Father's Day Gifts

 *This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

We were just celebrating Mother's Day and now I am already thinking about Father's Day. Dads are difficult to shop for. Let's be honest. I always have a hard time. I already started shopping for Rory and planning what we are going to do for him. I made dinner reservations and purchased one gift already. I am not sharing it here just in case he reads this post. Not likely, but maybe. And I may even shop my own post later on for another gift to add for him.

Bleu de Chanel Cologne  Rory has this cologne and loves it. He tried it somewhere and had us out buying it that very weekend. I admit, I LOVE this scent too, and I have a sensitive nose.

Apple Watch Band  This isn't something that Rory has, but I think he would like it as he has an Apple Watch and often complains that he can't dress it up. With this band, you could.

Yeti Hopper Soft Cooler  This is another item that Rory doesn't have, but looks so cool. Whether you are tailgating, golfing, camping or backpacking, this would keep your food and drinks cold.

Vuori Kore Shorts  Rory has a lot of Vuori things. I am almost 100% positive that he has these shorts in several colors too. They run true to size as well.

On Cloud 5 Running Shoe  Rory does have this shoe and loves it. He wears it just for daily wear rather than running in, but he says it is very comfortable and stylish.

Moccamaster Coffee Maker  Now I know this is an expensive gift, but we have one and love it. I use it ever single day that I am at home. When I am in the office, I use my Nespresso.

Melin Hydro A-Game Hat  I got this hat for Rory for Christmas or a birthday about a year or two ago. He loves this hat. It floats in the water, is perfect for golf (breathable) and it has a secret compartment inside to put money, a credit card, etc.

Lululemon Commission Pants  Rory does not have these pants, but he does have the ABC pants and loves them. The ABC pants are more golf like (my opinion) and these are everyday wear.

Eucalyptus Spearmint Stress Hand Cream  (not an affiliate link, just love) I got this for Rory in his stocking and he loves it. He says it smells good, keeps his hands from being chapped and definitely a favorite of his. He already needs a new one.

LL Bean Men's Hooded Robe  Rory has this one in gray and has had it for years. He loves it. It is heavy, but you can definitely use it during the Spring and Summer. I love that it has a good on it. I have even used it when my robe is in the wash.

What is on your list to get your dad or your spouse?

Weekend Rewind

It has been awhile since I did a weekend update, and since we had a very busy weekend, I thought I would do one today.

I worked a half day Friday and then got my nails done. Then I picked up the girls, brought them home and then my dad picked them up. They were having an overnight at my parents house which they were sooo excited for.

After the girls left, I caught up on a show and then got ready to go to our friends house to meet up before the Reno Aces game. The Reno Aces are our Triple A baseball team. We headed over to Rory's new office to park, have some pizza and then head into the game. The Aces blew the Isotopes out!

Fireworks after the game!

After the game, we headed over to the Chapel and enjoyed some cocktails and an evening away from the kids (both us and our friends were kid free for the evening). We got home around 12:45 which was late, but we had a great time out.

We got up at 8 am to get ready because we had my cousin's high school graduation party to attend. He graduated a few weeks ago, and he is off to the Navy at the beginning of July. So we were celebrating those and his birthday. 

I got to see so much family on my mom's side and it just had been way too long. I am so thankful to see some of my great aunts whom I haven't seen in years. 

Around 2:30, we headed back home (we had an hour and a half drive) to get ready for the Rodeo. Rory took a nap, the girls watched a show and I read my book. Then we got ready, went to dinner at a local Mexican place (so good) and then went to the Rodeo. This was the girls first time going and they loved it. They were so concerned with the cows and some of the events. And they LOVED the Rodeo Queen.

It was hot, but it was so much fun!

Yes the girls got some cowgirl hats that they can't wait to wear horseback riding.

We ended our night at 10:30 and the girls were exhausted.

Sunday morning was Father's Day and we got up, got ready and headed to golf for the girls. They are part of this First Tee program here where they have 9 lessons for $65 (total). Such a killer deal and the girls LOVE it.

After golf, we headed to brunch which was out on the river and so beautiful. Rory snapped a photo, but I have yet to get it.

Then after brunch, we headed home, changed, packed our cooler and headed to Lake Tahoe. We went to a new beach (I have been there a few times before) and enjoyed the sunshine and got away from the 100 degree temperatures in Reno.

We called my dad while at the beach and he was having a great day himself. Just as we were.

We stayed at the beach until 5 pm and then headed back down into town (not Reno) for dinner at the Union and enjoyed pasta, pizza (the girls), roasted cauliflower and a delicious kale salad.

