Gift Ideas

Today I’m rounding up fun and unique Father’s Day gift ideas because there’s no question that finding the perfect gift for our favorite guys can be quite challenging. Whether your special guy is a sports addict, an adventurer, a techie, or the family grill master, our Father’s Day Gift Guide has you covered.

5 Unique Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Personalized Iphone Case, $59
Find your favorite family photo and turn it into the best iphone case a dad could ask for. This super cute idea from Erin Condren keeps dad’s favorite people close to him all day long. Order now and get 25% off gifts for dads with coupon code DADISRAD25 through June 3rd at midnight.

Craft Beer of the Month Club, $37.75/mnth
Give the gift that keeps on giving with a subscription to the craft beer of the month club. It’s no secret that craft beer is having its moment to shine lately, so why not join in on the fun and get dad 12 new craft beers to try every month. If you’re local, and want to sweeten the deal, add in a trip to Stone World Brewery in Escondido - I heard they have an amazing variety of affordable craft beers on tap that you can enjoy in their beautiful gardens.

Blue Prints of his Favorite Stadium, $185
My hubby is a huge Boston Red Sox fan and has done everything in his power to make sure our son follows in his footsteps – very successfully I might add. These blue prints of sports stadiums make the ultimate son to father gift.

Monogramed Steak Board and Carving Set, $69.95
If your guy takes his grilling duties seriously, this monogrammed steak board and carving set is the ideal gift. And, I promise your friends and family will be wildly impressed at your next backyard BBQ.

GoPro HD Hero Camera, $204.95
This is for the dad who loves capturing his adventures. GoPro’s wearable cameras are a huge hit with everyone from professional athletes to TV producers.  What’s more fun than getting dad a gift that allows him to document his favorite activities and share them with his kids. He’ll truly love this one!

 I hope these ideas help make shopping for Dad a little easier this year. Do you have any special plans for Father’s Day? I’d love to hear how you plan to celebrate Dad in your family!

This post is on a simple DIY end of year teacher gift.

I actually made the arrangement above for Teacher Appreciation Week and one of my friends Julie commented on Facebook on how it could be given as an end of the year teacher gift as well.

They are so easy to grow and once you make a few arrangements at home, you can take clippings to make new arrangements that will continue to bloom.

To get started, purchase a variety of mini succulents like these at your local Home Depot. Most of the little ones range from $1.75-$3.00 each. I think it is good to mix and match different colors and textures. You will also want to purchase palm & cactus soil to plant them in.

For the teacher gift, you can pick any container you like. I found the metal plant pot above from IKEA. Using your special potting soil, you will then clip and “plant” your arrangement to your liking.

I located the adorable free printable that says, “Thank you for helping me grow this year!” on Living Locurto.

I glued the printable sign to a popsicle stick and stuck it into the arrangement, and voila, one totally darling DIY end of teacher gift!

I am so in love with this new company I can’t even stand it.

VeryMeri is a website inspiring children to express themselves through art while helping kids who are less fortunate at the same time.

Through the website, kids’ ideas, designs and artwork are shared with their online community, voted on, with winners made into one-of-a-kind lifestyle products and apparel for children and adults.

The Junior Designers will receive a portion of the net sales and have the opportunity to select a children’s charity of their choice to support.

There are several reasons why I am obsessed with VeryMeri:

I love a company that inspires young entrepreneurs, I love creative opportunities for kids, I love kids helping kids, and I love this t-shirt.

Don’t you already feel inspired just looking at it?

Click here to buy for your world changers. Yes, we can sisters!

Visit www.VeryMeri.com for more information on their design challenges, how to submit your children’s work and to shop. LOVE. Please share.

The calendar still says May, but we’ve had some beautiful, beach-worthy days here in Southern California. It’s got me thinking of restocking my beach day essentials and heading to the ocean with my kids. So, today I’m highlighting just a few of my favorite things to pack for a (stress free!) beach day with kids.

Beach Day Essentials for Moms

Brush on Block
I love this sunscreen for both my kids and myself. It’s easy to apply and not greasy and doesn’t get in anyone’s eyes. I usually do apply SPF before we leave the house and then take the brush on sunscreen for an easy, no hassle reapply when we’re out.

Melissa and Doug Sand Toys
We received this cupcake sand toy set a few years ago and it is such a hit with kids of all ages. The hardest thing is remembering to pick up all the pieces when I leave.

