Bad Dads? You Decide

I know a dad who pays more money for airlines tickets to see his girlfriend than he does in child support. He also willingly shells out more cash to wine and dine said girlfriend in the course of three days than he does to feed his own child in an entire month. That’s on top of repeatedly placing the child in dangerous situations and consistently ignoring the child. So, does this make the guy a bad dad? He certainly doesn’t think so, and I would venture to guess that fellow fathers Jon Gosselin and Mel Gibson would agree. The aforementioned … Continue reading

Photography Week in Review for June 8-15, 2008

From weddings to graduations, birthdays and family reunions, the month of June is packed with prime photo opportunities. This week I dedicated a series of blogs to these special occasions and how you can best document the cherished memories that unfold at each. I also reviewed some of the hottest new digital cameras on the market and once again lamented about the bygone era of film cameras. June 9th—–Hot Summer Cameras. Consumer Reports just released its picks for the best brands of digital cameras on the market. If you are considering upgrading your current digital camera or contemplating making the … Continue reading

Your Dad’s Photo on the Cover of a Magazine

If you are looking for the perfect Father’s Day photo gift then you’ve come to the right place. While some men are more willing to admit it than others I doubt there are many dads out there who haven’t dreamed of seeing their photo grace the cover of a magazine. Some dads would kill to see their faces on the cover of Sports Illustrated or Golf Digest (or in my brother’s case—-SURFING Magazine). Heck, I know some dads who wouldn’t mind seeing their mugs on the cover of GQ magazine. Regardless of your dad’s preference in periodicals there is a … Continue reading

Give Dad a Gift from the Heart

Or, at least one from the hands. Father’s Day is Sunday, which means you are quickly running out of time if you are planning to craft dad a homemade gift. If your dad is anything like mine, then he’s probably insisting that you don’t spend a single dime to honor him on Father’s Day. However, no self-respecting child or spouse is going to let dad sit empty-handed on such a special occasion. Fortunately, there are a slew of simple craft projects even the tiniest hands can help create. The following Father’s Day gifts are inexpensive to craft, but they’re sure … Continue reading

Last-Minute Father’s Day Surprises

In honor of all the procrastinating dads in the world, there is no time like the present to offer some last-minute surprises that you can bestow on the man of the house on this Father’s Day: Personalized T-shirts: This simple idea is much cheaper than purchasing Father’s Day themed shirts from big box retailers. All you need is a plain white t-shirt that will fit dad and some colorful fabric-safe paint. Next, gather the kids and have them doodle or stamp their handprints on the shirt to create various patterns. If you have older kids, then have them write sentimental … Continue reading

Dad’s Hot Dog Day

My oldest brother once downed four hot dogs before getting on the Ferris wheel at the county fair. Needless to say, everyone on the ride got to see what he had for lunch before he got off. To this day I can’t even spell “hot dog” without getting a little green around the gills. My dad, however, was unfazed by the entire incident. In fact, hot dogs are one of his favorite snacks on earth. Clearly, in my case, the apple fell far, far, far from the tree. Fortunately, the edible dogs are easy to prepare, which meant making him … Continue reading

Treat Dad to a Manly Father’s Day

Have you seen the commercial that features a father and son indulging in a midnight snack of Oreos and milk? The twosome sneak into a dark kitchen in the dead of night, and just as they are about to get their sugar rush on, the boy grabs his dad’s arm and refuses to let him devour his cookie until the clock strikes twelve. At that precise moment the kid releases his dad’s arm and wishes him a “Happy Father’s Day!” I’m not sure I would categorize cookies as a manly snack, but then again, who wants to grill up a … Continue reading

Celebrate a Tie-less Father’s Day

Forget about the traditional tie and golf ball gift set this Father’s Day and give dad something a bit more personalized. My 6-year-old suggested giving Pops an Aluma Wallet until I explained the idea behind customized gifts that can be made from felt and googly eyes rather than crush-resistant material. If you have younger kids who still get excited about crafting homemade presents, then consider the following easy to make Father’s Day gifts: Sports blanket: Help your kids piece together a no-sew fleece blanket for dad that features logos from his favorite sports teams. Pops can use it while he … Continue reading

Father’s Day Gifts Made Easy

With Father’s Day just a week away, it’s time to get those creative juices flowing, especially if you are planning to make Pop a homemade gift. If you have young children, then it shouldn’t take much to get them enthused about making dad a special gift from the heart. Here are some simple ideas to get you started: Handprint Art This project is ideal for families with more than one child; however, it’s still doable if you have a singleton. All you need is a large piece of construction paper and some paint. To start, use brown paint and sketch … Continue reading

Father’s Day Fun in the Kitchen

Don’t have a ton of cash to splurge on dad this weekend? Who says you have to drain your piggy bank buying an expensive electronic toy to make Father’s Day extra special? Kids who want to give dad something unique this Sunday only need to look as far as the kitchen for inspiration. There isn’t a dad around who wouldn’t love to be gifted with a homemade meal on Father’s Day. What’s more, you can have fun in the process. Younger kids will need to get some help from mom or another adult, but in the end, the entire family … Continue reading