Great Christmas Gift Ideas for Dad!

Wondering what to give you dad this Christmas?? Heres some great christmas gift ideas that you dad is sure to love!

GPS Navigation Device: A great gift would be a GPS Navigation Device for his car or better still a portable one that he can use anywhere. Its a simple device and very useful especially if you love travelling and don't like asking for directions (like most men!). There's a wide variety and price range to choose from.

Magellan - Maestro 4000 - GPS Navigation Device With 4.3-Inch Touch Screen: The thin, sophisticated design and attractive, intuitive touch-screen graphics make driving a pleasure. Enter an address or select from 1.5 million preprogrammed points of interest with a few touches of the screen. See your position and route on the 2D or 3D map and let Maestro's friendly voice guide you turn-by-turn, while you enjoy the drive. (Original Price: $269.99 Sale price: $229.99)

Navigon - Pocket LOOX N100 - Pocketable 2.8-Inch GPS Navigation Device: The Pocket LOOX personal navigator is a powerful, full-featured GPS navigation device small enough to fit in your pocket. It goes everywhere you go. Navigate your way through a new city, always know the way the locals go or just use it to find yourself someplace new. Stunning 3D maps, predictive text and smart features such as voice guidance, lane indication, speed information and brand icons.

Michelin X-930 GPS Navigation with 3.5" LCD Screen and SiRF Star III Technology: As the first fully Michelin-branded portable navigation device (PND), the Michelin Navigation X-930 offers all the qualities of a portable GPS navigation system in one small package sporting a 3.5 inch color LCD screen. Light, compact and portable, this stylish device is easy to install and use!

Sports Gift: If your Dad's a sports Buff.....a sports gift is definitely the way to go. Choose his favorite sport and the choices are endless right from sports gear, apparel, collectables....you can even collect his fav games and put them on video or dvds for him!

TRAVEL PUTTING SET- Portable Putting Set: Want to sharpen your putting skills anywhere anytime With the portable Wood Putter by Maxam you can practice in the office hotel room living room or patio. This cherry wood handcrafted putting set includes a wooden golf hole target two golf balls and a wood shafted putter with metal club head. The putter unscrews into 3 parts to fit snuggly into an easy to carry vinyl case making it an ideal travel or office companion. (Original Price: $47.95 On Sale: $23.83)

Bergino Baseball - SuperDad: Remember your first Baseball Game? Baseball is beautiful, and so are these Bergino Baseballs.Toss your any dad with this awesome baseball! The perfect gift to any SuperDad! Handmade to professional standards with the highest quality Genuine Leather and perfect stitching.Includes Gift Box & Turf Base Stand. (Original Price: $29.99 On Sale: $24.95)

Executive Mini Sandbox - Tee Time by BE Good Company: Stuck at a desk but daydreaming of walking up the 18th at Augusta? Well put down your pen and pick up a putter! A mini-putter, that is. This Mini Sandbox provides all the pleasure of playing 18 holes without ever leaving the office. Rake through the sand for a soothing escape to the stresses of the workday, or practice that championship-winning putt while placing a conference call. With the Executive Mini Sandbox, it's Tee Time all the time! (Original Price: $9.99 On Sale: $8.68)

Massager: Give your dad a nice relaxing massager to look forward to after a hard day of work...or golfing!

i-Joy Ottoman 2.0 Robotic Calf & Foot Massage: This compact unit provides a powerful, three-dimensional Human Touch Technology leg massage that feels like strong hands kneading along the length of your calves while, from below, "thumbs" firmly massage the back of each leg. Or, insert your feet, and let the "hands" and "thumbs" soothe your soles. (Original Price: $329.99 On Sale:$249.99)

SUNNY DOUBLE-PROPELLENT MASSAGER (SH-0501): Streamlined design and engineered to conform with angles of our body.8 speeds for beating and massaging.5 steps for hot compress. With strong operational function and silent running. Intellectual auto-program massage function. (Original Price: $110.11 On Sale: $78.65)

Conair Ultra Massaging Foot Spa with Water Jet:This Foot Spa will give your feet the comfort that they deserve. The Backlit touch pad has individual settings: Vibration w/Heat, Bubbles w/Heat, and Water Jets. There are 2 spinning rollers that provide deep kneading massage to each foot. The removable loofah disks remove unwanted rough areas, leaving softer skin. (Original Price: $84.99 On Sale: $59.95)

TV Accessories: Is your Dad a couch potato who loves watching TV?? then a great way to light up his christmas is to gift him some TV accessories(which may not please the wife..but he'll love it!)