Baggu
Are you guys familiar with this great line of bags? They’re perfect to have in the car for running errands, and I always take some to the beach to wrap up our wet, sandy items. The bags are machine washable too so they’re easy to clean!

Turkish Towels
My dear friend was born and raised in Turkey and introduced me to these amazing, lightweight Turkish towels. They absorb water surprising fast and dry quickly, while taking up MUCH less space than traditional beach towels. I found these on Etsy, but Bed Bath and Beyond carry a similar style.

Cozy Kids’ Cover-up
J.Crew carries great beach cover-ups for kids and this one happens to be on sale right now. No matter how hot it seems when we leave the house I’m always disappointed if I forget to bring something cozy to wrap around my kids at the end of the day.

Folding Utility Wagon
My husband purchased this wagon two summers ago and we always get asked where we got it when we’re out on the beach. It’s very sturdy and we can put both kids and supplies in it for easy transportation on and off the beach. PS. Pulling it with two kids and supplies is also a great workout!

What are your favorite items for a day at the beach with your kids? Do you have any tips on how to make a beach outing stress free? I’d also love to hear your favorite local beach for kids, I’m always on the hunt for new places.

One of our new sponsors Dantian Studio invited Susanne and I in last week to experience their unique fitness and wellness center in Costa Mesa to cultivate our “qi.” I was really intrigued by this studio, and wondered, what exactly does “dantian” mean and how exactly can I cultivate my “qi?”

After doing a little research, I learned “dantian“ means the energy center in the body and is sometimes referred to as the sea of qi. Hmmm…this tired mama could most definitely work on my dantian, which on some days manifests itself in a small puddle vs. a sea!

Dantian Studio is a place where Orange County locals can take a break from the daily grind to find their energy within. With a variety of amazing fitness classes, spa treatments, holistic therapies, their goal is to help you achieve harmony for both your physical and spiritual body.

Moms need a retreat like this. We deserve it. We need it. I would love for you to get the chance to try out this studio for yourself, enter to win a week of unlimited free classes below!

A Unique Orange County Fitness and Wellness Center

When you first walk in, you are immediately transported to another place. I am going to be honest, it was one of those mornings that was a little stressful to get the kids out the door. I arrived in a bit of a flurry, but when I entered the studio, calm entered my body. I took in the scent of burning candles, and for the first time that morning, I exhaled. I was taking some time to work on me. It felt amazing.

Dantian Studio Fitness Classes 

Our experience began with an 8am Power Pilates class.

Their fitness classes are small and intimate with a maximum of 8 people per class so you can receive individualized instruction. All classes are taken barefoot to focus on posture and alignment and prevent injury.

Classes include CrossCore 180, Sculpt, Bootcamp, Yoga, Pilates mat, Taji, Power Pilates and newly to be added, Prenatal Yoga, Mommy and Me Yoga, and Little Monkey Yoga for kids.  Coming at the end of this month, they will also offer childcare services for only + $5 per class.

I took a Power Pilates class taught by the owner, Jaime. I am a Pilates-lover. I have been doing it a little over two years now, but her class was unlike any class I have done. We did mat work, then moved to the CrossCore 180, which, let me tell you, was a kick ass workout, and she also mixed in bursts of cardio throughout. It was a total body workout. Loved every minute. Hard, not gonna lie, but such a good hard kind of workout. I am still sore as I type this!

 Dantian Special for Tiny Oranges Readers!

You can click here to see their class schedule.  You simply create a user account, then log in to view the schedule. The system also allows you to reserve your spot in classes online.

First class is typically 50% off, but for Tiny Oranges readers, with mention of this post, you can receive a free class now through May 31st, 2013. Call 714.668.0600 for details.

The entire facility was overflowing with positive energy and inspiring affirmations were written in chalk on every door. Each one made me smile.

My class was only the first part of my experience at Dantian Studio, after I had a massage, infrared body wrap and facial in store for me. Stay tuned for the spa details. Ladies, it was an unforgettable morning and experience. It’s a tough job to get to experience things like this and report back to you, but someone has to do it. Please don’t hate me.

Thank you Dantian Studio for finding my “qi” that day ~ my little puddle grew into a sea with happy waves that took me through the rest of my day with happy heart to share with my family. Me time goes a long way.

Hooray! It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive a free week of unlimited fitness classes at Dantian Studio! No purchase necessary.

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[Disclosure: Dantian Studio is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor. We hope you will cultivate your qi there too.]