July is National Hot Dog Month

It is estimated that over 7 billion hot dogs will be consumed between Memorial Day and Labor Day with 155 million being eaten just over this 4th of July holiday.

I am sure, like many of you, I have often wondered what a hot dog is made of? Well obviously by the above statistics we don't care. We just know we love 'um!

Why do hot dogs seem to taste better when you buy them at the ballpark? Is it how they cook them? You can cook them like they do at the ballpark with the

• Hot Dog Express

or the

• Hot Dog Roller

Don't forget the ketchup and all the other condiments that go so well on those dogs.

Happy 4th of July!

--Tina

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I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream

Talk about great holidays, Ice Cream Day is July 16. I'll bet not too many people knew that!

I don't think I know anybody who doesn't like ice cream. It's just one of those foods that goes with everything. It's a big treat for kids, it's a comfort food, and you can do so much with it. You can put almost any kind of fruit, candy, or topping with it. You can put it in coke or root beer, on top of cake or brownies. I have even heard people putting it in beer. A beer float...that sounds gross to me but what ever floats your boat. Or should I say... what ever floats your ice cream?

Want to surprise an ice cream lover on this special day? Check out all the ice cream gift ideas. You can find anything from ice cream of the month clubs to personalized ice cream bowls to space ice cream.

So go ahead, indulge!

--Tina


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Gift Ideas for Everyone in Your Bridal Party

Say Thank You with a creative gift idea for everyone in your bridal party. You can find unique gifts for everyone from the maid of honor to the flower girl and the best man to the ushers.

• Maid of Honor
• Best Man
• Bridesmaids
• Groomsmen
• Flower Girl
• Ring Bearer
• Ushers

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Guys, No Reason Gift Ideas for Your Girl

When my husband and I were dating he used to send me flowers each and everyday. It wasn't just him sending me flowers, but he was sending a message with the type of flowers he sent. It may have been a little extreme but I have to tell you this is one of the things that made me fall head over heels in love with him. A romantic and sensitive guy.

Have you stopped gaging yet? Sorry, I was just trying to make a point of how little details can make a big impression.

Flowers have meanings, you can find out here what they are.

http://www.findgift.com/Services/Flower-Meanings/

Sending flowers for no reason at all can do a lot for a relationship. Especially if there is a meaning behind those flowers.


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Gnomes - Tiny Little People

Gnomes are supposed to bring happiness and good fortune to your home, guardians of the earth's treasures.

Do you think that is the intention of these two guys?

• Mooning Gnome
• Squatting Gnome

The Travelocity gnome would shake his head with disgust if he saw these guys at one of his hotels. Just goes to prove there's a black sheep in every family.

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Getting Ready for the Red, White and Blue

July 4th is fast approaching so here's some ideas to help you prepare for the celebrations.

Are you are planning a party? Here's some great party favors.

• Patriotic Fun Cups
• Old Glory Action Bag
• Patriotic Treat Bags

Want to show your pride with decorations?

• Rustic Metal Painted Flag Yard Stake
• Patriotic Wreath
• US Flag Decorative Banner

Having a backyard bar-b-que or picnic?

• Patriotic Picnic Package
• All In One Barbecue Apron
• Whiskey Road BBQ Wonders Gift Set

See all our 4th of July gifts ideas.

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Gift Ideas for the Shop-a-Holic in Your Life

I can relate to this. I am a shop-a-holic through and through. I love to shop for anything for anyone. For me it all has to do with the hunt of finding gifts that someone wants or needs. Finding that gift that no one else would think of and that is perfect for them. They joke about shopping being therapy, but for me, it really is!

So if you know someone who loves to shop here's some great gift ideas for them.

http://www.findgift.com/Categories/Special-Themes/Shop-a-holic/

And if you're a shop-a-holic FindGift.com is your treasure ship.

Now you see why I love my job? I find cool gift ideas all day long!

--Tina


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A Peek into a Baby's Future Gift Idea

One of my favorite stores, www.RedEnvelope.com, just listed this gift idea which would be great for a new baby or baby shower.

Good Fortune Wooden Blocks

It's a Korean tradition that on a baby's 100th day to spread out objects from different professions and the one the baby touches first is supposed to be what they do. These blocks are a modernized version of this tradition.

Thanks Beth, great gift idea!


