Gift Guide for the Beer Drinking Guy

It is half way through August. If I listed what we have going on from September 1st to December 31st your head might start to spin. But let me be honest about one thing. I LOVE IT!

 I don't love the go go go of it, but we have so much family stuff the end fo the year, it is just great. August is a planning month. I look at when everyone's birthdays are and start looking around for gifts.

So guess what I am bringing to you. My Awesome Finds!

I do have to be cautious though.  Certain awesome members of the family might stop by for a visit from time to time ... so their awesome finds might not make it here.  *cough* Dad *cough* Sister *cough*

What do you get the person that says, "Oh, just give me a gift card." for every single gift giving circumstance?  You need to just start thinking about them and what they like.  I won't get into it, but gift cards are not an option.  I will let you read that on your own.  You can see it here.

So what does this person enjoy?  Scuba diving, hunting, camping, fishing, beer drinking.  Last year I asked this person, "Have you ever thought about brewing your own beer?"  the response was positive ... so let's see what we found.



You can click on each one to get information on the items.

I am thinking that a book on how to do it would be a great idea.  There are several different options.  There is even a Home Brewing for Dummies.  After some things I have observed about him over the last year I also think maybe a book on growing his own ingredients might be a worthy gift.

Then of course there are the kits themselves and the bottles.

I am not sure this is the route we are going to go, but these were some fun finds to share with you.

Shopping for Video Games Online

While determining today what we still have to shop for Keith and I decided it might be better to just finish our shopping online.  We also realized that of the 13 people we shop for 6 of them we can purchase video/computer games for.  So, I went out looking for a place to buy video games online.

I found the Game Shark store.  I love that you can shop by system - such as Wii or PlayStation, or licensed game - like Rock Band 3 or Mario.  They have great savings available and gifts for every game lover on your list.  They even have a clearance section.

Not only can you buy video games online at Game Shark, you can also buy the game lovers on you list apparel that goes along with their favorite games. *** Edit, selected apparel***

If you are looking to buy video games online take a look at Game Shark.  You will find some great deals like Rock Band 3 bundles for XBox 360 starting at $69.99.

Hallmark Movies with Books or Songs

The Hallmark Channel is a not so secret guilty pleasure around my house. Starting in November they start showing Christmas movies, and they show them for almost 2 full months! Have you seen my list of Hallmark Can't Miss Christmas Movies? Well, check it out here! Here is a list of Hallmark Movies that are more than just the movie.

 The Ultimate Gift - Movie and Book I read this book before I seen the movie. Both are amazing! 



November Christmas - Movie and Song

Let's be honest, watch this movie and listen to the song with Kleenex in hand. If you have a heart you will need them. Just sayin'.



Christmas Shoes - Movie, Book and Song

Could this be the Hallmark movie trifecta?  Movie, book and song?  Oh and I don't need to mention this, but ummm... ROB LOWE! Again have the tissues close by.  I can't even listen to the song with a dry eye.

Hallmark Christmas Movies

10 Feel Good Hallmark Christmas Movies Honorable Mention: Our First Christmas - How does this blended family make Christmas work? Will it work with the kids plotting against their parents? Who will win? Who will lose? Is that what Christmas is all about? Read More for Reviews

Beer Lover Gift List

Is there someone on your gift list that would feel this quote from Benjamin Franklin, "Beer truly is proof that God loves us," is completely true? This gift idea list is for you.

 Beer is a favorite beverage in many cultures across the globe. After a water and tea, it is the most popular drink in the world. Beer is at the center of a $450 billion industry. Here are some great gifts for the beer lover on your gift list. These ideas include items for the avid beer drinker, the beer drinker who likes to cook, and the beer drinker wanting to brew their own beer.


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Wine Connoisseur Gift Ideas

Most families have one, a wine connoisseur. This is the member of your family that would rather have a glass of wine than a pint of beer. This is the person who knows how to drink a glass of wine to get the most flavor. This person might even know the differences between red, white and blush wines and which goes with meat or seafood. Here are some gift ideas for the wine connoisseur on your gift list.

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Chick Lit Gift Idea

Is there a lady on your gift list that loves to read chick lit?  Here are some great choices.



Click here to read a review/comparison of Something Borrowed book and movie.

Great Gift for Readers

Is there someone on your gift giving list who loves to read Christian fiction?

These books are an excellent choice. 



While strolling a local flea market a pink book caught my eye from the used book "store" at the flea market. This particular shade of pink always catches my eye for some reason. So I picked it up. Yada Yada Prayer Group, Neta Jackson. I had never heard of it. I read the back, hmmm. I opened up to a random page (like I do with all books) and read part of it. I enjoyed the flow. I asked the person working how much the book was and bought it.

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*This is not a sponsored post.  I bought this book and the viewpoints are 100% my own.

Did you know ...

Did you know it's a real quote?  "It is not the gift, but the thought that counts."  Our Advent Calendar includes 24 Christmas Quotes.  I finished finding them all yesterday and there it was - staring back at me from the screen.  How appropriate!  Okay, so Henry Van Dyke said it and ...

Picture from Wikipedia

I have no clue who he is.  [Okay, so when I went to find a picture of him I found out this.  He was an American author and clergyman.]  But I can also tell you this - HE IS A SMART MAN!  It isn't the actual gift that means something, it is all the though that was put into getting that particular person, that particular gift.

So, would you like to know how to COMPLETELY insult anyone who gives you a gift?  I know, why would you want to insult anyone who cares enough about you to give you a gift.  I am sure that you are not doing it intentionally, but read on and find out what is going on here.

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Just one mom's opinion.

Book Review - Emily Giffin

Back in February I made a list of books that seemed interesting (all fiction) and handed it to my husband.  It was around my birthday and I was craving some fiction.

On this list was 'Something Borrowed' by Emily Giffin.  Well I didn't pick it up until last week.  A movie based on the book had been released and I want to see it, but I wanted to read the book first.  So, I picked up a copy.  Finished it in a week.  When I got to the end I said, "I have to go to half price book tomorrow and pick up 'Something Blue'." 

Well that is just what I did, happened to be a this past Sunday.  I started 'Something Blue' on Sunday and finished it this morning.  I loved how the author finished all the stories.  I did not feel that there was another book that I HAD TO READ! to know what happened to the characters I feel in love with. 

Here is the synopsis of 'Something Borrowed' and 'Something Blue'.  Rachel and Darcy are the best of friends, life long friends.  Both begin their adult lives in New York.  Everything came really easy to Darcy; men, friends, her glamorous PR job - and she felt she deserved it all.  Rachel is the opposite.  She had to work for everything.  She was the good girl who hated her job and had never really been in love.  The story starts in the months leading up to Darcy and Dex's (Rachel's best friend from law school) wedding.  Crazy things happen between the host of characters.  'Something Borrowed' is told from Rachel's point of view.

Then there is 'Something Blue', which is told from Darcy's point of view.  The first 7-8 chapters is Darcy's side of the story from 'Something Borrowed'.  In 'Something Blue' Darcy finds out that she might not have been the best of friends to any of her friends after her life completely falls apart.  She finds that the way she always used to do things doesn't always work. 

Although it seemed that 'Something Blue' was missing something throughout the whole book I really like the way it ended.  I am not even referring to the story itself.  It brings you up to date with all the characters and finishes all the stories in a nice little bow.  I would recommend them both.  Be sure to read them in order!  'Something Borrowed' then 'Something Blue'.

(I purchased both of these books and am not being compensated in anyway for this review.)