Ha ha… I got a kick out of this one. It’s funny because it’s not true! But if you want your kid to kiss up to Dad a little on Father’s Day, then this shirt might be for you.

Plus if can be worn even after the holiday, if any additional kissing-up is called for in the future…

Sizes 6 Mo. - 5T. $18 - $20 at Babystyle.com

What do you get for a dad (or grandpa) who has everything, or a dad (or grandpa) who says he doesn’t want anything for Father’s Day? How about a wonderful one of a kind, sentimental, personalized gift in the form of a photobook!

They’re really simple to make at Shutterfly with your favorite digital photos, and will make a truly unique, heartfelt gift that any dad (or grandpa) will undoubtedly love.

12×12 Celebrate Him Memory Book

Appreciate your one of a kind dad with a heartfelt story, including sentiment starters and your favorite memories.

12×12 Father’s Day Memory Book

Personalize Dad’s book with a photo cover, padded photo cover or leather cover. It’s easy to create professionally bound books filled with photos. Choose from different cover options and personalize with his favorite photos.

Recognize Dad Greeting Cards

They even do greeting cards, too. Dad might say he doesn’t need anything, but you know better. Give him a personalized Father’s Day card with an award for “Best Dad Ever” or “One Coupon Good For…” Add a picture on the front and include your own greeting. Shutterfly will even mail the cards for you, if you’re short on time.

Shutterfly - 20% off Photo books, Canvas prints. Expires 6-5-08.

Yes, this is a fair trade gift basket, so the contents (and even the basket itself) were all fairly grown or made of sustainable, renewable resources whose sale directly benefits the farmers and artisans behind them.

And yes, even if your dad (or husband or other recipient) isn’t into the “green scene”, he will no doubt love this thing.

It includes:

• A bag of Equal Exchange Organic Gourmet Coffee, 12oz bag (your choice of roast)
• Firehouse Hot Chili Gift Pack
• Khatsa Hot Sauce
• Chocolate Gift Pack, filled with 10 dark chocolate pieces
• Stylish Trifold Wallet made of organic hemp
• Honduran Organic Cashews, 1/2 pound bag

Yum, right? And it’s all stuffed into a natural, hand-woven Kaisa grass basket from Bangladesh that he can reuse for anything he’d like. Perhaps to put keys, change, and his new wallet into?

Gift Baskets for Dad - $54.00 at GlobalExchange

Tired of giving the old tie or cufflinks gift for Father’s Day? Us too. So how cool are these? Not only do they provide dad with some hip summertime footwear, but the built-in bottle opener is sure to make him the coolest dad on the block. Trust me, he’ll love them!

$42.95 at Amazon

The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation services to our men and women in uniform. The original intent of Congress and enduring style of USO delivery is to represent the American people by extending a touch of home to the military. The USO currently operates more than 130 centers worldwide, including ten mobile canteens located in the continental United States and overseas.

I was invited into one of these mobile canteens last December to record a video message for my husband, who was serving in Afghanistan at the time. They made it into a DVD and sent it directly to him, along with a pre-paid phone card and some hand-written cards from civilians, and he received it in time for Christmas. It was the first time he’d seen his son in months, so it meant a lot to both of us that the USO made it possible.

They do so much more than this, so many greater things on much a larger scale, but the fact that they also do small, personal things like recording video messages for everyday military families is another great aspect of the organization. Sometimes it’s just the little things that make the biggest impact on a person, you know?

A few of their great programs:

United Through Reading Military Program

The USO, in partnership with Family Literacy Foundation, is proud to offer the United Through Reading Military program at select USO centers worldwide. Service members are able to record themselves reading a children s book aloud. The USO sends the DVD and a copy of the book to the children in their lives back home. You can donate online and choose the”donate to a specific program” option to help with this operation.

Operation USO Care Package

Distributed to deploying service members, care packages may include snacks,entertainment items, toiletries, sunscreen and other items requested by troops. With a donation of $25 you can sponsor a USO care package and include a personal message of support and encouragement. To support Operation USO Care Package, click here.

USO Operation USO Phone Home

Prepaid, international phone cards are given free to service members, especially those in Afghanistan, Iraq and other overseas locations. Help deployed service members call home by donating to Operation Phone Home today. Donate online and choose the “donate to a specific program” option.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read through this post. I know many people get sick of constantly hearing about the wars and the troops, but as someone who’s living in it every day, I can’t begin to tell you how important it is to remember and respect what these people are doing for us everyday, so we can have cookouts and parties, and every other freedom we enjoy and usually take for granted.

Okay, and that’s all I’ll say about that. Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone.