Visit Every Man Jack for more great gift ideas!

Livestrong
Who hasn’t heard of Livestrong? For the fitness male in your family, the Livestrong edition of Oakley sunglasses are the perfect gift. Oakley has honored Lance Armstrong’s courage with these commemorative Half Jackets ($135) and Radars ($185). Decked with the colors of his foundation logo, this special edition has “LIVESTRONG” laser etched at the bottom corner of its pure PLUTONITE® lens. The Livestrong™ foundation inspires and empowers people affected by cancer, and Oakley is supporting its ongoing mission by donating $20 from each sale of these frames. Right now Oakley is offering free shipping on orders over $50.

Visit Oakley for other great gift ideas!

Clean Grandpa’s Closet
You must dress him right! You may have thought the cardigan’s your grandfather wears were way out of style, but they are making a fast comeback. Urban Outfitters carries many cool styles including the hot RVCA Hoodigan Knit Cardigan priced at $78. At first glance it looks more like a zip up sweatshirt jacket and it is made of soft cotton, but it has buttons and a little different fit. Choose black or grey for the man you know who might need some help in they style department.

Visit Urban Outfitters for more great gift ideas!

Monogrammed Golf Club Links
Every man who loves golf will enjoy monogrammed links from Red Envelope. They are an elegant way to personalize their clubs and also ensure they won’t be misplaced. Made with super light-weight Alcoa aluminum that will not impact the swing, they are available in brushed silver or gold. This set contains 14 links engraved with their full name, phone number and the initial of their last name centered on the link. A matching ball marker is also included. For $49.95 you can give this to the man who thinks he already has everything, but hasn’t seen these.

Visit Red Envelope for more great gift ideas!

Electric Stapler
What man hasn’t tried to figure out the inner-workings of a stapler? Give him a totally see-through Cool Electronic Stapler this year for $29.95 and watch his eyes light up. This unique item does require 4 AA batteries (which are not included) to operate, but would make a neat addition to his desk. Check out the matching Tape Dispenser as well.

Visit Quincy Shop for more great gift ideas!

NCAA Grill Cover
Every man has a favorite college team, whether it be where he went to school or who he cheers for. Help him celebrate his favorite college by selecting a NCAA Collegiate Grill Cover to protect his other love - the grill. They are made with heavy duty reinforced vinyl with flannel backing. There are two sizes available and the prices vary from $53 - $59. Check out all the sports team available online and enjoy free shipping.

Visit College Gear for more great gift ideas!

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The overwhelming amount of products on the market amazed me and I really didn’t know where to start. I did know that at this point in time, I did not want to invest a lot of money in a product, and I wanted one I could pick up at any discount or drug store.

I decided to try the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Night Cream. At a price point of $19.99 for a 1.4 oz tube, it was an affordable option. Also I know that whether I’m at a Wal-mart, Target or Walgreens, I’ll be able to pick one up if needed.

I am not a huge morning regiment person, which is why I chose the night cream version of this. Taking a pearl size amount and moisturizing before I go to bed, is much more up my alley then trying to get it done in the bustle of the morning.

Since I really didn’t have any deep wrinkles before using the product, I really can’t say to its effectiveness for the claims that it visibly reduces wrinkles. However, one of the other benefits of this cream is that it treats blemishes. Those I can say I have and that it has been effective on them. It doesn’t clog up pores as some creams tend to, and for a night cream it feels quite light on the skin.

The tube seems quite small, but you don’t need a huge amount so I can see it lasting a fair while. I started using it about a month ago and the tube is not quite half empty. While I don’t want to smell like an orchard or a flower garden, I do like a little scent to my products. This is an allergy, fragrance and dye free product, perfect for sensitive skin (which I don’t have). That is a minor point though, and for most people probably preferable.

I will continue using this product, as for the price, I feel it is a decent value while providing me the benefits I need right now. Anti-wrinkle and blemish control. Hopefully the anti-wrinkle will be effective and I won’t see any folds or lines on my face in the next 5 to 10 years.

Written by Tammy, who is married to the perfect man and together they are the parents to a precocious 12 year old girl, whom Tammy homeschools. She loves to travel and gush over all things Disney (preferably those two things can be done at the same time!). Tammy also enjoys knitting and reading. Her guilty pleasure is playing WoW with her husband and daughter. She blogs at Three Different Directions.

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At Cajun Brands they also list many other skin conditions that they say the paste is good for, such as poison ivy, but I can’t attest to any of these. However, I can tell you that it’s a real change from the usual zinc oxide diaper rash cream, combining what I like best about them with smooth application and easy removal. And best of all - it truly seems to facilitate quick healing.

We’re a big fan of Boudreaux Butt Paste around here! It is available is tubes or by the jar. You’ll also enjoy the fact that the scent is pleasant!

Written by Gidge, who is a mother of a 5 year old boy and 3 year old twin boys. A transplanted Hoosier, die-hard Colts fan and professional call center manager, she likes long walks on the beach, penguins and playing ping-pong. Her turn-ons include sleep and silence. Read all about her life here.

