Father’s Day is right around the corner, which means it’s time shop for a gift for Dad.  But, if he’s anything like my dad or husband, he has enough ties, he has enough power tools and he even has a barbecue grill set, so he’s all set, right.  Which presents a problem – what to get Dad for Father’s Day.  After a little hunting around on Pinterest, we came up with a great idea for any dad – a custom made gift box!

This box is really special because it reminds your dad (or husband) of all the reasons that being a dad is so great.  On top of that, you make it yourself, so it is personalized just for each individual dad himself.

Here’s just what to do:

Step 1: Download and print out the special tags on this link. (You can decorate or color them however you want.)

Step 2: Choose the tags you want to use and match each tag with something the special dad in your life would like.  You don’t have to use them all – just choose the ones you like the best.  Or create your own on the blank ones provided. (Check out the examples listed below for some ideas.)

Step 3: Punch holes in each of the tags and use ribbon, twine or yarn to tie the tags to its corresponding item.

Step 4: Package everything in a gift box or basket.

Step 5: Give to your dad on Father’s Day with your best smile and a hug!

For the Tired Dad 

There are lots of ideas you can do here.  A bottle of Dad’s favorite soda or a bag of his favorite coffee.  You could do a gift card to his favorite coffee spot, like Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts.  Some dads like energy drinks.

For the Athletic Dad 

Try any of our Core-Sport or TheraSport athletic socks and sleeves.  The Core-Sport Arm Sleeve is a favorite among golfers!

For the Dad on the Go 

Great ideas for this one can include high protein snacks to help Dad from getting too hungry when he doesn’t have time to stop for dinner.  A package of nuts or beef jerky.  Peanut butter crackers or granola bars.  Make sure that whatever you choose is either individually wrapped or re-sealable.  That way it can last a while and doesn’t make too much of a mess in Dad’s car.

For the Dad that enjoys the Sweet Life 

What is your dad’s favorite candy?  Snickers? Hershey Kisses? Reeses?  Pick up whatever your dad loves.  You can keep it small or king size, whatever you choose.

For Dad the Reader 

Whether you want to pick something for your dad to read on his “throne” or a great bedtime story to read together, you can’t go wrong with some reading material.  Great choices include the latest copy of his favorite magazine; a children’s book to read together like “Star Wars: Vader’s Little Princess” by Jeffrey Brown; funny adult books like “Dad is Fat” by Jim Gaffigan; or whatever your dad prefers.

For the Working Dad 

We recommend Ease Trouser Socks for Men.  They are available in three different compression levels: mild, moderate or firm, so there’s something for all dads.

For Making Memories with Dad 

There are so many great possibilities here.  Is your dad into Sci Fi?  How about a gift card to see the latest Sci Fi movie.  Maybe he likes baseball.  You could get two tickets to watch the local team play.  Or you could get him passes to go bowling, roller skating or playing mini golf.  Whatever you and your dad like to do together.

For the Dad that loves Comfort 

Does your dad like fun or crazy designs on his socks?  Get him a pair of CoreSpun Patterns.  Or maybe your dad is more of a solid guy.  Regular CoreSpun socks are a great option for him.  Either way, CoreSpun socks give your dad the healthy benefits of true gradient compression in a soft and comfortable sock.

Ideas for the Gift Box

You can even personalize the way you package it for your dad.  A new cooler would be fun for a dad that loves tailgating or camping.  A tool box or a work bucket for a handy dad.  A tackle box for a dad that loves fishing.  Or maybe just a regular box if your dad has all those things already.  You can keep it manly by putting it in a nice wood crate (you can find these at craft stores).  Whatever you do, your dad will love it!!

With a chill in the area and snow on the ground (in some places), staying inside sounds like the place to be.  And with the holiday season in full swing, it’s time to do a little holiday baking.  If your house is anything like mine, you might have a few little elves that want to help with the process.  Instead of stressing, try some of these fun and easy recipes that your children can help with and some they can even make themselves!

Red-Nosed Reindeer Cookies

Ingredients:
Pillsbury’s Simply Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
Flipz Mini Chocolate Pretzels
M&M Minis
Regular Size M&Ms
White Frosting

Directions:

1. Slice pieces from cookie dough in half and shape each half into 1-1/2” triangles.
2. Place 3” apart on cookie sheets and bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
3. Remove from oven. While cookies are still warm, press a mini pretzel onto each side to resemble antlers.
4. Let cool completely.
5. Decorate cookies to resemble reindeer faces. Mini M&Ms become eyes, M&Ms are noses and white frosting is used to “glue” them on the cookies.

They make an adorable snack for watching that old classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!

Melting Snowman Cookie Balls

Ingredients:
1 8 oz. Package of Cream cheese
24 Finely Crushed Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
3 4 oz. Packages of BAKER’S White Chocolate, broken and melted
48 Mini OREO Bite Size Cookies
2 Tbsp. Decorating Icing

Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.
2. Shape into 48 1-inch balls and place in a single layer in a shallow pan.
3. Freeze for 10 minutes.
4. Dip balls in melted chocolate and place in a shallow waxed paper-lined pan, allowing excess chocolate to pool at bottom of each ball.
5. Use remaining ingredients to decorate your snowmen faces.
6. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Keep refrigerated.

Another fun treat for another holiday classic, Frosty the Snowman!

Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees

Ingredients:
Ice Cream Cones
Green Frosting (White Frosting w/ Green Food Coloring will work.)
Candy for Decorations

Directions:

1. Frost each ice cream cone with green frosting covering the whole outside.
2. Add candy pieces to resemble decorations.
3. Let frosting set before eating!

