Father’s day is about making all the dads feel special but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money. And while most people look to gadgets for Father’s Day gifts, I’m challenging you to be different this year. With a little bit of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, you can give the most thoughtful and affordable Father’s Day gift ever!
Make It Personal: A personalized gift always feels extra special. You can take any photo and put it on just about anything these days. Mugs, shirts, pillows, printed art, coasters, candles, koozies, and even socks! The list goes on. Or, get his initials monogrammed on a pair of cuff links, a key chain, his favorite golf balls, whiskey glasses, even his phone case. Giving something with such a personal touch makes them think of you the instant they look at it. I love Shutterfly and right now they are offering up to 40% off their personalization services. Etsy and Uncommon Goods also have some great ideas!
Give an Experience: Experiences are such a great gift. He’ll get to try something new, learn something or just enjoy something he already loves. Check out Masterclass (allows you to take a class from professionals like a chef, a photographer, a magazine editor), SkillShire (an app that give him access to learn loads of new skills), and Airbnb (locals offer their expert knowledge from wine tasting and tours to architectural walks around the city) for one-of-a-kind experiences.
Give a Monthly Subscription: The best part about a monthly subscription is that this type of gift lasts longer than just the day!
Dollar Shave Club: This monthly subscription for razors starts at just $1. Keep your dad stocked and clean cut.
Beers of the Month: There are lots of companies ranging in prices that offer monthly beer subscriptions. You can select beers from around the world that come monthly to his doorstep.
Magazine/Newspapers: This is a great gift for someone who loves to read a newspaper and magazine while supporting the need for journalism.
Butcher Box: A box of selected meat for a one time gift or monthly subscription.
Kindle: For just $9 a month you can gift unlimited books
Lindsay Myers is a Los Angeles-based budget travel and lifestyle expert whose outside-the-box approach proves you don’t have to pay top dollar to experience all that life has to offer... all you need is a mix of creativity and a thirst for adventure!
As many of you know, I started Red Tricycle when I was pregnant with my son, as a way to explore life through the (often smudged) lens of new parenthood. It was also a way to connect with other parents who were doing the same thing—having dance parties in the living room, pitching a tent in the backyard, planning fun weekend adventures—all on two hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Since then, an army of moms and dads just like you have helped build Red Tricycle into a leader in the parenting space, reaching 40 million parents every month.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce that Red Tricycle has been acquired byTinybeans, another beloved parenting brand built on the same values of trust, authenticity and focus on making the parenting journey easier.
The Tinybeans platform, also founded by entrepreneurs with young kids, offers parents a private space to share photos, milestones and other moments with their children amongst family and friends in a private social network. TheTinybeans x Red Tricycle partnership will offer many more benefits to you, including personalization many of you have long requested around kids ages and interests, and expanded geo capabilities and product and service recommendations.
As a thank you for being a Red Tricycle reader, we wanted to invite you to take theTinybeans app for a spin. You can download and sign up for Tinybeans here to receive a free, three-month premium trial (the code will be automatically applied). Or, if you want to share this offer with your family and friends, they can use this code when signing up to upgrade to a premium membership:RedTricycle3Months. This offer is valid through 12/31/2020 and is for new Tinybeans users only.
Tinybeans Group Limited (ASX: TNY) is a mobile and web-based technology platform that connects parents with the most trusted digital tools and resources on the planet to help every family thrive. Being Apple’s App of the Day in the U.S. in October 2019 puts Tinybeans in the elite company of best apps in the world!
About Red Tricycle Inc
Red Tricycle is a digital media company that inspires families to spend time together. Since 2010, Red Tricycle has been connecting families with awesome things to see, eat and do with their kids throughout the US
We know you’ve got loads of great pictures accumulating in the cloud somewhere; now’s the time to get them off your computer and into the real world. Yes! A real family photo (or pillow, necklace or even sock) for the house—not just on your social media feed. So, whether you’re looking for the perfect holiday photo gifts for grandparents or something special to give your spouse, here are the most unique personalized photo gifts to give this holiday season.
Got tons of pictures to display—plus one you really want to stand out? Here's one of our favorite Christmas photo gifts. This mosaic takes 70 of your photos and uses them as a background behind one central picture (of your loved ones' face, for instance). The effect makes it looks like the arrangement creates another picture altogether. We're not sure how the artist does it, exactly, but the effect is sure to impress. You'll be staring at each photo to figure out how it works.
Cost: $93.50 for a digital file of the art; $136 and up for a photo print; $204 and up for a framed print.
The Tinybeans platform offers parents a private space to to share photos, milestones and other moments with their children amongst family and friends in a private social network. The free modern family album app gives parents a happy space to enjoy their children's life stories with family. Effortlessly organize pics, videos & milestones, print cute keepsakes, and share with family in one safe space off social media. Parents can join for free, purchase premium subscriptions and photo books.
Take your photos and turn them into intricate paint-by-number projects. If you've got budding artists who are up for a challenge, this DIY project will make your photos all that much more special (because now they're paintings!). Just send in your photo, and MiiCreative artists will produce a paint-by-number canvas. The kit comes with one canvas, paints and paint brushes. Recommended for ages 8 & up.
As if putting your photo on a pillow isn't cool enough, now you can print your photo onto reversible mermaid sequins! The pillows show a solid sequin color (choose from eight colors) when brushed one way and reveal your photo when brushed the other. Kids love them—but don't be surprised if you order a few for yourself, too.
This personalized puzzle lets you and your kids jumble up your family—then put the faces back together again. It's a photo and a game at the same time. The only problem we see is that you may spend a lot of time looking at a mixed-up version of yourselves—but there's a great reason to keep cranking that cube.
If you thought socks were a boring gift, think again. These brightly colored socks will keep your tootsies toasty and have your face (or your kids' or pets' faces) all over them. It's one of those things that's just weird enough to be cool. Ankle-length, crew-length or knee-high socks are available.
Everyone knows it's nice to bring a bottle of wine to a party. Why not bring a bottle of wine WITH YOUR PICTURE ON IT? Or, better yet, forget the Christmas cards this year and just send out wine instead! These personalized holiday-themed wine bottle labels say "Making spirits bright," and can be personalized with a picture and any other text you'd like. Each 8.5x11'' sheet holds 8, 2x4'' labels.
Nobody likes nailing into walls. With these easy 8X8 photo squares, you can easily—and literally—stick photos on your walls without the need for any tools or hardware—and without ripping off any paint should you want to mix things up or take things down.
Cost: $11 per tile (free shipping on orders of three or more).
Your kids will get a kick out of these stickers which can be personalized with anyone's face. Slap 'em on notebooks, water bottles, lunch boxes—anywhere you want to say "This is my face!" They also work great to keep cups and toothbrushes easily identified so your kids keep their things theirs. The stickers are made of durable vinyl (not paper!) and are printed using waterproof ink that is dishwasher and microwave safe.
The perfect personalized photo gift for grandparents, this digital photo frame—which made "Oprah's Favorite Things" list in 2018—has unlimited storage and will let Nana and Pop see ever-changing pics of you and your kids without the need to navigate your social media pages. It's a win-win. Looking for a lower-cost option? Try the NIX Advance Digital Photo Frame, which was rated a "great bargain" by Tom's Guide.
Little Orphan Annie would have had an easier time finding her parents had she been given one of these photo lockets to remember them by. Two 45mm long and 35mm wide photos can fit inside this brass locket. The best part? The artist can transfer a photo directly onto the metal—meaning you won't' have to worry about doing it yourself or trying to figure out how to glue it onto the metal without ending up with a soggy paper mess. The transfer process even allows some of the metal to merge with the photo, leaving your locket with a vintage look. You also have the option of displaying only photographs, a message of your choice or a combination of both.
If you want a romantic gift for your significant other, these classy photo letter blocks will look great on your mantle and are a unique way to show off your love story.
If you love where you live, show it off in this state-shaped photo collage. Choose your state, the size you want and a style of frame (or no frame at all)—then Minted will put together a state map with three photos of your choice.