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I’m a sucker for makeup. I always love trying something new, especially when that something only needs to be applied once. After all, I’m a busy mom and don’t have time to retouch my look during the day.

One of my new must-have products is Revlon Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze. I love the subtle gloss that the Lipglaze provides and the fact that it glides on without feeling sticky. It moisturizes my lips and like the other product in the Colorstay line, the Lipglaze does stay put. It doesn’t rub off on my cup of morning coffee, on my kids when they get their goodbye kisses at drop off, and even lasts during lunch. While Revlon says that it coats lips for up to 8 hours, as a part time working mom I’m always home wiping it off before then but am sure it would truly last the entire time.

Also a true bonus is that I can usually get Revlon Colorstay products for much less than regular retail price at my local CVS. A tube usually sells for $8.99 but I like to clip the coupons for Colorstay products that I find in the coupon section of my paper good for $2-3 dollars off and take them to CVS during their buy-one-get-one promo for added savings. After all, I love to look good but I don’t like for it to cost me a fortune especially when there’s always something new to try!

by Leticia

Rarely do I boast about websites as a must have thing, but the Coupon Mom site is a definite must have in your bookmarks! I originally stumbled upon this money saving website by accident, but since then I’ve seen Stephanie Nelson - the blog writer and publisher - in magazines and on Oprah.

I know there are a lot of good websites out there that give you links to coupons and free samples, but I think Coupon Mom is the most organized site I’ve seen and doesn’t send you clicking through cyberspace to get what you’re looking for. It’s all neat and orderly for mom’s in a hurry who just want to save a little money.

You can join for free and once you’ve got a login you are free to roam through all the cool deals. I love the main page because on the left hand side you can cruise through grocery deals by state, restaurant coupons, online discount codes, printable coupons and a whole lot more. If you like to save money on groceries and other household items, then this site is a must have in your files.

by Emily

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A long time ago I bought the mineral powder that I found to be in the most unusable packaging known to man. It was impossible to get the powder up into the brush and I ended up throwing away that $12 mistake.  

My memory is failing because I fell for Neutrogena’s packaging yet again. This time it was the Mineral Sheers liquid makeup.  Why would anyone buy a liquid that is susposed to go on with a brush? It says that this innovative brush “glides on smoothly for coverage that is flawless.” I know there is a fine art to applying make-up well, but I’m not painting a masterpiece here. My issue was that too much came out and it would not blend nor spread evenly across my face. There was nothing natural looking about the finished result.

Don’t get me wrong I loved the mineral powder and mineral liquid make-up, but the packaging could not have been tested by women and must have been designed by men. I think I will again pry open the bottle and repackage the make-up into some other container so that I can use it my way. I would have expected better designs from such a high-end company.

Terry may not have a personal blog, but she scours many sites during the day and loves to find great deals online. Beauty and hair products are her favorite must-have items and she is willing to try anything once. As a wife, mother and grandmother she seems to fill her days with volunteer work and family.

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I don’t know when you get tired and don’t have the luxury of crawling into bed, but for me it’s about 9 p.m. At that time I’m basically done, yet I’m not done. Not for a few more hours. A good friend turned me on to Shock Coffee. Their products contain 3X the normal amount of caffiene so if you are thinking “wired” - yeah, a little bit.

The coffee drinks are quite tasty and none of that overwhelming bitter hyper-caffeinated flavor you get with some energy drinks. I’ve been drinking one 8 oz. can in the evening and haven’t expereinced jitters or nervousness. I am getting a little pep in my step for the evening wrap-up though. Smooth and creamy latte and triple mocha are both very tasty and they keep me going for a few more hours until it’s time to drop off!

For a busy mom with lots to do and too little energy to do it, this is a nice pick-me-up to get moving again. As a side note, I don’t experience that “post caffeine crash” with this beverage either. I’ve had some drinks that have made me go, go, go…and then I just collapse when it wears off. None of that occurs with Shock Coffee Triple Hits. This very delicious drink would rock my world on the way into the office as well!

by Gidge

Whether it’s summer or winter, my kids have chapped lips. Or at least they did until I discovered Lip Stuff for Crispy Kissers from Stuff for Sprouts. All of the Stuff for Sprouts ingredients are fantastic! There are high concentrations of natural oils and butters, purified water and kid-friendly fragrances. Kids will love the fun flavors of PB&J, Frosting and Chocolate.

More notably, there are not nut butters or oils, mineral oil, spy, parabens, phthalates, chemical fillers, artificial colors or sparkles. They go on smooth, smell great (chocolate…mmmm…) and are the perfect oval shape to cover both lips with one swipe as your child is running by. The big wide tube makes it easy to apply to their lips or cheeks. This has quickly become a must have item in our house for my whole family.

by Nicole

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As I was looking down the middle aisle where all the newest items are always displayed, I saw a purple can of Olay Body Quench Mousse. My internal mind is still in the kilter world and I have been known to assume everything. I thought to myself, when did Olay start making hair products? The container had the word “mousse” and “quench” displayed right on it. Here I am the marketers dream and in the cart it goes.