Arm Chair Caddy:Made of 600D polyester, it's the perfect piece to stash all your stuff on the side of your sofa or chair. Neatly stores your remote control, phone, TV guide, magazines, pens, and snacks in four pockets on either side. No arm chair quarterback should be without it! (Original Price: $32 On Sale: $22)

Superior Remote Control Consolidator: Winner of the International Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Award, this touchscreen remote replaces up to eight individual remote controls. An easy setup wizard allows you to point the remote at one of your home audio-visual devices and select its brand from the remote's extensive database of over 3,000 devices, including televisions, digital video disc players, videocassette recorders, satellite systems, cable boxes, and home theater systems. (Original Price: $129.95 On Sale: $99.95)

DVD Box Sets Like- Larry King Live: Greatest Interviews Collection (Original Price: $34.95 On Sale: $26.71) / Baseball Collection (Original Price: $69.99 On Sale: $53.83)/ Golden Age of TV Comedy Favorite Television Classics (Original Price: $54.99 On Sale: $35.99)

Personalized Keepsake Gift: Have a personalized message put on a keepsake gift for Dad expressing in words just how lucky you are to have Him!! You can have apersonlized message on almost anything these days so choose something he'd like the options are endless!

Personalized Architectural Tankard: Guys just love the look of this round cut mug. It looks terrific just sitting on the bar, and has a nice heft when you raise it in a toast.The pewter emblem is designed to be engraved with the barkeep's initials or last name. Cheers! (Original Price: $20.00 On Sale: $12.99)

Personalized Black Golf Pen Set: You're going to need a caddy to help sort through this winning set of desk tools--there are so many to choose from. Set includes a black & silver leather "golf bag" with a strap, zippers, and white stitching (just like the real thing), a black ink ballpoint pen in shiny and matte silver-tone with a golf ball shaped tip, a matching mechanical pencil (0.7 mm lead) with a golf club shaped tip, and a matching shiny and matte silver-tone letter opener in the shape of a golf tee. Bag features an engraving plate; each tool can also be engraved. (Original Price: $35.00 On Sale: $24.99)

Christmas Tree Decorating with Birds and Beads

Would you like to add that special little touch to your Christmas tree that will make your guests’ eyes light up and their lips utter that breathless “Wow!”?

Then you might want to try this little trick that I use every year. When decorating my Christmas tree, I never neglect the final touch.

I always hang doves from the ceiling with strings of beads in their mouths as though they were flying in and decorating the tree. I use white thread to suspend the birds and pushpins to secure them to the ceiling. You can attach the beads to the birds’ beaks with hot glue or with straight pins. They can also be attached to the feet. The string of beads should be long enough to drape the end over a limb of the tree. Place the doves at different distances from the Christmas tree.
The end result should look like the doves are decorating the tree with beads. I also like to have one or two of the doves carrying Christmas ornaments attached to their feet. Of course the Christmas tree is already decorated with several well-placed doves among the other Christmas ornaments.

In addition to hanging birds from the ceiling and placed throughout the tree, I place bird nests filled with tiny decorative eggs. Naturally I also put a little mama bird in the nest as well, to keep the little eggs warm and comfy.

Children love seeing the doves "decorating" the tree. Every Christmas it’s a special treat searching for the little bird’s nest with all the tiny little eggs.

And of course, it’s a special treat for me just watching the children expore the tree, rearranging the eggs, rearranging the birds and trying to make the doves really fly.
What you will need for hanging your birds:
* White thread
* Two pushpins for each bird
* Two straight pins for each bird
* Optional hot glue

Bird Hanging Tips:

Hanging the birds in a manner that looks natural and graceful can be tricky. Here are some quick tips:

* Use thread that is the least visible when hanging from the ceiling. I use white cotton thread.

* Attach two strings of thread to the bird’s back.

* Cut the strings long enough to reach from the ceiling to the level you want your bird to hang. Cut twice as much thread as you think you’ll need. It’s easy to cut off extra, but it can be frustrating to have to start over.

* Wrap the first thread around a straight pin with a white ball head. Insert the pin at an angle near the head of the bird. The white head of the pin should be toward the head of the dove and inserted toward the tail. The angle is important in preventing the thread from slipping out when the bird is hung.

