Dad would love these one-of-a-kind pieces of art featuring any or all members of the family.  My very own Mr. LuSHHus has been the recipient of three: one of us at our wedding, one of our son, and one of our dog.  And believe me, the more canvases you have on a wall, the better! 

These are from photowow.com, and it’s so easy to order: just upload your image or images and you’ll receive a proof in your Inbox within one week.  And, if you order by June 10th, you will receive a gift certificate good for 20% off any order you place in July. 

Cheers!

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If Dad likes to read, the Kindle might be the perfect Father’s Day gift this year!

And if Dad likes to play games, check out Wii Fit.

More LuSHHus Father’s Day gift ideas will be coming soon.  In the meantime, here’s the list of possibilities presented so far.

Cheers!

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As you probably know, Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May.  This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who died in military service for their country.  I think the following quote is appropriate as we remember everyone who has served.

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." ~
Arthur Ashe

Have a great week,

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Picnics are fun, especially if you have the right gear.  From insulated bags to coolers to dishes to blankets and more, you’ll find everything you need in this LuSHHus List of Picnic Gear.  Check it out.

These are the most stylish picnic bags I have seen.  And they’re versatile.  They don’t have to just be for picnics…they could go to the ball game, on a boat, to school, to work…anywhere!  The straw version, seen above on the left, comes in a large insulated tote size and costs $37.50.  I think it would be best to get two: one for your food and one for your supplies.  It also comes as a double wine bottle bag for $27.50.  The monogram is included in the prices.  The adorable little bags pictured on the right are insulated and make a great lunch bag or picnic sack for a child or even a lunch bag for a working adult who likes to tote a lunch.  You can get it in the green and pink seen here or in black, orange, or light blue, and it costs $25.  Order any of these items by emailing Embroidery by Valerie at vriener@austin.rr.com.

If you use the stylish picnic bags I showed you above, you will want to make sure you remember plates and eating utensils.  This is one great option for utensils.  Not only are they bright and fun, they are biodegradable.  They come in seven colors and you can get them here. 

These bamboo utensils are also eco-friendly.  They’re sleek and disposable, and you can get them here.

You will also need plates and I think any of these are a great choice.  Click on each image above for more information.

These burger baskets with liners might be fun instead of plates.

There are other cute cooler options such as this cooler from the Whim line by Cynthia Rowley at Target.  If you haven’t checked out the Whim line at Target, you should definitely do so.  You will find cute, affordable products for all your summer needs.

I can’t think of any child who wouldn’t love this!

Just want to chill some beverages?  This On The Rocks cooler is just what you need.

Perhaps you want a pre-packaged picnic set that contains almost everything you need but the food.  In that case, here are some fun options:

I love this fun picnic backpack set for four that includes: insulated food storage compartment, detachable insulated wine holder, four 11" plates and cups, 12-piece assorted stainless steel flatware, corkscrew/bottle opener, salt and pepper shakers, and cutting board.  You can buy this online here. 

The Weekender Deluxe Travel Picnic Set for 2 features a unique round shape and a great canvas fabric. The set includes plates, flatware, corkscrew, cutting board, cheese knife, salt and pepper shakers.

If your style leans toward vintage, you might like this set which consists of a super red tin with a removable willow tray containing a selection of hand crafted accessories including an enamel painted flask, ceramic plates, mugs, cutlery and embroidered napkins for two people.

This is an eco-friendly picnic basket  with service for 2 that is made from 100% all natural and renewable resources and is hand woven from natural willow. It features bamboo plates, cutting board and utensils. The cotton insulated lining is dye and chemical free. Wine glasses are made from recycled glass and napkins are from natural cotton.  Now this is a green picnic basket!

Here’s a sleek modern picnic set that folds up for easy transport and it even fits in the glove compartment of your car.  Equipped with two plastic plates, two sets of silverware, a corkscrew and a container for salt and pepper, the picnic set unfolds to provide an instant "blanket" and everything you need except a bottle of wine, some bread, and some cheese!

Choose one of the picnic blankets above to ensure you have a clean, soft place to picnic.  Click on each image for more information. 

If you’ll be mixing drinks at your picnic, you will want this portable cocktail set that contains all the tools you need to mix your favorite cocktail.

This bar set is the deluxe version as it even has space for martini glasses and two liquor bottles. 

Spruce up your picnic setting with these silly napkin rings.

The tiny tot at the picnic will be appropriately outfitted in this precious bib.

If you’re serving cupcakes at your picnic, these cup-a-cake holders are the safest way to get your dessert to the picnic site in tact.

Should your picnic plans carry into the dark of night, check out these battery-powered lights.  You can stake them in the ground or place them in a vase, and you can use one alone or group several together.  These cordless lights will certainly light up your evening picnic.

Now you’ve seen the LuSHHus List of Picnic Gear.  If you plan to picnic, choose which gear is right for you and stay tuned for the LuSHHus List of Picnic Recipes.

Cheers!

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"Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness.  Every act ripples with no logical end." ~ Scott Adams

Have a great week.

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For your reading pleasure, here are links to a few of my favorite postings from around the web this past week.

Perfect Bound made a great point in her post called Squared Away, and that point is that we should use stamps as stylish as our stationery.  Sure the United States Postal Service has some fun and sometimes even beautiful stamps, but if you want really great stamps, make your own.  Read all about Perfect Bound’s idea here.  By the way, I loved the idea so much that it prompted me to make a LuSHHus stamp:

This next one seems especially fitting with the mention of the stamp…I can’t help but refer you to the great article I read at The Savvy Gal Online.  It’s called The Lost Art of Handwriting a Letter, and you should read it here.  It’ll probably have you writing a loved one a letter before the day’s end. 

I really love the list of summer accessories that All the Best compiled in this post.  Check it out!  I want all to them!

If you don’t already know about it, you might be interested in a fun sweepstakes for $25,000 to redecorate your home.  You can enter this drawing, which is sponsored by Ballard Designs and Southern Accents, here. 

Finally, I just had to mention Blackle.  This is a form of Google (it’s actually powered by Google Custom Search) that was created to save energy.  It works just like Google, but, because a computer screen requires more power to display a white or light-colored screen than it does a dark screen, Blackle - which displays an almost all black screen - enables computers to use less energy.  Interesting.

Have a LuSHHus weekend!

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The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has just launched its Adult Fitness Test which measures aerobic fitness, strength, flexibility, and body composition.  (This sounds a lot like the physical fitness tests in the military). The test is designed for adults 18 and over, and the results could help you measure your overall fitness and set goals for a healthier, longer life.

Here’s what the test involves:

• Time yourself as you walk 1 mile or jog 1.5 miles.
• Count how many half sit-ups you can do in a minute. To do a half sit-up, lie on your back with your knees bent and curl your trunk off the floor toward your knees, keeping your lower back flat on the floor.
• Count how many push-ups you can do in a minute.
• Take the sit-and-reach flexibility test. Sit on the floor, legs extended in front of you, with a yardstick taped to the ground between your legs (your heels should be at the 14-inch mark on the yardstick). Slowly stretch forward, your fingertips on the yardstick. Do this three times, recording how far you reach on your farthest stretch.
• Measure your height, weight, and waist.

Plug the numbers into the Adult Fitness Test website to get your results and tips for improvement.  One feature I really like is that every time you retake a testing event you can automatically compare your results to see how your fitness has changed.  Ready to take the test?  Click the image below!

Cheers!

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I came across a new item to add to The LuSHHus List for Dogs and Their People: a book called Town & Country Dogs.  The Editors of the magazine with the same name have compiled this charming little book featuring all the dogs that have graced the pages of the monthly.  Below is the updated LuSHHus List for Dogs and Their People.

The LuSHHus List for Dogs and Their People

Cheers!

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Today I have a link that may make you travelers and party-ers very happy.  It’s called Fabsearch and it’s a guide to hot spots and events all around the world.  Fabsearch editors get all the latest news on all the happenings from hip locals and other sources such as your favorite magazines so that you don’t have to.  Then they compile it all on their site so you can easily plan your trip or night out.  For instance, say you live in Austin or you are going to visit Austin, click here to find out the latest gouge on hotels, restaurants, and more.

This is a fun, informative site.  I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers!

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How about one of these unconventional rugs to add some LuSHHus style to your home?  I’m especially interested in the custom rug option…perhaps a "LuSHHus" rug for the home office???!!!  To see all the designs and color options available, click here.

Cheers!

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It may cost $399, but the SoundDock portable digital music system from Bose is totally worth every penny if you like listening to your iPod at home, and that’s why it is my luxury pick for a LuSHHus Father’s Day gift.  (Note: I don’t have it but I do want it and I have seen it in action at my sister’s who does have it!)  The features of this little unit are unparalleled:

• it runs on a rechargeable battery or plugs into the wall
• it is quite small and has a built-in handle
• it possesses awesome sound quality
• it charges your iPod while it plays your music
• it comes with a remote
• it comes with a free travel bag when you purchase it here by June 28, 2008

For a little more ($490), you can also choose the Bose portable music package which includes the SoundDock, in-ear headphones, and a travel bag that carries your SoundDock safely and conveniently. 

I’ll add this to my LuSHHus Father’s Day Gift Guide:

Cheers!

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If you haven’t already, please take a minute to submit your e-mail address to the LuSHHus mailing list.  Everyone who has done so by the end of May will be eligible to win a stylish reusable water bottle from Lululemon (value = $10).  A random drawing will be held on June 1, 2008, and the winner will be notified via e-mail on the same day.

Recipients of living a LuSHHus life emails will be notified of noteworthy content on the living a LuSHHus life blog and will also receive special notices and deals available only to LuSHHus mailing list subscribers.  At most, you will receive two emails a month, and you will always have the option to remove your address from the mailing list in every email you receive if you so choose.  Should you decide to join the LuSHHus community, please enter your email address in the signup box in the right sidebar of the living a LuSHHus life blog. 

Please consider joining!

Cheers!

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