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Nearly 8 million viewers tuned in last night to see who would win Biggest Loser, Season 12.  It had come down to three guys — Ramon Madeiros, Antone Davis, and John Rhode.  Between the three of them, they had lost a total of 576 pounds.  John Rhode, a determined, focused contestant, crushed the final weigh-in, having lost an impressive 220 pounds, and took the title and the $250,000 prize.  (Along the way, he had also set the record for the contestant to lose 100 pounds in the shortest time.)

But Antone Davis and Ramon Madeiros acquitted themselves well, too, so there was really no “loser.” (Anna Kournikova, one of the trainers, said Ramon was “Hot”!)

Actually, all the men on Season 12 “Battle of the Ages” achieved remarkable success with their fitness, health, and weight-loss goals.  Vinny Hickerson came within 3 pounds of winning the “At Home” contest for previously eliminated contestants (he had started out weighing 426 pounds), and looked totally transformed, sporting an air of fitness and confidence, as did Patrick Ferrari.

61-year-old contestant Johnny Forger, who last night could not stop doffing the straw boater he’s taken to wearing, looked great and said “I’m 66, I feel 40!”

And, lest we forget, Ramon had to win the marathon to come back and make the final three.  It was a dramatic and, for the contestants, fulfilling season.

Even more remarkably, Dr. Rob Huizenga, the doctor for The Biggest Loser, reported that the fatty liver disease of the final three contestants had seen exceptional improvement — a reduction in the size of the liver of up to 2 inches was observed — and that two of them (John and Ramon) had beaten diabetes, a medically rare outcome that no drug (as Dr. Huizenga said) could bring about.

Here’s a video of the winning moment from the live Finale:

If You’re Feeling Inspired, the Biggest Loser’s Club Can Help You Reach Your Own Weight-Loss and Fitness Goals

If you’ve been watching The Biggest Loser and have been inspired to pursue your own health and weight-loss goals, did you know that The Biggest Loser’s Club is available to help?  The Biggest Loser’s Club is a comprehensive online weight-loss program that gives you access to the Biggest Loser diet and fitness approach used by the contestants on the show, which has been proven to work by many successful contestants.  The program can be tailored to fit your personal goals and lifestyle.

As a member of The Biggest Loser’s Club, you’ll get help tackling the daily challenges of eating and exercise; access to thousands of Biggest Loser recipes, meal preparation tips, and exercise demo’s (which are also all available on your mobile device); goals tailored to fit your height and weight; and the chance to interact with a community of others and communicate with experts to support your weight-loss program.

You don’t have to be on the show to lose weight.  If Vinny and Ramon can do it at home, so can you!  All you have to do is get started…

Check some of the online “Success Stories” from The Biggest Loser’s Club here.

Right now, The Biggest Loser’s Club is offering a good deal to help you get started:  join today at a special Introductory price and get 3 free books (The Biggest Loser Book, Biggest Loser Family Cookbook, and Biggest Loser Fitness Program)!

The Biggest Loser’s Club is run by Rodale, the publishing and media company that, for over 80 years, has been committed to helping people achieve better health, well-being, longevity, and fitness.  (Among other things, Rodale started the organic gardening movement in America.)

If you’re overweight, there’s no time like the present to not only “save” your life but to dramatically improve it!  If you’re inspired by the success stories you see on The Biggest Loser, take advantage of that inspiration to begin now to look better, feel better, and get more out of life.

Consider letting The Biggest Loser’s Club help you achieve your health, weight-loss, and fitness goals.  Take a look at their site and program by clicking here.

One final observation… If you watched the show, you noticed the new confidence and satisfaction expressed by the successful contestants.  They exuded well-being as they stood on the stage.  Ramon in particular was a “new man” — happier, healthier, more vigorous, more sure of himself. 

If you’re overweight, it is within your power to make the same transformation.  If you’re not overweight, but there are things in your life that are troubling you, why not make the same type of effort that The Biggest Loser contestants make to change it, to transform it to something better?

After all, Ramon, John, Vinny, and the rest were ecstatic about achieving a goal that many take for granted — being at a healthy weight and not dealing with pressing health concerns.  So, if you’re slim, why can’t you be just as happy as Antone, Jennifer, or Johnny?  If you’re at a good weight, but not feeling great, the only difference between you and them is that they have a new-found appreciation for themselves and what they can accomplish.  How they feel about themselves has been improved a thousand-fold.

And that’s the bottom line:  to be happy, you must feel good about yourself.

Just do what it takes to start making that journey.

Related posts:

1. Find Your Chocolate Heaven
2. Want to Help the Japanese Economy Recover? Shop at Rakuten

Today you can get this deal from Groupon:  Get 8 regular-sized subs at a Quiznos location of your choice for just $26.  (I’ll save you having to do the math:  that’s just $3.25 a sandwich.)  See the links below for your city. (Or for other good Groupon deals if this one is done.)

I don’t know about you, but I like Quiznos subs (my favorites are the Turkey Bacon Guacamole and the Prime Rib & Peppercorn).  They have that toasty quality going on (which everybody else has copied), the ingredients are fresh (and ethically sourced — see their site for info), and they got a pepper bar!  Plus, I tend to enjoy their ads, which are usually creative and entertaining in a sea of otherwise tepid TV ads (who could ever forget the sponge monkeys?).

Here’s a great opportunity to get 8 regular-sized Quiznos subs for just $26 through Groupon, but it’s only available today, May 18, through midnight.

You choose the Quiznos location you want to get the subs from, take your Groupon there, and they’ll give you a punch card for your 8 subs (up to a $51.92 value).  The punch card does not expire, but you must use your Groupon to get the punch card by July 4, 2011.  (This would also make a good gift for a sub-loving friend.)

Not familiar with Groupon?  Basically, it’s a business that offers good deals at local merchants and services in your area.  They aggregate the buying power of a “group” approach to purchasing.  You, the consumer, get a good deal.  The business who offers the deal gets a lot of new customers.  Thus, a win-win.  Each day, new deals are offered by Groupon.  Each deal usually only lasts for one day (such as today’s Quiznos deal, which expires at midnight tonight).  If not enough people buy the deal, then Groupon returns your purchase price.  If enough take advantage of the deal, the Groupon site says, “The deal is on!” and that means it’s good to go.  “Groupon” is a combination of “Group” and “Coupon.”  Group + Coupon = Groupon.  Simple.  Take a look at the video below for further explanation of how Groupon works and what it can do for you (it’s only 1:34).  And check the Groupon site.

By the way, Groupon is the only group-buying service I’m currently recommending.  I like the way they run their business and I like the attitude of their people.  Plus their ratings and reviews are good.  They care about their customers.  All of the other aggregate-deal services have some problems, it seems, at least for now.  As with every business I recommend here at Best Stuff for Men, it’s something I’ve researched and something I use myself and recommend to my friends.  And you and I could be friends if we met, right?

(Be sure to read all the “fine print” of any deal on Groupon so you know exactly what you’re getting.)

Okay, so you want the Quiznos deal (which, if you already like Quiznos, will save you about 25 bucks on sandwiches you were probably going to get anyway).  Below I’ve created links for most cities (or counties or regions) in the US where you can take advantage of this deal.  Click on the city name:

• Albuquerque, NM
• Asheville, NC
• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Baltimore, MD
• Billings, MT
• Boise, ID
• Buffalo, NY
• Charlotte, NC
• Charleston, SC
• Chicago, IL
• Cincinnati,OH
• Cleveland, OH
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas, TX
• Denver, CO
• Des Moines, IA
• Detroit, MI
• East Bay Area, CA
• Erie, PA
• Eugene, OR
• Fort Worth, TX
• Green Bay, WI
• Houston, TX
• Indianapolis, IN
• Kansas City, MO
• Knoxville, TN
• Las Vegas, NV
• Lincoln, NE
• Louisville, KY
• Los Angeles, CA
• Madison, WI
• Memphis, TN
• Miami, FL
• Milwaukee, WI
• Minneapolis, MN
• Mobile, AL
• Napa – Sonoma, CA
• Nashville, TN
• New York City, NY
• Oklahoma City, OK (enjoy a sub before the Thunder game)
• Omaha, NE
• Orange County, CA
• Orlando, FL
• Philadelphia, PA
• Phoenix, AZ
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Portland, ME
• Portland, OR
• Providence, RI
• Reno, NV
• Richmond, VA
• Sacramento, CA
• Salem, OR
• Salt Lake City, UT
• San Antonio, TX
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Santa Cruz, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Sioux Falls, SD
• Springfield, MA
• Springfield, MO
• St. Louis, MO
• Toledo, OH
• Topeka, KS
• Tucson, AZ
• Ventura County, CA
• Washington, DC (The District)
• Wichita, KS

Okay, that was a lot of link building.  Enjoy your subs!  Let me know in the comments below if you have thoughts about Groupon.  Click the banner below the video for Groupon deals tailored to your area.

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Sweet!  Easter is the time of year when most people indulge their craving for Peeps, the popular, chick-shaped marshmallow candy that has been hatching at about this time for over 50 years.  Marshmallow Peeps are a classic American candy, have inspired a cult following, and now appear in numerous variations — including tasty Chocolate-covered Bunny Peeps that you can get from Chocolate.com, one of the best places to get all kinds of scrumptious chocolate online.

You can order these Chocolate-covered Peeps today and have them in time for Easter.  (But even if it’s after Easter, why not get some anyway?  You know you want to.)  Of course, as a guy, you don’t eat Peeps, right?  (wink, wink)  So get them for your girl.

These Easter Bunny Chocolate-covered Peeps are made by the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company of St. Louis, Missouri.  They take 8 innocent bunny-shaped Peeps and smother them with their award-winning milk chocolate, creating one of the sweetest, most luxurious marshmallow candy treats you can find.  Customers come back for these year after year.  Here’s what one customer review stated at Chocolate.com:

“Please take my word for it…  You will be loved from the receiver of a gift from a fine place like this… even if it [is] yourself!  10-star rating… easily!”

There are other positive and even more coherent reviews for these Chocolate-Covered Peeps at Chocolate.com.  The bottom line is that this sweet, marshmallow-chocolate Easter treat will be a hit, whether you scarf them all yourself or get them for your family or a loved one.  You can get 8 chocolate-covered, bunny-shaped Peeps for a sale price of $11 right now from Chocolate.com.

Peeps Lore

Did you know that Peeps are born — er, manufactured — by the Just Born company right here in the USA?  Just Born has been making iconic American candy for over 80 years.  In 1953, they acquired the Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which was well-known for its jelly beans. Coincidentally, Rodda had a small side-line making marshmallow candy called Easter Peeps, which they produced by hand-squeezing marshmallow through pastry tubes.  Bob Born, the son of Sam Born, who founded the Just Born candy company in 1910, figured out a way to mechanize the marshmallow-molding process and the rest, as they say, is Peeps history.  (You can’t really beat a product name like “Peeps,” can you?)  Today, 4.2 million Marshmallow Peeps march out of Bethlehem, PA every day.

The Born family apparently has candy-making in their veins.  Sam Born, the founder, who emigrated to the US from Russia, invented a way to mechanically insert sticks into lollipops.  He might have been the first to put a hard chocolate coating on ice cream bars.  Sam’s successors invented HOT TAMALES candy in 1950.  And the company is being run by members of the Born family to this day — definitely an American success story.

Think of all that the next time you run across a package of yellow Peeps or snowman Peeps or Valentine Peeps.

By the way, here’s an interesting factoid you can impress your colleagues with when you’re waiting to board a plane at the airport:  Marshmallow was originally made from the mucilage obtained from the roots of the marshmallow plant, which is indigenous to Africa, and grows in damp areas such as, well, marshes.  The root extract was mixed with honey by the ancient Egyptians to use as a treatment for sore throats.  In fact, various parts of the marshmallow plant have been used medicinally by a number of cultures.  But it was the French (of course) who figured out a way in the 1800s to whip it into the more candy-like substance we’re familiar with today.  Nowadays, there is no marshmallow root in marshmallow candy — it consists of gelatin and corn syrup and dextrose and other stuff that might not be too good for you, but who cares?

Actually, if you get some Chocolate-Covered Easter Peeps from Chocolate.com, at least you add some of chocolate’s healthy properties.  Although that’s not the main point, is it?

Chocolate.com success

Chocolate.com is another American success story.  In business for about 6 years, they gather artisan chocolate makers from around the globe and make their products available in one huge online chocolate emporium.  Most of the small chocolate shops associated with Chocolate.com are located in the US, so when you buy from them you know you are supporting small businesses and family-owned enterprises (just like Sam Born started in 1910).  And you’re supporting chocolate!  Chocolate.com brings together some of the most passionate, skilled, chocolate-making artists in the world under one online “roof” and makes their best products available to you.  They have a blog and a Chocolate-of-the-Month Club that you can check out.

Of course, it being Easter, you should explore some of their other delicious offerings for the holiday.  As well as other times of the year…  Chocolate knows no limitations of time or menu.  It’s just one of those things that makes life fun.  Like Peeps.

And, because you’re you, here are some deals…

Get 15% Off Select Gifts at Chocolate.com With Code GIFT15!

Free Ground Shipping on Select Gifts at Chocolate.com

Related posts:

1. Find Your Chocolate Heaven
2. Sure, Your Mom Would Appreciate Flowers for Mother’s Day — But What About Something Sorta Different?

You may be wondering how to help the people of Japan cope with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred March 11.  You can do it by buying goods from Japanese companies online.  This post tells you the best way to shop Japan via the Internet.

One idea for economic recovery that I have not seen mentioned is to shop directly with Japanese businesses online.  Americans and others around the world have donated millions of dollars through various relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, and many others have traveled to Japan to volunteer their services.  But, while donations of money satisfy the immediate need to get supplies to the people in the towns of the tsunami-ravaged Tohoku region, dollars can be infused into the Japanese economy long-term by shopping via the Internet from anywhere in the world at Rakuten.

Click to explore Rakuten's huge online mall

Many people outside Japan have not heard of Rakuten.  It is an online shopping company.  It is Japan’s equivalent of Amazon.  The Japanese name “Rakuten Ichiba” translates to “Rakuten Shopping Mall,” which is exactly what it is — an aggregation of 33,000 Japanese shops and businesses.  This huge online shopping site offers 60 million products.  Rakuten is the second most visited site in Japan, with over 50 million registered users.  In fact, this Internet shopping giant is the reason Amazon has not been able to make much headway into the Japanese market.  It is estimated that one-third of households in Japan shop at Rakuten.  And that says something:  Japanese consumers, particularly online, are known for being finicky and demanding.  Rakuten has met their needs to the point that it is now one of the top ten Internet companies in the world, and has an international presence.  In addition to products, it also has its own extensive travel services site, which anyone in the world can use.

Rakuten is now actively expanding its shopping services in other markets throughout the world, including Europe and the United States.  Amazon may be the largest online shopping company, but sheer size is no guarantee of quality (Microsoft sells more operating systems than any other company but no one thinks their OS is the best, and General Motors became the largest automaker in the world selling cars inferior to a number of other makes), so I would not be surprised if, in a few years, Rakuten has noticeably eroded Amazon’s market share.  You can think of Rakuten as the Honda of online retailing.

What does that mean with respect to helping the Japanese economy weather the aftermath of the earthquake?

We know that the world’s economic fortunes are subject to ripple effects that transcend national boundaries.  Mortgage foreclosures in the American mid-west affect the value of the Euro.  The price of labor in China impacts how much Walmart pays its US workers.  The Russian wheat harvest affects the price of food in Delhi and Des Moines.  With respect to the world economy, Japan is a titan, boasting the third largest economy after the US and China.  So any financial woes that Japan experiences as a result of the triple whammy of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation contamination from damaged nuclear power plants will affect not only the Japanese people but people in the United States and around the world.  (Already, it is projected that demand for the Prius will not be able to be met, since there are parts suppliers for the car in the affected region.  And US beef exports to Japan may be hampered by damaged port facilities.)  In other words, the domino effect from an economic slowdown in Japan coupled with the need to re-build infrastructure could affect your personal financial situation.  So it behooves you to help your neighbor.