Nobody can deny the cuteness factor of a baby's face ... on a blanket! This cozy polyester fleece blanket comes in various color palettes and can be a personalized gift idea with the baby's name, birthday (including exact time), weight and length.
Still don't have the perfect, card-ready photo of your fam for the holidays? This on-demand photo session is like Uber for photographers. Just find a location where you'd like to shoot, name your time slot, then click to book a free 30-minute photo session. In 3-5 business days, you'll get a gallery of your shots, then pay $15 for each pic you want to buy.
For now, the company only works in the following cities: Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco Bay area and San Antonio.
Cost: The photo session is free; then $15 per photo.
We've seen a lot of photos printed on wood, but we really love how this Etsy artist does it. Photos are transferred just enough to display the picture but also let the natural patterns of the wood shine through—every printing is unique. Pictures can also include a mounted rope or hooks for hanging.
Turn your favorite family photo into one of our picks for personalized photo gifts that'll stick around for years to come. Choose a puzzle size ranging from 40 pieces to 1000 pieces, and wait 10 days—that's it!
Whether you’re looking for a gift for your mom, your husband, or your best friend—everybody loves a nice, framed photo. This app (and website) lets you test out how various frames look with your photos before you buy. Plus, frames are handmade in the USA and start at $15.
The excitement is building just like a winter storm when it comes to the Nov. 22 release of the highly-anticipated Frozen 2. In honor of the sequel film, Pottery Barn Kids is celebrating with a brand new Frozen collection that is all about Arendelle and your fave characters.
We’ve viewed the entire lineup and these are our favorites.
Bedding Collection
Keep warm from the chilly Arendelle nights with the entire collection of Frozen bedding from Pottery Barn. Choose from sheets ($18.50-$129), a duvet ($287.50-$119), quilt ($39.50-$229) and a sweet "Let It Go" pillow ($39.50 in whimsical patterns that also offer personalization.
Cotton Tight Fit Pajamas
Cozy up for a rewatch of the OG film before heading to the theaters in some comfy Frozen Cotton Tight Fit Pajamas ($39.50). Sizes range from 2T to 10 and show sweet images of Anna and Elsa. If your little prefers a lighter garb for bedtime, you can also check out PB's Frozen Nightgown ($49.50).
Elsa Sleeping Bag
Even Elsa's powers won't penetrate this cozy Sleeping Bag $18.50-$90. The adorable bag comes with an embroidered Elsa, 3D braid and a sequin dress.
Backpacks & Luggage
Choose from mini sizes to rolling backpacks in Pottery Barn's Aqua Disney Frozen Kids Backpacks ($26.50-$79.50) collection. The gorgeous pattern includes all your fave characters for the films and can be personalized.
If you're headed on an overnight adventure, be sure to check out luggage options (119.50-$159.50) which include small and medium soft and hard-shell designs.
Tabletop Gift Set
The exclusive to Pottery Barn Frozen Tabletop Gift set ($29) makes for a great everyday dining set or a gift. Made from durable melamine (plus the tumbler is made from shatter-resistant plastic), dining on this set will transport your kiddos straight to Arendelle.
"Frozen" Personalized Storybook
Create an heirloom gift when you order a copy of the Frozen personalized storybook ($39.99). Your child's name will be incorporated throughout the story as well in a special dedication in the front of the book.
Elsa Snowglobe
Elsa will be creating all sorts of winter storms in her own snowglobe ($49). The handmade gift can be personalized and comes with a music chip that plays "Let it Go," because of course it does.
Yelp is a great tool for finding everything from restaurants to bounce houses, but busy parents don’t always have the time to sit around and sift through dozens of listings to find the right one. Luckily, Yelp is adding a personalization feature that makes finding that perfect business even easier.
Yelp’s new personalization function will change the way you use the review website. Using information from individual users the new Yelp will be tailor-made to each person based on the user’s lifestyle, dietary restrictions and other interests. By letting Yelp know that you are a parent and a vegetarian, for example, you’ll get an entirely different set of responses when you search for a restaurant than someone with no kids!
photo: Courtesy of Yelp
Users can now choose from a selection of lifestyle categories, like Parent, Pet Owner, Auto Owner and more. You can also tailor your preferences with dietary needs, like Vegetarian or Gluten-Free, as well as specific activities and experiences you prefer, like museums, kids activities, date nights and many more.