Christmas isn’t the only holiday in December.  So, if you’re celebrating this winter season lighting a menorah, try this recipe for a fun holiday treat!

Marshmallow Dreidels

Borrowed from marthastewart.com

Ingredients:
Marshmallows
Kitchen Scissors
Nonstick Cooking Spray
Nonpareils
Nonpareil Chocolate
Wooden Skewers

Directions:

1. Spray kitchen scissors with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Have a parent trim sides of marshmallows to make them square-shaped.
3. Dip marshmallows into a bowl of nonpareils to coat.
4. Insert a wooden skewer and add a nonpareil chocolate for the tip.
5. Have a parent trim the skewer.

Here’s a delicious treat for any children’s holiday party!

Peppermint Puppy Chow

Borrowed from Sallysbakingaddiction.com

Ingredients:
5 Cups of Rice Chex cereal
10 ounces of Melting White Chocolate OR Vanilla Flavored Almond Bark
1 Cup of Crushed Peppermint Candy Canes
1 Cup of Confectioners’ Sugar

Directions:

1. Pour cereal into a large bowl.
2. Melt the white chocolate/almond bark according to package directions and pour over cereal. Stir and fold until the cereal is completely covered.
3. Fold in crushed candy canes.
4. Pour confectioners’ sugar into a large zipped-lock bag.
5. Pour the cereal/chocolate/candy mixture into the bag.
6. Seal and shake until all the cereal is coated with confectioners’ sugar.

How about an extra special treat to leave for Santa and his elves on Christmas Eve?  One that Mom and Dad are sure to enjoy, too!  This one might not have as many steps that the kids can help with, but I bet they’ll love knowing that you’re making Elf Biscuits!

Elf Biscuits

Borrowed from myrecipes.com

Ingredients:
1 5-1/3 oz. Package of Graham Crackers (1 Sleeve)
¾ Cup of Butter or Margarine
½ Cup of Sugar
1 Cup of Chopped Pecans or Almonds

Directions:

1. Arrange 11 whole graham crackers on an ungreased 15” x 10” jellyroll pan.
2. Bring butter, sugar and nuts to boil in a medium saucepan. Boil 2 minutes.
3. Pour mixture on crackers, spreading quickly to cover.
4. Bake at 300° for 12 minutes.
5. Remove crackers to wax paper to cool.
6. Cut with a knife along perforations.

And finally one last one that the kids can make all themselves . . . and it will make the wait for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve that much more fun!

Magic Reindeer Food

Borrowed from myrecipes.com

Ingredients:
2 Cups of Regular Oats
2 Cups of Birdseed Mix
2 Tbsp. of Red Decorator Sugar Crystals
2 Tbsp. of Green Decorator Sugar Crystals

Directions:

1. Add all the ingredients in a 2 quart zip-lock bag.
2. Shake to combine.
3. Wait until Christmas Eve and sprinkle a path through your yard to your house. The path will help guide Santa’s reindeer to your house, and they’ll get a tasty treat, too!

NOTE: Remember kids, don’t eat the reindeer food.  The reindeer will eat some of what you sprinkle, but the rest will be a tasty Christmas morning treat for your neighborhood birds!

The 121^st observance of Labor Day is Monday, September 7, which means Labor Day weekend is only a day away.  Although Congress first voted to make Labor Day a holiday in 1894, the story is so much more than just that.  This weekend as people around the country are celebrating the American worker with one final picnic, barbecue or lake retreat before the fall, we’ll give you a few facts about Labor Day and its history in our country.  Just in case anyone asks!

1. Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September each year in the United States.
2. Labor Day actually began in Canada in 1872.
3. Twelve years before the Congressional declaration of the Labor Day holiday, Labor Day was first celebrated in New York City on September 5, 1882. It was actually a Tuesday.
4. The first Labor Day was observed with a parade of 10,000 workers who took unpaid leave and marched through the streets of New York ending with a concert, speeches and picnics.
5. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in 1887.
6. Labor Day celebrates the approximately 155 million men and women currently in the U.S. workforce.
7. In the 1800s, Americans worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks to make a basic living. Children as young as 5-6 worked in factories and mines.
8. The 8-hour work day was established in 1916 when the Adamson Act was passed. The Adamson Act was the first federal law regulating hours of workers in private companies.
9. The first person to propose a Labor Day holiday is disputed. Some say it was Peter McGuire, a carpenter and the co-founder of the American Federation of Labor.  Others think it was Matthew Maguire, a machinist.
10. New York City still hosts a Labor Day parade taking place 20 blocks north of the original 1882 labor march route.
11. Many other countries celebrate a holiday honoring working people on May 1^st.
12. California has the greatest number of union members – 2.4 million.
13. Teachers are the largest group of union workers nationwide.
14. Grover Cleveland was the President who declared Labor Day to be observed on the first Monday of September.
15. Labor Day is the traditional end of summer around the U.S. Many parts of the country begin school after Labor Day.  Most pools close after the Labor Day weekend.  It is typically the beginning weekend for college football games.
16. Traditionally, Labor Day is the last day to wear white. This tradition is said to come from members of the upper class who would return from their summer vacations and put away their white and lightweight summer clothes.

It’s a good thing we don’t practice that last one anymore, because the SmartKnitKIDS team would hate to tell you to put away your white SmartKnitKIDS socks!  But, in case you want to bulk up on your socks of other colors for your post Labor Day wardrobe, you know where to find them!  Save 20% when on your orders this weekend!