Thus, if you shop for Japanese goods, you can help not only Japanese businesses and consumers as they recover and re-build, but your own economy as well.  The easiest (and most enjoyable) way to shop in Japan from outside Japan is Rakuten. Spend a few bucks there, get yourself some interesting, well-made Japanese products, and you’ll be helping float everyone’s boat.  After all, just imagine what it would have meant to a local hardware or stationery store in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina if they had had a steady influx of customers…  If they had experienced damage or hardship from the hurricane, sure, packets of freeze-dried food and blankets would have met their immediate physical needs, but long-term, it’s customers buying from businesses that sustain an economy, whether in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi or Ofunato, Japan.

You can find just about any kind of product at Rakuten, from books to ice cream to motorcycle parts.  But why not get something interesting or unusual?  How about:

• Sake
• Momotaro Jeans (maybe the best jeans in the world)
• Japanese Sandals
• Tea Sets
• Samurai Clothes and Accessories
• Edible Seaweed from Ofunato (the northeast region)

You can also try using the search field on the Rakuten homepage to search for city names in the northeast region, such as Sendai, Kamaishi, Miyako, and Kuji, in order to find stores in those cities from which to buy.  Keep in mind that operations at those stores might be curtailed or slowed for awhile — but they will still appreciate the business!

Rakuten currently ships to over 50 countries (and the list is expanding) and their site has pages optimized for a number of countries, including the USA, Canada, China, France, and the UK.  If you’re outside Japan, when you place an order you’ll usually be put in touch via email with the shop that sells the item to arrange a shipping method and cost.  (Note that some shops offer special free international shipping promotions, or $1 international shipping.)  There is a weight restriction on items shipped to the US via certain carriers, but many shops can arrange a shipping method to the US that gets around this limit.

When you first explore the site, you may wonder where to go and how to approach it, but anyone familiar with online shopping can quickly figure it out.  Explore.  In addition, they have a handy instructional page here.

Think of it as an adventure, man.  As well as a good deed.

Here’s a testimonial from a customer in the US posted on the Rakuten site:

“I recently found Rakuten via Facebook, and boy I couldn’t be happier. As a person interested in Japanese culture, this website is great. I’ve found many things I had been looking for as well as new items that have caught my eye. The website is well laid out and very intuitive to navigate. And the search feature is one of the better ones I’ve encountered for a merchant website. And this is all from a website that isn’t set up for business in the USA. If the USA website is half as good, then it’ll be better than most merchants that I’ve purchased from.   by Nick M – NJ, USA”

Hey, if Nick can do it, you can, too.  And remember, you’ll be helping the cause.  It all adds up.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

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Now that you’ve taken care of your party-ware, decorations, and equipment for your Super Bowl party (and if you haven’t, see my previous post on Super Bowl party supplies), it’s time to put the crowning touch on it:  food. 

The heart of any well-executed, successful gathering is the food.  And though this is a party focused on a football game, the food you serve will be at least as memorable (if you do it right) as the big plays and the commercials.

Of course, this being a Super Bowl party and all, your main dish will probably be meat.  What kind of meat is up to you, but you can’t go wrong by offering several options.  The question then is:  where to get it? 

Now, it may seem a little odd that I’m recommending getting your Super Bowl party food online (after all, can’t you just go to the supermarket and pick up some ground beef?), especially if you’ve never ordered food online before, but it’s a sure path to scrumptiousness and the appreciation of your guests.  Think about it.  Most people are still not terribly accustomed to ordering food online.  Therefore, the companies that have been successfully selling food online for awhile must be doing something very right.  In other words, they have a superior product.  That being the case, you can’t go wrong by patronizing the following online merchants.

Classic Steakburger from Kansas City Steak Company

First, the meat.  Here your go-to source is Kansas City Steak Company.  Since 1932, they’ve been supplying top-quality meat, raised in the mid-west (as you’d expect from a company established in Kansas), to discerning carnivores throughout the nation.  They’ve embraced the most modern distribution channels over the decades, so it’s only fitting that they’ve established a successful presence on the Internet.  Their steaks are second to none (for example, their Wagyu Kobe Filet Mignon), but since this is a Super Bowl party and not the celebration of your company being bought by Google, you’ll probably want to go with their specialty steakburgers and hot dogs.  You don’t have to be completely traditional, though.  Kansas City Steak Company also offers chicken and turkey, ribs, and seafood.  And when you’re done eating all that, they even provide gourmet desserts.  (See compliments for Kansas City Steak Company from the knowledgeable guys at Chowhound.)

A side of smoked salmon from Mackenzie Limited

But as I said, you will score even more points with your guests by going with several meat options.  And to expand your fare, rely on Mackenzie Limited.  Their claim to fame is smoked salmon.  I mean, really good smoked salmon, including smoked salmon from Scotland.  In business since 1984, Mackenzie Limited has expanded its catalog over the years to include 350 of the best gourmet products available online.  (In fact, you might want to add to your bucket list:  “Eat every kind of food that Mackenzie Limited sells at least once.”)  They offer lamb, beef, pork, caviar, duck, turkey, and chicken — even vegetarian entrées (should for some reason you wish to go in that direction for a party celebrating football’s most intensive gladitorial mayhem).  They even have hors d’oeuvres — and for starters, you should definitely consider offering your guests some warm lobster spread and artichoke gruyere dip.  They have desserts, too.  For example, their Whoopie Pies – shaped like X’s and O’s – are perfect for a gridiron get-together.

If you’re a particular fan of hot dogs, you also might want to expand your links options with sausages, frankfurters, and knockwurst from Gourmet Food Store, such as the duck and pork sausage with figs (pictured at left).  They have a variety of sausages made in the old-world European style, including kielbasa and Spanish chorizo.  Get some good hot dog buns, a few condiments (from Gourmet Food Store — or see below for further condiment sources) and you’ll be set.  To purchase hot dog buns in quantity and save, you can go to Food Service Direct.  They have, for example, Mountain Farm whole grain hot dog buns.  And if you need additional kitchen implements or hard-to-find food items, Food Service Direct has about 50,000 high-quality products from which to choose.  Or try the gluten-free tapioca hot dog buns from ENER-G (from Buy.com in bulk).

If you want to go in a more premium direction — think surf-and-turf — you can add lobster to your steakburgers (or steak) by going to Lobsters-Online, a company located on Cape Cod that for over 35 years has been shipping lobsters and other seafood throughout the USA.  They have expanded their offerings to include free-range, grass-fed beef from Montana, so you can take advantage of their lobster-tail-and-meat combos or their surf-and-turf feasts.  Click here to see all their delicious offerings and to order (and to find out how to handle your live lobsters after they’re delivered).

Pommery Meaux Grain Mustard from Fairway Marketplace

Getting back to hors d’oeuvres and other things to complement your meal, I wanted to mention that Sur La Table, well-known by cooking aficionados for their extensive inventory of high-quality kitchen tools and equipment, also has food — quite a large selection of good things to eat. 

And in that regard, if you’re in any way a cheese lover — and, when you have some crackers around, who isn’t? — you should check out their collection.  They particularly feature cheeses from the Di Bruno Brothers company of  Philadelphia and Academia Barilla in Italy.  If you want some unusual, excellent cheese for your party, try the Di Bruno American Cheese Sampler.  And for sandwich condiments and meat marinades, check out Sur La Table’s condiments section —  blue cheese dijon mustard, cranberry horseradish sauce, and smoky apple barbecue sauce,  among others. 

Plus, if you need a charcoal starter, an indoor grill (could be raining or snowing that day, you know), a meat thermometer, or a grill pan, they’ve got that covered, as well.

A second excellent place to get all sorts of unusual appetizers and exotic foods online is Fairway Marketplace, New York City’s legendary market, whose slogan is “Like No Other Market.”  Foodies in New York are devoted to Fairway Market, so you know they must have something on the ball.  Click the previous text link to check their selection of food, coffee, condiments, sauces, and more.  Or just click on the picture of the Pommery Meaux Grain Mustard above to get some for your burgers and brats (trust me, this is great mustard).

Another online store known for their comprehensive supply of cooking equipment is Cooking.com but again, you might not be aware that they carry a lot of tasty food items, too, such as: a 2-pound sampler of favorite igourmet cheeses, Australian Watercrackers, Paula Deen Hot Sauce and Marsh Mud Cookies, etc.  And if you’re looking for some appetizing recipes, they have over 8,000 to browse, including football party appetizers.

Carnitas from MexGrocer

Click for a serving basket from Mex Grocer

Nowadays it’s hard to find a party anywhere in America that doesn’t include at least a bit of Mexican fare.  I mean, how did we get along, appetizer-wise, before tortilla chips and guacamole?  Tacos and burritos have become almost as popular as hamburgers.  Salsa can be found on top of almost anything, and then there are refried beans and carnitas…  If you want interesting Mexican food to spice up your Super Bowl shindig, check out MexGrocer, the popular and highly-rated site for anything and everything having to do with Mexican cuisine.  They offer, for example, complete kits for preparing your own tamales.  They have more brands of salsa than you can shake a piñata at (I like Herdez myself), as well as habanero sauces, many kinds of dried and canned peppers, and chorizo.  They have sections devoted to gourmet foods and Mexican recipes.   And, of course, all the hardware you need to cook the stuff.  Oh, and dozens of types of tortilla (and other) chips.  The site is easily navigated and the prices and customer service are good.

And if you want to get even more exotic in the food department with your appetizers and main dishes, go to La Tienda – authentic food and kitchen items from Spain:  paella, serrano ham, bread, wine, cheese, olives, and more.  Their site repays repeated exploration — you can feel yourself absorbing more worldliness as you wander through it (not to mention getting hungry).  Even if you choose another direction than Spanish food for your Super Bowl bash, you’ll want to come back to La Tienda for a future event or just to try something for yourself.  Once you do, you’ll likely be a customer for life.

Now for a bit different kind of service:  if you’re in Green Bay Packers land (i.e., most of Wisconsin), and environs, you can order groceries from Peapod – everything from brats to pizza to pickles to beer to soda.  They deliver within certain areas on the east coast, too.  Click here to take advantage of food and related items delivered to your door, including fully cooked meals.  Why go out and shop at various stores when you can order everything you want online – from meat to fresh vegetables — and have it brought over for a nominal fee?  You can use the time you save to make final adjustments to your fantasy football team.  Or to get creative in the kitchen.  Or for sleeping.  Once you experience the convenience of Peapod’s service, it becomes habit-forming.  You’ll wonder why you ever wasted all that time driving and shopping.  Go to their site now to see if they’re available in your area (and, for a limited time, get $10 off your first order using code PPAFF10).  If you’re in Manhattan, you can get $15 off your first order using code NYCJ15.  If you’re in the Philadelphia area, you can save $20 off your first order at Peapod.com using code AFFL20.

Another extensive online shopping service is offered by Ozbo.  And not only do they have hundreds of thousands of products, including popular brands of prepared foods and other groceries, they discount everything, sometimes quite impressively.  People are finding they can use Ozbo to get many of their most useful and perishable household items (such as diapers, pet supplies, batteries, and paper towels), save money, and have everything delivered right to their door.  Party-wise, they have popular brands of chips, condiments, snacks, olives, pickles, etc., not to mention balloons and decorative napkins.  Additionally, customers tend to rave about Ozbo’s customer service (they’re a Shopwiki approved store, for one thing).  There’s a reason Ozbo has experienced explosive growth since its founding over 30 years ago — they do things right, now offering over 1,000,000 products on the Web, and prompt shipping.  Use the search box below to find what you want at Ozbo.

Search over 100,000 products in All Products Automotive Baby Products Equine & Livestock Groceries Health & Beauty Home & Garden Pets Sporting Goods Tools & Hardware Toys & Hobbies

Chocolate-covered mini-pretzels from Chocolate.com

You know, thinking about snacks and appetizers, I want to make a suggestion here for something that would most likely be a hit at your party:  chocolate-covered pretzels.  What could be better than a combination of two of the most popular snack foods ever?  If you go with them, your party will become legendary.  You can serve them before kickoff, during halftime, and for dessert.  Some of your guests will gorge themselves and beg for more.  They will be grateful.  You will be known as a party-hosting god.  Find over 150 types of chocolate-covered pretzels at Chocolate.com.  Offer different versions, and you will become a legend among your friends.

Cookies from Dancing Deer Baking Co.

Speaking of dessert, have you thought about that?  You can’t have an outstanding feast without including something sweet at the end.  There are impressive dessert options available at the companies listed above.  However, I want to mention two more…  First:  Dancing Deer Baking Co..  In particular, their cookies are excellent, though they also carry brownies and cakes, too.  Cookies are easy to serve and everybody likes them (particularly from Dancing Deer). 

And second, if you want to go all out in a decadent direction, Savorique will supply the pièce de résistance your party deserves.  They have just about any sweet thing you can imagine, but their cheesecakes are a special, gourmet dessert treat.  (And this treat will help soothe the feelings of football fans if their team loses.  Though it might require more than one piece.)

I know I haven’t mentioned much about beverages until now.  Obviously, you’re gonna want something to drink.  You’ll probably have some ideas about that (and maybe have your guests simply BYOB) and you don’t necessarily need to find your soda, beer, and whatnot online, but there is one thing that you can get online that might be better than what you’ll find at your local supermarket:  wine. 

If you’re doing a more elegant and sophisticated Super Bowl party, then you’ll probably want to offer some wine (for example, to go with your Ribeye Steaks or Spanish ham).  And the place to go for wine recommendations and good prices on top-flight vintages is Personal Wine.  They have high-quality wine for as little as $15 a bottle (and you can add a personalized label, which might be fun for the party) and, if you’re not sure what to try, browse the recommendations and reviews by their expert staff.  For example, to go with steak:  ’04 Wings Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.

After so much good food, some people will want coffee (particularly if it’s a cold day).  The best choice here is Marley Coffee, a company run by Bob Marley’s son Rohan.  

Though some might prefer tea.  After all, it’s getting more popular and the health benefits are pretty significant.  Who says a nice cup of green tea won’t complement the 12 ounces of beef you just consumed?  It might add the crowning touch to your satiation.  One of the best places to get tea, from Earl Gray to Rainforest Mate, is Mighty Leaf Tea.

On the other hand, maybe you just want to have a party focused almost exclusively on viewing the game — after all, that’s what everybody’s there for, right?  Football.  Some Super Bowl.  You want to concentrate on watching two of the most successful NFL franchises in history knock each other’s heads off.  Who has the bandwidth to eat much?  But you’ll still want some nosh, if only to have something to do with your hands when you’re not throwing them up in the air at the bad calls.  So:  popcorn.  That’s right, the snack that accompanies every quintessential American pastime.  But not just any popcorn…  you want popcorn made on your own popcorn machine from Stargate Cinema.  Delicious and plentiful.  Plus you can watch it pop.  Your buddies will be impressed.  Then, they’ll be even more impressed when it’s time to watch the game and you sit down on your Fortress Theater Seating chairs.

Popcorn, big overstuffed individual recliners, high-def TV, and the Super Bowl.  What could possibly be better?

Now you’re ready for some football.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Get Ready for Your Super Bowl Party, Part 1: Party Supplies and Accessories
2. Hey Now! New Orleans Saints Win Super Bowl 44

I like waffles.  And there’s often a big difference in the balance of crispness, tenderness, and flavor between what you can make at home, waffle-wise, and what you get commercially (such as at a restaurant that does a good Sunday brunch).  The difference is usually between ordinary waffles and Belgian waffles.  That’s where the Waring Pro Professional Double Waffle Maker comes in.  One of the most popular products ever at Chef’s Catalog, this is how the pros make Belgian waffles.

Click the links here or on the large image of the Belgian waffle maker below to see 99 customer reviews (as this is written) for this waffle maker at Chef’s Catalog, the vast majority of which are 5-star.

And now you can get the Waring Professional Double Waffle Maker for a serious discount — $90 off, which makes it $99.95.  Order it now from Chef’s Catalog and you’ll also get free standard shipping.  Of course, if you want it in time for Christmas (mmm…waffles on Christmas morning), you can manage that, too, with 2nd-day or next-day express delivery.  And if you order it between now and December 31, 2010, you’ll also get a mail-in rebate for a free Pancakes & Waffles cookbook by Lou Seibert Pappas.  (Chef’s Catalog also has a Waring Flip Waffler that makes single Belgian waffles, perfectly.)

I have used this waffle maker and it makes two delicious Belgian waffles every time.  Just add some real maple syrup, some blueberry syrup, gourmet preserves, lingonberry jam, strawberries… whatever you like.  And you may as well have what you like, you know.  Including the best waffles.

Check the recipe below for an enjoyable way to eat the perfect Belgian waffles the Waring Pro Waffle Maker will make.

To go with your new Belgian Waffle Maker, here’s a recipe for “Triple Berry Waffles” from Chef’s Catalog:

Ingredients: 1 pint strawberries (sliced, hulls removed); ½ pint raspberries; ½ pint blueberries; 2 tablespoons orange jucie; 1 tablespoon honey; 4 Belgian waffles; whipped cream to garnish.

Directions: In a small saucepan over medium low heat, combine half of the strawberries, half of the raspberries, and half of the blueberries.  Add the orange juice and honey.  Stir mixture gently and cook for 15 minutes.  The fruit will release juices and soften.  Mash with a fork or a potato masher.

In a medium bowl, place the remaining fruit and toss gently.

Place each waffle on a serving plate.  Top with warm, mashed fruit.  Garnish with whipped cream and remaining fruit.  Serves 4.  (Or 2 really hungry waffle-lovers.)

Related posts:

1. Get Ready for Your Super Bowl Party, Part 2: Food
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Yes, outdoor-lover, I mean “big” in the sense that EMS sells a big selection of the best brands, as well as “big” because of the notable discounts.  Eastern Mountain Sports is one of the premier outdoor retailers when it comes to selection, value, and customer service.  You can get ready for  all your winter activities and sports — skiing, camping, climbing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowball fights – along with everything else you like to do — biking, running, paddling, hiking, etc.  Keep warm!  Stay dry!  Be active!  Have fun!

Get free 2-Day Air shipping when you join the ShopRunner program at EMS.com:  Click here to join now. 

If you’ve been thinking of getting a better tent, a warmer sleeping bag, a headlamp for your bike so you can keep peddling throughout the winter — NOW’s the time to get it!

Also:  EMS currently offers free shipping on orders over $125.

In general, their sales offer discounts off their already low prices.  Take advantage now.  Click the highlighted text links, the images, or banners to save a bundle on the gear you want…

Mountain Hardware Men's Exposure II Parka

Save on Ski and Snowboard Jackets at EMS.com.

Click to shop for Snowshoes.

See Mens Apparel and Outerwear.

Click for good prices on a large selection of Climbing Gear.

Click for good prices on Tents and Camping Gear at EMS.com.

Winter Tents

See Fleece Jackets & Vests to keep you warm during all your activities.

EMS has Cycling Helmets, Shoes, Apparel, and a lot of other gear.
 

And to be fair, I’ll note that Women’s Apparel and Outerwear is also on sale for good prices.  Get a gift for your outdoorsy XX chromosome pals or sporty signif other.

 
Have fun this winter, dude!

Related posts:

1. Take Advantage of the 72-Hour Sale at Moosejaw to Get the Outdoor Gear You Want
2. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)

Here’s a wide variety of Father’s Day gift ideas.  As you go through them, consider nabbing something for yourself.

Wait a minute…  Get a gift for yourself for Father’s Day? Sure.  When it comes to Father s Day gifts, if you get something for yourself, you know you’ll get what you want.  Besides, why not celebrate your own fatherhood?  You can do that even if you don’t have kids.  After all, every mature man is a sort of “father”:  an originator of ideas, shepherd of projects, creator of art, instigator of adventures.  And if you do have kids, if you get a cool gift for yourself, you’ll be able to enjoy it along with your kids’ heartfelt (hopefully), competent (or not) gifts — their attempts to express their appreciation for your love, guidance, and encouragement.

Of course, you want to get a good gift for your own dad for Father’s Day, something that expresses your gratitude for his presence and influence in your life.  I say “hopefully,” because Father’s Day can often be kind of an afterthought when it comes to parents’ days.  Mother’s Day gets most of the headlines.  Father’s Day seems to come in second in the popularity polls.  The cliché of dad always getting a necktie for Father’s Day is a cliché because it’s true.  But your dad deserves some consideration when it comes to gifts, doesn’t he?  To jump-start some ideas, following are suggestions for gifts that don’t suck — things he will actually enjoy and use.

Let’s start with a classic gift idea that can’t miss:  a wristwatch, and for a good price (he’ll appreciate your sensibleness).  Watches are useful, stylish and, when you think about it, cool pieces of technology.  (There’s a reason they’re given on important occasions such as  graduation and retirement.)  Every day, ChronoShark offers a new watch at the absolutely lowest price anywhere.  You only get 24 hours to nab it.

I have a dedicated page to ChronoShark here).  And if today’s watch deal doesn’t do it for you, there’s a good chance that tomorrow’s will — they select from the best when it comes to performance versus price.  You could also try an excellent online retailer of watches:  Discount Watch Store.  They have thousands of watches for men, good customer service, guarantee the lowest prices on the Internet, and offer free shipping on all orders.

Polar FT7

Along the same lines as a watch, but a little more specialized and beneficial — how about a heart-rate monitor?  Here’s a heart-rate monitor that’s well-reviewed:  the Polar FT7.  Outside magazine, among others, recommends it (“intuitive and powerful”).  It has everything you need and nothing you don’t, and the price is right.  Plus it’s cool-looking.  Encourage your dad to achieve his fitness goals.  Find the Polar FT7 at REI or Moosejaw.  And if you want something more top-of-the-line, check out the Garmin Forerunner 110, which adds GPS capability to workout monitoring.

Everybody likes 007.  Whether your dad is trying to get fitter or not, guys appreciate action (even if it’s vicarious), and quintessential manly action has always been carried out by James Bond.  Get your dad a complete set of James Bond movies.  Here’s Volume 1:

You can also find the complete collection of Bond movies on both DVD and Blu-ray at CD Universe, one of the best online sources for music and movies at good prices.

Or would he rather have a TV series?  See my post on the best television series for men availale on DVD and blu-ray (for example:  The Wire and Fawlty Towers).

With regard to relating to women (your mom or whoever), a good cologne is always appropriate (unless she’s got MCS, in which case there’s a whole ‘nother set of things to worry about besides smelling good).  I have found only a few that seem to be universally appreciated by the opposite sex and here’s one of them:  Marc Jacobs for Men.  In my own informal polling, I’ve always had positive responses (I try it on at the store and ask random women if they like it).  It’s also endorsed by the PUA community, and they should know, right?  You can get it for an excellent discount from FragranceX.

Every guy should have at least one multitool.  They’re handy and confidence-inducing.  Here’s one that the editors of Outside endorsed as a practical, everyday choice:  the Leatherman Squirt PS4 (can’t go wrong with anything from Leatherman).  It’s got 9 tools (including pliers and scissors) in a compact form that isn’t annoying to carry around (just 2¼ inches closed).  And it’s only about $40 (or less).  Get it from REI.  Or from Massey’s Professional Outfitters.

The sword of William Wallace

Here is something that is not a multitool.  It’s a single-purpose tool:  William Wallace’s sword from the movie Braveheart.  Of course, this is not an actual battle sword ( for that you need to go to Swords.com or Budk), but it is an impressive 61-inch replica in high-carbon steel — the most accurate prop replica ever made of this sword.  It comes with a display plaque.  Inspire your dad with the formidable weapon that helped establish freedom!

 Guys need a top-drawer pair of knockaround pair of shoes, whether for late-night ramblings along urban streets or stalking across frosty stubble pursuing a great telephoto shot of a wild turkey.  Fortunately, Timberland has a classic pair of chukka boots that fit the bill — the Eastern Standard Chukka (that’s them above) – a vintage style based on shoes that first appeared decades ago, made with premium Horween leather, hand-finished for a rustic look, with coarse waxed cotton laces and a Vibram outsole.  Intended to protect a man’s feet during diverse activities, while simultaneously making him look good.  Get them from Timberland.  Made in the USA.

And if you don’t think these boots are exactly your dad’s cup of tea (or you don’t know his shoe-size), then get him a gift certificate to Zappos and let him choose his preferred footwear.  That goes for all the companies linked to on this page – if you’re not sure about a specific item, get a gift certificate:  it always fits and is totally in style.

Kansas City Steak Company

You get hungry after a day of stomping around in your boots, swinging your sword, and when a man gets hungry, the food of choice is meat (unless he’s a vegetarian — in which case, well, get him a carrot).  Anyway, if you want to treat your dad to a premium steak or other great hunk o’ beef, you can’t go wrong with the Kansas City Steak Company — one of the best online companies for steak and other meats.  And of course they’re offering some good deals now — for example, get 8 Classic Steakburgers FREE with a $100 order (use code ABRG84 at checkout).  And get $4.95 shipping on all orders. This makes a mouthwatering gift…

Savile Row, London

You want your dad to look good and, believe it or not, he wants to look good, so how about getting him a shirt or two from one of the most renowned shirt makers in the world:  Savile Row.  They offer exquisite tailoring, use the finest cottons, and carry a variety of styles (all posh).  Right now, if you buy 2 shirts you can get a third for half price (through June 21st only).   They also carry men’s suits, casual wear, and accessories.  Which means you can get him — yes! — a tie.  But Savile Row ties are pretty cool.  They have a 3-month satisfaction guarantee.  Shipping to the US is only $21 and is free on orders over $175.  And, for the quality, their prices are quite reasonable. Click the banner below.

A laser-engraved flask makes a personalized gift

We’ve handled your dad’s steak needs but what about when he gets thirsty?  I’m not talking about when he needs a bit of agua after running a 10K.  No, I’m talking about when he needs a drop of something a little more flavorful.  For that, he doesn’t want to carry a Camelbak.  He’ll need something a bit more sophisticated:  a flask.  And why not get him one that’s laser-engraved with art or a message of your choosing?  This will be a gift that keeps on giving.  See more flasks than you can shake a stick at at the FlaskShop, including photo flasks, stainless steel, novelty flasks, leather designs, monogrammed, and martini shaker sets (which he can use while unwinding with a Bond movie).

TaylorMade R9 Driver at InTheHole Golf

Your father must have a few hobbies.  Is one of them golf?  If so, my commiseration.  No, just kidding…  My 81-year-old dad plays golf and loves it.  I know he always enjoys upgrading his equipment.  So why not get your dad a new club or something else from InTheHole Golf, one of the best online destinations for everything you need to play the Game of Gentlemen.  Check out the TaylorMade R9 driver — an advanced, adjustable design that is getting rave reviews.  Or maybe he just needs a new golf bag (consider the Ogio Nexos Stand Bag).   Or simply get him a gift certificate.  You can’t go wrong at InTheHole Golf.  Their helpful, informative website will help you choose a great gift.

And, from now until June 20, get 10% off for Father’s Day at IntheHoleGolf — just enter code DAD at checkout.

This is not your dad.

Of course, maybe your dad’s inclination is toward a sport that’s a little more mano-a-mano (as opposed to mano-a-course-o).  How about tennis?  Does he need a new tennis racket?  Then the place to get it for a good price, with a wide selection, is Tennis Boom.  Of course, if your budget is limited you could always just go with a can of balls.

The Daiwa Saltiga Surf Spinning Reel is one of the best

Or maybe your dad prefers the contest between man and fish.  A new rod or surf reel could be in order.  Find a huge selection of fishing equipment, from fly-fishing to deep-sea trolling, at Cabelas, the premier outdoor recreation/adventure outfitter, all offered with excellent customer service.

Utrecht Master's Studio Easel - on sale for over $100 off

Is your dad a visual artist?  Remember how I mentioned that a man can be the ”father” of art?  Well, if your dad fits that category, you can get art supplies and equipment for him at Utrecht.  They’ve been supplying equipment and materials for artists since 1949.

They are currently offering their Master’s Studio Easel for an excellent discount.

Click for exclusive designs at Sunglass Hut

Now that we’re coming into summer, every guy, including your dad, needs some cool shades to wear with shorts and Hawaiian shirts.  You can’t get cooler (or higher quality) than Ray-Ban (and Maui Jim).   See an excellent selection of Ray-Ban models, including one-of-a-kind designer styles such as those done by graphic designer and muralist Matt Moore above, at Sunglass Hut.   A pair of Ray-Bans, whether wayfarers or aviators, is a can’t-miss gift.

Click to see the Droids at Wirefly

A new phone — something he can use to call you or just surf the web.  The new iPhone is about to come out and the Google Nexus One is getting rave reviews.  Those aren’t the only excellent phones out there — the various Droid phones are also top-of-the-line.  Is it about time for your dad to have a cool communication/Web/photo/GPS machine that won’t break the bank?  Find many good selections at Wirefly (such as the Droid Incredible pictured at left, or the featured model in the banner below).

Maybe your dad isn’t much of a gamer.  But he could be, especially when he finds out about the cool sports games you can play on the Nintendo Wii.  Or he is a gamer but he hasn’t gotten around to getting the Wii yet.  Or he’s gotten a Wii but he doesn’t have Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 yet.  In any event, get him one or all of these things and he’ll have fun.  Include Resident Evil 4, too (also find it here).  And don’t forget Super Mario Galaxy 2 (about which CNET wrote:  “…the new standard against which every 3D platformer must now be judged”).  You can also find the Nintendo Wii in black at Buy.com, plus a bunch of accessories.

MEZZI WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase

When you combine style, a cool gadget, and uniqueness, you’ve got an unbeatable combination for a gift.  And that’s what you get with the   MEZZI WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase — a well-made aluminum briefcase with a wood finish and a chrome handle from Mezzi.com.  The WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase was featured on Mission Impossible 3.  (Mezzi has supplied cases for a number of TV shows and films, including all those nifty silver cases on Deal or No Deal.)  This briefcase is made of high-quality aluminum and has chromed corners.  The black interior has 4 compartments, 3 pen/pencil holders, customizable foam, and will securely hold a laptop of up to 17 inches.  It’ll keep your dad’s stuff safe with a dual keypad combination lock.  And he will own the most distinctive briefcase of anyone he knows.  MEZZI makes stylish, durable briefcases at sensible prices.  Check the customer reviews for this case on their site.  You can also read an independent review of another MEZZI case — the LuxSlim Aluminum Laptop case in black — at Gear Diary, if you want additional input about their products.  But really, all you need to know is that, in addition to Mission Impossible 3, the WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase was featured on NBC’s Chuck (one of my favorite shows).

Top 30 Bestselling Signed Books at Abebooks

Does your father like to read?  All readers enjoy having a book signed by the author.  And you can find a whole bunch of signed editions at Abebooks.  Here’s a link to the latest, most popular signed editions at Abebooks.  If you don’t see an author that you know your dad likes on that page, use the Abebooks search function here to search for signed editions by authors you know he’s a fan of.  It makes for a cool, one-of-a-kind gift.  And here’s something especially for Father’s Day:  books by father and son writing teams.

Subscribe for under $12 for a year

Then again, maybe your dad is a reader but he doesn’t like books.  He likes his reading short, practical, entertaining, and with plenty of pictures.  In that case, get him a subscription to a car magazine.  Every guy likes car magazines.  Me, I like Car & Driver best.  But hey, some people swear by Road & Track and AutoWeek.  Also check other titles at University Subscription Service, which is one of my favorite online discount magazine subscription services (along with Blue Dolphin).  You can’t beat the prices and the service is good.  And a magazine subscription is a gift that keeps on giving every month.  And don’t you want to let your father how much your care about him every month?

Happy Father’s Day!

