Man "Stuff" that a Woman Can Love too!

As much as all of us would love to girlie-fy our homes, it is import in giving our men space to breathe, relax, have fun & enjoy football seasons.

Some women let their men have 1 room in the house: the basement, the attic, the den, the garage or maybe the shed out back.

If this is not an option...if you must control the decor of every room in your home (like me), then here are a few items that your man will love & you might even (secretly) enjoy as well...

Check out this Bulldog Bottle Opener from Potterybarn.com. It is made of cast iron and is made to be mounted on the wall. It is only $12.00!

This is a fun game table that will have you smiling! The Ms. Pacman (and Galaga) Arcade Game from the 1980s can be found at Frontgate.com. Your husband's friends will think you are the Wife of the Year. Careful though, other wives might get jealous. :) The table costs just under $4,000, but hey, it will definitely be a family heirloom that your kids will be fighting over. (Plus, it is not the size or weight of a pool table!)  

If you get sick of looking at it...you could always cover it with a pretty table cloth and make it double as and end table.  Put a lamp, some books, a frame, etc...it becomes another place for you display all your pretty things!  

Another great item from Frontgate.com is their Three Piece Game Table Set made of hardwood & leather.  I think it could double as a Scrabble Table for you, your girlfriends & some Martinis!  

And what man isn't dying to have a recliner?  Here is one from Pottery Barn that you can deal with.  It is not your Grandpa's recliner!  Throw a cheetah blanket on the back & you might enjoy watching reruns of Sex in the City while reclining it.  Sshhh...don't tell "him" that you actually like "his" chair.  

These next three recliners are all options from Ballard Designs.  (One of my favorite stores!)  This recliner comes in about 100 different fabrics.  There are so many to choose from--solids, stripes, floral, animal print, etc.  The possibilities are endless.  Depending on the fabric, this recliner will run somewhere between $1,100 - $1,400.  

To be a true Glamorous Girl means to let your Man be a MAN!  Don't sissy-fy him.  Don't make him like chick-stuff or force him into doing girlie things...that is why you HAVE GIRLFRIENDS.  :)   Let him do his Fantasy Football thing.  It will give you an excuse to get out of the house & hang out with a girlfriend.  

Summer movies

The summer sun is wonderful but some days nothing sounds better than laying on the couch in the air conditioning, watching movies and munching on Twizzlers and popcorn.

When you need a break from the heat and feel like being lazy, here are some suggestions for movies that will make you feel like you are still enjoying the best of summer from your living room:

*Now and Then

*Man in the Moon

*A League of their Own

*Dirty Dancing

(of course!)

*Indian Summer

*National Lampoon's Vacation

*Thelma & Louise

*My Girl

*How to make an American Quilt

*Stand by Me

*The Parent Trap (1961 version)

*Field of Dreams

*Summer Catch

*A Walk on the Moon

*Roman Holiday

Of course, no lazy movie-watching day is complete without something fun to eat. Try this recipe for a long-lasting snack from Hershey's:

Munchable, Crunchable KISSABLES Chocolate Candies Mix Ingredients:
8 cups popped popcorn
2 cups miniature pretzels
3/4 cup peanuts
1-1/3 cups (8-oz. pkg.) HEATH BITS 'O BRICKLE Toffee Bits
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup (8-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S KISSABLES Chocolate Candies
Directions:

1. Heat oven to 275°F. Grease large roasting pan (OR two 13x9x2-inch baking pans). Place popcorn, pretzels and peanuts in prepared pan.

2. Combine toffee bits and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until toffee is melted (about 12 minutes). Pour over popcorn mixture; stir until evenly coated.

3. Bake 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from oven; stir every 2 minutes or until slightly cooled. Cool completely. Stir in candies. Store in tightly covered container in cool, dry place. About 12 cups popcorn mix.

NOTE: For best results, do not double this recipe.

If you want to watch movies in a comfortable and private setting but feel like escaping the house, try one of America's drive-in movies. Nothing feels more like summer than watching a movie under the stars.

Find drive-ins near you at:

http://www.driveintheater.com/

Summer Songs

Some of my fondest memories of summer where spent on the back roads of Indiana in my car with the windows down, a fountain Cherry Coke and the music blaring. Often times, the music I was playing was a glimpse into how I was feeling at the time. My sister and I often say that our mixed cassette tape was a “Soundtrack” to our lives. Now, whenever I hear those songs, it takes my back to the dirt roads and the cornfields lining each side of the road. Such good memories.

A few of the tunes I would drive to were.....

“Crazy” by Areosmith
“I’m Alright” by Jo Dee Massina
“Mo Money Mo Problems” by P Diddy (formally known as Puff Daddy) and Mace
“Can’t nobody hold me down” by P Diddy

This summer I am adding a few to my list “Summer Long” by Kid Rock and as embarrassed as I am to admit it…”Summertime” by New Kids on the Block.

Music is essential during the summer. The next time you are hosting a barbeque, put together a play list and you can be sure that your party will be a hit. Include a variety of favorites from the past and present. Your guest may even share what memories that have of the songs, which can make a great conversation. Whether you are hosting a barbeque, or traveling the back roads, you might consider of few of these suggested songs from over the years…

“Schools out for the Summer” by Alice Cooper
“Summertime” by Will Smith
“Sunshine on My Shoulders” by John Denver
“Summer Nights” by Olivia Newton John and John Travolta
“Margarita” Jimmy Buffet
“Under the Boardwalk” by The Drifters
“Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly & The Family Stones
“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
“Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer” by Nat King Cole
“Summer in the City “ by Loving Spoonful