Then we headed home to take showers, get ready for the week ahead and walk Walter. Oh and give Rory his gift, since we were out of the house most of the day. He loved his pressure washer and asked if I got advice on it from his co-worker, but I thought of it all on my own.

How was your weekend?

Father's Day Gifts

*This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

Father's Day is coming up (Sunday June 20th) and I know I like to get the gifts early as some of them tend to have longer shipping times. So I put together some gift ideas for your dad, husband, brother or father figure in your life.

Many of these Rory has and loves, and I know the rest he would love.

Blackstone 28 Inch Griddle  I got this for Rory for Christmas and I can't tell you how often this is used. He loves this thing. I love this thing. We make bacon, pancakes, fried rice, grilled cheese, sausages, etc. on it. It is amazing and truly a great gift.

Coola Face Sunscreen  Sunscreen is an easy gift for men as many don't buy any for themselves. Or only for their bodies. This is great for golf and everyday wear. I have the Coola Water Cream and use it daily. You could use that one on anyone as well, but the face one travels easier.

Arcade Belt  This belt is beloved by Rory. He has it in a few colors/options and wears it daily.

Melin Hat  I got this hat for Rory last Father's Day and he wears it camping, golfing and just daily wear. It is moisture wicking, has a secret spot for money or a key and it floats.

Ice Sphere  I got a similar ice set for Rory as part of his birthday gift. He loves Old Fashioneds and these are the perfect ice cube for them.

UV Light Sanitizer  I have wanted one of these and Rory mentioned that he wanted one of these. They are amazing for phones, keys, pacifiers, masks, etc. Since we are starting to travel again and working in the office, this is a great gift option.

Vuori Strato T-Shirt  My hairdresser told me about Vuori and then I bought Rory some jogger pants from there. When he received them, I was hooked. Everything is soft, luxurious and doesn't cost quite as much as Lululemon. He bought himself one of these shirts and they are amazing. They are soft, wear well, wash well and look really nice.

Vuori Meta Pant  Another Vuori item. These pants are made for work, golf, and casual. I almost got Rory the Aim pants, but this one has more room in the thigh.

Portable Neck Fan  I saw this somewhere and took a photo of it. Then I searched for it as it is an amazing option for golf, Summers and hanging outside. And this one gets amazing reviews and actually keeps you cool.

Osprey Daylite Duffle  We all know that I love Osprey. I bought a very large duffle bag with backpack straps last year and use it for our annual Graeagle, camping and some airline travel. This is a smaller version meant for long weekends, but still made with the same amazing material.

Bombas Ankle Socks  I got these for Rory for Christmas and he still raves about them. He raves so much that I bought some for myself. They are comfy, wear well and give back (company donates socks).

Birkenstock Arizona Soft Slide  Now I know some are not fans of Birks, but these are soooo good. They are the soft ones so they are already broken in. I wasn't a believer, but now I have 3 pairs of Birkenstocks. I only get the soft version as I can't wait or handle the break-in.

What are you getting the guy in your life for Father's Day?

Father's Day Gift Guide

* This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

Last week I mentioned that I had a Father's Day Gift Guide/Ideas that I wanted to post, but I held off posting it. Well now I am posting it. I didn't post a Mother's Day gift guide as I never got around to it and I wasn't even sure what I wanted. But I searched around for gifts for Rory, my dad and my father-in-law and figured I would share some of those ideas. And some of these items, at least one of the guys has.

Travis Mathew Polo - Rory has a few polos from Travis Mathew and he really likes them. He wears them golfing and to work.

Birkenstock Arizona Sandal - Rory also has these sandals along with my father-in-law and they both love them. They are waterproof, hold up for years and are comfy.

Moccamaster KBG Coffee Maker - Now I know this coffee maker is a bit pricey, but we LOVE it. It has definitely saved us lots of money during this pandemic. The coffee tastes amazing, it is easy to use, and it lasts forever.

Garmin Vivomove 3 Style - After having my Garmin Vivomove for over a month now, I can officially say that I love it. I love that it tells me to breathe, it monitors my stress levels, it monitors my oxygen levels (better) when I sleep, it gives me miles when I am doing an activity whereas my Fitbit did not. It looks professional, it is comfortable, and it has GPS. I could go on and on about the features, but I won't. I do know that Rory now wants one of the men's styles in it.

Herschel Travel Backpack - A travel backpack is a great idea for anyone who travels, which is most people. Maybe not at the moment, but we will all get back to traveling. I know that I use a backpack every time we travel, even for work.

Travel Gadgets Bag - This is something Rory definitely needs. He is always talking about losing his charger in his backpack and how it would be nice for everything to be all together. This is a travelers friend here. You can even put your ipad or tablet in it.

Fireplace/BBQ Heat Resistant Gloves - Rory has a pair of these, but he has had them for about 3 or 4 years that I can't find them online anymore. He uses them to move around logs in our fireplace and he also uses them when he cooks on the grill, ie when the cast iron skillet is on the grill.

LL Bean Multisport Shorts - Rory bought these for himself for our upcoming camping trips. He says they are perfect for hiking, walks, running, working out, softball, etc.

Cigar Clip - This is meant for the golf cart, but it can also work clipped onto a chair or pretty much anywhere. If your loved one is a cigar lover and takes awhile to smoke his cigar, this is a great option, so you won't have to hold it for them.

Yeti Soft Cooler Tote - I think everyone loves Yeti. Whether it is their tumblers, coolers, or totes, they are just really great products. We have been wanting a Yeti tote for a long time now and hopefully this year we will get one!

What are you getting your father and/or husband for Father's Day?

Father's Day Weekend

I haven't done a weekend update in awhile, so I figured Father's Day weekend was a good one to document.

Friday after work, I ran a few errands, had lunch and then picked up the girls from school. Then I took them to swim lessons where they totally rocked it. They are starting to swim on their own (with the help of a floating bar bell). After swim lessons, I took them to pizza since it is right around the corner. And it is the make your own pizza. The girls shared one and I had one and we had enough to bring home to Rory for after golf.

Then since Rory wasn't able to do the Popsicles with Dads event at the girls school, I took them to ice cream after. Sutton got the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Avery got the Cookie Explosion.

Then I took the girls home and got them ready for bed and the lake the next day. Rory got home, ate our leftover pizza and then the girls went to bed. We watched the first episode of Big Little Lies (season 2) and then went to bed.

Saturday morning we got up and started getting ready for the beach. We stopped at coffee along the way and got to the beach pretty early. We had tons of space and got a great spot up front. From there, we enjoyed our beach time with food, sunshine, floating and building sand castles. We spent from 9 am to 2:30 pm in Lake Tahoe.

 Sutton was pretending to sleep in her chair.

On the way home, the girls took a nap. Once we got home, we all got showered and ready. Rory and the girls dropped me off in Midtown. They went to dinner at Sup and I went to meet my friends at a wine bar across the street. One of the girls I met up with, I only get to see twice a year, so that was sooo nice. And the other, I have recently reconnected with, so it was nice to hang out again. And bonus...Rory and the girls stopped by after they ate so they could see my friends as well.

Two of us got this dish and it was heavenly. And we also had calamari which was soooo good.

We pretty much closed the restaurant down and headed back to the wine bar for more chatting. I ubered home around 10:30 pm.

Sunday morning I got up early to take care of the girls and let Rory rest for Father's Day. Then we all got ready and went to brunch.

After brunch, we dropped Rory off at home and I took the girls out to Target and Whole Foods. Rory stayed home and watched the US Open (golf) and was able to relax.

When we got back, I fed the girls lunch and then had to run out to another grocery store for a few items that were not at Whole Foods. Rory put the girls down for a nap and I also picked up some chocolates for the grandfathers.

After the girls naps, we headed over to my sisters house for a Father's Day dinner. Her and her husband smoked ribs and beer can chicken in their Traeger and now I want a Traeger even more!!! The food was amazing. She paired those with asparagus wrapped in bacon with a yummy sauce and garlic smashed potatoes. Then we had some of their anniversary cake and vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. It was an amazing time. The girls cried when we were leaving since they were having too much fun and had missed my side of the family.

Once we were home, we got the girls ready for bed and put them down and then spent the rest of the evening getting ready for the week ahead.

How was your Father's Day weekend?

Father's Day Gift Guide

*This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

Father's Day is just under two weeks away. I am one who always shops early for these special days. I have a few things being sent my way, but as I was shopping for Rory, I thought I would share some gift ideas. Some of these he has and LOVES and others I am sure he or any dad would love.

Sports Hat/Apparel  If your husband/dad loves sports, getting him his favorite team in a hat, jersey, t-shirt, etc is a sure win.

Herschel Weekend Duffel  I bought Rory this bag a few years ago and he loves it. I also have one that my sister got me a few years ago. It is perfect for short work trips and weekend trips.

Lululemon Polo  This is another favorite of Rory's. He wears these polos to work daily. They are pricey, but they last forever, don't smell (hello armpit sweat) and are comfy.

Tie Travel Case  If your husband or dad travels alot and has to wear suits, this is the perfect gift. Rory asked for one of these many years ago and I had gotten him one. He has since lost it and we got him another one. They hold your cuff links, ties and tie clips.

Stance No Show Socks  Again, another favorite of Rory's is Stance socks and these ones are no show which is perfect for the summer. He has these and they even make them in XL (my husband has size 14 feet).