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Don’t get me wrong — flowers are good and you know she’d love them.  But why not go outside the conventional bounds and give her something rather different and memorable?  Here’re some ideas…

Okay, if you’re committed to flowers, let’s get that out of the way first.  You can still order in time for delivery for Mother’s Day (you do know it’s on May 9, right?).  You can get them from Fleurop, the most extensive flower delivery service in the world (I said “extensive” not “expensive”).  If you live in Poland you can order on Fleurop’s website and have them delivered to someone in Argentina.  Or Nigeria.  Or Iceland.  And of course the United States.  And vice versa.  I’ve written previously about Fleurop’s history and scope in my post on humans and flowers.  To order, click the text link above or the banner below.  And if you are in the UK (or you mom is), you can order from Fleurop.co.uk.  Get 10% off an order for a spring bouquet using code SPRING11 at checkout (through 4/30/11).

Now for some different suggestions…  How about some customized Chuck Taylor shoes from Converse?  I’ll bet you didn’t know you could design a pair.  Or she can.  Women are into Chuck Taylor’s now.  The easiest thing would be to go the Converse site and get your mom a gift card (everybody likes gift cards) and she can design her own pair (on the site, click “Buy” and you’ll see Gift Cards under “Clothes and More”).  Or she can choose something else cool out of their selection of apparel.  You can have the card mailed. Or send it as an e-card, so it’ll be sure to be on time.  Or you can order something like the Jack Purcell garment-dyed sneaker.  Lots of options, and she’ll like any one of them.

Of course, when it comes to women (and moms are women, remember) clothes are always in order.  But rather than get something ordinary from the local discount department store, how about something from Fossil?  Not what you’d ordinarily think about for Mother’s Day, but that’s the idea.  They have cool items and they’re offering free overnight shipping on orders over $100 (through 5/5).  Use coupon code MOM100 during checkout.  Need a specific suggestion?  How about a Stella Bright watch, a ceramic watch, or jewelry?  And there’s always gift cards.

How about some great food from Spain?  That’s right, Spain.  This is not Mexican food, this is Spanish food, and the place to get it in the U.S. is La Tienda, a business that imports lots of delicious and one-of-a-kind products from Spain.  Their site deserves careful exploration.  And their food merits appreciative dining.  Maybe you can’t cook for your mom, but you can still give her something really tasty.  And unique.  They also have cookbooks, cookware, and beautiful ceramics, among many other things.

But let’s get back to customization.  How about making her a one-of-a-kind product at Zazzle?  You can make her a T-shirt, tote bag, apron, greeting card, mouse pad — they have almost 40 different products to choose from.  Use one of your own digital photos.  Go to Zazzle’s “Create” page and have at it.   You can add your own text, too.  Or, if you can’t quite come up with your own design, Zazzle has over a billion products to choose from, plus the Artsprojekt and Labz specialty sites (see the links in the top bar on their site).  Use the Zazzle search bar to search on one of your mom’s interests and lots of product options will appear.  You can often customize these products, too.  Or you could try my Zazzle store (it’s got women’s clothing).  You can select expedited shipping to make sure it arrives on time.

When’s the last time your mom had a nice vacation?  You can get her a gift card to BedandBreakfast.com and she can select from more than 4,000 B&B’s and other lodgings around the U.S.  and Canada.  Imagine the fun she’d have choosing a place to go and stay.  She could go with your dad, her BFF, or have her own adventure…  They’re offering a deal for Mother’s Day, too — 10% off using this code:  BBMOM10.  See details at the site.

If not a vacation, how about an event?  You could treat you mom to a show or concert.  Just go to TicketNetwork to select from a huge array of current and upcoming events.  How about Wicked?  Or Cirque Du Soleil?  Or Sting?  TicketNetwork has good prices (usually lower than the competition — such as 15% off Broadway ticket orders over $200 with code BWAYSAVE15 through 6/15/10) and good customer service.  And if she’s a sports fan (baseball — save 10% using code MLB2010 through 6/15;  or tennis, anyone?) they’ve got that covered, too.

And if you send her on a trip or to an event (or even if you don’t), she might want to have some new luggage or a new handbag.  Fortunately, eBags, probably the best one-stop shopping spot for getting things to carry stuff in, is letting me offer you a couple of deals in May.  Get 10% off plus free shipping on a luggage order over $100 using coupon code COMJGRADS.  And get an extra 15% off handbags using coupon code COMJMAYBAG.  (These coupons expire on May 31.)  Luggage-wise, see the Skyway Sigma Expandable Carry-On – $49.99 (58% Off) + FREE SHIPPING!

Corona Ergonomic Pruner

But maybe your mom wants to stay closer to home…  Does she like to garden?  How about a nice Corona pruner?  (Corona makes some of the best forged tools.)  Click the image to the right or here to find them for a discount at BIC Warehouse.

They feature a forged, heat-treated bypass blade.  The angled head reduces wrist fatigue.

Does she like to bird-watch?  How about a pair of binoculars from Cabelas?  These Bushnell 10×42 All-purpose binoculars should fit the bill.  And they’re not expensive.

Is she into “green” living?  Then you’re sure to be able to find something for her at Real Goods, which carries a ton of environmentally-oriented products and gear.

How about music?  Fortunately, I have just the thing:  Bach’s Goldberg Variaions, played by Glenn Gould, an absolutely legendary recording.  Everybody likes the Goldberg Variations.  Or find something else out of a selection of 500,000 works at CD Universe, including movies and television shows.

Maybe your mom is a reader, too.  So how about a magazine subscription?  It’s the gift that keeps on giving every month…  And not just any magazine subscription, but a discounted one.  You can get great prices on a big selection of magazines, including many 2-for-1 offers, at University Subscription Service.  It’s the only way I subscribe anymore.  The prices are consistently the lowest I’ve found and the customer service is good.  Just don’t get your mom Popular Mechanics (unless she’s a DIYer).  She’d probably enjoy Elle, Smithsonian, Self, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, or any of a hundred others.

Does she enjoy wine?  Then she would appreciate a bottle that you can personalize with a label just for her (and ratings of the wines help you choose).  Or choose from over 600 products at Wines.com.  There is no mininum order and prices start at $10 a bottle.

Click to see the caviar selection at Mackenzie Ltd.

And to go with that wine, how about caviar, or another gourmet food item, from Mackenzie Ltd., one of the best sources of gourmet food on the web?  They import only the best foods from around the globe.  They have chocolate, too.  And I’m talkin’ good chocolate.

And then, of course, there’s a camera.  Mothers like cameras because, for some reason, they always want to take a picture of you.  So help her out.  An outstanding place to find all things photographic is J&R Computer/Music World, New York’s legendary, block-long electronics store.  Great prices and excellent customer service.  You can order and get expedited shipping to have it there by this weekend.  They have a ton of other Mother’s Day gift suggestions as well.

Speaking of suggestions…  If none of the preceding ideas has grabbed you and you’re still wondering what to get, try Overstock.  They carry millions of products and they have a convenient suggestion page for Mother’s Day gifts (something they provide for every holiday).  Of course, their prices are second to none — and their suggestions are okay (not as good as mine, but not bad).  And shipping is only $2.95 on your entire order.  Give them a try.

If you want still more suggestions and discount deals (for example, Best Buy is offering some special promotions) that I didn’t have the space to include here, go to my GOOD DEALS AND OUTLETS page (for future reference, the link is in the top menu bar).  I’m continually updating it with coupons, best-buys, closeouts, interesting products, sales, discounts, and promotions from the best vendors.

Hope this has helped.  Just as dads appreciate something besides a steady stream of neckties, moms like variability, too.  It shows you put some thought into it.  Though, of course, you know she won’t complain about flowers…

And for any moms who’ve happened to run across this post…  Happy Mother’s Day!  Are your kids sort of clueless?  Then share this post on your Facebook page or elsewhere with one of the social bookmarks below, or forward the URL.  Who knows — they might just get the hint.

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And here you’ll find everything you need to start your garden, whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, herbs, or a combination of plants.  Here you can obtain seeds, gardening tools, containers, soil, information…  Everything but a green thumb.