Once you have your preferences selected, the results you receive when you create a search on Yelp will be filtered in order to ensure that you are seeing the listings that are most relevant to you, like restaurants that are labeled as kid-friendly. The new feature is available on Yelp now.
Shopping for the toy for your little learner or a special birthday reveler can be daunting and time consuming, especially if you start your search online with “kids toys.” So. Many. Options! But fear not, Seattle parents. Your search for the perfect toy or gift just got a whole lot easier thanks to The Landing’s new toy store, Learning Express Toys.
photo: Jennifer B. Davis
Easy In & Out Access
Replacing a previous toy store, Learning Express Toys is located next to the theater and conveniently backs onto the northern parking garage, for easy pop-in-pop-out access. The brightly lit, nicely organized store is big enough to provide a good selection, yet small enough to offer help and suggestions. And, while it’s locally owned and operated, it’s a franchise (the first one in Washington), so you’ll find the prices to be quite reasonable.
photo: Jennifer B. Davis
Special Appearances
Co-owners Cody Perino and Danica Cowden, practically kids themselves, opened the store mid-May with a grand opening party complete with character visits and door-buster prices. But fear not, the special events (and good pricing!) will continue. Reoccurring story time is in the works, along with appearances from real-life heroes like Wyatt Bray, world champion of Kendama (a Japanese cup and ball game, taking the world by storm), along with local pro, Luke Ford, who plans to stop by to offer tips and tricks to aspiring Kendama-ers.
photo: Jennifer B. Davis
Gifts for Every Age & Stage
According to Perino, “Learning Express Toys is all about learning, fun and playing games – not providing an impersonal store or experience.” And that it’s not. From books and science kits, to classic and newly-popular games, scooters, stuffed animals, LEGOS and Calico Critters, Learning Express Toys provides unique toys, gifts and teaching supplies—all of which inspire imagination, creativity and intellectual and physical development—for a range of ages and interests. An assortment of play areas and tables are also a huge hit among kids and parents alike, especially when the ‘rents need a bit more browsing time.
Store Extras!
Learning Express Toys offers FREE personalization of its items like plastic headlamp hats, clipboards, storage boxes and buckets. And not only that, you can get your gift wrapped for FREE. Plus, teachers and those in the armed services receive 10% off at checkout. What’s not to love about that?
photo: Jennifer B. Davis
While You’re at The Landing
If you haven’t visited The Landing lately (or ever) it’s a great spot for a day out with the fam or an afternoon with your mini-me. Catch a matinee at the Regal Cinemas Stadium 14 theater, grab a burger at Five Guys Burgers & Fries and indulge your sweet tooth at Sweet Decadence. Or try one of the many restaurants at The Landing that are kid-friendly, then run off the crazies at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, just a few minutes away. Just be sure to pop into Learning Express Toys for an exciting, educational toy or gift that won’t break the bank (or your spirit).
photo: Jennifer B. Davis
Learning Express Toys
840 N. 10th Pl., Suite A
Renton, Wa 98057
425-264-3606
Online: learningexpress.com and on Facebook
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Have you visited Learning Express Toys? What do you like most about the store? Tell us in the Comments below.
Getting the nursery ready for baby is no long just about selecting the perfect crib sheets and mobile. Now Pinterest-pressure has parents-to-be dreaming up a color palette, curating a gallery art wall, finding that perfect bedding, selecting furniture and making Baby’s nursery one of a kind, all while staying within a tight budget. Want to tick off a few boxes quickly? Check out P’kolino’s new custom nursery furniture.
How it Works
Creating custom nursery furniture really couldn’t be much easier than P’kolino’s setup. First, choose which collection (of 3) you like best. Then pick a color (grey, navy, blue, red or pink) or a pattern to personalize your crib or changing table/dresser. You could add your baby’s name to the side panel of the crib, or transform a simple white dresser by adding patterns to the drawers.
Feeling really creative? You can upload your own image to customize a crib panel or dresser drawer. You may choose a photograph or create your own graphic.
