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Experience Gifts for Dad

June 3, 2019

Making memories with Dad trumps a gift that fits into a bag any day. Here are 21 Ideas for Experience Gifts for Dad this Father’s Day.

Father’s Day is upon us, and for some reason, buying for men can seem more difficult than buying for women. Looking back, the best Father’s Day gifts have been experience gifts for dad. They’re the ones that are the most memorable, that he talks about over and over again. Giving him the opportunity to do something he enjoys (either on his own or with the people he loves) is a fail-proof plan. He doesn’t really rave about the coffee mugs, ties, or new kicks as much as he’s gone on and on about his race track experience (keep reading).

Experience gifts for dad can range from inexpensive to really pricey, but no matter your budget, you can definitely find an experience that will bring a smile to your hubby’s or dad’s face. These are great ideas for both your husband and your father. These can involve the entire family, just you and your Dad (Invite your siblings? Maybe you could go in on a gift together!), just your husband and kids, etc. The possibilities are endless! (BUDGET TIP: Check Groupon in your area under the Things To Do tab. They’ll have some great deals and unique ideas you haven’t thought of before!)

Keeping the Cost Low…

A trip to Top Golf, the golf course, or driving range

Comedy Club

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Escape Room

Dinner and a movie with Dad (Surprise him with tickets to a movie he’s been wanting to see.)

An afternoon fishing with Dad (Buy him some new bait and tell him to grab his tackle box and clear his calendar for the afternoon!)

A camping trip (My husband and boys take a tent to a local campground and pay around $12/night. Cooking out, swimming, hiking, and sleeping under the stars: no extra charge!)

A trip to the gun range

Rock climbing

Massage

Sporting Event (Baseball game, football game, etc. This can be done inexpensively based on whether you go to a pro team or a semi-pro team, and, of course, whether or not you mind sitting in the nosebleeds!)

Harlem Globetrotter’s Tickets

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A trip to Six Flags (My dad and I often went and rode rides together when I was a kid, and we always reminisce when we find time to go together nowadays. Of course, the grandkids tag along now!)

If you Have More to Spend…

An upcoming concert

Tickets to hear his favorite expert/speaker

Nascar Driving Experience (my husband’s all-time favorite gift)

Flying lessons for airplane or helicopter (Yes, you can buy one at a time! My husband has done both and is now totally convinced he missed his calling…)

Skydiving/iFly

Guided Fishing Excursion

Pro Golf Lessons

Rent an awesome car for him to cruise in for a day

Season Tickets or a Package of Tickets to a favorite sporting event

A weekend away to his favorite destination/a plane ticket to somewhere he’s wanted to go

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A Message to a Hardworking Husband

Eleven Ways to Energize Your Marriage

How to Be a Better Wife

How to Be a Better Mom

8 Things We LOVE About Summer

May 23, 2019

When school comes to an END…let the SUMMER FUN begin!

NO RUSHING out the door.

I HATE rushing around on school mornings. Hurry and eat! Have you brushed your teeth? Put on deodorant. You don’t want to be the stinky kid! Get your lunch. CODE BROWN!! The toddler has to poop. I’ll meet you in the car!! This is just a short list of sentences you might hear in my house on any given school morning.

NO waking the kids!

I wake up long before the kids each morning to do my quiet time and work. This time being the only one awake is pure gold. I literally squeeze out every second each morning before having to wake them up for school. During the summer, I can keep on working till they rise on their own. YES!

Spontaneity!

I love a good routine, but in the summer it is just SO FUN to be able to say, Hey kids! How about a trip to the pool?! Let’s head up to the beach! Who wants to go see a movie? Wanna meet friends at the trampoline park? And of course, those spontaneous gestures are always met with excitement and enthusiasm. And maybe even an occasional, “You’re the BEST, Mom!” Yes, yes I am.

Help around the house!

YES! This might be the best. My kids are more than capable of actually helping around the house. Disclaimer: This would NOT make it on their “summer fun” list. 😉 I have put a little time and energy into teaching them how to do helpful chores around the house. I really let them slack off on chores during the school year. They have long school days and even more homework each night when they get home (yuck!). Add in practice for whatever sport they have going on at the time, and the evenings are shot. All I really want for those boys after an exhausting school day is for them to run and be kids for as long as possible until dinner, bath, and bedtime. They NEED that time, and I can’t justify filling it with chores during the school year. But, in the summer, they are nothin’ but bored anyway, so, CHORE ON, my loves.

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Eleven Ways to Energize Your Marriage

April 26, 2019

Have you ever wondered how to energize your marriage when life is so darn busy? Jobs, kids, and all the things leave your energy tank running on empty most of the time. Whether you have one minute or can carve out an entire weekend, it’s important to be proactive about bringing positive energy and intentional effort to your relationship with your husband. The little things add up and the big things make a lasting impact.

Energize your marriage in one minute:

It’s the little things that mean the most. In the midst of our busy, day-to-day lives, our husbands are encouraged by the small courtesies and gestures that are beyond easy to do (and easy not to do).

1.Bring him a drink. Is he working in the yard? Sitting at the computer? Watching TV? Without him asking, bring him a cup of coffee, glass of water, or a cold beer.

2. Make his plate. I know…you have three kids’ plates to make and everything else to do before you get to your own. But, what if every now and then you made his plate first, just to let you know you’re thinking of him? Men love to be taken care of!

3. Stop for an unexpected smooch. When you walk past him in the kitchen or he walks in the door from work, grab his face and give him a kiss he won’t soon forget! (Bonus points for a pinch on the rear.)

4. Let him hear you talking good about him. Tell the kids why he’s the best dad around or why you’re so lucky to be his wife. Brag on him to your mom about his home improvement skills or the project he excelled on at work.

5. Leave him a note on the bathroom mirror, in his car, or tuck it away in his suitcase before he heads out of town.

In a few hours:

If you’ve got a free morning, afternoon, or evening, energize your marriage in just a few hours with these ideas.

6. Plan a date night. Fix your hair, put on some lipstick and a cute outfit, and get out of the house! Head to your favorite restaurant just because.

7. Join him in a favorite activity. Does he love to golf? Schedule a tee time and play with him (or at least drive him around in the golf cart). Is he a car guy? Find a car show in your area and surprise him by taking him there for the afternoon. Gun guy? Ask him to take you to the gun range for some shooting practice. Go to a baseball game together. The sky is the limit!

8. Watch a movie you’ve both been wanting to see. Cuddling is mandatory! (Try not to fall asleep. I’ve heard people sometimes do that.)

In a few days:

You’ll never regret taking a few days away or investing time in some high-impact activities for you and your marriage.

9. Plan a getaway. Find a marriage conference in your area, hop on a plane or take a road trip to your favorite city, or simply schedule a couple nights in a romantic hotel or nearby bed and breakfast. Sometimes a change of scenery is more energizing than you can imagine.

10. Read a book on marriage. Some of my favorites for both husband and wife are Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs, The Love Dare by Alex Kendrick, and The Kingdom Marriage by Tony Evans. (Have you seen my post on the 9 Books That Built Me?)

11. Take a class. Look in your church or in your area for a marriage class, parenting class, or financial resource class. When you become better in these areas, it encourages and energizes your marriage.

Marriage is a journey that ebbs and flows over the course of a lifetime. Not every season is filled with laughs, getaways, and roses. Some seasons are tough…maybe not enjoyable at all. But we all know that feelings are indicators, not dictators. Tell your feelings where to go and do it anyway. Start with a minute, go for a few hours, and then try a few days. Because building a good marriage (even creating one that doesn’t yet exist) is worth it. Follow along on Instagram for weekly Wifey Wednesday ideas on energizing your marriage!