I have to say – this is one of my favorite gift ideas so far.  Favorite primarily because this company, Miniclock.com, has an incredible selection of small, miniature clocks!

Because it is time-consuming to add images and links into a blog post, I cannot do Miniclocks.com justice with the few mini clocks highlighted below.  These aren’t even necessarily the coolest or most-interesting clocks, it’s just that I was overwhelmed with all of the choices.

“Fries With That?” French Fries Clock	Golfing Time Golf Clock	Gone Fishin’ Fishing Rod Clock
Got Up, Now Have to Stay Up Espresso Machine Clock	It’s Beer O’Clock Draft Beer Clock	Cut & a Blow Dry? Barber Shop Clock

Here are just some of the clock ideas/types that you can find there:

• Firemen
• Barbers
• Golfers
• Clocks for Kids
• Animals – Cats, Dogs, Elephants, Snakes, Birds, and more
• Perfume Bottles
• Kitchen Appliances
• Jukeboxes
• Slot Machines
• Fishing
• Keychain Clocks
• Phones
• Pool (the game)
• Makeup

More, more, more!!!

Cheese and wine. Wine and cheese. Meant to be together since the beginning of time.

Soul mates, if you will.

But which cheese, with which wine?!?!?!?!

Here’s an extravagant gift idea – give someone 12 months to figure out the answer to that question with a Cheese of the Month Club and Wine of the Month Club pairing!

The Cheese of the Month Club that we are promoting here, comes from a very special cheese company called Artisinal Premium Cheese. Here is some information that may help you see why I have found a new cheese source for myself!!

About Artisinal Premium Cheese What sets Artisanal Premium Cheese apart is the art of affinage – an ancient practice by which our passionate cheese professionals complete the cheese maker’s labor of love, patiently nurturing each of the more than 300 cheeses we offer to optimal ripeness and peak flavor. Founded by Chef Terrance Brennan, whose New York City restaurants Picholine and Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro revolutionized cheese appreciation in the United States, Artisanal Premium Cheese makes the world’s finest cheeses available nationwide as never before.

Cheese of the Month Club With our Cheese of the Month Club, our cheese experts share their passion for and knowledge of cheese by composing a thoughtful trio of artisanal cheeses (approximately 1 1/2 pounds total) matured to optimal ripeness and peak flavor, delivered to your doorstep each month.Often times, cheeses are selected to explore a country or region, such as France and Italy, or theme, such as “award-winning cheeses from American artisans!” Each collection arrives with a note from our fromagers explaining and describing each cheese, as well as wine pairings and serving suggestions.

Here is some information about Cheese’s “better half”:

About Clubs of America The Company was started in 1994. We are the oldest and largest “Gift of the Month Club” provider in the U.S. with thousands of loyal members nationwide. With over a decade of experience, we have built a superior reputation by offering our members top quality products and top notch customer service. Ongoing strict quality control goes into all the monthly selections we choose for you. Will I be obligated into a whole year as a member? No, we have no minimum membership time. You pick how many months you would like to join or give as a gift. You can join any of our clubs from 1 to 12 months. You may cancel at anytime. For a gift membership, do you include a message? Yes, included in your purchase, you may choose to have us mail a personalized gift letter via the postal service to the recipient or to yourself before the first delivery. You may also Print a Gift Letter online or Email a Gift Letter online from this web site. Can I go every other month or quarterly? Yes, you may make the selection when ordering from this web site or by phone to go every-other-month or every-third-month.

Wine of the Month Club With each Wine of the Month Club shipment you’ll receive two (2) different bottles of rare wine many from small award winning wineries around the world. You can select from All Red, All White or Mixed selections each month. We’ll deliver them cellar fresh to your home or office for only $29.95 per month plus shipping ($9.00).Included in each wine club shipment will be Wine Expeditions, your informative Wine of the Month Club newsletter, giving you insights on the monthly wine club selections. You’ll also have an opportunity to order your favorite rare wines at discounted prices.A reward for yourself or a very special gift for a friend, The Global Wine Club offers enrollment with no minimum membership time and satisfaction guaranteed. We reward long term memberships! All twelve month buyers will receive via mail $25.00 in “Club Cash” to redeem for merchandise or apply towards another membership!