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A Creative Gift Idea for Any Occasion

You see celebrity standees in stores all the time but did you ever think of doing one for a gift?

Personalized Life Size Standee

Just imagine all the occasions you could use this for; your parents when they first married for their anniversary, your best friends 40th birthday and have the Halloween picture of the year he dressed up like a woman.

The possibilities are endless and it would be a great conversation piece for the party.


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Gift Idea for a Real Beer Drinker

Do you ever try to make Black & Tans at home and all you end up with is not so dark beer?

Impress your friends with the Brutul Black & Tan Tool Kit. It comes with a turtle tool, 2 coasters, a bar towel, and two pub tumblers.

A great gift for groomsmen or a housewarming gift for a guy.

Thanks April for sending me this one.

--Tina


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Romance in my Daydream

I'm drinking wine, lying on a blanket, under a big tree, in a field with wildflowers, having a romantic picnic. Apparently it didn't matter who I was with as long as I knew my wine was safe in the Steady Sticks.

Sounds like a stupid commercial.

Anyway, these things are actually pretty neat. You stick them in the ground and they hold your wine bottle and glasses. I wonder if they make them for beer bottles and frosted mugs?

--Tina


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Didn't You Just Love the 70's?

I was a teenager in the 70's and back then you could be young and reckless. We had the funky clothes, platform shoes, Star Wars, and smiley faces. I particularly liked the platform shoes since they made me taller. Being only 5' tall that was a great thing and from what I remember I didn't even twist my ankle walking in them.

The music was awesome, we had a little bit of everything, disco, heavy metal and punk rock. We had Archie Bunker and Mary Tyler Moore as role models, and of course there was Nixon and Mohammad Ali.

We also can't forget the skateboard, which today has evolved into many different sports.

People are always knocking the 70's and that is was the decade all the ridiculous fads came out. Ones that will never come back. Guess what? A version of the platform shoe is back, bell bottom pants are here and Archie Bunker's sarcasm is still being heard on Nick at Nite. And we wouldn't have all those great videos of guys doing stupid things on skateboards that they know is going to hurt and hurt real bad!

Here's some gift ideas that will bring back some memories from the 70's.

--Tina


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15th Wedding Anniversary Gifts

My husband and I will be celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary in August. I was just looking around to start getting gift ideas. The traditional gift is crystal and the modern is watches. Cage (my husband) doesn't wear a watch and crystal, what do you get a guy that's crystal?

Well look what I found. A Shot Glass Chess Set, okay, so what if he doesn't play chess but he sure likes to drink and if you make a game of it even better. These would also work, The Euro Pilsner Crystal Beer Glass Set, or the 4-Decanter Etched Bar. I guess I never thought there would be so many things you could get a guy that were crystal that he would actually use and enjoy.

As for his gift for me the 15th is easy for him because I collect crystal. If he were to get me the Cut Crystal Cruets Set, or the Cased Bohemian Crystal Vase, or even the Handmade Bewitched Swarovski Crystal Jewelry Set, I would be perfectly happy. (Hint, Hint)

Do you know what the traditional and modern gift is for your next wedding anniversary? You can find out here.

--Tina

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Summer Fun

There are lots of fun summer games and toys for all ages. You can play badmiton, horseshoes or croquet, set up a golf green, or play football or soccer. But have you ever played Yolf, or played football or soccer at night? Now you can. Below is some of these games with a little twist and some other summer games.

• Yolf Yard Golf 4 Player Set
• Pyramid Toss Game
• Badminton Pro Set
• Light Up Basketball
• Personalized Bar Harbor 4 Player Croquet Set

Here's to having a fun and safe summer!

--Tina

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Need Help Remembering Birthdays?

Like most I am a very busy person, so needless to say I need help in trying to remember things, especially birthdays. Add to that my husband is one of 11 kids, I have 4 siblings and most are married and have more than one kid of their own. I have never counted but we have a lot of birthdays, anniversaries, and events that need to be remembered. I used to have a list that I would keep on my fridge of all the special occasions for friends and family. I would usually remember to look at the list after I got a call from my mom saying "Did you call your brother yesterday, it was his birthday?" Or the one my husband did to me all the time was "Yesterday was so-n-so's birthday", well a lot of good it did me the day after.

