps on giving, send her a gift certificate from Kiva that provides a loan that can change a life and empower someone across the world. "Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved". ~Erich Fromm Link to all these great gift suggestions at the link above.

What kind of gift-giver are you? Check these 5 types By Molly Lyons, Special for USA TODAY Every year, Ashley Delahunty promises herself that she won't wait until the last minute to start her Christmas shopping, but every year, she ends up in a mad dash to check off all the names on her list. "I always have great plans about what I want to do for people, but it never comes together because I run out of time," says Delahunty, 36, of Wellesley, Mass. "So I end up buying exactly what they tell me they want, which is practical but takes the surprise and fun out of it." Sound familiar? If so, you're not alone. Even though buying gifts can be as easy as pointing and clicking (more than 122 million Americans are expected to shop online today, Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation), selecting the perfect present isn't as easy as it seems. In fact, research confirms that, in general, Santas we're not. A study published this year in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that while gift recipients are happier with gifts they've explicitly asked for, givers think that gifts they've picked out on their own are seen as more considerate and better appreciated. Read more: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/mind-soul/holiday/story/2011-11-27/What-kind-of-gift-giver-are-you-Check-these-5-types/51425834/1

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2011/11/28/holiday-gift-ideas/ As someone who revels in finding the right gift for the right person at every occasion, it’s really hard to come up with a condensed list at this time of year. So, for this post, I’m going to stick with a few favorite finds and over the next couple of weeks, I’ll share books & ‘gifts that give back’ with you as well. Hopefully you’ll find something for everyone and if not, let me know! Also, take a quick look at my previous gift posts as some of my earlier favorites may be just the right one you’re looking for... Check out the rest of the article at the link above!

http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2011/11/30/books-im-gifting-this-year/ BOOKS I'M GIFTING THIS YEAR Amazing Adventures of a Nobody by Leon Logothetis. I had the pleasure of meeting Leon and taking a ride in his Kindness Cab this Fall and his book is going to my traveling sister-in-law and also my best friend who sees the good in everyone…and probably others as well – I heart this book. White Truffles in Winter by N.M. Kelby to my Chef step-brother or his lovely wife. “This richly layered novel is based on the life of legendary chef Auguste Escoffier, who popularized French cooking methods at his restaurants at The Savoy and The Ritz at the beginning of the 20th century. Escoffier’s love for two women: the beautiful, iconic actress Sarah Bernhardt and his lovely, poetess wife, Delphine Daffis, is at the heart of this complex tale. The characters are vivid and the food — oh, the food — is delicious!” Indiebound.org Wildwood by Colin Meloy to my hip sister (age 35) or niece (age 7) as this is a great book of wonder, danger, and magic as told by the lead singer of The Decemberists. A touching tale for anyone of any age. Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard to my history loving husband... Read the rest of the article at the link above.