* Wrap thread around a second pin and insert at an angle, but this time the white head will be near the tail and inserted toward the head.

* You now have two threads inserted in the back of the dove. Wrap the end of each thread around a clear pushpin to be inserted in the ceiling. You can adjust the distance of the dove from the ceiling by adjusting the number of turns around the pushpin.

* When your threads and pins are in place and the birds are ready for hanging, you can temporarily insert the ceiling pushpins in the back of the birds. When you’re at the top of your ladder and you’re ready to hang your doves, just remove one pushpin at a time and insert in the ceiling.

* After hanging your birds to the ceiling, if they are not hanging in the direction you intended, you can control the direction by repositioning one of the strings.

* Occasionally, repositioning the beads they carry in their mouths or feet, to a different limb on the tree can also help to control the direction.

Hanging birds & beads from the ceiling can be an added dimension to your Christmas tree decorating. Just remember to not over do it, be safe and have fun.

Here are some pictures to show you what the finished Christmas Tree will look like:

Source: http://teamsugar.com/user/sugarpopsosweet/blog/855900

Whimsical Christmas Stockings

All of these whimsical Christmas stockings are intended to be fun and bring a smile to your face. Santa and the Snowman themes are the most popular. But it's nice to find some that are made of velvet while we're having fun. That just adds a little touch of class.

I love these velvet jester Christmas stockings. They are just too cute. Jingle bells hang from the cuff and from the ends of the curly toes. The red stocking has a green cuff and the green stocking has a red cuff. All they need is the name embroidered on the cuff. I think these stockings are a real kick! Jester Jingle Bell Stocking.

If you're looking for whimsical stockings these are terrific. Green toe trim, snowdrift shaped cuffs at the top and adorable 3D characters decorate these fun stockings. Choose a Bear, Moose, Snowman or Santa design. And that's not all; you can have any name embroidered up to 9 characters. You're going to love having these little guys hanging around this Christmas.
These beautiful, colorful felt stockings are called "Holiday Magic Embroidered Stockings." They're brightly colored with fun characters including a jolly whimsical Santa, a snowman with brass bells on his tummy and an adorable reindeer wearing mittens and a winter scarf. Of course, each one can be personalized. There is also a tree skirt that matches the Santa stocking and the snowman stocking and they too can be personalized. Click here for Holiday Magic Embroidered.

If your children love Sesame Street, they are sure to love these whimsical Christmas Stockings. Choose Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, or Ernie. Personalization is in green thread across the top. These little fellas are ready to be Santa's helpers. Elmo and other Sesame Street Stockings

If you're looking for fun and fancy too, this Santa stocking is for you. Jolly old Santa is appliquéd in satin on a velvet background. His bag is full of goodies, including a teddy bear and a Christmas wreath. Have a name embroidered at the top and you have the perfect stocking. Applique Velvet Stockings - Santa on Chimney.
You don't have to be out in the cold snow to have a snowman. Just look at this happy, whimsical snowman with his red muffler, green mittens, and top hat. He's appliquéd in satin on a velvet background. You make the picture complete with your own personalization embroidered on the cuff. Applique Velvet Stockings - Snowman in Snowfal.

Here is another Santa stocking made of velvet and appliquéd in satin. This is a beautiful close-up of Santa and he's holding a brown teddy bear and is ready to give it to some lucky child. Have the name of that special person embroidered on the cuff and it will be ready to hang. Applique Velvet Stockings - Santa with Teddy Bear.
Here's a cute snowman stocking with satin appliqués on velvet fabric. He's dressed up in his red and blue cap, his green muffler with blue fringe, his red mittens and blue skates. Maybe he's off to the pond for a fun hockey game. All this stocking needs is a name embroidered on the cuff. Just hang it and Santa will take care of the rest. Applique Velvet Stockings - Snowman on Skates.
Fun stockings like these are my favorite. I always think of the children and their reactions when the stockings are hung and then again on Christmas morning when they find the goodies inside. Whether you select the Santa stockings, the snowman stockings or the fun characters, they will bring fun as well as style to your Christmas decorating.

Best Christmas Decoration Deals

Christmas baubles, lights, tree toppers, tree ornaments, streamers, garlands...and all things Christmassy

Great deals on ornaments and Christmas decorations to create a festive feel to your home these holidays.

