Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Men

Last year my brother-in-law and husband took time out of their busy lives and, at the pleas of their wives, brained stormed up a somewhat generic, but sure to be a hit stocking stuffer list for men!

1. Movie theater-sized box of candy
2. Gift cards in smaller denominations to their favorite fast food restaurants {guiltless bachelor eating when you're out of town or when they "forget" to pack a lunch}
3. Program their phone to remind them of important days a few days before the event {they want to be your prince, so help them succeed}
4. Shoe shine kit. All out fancy, or just a Kiwi Express Shine {keep their kicks looking classy}
5. Air freshener that doesn't make their car smell like a girl {Scentsy has some that the girl in their life can still live with}
6. Snazzy socks {they recommend some hearty argyle--making desk jobs more fun}
7. Movie tickets {for a date with you, or a shoot 'em up with the boys}
8. New set of pliers {needle nose got voted "most likely to have disappeared the past year"}
9. A 12 pack of their favorite soda {forgo the stocking and sit this one on the hearth}
10. Hair paste/product {they don't want to be girlie, but they need good stuff for their 'do}
11. Box of candy bars {think Costco or Sam's Club sized, and watch their will-power put to the limit}
    
12. Hat with their favorite team's logo {beanie or baseball, they aren't too picky}
13. Pack of razor blades, fancy or just their regular brand {for smooth kissing at New Year's}
14. Small LED keychain flashlight {for seeing the lock at night or finding hidden treasures beneath the sofa}
    
15. Can of Easy Cheese and crackers {because they are so deprived now that they're married}
    
16. Gloves for whatever they're into {batting | gardening | nice leather driving gloves | golfing | nitrile coated for odd jobs}
17. A can of nuts {no peanuts please. Pistachios got a hearty endorsement, but they aren't too picky}
18. Car wash tokens or punch pass

This was lifted straight from Deidra's blog with a few changes made.
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Elf on the Shelf

Barnes & Noble has The Elf on the Shelf 40% off this week for members (a trial membership is free). Use an in store coupon or code 147851 to order online.

Our elf, Levi, is due to return from the North Pole tomorrow, Dec. 1st and my boys can't wait.

Even if you don't get an elf, be sure to show your little ones the website, it is a December favorite at our house!

Handmade Christmas :: Part 1

If you haven't met Ana before, let me introduce you. Ana White posts (free) furniture plans on her site. Plans that are very similar to furniture from places like Potterybarn, West Elm, Land of Nod, Crate and Barrel, etc.

If Santa can pull it off, he'll be leaving these under--or next to our tree. When shopping for the WOW gift we go for every year we decided this would be our best option since we'll need them eventually (we've had the plans printed off for at least a year...). And our 4 year old begs us for bunkbeds frequently (ever since he saw the cousins--he wants one blue and one green just like theirs too).

Land of Nod sells their's for $1,499. Last time we priced lumber we figured the total cost to be around $130 and I pick up a gallon of mis-mixed paint for $5. All we need to add is a little manual labor and we are set!


Now where are those elves?

Sunglasses for Christmas

I used to buy relatively cheap sunglasses ($10 or less) because I figured they were all the same.

Then one day our local sporting goods store had their Smith sunglasses on sale for $28, and I splurged and bought a pair (normally they'd be priced around a Benjamin). Let me tell you, not all sunglasses are created equal! I swore I'd never buy cheap sunglasses again.They only lasted a few months before I lost them (still kicking myself) and I had almost resigned myself to another pair of cheap sunglasses--because paying full price for another pair of Smith's is out of the questions--when my sister pointed me right back to our local sporting goods store. Turns out they have a wide selection of Smith glasses for just a few dollars more than I had paid!

Here's where you know I don't hold back from sharing: While a new pair is on my Christmas wish list, they haven't been secured yet (so don't buy them out). Al's Sports is the place and they even have free shipping, so if you don't live in the valley it doesn't matter! Prices start at $19.99 and go up. There's a small catch though, none of the glasses come with carrying cases. For $80-$100 savings that's something I've chosen to overlook.

**Edited: Free shipping is for orders over $75, but pick up in store is free. Use coupon code WINNER to save an extra 10%**

Smith Optics come with a lifetime warranty.

Would someone on your gift list like sunglasses?

Gift Ideas

We are in full birthday prep mode. Here are a few great gift ideas for the 1 year old in your life.










When in doubt, give a book. You can never go wrong with books.

Model Cars

Amazon.com has dropped prizes on some of their model cars...just in time for Father's Day. Take dad back to his childhood with one of these classic cars.

Road Signature 1957 Ford Thunderbird 1:18 Scale Model in White for $6.83;
Road Signature 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 1:18 Scale Model in Green for $6.83;
Road Signature 1961 Desoto Adventurer 1:18 Scale Model in Light Green for $6.93;
Road Signature 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express Pick Up Truck 1:18 Scale Model in Burgundy for $6.93;
Ferrari F430 Spider 1:18 Scale Model for $6.94;
Road Signature 1966 Dodge Charger 1:18 Scale Model in Red for $7.02;
Road Signature 1959 Buick Electra 225 1:18 Scale Model in Lavender Metallic for $7.02;
Road Signature 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T 1:18 Scale Model in Green for $7.02;
Road Signature 1948 Tucker Torpedo 1:18 Scale Model in Red for $7.19;
Barichello Racing Scuderia Ferrari 1:43 Scale Model for $7.59;
Shyne Rodz 1941 Plymouth Street Rod 1:18 Scale Model in Metallic Purple for $7.79;
Shyne Rodz 1934 Ford Pick Up Street Rod 1:18 Scale Model in Green for $7.79;
Shyne Rodz 1937 Ford V8 Convertible Street Rod 1:18 Scale Model in Metallic Orange for $7.79;
2007 Shelby G.T. 500 in Black for $8.04;
1966 Shelby G.T. 350 in Blue for $8.04;
Signature Series 1956 Continental Mark II 1:18 Scale Model in Black for $9.56; and
Shelby Cobra 427 S/C in Black for $15.99.