Although, if you take advantage of the informational resources linked to below, you’ll eventually develop the green thumb, too.  Check out the books and magazines on gardening and horticulture, as well as the instructional videos and the list of the best gardening websites.  Everything you need to know to get your garden growing is covered here.

How one man sought to feed himself and his family on an 800-sq.-ft. urban lot

When you think about it, T. S. Eliot had April all wrong — it’s not the cruelest month; it’s the month of possibility, when the soil is warming and seeds are beginning to stir.  It’s the month of renewed potential.  And you can take advantage of it by getting your garden started now.  Then you can enjoy the fruits of your labor all summer long and into the fall (and during the winter if you do some canning or preserving).  Plus your friends and neighbors will enjoy it, too, especially if you plant zucchini (which you can never eat all of).

Anyway, Eliot wasn’t much of a gardener.

And it just so happens that April is National Gardening Month.  So with all that springtime momentum going for you, it’s time to get started.

First, you need something to plant, and for that Generic Seeds has you covered.

Seeds

Generic Seeds carries a wide variety of seeds — all non-GMO (genetically modified organism) – for low prices.  They have vegetable seeds, herbs, and flowers.  They carry heirloom and open-pollinated seeds.  (Open pollination is the natural, uncontrolled way that some plants reproduce, as opposed to cross-pollination that produces hybrids.  Open pollination can produce varied plants that adapt to local conditions.  These plants also produce seed that can be saved and used from one generation to the next.)   All of their products are guaranteed.  Many start at only $1.39 for a packet that contains more seeds than you’ll usually find in commercial seed packets, and they offer free shipping on orders over $20.

Click to get Golden Bantam Open Pollinated Corn Seed from Generic Seeds

To the right is an example of one of their open-pollination varieties of corn — the Golden Bantam, which produces kernels that are tender, milky, and an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.

Click here, or on the banner below to explore their site…

Generic Seeds carries over 30 varieties of tomato seeds.

Click to explore tomato varieties at Generic Seeds

More than 35 varieties of peppers….

Peppers

Carrots

6 varieties of carrots…

And more beans than you can shake an aerator at…

Bush beans and pole beans

Cimmaron Romaine Heirloom Lettuce Seeds

Check out their collection of valuable heirloom seeds:

And of course they have many varieties of flower seeds as well, along with seeds to grow an entire herb garden, including a culinary herb kit…

And to get those seeds started, you can take advantage of all their growing supplies, including domed sprouting trays…

Jiffy-Dome sprouting tray from Generic Seeds

And if you need something to actually put the seeds in to start them – i.e., dirt — or you’re going to be doing some indoor gardening, you can find potting soil here and here.

Garden Tools

To work that soil, cultivate, weed, prune, and so forth, you’ll need tools.  There are a number of fine companies that make good gardening tools.  One thing to look for is the use of forged stainless steel, and in that regard you can’t do any better than Corona Tools — an industry leader, setting the standard for tools for both professional and home gardeners for  over 80 years.  (See a video review of one of their products below.)  You can find an excellent selection of Corona Tools from Sears and Buy.com for good prices, including an extendable-handle cultivator that telescopes to improve your reach and comfort (see video review of an earlier model from Corona below).

You’ll probably need a shovel to get started.  Sears carries an excellent, all-purpose Craftsman long-handle, round-point shovel with a fiberglass handle that is inexpensive, versatile, and  rugged:

Craftsman round-point shovel with fiberglass handle

Maybe you’re working with clay, however, so you might to start with a mattock.  Here’s a rugged Craftsman mattock with a 5-pound head: 

For further tilling the soil, try a spading fork, and when it comes time to start planting, you can use this versatile Corona Planting Mattock…

Click to see the Mantis Electric Mini-Tiller/Cultivator from Sears

Of course, you just might want a power rototiller:

To move dirt and stuff around, a wheelbarrow is indispensable – or better yet, a garden cart (easier to lift, dumps easily, etc.):

Lifetime Yard Cart

For that, get a Lifetime Yard Cart.  It holds 10 cubic feet of soil or whatever you need to haul around — up to 650 pounds in weight.  It’s got side pockets to hold tools, as well as cup holders.  (You can’t beat a wheelbarrow with cup holders!)  It will convert to a towable trailer and the bed lifts and tilts forward easily to dump loads.

Here are general links to the best sources of garden tools, equipment, accessories, and products on the Web:

• BIC Warehouse
• Sears Lawn and Garden
• Capitol Supply
• Buy.com
• Safer Brand
• Gardener’s Supply Company
  

In addition to the list of companies above, you should also spend some time browsing through the gardening section of Green and More for environmentally-friendly garden products, including composters, rain barrels, and greenhouses. If you really want to get more environmentally-friendly with your gardening — and your lifestyle in general — Green and More has what it takes.

Note:  Save 10% on any order at GreenandMore.com using coupon code SPRING2011GAMCJ. Enter code at checkout.  Expires 5/31/11.

Dual Batch Compost Tumbler from Gardener's Supply

Information for developing your green thumb — planting, seed starting, how to grow specific types of plants, and more

Speaking of having what it takes, I mentioned that you would be able to find here things that would help you develop a green thumb.  There’s no need to be intimidated when it comes to starting a garden.  There’s a ton of free info on the web, and there are magazines and books that can help you get started, solve problems, inspire you, give you new ideas, and answer your questions.

For example, if you can grow plants in Colorado’s harsh conditions, you can grow them just about anywhere.  Accordingly, you should check out this series of gardening videos offered by the Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado’s local newspaper.  Carol O’Meara, a horticulturalist and agricultural extension agent at Colorado State University, tells you pretty much everything you need to know to get your garden started, including how to plant peas, spinach, lettuce, rhubarb, and horseradish.  Click here to see the series.  Below is an example of the videos.  This one shows how to start seeds…

Carol mentions what to shop for to create your garden — tools, seeds, equipment, etc. — and you can actually find all that stuff through the links in this post.  Why go out and drive all over town when you can get everything online, delivered to your door?

Here’s an article on seed starting from the Mother Earth News website.  Mother Earth News is one of the premier sources of information on organic gardening, traditional skills, green living, self-sufficiency, alternative energy, home businesses, and related topics.  Just about any gardener can find something useful in this publication.

 List of the Best Websites On Gardening

On the web, in addition to the National Gardening Association, one of the best places for regularly-updated info on gardening is Marie Iannotti’s page at About.com: Gardening.  She has put together many how-to articles. 

Another site worthy of exploration is WebGarden, created by Ohio State University.  They have a searchable database of plant photos, over 200 videos explaining many aspects of gardening, and 800 questions on gardening answered in their FAQ section. 

You can get many of your personal questions answered by going to the Helpful Gardener Gardening Forum (a Business Week “Best of the Web” winner). 

And finally, check Dave’s Garden for a vast array of articles, videos, and 253 forums on gardening.

Informative and Inspiring Gardening Magazines

In addition to Mother Earth News, there are several other excellent magazines on gardening that will inspire you and help with everything from planting to canning your produce.  Click on the images to below to check them out and subscribe — often for a good discount:

Organic Gardening -- the grandaddy of organic gardening publications

For serious gardeners who want to get better

Country Gardens offers comprehensive info on a wide variety of gardening topics

Excellent photos and the info will have you saving each issue

 Best Books on Gardening  (tried-and-true gardening classics)

And then there are the books.  There are almost as many books on gardening as there are cookbooks, but you only need three to get started.  Each is a classic.  Here they are (click the images):

Those three will get you started with all of the basics and more.  If you live in the west, you should get Sunset’s Western Garden Book instead of the National Garden Book.  It’s the go-to guide for western gardeners, from beginners to experts.

Finally, here’s a video of Manny Howard, who undertook a project to feed himself and his family for a month on what he could produce from a small plot of land in the middle of Brooklyn.  He didn’t know much about gardening but he’d heard about the localization movement and decided to delve into it.  He taught himself the basics, learned through trial and error, and things were looking pretty good.  Then the tornado hit.  That wasn’t the end, though…  He wrote a book about his experience.  Gardeners, and anyone who attempts to push the envelope, should find it fascinating (that’s the book’s cover at the top of this post).

Best of luck with your own empire of dirt, large or small.

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