Holiday Lane Light-Up Ivory Angel Tree Topper

This angel bears two candle lights and has another electric light beneath her gown for a soft, glowing effect. Dressed in a classic, embroidered gown and with feather wings, she radiates bright spirit throughout your home.(Org.Price:$50 Sale Price:$29.05)

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Martha Stewart Collection Forest Enchantment Glass Home and Dome Ornament, 3.1"

Add some woodland charm to your tree or mantle with this snow covered village scene.(Org. Price:$12.50 Sale Price:$6.21)

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Kurt Adler Sesame Street Plush Stockings

These soft plush stockings are lovable enough to take into bed! Surprise any child with these warm holiday toys featuring favorite characters from Sesame Street. Toddlers will delight in seeing their furry friends in a surprising setting, all decked out in Christmas cheer.(Org. Price:$30 Sale Price:$14.91)

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Personalized Grinch Ornament

Our persnoalized Grinch Christmas ornament is a great gift idea for fans of Dr. Suess, or the Christmas curmudgeon you know. Personalize his red Santa hat with any name, up to 8 characters.(Org. Price:$14.95 Sale Price:$8.98)

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Fair Winds Trading "Sparkle Stars" Red Fabric Star Ornaments, Set of 4

Adorable red felt stars adorned with smaller gold stars add crafty warmth to your Christmas tree. Made by gifted artisans through a partnership with Pekerti, a non-partisan organization providing aid to rural groups in need through folk art and crafts.(Org. Price:$20 Sale Price:$13.99)

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Kurt Adler Glass Snowman Theme 12-Piece Boxed Ornament Set

Playful snowmen find their way onto this classic, red-and-green glass ornament set. With pearly white, jolly faces, they liven up any traditional tree.(Org. Price:$35 Sale Price:$17.39)

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Martha Stewart Collection Forest Enchantment Pine Cone Boy Ornament, Set of 4

Let these little elves add some fun and whimsy to your tree this season.(Org. Price:$25 Sale Price:$12.42)

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Midwest Merry Holidays Boxed Bell Ornaments, Set of 12

Ring in holiday cheer with this set of twelve red and white striped bell ornaments.(Org. Price:$27 Sale Price:$15.68)

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Holiday Lane Felt Swirl Tree Skirt

Soft white felt swatches create a dreamy pattern of reindeer, snowflakes and a vine border on this charming tree skirt. 48". (Org. Price:$70 Sale Price:$34.79)

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Kurt Adler Poly Mini Cloth Stockings, Set of 4

Not just for the fireplace, these mini stockings add holiday warmth any spot. Beaded and embroidered for three-dimensional texture and precious, homespun appeal. Set of 4 stockings includes one each of the following designs: Christmas Tree, Santa, Snowman and Wreath (not shown).

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Best Christmas Tree Deals

Here are some fantastic deals on christmas trees you just don't want to miss!

MARTHA STEWART COLLECTION 7.5 ft Tree (SAVE $121)

More than just a place to store your presents, your Christmas tree plays a central role in your holiday celebration. This lifelike beauty is prewired with 600 clear white lights to illuminate your decor and your home with the spirit of the season.(Org. Price:$250 Sale Price:$129)

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Kurt Adler Pre-Lit Windom Pine Tree, 7 ft. (41% OFF)

Make this festive pine a part of your annual holiday tradition. This elegant artificial tree comes pre-wired with clear lights and ready for your personalized touches. Includes 500 total lights and 900 tree tips. Measures 55" in diameter.(Org. Price:$300 Sale Price:$174.30)

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Kurt Adler Pre-Lit Blue Spruce Tree, 6.5 ft. ($188.55 OFF!!)

Oh, tannenbaum! Bursting with radiance, this full-shaped blue spruce makes a beautiful centerpiece in any room. Comes pre-wired with clear lights to infuse your home with instant spirit. Includes 800 total lights and 1853 tree tips. Measures 64" in diameter.(Org. Price:$450 Sale Price:$261.45)

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Top 10 Christmas Trees

The following Christmas Tree species have been voted the most popular Christmas trees grown and sold in the United States. They are listed according to their popularity

The National Christmas Tree Association suggests that this season, "36 million U.S. families plan to focus their holiday traditions around a real Christmas tree". That means tens of millions of real trees will be sold this year starting in mid-November.

NCTA also says that "about 23 percent of the consumers will purchase their trees from a 'Christmas tree farm' while about 62 percent will buy trees from a retail lot." About 300,000 consumers will purchase their real tree over the Internet or by mail order.