About a year ago I started using email reminders. I use them for everything and anything that I have to remember. No more list of paper and no more the day afters and since practically everything I do is on the computer it makes perfect sense. At first my family thought my memory was getting better with age until I told them about the reminders. Now all of our memories seem to be getting better with age.


--Tina

Vacation...What Vacation?

I just got back from the Internet Retailers Conference in Chicago. It was a huge success and a lot of fun. Now if you have ever exhibited or attended a conference you know it is no vacation, just work, work, work. I never left the hotel, worked a 12 hour day, and talked so much I lost my voice. Yes, there was the dinner with lots of great food, free flowing drinks and entertainment, The Temptations in our case, but really, all we did was work!

Carolyn was able to put faces with voices and meet email buddies that she has been working with for years. Gary and Bob got to talk "shop" with lots of people who understand their language, you know, all that technical stuff. As for me, I got to meet lots of nice people who have some really cool gift ideas that would definitely be blog worthy.

Thanks to everyone who visited our booth and to those who signed up, we look forward to working with you.

We will be in San Jose for the 2007 Internet Conference and look forward to seeing everyone there.

And I can't forget to thank Evan for covering for me while I was gone. Not bad for a rookie.

--Tina


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Another Poke at Dad

For one day each year, Dad is let off the hook and gets some special consideration for all of his hard work. The other 364? Fair game!

My dad is a hot sauce lover. He has been in the hot sauce of the month club, scoured specialty shops, kept dried peppers in the pantry... you name it. There were plenty of occasions growing up to down a gallon of milk and a box of saltines in search of relief from his taste testing.

Go for it, Dad. Best the best of them.

Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit


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Backyard Gold

This is the perfect gift for mine and perhaps many other dads! Definitely mine, anyway.

Turn his backyard into a private putting green... make that more of a chipping rough. (My apologies to those dads with the requisite yard tending skills.)

Backyard Flagstick and Hole

My dad lives in one of those neighborhoods where every other street has a 'Golf Cart Crossing' sign and houses with bullet-proof glass installed in the rear of the house.

Perhaps a gift like this will encourage him to pick up the sport.

-- Evan


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On Vacation

Well, as any regular reader or someone astute in the details of posting might know by now, Tina is on vacation. (Hint: This post is twelve hours behind her dedicated posting schedule.) Actually it isn't entirely correct to say that she is on vacation because she is working... away from the office.

Some of our most influential FindGift'ers are participating at the Internet Retailer Show in Chicago through June 7th. FindGift.com is in booth #730! Visit this year if you can or show up next year and see if we're there.

I make it a personal promise to get some booth/decor pictures and a copy of my personal favorite, the FG Cartoon Promo, posted here as soon as they are available to me. This cartoon is absolutely hysterical, a phenomenon in its own right!

Seriously... you can't miss the cartoon.

-- Evan


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Father's Day Gift Ideas

Different types of dads, different types of gifts.


Practical
Pen and pencil sets. Sounds boring right? Not if you have the set personalized with a special message to your dad. Or a pen that has a special feature like being able to write upside down or has a James Bond flair to it is anything but boring. Many dad's need help organizing their stuff. There are business card organizers and credit card organizers. A golf trunk organizer can hold all his important golf accessories and a car organizer can hold his cell phone and laptop.

Trendy
You can give dad an experience of a lifetime with the gift of driving a race car, riding in a hot air balloon or sailing on a yacht. A personalized set of Pub glasses or a membership to a Beer of the month club would put dad at the top of the list with his trendy friends. I know ties are the usual standby for gifts for dad, but how about getting him a Tie of the month membership. This would keep dad stylish and trendy.

Sentimental
Pull on Dad's heart strings with a sentimental message and a picture for Father's Day. You can get a plaque, a picture frame or even a wall hanging with the special message. You can even get a pencil drawing or an oil painting of your favorite photo of the two of you together.

Geeky
If this type applies to your dad, you have lots of choices for some great gifts. There are gifts that are made from parts of a computer, stock in his favorite technology companies, and t-shirts that let everyone know just what he's into. You can also get games, mind benders or puzzles that will help to keep his mind sharp.

For more gift ideas by type visit, http://www.findgift.com/Gift-Wizard/Fathers-Day/


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The Next Best Thing!

If you don't have the right kind of backside to wear one, here's the next best thing!

Thong Boxers

Sexy and comfortable!


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