I get home, get in the shower only to realize thiis is for the body! Yes, it does say that underneath the word Olay. (Not only is my mind going, but my eyesight too!) Now all of the excitement about a new hair mousse is out the window along with $6 on a hair mousse mistake.

I have tried Olay skin products in the past and found that my skin soaked them up within seconds and still felt dry afterwards. So they were of no real use to me. To my shock, this product I loved. The quench mousse green tea and vitamin complex is better than any other body wash product that I have tried. It makes the skin soft and actually does hydrant the skin following a shower or bath. Olay has finally came up with something that I can’t do without.

Terry may not have a personal blog, but she scours many sites during the day and loves to find great deals online. Beauty and hair products are her favorite must-have items and she is willing to try anything once. As a wife, mother and grandmother she seems to fill her days with volunteer work and family.

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Have you ever tried this? It’s really hard and annoying. Which I suppose is why an entire generation decided we weren’t going to wear them.

I don’t suffer from arthritis or any other issue which prevents me from fastening my bracelets, but as difficult as it is for me, I can’t imagine struggling with my hands working properly and trying to get a darn bracelet fastened.

The Handi Bracelet is designed to help all of us get a bracelet on easily and without fuss. A little beaded bracelet on stretchy elastic includes a french earring hook which works to hold the end of your bracelet. Slide the Handi Bracelet on - attach your bracelet loop to the french hook, wrap it around and fasten. Your bracelet doesn’t move. Once you’ve fastened your bracelet, you just slip the french hook out, slide off the handi bracelet and go on about your life.

My only quibble is very slight. The size was small, for me anyway. I have big wrists and it was a little tight. However, it isn’t meant to be worn long term so this wouldn’t have any impact on its function. It’s also convenient that this design would slip into your makeup bag and take very little space so you could take it along with you if you needed to. Handi Bracelet gets a big prop for form and function!

Written by Gidge, who is a mother of a 5 year old boy and 3 year old twin boys. A transplanted Hoosier, die-hard Colts fan and professional call center manager, she likes long walks on the beach, penguins and playing ping-pong. Her turn-ons include sleep and silence. Read all about her life here.

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I am a big fan of Swifffer products. From the wand dusters to the floor, they all work very well. They have introduced a new product called Swiffer Dust & Shine furniture polish that cleans and conditions in your home. It produces a light mist that when wiped away leaves a shine. You can use it on a variety of surfaces such as wood furniture, granite and even leather! I would have thought you’d need seperate cleaners for leather, so this is a very multi-purpose product and eliminates the need to store more bottles in the cabinet.

What makes cleaning more fun is the scents you can choose from. Swiffer Dust & Shine comes in Lavendar Vanilla (my favorite), Tropical Sunrise and Citrus Zest. So not only is your furniture clean, not it will smell good too! Right now you can get a coupon online to save $1 on your purchase. This new product is a must have in my cleaning supplies bucket.

by Emily

Have you tried the Smart Pop from Orville Redenbacher? If you haven’t you are missing out. When my sister first brought this over I thought she was on one of her crazy weight watcher things and it was going to taste awful. Boy was I wrong! I’m addicted to the kettle corn now, its “slightly sweet and slightly unsalted,” 94% fat free and only one hundred calories in the mini bags.

This is a great snack for the entire family and so yummy you’ll be making more that one bag, believe me! Indulge in something healthy and delicious. Definitely a must have here!

by Andrea

I have an aversion to lotions. I want something that will stay on my skin that I don’t have to use over and over. I need something that is protective on my hands just as it is on my little ones. Skin MD Natural was my solution. I use it nightly on my face and it has become part of my routine.

I use it on my 20 month old’s eczema, she has it on the inside of her elbow and from the first time I put it on, the redness and bumps went down 50%. It disappears from the skin quickly so it does not leave a residue that I have to worry about her getting into her mouth.

This lotion is only used once or twice a day, and I don’t leave home without it! This week I have used it on my face, on my daughter’s eczema, on my son’s end of the summer sunburn and countless hands that were dry. This is a must have item for your house and your diaper bag!

by Suzanne

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What is a bath bomb you might ask? A bath bomb is like a bath salt of old, made with sodium bicarbonate, that fills your bath with fantastic refreshing aromatherapy. The great big ones from Basin are about $4 and are so large you don’t really need the whole thing for a normal size tub. But need and want are two different things and I always just toss the whole thing in and luxuriate in the fantastic scent and softened water.

I have one I have put back for my new bathtub in my new house. You can find the selection of bath bomb scents available online here. If you can’t make it to a local Basin store, I recommend checking them out online. I give huge props to Basin!

Written by Gidge, who is a mother of a 5 year old boy and 3 year old twin boys. A transplanted Hoosier, die-hard Colts fan and professional call center manager, she likes long walks on the beach, penguins and playing ping-pong. Her turn-ons include sleep and silence. Read all about her life here.

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