It is estimated that "46 million households plan to use a new or used artificial tree this season" instead of a real tree. Another 22 million households don't plan to have a Christmas tree.

Voted #1 - Fraser Fir - Fraser fir is a native southern fir and very similar to Balsam fir. Some say it is a southern extension of the Balsam fir species and naturally grows at elevations above 5,000 feet. This fir has dark green needles, 1/2 to 1 inch long and ships well. The tree has excellent needle retention along with a nice scent. Fraser fir was named for Scot botanist John Fraser who explored the southern Appalachians in the late 1700's. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Voted #2 - Douglas Fir - Douglas Fir is not a true fir but actually has its own unique classification. Unlike true firs the cones on Douglas fir hang downward. Douglas fir grows cone-shaped naturally, has 1 to 1-1/2 inch needles that are persistant and has a sweet scent when crushed. The Doug fir tree is shipped to and found in nearly every tree lot in the Unites States. The tree was named after David Douglas who studied the tree in the 1800's. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Voted #3 - Balsam Fir - Balsam fir is a beautiful pyramidal tree with short, flat, long-lasting, aromatic needles. Balsam fir and Fraser fir have many similar characteristics and some botanists consider them extensions of the same species. Their geographic ranges do not overlap and the Balsam fir has to have cold winters and cool summers. Balsam fir has a nice, dark green color and very fragrant. The tree was named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on bark and which was used to treat wounds in Civil War. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Voted #4 - Colorado Blue Spruce - The Colorado Blue Spruce is most familiar to people as an ornamental landscape tree. The tree has dark green to powdery blue needles, 1 to 3 inches long and a pyramidal form when young. Colorado blue spruce is very often sold "living" and with an entire root ball - to be planted after the holidays. The spruce was chosen in 1978 and planted as the official living White House Lawn Christmas tree. The young tree is pleasingly symmetrical, is best among species for needle retention and the state tree of both Utah & Colorado. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Voted # 5 - Scotch Pine - Scotch or "Scots" pine is the most planted commercial Christmas tree in North America according to NCTA. However, this survey does not suggest that it is the most popular. A true pine, Scots pine was imported from Europe and is not native to America. It was first used in reforestation efforts in the New World. Scotch pine tree has stiff branches, two bundled dark green needles 1 to 3 inches long that are retained for four weeks. The aroma is long-lasting and lingers through the entire season. Scotch pine does not drop needles when dry - excellent retention. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Top 10 Christmas Trees (Contd)

Voted #6 - Eastern Red Cedar - The Eastern red cedar is mainly a regional favorite and has been a traditional Christmas tree of the South. Branches of eastern redcedar are light but compact and forms a pyramidal crown as a young tree. Actually ERC is not a true cedar but in fact a juniper. Very aromatic needles are a dark, shiny, green color and sharp and prickly to the touch. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Voted #7 - White Spruce - White spruce is a tree of the northeast US and Canada. It is a regional favorite because it grows into the best shapes in the wild. White spruce has green to bluish green needles but crushed needles have an unpleasant odor. Another problem with the spruce is it has poor needle retention. The tree is excellent for heavy ornaments. White spruce is the state tree of South Dakota. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Voted #8 - Eastern White Pine - White pine has been valued as a timber tree for centuries but can be cultivated for a Christmas tree if heavily sheared. White pine is grown mostly in the mid-Atlantic states for commercial Christmas trees. The tree retains needles throughout the holiday season but has little or no fragrance and not a good tree for heavy ornaments. The tree is sought by people who suffer from allergic reactions to more fragrant trees. The White pine is the largest pine in United States and the state tree of Michigan and Maine. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Voted #9 - White Fir or Concolor Fir - White fir is one of the longest-needled firs and is sometimes mistakened for a pine. A significant portion of these Christmas trees are used in California: Concolor fir has blue-green needles that are 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long. The fir has a nice shape with a pleasing aroma and good needle retention. Photo courtesy NCTA.

Voted #10 - Virginia Pine - Virginia pine has only recently been used as a Christmas tree. It tolerates warmer temperatures and has been developed as a southern alternative to Scotch pine. The tree has to be mechanically formed into shape; the foliage is dark green to gray in color; the limbs are stout with woody branches; Virginia pine is one of the most often purchased Christmas trees in the Southeastern United States. Photo courtesy NCTA