What’s cool is that the custom designs can be removed without damaging the furniture, so if you change your mind about your color scheme or want to update for the toddler years, you don’t have to worry.
It’s All in the Details
So which custom collection is right for you? The Luce crib and dresser have a two-tone look of white and natural wood. Plus, the Evolve crib has a drawer beneath it providing extra storage. A great option for space-starved city nurseries.
The Bianco crib is white, with clean lines and a classic look. And the Grigio offers a high-end, modern look with grey wood accents.
All three cribs are built to last with solid, made-in-Europe construction, and convert to toddler beds to increase the life of the product.
The Price is Right
The cribs range in price from $699.99 to $499.99 before adding on any personalization, prices which earn our seal of approval for budget-friendly nurseries. Add on one custom panel for $99.99 and two for $149.99.
The dressers are $399.99 or $499.99, with custom panels raising the price $49.99 to $129.99. Top it with a changing pad holder for $70.
P’kolino Bianco, Luce and Gigio Collections available at pkolino.com.
How have you personalized your baby’s nursery? Share your design ideas in a Comment.
Can anyone remember life before the iPhone? Were we all bored, disorganized, and disconnected? Not anymore, thanks to all the fabulous, useful, and just plain fun applications available! We’ve narrowed down a list of some of our favorite iPhone apps (for both kids and parents) to share with you tech-obsessed parents. Go grab your iPhone and start downloading!
1.MeeGenius – A collection of beautifully illustrated classic books that come with audio playback, word highlighting, and personalization so you can read your child’s favorite stories to him on the road or under the blanket.
2.BabyPhone – With this app you can program your iPhone to function as a baby monitor by setting the microphone sensitivity to a desired level (e.g. baby’s cry or babbling) that will call you on a different phone number when the microphone picks up on a sound.
3.Wheels on the Bus – This “classic” app keeps toddlers busy with many versions of the popular song, interactive components, and great graphics. Why not try singing this song in Spanish, French, German, and Italian, too?
4.iChalky– Kids of all ages will cannot meet a cooler stick figure. Chalky responds to every move and sound of the iPhone and you can manipulate Chalky with your fingers on the touchpad. He will even dance when you play tunes from the iPod!
5.I Hear Ewe – This fun game helps the young ones learn and recognize 24 different animals. By tapping on a button of an animal, the name and noise each makes is played. This game is also featured in other languages (Chinese, anyone?) and helps develop pointer finger skills, too.
6.Build a Brag Book – Savvy moms and dads (and grandparents too!) can build a virtual scrapbook right on the iPhone by selecting a storybook template and personalizing it with photos right from the phone and adding details about the family to the story.
7.Flags Fun – Matching games are given a sleek and educational spin with this fun app. Flags of countries all over world from Great Britain to Laos act as the card pairs in a classic matching game, or you can take it one step further by testing your national knowledge with “Flag Guess.”
8.My Little Suitcase– Before your next vacation, get your kindergartener excited about travel with this app that will let her pick a destination like the beach or sleepover and pack for the trip by dragging in the items they want to the suitcase. After packing, the suitcase will arrive at the destination so your kid can unpack.
9.Baby Brain – A Red Tri favorite for parents of newborns. Check out our article on this baby log that is a must-have during those first few months of sleep deprivation.
10.Skee Ball – We’re not sure if this is more fun for kids or parents, but either way it’s a great 3-D replication of a favorite throwback game. After you’ve thrown your balls, you can even collect prizes!
11. Fisher-Price has just launched a trio of iPhone apps reminiscent of some of their classic toys: See ‘n Say, Little People Farm, and Chatter Telephone are all tons of fun for kids in the 2-5 age range, as well as for parents who grew up with the original versions.
BONUS: And making life easier for parents-on-the-go is the Texthook, a smartphone holder that attaches to stroller handlebars, a grocery shopping cart, wherever you need to be with your little ones in tow. You’ll be able to access the touchscreen and keyboard while you push or play—we’re totally hooked!
PS: What are your favorites apps – either for yourself or the kiddies? Share your picks in the comment section below. —Sarah K. Choi