When I think 4th of July I think beer, fishing, fireworks and smoking a cigar outside.  Nothing better than smoking a nice big stogie while hanging out with your buddies.

Here are four rare cigars you wish you could be lighting up this weekend:

Arturo Fuente Opus X Cigar (Dominican) From Cigars.com “The Fuente OpusX is one of the rarest cigars in the world. It is elusive to almost every smoker because of its limited production…the OpusX has a world-renowned reputation for quality and class. It is full bodied with a rich and robust flavor.”You may be able to find them at various smoke shops or online but they go quick and aren’t cheap. Famous-Smoke.com offers a box of 22 for $750 and Cigar.com offers a small sampler for $150!

Partagas 150 Signature Series “Don Ramon” cigars (Dominican) The Partagas is created by master cigar maker Ramon CiFuentes and was made to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the brand. According to ThompsonCigar.com “this is probably the world’s hardest-to-find cigar”. Prices range from $158 for a box of 5 to $950 for a box of 20.

Punch Rare Corojo Cigars (Honduras) Not as rare as the Partagas but limited due to its rich, reddish wrapper leaves that are only grown in small quantities. According to Cigar-Review.com “Rare Corojo cigars are made with extra rich, dark Sumatra wrapper leaves that are grown in the mountains of Ecuador. The filler is a rich blend of Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos.” Tinderbox has prices ranging from $98 to $138 for a box of 50.

La Aurora 100 Anos (Dominican) Very rare and pricey, “available to only a small handful of suppliers, the La Aurora 100 Anos is one of the highest rated brands ever made. Each 100 Anos utilizes only tobacco that is grown and rolled in the Dominican Republic…one of the worlds only cigars to use 100% Dominican Tobacco” Only 300,000 were produced and won’t be made again. A box of 25 will run you about $300

I am feeling lazy today so I thought I would point you toward some great gifts other people are talking about:

• Art lovers take notice. Shawn at Everything and Nothing has the ‘Most Beautiful Book in the World‘. This $150,000 book titled Michelangelo: La Dotta Mano features photos of Michelangelo’s works.

• Kristin at Cool Mom Picks has a really cool ‘Baby Makes Three Necklace‘. The necklace contains three rings held together on a cable chain. This would make a great gift for the expecting mother!

• Know someone in your life who is just a little TOO paranoid? The Hidden Camera Detector they have over at Kaboodle would be a good solution. For $25 you can put someone’s mind at ease that there are no hidden cameras in their house.

• Violet has these Wobbly Cognac Glasses that would make a great gift for the alcohol aficionado in your life. They look fun and I bet I could spend hours watching it wobble around.

• Someone Spoil Me has The Rolling Stone Holiday Etched Wine Gift containing “two beautifully etched wines and a branded wooden gift box”. Of course the famous tongues make it.

All right that’s the round-up. Have a great weekend fellow gift givers!

Father’s Day is fast approaching and you may still be trying to figure out what to get for your pops. Well my dad isn’t a Red Sox fan and he doesn’t collect anything but like me, he does enjoy relaxing outdoors and having a few brews. And…every so often he ventures over to the neighbors house and hangs out by their pool.

The Cruzin Cooler may very well be the perfect gift for my dad. Heck, it may be the perfect gift for most of the men I know. This thing is awesome!

Here is an excerpt from the site:

“Cruzin Cooler combines two basic necessities of life, the ability to have cold food or a beverage handy along with the means to get somewhere, without walking”…”is available in gas and electric models, with a 10 mile range on electric models and 30 miles on the gas models. The cooler can be used for hunting, sporting events, races, camping, golf or even a trip to the grocery store to keep your food cold all the way home.”

You have to check out the specs on this thing!

The Cruzin Cooler is only $350 at Cabelas or you can find a distributor near you. (As a side note it isn’t legal everywhere but they do give a list of states where it is)

Just picture Dad cruisin around on this thing, cold beers in the cooler and meats for grilling in tow…man, my dad would be in Heaven!