Adidas Samba Shoes  These shoes remind me of the classic Adidas they everyone used to wear, but even better.

Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls  If your husband or dad golfs, these were rated #1 golf balls this year. They are meant for a little more experienced golfers, but they get amazing reviews. Rory has been golfing since he was a child and has a love/hate relationship with golf. Ha.

Tahoe Timber Pocket Knife  Two weekends ago, we went to the Made in Tahoe festival and saw these pocket knifes. They also make amazing wooden sunglasses (I sooo want a pair and they float in the water!). Anyways, you can get these engraved and in different colors. It is an amazing gift for a father, husband or FIL.

What are you getting your dad and/or husband for Father's Day this year?

Father's Day Weekend and the Beach

I am sad the weekend went by in an instant. We had some pretty hot weather (in the high 90s) which kept us indoors most of the weekend.

My weekend started off Friday after working half day. I grabbed myself lunch and then hit up Target, Petco and the girls' new daycare. I had to drop off paperwork and fill out a bunch more. Plus I paid the yearly fees and got them all ready to start on August 7th.

I came home and the girls were up from their naps. I heard all about their day and then Rory came home. The girls were beyond thrilled to see their dad. They helped him unpack and we talked about our week. We took the girls out to dinner. They were a bit crazy since they were so happy to have their dad back, but we managed to get a seat in the back where we wouldn't bother anyone.

Once we got home, we got ready for bed, cuddled and then put the girls down. Then we watched Better Call Saul and called it a night.

Saturday morning we got up bright and early and got ready to go to the beach. We headed to Sand Harbor, but not before grabbing sandwiches, donuts for the ride and some fruit. The girls had a blast. Since it was HOT there, I didn't mind the freezing water. Sutton loved being dipped into the water while Avery loved playing in the sand. We stayed for about 4 hours which was perfect. The girls only had little meltdowns when it was time to leave. It was about an hour and a half past their nap time.

 Look how much snow is still on the mountains. Unreal.

I was a little unsure if I should post this because bikini and being self conscious, but why not?!

They promptly fell asleep in the car within two minutes of driving. On the way down from Tahoe, we grabbed some coffees and took the scenic road home so the girls could nap longer.

Once we got home, we unloaded everything, gave the girls a snack and then bathed them. Then I showered and headed out to the grocery store and butcher shop.

I made brats, saute onions and corn on the cob for dinner. We watched Fargo after the girls went to bed and then called it a night.

Sunday morning we got up and went to breakfast for Father's Day. We treated Rory to his favorite breakfast place and then headed back to Target for some ballet flats. Side note: does anyone have children who are obsessed with shoes? My girls love their flats they wore for Christmas photos, but they are about a size and a half too small. Yet they insist on wearing them. Ugh. So we had to get some new ones this weekend so they didn't crush their toes and get marks for the elastic strap on them.

 Waiting for daddy to get ready

Rory and the girls at breakfast

We got home and fed the girls lunch. Rory and I were still stuffed from breakfast. The girls went down for their naps at 12:45 pm and Rory headed out on some errands while I watched the US Open. The girls slept for two hours and were only a little grumpy when they got up. But we played and did some chores around the house until family got there.

Another side note: have any of you tried Bai Bubbles? I grabbed it on Saturday thinking it was a sparkling water, a watermelon lime one to be exact. I opened it around 3 pm and drank it while making our bed, changing the laundry over and getting the house prepped for family. I drank it slowly, but once I was done, I felt off. Then it got worse and I felt miserable in my own skin. I had a slight fever and couldn't shake a headache. It so so bad that I thought I was going to be so sick. Turns out the drink is an energy drink of sorts and has equivalent to 4 8 ounce cups of coffee in it. I normally drink one or two cups of coffee a day. So needless to say, read the labels. I should have. It almost ruined the evening.

Family arrived at 4:30 pm and I wasn't feeling good. But after I ate some of my mom's spinach dip she brought over, I started feeling better. And I got better as the evening went on. We had both sets of parents over for a Father's Day dinner. Originally, I was supposed to have a BurgaBox for Rory as his gift, but they delayed my shipping and it never came. So mad about this. So I made a back-up plan which turned out better.

We made tri-tip, grilled veggies and rice for dinner. Then we had German Chocolate cake for dessert. The girls were loving all the attention and we loved the company. It turned out better than the BurgaBox would have.

Seriously my favorite cake lately and we have leftovers to enjoy this week.

Everyone went home and we put the girls to bed. It was past their bedtimes, but a good day, so it was worth it. We watched some tv shows that we missed last week and then tried to go to bed. Tried is the keyword as the energy drink kept me up all night. ugh.

How was your weekend and Father's Day?