Live & Learn Thursday: A Guide to Giving

I am so excited to share with you all that I've been contacted for my first real blogging collaboration!  I was contacted by Treat (a division of Shutterfly), and I was given the opportunity to start creating.  Treat is a company that offers personalized cards and gifts for lots of occasions!

April is a big birthday month in my family, and one of those birthdays is my little brother!  Sometimes, I just don't know what to get that kid.  So this was a fun opportunity! I decided to create a personalized birthday card and mug!

There were many designs and styles to choose from, and there are even some where you can add your own photos for an even MORE personal touch.  You can also choose to have a paper card delivered to your recipient or send a card digitally.  (This card even gave me the option to add a gift card!)

Here's the one I created:

 

This is actually a picture of my brother and I from when we were kids!  Underneath, the text reads "just for you/from your big sister".

So really, ladies, the next big question is: What on earth do you buy for the guy in your life?  Be it a brother, spouse, dad, boyfriend, uncle, grandpa, you name it.  Guys can be hard to shop for.  As I said, I created a mug on Treat, as well.  (Hey, guys like hot beverages, too!)

 

I've also got a few more ideas:

• Gift card to his favorite restaurant: Let's face it.  Most guys like to eat and don't or can't cook.  Why not give him the chance to treat himself?  From good ol' McDonald's to even something fancy.  I'm sure he will be grateful (or at least his stomach will). 
• Video games: Both my brother and my husband spend some good quality time with their PlayStations.  Find out what he's playing and snag up the newest version of the game!
• Clothes: Unless he's super picky, the men in your life often can use some guidance in the area of fashion.  I'm convinced that my dad would still be wearing his sweaters from the 80s if I didn't buy him a new one almost every Christmas. 
  
• A "mix tape": Ok, it might not be 1990-something any more, but this can take the form of a CD or MP3 playlist.  The idea is still the same: take some songs that you love/he loves/are special to both of you and put them all together for him.  It's affordable and meaningful.  It's a win-win!
• Tickets to a sporting event: If the guy you're shopping for is into sports, he will think you're the best person ever if you get him tickets to see his favorite team play! 

I also created a "Gifts for Guys" Board on Pinterest!  Would you like to add pins to my board?  Shoot me an e-mail (or mention it in your comment), and I'll add you to the board!  It would be fun for all of us to come up with some ideas together!  You can check out what I've found so far here.

What are your go-to gifts for the guys in your life?

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